Caleb's early life

Caleb birth was registered in the third quarter of 1851 (GRO index: Bridlington 23 19).

In the 1861 census he was living with his aunt and uncle KINGSTONs at a lodging house in Bridlington Quay as a scholar. This may have been a simple matter of there being no appropriate school for a farmer's son in Flamborough. However, the choice of a KINGSTON as ' guardian' is significant. Though recorded as 'nephew' there is no known family connection to Sarah KINGSTON, born 1800, being a CROMPTON. Liz Vine (Huddleston research) suggests the enumerator should have recorded 'great nephew'. That he was recorded as a 'nephew' suggests that either James or Sarah was related to a CROMPTON or PICKERING. This would suggest he is related to Sarah. A mystery to be resolved as the KINGSTONs feature in other situations related to the CROMPTONs.

1861 Census Sun/Mon. 7/8th April 1861
Source:     FHL Film  TNA Ref RG09
            Piece: 3613; Folio: 41; Page: 37; Sched: 239
Dwelling:   Sea Breezes    
Place:      Bridlington Quay, York ER, England

Name               Rel   Mar  Age  Occupation             Birthplace 
James Kingston     Head   M   63   Lodging House Keeper   Yorks, Strensall
Sarah Kingston     Wife   M   61   Lodging House Keeper   Yorks, Hull
Caleb Crompton 	   Neph        8   Scholar                Yorks, Flamborough
Ann Hilerby 	   Serv   U   24   Cook                   Yorks, Lowthorpe
Fanny Wiles 	   Serv   U   19   House servant          Yorks, North Frodingham
William W Ringrose Board  U   45   Gentleman              Yorks, Cottngham
Robert Donkin 	   Board  U   20   Coachman               Yorks, Bridlington

There is no obvious record of Caleb in the 1871 census or as an immigrant in the National Archives of Australia, Ancestry's immigration/assisted passenger lists or New South Wales assisted passenger lists.

His life in Orange, New South Wales

In November 2015, I spent three days in Orange without appreciating its historical significance when it was an unknown settlement 168 miles from Sydney in the isolation of the New South Wales prairies. It appeared to be miles from anywhere, rather than the centre of a thriving district. The reason for the visit was to find the grave of and pay respects to Caleb Crompton, son of Richardson Crompton of Flamborough. Caleb Crompton, born in the first quarter of 1851, is recorded as a residence of Lucknow in the years 1889-90 and of Orange in 1903-4 and 1913 until his death there on 08 March 1915.

It was also to try to find the reason why Caleb should chose to emigrate to this isolated community. Part of the answer to this question lays in the general description of the thriving settlement in context of its physical environment.

Located west-north-west of Sydney and over the Blue Mountain escarpment, the city is the gateway to the west. Settled in the early years of nineteenth century it is now the major settlement on the agricultural lands of Western Plains. Its growth was stimulated by the discovery of gold. Once it was suggested as the new capital of Australia. Orange has a temperate oceanic climate, with warm summers (with cool mornings) and cool winters with frequent morning frosts and a regular light to moderate and sometimes heavy snowfalls.

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It has to be assumed that Caleb took the 168 mile train journey from Sydney to Orange rather than by bullock cart trundling through the dirt roads of the Blue Mountains or on the more progressive Cobb and Co. coaches. In 1877 the railway that crossed the Blue Mountains had reached Orange before the construction of the 150km/100 miles extension to Dubbo and eventually crossing the ‘bad lands’ to Perth.

Lucknow

Lucknow is one of those 'now you see it, now you don't' towns. It is located on the Mitchell Highway 9 km south-east of Orange and 245 km north-west of Sydney. Travellers, journeying between Bathurst and Orange, rush through the town, notice a strange piece of machinery beside the road (it is a poppet head - see below) and keep driving on the highway believing that this group of buildings has little to offer. Instead it was the site of Australia's first gold strike.

Above: Lucknow in relationship to Orange and Bathurst

Caleb arrived in Lucknow in or before 1889. Ancestry's New South Wales, Government Gazettes 1853-1899 lists

• 1891 July August 670, Crompton C., Orange (2)

The Australian Electoral Roll 1903-1977, available on Ancestry, records:

• 1889-90 Crompton Caleb - residence - Lucknow

It is thought possible that Caleb was attracted by the Lucknow gold rush. In 1851, William Charles Wentworth's estate, the present Lucknow, became the site of Australia's second gold discovery. In the 1890s there was a mining boom at Lucknow. By 1894, Wentworth Proprietary was employing 232 men and had lowered the New Reform shaft to a depth of 160 metres. In 1898, the village and mines of Lucknow was alive with activity. The four shafts now operated by Wentworth Proprietary brought employment to more than 500 men.

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Orange

The facsimile Orange and District Illustrated 1928, written 13 years after Caleb’s death forms the basis of the description of a location known to Caleb. It records an article from the Sydney Morning Herald of 17 February 1906, well within Caleb’s time in the municipality, which describes an overview of Orange’s environment and views Caleb would have witnessed.

Orange is one of the rare places that you visit, after hearing much about, and are not disappointed, the author [LG] writes. "My first sight of it was from the Sydney mail train, when we stopped for a few minutes. The station and town were covered with a mantle of snow. I next saw it, when I came for a few weeks' change from the heat and monotony on the banks of the Bogan, 150 miles distant. Certainly the experience was pleasant, and exhilarating in the extreme, and I learned to love Orange and its surroundings. The climate was splendid, with its warm days and deliciously cool nights, but the crowning charm of Orange was the wonderful Canobolas range of mountains. They stood sentinel over the town, and their commanding presence completely satisfied the artistic sense. The best thing I can say in praise of the Orange climate is that in the middle of summer I was able to walk to the Canobolas [Mountains a distance of 8.1 miles/13km and maximum elevation of 4560’/1390m] and back, not only with comfort, but with very real pleasure.

Orange is 2846ft [867.5m] above sea level, and its climate marks it as the natural sanatorium of the heat stricken country beyond it. The days in the summer are fairly warm, but rarely 100deg. in the shade, but the nights are almost invariably cool.

The author then goes on to describe the municipality of Orange with opportunities for Caleb being employed as an agricultural labourer.

The road out was through a very fine orchard district, the undulating country on either side being covered with cherry and apple trees, with here and there a vineyard, or field of wheat, to give diversity to the scene. The farm where I stayed the night was hemmed in with hills, at the back of which rose the Canobolas […]. There was a delightful old-fashioned orchard and garden, partly run riot, in which raspberries and apple trees grew in profusion. When the moon rose over the hills, the scene was one of quiet beauty. […] Trickling from the side of the mountain came a little stream of water, icy cold, and as clear as crystal.

This supply of water and the temperate climate set Orange aside from the dry lands further west, but hindered its ultimate progress.

In 1927 and 1928 the municipality entered and won the competition for New South Wales’ most beautiful town with a population exceeding 4000. Although 13 years after Caleb’s death the judges’ comments must have had a foundation in the town Caleb walked through and buildings he saw.

Mr. Weekes said that, in Orange, there was a preservation, or creation, of public buildings, with tree-planted environs, consistent design and splendid construction of homes, and private buildings. It had a conveniently zoned and constructive policy of highways, with wide streets, ornamental trees, paving of footways, a higher standard of parks than he had seen elsewhere, and the preservation of trees, and floral treatment, were not overdone. The removal of restrictive fences and railings, making reserves available as playgrounds, was also commended. The lighting and gas plants were exceptionally efficient.

Mr. Davidson said that Orange evidenced the embodiment of civic pride and achievement.

Mr. Davidson expressed the opinion that Orange had a most progressive people, making wonderful efforts to create a beautiful town. It was holding its own natural setting far more intimately than was its older neighbour, Bathurst.

The awarding of the laurels to the Capital of the West was no surprise to the people of Orange, who were more than confident, and justifiably so. The glorious panoramas spread before the admiring eyes of judges who were keen critics, from the Pinnacle and [Canobolas] hills around the townships, elicited their keenest admiration.

1815info4a, sheet 4

Caleb would have witnessed …

The greatest rejoicing in the history of the town was in 1910, on January 26, when the conclusion of the first 50 years of municipal life was celebrated. It was a day when Orange looked its best. In the warm sunshine, green fields provided the setting for the jewel city, and, in the distance, the stately Canobolas loomed blue through the mist. The town itself was bedecked with colour. In Lord's Place and Summer Street, [where Caleb lived] rows of flags and gaily coloured streamers canopied the streets where the people thronged, meeting old friends from the back country, and making new friendships, it was a day of carnival, and the township seemed to be the home of happiness and goodwill.

There were many ceremonies to be performed. One of the events of the day was the procession through the town, which marched to Wade Park, which was formally opened for the first time as a sports arena.

Or, perhaps, he used the celebration as an excuse to drink.

Greyhound Hotel, Summer Street

The Australian Electoral Roll 1903-1977, available on Ancestry, records:

• 1903-4  2037 Crompton, Caleb, labourer, Summer Street, East Orange a sub division of Orange
• 1913      666  Crompton, Caleb, groom, Summer Street, Orange a sub division of Orange

Before the dominance of Byng Street, Summer Street was Orange's main street. Trove traces the history of the Greyhound during Caleb's employment.

• 06/1893  George Star was the licensee of the Greyhound, one of 34 named hotels in Orange
• 01/1897  Starr's Greyhound Hotel was the meeting place for several town organisations
• 10/1897  George Starr died of an affection of the heart.
• 05/1904  The Greyhound's licensee was Francis (Frank) Quinn who purchased a mare valued at over £175
• 06/1907  M. Darley of the Greyhound Hotel, Orange was seeking a competent groom
• 07/1907  A fire at the rear of the Greyhound partially destroyed two loose boxes, which would have affected Caleb's work
• 07/1908  Darley was one of nine licensees who lost their licence
• 09/1908  It was announced the Greyhound was being converted into two shops.
• Undated  Caleb was for many years a trusted employee of Mr. Frank Quinn, at the old Greyhound Hotel in Summer Street

Above: 1915 map of Summer Street Orange where Caleb lived and worked at an unknown location

1815info4a, sheet 5

Above: Summer Street, Orange circa 1925 showing the street where the Greyhound Hotel would have been located 1

Great Western Hotel

After the Greyhound closed, Caleb moved to the Great Western Hotel where his services were retained by Mr. Sloane and where he worked as a groom at the time of his death.

• 02/1903  The Government Inspector of Mines was staying at Wright's Great Western
• 03/1904  F Wright advertising for a housemaid and waitress
• 02/1905  Frederick Wright licensee of the Great Western declared bankrupt with liabilities of £1922 and assets of £1
• 04/1905  Robbery
• 04/1905  William Robinson licensee  was in court as witness of a theft, to the value of £89 13 shillings 6 pence (A$11,714 in terms of real wealth in 2018) from his home, the Great Western. On discovery of the night time theft Robinson called his groom. Later alleged to be Paddy McMahon
• 05/1905  Mr F Wright wrote to the Leader from the Great Western
• 06/1905 William Robinson granted twelve month license - one of 22 hotels in Orange
• 10/1905  Mrs Moore sold her novelties at her sample rooms in the Great Western
• 06/1906  Frank Quinn had his licence renewed - annual value £312, license fee £40 - one of 32 hotels in Orange
• 10/1908  Thomas Haybell wrote to the Leader from the Great Western
• 09/1909  Frank Quinn of the Great Western lost a saddle
• 12/1911  Frank Quinn licensee had transferred from the Greyhound
• 10/1914  Thomas Sloane reported living at the Great Western in their father John's obituary. The Sloanes are a large Orange family.
• 10/1916  Thomas Sloane still licensee

It is clear from the many adverts that the Great Western was the location for many sales pitches.

The Great Western Hotel has traded for over 140 years, and continues a popular pub at Orange. The pub’s opening coincided with the extension of the western railway line from Blayney to Orange in 1877. To cater for rail travellers the hotel was built opposite the railway station on the corner of Peisley and Kite Streets, for an Irishman, Patrick Kenna. He was one of the early pioneers of the district, and for many years one of its most prominent and progressive citizens as an alderman of the Orange Municipal Council and was Mayor during the 1870s and in 1884 and 1885. In 1915 the property was owned by James Briley, who owned the hotel corner plot, the adjacent stable block on Kite Street and the next two through properties on Pieslie (sic) Street. The 30 bed roomed Great Western freehold was up for auction in Sydney 17 August 2017 ² and sold for an undisclosed amount. ³

1815info4a, sheet 6

Left: Map locating Caleb Crompton residences in Orange. The Great Western Hotel is situated at the roundabout.

1815info4a, sheet 7

Caleb's death

The sad story of Richardson and Hannah's children continues with the report of the death of their fourth child Caleb, in the town of Orange, New South Wales, at the age of 63. The newspaper reports, in the Orange Leader, of his death would suggest that Caleb was a solitary man, a bachelor rather than a widower. It was 'servants of the household' who searched for him, rather than family; no one could really confirm his age or place of birth. On 8 March 1915, Caleb died on the Warrendine Estate in a culvert at the quarry on the common. ⁴ The former bluestone quarry is a 37 minute walk along the 2020 routes.

Above: Orange in 1912, which shows the Warrendine estate that was sold by lots in 1911

1815info4a, sheet 8

The circumstances of Caleb's death were reported in the 'Orange Leader' of Wednesday 10 March 1915:

The report continues ...    There are some unexplained circumstances in the case. Crompton was at the hotel till about 8 o‘clock on the previous night. It is stated that he was afterwards seen going away from the premises in company with two other men. When found at the quarry the right side of his head was resting on a stone. There was a wound in the head, and the stone was bloodstained. The man had his boots off. It is expected that the police will have secured sufficient evidence to explain the case at the Court House this morning when an inquest will be held by Mr. Gates P.M.   The body now lies at the morgue. Crompton, who was about 70, was a good natured, honest man and for all the years he had been in Orange his friends were many, and enemies few - if he had any at all. He was for many years a trusted employee of Mr. Frank Quinn, at the old Greyhound Hotel in Summer street and afterwards at the Great Western Hotel where his services were maintained by Mr. Sloane ...

On Thursday 11 March 1915, the 'Leader' had a burial notice for Caleb:

'The burial will take place in the C/E Cemetery today of the late Caleb Crompton.

Caleb was buried in the Church of England section of Orange Cemetery, Section B 168 on 11/3/1915 in an unmarked Grave. His age is recorded as 70 years.

1815info4a, sheet 9

A further account of the incident appeared in the 'Leader' on Saturday 13 March 1915:

AN OLD MAN‘S DEATH
BODY FOUND IN A QUARRY

Acting in his capacity as Coroner, Mr. Gates P.M. yesterday conducted an inquiry into the cause of the death of Caleb Crompton whose body was found in a quarry on Warrendine Estate on Tuesday evening. The proceedings were conducted by Constable Perkins who deposed that at 7 pm on the 9th instant that he went with Constable Walsh? and a man named Cecil Jones to a paddock situated on Warrendine estate, about half a mile south of the town. About 100 yards from the boundary fence he came across the body of Crompton. It was five or six yards from a large quarry, amongst some briar bushes. Deceased was dressed except for boots and hat, which were near the body. There was a gaping wound on the forehead evidently caused through a fall on to a stone (produced). Blood had flown freely from the wound. Death must have occurred some hours before the body was found. There were no marks of a struggle about. The only property found on deceased was a key, knife, and a penny. Crompton had been a resident of Orange for a number of years, and was employed as a hotel groom. He was very quiet in his ways, and slightly addicted to drink.

Thomas Sloane, licensee of the Great Western Hotel, deposed that deceased had been in his employ for the last 10 months, as a groom. His age was 64 years, but witness could not say where he was born. He had no property of any description. Witness last saw him alive at about 6.45 on Monday night. He spoke to him about his having had a few drinks during the day, and when asked then as to how he was he said he was alright. Deceased was not drunk, but was so far under the influence of liquor that witness refused to let him have any more during the day. Whenever he got a few shillings he spent them in drink. There was about 6 pound 10 shillings coming to him in wages. Right: Great Western Hotel, est. 1852

Dr C. B. Howse deposed that he made a post-mortem examination of the body of deceased on Wednesday afternoon. There were a number of scratches and bruises over the arms and legs and chest, and a cut on the forehead, besides a deep dent in the skull, at the side of the cut. The edge of the stone already produced fitted into the dent, and there was blood on the stone as well. He thought death was caused by haemorrhage and a fractured skull.

John Kallmer, employed by Mr. E.T. McNeilly, deposed that he saw the deceased going in the direction of the quarry on Warrendine on Monday evening. Crompton appeared to be under the influence of liquor. Later on witness saw him in the quarry reserve, sitting down and holding his head in his hands. There was no other person about at the time. The fence through which deceased had gone had barbed wire in it, and there were a lot of briars about.

Cecil Jones, engine driver, deposed that on Tuesday he, in company with other, found the body of Crompton. They were out looking for him. Deceased was lying on the left shoulder, and his forehead was resting on a stone. There were no signs of a struggle about.

The Coroner returned a verdict of accidental death, caused through falling on a stone. Cash or property possessed by deceased 6 pounds 10 shillings (£6.50 or A$13 equivalent to £511.60 or A$611 in 2018 by CPI index)

Source: NSW State Records - Coroners Inquest index: Reel 2765 - Caleb Crompton - Held 12/3/1915 - Orange Court House - Magistrate or Coroner A. Gates

1815info4a, sheet 10

Above: Left hand columns which records the date of the inquest as 12 March 1915. Caleb must have been a private person as his exact age or place of birth was unknown.

1815info4a, sheet 11

Above; Right hand columns which records a verdict of 'Effect of injuries accidentally received through falling on a stone' with cash or property of £6/10/0 Source: New South Wales, Registers of Coroners' Inquest 1914-1920 at ancestry.co.uk

According to the Coroner's report he left £6/10/0 or £6.50.

Like his brother Stephen Clubley, Caleb appears to have died without property or possessions apart from his key, his knife, the penny in his pocket and the 6 pounds 10 shillings owed to him in wages. Like his uncle and name sake this Caleb appears to have died in a drink related incident.

Orange cemetery

Caleb was buried in the Orange town cemetery on Lone Pine Avenue in an unmarked grave in Church of England section, grave B 168. The cemetery custodian had no problems locating or taking us to the grave. We were perhaps the first family to visit. Right: Plan of Orange Cemetery marking Caleb's grave

1815info4a, sheet 12

End notes

1. 1928 Orange & District Illustrated, Historical, Statistical & Descriptive, Orange City Council, reprint 1989, p.19
2. Great Western Hotel, Orange by Mick Roberts on 22 September 2017 (Accessed: 12 June 2020)
3. 22 August 2017
4. The bluestone quarry, marked on the map, provided building stone for Orange until 1977 and then became a spring-fed water recreation area until 2004. In September 2019 it was developed as the eighteen block million dollar plus Bluestone Lake housing area with the lake now stocked with stocked with Murray Cod, Silver and Golden Birch.

Source:

• 1928 Orange & District Illustrated, Historical, Statistical & Descriptive, Orange City Council, reprint 1989, p.19

1815info41, sheet 13

Lucknow gold From experience gained in California, Edward Hammond Hargraves, along with John Hardman, Australia Lister, James Tom and William Tom, found the first gold on 12 February 1851 at Ophir, about 23km north of Lucknow and 17km from Orange. Hargreaves explained "to Lister and William and James Tom how to prospect and make and use a miner's cradle, and they found payable gold between the 07 and 12 April, 1851." A proclamation followed, officially announcing the first discovery of payable gold in Australia, […] leading to the rush into the west of gold-diggers, and the embarking from England of men who hoped that success would attend their efforts in that direction in the colony. […] It was the final assurance of the future success of Orange, which commenced to grow steadily in the flow of new settlers, and with the spending in its precincts of the gold values won from the hills close by. 1 In the year 1851, over 2000 miners' licenses were issued. In the same year, after the discovery of gold at Ophir, came the electrifying news of gold on land known as The Wentworth, being the property of Mr. W. C. Wentworth. This was the origin of Lucknow, a richer field than Ophir. 2 After the discovery of gold, the population of the district rapidly increased, and, among the scattered shacks of the early dwellers, there commenced to spring up better and bigger buildings. The town had begun to take shape. 3 William Charles Wentworth's estate became the site of Australia's second gold discovery. Two local farmers on a hill behind what is now the village discovered the gold but, as the land was owned by Wentworth, he demanded they pay monthly royalties. In April, 1852 Wentworth sold his estate to the Wentworth Gold Field Company, the first short-lived gold mining company in Australia, which went into liquidation in 1860. Two years later the land was opened to the public on monthly leases. When the post office opened on 1 July 1863, the area was officially called Lucknow. Between April 1862 and February 1867, the Bank of New South Wales and the Commercial Bank purchased 1,962 kg of gold. The largest nugget weighed 76 kg. 4 Henry Newman, who purchased the mine and reopened it in 1878, made a fortune and then lost it all. Lucknow was run by private mining companies until 1913 when the land was subdivided into smaller parcels. One of the peaks of production was between 1892 and 1899, Caleb’s time. The Wentworth Main Gold Mine, at the eastern end of the town, is still marked by its prominent ‘poppet’ head, which still has part of the winding gear attached (See photo above). Relating to the 1890s and 1930s mining booms, the poppet head was built in 1935 to bail water 24 hours a day, seven days a week, from the mine workings into the creek. The problem with rising water continued to plague the mines which are now all flooded. The mine’s main income came from the cyanide vats where gold and other ores were extracted from the old tailings dump. The corrugated iron buildings near the poppet head were built early in the twentieth century. Above: Lucknow map 1865-1940 Click on the map to open a scalable pdf map in a new window The Reform Mine has been described as the richest small gold field of its type in the world. Its deep vein, known as the Uncle Tom, are at a depth of 387 feet (125 metres). Mining began here in the 1870s or earlier and prospered until the late 1890s. At the height of the gold rush the whole hillside beyond the Reform site was a hive of activity, including a battery to beat the rock, foundry and grand two-storey mine office, along with houses, stables and numerous shafts and tunnels.

1815info4a, sheet 14

Lucknow gold Where and how Caleb heard of the Lucknow strike is unknown, as is whether he went to Lucknow to seek his fortune underground or in a service industry. Sources: Orange & District Illustrates, 1928 Historical Statistical & Descriptive, Facsimile Orange City Council, 1989 Wentworth Main Mine (Accessed: 14 June 2020) End notes Orange & District Illustrated p.33 ibid p.33 ibid p.25 The value of gold in 1915 was US$493.55 per ounce (oz). 78kg equals 2680oz, 1962kg equals 69207.52oz. Very approximately, the 2018 equivalent value by CPI inde,x for the 76kg nugget was £278,720 or A$28,760,000 and for 1962kg of gold is  £7,197,581 or A$742,800,000. Source: Measuring Worth (Accessed: 19 June 2020)

The Warrendine Estate On 4 May the Orange Leader reports that WJ Murray, of Warrendine Quarry, had a dray horse for sale. Messrs JS Leeds and Co announced a sale, on 21 February 1911, of the Warrendine sub- divisions on Thursday 06 April 1911. The areas, ranging from ½ acre to 10 acreson the town frontage, were suitable for comfortable residential homes, gardening, dairies and orcharding purposes as there is nothing better round Orange. The estate abutted on to the southern boundary of the town, and has the Orange water supply main right along its boundary. The terms of the purchase was a 5% deposit and the balance in ten yearly instalments at 5% interest. The most distant lot was half a mile from town. The sale took place on 07 March 1911, when Messrs JS Leeds and Co. undertook the auction of the Warrendine Estate and expected sales to be brisk and at fair prices being accepted. In addition Mr Moulder’s property the handsome house, a roomy modern structure of eight rooms and numerous outbuildings, situated on a big block with frontages to Lord's Place and Warrendine Street was to be sold with the rest of the property. There was a large attendance and the bidding was brisk. However, a further continuation sale was held in May 1911, as the time in the original sale did not permit all blocks to be auctioned. Since reserves were not met, no sales were effected on this occasion. The Orange Leader advertised the Warrendine blocks as a place for first class residences as a smiling suburb of Orange, as there is little unoccupied land in the town proper. Purchases were seen to be an investment as in the future values were expected to increase. The Leader reported on 26 May 1911 that the sale raised £8000 (Equivalent to A$6,544, 000.00 of relative income in 2018) The sale of land had been preceded on 29 March 1909 by the sale of Mr WJ Moulder’s machinery, tools, horses and cattle and walnut household furniture.

Original research by © Yvonne Frazer. Email her at
This page was created by Richard Crompton and maintained by Chris Glass		Version A7 Updated 16 June 2020