Jane Bygrave (1829 - 1877)
Jane Bygrave was born May Day Hill Plantation, Manchester Co. Jamaica. She was a slave born to Plantation Owner and medical doctor Thomas Bygrave Esq and slave Elizabeth Jane Ham.
In 1833 the British Parliament passed a law to abolish slavery as of August 1, 1834, throughout the British Empire. Jane (being under 6 at the time) would have been freed immediately, however all Jamaican slaves over the age of 6 were bound (indentured) to their former owners' service, albeit with a guarantee of rights, until 1838 under what was called the Apprenticeship System. The freed population faced significant hardships which resulted in many plantation owners going broke and emigrating.
Little is known about the circumstances of Janes birth, (on her death certificate she is noted as Thomas's child but in Thomas's will is noted as "the reputed daughter of my brother Richard. It is also unknown whether she is the result of a dalliance with a plantation or a mistress. Jane's movements or situation in the years between her birth and 1851. In Thomas's will of 1851 (actual date of death unknown) he left Jane household property (chest of drawers of her choice and the bedstead and bed furniture in his bedroom) and a financial settlement, subsequent to the sale of his remaining property. Due to the challenging economic situation in the colony (many coffee plantations were in foreclosure) it may have taken a while to dispose of these assets, but despite this there would have most likely been a reasonable nest egg remaining and it is likely these funds that she used to immigrate to Australia in early 1853.
The Glenntanner was a 610 ton ship built in Aberdeen, Scotland in 1842 and captained by Captain Benjamin Bruce. It had travelled from Amoy in China, arriving in British Guyana on 12 January 1853 with the first shipload of cheap chinese immigrant labour.
The Glentanner then departed from Jamaica on 10 April 1853 with 151 passengers on board including a significant number of "ruined planters and landowners". It travelled via Bermuda; Bahia, Brazil; and Algoa Bay, South Africa (22 Aug 1853). The journey and passengers attracted a lot of commentary in Australia in the lead up to her arrival.
It will be remembered that on the first of January last, a number of passengers touched here in the John Robinson, from Jamaica, on their way to Melbourne, which they made in forty days from this. We hear another party, numbering nearly sixty, consisting of ruined planters and landowners, are shortly expected by the Glentanner, on their way to Australia.
Report states that the sugar crop there is expected to be under 35,000 hogsheads this year (it used to be 200,000), and most of the white portion of the population are emigrating from the Impending ruin.-Cape Monitor, 22nd May.
EMIGRATION FROM JAMAICA TO AUSTRALIA - A letter to the Savannah Courier, dated Kingston, February 22nd says :
"The British shop Glentanner, 600 tons , will sail on the 5th of April for Australia, full of passengers, many of them highly respectable people, who leave us merely because they have nothing to do. Another vessel will follow her in a few months."
THE GLENTANNER -- The Port Elizabeth Telegraph of 18th August, has the following in reference to this vessel, which arrived in Hobson's Bay early in the present week : -
" We almost omitted to mention last week the arrival ' of the Glentanner, with one of the most respectable body of settlers from Jamaica for Australia that ever visited our shores. Among them are persons of the first respectability, a gentleman of colour, formerly a member of Council in Jamaica, and several other people of wealth and standing in that Island, who purpose making Australia their future place of residence. There is something about the Colonial-British, which at once appeals to the eye and understanding, telling of habits of forethought and industry, not cramped by overwhelmlng toll, like that which crushes the aspirations of too many of the home raised. The passengers of the Glentanner are exactly of this description, and from the highest to the lowest there seems a chord of sympathy, which vibrates to the touch of self-respect. We anticipate that they will make excellent settlers In Australia, and our only regret is that so valuable a body should pass these shores."
The Glentanner finally arrived in Melbourne, VIC 27 Sep 1853. On the ships documentation Jane is noted as being 25. Janes potential financial status is reinforced by the fact that she is noted as travelling with a servant.
September 27.-Glentanner,Ship, 610 tons, C. S Chapman, from Jamaica 10th April, via Bermuda 9th May, Bahia 2nd July, and Algoa Bay 22nd August. Passengers-Mr. B. Henriques and lady, Mr. A Roxburgh, lady, child and servant, Mrs. Chapman and Servant, Mr. R, Thomson and lady, Mr. R. Gregory, lady, four children and servant, Mssrs Thomas Norton, S.Norton, E. G. Harrison, Mr. James Anderson, lady, child and servant, Mr. G. Himming, lady, child and servant, Mrs. Vick, Miss Bygrave and servant, Messrs McCorkell, F. R Griffith, G. D Baggett, Edward Davis, E. Lindsey, T. Rawlings, W. C Taylor, R. Thomas, Martin F. McMahon, M. Young, and one hundred and ten in the intermediate and steerage.
Capt. Chapman, agent.
Janes exact movements upon arrival in the colony are unknown, but some time not long after arrival she married Francis MacDowel in the Roman Catholic church in Melbourne. Francis died sometime between their marriage and birth of their only child (we have been unable to find a marriage certificate or a death certicate for Francis)
- Francis MacDowell. Born 18 Aug 1854 Geelong, VIC. Died Mar 11 1899 Casino, NSW
Francis was christened on October 2nd 1854 at St Mary's Roman Catholic Church, Geelong, the Witnesses were William McMasters and Elizabeth/Mirabell Jackson and she is noted at living at Newtown at the time. Mr McMaster contributed £15 to the construction of St Mary's church as noted in the Geelong Advertiser on 5 April 1854.
It was in late 1854 or early 1855 when she met and married Thomas Davis (though no marriage certificate found, but on her death certificate she is noted as being 24 when she married). Thomas is the son of Clement Davis and Sarah ?. Thomas and Jane had 3 children (1 sons and 2 daughters):
- ? Davis Born ? Died bef. 1877
- Louisa Jane Davis Born 1865 Married Patrick McDermott 1882 Died 1942
- ? Davis Born ? Died bef 1877
The family moved around in their early years, travelling from Victoria via the inland route to Toowoomba where their daughter Louisa was born, before settling back in New South Wales at Bryans Gap 6 km from Tenterfield.
It is unclear when the family arrived in Bryans Gap, but there were living there in 1877 when Jane passed away on 3 Jan 1877. Her death certificate notes her religion as Church of England and her cause of death as an apoplexy that had on set on 30 December 1876.
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