George William Bashford 1840 -

George William Bashford 1840 - 1896

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. 

Irrespective of his 10 year enlistment, less that 5 years later his is in Queensland. We know that he did NOT emigrate via a scheme (assisted or unassisted). 

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 ???

In 1870 and 1871 he won a number of prizes for vegetables at the agriculatural show in Ipswich. The family is noted as living in Newtown at the time.

In 1871 he started in works construction, building a culvert at Redbank Plains. In June 1872 and again in February 1873 he is mentioned as the contractor on bridge constructions at ? and Walshes Bridge, Bundamba respectively. 

It is around this time that George started to gain a public profile

In November 1873 he ran as Alderman in Ipswich

In 1874 he took up a small contract on the Brisbane Ipswich Railway construction, he was highly successful

In 1875 he was elected as an Aldermand in Ipswich, a position which he held thru 1876.

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:

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

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

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

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

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

It appears that by 1890 he was in Sydney.

In doing so he left the family destitute. 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 sold off the core of the property but left the family with a small cottage that was previously part of the property - Bella Vista. This is noted as 60a Blackall St (Claremont is 60). It is here the family are living 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.

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

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

In George's will there is no mention of his Ipswich family. He left his entire estate (not that it amounted to much after the bank had a go at it) to a Tasmanian woman.

 Things improved for the family in 1898 when Sarah Ann was left property in her mothers will:

Sarah Ann lived to the ripe old age of 91, finally passing away on 16 August 1935. At the time of her death she was living at 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.