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George William Bashford 1840 - 1893

George William Bashford was born in Sompting, Sussex on 2 November 1840, where he was christened on 13 December 1840. He was the eighth child and fourth son of Josias Bashford and Frances Greenyer.

Josias was a market gardener, and all of George's early life was spent in the small farming community of Sompting, at the time of both the 1841 and 1851 census, the family was living on Sompting Street in Sompting.

At the time of the 1861 census he is recorded as being an Ordinary 2nd Class seaman aboard the "Britannia" - the cadet training ship - in Portsmouth, Hampshire (Captained by Robert Harris) - see image right. The HMS Britannia was a 1st rate wooden ship of the line of the Royal Navy. She weighed 2616 tons and was launched in October 1820. She had 120 guns. In 1859 she became the training ship for Naval Cadets (there were about 236 in 1860). She was moved to Portland in 1862 after it was determined that the 'fleshpot of Portsmouth' was NOT an appropriate environment for young men. She was further moved onto Darmouth in 1863 and was supplemented with a second ship the Hindostan in 1864. The site later became the location of the Britannia Royal Naval College.

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^{Britannica at Falmouth 1863}

George volunteered onto the Britannia on 16 July 1860 (his service number was 10924A) for a period of 10 years and was NOT an apprentice. On these records he is noted as being 5' 9½" inches tall wth a swarthy complexion, brown hair and grey eyes, and he has a scar on the back of his left hand. There is no posting information on his service record, so apart from time on the Britannica, it is not known where else he served.

Despite his 10 year enlistment contract, five years later we find George in Queensland. We don't know how he got here, but we know he didn't emigrate via a scheme (assisted or unassisted).

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Given his enlistment contract and the fact that there is no record of his retirement from service, it can only be supposed that he deserted the Navy and jumped a merchant vessel to Australia (using a different name OR came on an immigration scheme using a different name). If he was a crew member it may prove difficult to identify records as not all crew lists were registered, but he would have been able to sign on as an able seaman with over three years experience

We have not identified any George on any crew list in Australian Waters in this period, but it is known that he arrived in Australia some time around 1865/66, and that he made his way to Brisbane. In a speech to workers commemorating the start of construction on the Sandgate Railway in May 1881 he puts his date of arrival around 1867 by stating:

"fourteen years ago he had landed in the colony without a fraction. He first engaged with a butcher of the name of Collins, but finding his duties were to groom horses, he shouldered his swag, and took the road to Ipswich next day,and got there at night without a shilling in his pocket.

Based on this, it was highly unlikley that the 14 years he references was an accurate statement, as he had to be in Ipswich as early as March 1866 in order for timelines to be accurate. See Ipswich Founding Families Index.

A newspaper article on Sarah Ann in the Ipswich Time in 1927 notes that George arrived "some time after" the Fulleloves (but does not indicate the ship or immigration status). It does note that his first job in Queensland was to wait on the tables at the function at Bigge's Camp celebrating the opening of the first railway line in Queensland, which was in July 1865. So it seems highly likely that his arrival was some time in the first half of 1865.

By August 1866 he his noted as being a gardener - potentially at Bella Vista Market Garden on Whitehill Rd at Newtown.

On 16 August 1866 he married Sarah Ann Starkey Fullelove. Sarah Ann was the eldest child of Thomas Fullelove and Sarah Starkey Mansfield. The Fulleloves had emigrated from Kegworth Leicester in 1864. Sarah Ann was four months pregnant when they married.

George and Sarah had ten children (six sons and four daughters) between 1867 and 1885.

Sarah Ann Bashford Born 21 Jan 1867. Married David McKerrow Paterson on 30 Nov 1887
George Thomas Bashford Born 12 Jun 1868. Died 19 Jun 1868 (Died as an infant)
Thomas Josiah Bashford Born 1 Oct 1869. Mildred May Muriel O'Farrell on 21 Nov 1912
Mary Emma Bashford Born 14 Sep 1871. Married James Cairns Bain on 30 Aug 1893
George Fullelove Bashford Born 1 Oct 1873. Married Matilda Elizabeth Capes on 19 Dec 1895
Phillip Bashford Born 3 Aug 1875. Married Ellen Murphy
Eleanor Bashford Born 7 Dec 1877. Married William Joseph Cook on 1 Jun 1898
Charles Bashford Born 24 Feb 1880. Died 1 Mar 1880 (Died as an infant)
Henry Bashford Born 22 Mar 1882. Married Clare Margaret Stellamach on 18 Jan 1905
Frances Bashford Born 27 Feb 1885. Married Walter Scott Johnston on 10 Oct 1906

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By 1868 he is noted in the Post Office Directory as a Green Grocer.

In February 1868 there is a George Bashford who applied applies for a Publicans license for a hotel at Oakey Creek at his house (see advertisement right). It was granted in on the 10th of March. We believe confirmation that this is our George, comes in a reference from his wife's that they spent "several years in Maryborough".

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To the* Worshipful the Justices of the Peace, acting in and for the Police District of Maryborough, in Queensland.

I GEORGE BASHFORD, now residing at Maryborough, in the district of Wide Bay, do hereby give notice that it is my intention to apply at the next Licensing Meeting, to be holden for this district on the 10th day of March, 1868, next ensuing, for a Publican's License, for the sale of Fermented and Spirituous Liquors, in the house and appurtenances thereunto belonging, situated at Oakey Creek, under the sign of the Oakey Creek Hotel,and which I intend to keep as an Inn or Public house.I am married, and have not held a licensebefore.The House is my own property. It contains two sitting-rooms and four bed-rooms, exclusive of those required for my own private use.Given under my hand this 8th day of February, one thousand eight hundred and sixtyeight.

(Signed) GEORGE BASHFORD.

George's stint as a publican in Maryborough, didn't last for long, as by 1870 he is back in Ipswich.

Between 1870 and 1873 he and his wife won numerous prizes at the agricultural shows for their vegetables and grains - the family is referenced as being from Newtown at the time.

In December 1870 he purchased a fruit stall at the Christmas Races for 7 5s

It is most probably that George moved into contracting at the behest of his father-in-law -Thomas Fullelove - who was previously a reservoir contractor in England and was involved in road contracting.

In the early 1870s George (at the age of 30) - about the same time he moved into contracting - began to gain a public profile, gaining regular mentioned in the newspapers. He was politically active (directly nominating candidates for election) and endorsing public petitions for candidature. He was a large supporter of George Thorn Esq.

It is not known where the family lived in Newtown, but it must have been a relatively nice property because over the next few years he had a number of weddings there, church picnics

In February 1873 George was nominated for Committee membership of the Ipswich and West Moreton Agriculatural and Horticultural Society. At the same time he was nominated to run as an Alderman in Ipswich, but was unsuccessful.

In November 1873 he ran for Parliament as the member for Bundanba in Ipswich, but was unsuccessful, and there was some scathing commentary in the Queensland Times about his aptitude for the position. His election speech (published in the Queendsland Times on 11 November 1873) can be found in the related documentations below

In February 1875 he sells up a number of first class draught horses, saddle horses, cows, trollies, ploughs and harnesses. potentially in preparation for a move out of farmin

In 1875 he was elected as an Alderman in Ipswich, in February 1875 he was disqualified from the position by the Mayor (See newspaper article) and then later in March his nomination into the vacancy was returned without opposition. a position which he held thru 1876 until February 1877 when he resigned.

From 1873 to 1877 he is noted as a Stewart at Ipswich Turf Club (along with a number of other notables, include Hon George Thorn), and in 1876 he was Clerk of the Course

The through the 1870s and the first half of the 1880s the family propspered off the back of George's Railway Success. Between the early 1870s he built over 250 miles of track for around £750,000, including

three sections of the Great Western Railway,
the Sandgate,
Harrisville to Dugandan,
a section of the Brisbane line in the, vicinity of Dinmore,
Cooktown, Mourilyan Harbour,Cairns lines,
numerous branch lines
and the construction of the Beenleigh to Southport line when (where he became insolvent)

A full overview of his railway career including relevant newspaper articles is available here.

In 1880 George purchased Claremont House on Blackall St in Ipswich. This Claremont is the second of two Claremont houses built by Ipswich pioneer John Panton. The first Claremont was apparently built of sandstone at Limestone Hill at 1a Milford Street in 1858 and is now owned by the National Trust. Financial difficulties forced a sale in 1863.

John Panton built the second Claremont at 5 Blackall Street, East Ipswich in 1865. One report claims that it was built of stone and slate for the double roofs, while another report claims it was made from brick.. In April 1881 the house was painted by renowned artist Charles Gordon Sebastian Hirst (see right).

In November 1880 George sells off "All tke MATERIALS of COTTAGE situated between the residence of Geo. Bashford, Esq, and the Basin known as "Panton's Garden."

George had a reputation as a social man, hosting gatherings and bank

From ? - 1887 he was on the Committee of the Ipswich Turf Club

In August 1883 he appears to have been put himself forward as a Candidate for the Liberal Association nomination for the seat of ?

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Things started to go south for George some time in mid 1880s. Despite having an excellent reputation and highly loyal work force the highly competitve nature of the meant that the ... (QLD System, lowest tender, highly competitive market, quote about not submitting and problems)The railway market was highly competitive at this time, with significant undercutting and where consistently awarded on lowest price, leaving very little margin for the contractors, many became insolvent.

In late 1887 despite being successful on the Beenleigh to Southport and Nerange extension of the Southern line, George started selling off assets. In December 1887 he went south on business, and never came back.

It is believed he went to Western Australia (Gold had just been discovered). His disappearance is widely covered in the media, as his insolvency in February 1888. By November all of his commercial assets have been sold, and his family had been left destitute.

In 1890 George pops up in Sydney, but there is no reference of him again until 1892 in Zeehan, Tasmania

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title	The Sydney Morning Herald - Thursday 27th February 1890

PERSONALS - GEORGE BASHFORD, late Railway Contractor, Queensland - Send address D. Anderson, 11, Bond-st.

His family obviously had no idea of his where about. It appears that the QUEENSLAND NATIONAL BANK took ownership of Claremont in 1892 - In September 1892 there is a To Let notices in the Queensland Times

"TO LET, Unfurnished, the HOUSE, at Limestone, formerly occupied by George Bashford. Apply to the QUEENSLAND NATIONAL BANK LIMITED" .

It looks like the bank initially leased and later sold off the core of the property. It appears that the family were left with enough to buy 0.6 acre property in the same street as Claremont - Bella Vista. Bella Vista is located at 60 Blackall St and the family are living in there in November 1893.

George's died at his residence on Main Street, Zeehan, Tasmania on 2 July 1893. Funeral parlor records indicate that his burial service conducted by W. Shenton a methodist minister and a Mr James P Read with witnesses Mr L McCoombes and Mr S.H. Ploetz.

But that wasn't where the dramas ended for the family. There were ongoing issues with Georges estate and after a protracted probate period (and will lodgement on 4 separate occasions), it was finally settled in October 1896. It must have been devastating for Sarah Ann that - after ten child; the rapid rise in the families standing and then public decline - George's will made no mention of his Ipswich family.

George left his entire estate (not that it amounted to much after the bank had a go at it) to a Tasmanian woman - Name to be Confirmed

Sarah Ann passed away on 16 August 1935 at the ripe old age of 91 (it should have been her 69th wedding anniversary). At the time of her death she was living still living at Bella Vista in Blackall St Basin Pocket, Ipswich. Her burial service was provided by Methodist Minister, Rev A.H. Stoke and witnessed by Mr W. Smith and Mr James Edward Burren.

Queensland Times 6 Dec 1887

Lot 19, Eastern Suburbs.1 ROOD 31 9/10 PERCHES, being Re-subdivision 1 of Subdivision 7, 8, and 9 of Allotment 85, Bremer-street; fenced; and adjoins the residence of Mr George Bashford. Lot 20, North Ipswich.

At the turning of the sod last week of an extension of tho Fassifern railway; the con' tractor, George Bashford, gave a little of hisexperience as a Government contractor,stating in the course of his remarks that afterho hail completed the contracts now in handhe would havo constructed tor tho QueenslandGovernment 250 miles of railway, for which he would have received £750,000, oi; £3000per milo on the average.

Financial Problems and Insolvency

It appears that George fled Queensland some time in late 1887, leaving a lot of debt. It is believed he went to Western Australia (Gold had just been recovered) prior to moving to Zeehan Tasmania.

It is noted in the The Brisbane Courier on 24 January 1888 that "Mr George Bashford is said to have left the colony" and then again in the Logan Witness on 28 January 1888 that... "NOT EXPECTED BACK. — From the general opinion of the railway workmen and others,it is not thought likely that Mr. George Bashford - will return to this colony. It is understood that the Q. N. Bank and the Government have made arrangements to finish the railway with most of the present men employed." Whilst on the 10th of February The Telegraph notes "Bashford's Section. The Government have arranged with the Queensland National Bank to complete, on.behalf of Mr. George Bashford, the unfinished railway contract from Beenleigh to Nerang and Southport. (Also similarly noted in the Telegraph on 21 January 1888)

On 11 February 1888 The Queenslander records that "an insolvency petition was filed against him with the Supreme Court, Southern District Brisbane by Samual Shillito and Son of Ipswich, Mr Drysdale for the creditors moved for substitute service of the petition and leave to file deficient affacdavit. An order was made according. The Telegraph on 10 February provides further detail noting that:

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Supreme Court.

In Chambers.Wednesday, February

Before his Honour Sir Charles Lilluy.

In re insolvent petition of Samuel Shillito and Son, of Ipswich, v. George Bashford, of Ipswich, railway contractor, on the application of Mr. A. M. Drysdale, for petitioning creditors, Mr. James Peirson, accountant, was appointed receiver of the estate.

He was adjudicated insolvent. This was broadly announced by a number of publications on February 16 and 17 including:

Morning Bulletin (Rockhampton)
South Australian Register (Adelaide)
Mackay Mercury
Queensland Times
The Argus (Melbourne)
The Northern Miner (Charters Towers)
Queensland Figaro
The Queenslander
The Mercury (Hobart)
The Brisbane Courier

The creditors came pouring int

The Darling Downs Gazette provided information about the outstanding creditors on 29 February 1888

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BASHFORD'S INSOLVENCY.

Bkisbane, February 28.

The first meeting of creditors in tho insolvent estate of George Bashford, was held to the principal liabilities being, G. J. Sealbrook,day. Debts were proved amounting to £3,536, £941 ; Thomas Shaw, £900 ; Robert Henderson, £487; Perkins & Co.. £382; Samuel Pitt, £265.

In The Queenslander on 3 March 1888 there was reference to the following creditors

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First meetings of creditors were held on Tuesday in several insolvent estates, before Mr.William Bell, Registrar of the Supreme Court.The case of George Bashford, railway contractor, of Ipswich, was the first matter called on, and the following debts were proved:—Robert Henderson, £487 18s. 9d.; Shillito andSons, £61 11s.; Cribb and Foote, £126 10s. 4d.; G. J. Scabrook, £941 0s. 10d.; A. Shaw andCo., £154 8s. 2d.; the Hon. Patrick Perkins,£217 5s. 3d.; Samuel Pitt, £265; Thomas Shaw, £900; Perkins and Co., Limited,£382 14a. ld. Mr. Joseph Peirson, accountant, was appointed to be trustee in the estate without security, at a commission of 5 per cent on all assets realised. Messrs. Samuel Shillito, of Pimpama Bridge, Thomas Shaw, of Ipswich, and Robert Henderson, of Pimpama Bridge, were appointed a committee of inspection.

On May 30 1888 the Cairns Post and Warwick Examiner both note that "In the Insolvency Court today a certificate of discharge was granted to George Bashford, on the application of Mr Chambers"

By July 1889 his estate was in administration with this notice appearing in the Queensland Time on 6 July 1889

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In the Supreme Court of Queensland.

IN INSOLVENCY.

In the Matter of GEORGE BASHFORD,of Ipswicb, Railway Contractor, an Insolvent. CREDITORS who have not yet PROVED their DEBTS, in this Estate, are requested to do so by the Twenty-second Day of July, 1889, otherwise they will be excluded from participation in any Dividend that maybe declared.JOS. PEIRSON,227 Trustee.

On 27th July 1888 the following sales of assets from the insolvent estate are noted in the Brisbane Courier.The sale itself was conducted in the Bazaar of AJJ Warby & Co on 21st July at 11 o'clock and was heavily advertised in Brisbane Papers in the week beforehand

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A J J. Warsy and Co report - Horse market dull, sales dillicult to effect the following is a list of our sales for the weed ending 26 July:

J Peirson, trustee m the insohent estate of George Bashford,

2 timber waggons 15 sets harness and 15 draft horses ((bony old and ?) £142; E. Bnecker, light harness gelding, £13; E.Elliott, 1 ditto, £11 15s.; S. Bartley, 1 ditto, £10 2s. 6d.; J. Stewart, medium draught horse, £18:J. Nuthall 1 ditto, £15 10s.: M, Morrow, light harness gelding, £15 ; ,T. M'Cownu, 1 ditto, £15 ;B. Agnew, hack, £9 10s.; W. Clark, bay pony, cart and harness, £24; bay horse, cart, and harness, £25 12s. 6d.; McLellan, spring van, £9 10s.;W. Frost, hack; £10 10s.. P. Hughes, medium draught horse, £20; 2 saddles and bridles, £5 10s.; W. H. Penhnligou. hack, £9; .J. Gregory,2 hacks, £10, £6 ; J. Dobbs, horse, cart,and harness (inferior), £14 2s. 6d.; J.Bailes, hack, £7 5s.; J. Lindsay, hack,.£6 15s.; G. Brown, hack, £8: W. G. Long,hack,£6 10s.; J. Beaver, 2 hacks, £16; W. Chandlier, hack, £6 : R. Purpoint, buggy gelding, £31 10s.; J. Simian, back, £21 ; .J. Waghorn, draught colt,£26,. medium draught, £18: W. Stringer, 3 light harness geldings, £18, £16 15s., £17 7s. 6d.;J. M'Bride, J. Gregory, G. Bonney, .T. Coulter,J. Geraghty (2). J."Savage, Shaw and Co., G.Edwards, j. H. Faulkner, G. Elliott, Arm strong,A. Green, J. Ealing, M. Ferry, Lake (2), J. K.Keane, H. Cuudith, 3. Stewart, New Zealand Insurance Company, P. Hughes (3), A. Chapman,C. Langtry, B. It. Stevenson, A. Henderson, J.Booth, J. "Hicks, and others, 31 inferior sorts at from £1 5s. to £6 17s. 6d. Cattle : On account.E. Wilson, dry cow, £2 10s.; 12 head mixed cattle, £21 ; J. Graham, milch cow, £6 10s.; F.Hughes, 24 mixed cattle, £60 ; W. Buckley, J.Graham, J. M'lhiile, 7 dry cows at from £1 to £2 17s. Gd.-[Advt.]

There was a tender for the sale of of his buildings and materials at the Saw Mill at Pimpama Bridge was advertised on 3 November 1888 in the Logan Witness

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Insolvent Estate of George Bashford, toutractor.rpENDERS ere invited for all Galvanised Iron, Iron Buildings, and other Material belonging to this Eatate, on the premises attbp Main Camp. Fimpama Bridge.The highest ot any tender not necessarily accepted.Particulars on application to the undersigned with wbotn tenders must be lodgednot later than 7th November;JOS. PEIfiSON,

Trustee.139 Queen-street, Brisbane

Will and Estate

In the Telegraph on 7 April 1894 there is a notice

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF QUEENSLAND.' ECCLESIASTICAL JURISDICTION.

In the GOODS of GEORGE BASHFORD,late of Zeebnn, in the Colony of Tasmania, but formerly of Ipswich, in the Colony of Queensland, Railway Contractor, deceased,Intestate.

Notice is hereby given that, after the expiration of fourteen days from the publication hereof, application will he made to the said Honourable Court that 'LETTERS of ADMINISTRATION of all the Goods, Chattels, Credits, and Effects of the above named George Bashford, deceased, .who died intestate, maybe GRANTED to SARAH ANN STARKEY BASHFORD, of Ipswich aforesaid, the Widow of the said deceased. ,Dated at Ipswich this fourth day of April,a.11. 1894.' .

Interesting it notes that George died intestate (without a will). This is rebutted when on On 18 September 1894 in the Mercury (Hobart) a Probate for George Bashford was issued to Edward Francis Ward, £5.

Interestingly enough his will was lodged again on 1 Jun 1895 with the announcement in the Brisbane Courier of 1 June 1895

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF QUEENSLAND.

Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction.

in the WILL of GEORGE BASHFORD, late of Zeehan, In the Colony of Tasmanla, but formerly or Ipswich, In the Colony of Queensland, Railway Contractor, Deceased.

Notice Is hereby given that, after theexpiration of fourteen "days from thedate of publication hereof, applicationwill be made to the said Honourable Court that LETTERS of ADMINISTRATION, with an Exemplification of PROHATE of the WILL of the said George Bashford, deceased, annexed, may be granted to THE UNION TRUSTEECOMPANY OF AUSTRALIA, Limited,of Brisbane, in the colony of Queensland, the duly-constituted Attorneys of Edward Francis Ward, of Zeehan, In the said colony of Tasmania, one of the Executors named in and appointed by the Will of the said deceased, reserving leave to JOHN KING BACHELOR, of Zeehan aforesaid, the other Executor named In and appointed by the Will of the said deceased, to come in and prove the same at any time hereafter.

Dated at Brisbane this First day ofJune, 1S0G.

The Queensland Time on the 13 August 1895 notes that

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"Letters of administration have been granted in the Supreme Court in the estate of George Bashford of Zeehan, Tasmania, but formerly of Ipswich, railway contractor, personally, £604.

George's estate again appears in the news, with a notice in The Brisbane Courier and The Telegraph on 24 October 1896.

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IN THE SUPREME COURT OF QUEENSLAND.

The Chief Justice.

In the WILL of GEORGE BASHFORD, late of Zeehan, in the Colony of Tasmania, but formerly of Ipswich, In the Colony of Queensland, Contractor, Deceased.

Notice Is here by given that the ACCOUNT of "THE UNION TRUSTEE COMPANY OF AUSTRALIA, Limited,the Administrator in the above named Estate in Queensland, from the Second day of September, one thousand eight hundred and ninety-five, to the Twentieth day of October, one thousand eight hundred and ninety six, has this day been filed in my office, duly verified by GEORGE FREDERICK SCOTT, the Manager of the said The Union Trustee Company of Australia, Limited. All parties claiming to be interested in the said Estate are at liberty to inspect the said Account at my office, in the Supreme Court House, Brisbane, on or before TUESDAY, the Eighth day of December, one thousand eight hundred and ninety-six, and, if they think fit, to Object thereto. Notice is also given that, whether any objection is taken to the said Account or not, I shall after the aforesaid day proceed to examine and inquire into the said Account.Notice Is further given that any person who may desire to object to the said Account, or any item or items therein,must before that day file a Memorandum in my office to that effect.

Dated the Twentieth day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and ninety-six.

(L.S.) W. A. DOUGJJAiS,

Deputy Registrar.

In George's will there is no mention of his Ipswich family. He

George William Bashford 1840 - 1893

George William Bashford was born in Sompting, Sussex on 2 November 1840, where he was christened on 13 December 1840. He was the eighth child and fourth son of Josias Bashford and Frances Grinyer.

Josias was a market gardener, and all of George's early life was spent in the small farming community of Sompting, at the time of both the 1841 and 1851 census, the family was living on Sompting Street in Sompting.

At the time of the 1861 census he is recorded as being an Ordinary 2nd Class seaman aboard the "Britannia" - the cadet training ship - in Portsmouth, Hampshire (Captained by Robert Harris) - see image right. The HMS Britannia was a 1st rate wooden ship of the line of the Royal Navy. She weighed 2616 tons and was launched in October 1820. She had 120 guns. In 1859 she became the training ship for Naval Cadets (there were about 236 in 1860). She was moved to Portland in 1862 after it was determined that the 'fleshpot of Portsmouth' was NOT an appropriate environment for young men. She was further moved onto Darmouth in 1863 and was supplemented with a second ship the Hindostan in 1864. The site later became the location of the Britannia Royal Naval College.

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^{Britannica at Falmouth 1863}

George volunteered onto the Britannia on 16 July 1860 (his service number was 10924A) for a period of 10 years and was NOT an apprentice. On these records he is noted as being 5' 9½" inches tall wth a swarthy complexion, brown hair and grey eyes, and he has a scar on the back of his left hand. There is no posting information on his service record, so apart from time on the Britannica, it is not known where else he served.

Despite his 10 year enlistment contract, five years later we find George in Queensland. We don't know how he got here, but we know he didn't emigrate via a scheme (assisted or unassisted).

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Given his enlistment contract and the fact that there is no record of his retirement from service, it can only be supposed that he deserted the Navy and jumped a merchant vessel to Australia (using a different name OR came on an immigration scheme using a different name). If he was a crew member it may prove difficult to identify records as not all crew lists were registered, but he would have been able to sign on as an able seaman with over three years experience

We have not identified any George on any crew list in Australian Waters in this period, but it is known that he arrived in Australia some time around 1865/66, and that he made his way to Brisbane. In a speech to workers commemorating the start of construction on the Sandgate Railway in May 1881 he puts his date of arrival around 1867 by stating:

"fourteen years ago he had landed in the colony without a fraction. He first engaged with a butcher of the name of Collins, but finding his duties were to groom horses, he shouldered his swag, and took the road to Ipswich next day,and got there at night without a shilling in his pocket.

Based on this, it was highly unlikley that the 14 years he references was an accurate statement, as he had to be in Ipswich as early as March 1866 in order for timelines to be accurate. See Ipswich Founding Families Index.

A newspaper article on Sarah Ann in the Ipswich Time in 1927 notes that George arrived "some time after" the Fulleloves (but does not indicate the ship or immigration status). It does note that his first job in Queensland was to wait on the tables at the function at Bigge's Camp celebrating the opening of the first railway line in Queensland, which was in July 1865. So it seems highly likely that his arrival was some time in the first half of 1865. Another researchs notes that he was bought out in the employ of Peto Brassey and Betts who won the commission to build the Main Range Railway between 1865 and 1867, but found himself unemployee in early 1866 when public works were suspended in response to the financial crisis in Europe.

By August 1866 he his noted as being a gardener - potentially at Bella Vista Market Garden on Whitehill Rd at Newtown.

On 16 August 1866 he married Sarah Ann Starkey 1844 - 1935. Sarah Ann was the eldest child of Thomas Fullelove 1823 - 1891 and Sarah Starkey Mansfield. The Fulleloves had emigrated from Kegworth Leicester in 1864. Sarah Ann was four months pregnant when they married.

George and Sarah had ten children (six sons and four daughters) between 1867 and 1885.

Sarah Ann Bashford Born 21 Jan 1867. Married David McKerrow Paterson on 30 Nov 1887
George Thomas Bashford Born 12 Jun 1868. Died 19 Jun 1868 (Died as an infant)
Thomas Josiah Bashford Born 1 Oct 1869. Mildred May Muriel O'Farrell on 21 Nov 1912
/wiki/spaces/HFHW/pages/2523599 Born 14 Sep 1871. Married James Cairns Bain on 30 Aug 1893
George Fullelove Bashford Born 1 Oct 1873. Married Matilda Elizabeth Capes on 19 Dec 1895
Phillip Bashford Born 3 Aug 1875. Married Ellen Murphy
Eleanor Bashford Born 7 Dec 1877. Married William Joseph Cook on 1 Jun 1898
Charles Bashford Born 24 Feb 1880. Died 1 Mar 1880 (Died as an infant)
Henry Bashford Born 22 Mar 1882. Married Clare Margaret Stellamach on 18 Jan 1905
Frances Bashford Born 27 Feb 1885. Married Walter Scott Johnston on 10 Oct 1906

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By 1868 he is noted in the Post Office Directory as a Green Grocer.

In February 1868 there is a George Bashford who applied applies for a Publicans license for a hotel at Oakey Creek at his house (see advertisement right). It was granted in on the 10th of March. We believe confirmation that this is our George, comes in a reference from his wife's that they spent "several years in Maryborough".

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To the Worshipful the Justices of the Peace, acting in and for the Police District of Maryborough, in Queensland.