George and Rhoda Minett were married in Gloucestershire, England on 30 March 1850. George and Rhoda migrated to Australia from Gloucestershire, England and made settlement at Horse Shoe Bend near Maitland, NSW.
In the year 1856 they moved from the Maitland area to the Manning Valley, first to Bo-Bo Creek, then to Bohnock and from there Moto, finally settling in the Upper Lansdowne Valley around 1870/1880. George was born in the year 1827 and died on the 2 January 1900, aged 73 years. Rhoda (nee Keys) was born in the year 1830 and died on the 28 August 1902 aged 72 years. Together they had 10 children, 5 girls and 5 boys namely:
Harriett b. 29/8/1869 d. 27/6/1953 married 1893 to James Joseph Stace b. 1861 d. 19/8/1955
8 children – Gladys Jane Searle; Frederick Keys (m Albury); Victoria May Middlebrook; Ida Emily Atkins; Eliza Rhoda Mills; Herbert Jarvis (m Albury); Stanley George (m McKay); Clara E Wakefield
Clara b. 16/9/1867 d. 16/9/1933 m. 1888 to George J Cross b. 1865 d. 1927
4 children – Mabel Cross; Arthur William (m Solomon); Agnes Ruprecht; Alfred John (m Browning)
Eliza Charlotte b. 1859 d. 17/5/1945 m. Benjamin Sheather b. 3/2/1853 d. 6/9/1925
10 children –Rhoda Lambert; Harry; Gertrude Clara Unicomb; Hannah Maud Studman; Stephen Roy; Albert Edward; William Arthur; Drusilla Whitmore Burns; Harold George (m Pullen); Harriett Sarah; Ivy Winifred Ogier;)
Sophia Ann b. 20/3/1862 d. 5/6/1937 m. John Reid b. 1856 d. 1942
3 daughters – Esther Janet Young; Ruby Linda Goudie; Lilly Amelia Bell)
Sarah Jane b. 12/4/1864 d. 20/2/1948 m. 1889 to Thomas Baxter Stanner b. 1/1/1864 d. 19/12/1931
1 son Christopher (m Unicomb)
William Henry b. 10/3/1855 died 15/6/1951 m. Annie Maria Unicomb b. 1852 d.22/2/1926
5 children – William George (m Gilbert); Laura Drury; Arthur John (m Gilbert); Leonard Keys; Ethel May
Alford b. 29/11/1856 d. 11/4/1928 m. Kate Cassie b. 1863 d. 23/5/1948
6 children – Adrian Rita Parker; Alford Manning (never married); Annie Vera Leone Potts; Albert Edgar (m Campbell); Anthony George Lancelot (never married); Clarence G Wesley (m Underwood)
Edgar Ernest b. 25/10/1871 d. 1955 m. Susan Miller b. 9/5/1884 d. 1966
11 children – David (m Wilkes); Patrick (m Madge); Grace Dodds; Lillian (never married); Walter (m Reeves); Jack m (McLaughlin); Leslie Bruce (m Munro); Edna Irene Wynn; Elsie Sowter; Nellie Whethem; Jean Duke;
George b. 1/11860 d. 14/10/1932 married 1883 to Susan Cassie b. 1854 d. 30/12/1935
5 children – Flora Wilhemena Rhoda Whatson, John Cassie (m Potts), Ruby Mary May Willis; George Archibald (m Unicomb); Mary Elizabeth Miller;)
Herbert Jarvis b. 16/12/1873 d. 18/4/1953 m. 1899 to Alice May Carle b. 1880 d. 5/9/1970
5 children – Harriet May Whatson; Harold Harvey (never married); Stanley Herbert (m Willis); Daisy Winifred Ann Wallace; Hazel Clissold)
George Snr selected 320 acres of land spanning from Dogwood Corner to Bennett’s Lane (now known as Drury’s Lane) along Hogan’s Road.
In 1861 their eldest son William Henry selected 260 acres across the creek. William Henry divided this farm into 3 properties and left to his sons, William George, Arthur John and Leonard. Leonard died without issue and his property went back to Arthur John’s line. In approximately 1985 Paul and Lisa Minett purchased William George’s block back from his son Athol Jason Minett which put the 3 properties back to the original selection. This property is now being farmed by his great great great grandson Paul Minett (decd) and his wife Lisa Minett (nee Last).
George Jnr selected 160 acres further down the road where the Central Lansdowne Methodist Church was built. George Jnr gave the ground to the Methodist community for the erection of the church.
Owing to failing health George Snr swapped George Jnr 40 acres of land so that he could work his father’s land until his younger brothers were old enough to take over.
The George Snr selection was eventually divided into 4 sections, great great grandson Leon Minett now farms one section and great grandson Vic Minett farmed the original home land of George Minett Snr (this property was sold to Richard Le Cornu).
The section that was given to Edgar Ernest Minett has been split and sold, Mr and Mrs Ron Sharpe and Peter and Catherine now own one section each and the other is owned by Gordon (146 Hogans Road), Jeremy (176 Hogans Road) and Ken Raison.
Tom Minett still farms on part of the selection purchased by Albert Edgar Minett (see 1923 parish map).
Between George Snr and his family they owned over 1,000 acres of land in the Central and Upper Lansdowne area by the late 1880s. Much of this land is still owned by their descendants today.
There are still many descendants of the Minett family living in the Lansdowne area today.
Compiled by Gloria Crittenden from information supplied by Leon Minett and Lisa Minett – August 2024