[Index]

George HOWE (1769 - 1821)

Children	Self + Spouses	Parents	Grandparents	Greatgrandparents
Robert HOWE (1795 - 1829) Thomas Terry HOWE (1803 - ) Mary Ann Risdon HOWE (1805 - 1832) George Terry HOWE (1806 - 1863) Ann HOWE (1809 - 1811) Sarah Risdon HOWE (1810 - 1879) Jane HOWE (1816 - 1880)	George HOWE (1769 - 1821) + Mary MCLEAY ( - 1800) Elizabeth (HASTINGS) (HASTEN) EASTON ( - 1828) Sarah HARDING (1776 - 1823)	Thomas HOWE

b. abt 1769 at St Kitts, West Indies

+. (1) Mary MCLEAY ( - 1800)

+. (2) Elizabeth (HASTINGS) (HASTEN) EASTON ( - 1828)

m. (3) 05 Oct 1812 Sarah HARDING (1776 - 1823) at Camden, NSW, Australia

d. 11 May 1821 at NSW, Australia aged 52

Near Relatives of George HOWE (1769 - 1821)
Relationship	Person	Born	Birth Place	Died	Death Place	Age
Father in Law	Thomas HARDING
Mother in Law	Sarah (HARDING)
Father	Thomas HOWE
Self	George HOWE	abt 1769	St Kitts, West Indies	11 May 1821	NSW, Australia	52
Spouse/Partner	Mary MCLEAY			1800	At sea
Spouse/Partner	Elizabeth (HASTINGS) (HASTEN) EASTON			1828	Sydney, NSW, Australia
Wife	Sarah HARDING	Aug 1776	London, Middlesex, England	08 Jul 1823	Sydney, NSW, Australia	46
Son	Robert HOWE	30 Jun 1795	London, Middlesex, England	29 Jan 1829	Sydney, NSW, Australia	33
Step Daughter	Sarah WILLS	23 Apr 1796	England	Dec 1876	St Giles, London, England	80
Step Son	Thomas WILLS	05 Aug 1800	Sydney, NSW, Australia	29 Jul 1872	Melbourne, Victoria, Australia	71
Step Daughter	Eliza WILLS	10 Sep 1802	Sydney, NSW, Australia	30 Sep 1858	St Leonards, North Sydney, NSW, Australia	56
Son	Thomas Terry HOWE	02 Apr 1803	Sydney, NSW, Australia
Step Son	Edward Spencer WILLS	16 Feb 1805	Sydney, NSW, Australia	1830	London, Middlesex, England	25
Daughter	Mary Ann Risdon HOWE	01 May 1805	Sydney, NSW, Australia	1832	Kawhia, Auckland, New Zealand	27
Son	George Terry HOWE	18 Dec 1806	Sydney, NSW, Australia	06 Apr 1863	Chippendale, NSW, Australia	56
Step Daughter	Elizabeth Selina WILLS	30 Nov 1807	Sydney, NSW, Australia	18 Jan 1811	Sydney, NSW, Australia	3
Daughter	Ann HOWE	06 Feb 1809	Sydney, NSW, Australia	10 May 1811		2
Daughter	Sarah Risdon HOWE	27 Sep 1810	Sydney, NSW, Australia	1879	Redfern, Sydney, NSW, Australia	69
Step Son	Horatio Spencer Howe WILLS	05 Oct 1811	Sydney, NSW, Australia	17 Oct 1861	'Cullin-la-ringo', Springsure, Queensland, Australia	50
Daughter	Jane HOWE	09 Nov 1816	Sydney, NSW, Australia	23 Nov 1880	Fitzroy, Victoria, Australia	64
Daughter in Law	Elizabeth LEE	17 Jun 1802	Sydney, NSW, Australia	17 Aug 1878	Sydney, NSW, Australia	76
Daughter in Law	Ann BIRD	1803		1842	Sydney, NSW, Australia	39
Son in Law	John COWELL	1786
Daughter in Law	Sarah BIRD	1801		1871		70
Daughter in Law	Tawariki Te KIWI
Son in Law	Frederick LEE
Son in Law	Edward LEE	1807		27 Jun 1842	Lithuania	35
Son in Law	Capt. John HARRISON	1800	Cumberland, England	21 Jul 1869	Williamstown, Victoria, Australia	69
Grandson	Robert Charles HOWE	27 Feb 1820	St Phillips Church of England, Sydney, NSW	14 Jul 1875	Rylstone, NSW, Australia	55
Grandson	Robertus Mansfield HOWE	12 Nov 1822	Sydney, NSW, Australia	26 Feb 1824	Sydney, NSW, Australia	1
Granddaughter	Annie Wesley HOWE	1824	Sydney, NSW, Australia
Grandson	Alfred Australia HOWE	1825		17 Jan 1837	Port Macquarie, NSW, Australia	12
Granddaughter	Mary McLeay HOWE	21 Apr 1827		20 May 1827		0
Granddaughter	Sarah Eclipse HOWE	1824	At sea	1905	Callan Park, New South Wales, Australia	81
Grandson	George Risden HOWE	1825		01 Jul 1889	Brisbane, Queensland, Australia	64
Granddaughter	Mary Ann Cowell HOWE	17 Jun 1827	Sydney, NSW, Australia	20 Feb 1905	NSW, Australia	77
Granddaughter	Marion HOWE	1829
Grandson	John Kiwi HOWE	1830		1860	Kawhia, Auckland, New Zealand	30
Granddaughter	Ann Risden HOWE	1832
Granddaughter	Eliza Frances HOWE	1834		13 Oct 1914		80
Granddaughter	Elizabeth Jane HOWE	1836		15 Dec 1916		80
Granddaughter	Emily HOWE	1840		1880	Sydney, NSW, Australia	40
Granddaughter	Maria Elizabeth LEE			09 Nov 1891
Grandson	John Arthur HARRISON			1897
Granddaughter	Adela Ann HARRISON	11 Sep 1834		23 Jul 1910	Victoria, Australia	75
Grandson	Henry Colden Antill HARRISON	16 Oct 1836	Cj, NSW, Australia	02 Sep 1929	Kew, Victoria, Australia	92
Grandson	George Alfred HARRISON	1838
Granddaughter	Kate HARRISON	1840		1914	Minto, NSW, Australia	74
Granddaughter	Alice HARRISON	1842
Grandson	Ernest HARRISON	1845
Grandson	Horace Washington HARRISON	1848	Avon, Victoria, Australia	09 Feb 1869	Ballarat, Victoria, Australia	21

Events in George HOWE (1769 - 1821)'s life
Date	Age	Event	Place	Notes	Src
abt 1769		George HOWE was born	St Kitts, West Indies
30 Jun 1795	26	Birth of son Robert HOWE	London, Middlesex, England		55
Apr 1799	30	Sentenced	London, Middlesex, England	Note 1	55
1800	31	Death of wife Mary MCLEAY	At sea	Note 2	55
20 Nov 1800	31	Immigration	Sydney, NSW, Australia	Note 3	55
02 Apr 1803	34	Birth of son Thomas Terry HOWE	Sydney, NSW, Australia	Note 4	52, 55
01 May 1805	36	Birth of daughter Mary Ann Risdon HOWE	Sydney, NSW, Australia	Note 5	52, 55
18 Dec 1806	37	Birth of son George Terry HOWE	Sydney, NSW, Australia	Note 6	52, 55
06 Feb 1809	40	Birth of daughter Ann HOWE	Sydney, NSW, Australia	Note 7	52, 55
27 Sep 1810	41	Birth of daughter Sarah Risdon HOWE	Sydney, NSW, Australia	Note 8	52, 55
18 Jan 1811	42	Death of step daughter Elizabeth Selina WILLS (aged 3)	Sydney, NSW, Australia	Note 9	52, 54
10 May 1811	42	Death of daughter Ann HOWE (aged 2)			55
05 Oct 1812	43	Married Sarah HARDING (aged 36)	Camden, NSW, Australia	Note 10	52, 60
09 Nov 1816	47	Birth of daughter Jane HOWE	Sydney, NSW, Australia	Note 11	52, 55
11 May 1821	52	George HOWE died	NSW, Australia	Note 12	52, 55

Note 1: 'Happy George', George Happy HOWE sentenced to death for robbing a mercers shop. Sentence reduced to transportation

Note 2: died on the voyage to Australia DEATH OF MARY MCLEAY An article written in the Sydney Morning Herald Saturday 23'd January It is from the Journal of Missionaries from "Portsmouth" on the Royal Admiral which arrived in Sydney 22.11.1800 by the Rev. T Hawes. His entry for July1st stated "Last night died of fever Mrs Howe, a convict's wife her case was peculiarly affecting being far advanced in a state of pregnancy. She left behind her a fine boy about 5 years old whom we took under our care until we arrive at Port Jackson. His father says that he considers it a great favour. Her body was brought upon deck about half past 12 at night. J Youl prayed, then her body was committed to the deep. He exhorted those present, particularly her husband, to consider it as a call from God to prepare to meet death and judgment as he also might shortly be summoned to appear at the bar of God." Brother Youl gave no comfort to anyone. The text for his bleak burial service was Revelations 20.15- "And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire." A lesser man than George Howe might have joined his wife in the deep. But Howe, a printer who had received a life sentence for shoplifting under the name of George Happy alias Happy George, escaped typhus and later became publisher of Australia's first newspaper, the Sydney Gazette.

Note 3: arrived on the 'Rear Admiral' (or 'Royal Admiral'). His wife and young son came with him. She died on the voyage.

Note 4: Reg No V18031787 1A/1803 OR V18031054 4/1803 - George and Elizabeth

Note 5: Reg No V18051788 1A/1805 - George and Elizabeth

Note 6: Reg No V18061789 1A/1806 OR V18061056 4/1806- George and Elizabeth

Note 7: Reg No V1809355 6/1809 OR V18092361 1A/1809 - George and Elizabeth (EASTON)

Note 8: Reg No V1810339 6/1810 OR V18104456 1B/1810 OR V18102226 1A/1810 - George and Elizabeth (EASTON)

Note 9: Reg No V18112601 2A/1811 and V1811154 5/1811 - infant

Note 10: REg No V181230 7/1812 OR V18121409 3A/1812 - George Howe and SArah Wills The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser 10th Oct 1812 MARRIED—On Monday last, by Special License, at the Church of St. Philip, Sydney, by the Reverend Mr. COWPER, GEORGE HOWE, Printer of this Paper, to Mrs. SARAH WILLS, of George-street.

Note 11: Reg No V18166274 1B/1816 - George and Sarah

Note 12: Reg No V18215068 2B/1821 - George Howe - age 51 ******************** Johnson, Keith A. Comp. Gravestone inscriptions, N.S.W. Volume 1. Sydney burial ground : Elizabeth and Devonshire Streets "The Sandhills' (Monuments relocated at Bunnerong) / compiled by Keith A. Johnson and Malcolm R. Sainty. n.p., the compilers, 1973 Text: Mr Edward WILLS died 14th May 1811 aged 32 years Also George HOWE a Creole of St. Kitt's born 1769 died 11th May 1821 aged 52 years He introduced into Australia the art of Printing instigating the 'Sydney Gazette' and was the first Government Printer (fourth oldest stone at Bunnerong). ***************************************** OBITUARY of George Howe in Sydney Gazette SYDNEY GAZETTE. IT HATH at length fallen to the task of surviving friendship to announce, in a Column of the SYDNEY GAZETTE, the Death of its Printer, Mr. GEORGE HOWE ; which lamented event took place in the forenoon of Friday last, the 11th instant, at his house in George-street ; and in the sorrowing testimony of affectionate relatives, and sympathising acquaintances, we have traced the sincere regard and respect due to departed worth, and to the memory of an upright, liberal, and benevolent Member of Society. That such are the faithful attributes of the Character to which this humble tribute applies, will, we trust, be universally acknowledged ; and particularly in those circles where his philanthropy and urbanity were displayed; and which, retiring from public notice, ministered, unwitnessed and in private, the consolatory balm to indigence and affliction» Mr. HOWE was a native of St. Kitt's, in the West Indies, where his Father and Brother conducted for many years the Government Press, which is still continued by his Family in that Island. As a Printer, Mr. HOWE is said to have attained distinguished preeminence in England, and was for a long time employed on some of the most respectable Journals in London. As the original Printer of this Gazette, he had to struggle, in the outset, with many difficulties incidental to such an undertaking, in a remote Colony ; but by perseverance, attention, and the liberal encouragement of the present Government, he at length surmounted them. Mr. HOWE was in his 52nd year. ************************** http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/howe-george-1600 Australian Dictionary of Biography George Howe (1769-1821), printer, editor, publisher and poet, was born on the island of St Kitts in the West Indies, the son of Thomas Howe, government printer at Basseterre on St Christopher's Island. George and his brother were both apprenticed to the printing trade. His later work indicates that his education was thorough along the classical lines of the eighteenth century, and that he was well read in European literature. In 1790 Howe went to London and worked on The Times and other newspapers. He married and his son Robert was born in 1795. In March 1799, together with a companion, Thomas Jones, and under the name of 'George Happy alias Happy George', he was tried at the Warwick Assizes for shoplifting at Alcester; he was sentenced to death but this was commuted to transportation for life. Robert Howe later referred to Alexander McLeay as 'the benefactor of myself and my poor mother', and it was probably McLeay who enabled Howe's family to embark with him in the Royal Admiral. He arrived at Sydney in November 1800, but his wife died on the voyage. Howe himself recovered from a serious illness in 1801 and attributed his survival to D'Arcy Wentworth. Almost immediately Howe became government printer, and the range of his printing far exceeded the broadsheets and orders of his predecessor, George Hughes. In 1802 he issued the first book printed in Australia, New South Wales General Standing Orders, comprising Government and General Orders issued between 1791 and 1802. On 5 March 1803 he began the publication of the first newspaper, the Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser. Robert helped in the printing office when the paper began and 'had the honour, even in those infant days, of gaining the smile and eliciting the astonishment of the King's Representative when he saw us perched on a stool'. According to Robert the old printing press was worth only £2 and they had to manage with a mere 20 lbs. (9 kg) of type; but Howe was an 'ingenious man' and managed in spite of the inadequate press, a chronic shortage of ink and paper, and the refusal or inability of many of his subscribers to pay their debts. He was conditionally pardoned in 1803, and fully emancipated in 1806. Howe formed an irregular alliance with Elizabeth Easton and between 1803 and 1810 she bore him five children, one of whom, George Terry Howe, later became the first newspaper editor in Launceston. To add to his income he opened a stationery shop and became a private tutor. He offered to teach reading, writing and mensuration and 'the Grammar of the English tongue upon the principles of Drs Lowth, Johnson, Priestly and other celebrated writers who have united their efforts in improving the Grammatical structure of their own beautiful and comprehensive language, which every Englishman ought to be acquainted with, but few attain that have not had the advantage of a classical education'. Howe's shop and his tutoring enabled him to survive between 30 August 1807 and 15 May 1808, when because of the quarrel between Governor William Bligh and his enemies the Gazette ceased publication. The reason given was lack of paper, but Robert Howe later revealed that the government stores had large stocks of paper. After Bligh's arrest Howe had to threaten to publish the names of his debtors unless they paid him within a fortnight. In 1810 Howe's printing office was almost destroyed by lightning, but the newly-arrived Governor Lachlan Macquarie renewed his appointment as government printer, and next year granted him a salary of £60. Howe's economic position improved still further when in 1812 he married Sarah, the widow of Edward Wills, who had inherited a profitable store from her husband. Of her five existing children, Sarah married Dr William Redfern in 1811 and Eliza married Major Henry Antill in 1818; a son, Horatio Spencer Wills, became editor of the Gazette and published the first paper edited by a native-born Australian, The Currency Lad, which first appeared in August 1832. After his marriage Howe became more active in commerce. In 1813 he joined Mrs Mary Reibey in a speculation in sandalwood. In 1817 he became one of the fourteen foundation subscribers to the Bank of New South Wales. In 1813 he published the first natural history and art book printed in the colony, Birds of New South Wales with their Natural History, a collection of eighteen coloured plates of Australian birds with short descriptions of their habits and environment. The artist was John Lewin. In 1819 First Fruits of Australian Poetry, containing two poems by Barron Field, the first book of poetry published in Australia, came from his press. Howe was preparing to publish the first periodical magazine when he died on 11 May 1821. He left property worth £4000. Robert Howe was dissipated as a young man and in 1819 fathered an illegitimate son. Next year, however, he experienced a spiritual awakening and, in his own words, was 'wonderfully and mercifully visited by God and snatched from infamy in this world and Hell in the next'. He joined the group of Methodists who were working in Sydney and their influence, particularly that of Rev. Ralph Mansfield, was apparent when he published The Australian Magazine; or, Compendium of Religious, Literary, and Miscellaneous Intelligence, the first periodical to appear in Australia. The first number appeared in May 1821 and the publication continued until September 1822. In the meantime, in 1821 Robert Howe had married the colonial-born Ann Bird, who finally agreed to rear Robert's natural son as her own. She bore him four more children, Robert Mansfield, Alfred Australia, Ann Wesley and Mary McLeay, whose names commemorated the strongest influences in Howe's life. Although his education had not been thorough, Robert Howe continued to edit the Gazette which he had helped his father to publish, but the tone of the paper changed completely. Morality and religion became its main themes. Howe considered that to be 'Printer to Immanuel' was more important than being government printer. A plan to establish another press devoted exclusively to the aims of the Wesleyan mission did not eventuate; but the Gazette reflected Howe's conviction that religion was the only possible means of progress in Australia and the only way to rescue the colony from the 'depths of awful depravity to Righteousness in the Son of God'. This outlook, together with the Gazette's traditional policy of supporting the government, made it impossible for Howe to join the struggle for the freedom of the press between 1826 and 1829. Added to this was the fact that Alexander McLeay, his old benefactor, had become colonial secretary. Despite criticism, the Gazette prospered and for a short time in 1827 became the first daily newspaper in the colony. Robert Howe also continued his father's tradition as a publisher. In addition to religious tracts, in 1826 he published Wild Notes from the Lyre of a Native Minstrel, the first book of poems written by a colonial-born poet, Charles Tompson, whose work had already appeared in the Gazette. Howe's own personal life was never really happy. On the night of 15 June 1822 he was attacked while returning from a meeting at the Methodist chapel. He could not avoid a number of libel actions arising from the strong denunciation of those who opposed his policy, and in 1827 Redfern publicly horse-whipped him. He wrote that he was 'debilitated through excessive fatigue, mental anxiety and unprecedented and unexpected domestic disquietude and grief to which I have for years submitted'. In 1827 he made a will in which he left most of his estate to his natural son and £100 a year to his wife. Next year he revoked this and left his wife an 'equal division' of his effects which amounted to over £10,000. Contemplating retirement, he installed Mansfield as co-editor of the Gazette; but on 29 January 1829 he was drowned while fishing near Pinchgut and his widow became the proprietor of the paper. George and Robert Howe had performed important work. To have a newspaper as early as 1803 was of inestimable benefit to both government and settlers. A series of the New South Wales Pocket Almanack, issued in conjunction with the Gazette from 1806, supplemented the dissemination of news and knowledge throughout the colony. The Gazette kept the settlers in touch with home. News from England and excerpts from English literature kept loyalty to England alive. From the beginning George Howe encouraged education and published material calculated to aid both teachers and pupils. He also fostered literature and before 1810 printed more than forty poems, many of which he wrote himself. During Macquarie's administration he printed a further seventy poems including the patriotic odes of Michael Robinson. He has, therefore, a strong claim to the title of 'Father of Australian Literature'. The main difference between George and Robert was that, whereas George Howe advocated reason and common sense, Robert fostered religion.

Personal Notes:

The Birth of the Newspaper in Australia http://www.cultureandrecreation.gov.au/articles/newspapers/ **************** http://genforum.genealogy.com/howe/messages/4202.html ************************* The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser 19 June 1803 N O T I C E. WHEREAS His Excellency was pleased to Grant Free Pardons and Conditional Emancipations to the Following Persons on His Majesty's late Birth -Day, some of whom have not yet received them ; Notice is hereby given, that such as are Included in the following List may have their respective Deeds, on Application at the Secretary's Office. D. D. MANN, Clerk (in the list are to be found - ) Free pardon - William Redfearn Conditional Emancipations - George Howe and Edward Wills *********************** There is a stained glass window at the state library depicting George Howe presenting Sydney's first paper to Governor King and his wife. http://www.sydneyarchitecture.com/GALL/GALL-plaques.htm 61. The Sydney Gazette Office George St., cnr. Alfred St. A small printing press was sent out with the First Fleet and early government orders were printed by George Hughes. George Howe started Sydney's first newspaper which was 'printed by authority' that is, it had to receive the Governor's approval for all matters published. Pieces of type were found in excavations at the First Government House site where George Howe, the government printer, first put together the Sydney Gazette. Howe also published the first book in Australia the 'New South Wales General Standing Orders'. AUSTRALIAN DICTIONARY OF BIOGRAPHY Howe, George (1769 - 1821) Birth: 1769, St Kitts (Federation of St Kitts and Nevis) Death: 11 May 1821, New South Wales, Australia Cultural Heritage: * English Occupation: * book publisher * convict * emancipist * government printer * newspaper editor * stationer * tutor (school) HOWE, GEORGE (1769-1821), printer, editor, publisher and poet, was born on the island of St Kitts in the West Indies, the son of Thomas Howe, government printer at Basseterre on St Christopher's Island. George and his brother were both apprenticed to the printing trade. His later work indicates that his education was thorough along the classical lines of the eighteenth century, and that he was well read in European literature. In 1790 Howe went to London and worked on The Times and other newspapers. He married and his son Robert was born in 1795. In March 1799, together with a companion, Thomas Jones, and under the name of 'George Happy alias Happy George', he was tried at the Warwick Assizes for shoplifting at Alcester; he was sentenced to death but this was commuted to transportation for life. Robert Howe later referred to Alexander McLeay as 'the benefactor of myself and my poor mother', and it was probably McLeay who enabled Howe's family to embark with him in the Royal Admiral. He arrived at Sydney in November 1800, but his wife died on the voyage. Howe himself recovered from a serious illness in 1801 and attributed his survival to D'Arcy Wentworth. Almost immediately Howe became government printer, and the range of his printing far exceeded the broadsheets and orders of his predecessor, George Hughes. In 1802 he issued the first book printed in Australia, New South Wales General Standing Orders, comprising Government and General Orders issued between 1791 and 1802. On 5 March 1803 he began the publication of the first newspaper, the Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser. Robert helped in the printing office when the paper began and 'had the honour, even in those infant days, of gaining the smile and eliciting the astonishment of the King's Representative when he saw us perched on a stool'. According to Robert the old printing press was worth only £2 and they had to manage with a mere 20 lbs. (9 kg) of type; but Howe was an 'ingenious man' and managed in spite of the inadequate press, a chronic shortage of ink and paper, and the refusal or inability of many of his subscribers to pay their debts. He was conditionally pardoned in 1803, and fully emancipated in 1806. Howe formed an irregular alliance with Elizabeth Easton and between 1803 and 1810 she bore him five children, one of whom, George Terry Howe, later became the first newspaper editor in Launceston. To add to his income he opened a stationery shop and became a private tutor. He offered to teach reading, writing and mensuration and 'the Grammar of the English tongue upon the principles of Drs Lowth, Johnson, Priestly and other celebrated writers who have united their efforts in improving the Grammatical structure of their own beautiful and comprehensive language, which every Englishman ought to be acquainted with, but few attain that have not had the advantage of a classical education'. Howe's shop and his tutoring enabled him to survive between 30 August 1807 and 15 May 1808, when because of the quarrel between Governor William Bligh and his enemies the Gazette ceased publication. The reason given was lack of paper, but Robert Howe later revealed that the government stores had large stocks of paper. After Bligh's arrest Howe had to threaten to publish the names of his debtors unless they paid him within a fortnight. In 1810 Howe's printing office was almost destroyed by lightning, but the newly-arrived Governor Lachlan Macquarie renewed his appointment as government printer, and next year granted him a salary of £60. Howe's economic position improved still further when in 1812 he married Sarah, the widow of Edward Wills, who had inherited a profitable store from her husband. Of her five existing children, Sarah married Dr William Redfern in 1811 and Eliza married Major Henry Antill in 1818; a son, Horatio Spencer Wills, became editor of the Gazette and published the first paper edited by a native-born Australian, The Currency Lad, which first appeared in August 1832. After his marriage Howe became more active in commerce. In 1813 he joined Mrs Mary Reibey in a speculation in sandalwood. In 1817 he became one of the fourteen foundation subscribers to the Bank of New South Wales. In 1813 he published the first natural history and art book printed in the colony, Birds of New South Wales with their Natural History, a collection of eighteen coloured plates of Australian birds with short descriptions of their habits and environment. The artist was John Lewin. In 1819 First Fruits of Australian Poetry, containing two poems by Barron Field, the first book of poetry published in Australia, came from his press. Howe was preparing to publish the first periodical magazine when he died on 11 May 1821. He left property worth £4000. ROBERT HOWE was dissipated as a young man and in 1819 fathered an illegitimate son. Next year, however, he experienced a spiritual awakening and, in his own words, was 'wonderfully and mercifully visited by God and snatched from infamy in this world and Hell in the next'. He joined the group of Methodists who were working in Sydney and their influence, particularly that of Rev. Ralph Mansfield, was apparent when he published The Australian Magazine; or, Compendium of Religious, Literary, and Miscellaneous Intelligence, the first periodical to appear in Australia. The first number appeared in May 1821 and the publication continued until September 1822. In the meantime, in 1821 Robert Howe had married the colonial-born Ann Bird, who finally agreed to rear Robert's natural son as her own. She bore him four more children, Robert Mansfield, Alfred Australia, Ann Wesley and Mary McLeay, whose names commemorated the strongest influences in Howe's life. Although his education had not been thorough, Robert Howe continued to edit the Gazette which he had helped his father to publish, but the tone of the paper changed completely. Morality and religion became its main themes. Howe considered that to be 'Printer to Immanuel' was more important than being government printer. A plan to establish another press devoted exclusively to the aims of the Wesleyan mission did not eventuate; but the Gazette reflected Howe's conviction that religion was the only possible means of progress in Australia and the only way to rescue the colony from the 'depths of awful depravity to Righteousness in the Son of God'. This outlook, together with the Gazette's traditional policy of supporting the government, made it impossible for Howe to join the struggle for the freedom of the press between 1826 and 1829. Added to this was the fact that Alexander McLeay, his old benefactor, had become colonial secretary. Despite criticism, the Gazette prospered and for a short time in 1827 became the first daily newspaper in the colony. Robert Howe also continued his father's tradition as a publisher. In addition to religious tracts, in 1826 he published Wild Notes from the Lyre of a Native Minstrel, the first book of poems written by a colonial-born poet, Charles Tompson, whose work had already appeared in the Gazette. Howe's own personal life was never really happy. On the night of 15 June 1822 he was attacked while returning from a meeting at the Methodist chapel. He could not avoid a number of libel actions arising from the strong denunciation of those who opposed his policy, and in 1827 Redfern publicly horse-whipped him. He wrote that he was 'debilitated through excessive fatigue, mental anxiety and unprecedented and unexpected domestic disquietude and grief to which I have for years submitted'. In 1827 he made a will in which he left most of his estate to his natural son and £100 a year to his wife. Next year he revoked this and left his wife an 'equal division' of his effects which amounted to over £10,000. Contemplating retirement, he installed Mansfield as co-editor of the Gazette; but on 29 January 1829 he was drowned while fishing near Pinchgut and his widow became the proprietor of the paper. George and Robert Howe had performed important work. To have a newspaper as early as 1803 was of inestimable benefit to both government and settlers. A series of the New South Wales Pocket Almanack, issued in conjunction with the Gazette from 1806, supplemented the dissemination of news and knowledge throughout the colony. The Gazette kept the settlers in touch with home. News from England and excerpts from English literature kept loyalty to England alive. From the beginning George Howe encouraged education and published material calculated to aid both teachers and pupils. He also fostered literature and before 1810 printed more than forty poems, many of which he wrote himself. During Macquarie's administration he printed a further seventy poems including the patriotic odes of Michael Robinson. He has, therefore, a strong claim to the title of 'Father of Australian Literature'. The main difference between George and Robert was that, whereas George Howe advocated reason and common sense, Robert fostered religion. Select Bibliography R. Howe diary, 1822-23 (State Library of New South Wales); Bonwick transcripts, biography (State Library of New South Wales). Author: J. V. Byrnes Print Publication Details: J. V. Byrnes, 'Howe, George (1769 - 1821)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 1, Melbourne University Press, 1966, pp 557-559. http://www.cultureandrecreation.gov.au/articles/newspapers/ Sentenced to transportation for the term of his natural life after robbing a mercer's shop. George became Australia's first printer, there is a full colour window honouring George 'Happy' Howe and the Sydney Gazette in the Mitchell Library, Sydney. This window depicts George presenting a copy of the Sydney Gazette to the then Governor of the colony, Governor King and Mrs King. "The Sydney Gazette & New South Wales Advertiser" was Australia's first Newspaper. The jewellery designs, by master silversmith, Walraven baron van Heekeren, are taken from the original woodcut logo of this newspaper. Sydney Morning Herald 1 Oct 1927 THE HOWES, PRINTERS First in Australia. SOME FAMILY HISTORY. (By E.M. WALKER.) So many untrue statements have been published of George Howe, first Government Printer in New South Wales, that a few real truths heard from his daughter and grand- daughter, and now written by his great granddaughter, may not seem out of place. Thomas Howe, an Englishman, and brother to Admiral Lord Howe, settled In St. Christopher, in the West Indies (called St. Kitts), in 1764, and established the art of printing there. He married a wealthy planter's daughter. Thomas Risdon Howe succeeded his father, and was in turn succeeded by his own son, John A. Howe. Thus father, son and grandson were Government Printers of that colony. George Howe, second son of Thomas Howe, was born in St. Christopher in 1769. He received his education there, and was then apprenticed in his father's ofllce to the printing trade. Later he went to London, and was for some time employed on the "Times." He married into a good Scotch family. His eldest son was bom in London. In 1800 George Howe came to Sydney in the ship Royal Admiral, and established the first newspaper in Australia in 1803. He was of medium height and stout build, and he had light brown hair, hazel eyes, and sallow complexion. While his parents lived he regularly received remittances from home, but I suppose there were times when he was short of cash, for ships were then so long in coming. All honour to the man who turned his attention to teaching, etc., rather than run into debt. He had been brought up in a good home, by a religious mother. MARRIED THREE TIMES. This first Australian Government Printer married three times. His first wife, Miss Macleay, mentioned above, died on the voyage out to Sydney, leaving one child, Robert. The second wife was Spanish, a very beautiful woman; she died, leaving him with five young children. The third wife was the widow of his dearest friend, Edward Wills, but owing to her disposition he did not live happily with her. She was jealous of his love for his eldest son, who had been his companion since his arrival In Sydney in 1802, when he was 7 years of age. There was one child, a daughter, by the third marriage. The parents of both George Howe and his wife did not wish the wife and child to follow him to Sydney, but she loved her husband so sincerely that she would come, with the sorrowful result that she died on the voyage out. I can plcture the feelings of the husband who was looking forward to reunion with the wife of his youth, only to find when the ship arrived that she had been dead for four months and was burled at sea. I understand that so deep was his grief that no paper was published for a month. George Howe died on May 11, 1821, at his residence. 96 George-street, Sydney, in his fifty-second year, loved and respected by everyone. He was buried in his own vault in the Church of England Cemetery, Elizabeth-street, Sydney, with his second wife and his friend Edward Wills. His family was well provided for, the Underwoods (of Underwood Estate) being the trustees of his estate till the youngest daughter came of age. The three eldest sons of George Howe met their deaths by drowning. Thomas Howe and Risdon Howe, second and third sons, were lost while on a voyage to Launceston in their own pleasure launch, to spend Christmas of 1825 with their youngest brother, George Terry Howe. ROBERT HOWE. Robert Howe, the eldest son, who became the second Government Printer of New South Wales, was of medium height, with fair complexion, red hair, and blue eyes. He served his apprenticeship in the office of his father, and at his father's death removed the "Gazette" to his own building in George street, four doors from the corner of Charlotte place, now known at Grosvenor street. His private residence was at Miller's Point. Robert Howe was very fond of boating and fishing, and with his servant man Williams and his youngest son was out in a boat fish- ing off Fort Denison, on January 29, 1829. A sudden squall upset the boat, which immediately sank. He was a good swimmer, and made an effort to save his son (Alfred Australia, the flrst to be called Australia in this part of the world), but his hands became entangled in the fishing lines, and he was drowned. The boy and Williams were rescued, and ultimately the former lost his life at Port Macquarie through having one of his legs torn off by a ground shark while fishing, again with the man Williams. At the time of his death Robert Howe was 34 years of age. He was buried in his father's vault until his wife erected another vault to his memory in the same cemetery in Elizabeth-street, when the remains were removed to the new resting place. He had been a strict Methodist, but was married in old St. Philip's, Sydney, Generous and liberal, it is said of him that his purse, his pen, and his influence were always ready in the cause of philanthropy. When his father died he took his step-brother and sister home to live with him, and on the passing of his second step-mother he also took her daughter into his home. All lived with him till they married and set up homes for themselves. To the memory of his father he had erected In the "Gazette" office a marble tablet bearing the following Inscription: "IN MEMORY "OF "GEORGE HOWE, "a Creole of St. Kitts, born 1769, died May 11, 1821, aged 52. He introduced into Australia the Art of Printing, instituted the "Sydney Gazette." and was the first Government Printer; besides which, his charity knew no bounds." When the "Gazette" office was flnnlly closed George Robert Howe gave the tablet to George Terry Howe, who resided in a cottage at the back of Devonshlre-street cemetery, and while it was there it was accidentally knocked down and broken. On an occasion some time before his death Robert Howe had an attack made upon his life. A man who felt himself aggrieved by an artlcle which had appeared in the "Gazette" met him and stabbed bim. The victim was never again as strong as he had been, and his widow always thought that was why be lost his life in the boating accident. PASSING OF THE GAZETTE. Robert Charles Howe, the third Government Printer of New South Wales, and the seventh and last Government Printer in the Howe family, was the eldest and only surviving son of Robert Howe. He was born at the "Gazette" office, in George-street, Sydney, and succeeded to the control of his late father's paper when he came of age. A splendid, generous-hearted man, tall, with very fair complexion, he lacked the guidance of a father, and so got in with a gay set of young men. Champagne suppers and horses soon brought the "Gazette" to ruin. It was Robert Charles Howe who passed the "Gazette" over to the Government, with three apprentices to finish their time-Thomas Richards, who afterwards became Government printer, Thomas Garrett, and George Risdon Howe, only son of George Terry Howe. George Risdon Howe was for 14 years in the Government Printing Office in Brisbane. When Robert Charles Howe closed the "Gazette" office as a private undertaking in 1842, he took up statlon life at Little Hartley, in the Blue Mountains, and used to travel down to Sydney with his own teams, transporting wool, etc. Having a little difference with his brother-in-law. Thomas Bloodworth, he left Little Hartley and, went to Rylstone; but that was a mistake, for he did not succeed there. He died at Rylstone on July 14, 1876, aged 54 years. GEORGE TERRY HOWE. George Terry Howe was the youngest son of George Howe, and served his apprenticeship to the printing trade also in the office of his father at 96 George-street, Sydney, He published the flrst newspaper In Tasmania at Launceston in 1825, being then only 19 years of age, and the youngest Go- vernment Printer on record. He was very tall, wlth dark bair and eyes, and of proud, independent spirit. His good looks and quick temper he inherited from his Spanish mother. Eventually George Terry Howe returned to Sydney with his wife and family of three, and became overseer of the "Gazette" for his nephew. Robert Charles Howe. When the newspaper failed he lived on his means, and died on April 6, 1863, at the age of 56. His remains were burled in his father's vault, being the last to go there. His wife. Sarah, was buried in Robert Howe's vault with her mother and sister, and hers was the last funeral to that vault. That was in 1871. She had lived to be 74. The two vaults were opened on August 13, 1901, and all the remains were reinterred at La Perouse on August 22, 1901. There passed away recently, at the age of 55 years, Sydney George Rouse Walker, of the Government Printing Office, Sydney, great grandson of the first Government Printer, and the last compositor in the Howe family. He was educated at Newington College under the late Rev. J. Fletcher, and the late Dr. Kelynack. So ends the history of the Howes proprietors and editors of the "Gazette" in St. Kitts, in Sydney, and in Launceston.

Source References:

52. Type: Australia Birth Marriage Death Index 1787 - 1985 Record

- Reference = (Marriage)

- Reference = (Death)

55. Type: Book, Abbr: Edward Wills Family and Descendants, Title: Ancestor Treasure Hunt; The Edward Wills Family and Descendants in Australia 1797 - 1976, Auth: R.V. Pockley, Publ: Wentworth Books - Sydney, Date: 1976

- Reference = (Other Event)

- Reference = (Immigration)

- Reference = (Death)

60. Type: Newspaper, Title: Trove, http://trove.nla.gov.au

- Reference = (Marriage)

- Notes: The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser 10th Oct 1812 MARRIED—On Monday last, by Special License, at the Church of St. Philip, Sydney, by the Reverend Mr. COWPER, GEORGE HOWE, Printer of this Paper, to Mrs. SARAH WILLS, of George-street.

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