Francis William Forbes

  Noted events in his life were:

• source. Mary-Ann Cook who writes:
Francis Forbes was born in Bermuda. He was Bermuda`s most distinguished native-son jurist. After serving as Bermuda`s Attorney-General, he was appointed Chief Justice of Newfoundland. He served there from 1816-1821, before he became the first-ever Chief Justice of the Colony of New South Wales, Australia. Forbes and his family arrived in New South Wales on the Guildford on 5 March 1824. He was entrusted with determining in court how the law should be applied. He was a member of the Legislative and Executive Councils and served under the governorships of Brisbane, Darling and Bourke. He participated in the many legal issues of the day including freedom of the press, disposal of Crown lands, treatment of convicts and trial by jury. Sir Francis Forbes was a major figure in the colony of New South Wales serving as Chief Justice for twelve years. He helped shape colonial New South Wales from a penal settlement to a burgeoning free colony.
Of the several homes Forbes owned, Edinglassie was one of his favourites. He had named it after one of the Scottish estates owned by his family. It was small and unpretentious, but a retreat where the family were able to pasture their horses and tend an orchard of pear and apple trees and grape vines. Before leaving on a visit to England in 1837, Forbes gave strict instructions to Ambrose Wilson, the caretaker, on the management of the estate while he was away. Upon his return Forbes was pleased with a letter from Wilson regarding Edinglassie which he called `my little favourite spot`. Lady Forbes also enjoyed her stays there, especially excursions along the river in a boat loaned to her by Sir John Jamison and rowed by four of his men.

Francis married Amelia Sophia Grant, daughter of Dr David Grant and Anne Hitchman, on 22 Nov 1811. (Amelia Sophia Grant was born on 24 Feb 1795 in Kingston, Jamaica West Indies and died on 14 Mar 1886 in Double Bay, Sydney, NSW Australia.)