There was a hint of gold discovery at Native Dog Creek and the 1850’s continued to be one of land acquisition and sales. Native Dog Creek is on the cusp of the gold rush. Phillipa Gemmell-Smith in her Thematic History of Oberon [http://oakycamp.com/_pdfs/History_of_Oberon_Shire_2004.pdf ] says: The first goldfields - Campbell’s River, Stoney (Sewell’s) Creek, and Native Dog were proclaimed on 2 February, 1853.

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• On 28th March 1850 the Sydney Morning Herald listed 2 lots of 640 acres for sale at Native Dog Creek. I wonder whether William Richard applied for either of these?

 

• The Bathurst Free Press and Mining Journal on Saturday 9 July 1853 announced another 2 lots of 30 acres for sale at Native Dog Creek at one pound per acre. Both lots were two and half miles from Scarvell’s 2560 acres on Parlour Creek. In the same sale land near Essington Park was being sold also. Land continued to be released in the 1850’s.

 

• 1853 February 2nd Crown lands within one mile of Native Dog Creek and down to the boundary of Stony Creek was gazetted as a gold field. Likewise the Back or Black Creek reference in many articles below down to Campbell’s River was gazetted as a goldfield and crown lands within 1 mile of Campbell’s River from the western boundary of Charles K Warby’s 1306 acres downwards to its confluence with the Fish River were declared a goldfield.[1] Warby would go on to purchase Smith land at Native Dog Creek and Ed Smith would talk to this as “stealing” our land.

 

• On Saturday 25th August 1855 Josephus Henry Barsden , William’s father-in-law and Kelso magistrate lodged an article for William about a lost or stolen roam mare and her foal. They offered one pound reward if they strayed or ten pounds if they were stolen and the thieves were convicted. The article directs people to Richard Smith of Native Dog Creek or to Josephus of Kelso. Interesting that William Richard uses his second name as did his father and many of his descendants including my father Henry Edwin Smith known as Ed. His father John Joseph was known as Jo and his father John Thomas was called Tom. Tom was the son of William Richard.

 

The Empire newspaper on 16th September and Monday 22nd September 1856 reported that Henry Carroll was tried for the rape of Mary Anne Reid on 1st September at Native Dog Creek. Henry pleaded not guilty. He was found guilty and sentenced to death with no mercy to be shown. Henry thanked the magistrate for his verdict and said he would sooner die than live.

 

[1] Bathurst Free Press and Mining Journal 1864