Paul Huon was among the first white men to settle in the Albury area selecting the Wodonga Run which included Huon Hill near Wodonga Creek in 1836. (1) Both he and his brother in law William Mitchell were granted leases on 7th Feb 1837. (2)
William Mitchell was married to Paul’s older sister, Elizabeth, and she and William lived at Bungonia near Goulburn, NSW. Tragically, William Mitchell died in a farm accident shortly before he was to move to the Murray River. (3) Not wanting to miss the opportunity of taking up the finest land in the area their eldest son, Thomas Mitchell went in his father’s place and took up Mungabareena which had recently been vacated by CH Ebden. (1)
Paul Huon was closely followed to the area by his younger brothers Charles taking Baranduda and Aime who took up Murramurangbong. (1) The Murray River was exceptional in grasslands and abundant permanent water and this excited interest from squatters desiring to set up stations. Overlanders heading south used the crossing place on the Murray as their access point to Victoria and in 1838 the growing settlement became known as Albury. (1)
Another family member was soon to join the Huons. In January 1838 Robert Brown visited the area and seeing the potential for a store and inn decided to set up a business on the crossing place to supply travellers. (4) Robert Brown was the brother in law of Aime Huon who had married Mary Brown in 1834. (5)
Paul Huon was the son of Gabriel M Louis Huon De Kerilleau and Louisa Emmanuel Le Sage. He was born on 12 Sep 1799 in Parramatta, NSW. (6)
Paul Huon married Sarah House, the marriage taking place at Campbelltown in 1822. (7)
The marriage to Sarah House made Paul Huon a brother in law to Peter Stuckey of Gundagai and in the years that followed, Peter Stuckey’s daughter, Charlotte, married Paul Huon’s nephew, Thomas Mitchell of Mungabareena.
Paul and Sarah Huon had 3 sons, Louis 1823–1894, Paul 1825–1907 and William 1827–1913. A daughter was born in 1829 but there is no other entry so it is supposed she did not survive. His wife, Sarah died in 1830. (7)
In 1830, upon the death of his wife, Paul Huon took a 19-year-old Aboriginal woman (2) known as Nananya Mary, born at Boorowra as his wife. They had a son named Aime Louis Huon known as Amos; 1831–1878 born at Boorowra, South West Slopes, NSW. (7) (8)
Historian, Margaret Carnegie wrote Paul Huon had a second child to an Aboriginal woman, a daughter known as Queen Caroline. (2)
In Carnegie’s book, Friday Mount pg 46,47, is the entry, ‘One of Gabriel Louis’ sons, probably Paul, was the father of Queen Caroline, that most unusual half-caste of outstanding appearance who kept her humpy beautifully clean and saved all her spare cash to buy books from travelling salesmen.… a true Queen in whose veins flowed the blood of the Great Wiradjuri Chief on her mother’s side, and that of Count Gabriel Marie Louis Huon de Keriilleau on her father’s side.’ (2)
Queen Caroline lived at Boorowra (north of Yass) and was well known to the Hume family. Queen Caroline is mentioned by Stuart Hume while retelling stories of his aunt, Mrs Belcher. Mrs Belcher said she remembered Queen Caroline spending time with them at their property at Rye Park, renamed Everton and how Queen Caroline, ‘ruled the tribe with a rod of iron and if even a lad or lass stepped out of line, she would go completely native, shed all her clothes and belt the hell out of the offender with a waddy and no one dared interfere.’ (2)
Carnegie also mentions Queen Caroline’s children, saying they were, ‘…always neatly dressed’ and there’s a story of her son at, ‘…’Hardwicke’, Yass. He was smartly dressed, red cummerbund, polished riding boots and all that…’ (2)
Paul Huon married Jane Brien in July 1831 and Jane and Paul Huon had 8 children together. Both of Jane Brien’s parents arrived in Australia as convicts. (7)
Paul Huon died on August 22nd, 1849 aged 49 years and was buried at Campbelltown. (7)
The photo of Paul Huon used on this profile was one I found online but now cannot trace to discover its authenticity. I believe it is a true image of Paul Huon but my inability to provide its source is proof of the need to correctly cite primary sources.
THE REFERENCES;
(1) AA Andrews, First Settlement of the Upper Murray
(2) Margaret Carnegie, Friday Mount.
(3) See Profile on this site of Elizabeth Mitchell
(4) Ogier’s reminiscences of David Reid, http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-52773898
(5) https://stmaryscorowa.com/2013/11/28/1978-parish-history-chapter-3/
(6) https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Huon_de_Kerilleau-2
(7) https://australianroyalty.net.au/tree/purnellmccord.ged/individual/I43963/Paul-Huon
(8) NSW births, deaths & marriages.
