1840 - First "Pasturage (Squatters) Licenses were issued to:- J A Broughton, , Dr B Clayton, Thomas Howe, George & William Shelley and George McDonald.

BEGINNINGS

In 1821, the famed explorer Hamilton Hume in the company of his brother John Kennedy Hume, his brother-in-law George Barber and W. H. Broughton reached Yass Plains. Then in 1824 Hamilton Hume and William Hovell traversed the same district on their overland trip to Port Phillip (later called Melbourne),which route is approximated by today's Hume Highway.

Settlers soon began to arrive as squatters and later they applied for land grants or grazing leases. Among the earliest known names were Hume, Barber, Broughton,Shelley, Rose, Manton, Dutton, Terry and Riley, none of whom were Catholics. Of particular interest to the Catholic community, however, were brothers Henry and Cornelius O'Brien, they being the only Catholic citizens of substantial wealth and social standing. Henry carried the name "Black Henry" or "SugarO'Brien", the latter possibly being a reference to his role in bringing supplies, including much needed sugar, from India when still a young man. Nearly all other Catholics were convict assigned servants or emancipists. Cornelius married into the Broughton family in 1822, so the O'Brien presence in that early band of settlers led by Hume from Campbelltown was to be expected.

The village site which grew naturally for a few years on the Yass River was officially surveyed in 1834 and gazetted on 4th March 1837. The village became a fron-tier town in the development of the Southern Slopes and Riverina districts. Yass was the administrative centre for County King which was delineated in 1829. On the 'great southern' or 'Port Phillip' road at Bown-ing Hill about ten miles from Yass, a plough mark across the road marked the limits of official settlementand government protection. Beyond that point no land could be granted, no police supervision was supplied. As settlers spilled over these limits, the government granted grazing licences for temporary occupancy and a minimal supervision by means of Crown Lands commissioners.

In 1839, Henry Cosby was appointed Commissioner for Lachlan District and Henry Bingham, Commissioner for Murrumbidgee district, and both officials were located at Yass. An intersting landscape of the Yass village in 1858 has survived. It is the work of J. E. Grube and a portion of that painting in enlargement can give some impression of the appearance of the town, its buildings and streets.

(a) Father Therry The first public presence of the Catholic church was the missionary journey of Rev. John Joseph Therry in 1833. His diary reveals visits to "Collingwood" the home of John Kennedy Hume (whose wife and chidlren were Catholics), to "Douro" the home of Henry O'Brien and to the cottage of Kiley, an emancipated settler close to Yass. Father Therry also records visits to the Davis and Manton families who, although not Catholic households, probably had Catholic Irish domestic servants and labourers. That portion of his diary reads: Rev. John Joseph Therry. Wednesday 7 August: Proceeded from Mr Reddal's station to Mr Hume, celebrated Mass and went on to Mr O'Brien's. Thursday 8 August: Visited Mr Davis, proceeded from Yass Plains to Mr Keily's. Friday 9 August: Left Mr Keily's arrived at Yass Plains, called to Mr O'Brien's, then to Mr Manton's then to the house of Mr Davis. Saturday 9 August: Left Mr Davis, proceeded to Mr Hume's celebrated Mass and baptised his child, about to go to Goulburn Plains. The pastoral visits by Father Therry in 1834 and 1835 were brief and it cannot be certainly stated that he visited Yass district. His presence in the Goulburn area is certain and the Yass Catholics requiring administrations could have travelled to Goulburn. An important development came in September 1835 when Father Therry was appointed Pastor of Campbelltown by the newly arrived Bishop Polding. Yass was part of his district, and it is reasonable to claim John Joseph Therry as the first pastor of Yass. He visited Yass on a pastoral tour in October, November 1836 and again in March 1837, when he passed through Bowning to Goorama near Boorowa. Another extensive journey in June-July 1837 took him through Yass, and between January-March 1838, it is probable that Yass was in the itinerary of a lengthy country visit. In March 1838 he was unexpectedly transferred to Hobart. His official contact with Yass ends at this point, but his influence did not immediately cease, as will be made clear below.

(b) Bishop Polding: In 1837 Bishop Polding applied to the Government for a grant of land for church purposes, and an old map shows lots 2, 3, 4 and 5 of section 17 fronting Meehan Street "dedicated to the Roman Catholic Church for purposes of school, presbytery and church. Collections toward building a church had been made as early as January 1837 when over 200 pounds were collected from 80 landholders. A letter from the Colonial Secretary to the Surveyor-General dated 10 August 1837 stated: Dr Polding having stated in his letter of the 16 ultimo that a subscription had been raised for building a Roman Catholic Chapel at Yass, I am directed by His Excellency, the Governor to request that you will communicate with Mr Henry O'Brien on the subject, and fix upon and report on the site. On 31 March 1838 a site in Meehan Street containing two acres for church, presbytery and school was fixed upon and surveyed by assistant Surveyor Thomas Townshend. However, the brothers Henry and Cornelius O'Brien in co-operation with Father Therry had 14 decided to select their own site for a church. This was possibly in or closer to the private village of O'ConnellTown owned by the O'Brien family, but no certainty is possible on this point. The Bishop was upset becauseof these arrangements which would have negated hisapproach to government for a grant. He removed Father Therry to Hobart and made an urgent trip to Yass as soon as possible to lay a church foundation on the site granted by government. The newspaper The Australian of 21 September 1838 carried this report:The Rt Rev the Catholic Bishop is now in thedistrict. His Lordship arrived at Yass on the 24ultimo, accompanied by three other clergy-men. On the following Sunday, the Bishop officiated here and on Monday blessed and laid the foundation stone of a new church at Yass,the first this of its kind ever performed in thispart of the Queen's dominion. The two Rev gentlemen are now stationed in their districtsfrom whose labours the best results can be expected. The Bishop has proceeded towards the Murrumbidgee visiting almost everystation edifying and instructing all who approach him. Bishop Polding blessed the foundation stone of the proposed church on 27 August 1838, the eve of St Augustine's of Hippo' feast day, and the actual day of St Monica, mother of Augustine. However, it would be a serious misinterpretation to assume that building then began. A foundation stone ceremony in Catholic circles of the time more often was a declaration of intent, an opportunity for fund raising and an announcement of the chosen site.(c) Fathers Brennan and Fitzpatrick: The Bishop left two priests in the Yass district after this event to begin a pastoral ministry. While it is generally thought that Father Brennan attended to Yass district and Father Fitzpatrick to Goulburn district, there is enough evidence to suggest that they alternated their visita-tion tours. Unfortunately, register entries for Father Brennan's ministry have not been found but family records recall the visitation of Father Brennan in the Tumut area in late 1838 where he performed marriage ceremonies. The earliest entry of ministra-tion by Father Fitzpatrick in the Goulburn registerdates to April 1839.

Both of these priests returned to Sydney in late 1839, after nearly a twelve month post-ing, and there is little evidence that they advanced the building of the proposed church.Rev. Michael Brennan. Pastor 1838-39.Rev. John Fitzpatrick. Pastor 1838-39.

A note written by Dean O'Keeffe on 8 June 1881 in his ledger said however:Fathers Brennan and Fitzpatrick were the first two priests sent by the Archbishop Dr Poldingto take charge of the Southern District, called then the New Country extending from Goul-burn to Port Phillip. They resided at Yass.Father Fitzpatrick superintended the erectionof the Yass Presbytery and a small portion ofthe present church. The Very Reverend DrFitzpatrick V.G. Melbourne — same priest above mentioned paid a visit to Yass, the scene of his early labours — 8th December 1880. Feast of the Immaculate Conception and cele-brated Mass. He told me that it was about 42 years from his visit. The Presbytery was built under his supervision. He seemed as if he came to see the old place before his death.On his return journey from Jugiong, Bishop Polding consecrated a Catholic cemetery ground on 11 September 1838. This was then exclusively intended for Catholic purposes only. The Anglican community were using their own church-ground for their burials at this time. Such occasions were usually solemn liturgical occasions when an appropriate sermon was given on the 'last things'. Its location was at a considerable distance beyond Rossi Street.

Ref- http://www.liturgyhelp.com/lithelp/images/cust/aus_canb_p1143/beginnings.pdf

7839/1856 BROUGHTON, JAMES parents JOHN & ISABELLA TUMUT

13009/1859 BROUGHTON, (GIRL) parents JOHN A & ISABELLA TUMUT

6101/1862 BROUGHTON, ARCHER parents JOHN & ISABEL TUMUT

6102/1862 BROUGHTON, GORDON J parents JOHN & ISABEL TUMUT

14121/1863 BROUGHTON, FEMALE parents JOHN A & ISABELLA TUMUT

13518/1861 BROUGHTON, MALE parents JOHN A & ISABELLA TUMUT

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