Individual Notes
Note for: James Weatherall, ABT 1841 -
Index
Individual Note: Household: 1881 Census
Source Information:
Census Place Mulmur, Simcoe South, Ontario
Family History Library Film 1375886
NA Film Number C-13250
District 138
Sub-district D
Division 2
Page Number 70
Household Number 302
Name Marital Status Gender Ethnic Origin Age Birthplace Occupation Religion
James WEATHERALL M Male English 40 O
Farmer E. Methodist
Frances WEATHERALL M Female Irish 39 O E. Methodist
Hanah H. WEATHERALL Female English 19 O E. Methodist
Isaballa C. WEATHERALL Female English 17 O E. Methodist
John R. WEATHERALL Male English 14 O Son E. Methodist
James H. WEATHERALL Male English 12 O E. Methodist
Elisabeth A. WEATHERALL Female English 9 O E. Methodist
Nelson V. WEATHERALL Male English 7 O E. Methodist
Samuel H. WEATHERALL Male English 6 O E. Methodist
Mary Ann WEATHERALL Female English 2 O E. Methodist
William A. WEATHERALL Male English <1 Born: Feb; 2/12 O E. Methodist
Individual Notes
Note for: William Henry Thompson, - Index
Residence:
Place: Melancthon Twp
Individual Notes
Note for: Ann Gilchrist, ABT 1828 - MAR 1910 Index
Burial:
Place: Salem Cemetary, East of Eugenia, Ontario
Individual Notes
Note for: James Blackburn, 1803 - 3 MAR 1854 Index
Christening:
Date: 26 AUG 1810
Place: St Dunstan's, Stepney, London, England
Alias: Full name MAY have been "Everard James //
Occupation:
Place: Surveyor, Engineer, Architect
Emigration:
Date: 1835
Place: England to Van Diemen's Land
Residence:
Date: BET 1849 AND 1854
Place: Melbourne, Australia
Residence:
Date: BET 1835 AND 1849
Place: Tasmania, Australia
Burial:
Date: 5 MAR 1854
Place: Buried in the New Melbourne General Cemetery, Parkville, Location 310, Grave N.154. Church of England. (Burial service conducted by the Reverend James Aaron Clowes)
Individual Note:
This entire Australian branch of the Blackburn tree (James and descendants) is courtesy of Joel Blackburn. James is quite probably the brother of Rev. John Blackburn, or definitely very closely related. The relationship is likely given that James' son was a "Theodore Juxon Blackburn", confirming the Juxon connection. Additionally, there is a stated Hems connection (see Robert Blackburn notes). Joel has also provided a passage from the book "St Michael's Church Melbourne" by Christopher Wood and Marc Askew stating on page 59 that "James Blackburn, the emancipated architect of Hobart was the brother of Henderson's predecessor at the Claremont Chapel". One area that could use further investigation are the parents, "John Blackburn and Anne Hems", because Victoria Grace Blackburn wrote that John Blackburn was the "2nd son of Mary Juxon" (see Mary Juxon notes). Did their father marry twice? Grace said that John had a brother, Samuel, which is also confirmed with Joel's research.
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The Story of James Blackburn
-Man Who Made Good-
This is a phoenix story of a new life which rose from the grey and shameful ashes of an earlier one. It is shining proof that a man thrown into the depths by his own folly and weakness can rise to new heights of achievement and renown.
James Blackburn, son of an Essex liveryman, was born in 1803. He studied engineering, architecture and surveying and married in 1826. By 1833 he was a rising young public servant, attached to the Commission for London boroughs of Holborn and Finsbury. And then - disaster.
Privately involved in building speculation, Blackburn found himself urgently in need of £600, to tide him over for a short period. Naively, he convinced himself he could "borrow" and repay the sum before any questions would be asked. But his clumsy forgery of three Commissioners' signatures, on a Bank of England draft, was quickly detected and he was brought to trial on May 16, 1833.
Despite a strong plea for mercy by his superiors, he was sentenced to transportation to Van Diemen's Land for life.
It could have meant the end of a brilliant beginning and a slow slide downward into hopeless degradation. Instead James Blackburn accepted his retribution for the misdeed and turning his back on the past began a determined and spectacularly successful climb towards complete rehabilitation of himself and his family who made the long journey from England in 1835.
His technical versatility and creative ability were invaluable to the administrations of Governor Arthur and Sir John Franklin but it was to be several years before his hope of a pardon was realised. His first petition though backed by Arthur's recommendation was refused by the Secretary of State and his second was deferred several times for review before being finally granted in 1841.
During his convict term Blackburn was attached to the Department of Roads and Bridges, later the Department of Public Works. He surveyed and supervised the construction of roads, bridges, water supply schemes, harbour improvements, wharves and jetties, all of enormous importance to the rapidly developing colony. He also designed, as existing documents show, the Anglican Church of Holy Trinity, Hobart and St Matthews Church, Glenorchy. Several other notable contemporary churches including St Marks at Pontville and the Presbyterian Church at Sorell are attributed to him on the basis of design characteristic and similar but less well-founded claims are made in regard to many of the best-known secular buildings of the period. For this reason, St Matthew's, as one of the very few fully documented examples of his work, has particular significance. The building is unique in that the tower is located off centre of the building rather than occupying the more usual central position for towers.
After obtaining his free pardon, Blackburn worked for a time in private practice and also engaged in flour-milling at Campbell Town, where he designed and supervised the building of one of Tasmania's most important early houses "The Grange" 1848 - 1849. The documented identification of this was made in Melbourne comparatively recently, by Mr Harley Preston, whose careful stylistic analyses also have established Blackburn's probable connection with other important undocumented buildings.
In 1849, Blackburn moved with his wife and eight children to Melbourne and soon afterwards he was appointed Town Surveyor. Horrified by the death toll from typhoid caused by Melbourne's contaminated water supply, he devised and presented a bold engineering scheme for bringing pure water from Yan Yean. The plan was approved in August, 1851 but it was not until December, 1853 that construction began in earnest.
Ironically, five of Blackburn's children fell victim to the prevalent fever before the scheme was completed. He himself weakened by a serious riding accident in 1852, died of typhoid in 1854.
Few Australians today know anything of this brilliant man, who did so much to shape the development of Tasmania and Victoria. But the full biography in course of preparation by Mr Preston and the visual restored memorial planned for St Matthews should help to ensure that his name and work are remembered.
It is recorded that James Blackburn, land surveyor & auctioneer of No 58 Lothbury, London was freed by patrimony on 7 March 1826. In the same year he married his cousin, Rachel, the daughter of John and Rachel Hems, who was born in 1806. As the Lothbury address was not the family domicile which was at 126 Minories it may be inferred that they had established a temporary matrimonial home in the first months of that year. In the words of the birth registration their first child, a son James, was born " at the house of the said James Blackburn in Wood Street, Barnett, in the county of Hertfordshire ... on the twenty-seventh day of September 1828." Barnett is situated some 15 km north north west of the centre of London and, at that time, would have been a rural area or one of the newer outer suburbs. From about the time of his marriage James Blackburn had been employed by the Commissioners of Sewers for Holborn & Finsbury as Inspector of Sewers; in modern terms a drainage engineer. In 1831 he "embarked in a building speculation which brought him into pecuniary embarrassment".On 25 January 1833 his wife gave birth to their second child, Rachel Ann, in the home of her father at 234 High St Shoreditch. Three weeks later, on 18 February 1833, James forged a cheque on Bank of England for 600 pounds. The forgery was detected, the cheque was not paid and he was arrested and committed to Newgate Prison. In a subsequent petition and testimonial, organized by his brother Rev.John Blackburn and forwarded to the Governor of Van Diemen's Land, it was stated that the building speculation "greatly improved an important neighborhood with respectable houses that are alike creditable to his judgment and taste as a builder". On 16 May 1833 he appeared at the Old Bailey before Mr Justice Littledale charged with intent to defraud. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to transportation for life despite the petition for clemancy strongly supported by thirteen Commissioners who were his employers including the three whose signatures he had forged. In the London Times of 21 May 1833 his name headed the list of those sentenced to transportation for life. The evidence at the trial given by character witnesses throws some light on his earlier activities. Augustus Warren, an attorney, stated that James Blackburn had "taken some ground for a client of ours".It was disclosed that, for four or five years, he had been a tennant of George Tindall of Lloyd's Square, Pentonville and had considerable dealings with Edward Garland of the same address. John Booth, an architect of Red Lion Square, attested to a seven or eight year acquaintanceship and that Blackburn "had done a good deal of business under him at Bagnigge Wells". On 28 July 1833 the convict ship "Isabella" of 579 tons, Master, David Brown, together with two army officers, 29 other ranks, 45 crew and 300 male convicts set sail from Plymouth. After a voyage of 3.1/2 months the ship arrived at Hobart on 14 November 1833. Among the prisoners were 60 boys who were placed in the charge of Blackburn. According to the surgeon's report he gave great satisfaction.
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James Blackburn, son of John Blackburn, scalemaker, was born in Essex, England in 1803. In 1826, when he married his cousin, Rachel Hems, his occupation was described as Land Surveyor and Auctioneer. In 1833, while employed as an inspector for the Commissioners of Sewers for the districts of Holborn and Finsbury in London, he committed a minor indiscretion. This lead to a sentence of transportation for life, despite efforts by his employers to obtain a remission. It has been stated that the severe shortage of skilled workers and professional men in Tasmania led the colonial governor to request the despatch of people in these categories. James Blackburn arrived in Hobart on 14 November 1833 and was immediately employed in the Department of Roads and Bridges which later became the Department of Public Works. He surveyed and supervised the construction of roads, bridges, irrigation and domestic water schemes and harbour improvements. He was also responsible for the design of many churches and public buildings including the Lady Franklin Museum, Holy Trinity Hobart, New Town Congregational Church, St Mark's Pontville and others. He built and maintained the Hobart - Launceston road link. A number of important works, including water supply systems for Launceston and Hobart, were designed but construction not completed due to financial constraints. In 1836, in his petition for pardon, he stated that he had designed and supervised the construction of a scheme which brought water thirteen miles into Launceston and had "surveyed,mapped and levelled three hundred and thirty miles of road". He was too valuable a man for the government to lose and he did not receive his freedom until May 1841. His wife and daughter had joined him in October 1835. On 16 April 1849 he departed from Launceston for Melbourne in the "Shamrock" accompanied by his wife and ten children. When James Blackburn arrived in Melbourne domestic water was obtained from the Yarra River which had already become highly polluted. He made immediate attempts to improve the supply by pumping it through a sand and charcoal filter into an overhead tank near the corner of Flinders and Elizabeth Streets. This system became operational in September 1849. In October he was appointed City Surveyor from a dozen applicants and his eldest son took over his private practice. By early 1850 he was preparing plans and estimates for underground drainage and sewers for part of the city and later for a town hall. In a report dated 9 Jan 1851 he states: "I have made a personal inspection of most of the sources of fresh-water in the neighborhood of Melbourne... the inclines and marshes on the southern face of Mt Macedon ... also Mt Disappointment ... Deep, Moonee Ponds, Merri and Darebin Creeks and the Plenty River... also the Yarra and its tributaries eastwards to Ryrie's Run. (Lilydale)... and a creek (Olinda Crk.) which rises in the Corhan Warrabuul Range." On 8 Sept 1852 he was questioned about his plan to obtain water by gravitation from the sources of the Plenty and Mr King's scheme for pumping from the Yarra at Dight's Falls. He suggested a supplementary supply could be obtained from the "higher course of the Yarra" should the Plenty prove to be inadequate. The select committee appointed by the new Victorian State Government endorsed his plan and recommended that a board be set up to be responsible for both water supply and sewerage. In a letter dated 4 Oct 1853 the Board offered him a position as consulting engineer "which will afford opportunities of carrying out that great scheme for supplying the City of Melbourne with water from the Plenty of which you are yourself the author". Governor Latrobe turned the first sod on 20 Dec 1853. On 3 March 1854 James Blackburn died of typhoid fever, the very disease to the elimination of which much of his life's work had been directed. He was predeceased by five of his ten children from the same cause. Two of his sons followed on in his profession.
References: Australian Dictionary of Biography. Report from The Select Committee 1853. Personal records from various sources.
Compiled by James A.D.Blackburn L.S. M.I.S. AUST.
GFB. March 8, 1991
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"ISABELLA" 579 tons Master, David Brown Surgeon Dr.Sproule;
departed Plymouth 28 July 1833
arrived Hobart 13 Nov 1833 300 male convicts
45 crew 2 officers, 29 OR's of 17th, 21st & 29th Regiments.
James Blackburn was given charge of the Boys Prison and "gave great satisfaction". Surgeon's report: "Very Good"
Gaol report: Connections respectable. Hulk report: orderly
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Notes for Attached picture "Yan Yean, March 1851":
State Library Picture Collection:
Title: Site of the Yan Yean Reservoir 4 - March 1851 [picture]
Accession number(s): H6114
Digital image(s): Site of the Yan Yean Reservoir 4 - March 1851 [picture] Image 1 of 1
Date(s) of creation: Mar. 4, 1851.
Medium: watercolour.
Subject(s): Yan Yean Reservoir (Vic.)--Views.
Watercolour paintings.
Notes: Title and date inscribed below image l.c.
Unknown artist.
Dynix number: 975189
dyn975189
Location: Picture Collection - Ask at La Trobe Information Desk
Call number: PCV LTBOX/UNKNOWN 2
Individual Notes
Note for: Samuel C Blackburn, ABT 1870 - JUN 1885 Index
Individual Note:
"In June 1885 much sympathy was felt with Mr Blackburn on account of his son Samuel, a fine young fellow, being drowned in the Exe in front of his eyes"
Individual Notes
Note for: Frederick Tom Blackburn, ABT 1872 - Index
Individual Note:
One son [of councillor Robert Blackburn] Fred is on the staff of his uncle's paper, the Free Press of New London, Ontario, Canada, owned by Mr Stephen Blackburn
Individual Notes
Note for: Joel Barry BLACKBURN, 24 SEP 1939 - Index
Occupation:
Place: High School Principal, retired 30/12/1993
Residence:
Place: Nil
Individual Note:
Education:
Westgarth Primary School (1945-1951)
Northcote High School (1952-1957)
University of Melbourne (BSc 1958-1960, DipEd 1961)
Teaching Career:
Northcote High School (Assistant Class 4, 1962-1963)
Hadfield High School (Assistant Class 3, 1964-1966)
Hadfield High School (Assistant Class 2, 1967-1969)
Broadmeadows High School (Senior Teacher, 1970-1974)
Templestowe High School (Senior Teacher, 1975)
Altona North High School (Deputy Principal, 1976)
La Trobe High School (Principal, 1977-1980)
Fawkner High School (Principal, 1981-1993)
Individual Notes
Note for: Jessie Phyllis Vivienne WOOLLEY, 29 SEP 1920 - 2 NOV 1987 Index
Alias: Known as "Jan" //
Occupation:
Place: Nurse Educator
Residence:
Place: Church of England
Burial:
Date: 5 NOV 1987
Place: Boroondara Cemetery, Kew, Vic. (Wall 20, B3)
Individual Notes
Note for: Helen Hunter MITCHELL, 23 NOV 1843 - 25 NOV 1874 Index
Burial:
Date: 28 NOV 1874
Place: Melbourne General Cemetery, Parkville, Vic. (CofE, N154).
Individual Note:
Helen Hunter Mitchell was the youngest daughter of David Mitchell and Margaret Annand. Her brother David was a baker and Mayor of Footscray, and her brother William was also prominent in Footscray. She arrived in Port Phillip on 15 Feb 1849
aboard the "Thetis" with three brothers and two sisters. See William Mitchell 1834-1915 and David Mitchell 1837-1919