Person:Grace Tucker (1)

Grace Anna was usually known as Anna. She was the fourth wife of William Hill James. Grace Anna was a member of the Geelong Church of England.

1841 - With parents at Edwards Street, Truro. Ann TUCKER, aged 15, milliner, born in Cornwall.

1849 - Arrived in South Australia on "Samuel Boddington", "with family". Two of her brothers are also recorded as being passengers "with family" on the voyage.

1861 - Notice of probate for her husband's will appeared in The Argus, Melbourne, on 13 April: IN the SUPREME COURT of the COLONY of VICTORIA: Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction.- In the Will of WILLIAM HILL JAMES, late of Geelong in the colony of Victoria, Manager of Her Majesty's Electric Telegraph Department at Geelong, Deceased.- Notice is hereby given, that, after the expiration of fourteen days from the publication of this notice, application will be made to this Honourable Court, in its Ecclesiastical jurisdiction, that PROBATE of the said will may be granted to Grace Anna James, widow of the said testator, and sole executrix named in and appointed by the said will. Dated at Geelong this 11th day of April, 186I. WILLIAM HIGGINS, Geelong, proctor for the said Grace Anna James.

1862 - Newspaper article on the Victorian Parliament Legislative Assembly on 5 March which appeared in The Argus, Melbourne, on 6 March: Mr. FOOTT presented a petition from Mrs. Grace Anna James, setting forth certain claims in consequence of the death of her husband, formerly manager of the electric telegraph, caused by confinement in attendance on his duties, and praying that the petition be referred to the committee on claims for compensation.

1872 - There was an inquest into Anna's death on 27 May and the coroner was Dr Forster Shaw.

1872 - Report of death appeared in the Geelong Advertiser on 28 May: "DEATH FROM FRIGHT.

"An inquest was held at the Shearers' Arms Hotel, Newtown, by the district coroner, yesterday (Monday), on the body of Grace Anna James, a widow, aged 52, who died suddenly on Saturday morning.

"Minnie James, a daughter of the deceased, stated that on Friday night, about ten o'clock, her mother was in the front parlor of their residence, when two boys rushed past the side of the house into the yard, closely pursued by Barnard. The deceased went out first, and witness followed. She heard deceased tell Barnard not to take the law into his own hands. Deceased was so much excited that she could scarcely stand. She was out about ten minutes speaking to Barnard. One of the boys, named John London, had taken refuge in the water-closet, and the other escaped. Barnard opened the door of the closet, and dragging London out by the shoulders, struck him with a stick. Witness and her mother subsequently went to Mrs London's, but the place was dark, and they returned home. Deceased went to bed about 12 o'clock. Shortly before 2 o'clock witness heard her moaning, and in consequence got up and lit a candle. She was sitting up in bed, and complained of dreadful pains in her head, and sickness. She stated that she felt the pain in her head before she retired to rest, and that it had become much worse. She seemed slightly delirious, moaned very much, and got up out of bed. Some pain-killer was procured and administered at her request, but it did her no good. Witness then gave her 30 drops cf chlorodyne in a wine-glass of water, but she merely tasted it. After this she signified a desire to go to the washstand, and as she could not walk witness and her brother, who had been awakened, assisted her, and she bathed her face with cold water. This seemed to give her slight relief, and they conveyed her back to bed. She complained constantly of an acute pain in her head, and kept rubbing the side of her face with a towel. Soon afterwards, about 3 o'clock, she fell into a state of stupor. She breathed only at intervals, and at length about a quarter of an hour afterwards respiration ceased. Previous to this time she complained occasionally of slight pains in her head; but enjoyed good health. Barnard spoke very kindly to deceased in reference to the conduct of the boys. He did not insult or abuse her, but said he would leave the boy alone for her sake. He stated he had pursued the boys because they had been throwing fire on his house.

"Sarah Jepp, a neighbour, stated, that on the night in question, shortly before ten o'clock she heard a noise, and opening her door saw a big boy run past. Asked what was wrong, but receiving no reply, went out, and was going towards Mrs James' house, when she met the man Barnard with a stick in his hand, and dressed only in his night-shirt. Enquired what was the matter, and he complained that the boys had been throwing fire on his house. Told him to go home, as he was undressed. Subsequently she saw deceased, who told her that some boys had rushed into her place, followed by Barnard. She seemed frightened, and said Barnard should not have taken the law in his own hands. She appeared then to be perfectly well, except that she was excited. To a juryman - My place is some distance from Barnard's premises, and a disturbance might occur there without my hearing it. Barnard is reputed to be a quiet, inoffensive man.

"Thomas Opie stated that he went to a bonfire in Gertrude street on Friday evening shortly after 8 o'clock. On his way thither he met Mr Barnard at the corner of Gertrude and Addis streets. Barnard asked him if he was one of the larrikins that had been annoying him. Witness told him that he was not, but that he saw three boys run round the corner. Walked back with him towards his place where he met London, James, and some other boys. They were all amusing themselves with fireworks, and Barnard went into his house. After nine o'clock they went up in front of Barnard's gate, and a boy named Glenister set off half a packet of crackers, whilst witness fired a pistol. They went there on purpose to annoy him. Afterwards they ran over to Glenister's house and hid behind a fence in his yard. In a few minutes Barnard, who heard young London speaking, came after them. They next ran round the rear of the place, leaped over a fence, and retreated up the lane towards James' Place. James ran on, and London opened the gate. Witness followed London down the yard and they got into the closet. Barnard followed, and pulling open the door, seized London by the collar and tried to pull him out. He did not succeed in doing so, and then struck at him with a stick. Heard London sing out, "Oh, my arm." In a few minutes Mrs James came down, and said something to Barnard. Witness then dodged behind a tree, jumped over the fence, and went home.

"To a juryman - Barnard expostulated with the boys at the fire, and told them he had once got his house burned down with fireworks, and did not wish to suffer in a similar way again. I was not struck by Barnard. Heard the boys calling- "Come out, old Barnard," " Who cut your mouth?" " Who bought your shirt?"

"John Richard London stated that he was present at the bonfire. A number of other youths were assembled, and they commenced firing pistols and crackers. They heard crackers being fired opposite Barnard's house, and, going up, saw Barnard, who seemed to be under the impression that it was witness and his companions who threw the crackers about the premises. He stated that his house had previously been burned down by fireworks, and begged us to go away. They went back to the fire again. When we were there about half-an-hour young Opie suggested that we should go back to Barnard's place and annoy him. The rest of the evidence was exactly similar to that related by the previous witness, with the exception that it was alleged that Barnard did not seize or attempt to drag the witness out of the closet previous to striking him with his stick and fracturing his arm. To a jury man - Did not see a stack of hay near Barnard's house that night, nor did he call their attention to it.

"John Barnard stated that on the night in question about 6.30 he returned from the Barrabool Hills, very tired. Was washing his hands, when he heard Mrs Clifford, a neighbour, calling out that the boys were throwing fire on her house. Went across and saw a number of boys there, and among them was a tall man. Cautioned this man not to interfere with Mrs Clifford's house or witness's premises. He replied by throwing crackers at witness and insulting him. Walked up the street with him and the boys, and told them how he had his house burned down on one occasion before through the careless explosion of fireworks. Returned home and had tea, but had scarcely finished when the boys renewed their disturbance outside his house, and began using very improper language. Went outside but they immediately dispersed. Shortly afterwards he went to bed, and his wife remained with a light in the front room, ironing, to deter them from breaking the windows. They continued their annoyance, and when their conduct became unbearable he rushed out in his shirt and pursued them. Followed them into James's yard, where two of them sought refuge in the closet. Ordered them to tell their names, but they would not, and he struck at the closet with the stick. Mrs James came out and said "Do leave him alone, or you may kill him," referring to the boy London, whom he had seized. Witness offered to let him go if he would divulge his name. He said his name was William, and that he lived in Addis street. Had a house on Newtown Hill burned down under similar circumstances on the occasion of the Duke of Edinburgh's visit to Geelong. He had a child burned to death, and in consequence had a great dread of fire.

"At this stage one of the jurymen stated he had lived alongside of Mr Barnard for seven years, and found him to be a most respectable, quiet, inoffensive, and industrious man.

"Dr Carstairs stated that about 4 a.m., on Saturday, he was called to see Mrs James, who was represented to have been suddenly taken ill, and it was feared was dead. On reaching the house found that such was the case, but the body was still warm. The symptoms were related by the children of deceased, and witness concluded that she had died from an attack of apoplexy. Wrote a note to the coroner informing him of the supposed cause of death, and told the son of deceased to take it to the coroner in the morning and relate what had happened. He was of opinion that death was caused by apoplexy induced by fright and possibly cold, resulting from exposure in the night air.

"The coroner explained that from the contents of the note explaining the cause of death he had at first thought an inquest unnecessary, but afterwards, having been made aware of the facts, he found that an enquiry could not properly be avoided.

"Sergeant M'Sweeney said the occurrence had not been reported to the police.

"After a slight discussion, the jury returned a verdict that death arose from apoplexy, induced by previous excitement and exposure, at the same time attaching the opinion, that no blame whatever was attributable to Barnard for his conduct in the affair."

1872 - Death Notice in the Argus, Melbourne, 18 June: JAMES - On the 25th ult, at Geelong, of apoplexy, Grace Anna, relict of the late William Hill James, formerly manager Electric Telegraph department, aged 52.

1872 - On 11 July her house on the corner of Aberdeen and Latrobe Streets, Ashby, Geelong was put up for sale.

1872 - Notice in the Geelong Advertiser on 8 August: IN Re Estate of Grace Anna James, widow, deceased.- Unless all claims herein are forwarded to the undersigned on or before the 15th August instant, they will not be recognised. ALEXANDER GRANT, Solicitor, Temple Court, Melbourne.

Probate: Series VPRS 262, Series 1853/89, Item 2, Record 528.

1. ↑ Truro Wesleyan Cicuit records.
2. ↑ IGI.
3. ↑ Vic Death Reg. No. 4397.