| [Index] |
| James Baker ELWORTHY (1833 - 1889) |
| accountant, Founded 'Gundagai Times' 1861, JP |
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| b. 09 Dec 1833 at Exeter, Devon, England |
| m. (1) 15 Aug 1855 Elizabeth Helvetia WATSON ( - 1862) at Goulburn, New South Wales, Australia |
| m. (2) 06 Apr 1865 Henrietta Sophia Jane LARGE (1846 - 1915) at Tumut, New South Wales, Australia |
| d. 03 Mar 1889 at Gundagai, New South Wales, Australia aged 55 |
| Cause of Death: |
| apoplexy |
| Parents: |
| George ELWORTHY (1813 - 1878) |
| Emma BOWCHER (1810 - 1854) |
| Events in James Baker ELWORTHY (1833 - 1889)'s life | |||||
| Date | Age | Event | Place | Notes | Src |
| 09 Dec 1833 | James Baker ELWORTHY was born | Exeter, Devon, England | |||
| 08 Jan 1834 | Baptism | St Petrock, Exeter, Devon, England | |||
| 08 May 1853 | 19 | Emigration | Plymouth, Devon, England | ||
| 16 Aug 1853 | 19 | Immigration | Sydney, New South Wales, Australia | Marchioness of Londonderry | |
| 08 Jul 1854 | 20 | Death of mother Emma BOWCHER (aged 43) | St Thomas, Exeter, Devon, England | Note 1 | 2 |
| 15 Aug 1855 | 21 | Married Elizabeth Helvetia WATSON | Goulburn, New South Wales, Australia | V1855127 43B/1855 | |
| 1857 | 24 | Birth of son Male ELWORTHY | Goulburn, New South Wales, Australia | 6648/1857 | |
| 29 Jan 1857 | 23 | Birth of son William (Billy) James ELWORTHY | Goulburn, New South Wales, Australia | V18471416 155/1857 | |
| 05 Apr 1860 | 26 | Birth of daughter Emma Maria ELWORTHY | Adelong, New South Wales, Australia | 12777/1860 | |
| 05 Jun 1861 | 27 | Death of daughter Emma Maria ELWORTHY (aged 1) | Tumut, New South Wales, Australia | 4940/1861 | |
| 22 Nov 1861 | 27 | Birth of daughter Elizabeth Helena ELWORTHY | Adelong, New South Wales, Australia | 13583/1861 | |
| 24 Mar 1862 | 28 | Death of wife Elizabeth Helvetia WATSON | Adelong, New South Wales, Australia | Note 2 | |
| 06 Apr 1865 | 31 | Married Henrietta Sophia Jane LARGE (aged 18) | Tumut, New South Wales, Australia | 3319/1865 | |
| 18 Jan 1866 | 32 | Birth of son Arthur Ernest ELWORTHY | Tumut, New South Wales, Australia | 15436/1866 | |
| 27 May 1868 | 34 | Birth of son Ernest George ELWORTHY | Tumut, New South Wales, Australia | 17060/1868 | |
| 20 Aug 1872 | 38 | Birth of son Harold Lewington ELWORTHY | Gundagai, New South Wales, Australia | 10951/1872 | |
| 17 Sep 1876 | 42 | Birth of daughter Edith Asenath ELWORTHY | Gundagai, New South Wales, Australia | 12672/1876 | |
| 24 Feb 1878 | 44 | Death of father George ELWORTHY (aged 64) | Sydney, New South Wales, Australia | Certificate | 2 |
| 03 Mar 1889 | 55 | James Baker ELWORTHY died | Gundagai, New South Wales, Australia | 9866/1889 | 2 |
| Burial | North Gundagai, New South Wales, Australia | ||||
| Note 1: FreeBMD Sep 1854 St Thomas 5b 41
Certificate Suffered a mental collapse after the birth of her last child and did not go to Australia |
| Note 2: 6082/1862, Earliest headstone on Adelong cmetery |
| Personal Notes: |
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At school we all learned about the abolition of slavery in the British Empire and it seemed so long ago. Actually, it was only 103 days before James Baker Elworthy was born on 09 Dec 1833! He was baptised on 08 Jan 1834 at St. Petrock's Church, Exeter.
It is quite probable that Emma and George lived with the Bowchers at this particular time as the church in High Street is almost next door to the Bowcher wine and spirit store. The Centennial History of New South Wales says James was educated for the church at Exeter Diocesan Training College but he preferred mercantile pursuits and was for some time engaged in commercial ventures. However in checking the 'Complete List of Men Who Have Passed Through The College Since 1841', no Elworthys appear! This College later became St Luke's and is now part of Exeter University. Students were normally aged 18-20 but examination of the 1851 Census (when James was 18), shows that he was not at the College at that time. According to the Sydney Morning Herald Shipping Intelligence column of 17 August, James had arrived the previous day, Tuesday, 16 August 1853 aboard the Marchioness of Londonderry. Lloyd's Register of Shipping says it was a copper fastened ship of 809 tons, built in 1851 at Newcastle, which sailed on 08 May from Plymouth under the control of Captain Williams. For a time James was employed as a cornrflercial traveller by the Han. Charles Moore, merchant and later the Lord Mayor of Sydney, for whom Moore Park was named, but he didn't stay long in Sydney Town. In the same year as his stint with Mr Moore, the History says he went to the Hanging Rock gold rush. There were several Hanging Rocks in NSW last century but as James next surfaces in Goulbum, presumably it was the one near there. In those days a journey from Sydney to Goulburn was only undertaken by extremely brave souls who were prepared to risk life, limb and clothing. At Razorback Hill between Camden and Picton, passengers were obliged to step down from the coach and walk. Usually they got to the hilltop before the coach! As a child I remember the engine of Dad's 1930 Chrysler always boiled on the Razorback and there was usually a line of cars in the same predicament along the roadside. We never ever left home without a full canvas water bag. Because the Hume Highway has been upgraded so much, it is hard to judge now where the Razorback is but imagine what it must have been like for the poor horses in the days when James was travelling. The passengers didn't have much fun either! At steep, slippery or muddy points, both in the day or at night, men passengers had to walk up the hills but if any ladies were on board, they were usually permitted to ride. The state of the ladies' gowns at the end of the journey does not bear thinking about! One of the worst spots was at Bargo Brush where bullock wagons sank to their axles in the mire. The entire road was a horror and some sections were judged the worst in the colony. Horses were changed frequently at the many inns dotted along the wayside. The 125 mile journey took about 33 hours with some passengers walking 20 miles of the worst and steepest roads - and for this they paid money!! What a joy for travellers when the railway between Sydney and Liverpool opened on 26 September 1856. At St Saviour's, Goulburn on 15 August 1855 James Baker Elworthy married Elizabeth Helvetia WATSON, only daughter of Maria nee HOVELL and Jonathon Miller Watson. Maria was said to be sister to William Hovell who, with is partner Hume, carried out many journeys of exploration. On the birth certificate of James and Elizabeth's first child, William James on 29 Jan 1857, James gave his occupation as 'accountant' and it is likely he worked on a newspaper in Goulburn in this capacity. Although I made extensive enquiries through Goulburn's Memorial Archives, the only record they have relating to Elworthy is the birth of the above William, showing the family's residential address as Clifford Street. There was mention though, of Elizabeth's brother William Frederick Watson who finished his compositor apprenticeship on the Goulburn Herald in January 1855, just a few months prior to his death. Although there were three newspapers during the time James spent in the town, only the file copies of the Goulburn Herald have survived. It was probably at this time James Elworthy made friends with Charles William MORGAN, a newspaper friend of William Watson - and the man who ultimately became James' partner in The Adelong Mining Journal. The Goulburn Times was first published on 27 Aug 1852 with Mr Poulsen as its editor and it is significant that a gentleman of the same name was working for Morgan and Elworthy when their first newspaper, The Adelong Mining Journal began publication on 09 October 1858. At this time there was only one other newspaper published south of Yass. Another possible connection was R. Wilson, a relative of John Isaac and previously editor of the Louisiana Planters' Banner. He was in Goulburn at that time and a Mr Wilson was later a highly respected journalist on the Gundagai Times. Just co-incidence?? The owner of the Goulburn Times was a Mr Isaac - and John Isaac, whose youngest daughter Leah married James Elworthy's son Arthur 38 years later, is known to have lived in Goulburn, Adelong and South Gundagai. He also had an interest in several newspaper ventures with J.B. Elworthy. It is reasonable to presume that after his Goulburn Times had folded, John Isaac financed the Adelong Mining Journal with James Elworthy looking after accounts and business affairs, the composing and journalistic side being covered by Charles Morgan and Mr Poulsen. James and Elizabeth Helvetia WATSON married at St Saviour's Church, Goulburn, NSW on 15 Aug 1855 with Rev William Sowerby officiating. Their first child William James was born on 29 Jan 1857 and baptised six days later. One obituary for James says they resided in Goulburn for five years and that he was 'the recipient of a silver salver as a testimonial from the citizens'. Passed on over the years, the carefully preserved tray is currently held by Bill De Salis. During his time in Goulburn James became acquainted with journalist Charles William Morgan who, together with a Mr Brown (probably Thomas Frederick De Courcy Brown), established the Yass Courier, first published on 6 June 1857. Towards the end of 1858 James, Elizabeth, young William and Morgan, moved to Adelong, about 150 miles south west of Goulbum. They set up The Adelong Mining JournaI, the town's first newspaper and only the second publication south of Yass. At a land sale in December 1858, Elworthy and Morgan each purchased two blocks of land, implying they had every intention of settling in the town. Adelong was bursting at the seams with some 20,000 gold prospectors who all needed to know gold prices and stage coach times for mail, warnings about any bushrangers operating in the area, latest news from home and of course, the many businessmen needed an outlet for their advertising. Surely a newspaper was a much more likely and pleasanter way to make money than digging in the dirt and Adelong was more than just a collection of tents on a goldfield. During the '50s it was a thriving, bustling place with professional people and tradesmen to take care of the population's needs. The Adelong Mining Journal & Tumut Express made its debut on Saturday, 09 Oct 1858. Described as ... a "NEW WEEKLY JOURNAL to be published simultaneously at Adelong and Tumut", it went to great lengths to assure the public of the future integrity of the paper and the high principles of its proprietors: "In accordance with arrangements long since initiated, the projectors of 'The Adelong Mining Journal and Tumut Express' are now in a position to place before the public the first number of the newspaper. The Journal will at all times be a staunch advocate of all necessary reform; will fearlessly expose existing abuses and will always endeavour to be a true exponent of the wants, wishes and political views of the population." It added that opinions expressed in its leading columns would be liberal and progressive; measures advancing moral and social interests of the colony would receive support; local and general questions would be dealt with and utmost facility given to correspondents to express their views; the Journal would be open to every party which has complaints to make, grievances to be redressed or improvements to suggest. The Electric Telegraph and Expresses would be freely employed by the projectors to enable them at all times to supply the latest Sydney, Goulburn, Yass, Gundagai, Albury and Melbourne news and every matter of local interest would be faithfully recorded. The leader went on to say great care would be taken in the selection of articles from Colonial and European newspapers and that shortly the proprietors would be opening an extensive jobbing office - for which they solicited orders. The rest of the front page was devoted to a variety of advertisements - James Robertson, solicitor at Tumut, Gundagai and Adelong, temporary office situated at Mr Jones' Rising Moon Hotel in Tumut. A Mr Dibdin modestly called himself "Surgeon, &c"; W. Fletcher manufactured tinware, sheet iron and zinc in Goulburn; Messrs Speirs & Henderson who owned The Quartz Reef Bakery accepted orders for wedding and christening cakes. In a three-quarter page advertisement Mr S Emanuel Jnr of the Beehive Store in Tumut advised his prospective clients that he had an immense stock of choice goods and large supplies of wines, spirits, ales, etc. - unrivalled out of Sydney. He also held stock of mining implements, blasting powder, fashion goods and had a general store department. Mr D Small made saddlery and harness. Veterinary surgeon Patrick Harpur rather oddly advised that 'orders may be left with Mr Paul, Pride of Galway Inn, near the Creek.' As agent for The Oriental Bank Corporation, Thomas Horton told miners that gold was purchased, advanced on or forwarded to Sydney, commission free, while Mr Samuel Turnbull informed 'reefers and creeksmen' that he had opened premises above Mr Crouch. "British goods are well selected and Colonial work got up in first style. " He was also looking for a man to make strong boots. Michaelis & Co, storekeepers (late of Burrowa) had set up near the Commissioner's camp with well-assorted stock. Their object 'will be to do a large business and small profit and by keeping ourselves well-assorted, hope to meet the demands of the customers and avoid the inconvenience of delay.' They concluded with a p.s. in German! J.T. Hotten traded under the wondrous appellation of the 'Adelong Colonial Jewellery Manufactory' where miners could have their gold made up into brooches, rings, chains, etc. Mr Hotten also had a Photographic Gallery, open daily, and likenesses could be fitted into cases, lockets, etc. A list of officials and rules of a race meet at Gundagai took up almost a full column. In the comer, a tiny filler addressed to miners said application could be made at the Journal office for Claims, Notices of Dissolution of Partnership, Agreements, Leases, &c - all drawn on reasonable terms. At a public meeting at Gundagai, Mr John Isaac moved that owing to the impetus given to trade by the discovery of gold at Adelong and other places in the immediate neighbourhood of the town, so important a position as that of Postmaster should be held by a person unconnected with business so as to enable him to attend to the duties of his office. In view of the fact that James' younger brother George Elworthy Junior went to Queensland in 1855 and later married at Port Curtis, it is perhaps significant that in this first issue there was much talk of gold up at Port Curtis, and depopulation of the quartz reefs at Adelong. The second issue gave a poor account of Port Curtis" ... the heat is great, water is brackish and dysentery prevalent". Maybe George was the correspondent! The Government advised it could not undertake to pay passage back from Port Curtis for persons disappointed or in distress. Everything did not go smoothly for Elworthy and Morgan. A reporter and a compositor had been engaged and entrusted with getting out the first edition in the absence of James and his partner Morgan. This proved to be a grave error of judgment by the new owners but pulling no punches, the next issue gave a full explanation of the matter ... "An apology is due to the public. Owing to the absence from our establishment of a reporter and a compositor named Polsen and Hingston, who have been intoxicated and unable to attend to their duties, we are compelled to reprint a portion of the advertisements and reading matter. "We placed them in trust whilst the proprietors left the district on matters of business and they took a mean advantage of their absence. We will, therefore, compensate the public for this unforseen misfortune by making such arrangements as shall not leave us dependent upon such 'rubbish' again." Perhaps the partners realised they were a trifle hasty, or maybe their sub-conscious screamed "libel". In any case, the leader in issue No.3 declared ... "We regret in our last issue there were some reflections cast by ourselves on Mr Polsen's character. We have been afforded an explanation by Mr Polsen and can completely exonerate him from all participation in the difficulties we had to contend with in our first number." Mr Polsen apparently took legal advice and no further comment was forthcoming. There was no mention of what happened to Mr Hingston, though obviously he didn't remain on the staff. What a small world it is! 139 years later I met Felix Hingston's great-granddaughter who lives not far from me. She had tracked him to a Goulburn newspaper, then he dropped out of sight, resurfacing later in Brisbane. He was definitely a compositor and had probably accompanied James from Goulburn. She was amused by the above incident and won't sue for libel. Basic foodstuff seemed quite expensive. A quarter of beef cost 5 pence a pound, mutton 7 pence, pork 10 pence, eggs three shilling a doz, bread 9 pence per two pound loaf and butter three shillings a pound! Following issues contained many letters to the editor and always a long poem - a practice JB was to continue until his death. Papers had to be sent via Tumut, and Gundagai people complained they were not receiving them. Possibly it was after investigating this that Morgan met with 'the serious accident on the way home from Tumut that compelled the issue of 4 December to be two pages short'. It would seem that Charles Morgan was the journalist - James the business manager. The 08 April 1859 issue carried a report of the trial of James Watt who, whilst armed with a pistol at Breadalbane near Goulburn, held up James Elworthy and feloniously and violently and against his will' stole two rings and ten shillings from him. Found guilty, the highwayman was sentenced to TEN YEARS HARD LABOUR on the roads or other public works of the colony. Crimes of this nature by the"gentlemen of the road" were rife and the Government was determined to stamp them out. About this time John Isaac was appointed Gundagai agent for the paper, authorised to receive monies, adverts, etc. Yass agents were Brown and Morgan of the Courier office but a few months later Brown bought out Morgan's share of the Courier and dissolved that paper's partnership in the Adelong Mining Journal. Morgan, Elworthy & Co would carry on and they assured the reading public that errors that had been thrust upon them by haste or insufficient staff would be overcome and they "would make the Adelong Mining Journal second to no provincial paper in the colony." As it so happened, they may have published something of lasting significance and national importance! About 1993 while researching her book on the Dog on the Tuckerbox, Lyn Scarff contacted me regarding James Elworthys's various newspapers, in particular the Gundagai Times and wanted to know if any family member had information on the Dog on the Tuckerbox doggerel or its author. She and the Mitchell Library thought there were ten years missing from the Library's files as the first copy it had was Vol X, No. 842 indicating the 10th year of its publication - this wasn't right and I was puzzled! By counting back over the number of editions (sometimes once, sometimes twice weekly, occasionally missed altogether) I calculated the number of times he had actually published and worked out exactly that there were no missing issues. James had simply continued the volume and issue numbers from paper to paper - The Adelong Mining Journal which he began in 1858, the Wynyard Times, the Tumut Times and finally The Gundagai Times in 1868. As he'd been publisher of each of them he probably saw no reason to individually number the separate publications, little knowing he would cause consternation 125 years later - and a mathematical headache for me! In 1994, Lyn published a small book The Dog on the Tuckerbox covering the background and myths regarding the poem and the later monument. No copy of the Dog doggerel has been found nor the issue of publication traced. Even though J.B. liked to have a poem in every issue, in my searching I have not sighted this particular poem. On page 26 of her book, Lyn states: 'The relevant paper has to be the once-a-week Adelong Mining Journal which ran from 1858 to 1860 and was widely distributed in Gundagai' ... and that 'According to older Gundagai residents, the issue carrying the doggerel was still at the Times office in 1932. ' This is a misunderstanding I think. Frank told her he had seen a copy of the poem in his grandfather's office. In any case, whichever paper carried the doggerel it is most probable that James Baker Elworthy was the publisher! Elizabeth Elworthys's noted explorer uncle William Hovell visited Adelong in November 1859 and this was duly reported, as was the fact that Mary Gately was fined five pounds 'for using insulting language in a public street'! Was she a relative of Gately the notorious bushranger who was only captured when he held up Talbingo Station? Emma Maria Elworthy (named for both grandmothers) was born at Adelong on 05 ApI 1860. In December an ad appeared in The Wynyard Times for 'a little girl about 12 to look after an infant' - with application to be made to the Journal office or to Mrs Elworthy at Adelong. Things were not all business though. James was reported as taking part in a concert, giving recitations and singing What Will They Say in England and Power of Love. Tickets cost four shillings, smoking was strictly prohibited, and there was dancing afterwards! Gundagai news was faithfully reported too. Michael Doyle (the man who built Burrenderry) sold his stone store and allotment of ground to John Jenkins for 2000 pounds while Torn Lindley got 3250 pounds for the sale of his recently erected brick house, the Star Hotel, a cottage and land. Leading articles had always corne out strongly in favour of Adelong but from May 1860, more and more Kiandra news began to appear. Adelong's gold was petering out and miners began to drift to the new goldfields at Kiandra. On 01 June 1860 Morgan and Elworthy advised they had just completed extensive additions to their premises and were now capable of doing all sorts of wonderful printing "in any colour ink, in any style and with despatch unequalled in the colony and at rates but a trifle above Sydney prices", adding that "printing can be forwarded to any part of the colony at one half-penny per ounce" and ended the ad 'ADVANCE ADELONG'. They made arrangements for regular despatch of the paper to the new goldfields by horse mail which left at 6am Friday mornings from Adelong, 8am Tumut, arriving at Gibson's Plains on Saturday afternoon and returning to Adelong on Tuesday. For a fee of one shilling, stamped letters would be conveyed. But the drift continued and on 22 June 1860/ a 1/3 share in the 'Adelong Mining Journal' was advertised, with a very interesting notice the following week saying that they proposed bringing out a bi-weekly paper on the Kiandra Goldfields. A prospectus and full particulars would be in a future ad and any communications in this regard should be sent to Messrs Morgan, Elworthy & Co, Printers, Adelong. No prospectus carne to light but the issue of 28 Sepember 1860 declared: "With this issue the current quarter of The Adelong Mining Journal and Tumut Express terminates. The proprietors feel therefore, that the moment has arrived for putting into force, long contemplated alterations and propose immediately changing the site of its present publication to the growing centre of population - Kiandra Goldfields. In this new location, they intend altering the title to that of 'Kiandra Chronicle and Maneroo, Tumut and Murrumbidgee Advertiser'. In all other respects the management will remain the same." With a name like that it would need a broadsheet just to fit the title in! No evidence that the Kiandra paper came to fruition has been found and it is likely that this was the period when James and Charles Morgan split up. In August 1860 gold was discovered at Lambing Flat (now called Young). During 1860 and 1861 there were disturbances on the goldfields when the Chinese were repeatedly set upon, had their pigtails cut off and tent camp demolished. So bad was the situation that the militia had to be called in to quell the riot but by the time the artillery arrived, the excitement was all over! "The Newspaper Press in NSW 1803-1920" says that during February 1861 Charles Morgan had established the 'Lambing Flat Miner' and played a large part in those events. So much so, apparently, that 'he deemed it prudent to retire into hiding for a time at Beechworth, Victoria'. The Adelong printing presses were removed to Tumut and James, or rather J.B. Elworthy &Co, established "The Wynyard Times". Legend says Chinese miners on their way to the Snowy River goldfields carried the plant over the hills to Tumut in baskets slung across their shoulders. So far it has not been possible to verify this but the idea is appealing! The first issue of the new paper, priced sixpence, came out on Tuesday, 20 Nov 1860 and in the very flowery language of the day told us: "In this our first issue we design without egotism to write a leader upon ourselves. It will not be to parade huge promises, professions, or high sounding principles, but to lay fairly and frankly before our readers and the public the mission we have assigned ourselves and the means whereby we would accomplish it. Notwithstanding the failure of a recent publication to maintain its position, we have abundant evidence to assure us that a Journal worthy of general support would receive it; and become, not only a benefit to the district at large but a remunerative speculation to its projectors." Drawing a large breath after the 46 word sentence, two full columns went on to say nothing would be admitted to its pages to offend the purity or insult the privacy of any home, etc. and its pages would be ever open to correspondents on any subject handled in a temperate manner, concluding: "We are not amongst those that despise the day of small beginnings. Upon the future rather than the present we rely. We are content to share in the slow but sure growth of our district's prosperity, to watch, to wait and labour to advance that period when the fortunes of the Tumut and Murrumbidgee shall culminate, and the halo of renewed enterprise again shines brightly upon the mountain slopes of golden Adelong." What eloquence! What noble sentiments! What unbounded optimism! Issued on Tuesdays and Fridays, the "Times" was a 6-page broadsheet, with many of the same advertisers and same agents as the Adelong paper. The front page of issue No 1 was all advertisements; on page 2 were the above leader and doings of Gundagai, Adelong and Tumut. Page 3 was of district, Sydney and commercial doings, impoundings and some ads, whilst page 4 was totally ads. But the most interesting bit was right at the end - "Printed and published for the proprietors by James Baker Elworthy at the "Times" General Printing Office, Wynyard St, Tumut in the Colony of NSW". For the proprietors! But who were they? James himself of course, and maybe some politician looking for an avenue to air his views? Or well-to-do businessmen from the vicinity wanting to expand their interests? Part of the mystery was solved some months later when, replying to several correspondents, the paper explained that 'Mr Thomas GARRETT is certainly a partner in The Wynyard Times but the politics of that journal are not guided nor influenced in any manner by the parliamentary conduct of that gentleman as our leader today evinces.' The tone of future issues lightened a little, reporting at length on the life and recent demise of Lola Montez, and carrying some comical reports such as the servant girl who fell in the Tumut River whilst drawing water and was saved from drowning by the support of her crinoline. The event wasn't comical but the reporting of it was. Michael Doyle Junior accepted a challenge to run against Michael Kennelly for 20 pounds but only if the race was run on the road near the Murrumbidgee Ferry Hotel. Without doubt the locale would have guaranteed a good audience! Doubtless James was pleased to be elected to committee when the Tumut Vocal Harmonic Society held its first general meeting at the Court House on 23 July 1861. on The leader of 20 Aug said Gundagai had been proclaimed a goldfield. The Wynyard Times changed its typeface, used smaller print and changed to six columns for its issue of 30 Aug. It also apologised that due to the non-arrival of Mr Isaac, doings of Gundagai Court could not be supplied. A public meeting at the Gundagai Court House on 23 Sep pressed for a bridge across the Murrumbidgee and on 1 Oct the Government advised it supported the proposal. A fortnight later the new road into Gundagai was opened to traffic and the main street was being improved. Much excitement was caused by the finding of a 610z gold nugget and two others of 280z and 7oz. On 5 Nov readers were advised that The Wynyard Times had partly changed on hands and the following issue advised that "MR JOHN ISAAC having retired from the firm of J.B. Elworthy & Co, desires to thank the public for the support accorded to him during his connection with "The Wynyard Times" newspaper and to assure them that wherever he may in the future be located, he will always have the interests of this district at heart." As it happened, John Isaac and family only went as far as South Gundagai and almost 30 years later his yet-to-be-born daughter Leah married James Elworthy's yet-to-be-born son Arthur who continued the paper so enthusiastically founded by their fathers. Cornelius INGLIS possibly took over Isaac's share at this time and this may have been the Dr Inglis who lived at the Royal Hotel. In August 1962 a Peremptory Notice advised the partnership controlling the paper had been dissolved and it was absolutely necessary all accounts to 30 June should be settled by 31 August or they would be put in the hands of a solicitor! Thomas Garrett the politician was out, and Elworthy and Inglis were to carry on as J.B. Elworthy & Co. Although the new paper would have requireded James to be in Tumut a good deal, it would not have been too hard to spend time with his family in Adelong as the distance between the two towns was not great. Elizabeth appears to have remained in Adelong, with James maintaining an active interest in the town's affairs. He was treasurer of the new Adelong Hospital and also a Trustee of the Adelong Cemetery. Aged only 14 months, poor little Emma contracted whooping cough followed by convulsions. She suffocated and died on 05 June 1861. Elizabeth too was in delicate health and her mother Maria Watson stayed at Adelong to look after her and the children. One issue of the Tumut paper advised that Mrs Watson was authorised to accept ads, collect monies and generally act as Adelong agent; this Mrs Watson was the postmaster's wife. Apparently there was still payable gold at Adelong as the Victoria Pioneer Gold Mining Company was registered in 1861 with 600 shares at five pounds each. Shareholders included J.B. Elworthy (5 shares), his mother-in-law Maria Watson (2), John Isaac (10) and Cornelius Inglis (25), the largest shareholder of all and one of J.B's partners in the new Tumut paper. James' private life was in turmoil. Little more than five months after Emma Maria died, his third child Elizabeth Helena Elworthy was born at Adelong on 22 Nov 1861. It was a terribly sad time for James and his family. Joy at the birth of the new little girl was eclipsed by the death of her mother just four months later on 24 March 1862 at her residence, "Mt Pleasant", Adelong. Elizabeth had been ailing for quite some time and died of Phthisis or, as we know it - tuberculosis. Even though obituaries were a rarity, one would think that as James was owner of the paper, even a few words about his wife were warranted, but there was no obituary and only a tiny paragraph in The Wynyard Times of 28 Mar 1862 marked her passing ... "DIED. On Monday last, the 24th instant at her residence Mount Pleasant, Adelong, after a lingering illness, Elizabeth Helvetia, wife of Mr J.B. Elworthy, aged 29." On Easter Saturday of 1985, Frank and I found the grave of Elizabeth and her baby Emma in a lonely spot at the end of the Adelong cemetery - just as the sun was setting. It was quite forlorn and looked as if no-one had been there at all in the 123 years since Elizabeth's burial. Part of a once-lovely wreath of pink porcelain roses with Made in Paris stamped on the metal base was still on the grave. Without any sense of desecration, we took a rose, a tiny rosebud and a metal rose leaf for preservation, and quietly left mother and child to their eternal sleep. Nothing emerged about James' other daughter Elizabeth until she had an illegitimate son on 04 Oct 1887 at 68 Glebe Street, a small back street in Sydney's inner suburb of Glebe, not to be confused with the main thoroughfare of Glebe Point Road. Mother's address was Narandera and the child registered as Charles Baldwin Elworthy, but no details shown for the father. Quite curiously, these were the christian names of one of the town's bank managers, so Elizabeth must have felt some deep regard for him! Nothing on little Charles was found but doubtless he survived or a death notice would have surfaced. Perhaps he was adopted by some loving family who changed his name. Poor Elizabeth suffered the same fate as her mother, dying of acute pulmonary oedema at her Aunt Emma Donaldson's home, Hemietta Street, Waverley on 06 Apr 1892. She was buried at Waverley Cemetery the following day. Events in the newspaper world seem not to have gone quite smoothly, although this may have been to James' benefit. At the end of Oct 1861, it was reported that James' erstwhile partner was about to start a paper at Gundagai with the first issue due the next month. Whether this actually occurred at that time has not been determined but two others published briefly and certainly T.F De C Brown, partner with Charles Morgan in the Yass Courier, ran the Gundagai Herald later on. Only one rather battered copy of the issue dated 13 Jan 1866 survives in the Mitchell Library so it is difficult to know how long it had lived. The 28 Oct 1863 issue of the Wynyard Times advised that the partnership of Elworthy & INGLIS had been dissolved, with JB at last becoming the sole proprietor. The paper was now to be published on Thursdays and Mondays due to the altered mail times to Adelong. In early October 1863, the local priest, Father O'Neill had publicly denounced The Wynyard Times, advising his flock to withdraw their subscriptions and patronise another journal. He felt the leader was an attack on Catholicism but in the next issue the priest maintained he did not tell his people to withdraw support and The Wynyard Times promised it would not print any more items by the person ('not a Catholic but one who had lived amongst them') who wrote the leader. Always caring about his fellow man, James was active in the Oddfellows :novement and was in the chair when the Golden Age Lodge at Adelong held its first anniversary on 9 Nov 1863. There were 70 or 80 brethren present with an extremely large write-up of the parade, the dinner and ball. "To be successful a business needs money, not promises". So stated a notice above the leader of 30 Nov, continuing that the proprietor believed in the principle of short reckoning and long friends but some customers took three, six, 12 months and even up to two years to pay. Any accounts over six months would be placed before the District Court. They really must have been poor payers! In March 1864, JB threatened to discontinue subscriptions for anyone not paying by the end of the month. In May he won a court case against a Mr Lovett for unpaid advertising and in July he was actually pleading for long overdue accounts to be paid. The paper stated that carrying on a newspaper was no easy matter and Tumut was one of the smallest communities in all of the colonies where a newspaper was published. If support was not received, it would be many years before another journal would venture into the field. Part of this was due to the fact the Government had ceased to advertise except in the Sydney Morning Herald and the Empire and this would have created quite a shortfall in their revenue. By this time James had added another string to his bow as an auctioneer with sales effected in Tumut, Adelong, Gundagai. He was also active with the Tumut Literary Society reading 'humourous productions' and was senior officer when the Adelong Golden Age Oddfellows celebrated its second anniversary. It would be interesting to know the reasons behind all the changes in ownership of The Wynyard Times. Admittedly Tumut was a small town but the paper usually carried articles relevant to surrounding towns too. Extracting payment had always been a problem and readership would have been considerably reduced "now that Gundagai has its own local organ, which will doubtless meet with success proportionate to its merits." In any case James Elworthy, now sole proprietor, changed its name to the Tumut & Adelong Times when it came out on 29 Dec 1864, with a new look of four pages each of five columns. The Times said it did not seek to deprive others of a fair share of public support, nor did it fear rivalry. Much was made of what it had tried to do over the past four years, with a final appeal for continued support. By this time James' enterprises were quite diverse. The first issue of the Times for 1865 carried no less than seven advertisements for his various activities. He was bookseller and stationer, a letterpress printer and an auctioneer. James held several agencies - for furniture polish; for glycerine; for Seidlitz Powders and for fresh cut tobacco. Two weeks later he advertised for an apprentice printer: in April owned a stationery and perfumery warehouse in Russell Street. The tiny notice above the leader in the issue of 10 Apri11865 was so small that I nearly missed it: "At All Saints Church, Tumut, on the 6th inst by Rev c.J. Byng, Mr J.B. Elworthy to Henrietta Sophia Jane, third daughter of William Large, MD. No Cards." It doesn't sound a very joyous occasion - no niceties of expression - just a brief and very-much-to-the-point advice! Witnesses to the marriage were Charles Hodges Ratliff and his wife Julia, who was a daughter of Henry Bingham, the Gold Commissioner and previously Commissioner for Crown Lands, who did some excellent pioneering work in the early days of the settlement. He was also the man who switched a pretty maid some years earlier with James' new mother-in-law! Bushrangers were particularly active at this time, with Ben Hall's gang attempting to rob the Yass Mail. At Collector, they harrassed a number of people, then shot the lockup keeper dead. Five hundred pounds reward was offered for their capture. In April 1865, Parliament passed the Felons Apprehension Act and shortly afterwards Ben Hall, Mad Dog Morgan and Johnny Gilbert met their violent ends. Sydney news advised St Mary's Cathedral burned down at the end of June with loss estimated at 50,000 pounds! A quick whip-around among its parishioners resulted in the immediate subscription of 6000 pounds. Luckily, the Archbishop's papers and Cathedral records were saved. James was still having trouble persuading readers and advertisers to pay up, and in the 2 October issue threatened to reduce publication from twice to once a week. He had now been in the newspaper business for eight years and still maintained close links with Adelong, again being the senior officer of the Oddfellows at their third anniversary in Nov 1865. An insignificant and tiny advertisement in the issue of 22 January 1866 announced an event of great importance to many readers of this history: "BIRTH. On the 18th inst, Mrs J.B Elworthy, of a son". This was Arthur, firstborn child of 19-year-old Henrietta Sophia Jane (nee Large) and 32-year-old James Baker Elworthy, but again - no special treatment given to family matters! Things were moving at quite a pace in the district. James expanded his interests into fireworks and cordials, he was busy with his auctioneering business, but still found time to act as judge at the annual races in April. Perhaps he was over doing things though. In early May the Times apologised: "In consequence of Mr Elworthy's prolonged illness, we must continue to crave the indulgence of our readers for our numerous shortcomings." Towards the end of July there was a rush to the goldfield at Jackalas but the Gundagai Herald was on the point of closing down. Under dateline Gundagai, a nameless correspondent stated: " ... Everyone is talking about the kindly manner in which you humourously but fearlessly exposed the bungling officialism of this district last week. Our local paper is a most unfortunate journal .. Having proved for the fourth time a losing spec, our paper is on the eve of "caving in"; I fear it will be a long time ere Gundagai will have a mouthpiece of its own. "Your late partner was the first to represent us in print but I believe it was more in an unfriendly feeling towards you that he did so. His principles however, were not in accordance with those of our townsfolk and after an inglorious career he departed, with the regret of our publicans to whom he was a pretty good customer." (No worries about defamation it seems!). The article stated that since then two other people had attempted to run the paper without success and it was doubtful if the third would do any better. It contended if a properly conducted paper had at first started there - and if James had located himself at Gundagai instead of at Tumut: "I could have guaranteed a little fortune for you at the time; but those times are past, and I am sure a long period will elapse before such another opportunity will offer." Could this have been John Isaac who perhaps previously tried to urge James to move to Gundagai instead of Tumut? In the next issue of the Tumut Times, finding that their paper had at last "caved in", the Gundagai correspondent asked: "Could you not remove your plant here? Everybody seems confident that if you did so and personally conducted it, that it would prove highly remunerative to you, especially as we all have noticed that you espouse the cause of the districts you represent, which our late publication unfortunately has not done. This is worth your consideration, for here you will have advantages which you cannot possess in Tumut, and being on the main road you will be able to obtain much news that you are, by reason of distance, now debarred from." In the same issue James said that although he felt deeply grateful to the correspondent for his good intentions, he was not of such an erratic disposition as the former proprietors of the Gundagai paper. Gundagai friends must know that after eight years in Tumut, the Times was looked upon as one of its institutions. To cut old friends for the sake of new acquaintances might prove more remunerative at first, but would certainly be somewhat ungrateful and would militate against him hereafter. The Times had always held that the interests of Tumut, Adelong and Gundagai were to a great extent identical and as the only paper in the district, if favoured with a fair amount of support, would endeavour to do its best to deserve the confidence of Gundagai patrons. It was good to be so well thought of, but James had too many interests in Tumut and was by now also a Commission Agent. Not one to dissemble, when he became responsible for collecting the debts for Rankin Bros. butcher shop, he simply advertised: 'In reference to the above, I am desirous that an amicable settlement should take place, therefore debtors had better call at my office without delay and arrange the mode of payment." Plain, simple and very direct! In September 1866, the wall around Gundagai lock-up was almost complete and at South Gundagai John Isaac chaired a meeting regarding snagging of the Murrumbidgee. A steamer "The Nangus" had been built by John Jenkins at considerable expense but was now unable to navigate between Gundagai and Wagga because of impediments. Mr Isaac maintained the river could be made navigable at very little cost. In November an action for libel was brought against the 'Times' by J F Blake, the CPS at Tumut, necessitating the appearance in court at Wagga of James, his editor, overseer and pressman. As this was probably the entire staff, publication of one issue was suspended. The case was quite involved and though libel was proved, James was fined one shilling! The pressman referred to was John Leathem, recently married to Marion Large, older sister of Henrietta and James' brother-in-law. Gundagai loomed large in the pages of the Tumut Times at the start of 1867. Work on approaches to the Gundagai Bridge began in January; a Masonic Lodge was opened on the 25th with brethren from many surrounding districts attending, and on 05 June, St John's Church was consecrated. By September toll charges for the Gundagai bridge were decided upon. Foot passengers were to pay twopence; a vehicle, gig, dray or cart would cost one shilling; a horse, mare, ass or mule would be sixpence and one penny would be payable for each sheep, lamb, pig or goat. Early in October a public meeting was held relative to the Alfred Bridge opening on the 17th. James Elworthy was on the committee and he thought 'the completion of the bridge was a matter of such importance that the event should be held with all possible rejoicing and in order to afford everyone the opportunity of participating in the public jubilee, there ought to be a general holiday'. He was certain no employer would object (Shades of Bob Hawke and the America's Cup) and equally certain many employees would gladly avail themselves of the opportunity thus afforded them of taking part in the proceedings. 'Their objective should be to celebrate the event in a manner that would at once gain the applause of the Colony, show that the benefits the Government had conferred, by a liberal outlay, were duly appreciated and demonstrate the importance of the district.' He then moved for the declaration of a general holiday throughout the district. The opening of the bridge had a tremendous impact on the entire area and James obviously gave serious thought to the suggested move to Gundagai. The issue of Saturday, 16 Nov 1867 advised that early in the ensuing year publication of the paper in its present form would be discontinued and the GUNDAGAI TIMES & Tumut & Adelong Advertiser, a large weekly journal published in Gundagai, would replace it. For some time the owner had been contemplating the move and after 'mature consideration' of the advantages, had decided upon it. Urging its readers to support the new paper, it advised: "Editors, reporters and compositors neither subsist on air, as chameleons do, nor are clothed by nature like the flowers of the field but are subjected to the necessities of other mortals and require,like them, coin to meet current expenses." An era of pioneering journalism came to an end when I.B Elworthy printed his "Tumut & Adelong Times" for the last time in December 1867. He must have had plans in hand for some time to move his newspaper to the rapidly growing town of Gundagai. An excellent stonemason William Kindred, a Manxman who had built the Church of England rectory and the wall around the Catholic Church, was charged with erecting the new building in Sheridan Street. On little Arthur's second birthday Saturday, 18 Jan 1868, the "Gundagai Times", Vol X, No 842, price sixpence, James B. Elworthy sole proprietor, made its debut. It was to continue as the voice of Gundagai for the next 62 years. James had close connections with many Gundagai townsfolk and with his usual enthusiasm, it didn't take him long to get right into the thick of things. At the Easter Monday race meeting, James was the steward whilst his fellow auctioneer Michael Doyle was the starter. He also was assistant to the churchwardens at St John's and gave ten shillings towards its maintenance. When two-guinea shares in the Adelong stud were offered, applications were to be made to Mr D.E Johnson's agent - J.B. Elworthy. Sadly the issues of the Gundagai Times for the next ten years are torn or missing, and consequently much of this decade is also missing from the lives of Henrietta and James Elworthy and their growing family. The papers were a wonderful source for much of this book's material. A second son, Ernest George was born in 1868. His birthplace is given as Tumut so possibly Henrietta, as some of her sisters did, went home to mother to have her baby, and father of course, was a doctor. Harold Lewington (named for an Adelong friend of James) was born at Gundagai in 1872 and when little Edith arrived in 1876, she was baptised with the unusual second name of Asenath to honour James' older cousin who came with the family to Australia. James' father George died of Podagra Metastasis in the heart on 24 Feb 1878 at his residence and business premises, 381 George Street, Sydney. He was buried three days later in the family plot No 2940 in the Congregational section of the Devonshire Street Cemetery. Sharing the family plot were his children - Alice died on 14 Jan 1854, Elizabeth 23 Sep 1855, Charles 20 Sep 1859 and William Barker Roberts 15 Jun 1865, the husband of Asenath. Again, only the barest mention was given to the death. The only curious thing was the incorrect description of James Elworthy, father of George as "Major General" Elworthy. He was actually an innkeeper in Exeter, Devon. George would not have been the first person nor the last to add a little background colour and polish to his forbears. Henrietta's father, the venerable Dr William Large, died at his home in Tumut on 21 Oct 1881, aged 74. His obituary in the Gundagai Times said that Dr Large had for a long time been suffering from a bronchial infection which had reduced him to a mere skeleton. A few weeks before, he had become so prostrated that no hopes of his recovery were held. Twice James was invited 'to become the candidate for the Parliamentary representation for the district' but each time he declined, although he really did have the best interests of the district at heart. For 17 years he had worked hard, persistently advocating the extension of the railway to Gundagai. To see the fruition of hopes and hard work must indeed have made 21 July 1886 a very special day for him. People gathered from Adelong, Tumut and other neighbouring towns to join the celebration. As Chairman of the Welcoming Committee, it was James' great pleasure to propose the main toast - "Success to the Railway". Henrietta's mother Mary Ann Large, or Marianne as it came to be written, died after a long, painful battle with stomach ulceration on 3 May 1888. Her age at death was shown as 69 but quite possibly she was older. Mary Ann was the mother of twelve children, nine of whom survived her, and through her schools and seminaries in the towns of Tumut, Wagga and Cootamundra, was exceptionally well known, highly esteemed and much loved. Another institution very dear to James' heart was Freemasonry. He was a foundation member of Lodge Excelsior and had twice been Worshipful Master as well as its energetic secretary for 18 years. James was the consecrating Brother when Lodge St Clair, Adelong was opened on 18 ApI 1876. He worked diligently towards formation of the Grand Lodge of NSW which was celebrated with great pomp and ceremony in Sydney on 24 June 1888. Every column of every page and every advertisement in the Times of 8 March 1889 carried a heavy black border, announcing to its readers with profound sorrow, the almost incredible news that James Baker Elworthy was dead. He had had no lingering illness but after retiring the previous Saturday night, complained of pains in his chest and arm. Medical assistance was sent for but before Dr Gabriel could do anything and "almost without a struggle or a sigh", aged only 55, James passed away. Henrietta supplied more personal details to her sister Marion Leatham and in announcing the death, the "Molong Herald" said: 'From a private letter received by his sister-in-law Mrs Leathem, proprietress of this journal, we learn the deceased gentleman went to bed on Saturday night in his usual health, after sitting on the verandah smoking until half past 11. He had only slept about one hour when he woke up complaining of pains in his chest. "At the suggestion of his wife he went and sat in the fresh air on the balcony for five minutes but as no relief appeared to be derived, the assistance of two medical gentlemen was called in. In response to their enquiries, Mr Elworthy said he thought it was one of his old attacks of indigestion. The doctors then proceeded to make an injection into his arm but before this could be done, Mr Elworthy fell off the chair and at once expired. We understand the cause of death was apoplexy" James had been a major force in the towns of Adelong, Tumut and Gundagai for more than thirty years and the district was stunned by his sudden and totally unexpected death. "His presence has passed away. The place that knew him once will know him no more and our bewildered senses can hardly realise the fact that the voice, always kindly in tone but firm in discipline, the brain,ever thoughtful for the good of others and the hand, ready for every good work, are alike hushed and removed from our midst for ever." His funeral on the following day, Tuesday 04 March, was the largest and most the imposing gathering ever seen in Gundagai. The number of horsemen and buggies reat made the funeral cortege almost a mile in length. More than 300 took part in the procession led by the foot and mounted police, followed by the Rifle Reserve lied company and then the Masons, in whose interests he had laboured so energetically oath and fruitfully. Following the Church of England service, he was buried with full Masonic honours. Later grateful parishioners erected a memorial tablet in St John's in recognition of his dedicated community work. Part of James' obituary in the Gundagai Times said: "Having moved in our midst for the past twenty years, a leading element for good in our society, there is something more that is due by us to the memory of 'the just man whose end has been made perfect.' "The late Mr Elworthy will be very much missed in this small community and a void is left which will be hard to fill. He was so thoughtful and considerate of others that his name is synonymous for all that is good and noble in human nature. "The very fact that he conducted this journal for over thirty years without giving offence or treading ever so lightly on the corns of his neighbours goes to show that he was not antagonistic. Most men in such a position would have fanned the enmity of some; but we believe that James Baker Elworthy died as he lived without an enemy. "Such a record on the tombstone of our friend is worth all the trivial cares and troubles met with in this life, and is a sure passport to that Heaven above which we all hope to reach. "He has left a name for probity and honour that is worth far more to his family than gold; although, thanks to his perseverance and love of home, he left those near and dear to him in comfortable circumstances and he so lived that both in temporal and spiritual matters he was always ready for his Master's call. "It will be hard to find where we shall not miss his presence and harder to understand why such men are taken and others left. He leaves behind him the priceless legacy of a good name, the unstained record of a good life." "True to himself, true to his work, true to his God, he lived and died." 1841 with his grandmother Elizabeth Bowcher, 69, spirit dealer, and her sons Edward and William, and Mary Elworthy, 55, at Fore Street St. Petrock. 1851 working for James Long, Woollen Draper, at Holborn Hill London. Owner and editor of Gundagai Times. Said to be a good singer. Sang with the famous singer Jim Reeves. |
| Source References: |
| 2. Type: Book, Abbr: Devon to Downunder, Title: Devon to Downunder, Auth: Bettie Elworthy, Publ: Bookbound, Date: 1997 |
| - Reference = 115 (Death) |
| - Reference = 91ff and 101-116 (Name, Notes) |
| 73. Type: Book, Abbr: Pioneers of Tumut Valley, Title: Pioneers of the Tumult Valley , The History of Early Settlement, Auth: H.E. Snowden, Publ: Tumut & District Historical Society Incorporated, Date: 2004 |
| - Reference = 79 (Name, Notes) |
| - Notes: James Baker Elworthy was the printer and publisher of the Wynyard Times and Tumut and Adelong and Murrumbidgee Advertiser. He came to Tumut in 1858.
In 1855 James married Elizabeth Watson in Goulburn, but she died in 1862 in Tumut. His second marriage was in 1865 in Tumut to Henrietta Large, the daughter of Dr. Large. His first publication of this newspaper was Vol.1, No. 1, printed at Tumut on 20 November 1860. A copy of this issue is filed at the Mitchell Library. Unfortunately no other issues of a Tumut paper appear to be filed there or in the Public Library prior to 1890. In 1867 James Elworthy moved to Gundagai. |