Person:William James (30)

William arrived in Australia from Liverpool in December 1848 on Pakenham with 7 children from his first marriage and also his third wife Alicia JENKS and their child William George. The young child, however, died soon after at the age of 11 weeks. Alicia also died not long after. There was also an N. JAMES on the ship, whose identity I am unsure of.

After marrying Grace Anna TUCKER in South Australia, and having lived in South Australia, at Burra Burra, Kapunda and Adelaide, for four years, the family moved to Victoria. William was appointed Station Master of Geelong Electric Telegraph Office on 21 September 1854. He was involved with laying the first telegraph line from Victoria to Tasmania. His son from his first marriage, Thomas Reynolds JAMES (who was Assistant Postmaster General for Victoria) was at his side when he died.

The writing on William's death certificate listing his four wives is very small and difficult to read. There are no names given for any of the children. The second and third marriages were in Ireland. From the first marriage to Cecilia Harris REYNOLDS it looks as though at the time of William's death there was 1 living male child, 5 living female children and 3 deceased male children. The second wife Martha's surname begins with Ba... but the rest is difficult to read - it is probably BARRETT but may be Bassett or Barnett or something similar. There appears to be 1 male and 1 female child, both deceased, from this marriage. From the third marriage to Alicia Jenks, it appears there are 2 deceased male children. From the marriage to Grace Anna Tucker it says 3 male and 3 female children are living and there is 1 deceased female child. At the time of his death, William had been living in South Australia and Victoria for about 11 years.

The following information is from the Geelong Historical Society: "William was born in Falmouth, Cornwall, but his family moved up along the central mining area, through Constantine to Illogan. While he was young W. H. James worked as an assayer in the mining industry, mainly around Illogan, then to county of Wicklow, Ireland, before coming to Burra Burra, South Australia as the chief assayer in 1849, bringing his entire family with him. William was married 4 times and produced 21 [possibly 22] children, 12 survived to adulthood, and all came with him to Australia. There he met Grace Anna TUCKER, Philip King TUCKER's sister, and she became his 4th wife. Three years after this marriage, Philip King TUCKER married Sophia Hill JAMES, one of the older daughters of William Hill JAMES, so [Philip's] brother-in-law also became his father-in-law, and his sister became his step mother-in-law."

1849 - The following is taken from the passenger details of the "PAKENHAM" as reported in the "South Australian" newspaper of March 23 1849: 660 tons, F Boyce the captain. Sailed from Plymouth December 16th 1848, arrived Adelaide March 23rd 1849. All steerage passengers except surgeon superintendent, Mr Cearn, in the cabin. W.Hill James who paid 14 pnds for the passage; Explanation: "persons related to emigrants but being ineligible for free passage have paid for their conveyance at a rate of 14 pnds". William's family travelled as assisted emigrants.

From "The story of the Monster Mine, the Burra Burra mine and its townships 1845-1877" by Ian Auhl: "With the serious outflow of miners to the Victorian goldfields: more officials were eventually infected with the 'yellow fever'. Next to leave were the mine surveyer, Henry Yeatman, and William Hill James, second assayer. By increasing the salary of the chief assayer, William K Elphick, to 300 pnds p.a, the company managed to retained his services" (Book available from the Burra Historical Society.) Kooringa Burra Burra: Copper was discovered in 1854 and $10 million worth was extracted by shaft-mining before the mine closed in 1877. More than 1500 people lived in dugouts at Burra Creek in the boom times. In 1850, 33 cottages, 2, 3 and 4 bedroomed, were built for the cornish miners, it is now used for tourists visiting the heritage mining exhibits.

1852 - According to a newspaper article written by his grandson in 1925, William "was appointed by the South Australian [colonial] government as assayer at the Adelaide Mint when it was decided that the gold from the discoveries elsewhere should be minted into tokens or sovereigns to facilitate exchange. It was at this time that the exodus of the male population of South Australia to the gold rushes in Victoria almost depleted the State of menfolk, and inconvenience was caused generally, to those left at home because of the limited means of barter. The gold won by the men was sent to their respective homes by the gold escort under Inspector Tolmer, but when it arrived it was of no use as a medium of exchange for the necessaries of life. Responsible government was not instituted in this State until 1857, and Governor Young decided to relieve the situation of 1852 by minting the gold into sovereigns. There were no cables to England, nor fast mail steamers, in those days, and many months must have elapsed be fore a reply to any communication could be received from the British Government. Therefore, our Governor, anticipating Imperial assent, decided to mint. After preliminary arrangements had been completed, the minting of sovereigns was begun; but after several thousands of sovereigns had been struck, the Government received a reply from London refusing Imperial assent to the minting of gold at Adelaide. Therefore the mint was closed. One of the Adelaide sovereigns has come to me as an heirloom. It bears the inscription, "Government Assay Office, Adelaide, 1852," and on the reverse side, "Weight 5 dwt.'15 grs. 22 carats, value one pound." "

1854 - On the 21st September William Hill James was appointed by the Governor, Sir Charles Hotham, as Stationmaster in Geelong, on 350 pounds per year. This position was held until his death. The first Telegraph Office in Geelong was opened in December 1854 and was a wood building of about 10ft x 10ft situated on the Eastern Beach front near the old Custom House. This was a portable building sometimes situated on the beach and sometimes moved onto the jetty. A more permanent building was later constructed at the corner of Bellarine and McKillop streets, Geelong. The original Telegraph Office is still in existence. In 1889 when it was standing in a condition of neglect and disrepair in the Gaol enclosure, the Town Council obtained permission from the Public Works Department to remove it to the Eastern Park for presentation as "a relic of the early days". Patched up and strengthened it is now in the nursery at the park. On the door is the following notice "This building was erected in 1839 for the Geelong Customs Office and afterwards used as the first Geelong Telegraph Office in 1854". The first Message from Geelong to Melbourne was telegraphed, by Mr William James on the 6th December, 1854. It was about the goldfields riots at Ballarat. (Information supplied by the Geelong Historical Society)

1858 - There is an entry for the Electric Telegraph Office on page 22 of the 1858 Directory for Geelong. It reads: ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH Connecting Melbourne, Williamstown, Sandridge, Geelong, Queenscliff, Ballaarat, Sandhurst, Castlemaine, Kyneton, Gisborne, Kilmore and Longwood. General Superintendant, S W McGowan, Head Office, Hall of Commerce, Melbourne. Offices:

• Melbourne, Hall of Commerce. Station Master, T R James
• Sandridge, Bay Street, near the Pier. Clerk, J W Payter
• Williamstown, Gellebrand's Point. Station master and Superintendent of Observatory, R L J Ellery
• Geelong, Ryrie Street, West. Station Master, W H James
• Queenscliff, Shortland's Bluff. Station Master, S C Vivian
• Ballaarat. Station Master, James Baker
• Sandhurst. Station Master, D R Penton
• Castlemaine. Station Master, T R Ballard
• Gisborne. Station Master, J T Austin
• Kyneton. Station Master, H Burkitt
• Kilmore. Station Master, W S F Payne
• Longwood. Station Master, J W Nunn.

1861 - The following is taken from the "Geelong Advertiser" 13 March: "In our obituary notices today appears the name of Mr W. H. James, who has during the past 5 years been well known as the station master at the "Electric Telegraph Office" in Geelong. Born at Falmouth, in Cornwall, he was early initiated into an acquaintance with mining details; and subsequently for 10 years he filled the post of mineral surveyor of the "Mining Company of Ireland". Upon his arrival in Adelaide, he received a similar appointment in connection with the "South Australian Mining Association", and in the "Assay and Mint Offices" established there shortly after the discovery of gold in Victoria, he took a prominent part during the whole period of their existence. In this colony, also he held the situation of gold assayer to the government, until it was abolished in 1854; and it was under his direction that the furnaces were constructed, which have since been bricked up in the present Survey Department. During all these later years of active and unwearied effort, working ungrumblingly for 12 years to fourteen hours a day, we can bear testimony to his courteousness and his willingness to advance the public interests. He leaves a large family, some of whom are yet in infancy, to regret his loss. His last days were peaceful, and his end was unmarked by pain."

1861 - Death Notice in the Argus, Melbourne, on 25 March: JAMES.— Mr. William Hill James, manager of the electric telegraph, aged 59 years; at Geelong, on the 11th inst.

1862 - The following is taken from the "Geelong Advertiser", 4 March: "Newly a twelvemonth has now elapsed since the death of that exemplary public servant Mr W. H. James, who was for 7 years the trustworthy, efficient, and courteous manager of our "Electric Telegraph Station", but while the claims of others have been pushed forward and recognised, his widow and 6 young children remain without the slightest public acknowledgment of his important services, or any provision for the support beyond the slight earnings secured by needlework. On the valuable information given by Mr James, was based first code of mining laws; the results of his life's study in gold assaying and minting were freely communicated by him to the government, and to members of the legislative interested in such subjects; and it is beyond a doubt, that his close confinement and long hours contributed materially to the shortening of his life. It is however, pleasant to know this matter has been again taken up and that Mr Foott, MLA, will this evening present a petition to the assembly on the widows behalf, which will be supported by a testimonial as to the character of the late Mr James signed by the leading men of Geelong, and as each of the representatives of the town have been communicated with and their help promised, there is yet a prospect of some justice being done to the bereaved family of one whom everybody thought of and spoke about with respect."

1. ↑ Vic Death Reg. No. 1903/1861.