Thomas Moore
Of those closely identified with the early days of Liverpool, Thomas Moore stands out prominently. He was the first resident magistrate and district representative of the Colonial Administration in Sydney. He was born in England in 1762 and first came to Sydney as ship's carpenter of William Raven's 276 ton Britannia. The ship made several visits to such places as the Cape of Good Hope, Batavia and Indian ports to get supplies for the colony.Thomas Moore
Of those closely identified with the early days of Liverpool, Thomas Moore stands out prominently. He was the first resident magistrate and district representative of the Colonial Administration in Sydney. He was born in England in 1762 and first came to Sydney as ship's carpenter of William Raven's 276 ton Britannia. The ship made several visits to such places as the Cape of Good Hope, Batavia and Indian ports to get supplies for the colony.
In 1796 Moore decided to settle here and Governor Hunter appointed him as Master Boat Builder. His first task was the rebuilding of several government boats which had become "mere wrecks and useless". He was also a member of the Vice-Admiralty Court set up to try those accused of mutiny in the Barwell in 1803. In 1805 we find his name included in the roll of officers and superintendents on His Majesty's naval establishments in the colony.
On 11th January 1797, Moore married Rachel Turner who had arrived in the colony as a prisoner on the notorious convict ship, Lady Juliana. She became housekeeper for surgeon John White who left the colony shortly after the birth of their illegitimate son, Andrew, leaving Rachel and the boy well provided for. Thomas and Rachel were married by Reverend Richard Johnson, possibly in the first church he built at Church Hill.
In 1799 Moore received a grant of 470 acres at Bulanaming, between Petersham and the Cooks River. He gradually built this up until by 1807 he owned 1920 acres. His name appears among those of the settlers in the address thanking Governor Bligh for "greatly improved conditions" in the colony. This address was presented to the Governor just before he was deposed in 1808. In 1809 Moore resigned from his post as master builder and retired to his property near the Georges River, which he named Moorebank.
On 17th May, 1810 Moore was gazetted as magistrate for the Georges River. He was reappointed to this position every year until 1821 when his jurisdiction was extended throughout the county of Cumberland. It was from Moore's house that Governor Macquarie set out on 7 November to choose a site for a town, which he named Liverpool. Later Governor Macquarie wrote to Moore in order to enlist his help in encouraging the right type of settler to the area. Moore was involved in the establishment of the Bank of New South Wales in 1817 and helped open a savings bank in Liverpool two years later. He also helped to found an auxiliary of the British and Foreign Bible Society. Moore has been described as a philanthropist and he certainly was prepared to give to any good work and any church with a need.
Andrew White died in 1837 and Rachel died in 1838 . In 1839 Thomas drew up a will leaving his estate to the Church of England with rents and income from the 2080 acres at Moorebank to form an endowment for the Bishop of Australia with those from the remaining 4315 acres set aside to provide a fund to augment clergy stipends. The house and grounds at Liverpool were to form the foundation for a college for education for Protestant young men, with income from 700 acres at Minto and Liverpool to provide an endowment for the college. Thomas Moore died in December 1840. The Moore Theological College was the result of Thomas Moore's endowment and began in Liverpool, moving to its present site in 1891.
In 1796 Moore decided to settle here and Governor Hunter appointed him as Master Boat Builder. His first task was the rebuilding of several government boats which had become "mere wrecks and useless". He was also a member of the Vice-Admiralty Court set up to try those accused of mutiny in the Barwell in 1803. In 1805 we find his name included in the roll of officers and superintendents on His Majesty's naval establishments in the colony.
On 11th January 1797, Moore married Rachel Turner who had arrived in the colony as a prisoner on the notorious convict ship, Lady Juliana. She became housekeeper for surgeon John White who left the colony shortly after the birth of their illegitimate son, Andrew, leaving Rachel and the boy well provided for. Thomas and Rachel were married by Reverend Richard Johnson, possibly in the first church he built at Church Hill.
In 1799 Moore received a grant of 470 acres at Bulanaming, between Petersham and the Cooks River. He gradually built this up until by 1807 he owned 1920 acres. His name appears among those of the settlers in the address thanking Governor Bligh for "greatly improved conditions" in the colony. This address was presented to the Governor just before he was deposed in 1808. In 1809 Moore resigned from his post as master builder and retired to his property near the Georges River, which he named Moorebank.
On 17th May, 1810 Moore was gazetted as magistrate for the Georges River. He was reappointed to this position every year until 1821 when his jurisdiction was extended throughout the county of Cumberland. It was from Moore's house that Governor Macquarie set out on 7 November to choose a site for a town, which he named Liverpool. Later Governor Macquarie wrote to Moore in order to enlist his help in encouraging the right type of settler to the area. Moore was involved in the establishment of the Bank of New South Wales in 1817 and helped open a savings bank in Liverpool two years later. He also helped to found an auxiliary of the British and Foreign Bible Society. Moore has been described as a philanthropist and he certainly was prepared to give to any good work and any church with a need.
Andrew White died in 1837 and Rachel died in 1838 . In 1839 Thomas drew up a will leaving his estate to the Church of England with rents and income from the 2080 acres at Moorebank to form an endowment for the Bishop of Australia with those from the remaining 4315 acres set aside to provide a fund to augment clergy stipends. The house and grounds at Liverpool were to form the foundation for a college for education for Protestant young men, with income from 700 acres at Minto and Liverpool to provide an endowment for the college. Thomas Moore died in December 1840. The Moore Theological College was the result of Thomas Moore's endowment and began in Liverpool, moving to its present site in 1891.