Dear members, Below is more miscellaneous data pertaining to the CARRUTHERS family... Whilst I am not researching these families, I am assisting others.


The Legg, Russell & Matthews families were among the first European settlers in the Tareela Run on the Manilla River & Hawkins Ck west of Barraba. Leah Legg acquired 100 acres as early as 1874 which was before she married Arthur Wellesley Russell. I appear that Arthur?s first land selections were not until about 1881. The Leggs, Russells and Matthews?s families purchased quite a number of blocks in the district. Inspection of an 1889 map of Parish of Belmore, County of Darling, Tamworth Land District shows a number of holdings, including a 400 acre block of AW Russell adjoining Mt Tareela and a 100 acre block in the name of Leah Legg, fronting the Manilla River. The same map shows at least 11 other blocks of land ranging in size from 60 to 300 acres in the title of Legg and Matthews.

The Russell family home was located on a 40 acre block of land called ?Rocky Corner?. This was located on the Trevalyn Road about 15 kilometers west of Barraba. It is now part of Bareela Station. The land fronts the Manilla River and is linked to the main road by a tree-lined laneway. Only the fireplace and a few foundation stumps remain of the original house. The family is not certain as to when it was built and where Arthur and Leah lived before then. A number of their children are recorded as having been born at Tareela, so perhaps they had a residence nearer Mt Tareela than the Rocky Corner house.

The block later referred to as ?Rocky Corner? was originally taken up by Leah?s brother, James Henry Legg on 5th July 1877. A sale of the block lapsed on 25th February, 1881. At the time of the sale, it had built on it a hut valued at 5 pounds. Alfred C Legg, James brother, bought the block on 27th July, 1877 however it was forfeited on 8th November, 1893. Leah Russell purchased the block on 12th March, 1896 but the purchase was disallowed on 3rd February, 1897. It was taken up by Arthur Wellesley Russell on 18th February, 1897. Following his death in 1914, the land again passed to Leah Russell who sold it to her son Arthur Wellesley Russell on 10th February, 1923. I was sold back to her on 15th July, 1925. Thereafter, Leah transferred the property to her youngest child Alice Eva Smith. (Alice married Percy Edward Smith in 1925). The transfer was in consideration for a rent charge of 10/- per week to be paid until her death. Alice entered into the following encumberance with her mother:-

?to pay weekly payments of 10/- on the Saturday of each week, the first such payment being due and payable on 10th November instant provided that the said Alice Eva Smith supplies the said Leah Russell with food to the same quality and quantity as she supplies at present. Such food shall be in full satisfaction of the said weekly payments in each week in which it is so supplied?. ??. Prepared by JB Ryan, solicitor in Barraba.