Governor-General Philip Gidley King on the 1st of January, 1806, signed 13 land grants in favour of persons residing in Van Diemens Land. They were as follows:—Thirty acres to Rev. Robert Knopwood, 100 acres to Edward Lord, 50 acres to Faulkner, 100 acres to Robert Littlejohn, 100 acres to George Prideaux Harris, 14 acres to Leonard Fosbrook, 50 acres to Michael Mansfield, 50 acres to Samuel Kelly, 24 acres to George Guest, 195 acres to Richard Clark, 50 acres to Matthew Power, and 30 acres to Thomas Hopkins. One grant of 70 acres was issued, but the grantees name has not been preserved in the book of duplicates. He also issued two leases for 14 years with the usual rental of half a crown per year each. One of these leases was to Seargeant James McCauley, and the other to John Tribal Sutton, both situate in Hobart Town. The first of the grants mentioned above was the celebrated 30 acres known as Cottage Green, granted to Governor Collins first chaplain. The land adjoined what is now St. David's burial ground, and fronted on Salamanca Place. It is now valuable city property. His reverence had not had the grant very long before he parted with a portion of it to a Seafarer who paid a substantial deposit. When the balance became overdue, Mr. Knopwood considered the purchaser forfeited the deposit. The Seafarer thought otherwise and the inevitable lawsuit was the consequence, the verdict going against the church in this instance. Some years later a portion of the grant fell into the hands of Governor Arthur and the purchase became a subject of controversy. The governor's action was adversely criticised by some because it was stated that he knew before the purchase that a large amount of Imperial money was to be spent in front of Salamanca Place in making a harbour. Others taking probably the more just view of the matter, pointed out that the land was the subject of a forced sale, and was to be had by anyone for the payment of the debt upon it, whichever view of the matter is correct, this much is certain, the Rev. Robert Knopwood built a cottage on it and resided there for some years, but eventually when he became straightened in circumstances, he lost his interest in it.
The grants to Edward Lord, Leonard Fosbrook and George Guest were ultimately considered to be hampering the progress of Hobart Town and the grantees were given other grants in exchange. I believe it was in exchange for this grant on what is now the Queen's Domain, that Edward Lord received the very large grant of 8000 acres at Lawrenny. Commission Bigge visited Van Diemen's Land in 1819, and inquired very thoroughly into the condition, and it was on his recommendation that the first two of the grants above referred to where they resumed by the Crown. Bigge was an English solicitor or barrister, and appears to have had the confidence of the British Government, who saw that his recommendations were carried into effect in their entirety so far is Van Diemen's Land was concerned. It has always been remarked by solicitors and commercial man who deal in land that it is always good enough to bank on the chance, that an old grant or resurvey will be found to contain a greater number of acres than is mentioned in the grant deed. Perusal of the following evidence given by Mr. G. W. Evans, Deputy Surveyor General in Hobart Town before Mr Commission Bigge, explains how this arises.
Question: Is the right in the Crown to make roads through all the settlements distinctly recognised and well understood by the settlers ?.
Answer: It is clearly expressed in the body of the grant and in all Governor Macquarie's grants, in the ... measurements, allowance is made ... the chance of a road being hereafter wanted !.
Up to the end of 1806 very little land had been granted in the state the areas of the grants were moderate and they all clustered around Hobart Town probably more for mutual protection than for any other reason looked at by the light of subsequent events it is a pity that so large a grant as 30 acres was granted even to so deserving an official as a chaplain in what was to be the centre of the town, the benefit to the grantee was but transitory the injury to the something of the town was permanent. 1
- 1SOME HISTORIC LAND GRANTS - Critic (Hobart, Tas. : 1907 - 1924) 23 March 1923: p1