Moffatt, Josias Sleeman (1835 - 1908)

Josias arrived in Australia in 1857 on the Tartar as a free man and worked at a sawmill on Brisbane Waters for six months. He then worked as a gardener and milkman in Sydney with Captain Dumaresq for a few months before being employed by Richard Hargrave, a pastoralist, near Armidale, NSW, managing a farm for four years.

He married Bridget Ryan on 8 October 1859 and they had 12 children.

With his wife's legacy, he bought land at Saumarez Ponds near Armidale and by 1879 owned 1,000 acres which he called 'Trevillie'. The family also lived at Yarrowyck, near Bundarra.

Upon retirement, Josias and Bridget moved to 'Trelawney' in Brown Street, Armidale.

[Brief Biography compiled by Robin Hammond, January/February 2004]