He was not deterred by difficulties and hardships.

Joseph was born in 1802, his father died before he was two and he grew up under the guardianship of an uncle. 

At the age of 13 he was apprenticed to another uncle who was an army surgeon. 

Joseph was admitted to the Royal College of Surgeons in 1824 and spent the next six years as a ship’s surgeon with the East India Company.  

Bombay and China were frequent destinations – in those days the Far East, as it was known, was a source of exotic spices and opium.

Life at sea was tough – there was disease and infection to combat as well as treating the lacerated backs of seaman after they had been sentenced to lashings for misdemeanours on board.  

In spite of this, ‘life on the high seas’ must have captivated Joseph as he remained a ship’s surgeon until 1830.

Once back on land Joseph married Agnes, a cousin who shared Joseph’s interest in painting and sketching. 

Joseph opened an apothecary’s business where opium was sold as a cure for most ailments. 

In those days there was no restriction on the trade of opium as it was cheap and could be sold over the counter.

Obviously Joseph has not fulfilled his quest for adventure and an opportunity presented itself when the East India Company ceased to exist as a trading company and offered compensation to those who has suffered as a result. 

Joseph was successful in his application for compensation and the money he received allowed him to book a berth for him, Agnes and his young son to sail for Australia.

Some of Joseph’s cousins had already ventured to the colony and had returned with tales of rich agricultural farmland just waiting for those to take up the opportunity.

Joseph first settled  ‘Thornthwaite’ in the 1830s and Sunday, November 23 will see another cricket re-enactment of the first photograph of a social cricket match in Australia and probably the world at the property.

The event starts at 11am and all are welcome.