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HE was born in London, England, in 1810, and was a silk weaver by trade. He had two brothers older than himself, John, who was a mission minister in England and remained there, and William, who was one of the first piano makers and musicians in England. William went to America and became a very wealthy man in that profession.

Their mother was a Frenchwoman by the name of Susan Juipei. They had to take flight from France at the time of the Rebellion and came across to England. The father was a Captain on one of the large vessels from England.

Joseph Bartley left England and came to Sydney in 1830, then went on to employment of Henry Badgery, the owner of Setan Forrest, and was with him for 16 years, starting with him as a stable man and groom for about 12 months.

Mr Badgery used to take him with him where ever he went driving fat cattle from Bridewood [Braidwood] to Sydney, later on leaving off the fat cattle to himself when he found he was trustworthy. Father never summoned a man in his life, nor was he ever a witness in Court, his name is not to be found in Australia in a Court House in any book.

He came to Bega, 1832, in August with 300 heifers to Warragaburra, still in the service for Mr Badgery. This time there was not a white man living about Bega district. Robert Higgs came with a mob of cattle, putting them on Coopers Gully, only stayed two days, in the same month, when he returned home to Goulburn. Bartley stayed on with his cattle in charge. He had a house-keeper sent with him by the name of Michael Dunn.

He was only about nine days camped in the hut when Bartley was out mustering the cattle together which had strayed away over on Grocers [Grosses Creek at Springvale] on a very wet day.

The river bank rose high while he was away. The river then at Kerby’s [Kirby’s] house was only a chain and a half wide, and he had to swim it just at sundown when he reached it. It was his first time ever swimming a horse – got over safe and came down to his hut just at dark.