David Jones (abt 1827 - 1866)
David Jones was born in Swansea, Glamorgan, Wales some time between April 1827 and April 1828. We have been unable to find birth or christening records, however his immigration records indicate that his parent were Thomas Jones and (mothers name yet to be deciphered). His nominated religion was Independent, Wales was a predominantly non conformist country, so this is no suprise. In the early 1800s were predominantly non-conformists churches were Congregationalists (aka Independents), Baptists or Calvinistic and Wesleyan Methodists. There is a list of independent chapels in Swansea available on this site - http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/wal/Indchapels.html#Glamorgan
Little is known about David prior to his immigration to Australia. In 1849 David left Wales and later the United Kingdom for Australia. It is unknown whether David boarded at London or Plymouth, irrespective, prior to his boarding, he he would have been interviewed by Agents to determine his eligibility as an assisted immigrant under the New South Wales Second Bounty Scheme. The second Bounty system of immigration was set up in 1847. The Colonial Land and Emigration Commissioners were entrusted with the selection and conveyance of migrants, while the Immigration Board in Sydney decided whether or not shipping companies were entitled to payment for immigrants brought to the Colony.
It is unknown whether David departed from London or Plymouth, but some time in November 1949 (London - 22 November ; Plymouth - 30 November) he boarded the Oriental a 506 ton teak barque built in Cochin, India in 1830 and mastered by Captain Grieves. He arrived in Botany Bay aboard the Oriental which arrived on 17th April 1850, the journey was a long one arrivals notices in the Sydney Morning Herald on 18 April note
"The Oriental has had a tedious passage of 138 days from Plymouth ; the immigrants are all Irish, and are classed as follows : 22 married couples, 67 single men, 53 single women,14 boys and 17 girls under 14 years of age, and 4 infants ; four births occurred on the voyage."
That trip was nearly 3 weeks longer than the average trip of 119 days (17 weeks). There are no known passenger recollections of the trip, to provide context as to why the journey was so protracted. The following references are also available for the ships arrival
April 17 - Oriental, barque, 500 tons, Captain Grieves, from Plymouth the 30th November. Passengers - Mr and Mrs James Dawson and son, Mr and Mrs John Dawson and three daughters, Mr and Mrs Dean and daughter, Mr Richardson, Mr J Burgon, surgeon Superintendent and 199 Government Immigrants (The Sydney Morning Herald 18 April 1850)
April 17 - Oriental, barque 500 tonnes, Captain Grieves, from Plymouth, 30 hogsheads brandy, Flower, Salting and Co ; 20 barrels, 20 half barrels herrings, 23 boxes olive oil, Smith, Croft and Co; 100 cases Geneva, Smith, Brothers and Co ; 1 case merchandise, A an L Hordern ; 977 bars, 110 bundles iron, 23 pots, 136 oven and covers, A. Hawley and Co ; 55 cases, 26 bales merchandise, Daweson and thomspon ; 1081 bars 54 bundles 4 ovals iron, 20 bundles steel, E.F Jencken and Co ; 145 kgs, 20 jugs merchansie, J S Willis ; 2 cases stationery bank of Australlisa ; 1 case stationery, William Moffitt; 1 case L Hobson ; 153 bundles iron L and S Samuel ; 71 mats, 5 bales, 10,000 fire bricks and 33 cases merchanside, 120 deals and 20 casks beer. (The Sydney Morning Herald 18 April 1850)
On his immmigration record, David is noted as being a Coal Miner, a Independent (AKA Congregationalist) born in Swansea (though it is noted that his parents were living in Tredegar, Monmouth) who could read and write with no relations in the colony. He was of good health and its appears that the The shipping company was paid 2 pounds for his journey.
It has not been possible to determine David\'s exact fate, as there have been no identified references to him in colonial records.
The next formal record for David is his marriage to Julia Willoughby in 1854. This marriage is recorded at the Church of England at Cooks River, Petersham. The Petersham estate (owned by Lieutenant-Governor, Major Francis Grose) along with other nearby farms alongside the Coosk River was the first land outside of the Sydney colony cultivated for food, and over time because the primary food production area for the inner city. By 1854 this area was had been sold off as large residential allotments that were purchased by the wealthy merchants of Sydney looking to escape the industrial city centre. In 1855 the railway line was extended through the area. In 1854 the area was semi rural with a number of large blocks and a number of industries like mills.
David married Julia Willoughby in 1854 at St Peters Church of England, Cooks River Petersham. Julia was the 2nd eldest child and second eldest daughter of Charles Willoughby and Anne Maria Butler of Gorey, Wexford, Ireland.
David and Julia had five children (two sons and three daughters) between 1858 and 1864.
- David Jones Born 1858 died 1912. Married Mary J Miller in 1884
- John Jones Born 1860.
- Clara Jones Born 1863. Married John Darrough in 1882
- Esther L Jones Born 1864 Berrima.
- Mary Jones Born 1864 Berrima
After David and Julia's marriage the family disappear for 4 years until they turn up in Tambaroora in 1858 where the birth of their eldest son is registered.
Tambaroora was a major service town for the alluvial gold activities that were underway at Hill End. Australias first stamper battery was set up in Tambaroora in 1856 by the "Old Company" which employed Cornish equipment and miners. around this time the town had a population of about 2000 . In 1858 Tambaroora was in the middle of a drought and in the January had experienced significant bush fires. Its not known when the family arrived there, but they didnt stay for long.
By 1860 the family was living in Campbelltown where their next two children - John and Clara - were born. By 1864 the family were living in Sutton Forest (a small village 5km south of Moss Vale in the Southern Highlands), where their youngest two children - Esther L and Mary - were born.
Both David and Julia died in 1866 (cause at this point unknown), leaving 5 young children with no relatives in the colony to care for them. There is note of an Coroners inquest into David's death on 15 December 1866.
It has been nearly impossible to determine the where about of the children over the following years
Associated Documents
- 1827 Baptism Record
- 1841 Census Records -
- Immigration Records - David Jones
- 1866 Death Record - David Jones
- 1866 Coroners Inquest
Footnotes
- Under the Coroners Act, inquests must be held "when the deceased person is not identified, when the cause of death is not determined, when the person died as a result of a homicide, or if the person died in or attempting to escape from police custody."
Rees, Thomas, and John Thomas. Hanes Eglwysi Annibynol Cymru (History of the Independent Churches in Wales). 5 vols. Vols. 1–4 published by Liverpool, England: Argraffwyd yn Swyddfa y "Tyst Cymreig," 1871–75. Vol. 5 published by Dolgellau, Wales: Argraffwyd a Chyhoeddwyd gan William Hughes, 1891.
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