Macintosh was a retired East India Company Officer who emigrated from England on his ship "Hope" in 1824 with his brother-in-law Peter Degraves (1778–1852). Degraves was an undischarged bankrupt and a convicted thief. In 1826 charges were laid against Degraves for debts incurred in England and he was taken into custody until 1832. As a result of Degraves' arrest Macintosh dissolved the partnership, paid all of the partnership's outstanding debts and took over the running of the sawmills with his two nephews as well as expanding his farming interests near New Norfolk.