Family background
Thomas Agars was born in London about 1790. He married Jemima Pleasents (d.1868) at Saint Luke’s Church, Old Street, Finsbury, London on 18 February 1826. A daughter Sophia was born in Sydney on 18 April 1841. He died at Camperdown, aged 62, in 1852.
Occupation & interests
Thomas Agars arrived in Sydney on 19 April 1829 as a cabin passenger on the Thompson ‘under mercantile engagement’ to the wealthy merchant John B Bettington. Jemima Agars arrived on the Lady Blackwood in 1830. In May 1830, Agars purchased an allotment on the Darling Harbour foreshore, Millers Point, and built a substantial stone house. He may have been landlord of the Young Princess Hotel in Windmill Street, Millers Point from 1833 to 1835. He established a Farm Servants’ Registry for country clients at his import store in Kent Street north. By October 1844, he was exporting beef to London. In 1859, Agars and Stabler were merchants at 105 Kent Street.
Community activity
In October 1842, Agars was a member of the Jury in the trial of the Norfolk Island murders. He held shares in the Commercial and Sydney Banks and subscribed to the Homebush Races. On 19 November 1842, he was defeated in the vote for the City Treasureship. In July 1844, he was a committee member of the Sydney Fire Insurance Company, becoming Director in September 1844.
Local government service
Agars was elected unopposed as the member for Gipps in Sydney City Council and served in that position between 1 November 1843 and 31 October 1847. He was a member of the Committee of Public Works of 23 November 1844 and the Finance Committee.
References
City of Sydney Archives: Aldermen’s Files
Mitchell Library, State Library of NSW: Manuscript Card Index. Governor’s Despatches A1273 page 461
Society of Australian Genealogists: AGCI Index
State Records of NSW: Bounty Index; Col Sec re Land Reel 1081 2/7788