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The lives of Rowland and Elizabeth Hassall represent a remarkable narrative of faith, endurance, and influence in the early colonial and missionary history of Australasia. Born in England, Rowland and Elizabeth embarked on a defining journey in 1796, departing aboard the Duff as part of the London Missionary Society’s first expedition to the South Pacific. Their mission took them to Tahiti, where they, alongside fellow missionaries, sought to establish a Christian foothold.
Their time in Tahiti, however, was marked by severe adversity. Amid local unrest and conflict between rival island factions, the missionaries’ position became increasingly precarious. In 1798, with three infant sons in tow, the Hassalls were forced to flee aboard the Nautilus, a leaky and barely seaworthy vessel bound for the penal settlement of Port Jackson in New South Wales. The journey marked a humbling transition from missionary optimism to colonial survival. In Sydney, they faced uncertainty and misfortune, including a violent robbery in which Rowland was assaulted and their remaining possessions stolen. Yet from this inauspicious beginning, the family began to rebuild.
J M Kronheim and Company. J M Kronheim and Company :The missionary ship "Duff" arriving at Otaheite. [Printed by] Kronheim and Co. London [1840s]. Ref: A-118-003. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/23088762
By 1801, the Hassalls had settled in Parramatta, establishing themselves at what would later be known as 103–109 George Street.
Over the next two decades, Rowland and Elizabeth raised eight children while managing a variety of enterprises. Their general store became a fixture in the community, and Rowland’s reputation for integrity led to his appointment as government storekeeper under Governor Philip Gidley King.
He later oversaw properties on behalf of notable figures, including Reverend Samuel Marsden and Governor King's wife, and under Governor Macquarie he was appointed superintendent of government stock in 1814.
He is also believed to have had dealings with Governor William Bligh. Given his position, it is likely that Rowland frequently travelled along George Street to conduct business at Government House.
103-109 George Street, Parramatta - Digitally enhanced recovery of old photograph
Though originally trained as a silk weaver in Coventry, Rowland adapted quickly to colonial life, acquiring extensive knowledge in agriculture and animal husbandry.
He bred sheep, cattle, and horses, and expanded his landholdings through both government grants and private purchase—first in Parramatta and Camden, and later across the Blue Mountains.
His efforts were not confined to commerce: Rowland remained deeply committed to his missionary roots. He maintained links with the Pacific missions, preached regularly, and engaged in a range of philanthropic causes. These included educational initiatives, support for orphans, and advocacy for Aboriginal welfare.
In all these ventures, Elizabeth was his steadfast partner.
Rowland passed away from fever in 1820 at the age of 52 and was interred at St John’s Cemetery in Parramatta.
Elizabeth survived him by fourteen years and was laid to rest beside him in 1834.
In recognition of their contributions, a commemorative plaque was unveiled in 1913 on the site of their former home, marking the founding of Australia's first Sunday School.
Their name endures in Parramatta to this day, immortalised in local street names and in the values they helped instil in a fledgling society.
Image: Elizabeth (Hancox) Hassall [1766-1834). Unsigned portrait, attributed to William Griffith
Rowland and Elizabeth Hassall understood that the future of their mission did not end with their own lives, but would be carried forward by their children and their children’s children.
They placed particular emphasis on the education, moral formation, and social standing of all their offspring—daughters as well as sons—ensuring that each was prepared to contribute meaningfully to colonial society.
In doing so, they laid the groundwork for a legacy that would ripple through generations.
Their eight children married into many of the most prominent and respected families of early New South Wales, creating bonds that further embedded the Hassall name within both the religious and civic fabric of the colony. Among these enduring alliances:
Thomas married Ann Marsden, daughter of the Rev. Samuel and Elizabeth Marsden
Samuel married Lucy Mileham, daughter of surgeon James Mileham and Elizabeth Price.
Jonathan married Mary Rouse, daughter of the influential landholder Richard Rouse and his wife Elizabeth.
Mary married the Rev. Walter Lawry, contributing to the Methodist missionary cause.
James married Catherine Lloyd, daughter of John Payne Lloyd.
Eliza Cordelia married the Rev. William Walker.
Susannah married William Shelley Jr.
Ann married Robert Mackay Campbell.
A notable moment in the family's history occurred on 22 November 1819, when three of these unions—Samuel and Lucy, Jonathan and Mary, and Mary and Rev. Lawry—were solemnised together at St John’s Church, Parramatta. The event, remembered as the “triple wedding,” reflected not only family joy but also the consolidation of the Hassall legacy across multiple spheres of colonial life.
The succeeding generations carried that legacy further. Rowland and Elizabeth’s eight children produced no fewer than 62 grandchildren, who in turn gave rise to an estimated 300 great-grandchildren. Their descendants would settle across Australia and New Zealand, contributing to the development of new communities, churches, schools, and institutions.
Today, it is estimated that between 20,000 and 30,000 individuals can trace their lineage to Rowland and Elizabeth Hassall. Through them, the couple’s values—faith, resilience, education, service—have continued to echo across centuries.
More than just names in the annals of early colonial history, the Hassalls became founders of a living legacy, passed hand to hand through generations, still shaping lives and communities to this day.
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