Catherine Geary was the daughter of Patrick Geary, a private soldier in the New South Wales Corps, and of Elizabeth. Patrick had arrived in the colony on 17 May, 1797 and his company was posted to Norfolk Island on guard duty in 1799.
The early Church records for Norfolk Island are fragmentary; there is no record of Catherine's birth or baptism, nor is it clear whether Elizabeth is Patrick's legal or common-law wife. Patrick was 36 of age in 1800, sometime after March 4, when Catherine was born.

Catherine lived for five years on Norfolk Island before her Father's unit was returned to duty in New South Wales, and spent her early years at Parramatta, where Patrick was stationed. At the age of 17, Catherine (whose name was spelt Gary) was married to Robert Henderson, 19 years of age, his name being spelt Handerson. They were married at St. John's church of England, Parramatta by the Reverend Samuel Marsden, on 4 March, 1817.
The witnesses were Elizabeth Wicks (I wonder if this was her mother, or is it coincidence?) and Thomas Handerson (father), who signed their names with a cross. It does not state whether Patrick gave his permission as Catherine was under age. (1)

Some time after their marriage, the couple moved to the Pittwater area, where Robert had a farm, which he offered for sale in 1822. (2)
Robert was appointed a District Constable for Brisbane Water on 15 May, 1824, his district covering Wiseman's Ferry to Brisbane Water. (3)
On 14 December, 1824, he was assigned Samuel Heymas as a bond servant. (Col. Sec. Misc. Index., S.A.O.) (4)
Then in 1825 he was granted a ticket of occupation for 100 acres
(40.5 hectares) at Pittwater, on which he ran 20 cattle. (5)
(Brisbane Water Story Pt. 3.-Swancott). He could not have had much time to spend on the farm.

Robert and Catherine moved to a farm at Saratoga, a grant of land which had been made to Patrick Geary, and between police duties, farmed this grant.By the time Robert resigned as District Constable in 1828/9, he had seven assigned convicts and nine free men working this grant. (6)
Other land was gradually added to the property and Catherine's father and his wife Mary moved to the farm after Patrick was dismissed as District Constable for Pittwater in 1826. (7)

Patrick died in 1827 and was buried privately on the farm. Catherine's first child, a son Robert, later known as Robert Geary Henderson, was born at Brisbane Water on 31 October, 1832 and was baptised twice, firstly by Rev. Thomas Sharpe (or Thorpe) of the parish of Lower Hawkesbury, and secondly, at St. Phillip's, Sydney on December 5, 1832. (8)
This may be the only child born to Robert and Catherine, although Thomas Henderson's (the second) death certificate states that his parents were Catherine and Robert Henderson, but as his death was registered by a doctor, who was not a relative. It is possible he did not know all the facts. The family story certainly is that Thomas was adolpted as a companion for Robert, who was born when Catherine was 32 years old, some 15 years after her marriage. However, Robert's will leaves a legacy to "My son, Thomas Henderson". (9)
Possibly he was Robert's but not Catherine's son.

Robert had made money from the use of rum as part payment of wages (legal, but frowned on by the local magistrates) and from land dealing; also from the sale of rum, for early in the 1830's he acquired the Dove Inn, in Erskine and Sussex Streets, Sydney, although he did not apply for the license as a publican until 1844. (10).

Although Robert had a stone homestead built on Veteran Hall grant in 1835, the family moved to Sydneyin the late 1830's so that Robert Junior could receive a proper education, and Robert could attend to his expanding business interests. A family home was built at No. 5 Erskine Street in 1844, and supplied with farm produce from Brisbane Water by Robert's small coastal vessels. (11)

in 1852, Catherine's son Robert, married Hannah Wallbridge and the young couple ran ther Clarence Hotel (One of Robert senior's properties) in Sydney, as well as assisting with the running of the coastal vessels. (12)
In 1854, Robert senior was apponted a District Councillor for Brisbane Water and Catherine and Robert retired to Veteran Hall at Kincumber, to live. (13)

Catherine's son Robert had three children and left his wife in 1860. The elder Robert transferred the license of the Clarence Hotel to Hannah for the support of the children and herself. (14)
Hannah's daughter Catherine died of consumption at the age of 13 and Hannah herself died from the same disease in 1868. (15, 16)
Catherine assumed responsibility for the remaining two children and placed them in good boarding schools.

Catherine died, aged 68, only five months after her daughter-in-law, at Sussex Street (possibly the Dove Inn) Sydney on December 29, 1868, of Risipiles and is buried in Veteran Hall private cemetery at Kincumber.(17)

Copied from Joan Taylor's book 27.8.2003.
by Keith Henderson.

© Joan Taylor 2000