maietime

  ELIZABETH PULLEY SETS SAIL   and her first five years (Descendant A. Maie) © A . Maie (1999) 2022    

 Introduction and Contents Overlooking the Rope's grant at The Ponds (photo: A. Maie) Elizabeth, Anthony, Robert and Mary were definitely on their grant at the Ponds by December 1791.   So by the new year they were settled into their environment and preparing the farm. Captain Watkins Tench listed the Ropes among the settlers at the Ponds during his last visit to the area on 6th December, 1791.   Bonwick’s  Return of Land in Cultivation...as of 16th October, 1792 , dates Anthony as being settled at the Ponds on 10 January, 1792.   In the Colonial Secretary's correspondence Governor Phillip has signed the official granting of the lease on 22 February 1792.   If Anthony’s sentence had expired during those months he  could have been farming full-time with the family and only needing to visit Parramatta/ Burramatta  for their weekly ration, as well as for replacement tools, seeds, clothing, medical assistance, and divine services.   [1]   The Ponds, named because of the large p