James Bennett

  Noted events in his life were:

• source. Kirrily Cant via Patricia Evans who writes:
Property at Elsmore James sailed from London ENG per: 'STORM KING' on the 1st February 1873 and arrived at Moreton Bay QLD AUS on the 3rd May 1873 as an indented servant to Mr James Tyson of 'Felton Run' County Aubigny - Parish Felton. This was to become the City of Toowoomba QLD. James could not write and the wages book at 'Felton Run' only has his mark, a rather untidy cross. Elsmore is supposed to have had it's origin from two words "ell" & "more". In English, this meaning "large or big swan". These "large or big swans" were seen by the early Celtic pioneers at the crossing place of the McIntyre River. James and Elizabeth Ann lived for nearly half a century in Elsmore, living in only two homes. Their first home (a slab hut) was on the banks of the McIntyre River but because of continual flooding, they eventually moved to higher ground. It was said that while they lived on The Common, "when Mr Bennett started adding another room, Mrs Bennett would soon be in childbed again (she was pregnant)". Their new home was much more modern on a hill above the main street of Elsmore not far from the cemetery. Two letters written by Elizabeth Ann BENNETT for her husband James BENNETT (1852 - 1926) who could not read or write. These letters were of particular interest as they name family members, places and events. The people and information in the second letter became extremely important. With the turning of the new century many people who had a limited knowledge of reading and writing were unable to comprehend a century date change. This was evident in the fact that Elizabeth Ann wrote the date on the second letter as "September 9/18091". The Henry mentioned in this letter is my grandfather and from this I was able to date the letter as being September 9, 1901. I hope all family members who read these letters treasure the memories that have been created for all to read over 100 years after the events. I feel a great privilidge in being able to read these letters. Elsmore is a small country community in the North/West of New South Wales, Australia. These letters were posted to family members in St.Merryn, Cornwall ENG, where obviously they were lovingly kept in safe keeping. They were handed over to descendants of James and Elizabeth Ann BENNETT in 1980 and returned to Australia. First letter dated: March 7, 1899. (as written) Dear Brother and Sister, I received your lether and was glad to here that you are all well as it leaves as all at present. I thought you had forgotton all about me. I wrote home to Tom, Jane, and Tom Spear. I did not know your address or I would have wrote to you before, So Dear brother I wish to be able to here from each other regular. I am working for Mr. Penberphy (sic, Penberthy) he is a big tin mine here at Elsmore, and I am bos in the mine for him. Sence I came to Elsmore 15 years ago, I have had y very good work so far, I have being Mineing all the time but I think I will soon go farming for I am getting to old now and must soon look for some easy work. I am pritty comfortable now I have 2 Saddle horses and 1 draught horse and also milking one cow, I keep 2 and 3 pigs every year which is a great help here, I have about 1 Acre of land for a garden so I grow all my own vegetable which is a great help where there is a family. I grow about 1 ton of Potatoes and about 3 ton of Pumpkins every year besides a lot of other small vegetables, but this year I have a great failure in the Potatoes crop, I had to dig them all up and put in swede Turnips. I am glad to here of the line comming to Padstow for I suppose it as made things look up and gave plentyof work about there. We have had a terreible dry Summer this year. There has being no rain scarcley for the summer grass and feed for Stock as being very Scarce, the stock being very poor for this time of the year. About Xmas time we had 5 inches of rain which as made everything quit fresh looking. So Dear Brother I must fetch this letter to a Close for I have no more news to tell you this time, We all send our best love to you all. Good bye. From your Affectienate Brother and Sister James, and E.A. Bennett. When you write again send Sidwell Address so as I can write to him. Second letter dated: September 9, 1901. (as written) Dear Brother & Sister xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx I now take the pleasure of writing you those few lines hopeing to find you all in the best of health as it leaves us all at present Well Dear Brother & Sister, I suppose you are beginening to think that I have forgoten you altogether, but never think that for it as better late than never for we might all meet again some day for I am liveing in hopes of seeing you all again some day Well Dear Brother & Sister I am still in the same old place working for the same man as when you heard from me last I am getting good wadges £2.10.0 a week & close home I have only about half a mile to walk to work but I think this place is as good as any place about the mineing district for it is just about in the centre of all the mines & besides I have got a bit of ground to myself so I grow a good lot for myself I have killed 4 very nice pigs this year & feed them all on pumpkins which I grow myself so you might see that I am not doing to bad for a bit of bacon is a great save where there is a big family for beef is very dear here now it is from 4ud to 5d a pound Cattle is a very dear the butchers as a hard job to get Cattle anough to keep them going My son Henry is still Butchering here at Elsmore for the same man as when I wrote before he as being with him this last 3 years now he gets £7.0.0 a mounth that is very good wages besides learning the trade a well he is going on for 19 now My other son Fred which is going on for 14 is tinkeking about home keeping Vines together & keeping the house in wood he is a little to young to work in the mine yet besides I would like to putt him to some trade. My Eldest son James is away working from home at a place called Copeton it is a diamond field about 30 miles from here he as a very good billet he gets £2.10.0 a week. of My Eldest girl Margaret is away to a place Called Tingha dress makeing she is makeing very good money so you can see that I have only got 6 home with me now although they always come home about every 3 weeks to see us all home, Well Dear Brother & Sister I think I have told you all this time Trusting to here from you soon & hopeing this will find you all in the best of health as it leaves us all at present so good bye X be good with best love from your ever loveing Brother & Sister James & E.A. Bennett xxxxxxx

• Occupation. labourer & tin miner

• connection. Elyse Montgomery 's connection to me is as follows:

Elyse Montgomery (1988)
Her father is Dale Montgomery (c1955) who married Leanne Denman (1958)
Her father is Leslie Denman (1933)
His father was William Denman (1902)
His father was Edwin Denman (1866) who married Margaret Sutton (1877)
They had Edward Denman (1901)
He had Gwenneth Denman (1929) who married George Beedon
They had Alan Beedon (1956) who married Jann Nock (1956)
Her father was John Nock (1908) who married Amy Whaites (1913)
Her father was Hurtle Whaites (1886) & he also had William Whaites (1915) who married Doris Davies (1917)
Her father was Thomas Davies (1881)
His father was Joseph Davies (1852) & he also had George Arthur Davies (1894)
He had Colin Davies (1925)
He had me - Robyn Bray (nee Davies) (1950)

Elyse Montgomery's connection to Robert is:

Elyse Montgomery (1988)
Her father is Dale Montgomery (c1955) who married Leanne Denman (1958)
Her father is Leslie Denman (1933)
His father was William Denman (1902)
His father was Edwin Denman (1866) who married Margaret Sutton (1877)
Her father was James Sutton (1842) who married Sarah Botterell (1855)
Her father was Thomas Botterell (1834) & he also had Elizabeth Botterell (1858) who married James Bennett (1852)
They had Henry Bennett (1882) who married Margaret Warby (1886)
Her father was James Warby (1857) & he also had James Warby (1822) who married Mary Blanch (1853)
Her father was Edward Blanch (1787) & he also had Elizabeth Blanch (1821) who married William Amos (1815)
They had Jane Amos (1854) who married James Bryant (1856)
They had Frederick Bryant (1893) who married Emma Pearson (1892)
Her father was George Pearson (1848) who married Naomi Dawes (1852)
Her father was Edward Dawes (1813) & he also had James Dawes (1843)
He had Annie Florence Dawes (1873) who married Arthur Augustus Bray (1869)
He had Albert Alan Bray (1896)
He had Robert Alfred Bray (1920)
He had Robert Arthur Bray (1947) who married me - Robyn Bray (nee Davies) (1950)


Elyse Montgomery's connection to Les is:

Elyse Montgomery (1988)
Her father is Dale Montgomery (c1955) who married Leanne Denman (1958)
Her father is Leslie Denman (1933)
His father was William Denman (1902)
His father was Edwin Denman (1866) who married Margaret Sutton (1877)
Her father was James Sutton (1842) who married Sarah Botterell (1855)
Her father was Thomas Botterell (1834) & he also had Elizabeth Botterell (1858) who married James Bennett (1852)
They had Henry Bennett (1882) who married Margaret Warby (1886)
Her father was James Warby (1857) & he also had James Warby (1822) who married Mary Blanch (1853)
Her father was Edward Blanch (1787) & he also had Elizabeth Blanch (1821) who married William Amos (1815)
They had Jane Amos (1854) who married James Bryant (1856)
They had Frederick Bryant (1893) who married Emma Pearson (1892)
Her father was George Pearson (1848) who married Naomi Dawes (1852)
His father was James Pearson (1813) & he also had Sarah Pearson (1838) who married William Gregory (1840)
They had William Gregory (1863)
He had Henry Gregory (1898) who married Bernice Nosworthy (1897)
Her father was Benjamin Nosworthy (1872) who married Matilda Williams (1869)
Her father was George Williams (who died in 1899) & he also had James Williams (1875) who married Emily Huon (1877)
Her father was Paul Huon (1799) who married Jane Brien (1811)
Her father was Daniel Brien (1769) & he also had Sarah Brien (1825) who married Benjamin Warby (1825)
His father was also Benjamin Warby (1805)
His father was John Warby & he also had Elizabeth Warby (1802)
She had Eleanor Layton (1821) who married James Keighran (1808)
She had John Joseph Keighran (1845)
He had Joseph William Keighran (1879)
He had Leslie William Keighran (1904)
He had Mary Keighran (1927)
She had Les Collins (1950) who married me Robyn Bray (nee Davies) (1950) as his first wife

• connection. ⁷³¹ Joanne Bower's links to me are as follows:
Joanne Bower . . .
Her grandparents are:
Joyce Lillian (Lill) ? (1911) and Charles Warby (1902)
His father was James Warby (1857) & he also had He had Margaret Warby (1886) who married Henry Bennett (1882)
His father was James Bennett (1852) who married Elizabeth Botterell (1858)
Her father was Thomas Botterell (1834) & he also had Sarah Botterell (1855) who married James Sutton (1842)
They had Margaret Sutton (1877) who married Edwin Denman (1866)
They had Edward Denman (1901)
He had Gwenneth Denman (1929) who married George Beedon
They had Alan Beedon (1956) who married Jann Nock (1956)
Her father was John Nock (1908) who married Amy Whaites (1913)
Her father was Hurtle Whaites (1886) & he also had William Whaites (1915) who married Doris Davies (1917)
Her father was Thomas Davies (1881)
His father was Joseph Davies (1852) & he also had George Arthur Davies (1894)
He had Colin Davies (1925)
He had me - Robyn Bray (nee Davies) (1950)

Joanne Bower's links to Robert are as follows:
Joanne Bower . . .
Her grandparents are:
Joyce Lillian (Lill) ? (1911) and Charles Warby (1902)
His father was James Warby (1857)
His father was William Warby (1814)
His father was James Warby (who died in 1858) & he also had James Warby (1822) who married Mary Blanch (1853)
Her father was Edward Blanch (1787) & he also had Elizabeth Blanch (1821) who married William Amos (1815)
They had Jane Amos (1854) who married James Bryant (1856)
They had Frederick Bryant (1893) who married Emma Pearson (1892)
Her father was George Pearson (1848) who married Naomi Dawes (1852)
Her father was Edward Dawes (1813) & he also had James Dawes (1843)
He had Annie Florence Dawes (1873) who married Arthur Augustus Bray (1869)
He had Albert Alan Bray (1896)
He had Robert Alfred Bray (1920)
He had Robert Arthur Bray (1947) who married me - Robyn Bray (nee Davies) (1950)

Joanne Bower's links to Les are as follows:
Joanne Bower . . .
Her grandparents are:
Joyce Lillian (Lill) ? (1911) and Charles Warby (1902)
His father was James Warby (1857)
His father was William Warby (1814)
His father was James Warby (1785 & he also had James Warby (1822) who married Mary Blanch (1853)
Her father was Edward Blanch (1787) & he also had Elizabeth Blanch (1821) who married William Amos (1815)
They had Jane Amos (1854) who married James Bryant (1856)
They had Frederick Bryant (1893) who married Emma Pearson (1892)
Her father was George Pearson (1848) who married Naomi Dawes (1852)
His father was James Pearson (1813) & he also had Sarah Pearson (1838) who married William Gregory (1840)
They had William Gregory (1863)
He had Henry Gregory (1898) who married Bernice Nosworthy (1897)
Her father was Benjamin Nosworthy (1872) who married Matilda Williams (1869)
Her father was George Williams (who died in 1899) & he also had James Williams (1875) who married Emily Huon (1877)
Her father was Paul Huon (1799) who married Jane Brien (1811)
Her father was Daniel Brien (1769) & he also had Sarah Brien (1825) who married Benjamin Warby (1825)
His father was also Benjamin Warby (1805)
His father was John Warby & he also had Elizabeth Warby (1802)
She had Eleanor Layton (1821) who married James Keighran (1808)
She had John Joseph Keighran (1845)
He had Joseph William Keighran (1879)
He had Leslie William Keighran (1904)
He had Mary Keighran (1927)
She had Les Collins (1950) who married me Robyn Bray

James married Elizabeth Ann Botterell, daughter of Thomas Botterell and Margaret Semmons, on 10 Jun 1875 in St Lukes, Sugarloaf, Queensland Australia. (Elizabeth Ann Botterell was born on 30 Jan 1858 in Poormans Point, near Sofala, NSW Australia, christened in C of E Sofala, NSW Australia and died in 1939 in Curl Curl, Sydney, NSW Australia.)