The Lockley Family of Parramatta is loosely based on John Ellison and his family.  John arrived as a convict in 1791 on the 'Albermarle'. He helped 'put down' a Mutiny on board and was awarded with a 'Ticket of leave.'  As part of that, John was eventually made "Keeper of Government Stores" in Parramatta and also ran the "Jolly Sailor Inn"  just up the street.  Bill Miller is loosely based on Joseph Huff, whose two daughters married two of the Ellison boys.  Joseph was transported for 'stealing a lamb' but was at work  when this occurred. He was transported and later given a conditional pardon.

John Ellison married Sarah Watkins and had  9 children (plus Sarah's son) their 2nd son was John Thomas Ellison and he  became a Blacksmith.   The history of how and why he was educated are scant, but of he somehow he ended up at Cape's Academy in Sydney.  Sir James Martin (Martin Place) and Hon George Thornton(Sydney Mayor 1853), were both school friends and they travelled together from Parramatta to Sydney weekly.  John had a boat and it's possible that he transported them.  However, there was also a ferry and this is also a means of transport. 

in 1903 Thomas Ellison's Obit read:- (he died in 1902)

Another Landmark Gone

Mr Thomas Ellison, ia resident of this district for a number of years, passed away at his daughter's (Mrs James Hunter's) residence, Emu Plains, about 4 o'clock on Friday morning. The old gentleman, who was 88 years of ago, was a native of Parramatta, and was born at the "Jolly Sailor," an old George Street hotel. This hotel and the adjoining store was built by Mr Ellison's father, who bad at the time a contract for the provisioning of convicts. The deceased was a schoolmate of the late Sir James Martin, the late Hon George Thornton, and many other old colonists': In 1840 be was married to his late wife, then a Miss Hough, the late Rev Mr Bobart officiating. During Mr Ellison's long life he kepi! an important hotel at Linden, then called Ellison's Pinch, where he had any amount of strange adventures with bushrangers and other desperadoes. He at first, so it is stated, kept the old Pilgrim Ian at the top of Lapstone, which the late Mr Wasooe parried on until the iron horse crippled the traffic and be had to shut up shop. The late Mr Ellison has been unwell for some time, and his death -was not unexpected, He leaves a family as follows : Mr J T Ellison, Springwood ; Mr James Ellison, Emu Plains; Mrs J Kling and Mrs James Hunter, Emu Plains; and Mrs i B M Coogan, Parramatta-, besides a number of grandchildren and some great grandchildren. The funeral takes place this Saturday afternoon. Some further particulars will appear next week.

Mrs James Hunter, was my great Grandmother, Sara Elliso. Her husband James, was the first Cobb & Co coach driver to cross the Blue Mountains in 1862.  They lived at the "Arms of Australia Inn" in Emu Plains with Thomas.