[Index]
Joseph BOLTON (1833 - 1917)
blacksmith, farmer, licensee 'The Cricketer's Arms'
Children Self + Spouses Parents Grandparents Greatgrandparents
Charles BOLTON (1864 - 1866)
Henry BOLTON (1867 - 1949)
Sarah Jane BOLTON (1869 - 1938)
Anne Maria BOLTON (1871 - )
Amelia Alma (Millie) BOLTON (1873 - )
William George (Phil) BOLTON (1875 - 1938)
Elizabeth BOLTON (1877 - )
John Hulbert BOLTON (1879 - 1949)
Alice Mary BOLTON (1881 - )
Joseph Ernest BOLTON (1883 - 1945)
Francis James BOLTON (1885 - 1885)
Edward BOLTON (1887 - )
Arthur Glenville BOLTON (1890 - 1969)
Eric Thomas BOLTON (1892 - )
Florence BOLTON (1895 - )
Joseph BOLTON (1833 - 1917)

+

Mary Ann GRIFFITHS (1847 - 1923)
George Henry BOLTON











Ann MUTTON












b. 1833 at Redditch, Worcestershire, England
m. 1865 Mary Ann GRIFFITHS (1847 - 1923) at Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
d. 20 Dec 1917 at Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia aged 84
Near Relatives of Joseph BOLTON (1833 - 1917)
Relationship Person Born Birth Place Died Death Place Age
Father in Law William GRIFFITHS abt 1817 Tilston, Cheshire, England 12 Apr 1895 Molonglo, New South Wales, Australia 78
Mother in Law Mary Ann SEWARD abt 1818 Ulverston, Lancashire, England 25 Nov 1880 Foxlow, New South Wales, Australia 62

Father George Henry BOLTON
Mother Ann MUTTON

Self Joseph BOLTON 1833 Redditch, Worcestershire, England 20 Dec 1917 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 84

Wife Mary Ann GRIFFITHS 1847 Liverpool, Lancashire, England 02 Feb 1923 Ginninderra, ACT, Australia 76

Son Charles BOLTON 1864 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 1866 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 2
Son Henry BOLTON 1867 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 1949 Ashfield, New South Wales, Australia 82
Daughter Sarah Jane BOLTON 1869 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 21 Aug 1938 Kingston, ACT, Australia 69
Daughter Anne Maria BOLTON 1871 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Daughter Amelia Alma (Millie) BOLTON 1873 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Son William George (Phil) BOLTON 1875 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 1938 Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia 63
Daughter Elizabeth BOLTON 1877 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Son John Hulbert BOLTON 1879 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 1949 Kogarah, New South Wales, Australia 70
Daughter Alice Mary BOLTON 1881 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Son Joseph Ernest BOLTON 1883 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 29 Nov 1945 Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia 62
Son Francis James BOLTON 1885 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 1885 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 0
Son Edward BOLTON 1887 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Son Arthur Glenville BOLTON 1890 Sutton, New South Wales, Australia 24 Jun 1969 Canberra, ACT, Australia 79
Son Eric Thomas BOLTON 1892 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Daughter Florence BOLTON 1895 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia

Son in Law Thomas MAYO 1858 Duntroon, ACT, Australia 03 Oct 1924 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 66
Daughter in Law Maria Jospehine SIMPSON 1888 Picton, New South Wales, Australia 1954 Bulli, New South Wales, Australia 66
Daughter in Law Sarah Isabel Rosalene Rosileen Margaret FISHER 1907 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 27 May 1988 Canberra, ACT, Australia 81
Daughter in Law Annie Lilian MUNDAY 1898 Ginninderra, ACT, Australia

Grandson Jack Gordon Majura MAYO 1909 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Granddaughter Lexie Winifred BOLTON 1913 Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia 30 Mar 1992 Bulli, New South Wales, Australia 79
Granddaughter Iris Mary BOLTON 1915 Lockhart, New South Wales, Australia 1987 New South Wales, Australia 72
Grandson George BOLTON 1917 Lockhart, New South Wales, Australia 1978 New South Wales, Australia 61
Granddaughter Patricia M BOLTON abt 1923 1923 Lockhart, New South Wales, Australia 0
Grandson Basil BOLTON abt 1928 New South Wales, Australia 07 Nov 2006 Morundah, New South Wales, Australia 78
Granddaughter Living or Recently Deceased
Granddaughter Living or Recently Deceased
Granddaughter Living or Recently Deceased
Granddaughter Living or Recently Deceased

Niece Mary Ann E GRIFFITHS 1875 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 1876 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 1
Nephew William T GRIFFITHS 1876 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 1876 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 0
Niece Margaret Jane GRIFFITHS 1877 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Nephew David GRIFFITHS 1879 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Niece Emily GRIFFITHS 1880 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Nephew Albert GRIFFITHS 1882 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Nephew James Samuel GRIFFITHS 1884 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 1884 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 0
Nephew Samuel James GRIFFITHS 1884 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 1884 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 0
Niece Amelia (Millie) GRIFFITHS 1885 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 23 May 1923 Strathfield, New South Wales, Australia 38
Nephew Edward GRIFFITHS 1887 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Niece Jane GRIFFITHS 1888 Bungendore, New South Wales, Australia 1888 Bungendore, New South Wales, Australia 0
Nephew Darcy J GRIFFITHS 1890 Bungendore, New South Wales, Australia
Nephew Henry GRIFFITHS 1893 Bungendore, New South Wales, Australia
Nephew John William GRIFFITHS 1876 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Nephew Seward Stephen GRIFFITHS 1879 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 1943 Burwood, New South Wales, Australia 64
Niece Mary Ann GRIFFITHS 1882 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Niece Eva Martha GRIFFITHS 1883 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Nephew William Charles GRIFFITHS 1886 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Nephew Richard Edward GRIFFITHS 27 Feb 1888 Junee, New South Wales, Australia 20 Apr 1971 Sutherland, New South Wales, Australia 83
Nephew Frederick Thomas GRIFFITHS 1890 Junee, New South Wales, Australia 1958 Ashfield, New South Wales, Australia 68
Niece Grace Caroline GRIFFITHS 1892 Junee, New South Wales, Australia
Nephew David Alexander GRIFFITHS 1894 Junee, New South Wales, Australia
Niece Jane Elizabeth GRIFFITHS 1896 Junee, New South Wales, Australia
Nephew William Henry GRIFFITHS 18 Mar 1874 Molonglo, New South Wales, Australia 19 Sep 1961 Leeton, New South Wales, Australia 87
Niece Martha Elizabeth GRIFFITHS 1876 Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia
Nephew Thomas George GRIFFITHS 1877 Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia 1940 Molong, New South Wales, Australia 63
Niece Mary Ann GRIFFITHS 1880 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 1917 Junee, New South Wales, Australia 37
Nephew John James GRIFFITHS 1881 Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia 1938 Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia 57
Nephew Henry Herbert GRIFFITHS 1883 Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia 1954 Newtown, New South Wales, Australia 71
Nephew Albert Edward GRIFFITHS 1885 Loftus, New South Wales, Australia 28 Aug 1962 Junee, New South Wales, Australia 77
Nephew George Daniel GRIFFITHS 1887 Junee, New South Wales, Australia 13 Nov 1967 Junee, New South Wales, Australia 80
Niece Sarah Joyce GRIFFITHS 1891 Junee, New South Wales, Australia
Niece Gladys May GRIFFITHS 1894 Junee, New South Wales, Australia 17 Jan 1960 66
Niece Elena Harriet GRIFFITHS 1896 Junee, New South Wales, Australia
Niece Mary A EDMONDS 1877 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 1877 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 0
Niece Ellen J EDMONDS 1878 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Niece Sarah EDMONDS 1881 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Nephew William Henry EDMONDS 1882 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Niece Elizabeth EDMONDS 1886 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Niece Florence EDMONDS 1888 Bungendore, New South Wales, Australia 1908 Goulburn, New South Wales, Australia 20
Nephew Arthur A EDMONDS 1890 Captains Flat, New South Wales, Australia
Nephew John Thomas GRIFFITHS 1890 Bungendore, New South Wales, Australia 1926 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 36
Niece Amelia E M GRIFFITHS 1893 Bungendore, New South Wales, Australia
Nephew Allan GRIFFITHS 1898 Bungendore, New South Wales, Australia 1898 Captains Flat, New South Wales, Australia 0

Brother in Law Thomas GRIFFITHS abt 1844 Liverpool, Lancashire, England 17 Oct 1911 Molonglo, New South Wales, Australia 67
Brother in Law William GRIFFITHS 1849 Gundaroo, New South Wales, Australia 18 Jul 1926 Coolamon, New South Wales, Australia 77
Brother in Law John GRIFFITHS 28 Sep 1851 Gundaroo, New South Wales, Australia 05 Dec 1914 Junee, New South Wales, Australia 63
Brother in Law James GRIFFITHS 1854 Gundaroo, New South Wales, Australia
Brother in Law Stephen GRIFFITHS 1856 Gundaroo, New South Wales, Australia
Sister in Law Elizabeth GRIFFITHS 1860 Gundaroo, New South Wales, Australia 08 Jun 1944 Captains Flat, New South Wales, Australia 84
Brother in Law Richard Napoleon GRIFFITHS 1864 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 22 Jun 1919 Goulburn, New South Wales, Australia 55
Events in Joseph BOLTON (1833 - 1917)'s life
Date Age Event Place Notes Src
1833 Joseph BOLTON was born Redditch, Worcestershire, England 6
31 Jan 1857 24 Immigration Sydney, New South Wales, Australia per 'Emma' 6
1864 31 Birth of son Charles BOLTON Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 14080/1864 6
1865 32 Married Mary Ann GRIFFITHS (aged 18) Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 30741/1865, Molonglo 6
1866 33 Death of son Charles BOLTON (aged 2) Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 6326/1866 6
1867 34 Birth of son Henry BOLTON Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 15280/1867 6
1869 36 Birth of daughter Sarah Jane BOLTON Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 17208/1869 6
1871 38 Birth of daughter Anne Maria BOLTON Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 16568/1871 6
1873 40 Birth of daughter Amelia Alma (Millie) BOLTON Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 17542/1873 6
1875 42 Birth of son William George (Phil) BOLTON Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 18486/1875 6
1877 44 Birth of daughter Elizabeth BOLTON Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 6
1879 46 Birth of son John Hulbert BOLTON Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 22040/1879 6
1881 48 Birth of daughter Alice Mary BOLTON Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 25879/1881 6
1883 50 Birth of son Joseph Ernest BOLTON Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 29146/1883 6
1885 52 Birth of son Francis James BOLTON Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 31406/1885 6
1885 52 Death of son Francis James BOLTON Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 14099/1885 6
1887 54 Birth of son Edward BOLTON Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 33385/1887 6
1890 57 Birth of son Arthur Glenville BOLTON Sutton, New South Wales, Australia 29078/1890 6
1892 59 Birth of son Eric Thomas BOLTON Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 30022/1892 6
1895 62 Birth of daughter Florence BOLTON Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 6
20 Dec 1917 84 Joseph BOLTON died Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 15148/1917 6
Source References:
6. Type: Book, Abbr: Queanbeyan Register, Title: Biographical register of Canberra and Queanbeyan: from the district to the Australian Capital Territory 1820-1930, Auth: Peter Proctor, Publ: The Heraldry & Genealogical Society of Canberra, Date: 2001
- Reference = 20 (Birth)
- Reference = 20 (Death)
- Reference = 20 (Marriage)
- Reference = 20 (Immigration)
- Reference = 20 (Name, Notes)
80. Type: Web Page, Abbr: Hall Museum, Title: Hall School Museum and Heritage Centre, Locn: https://museum.hall.act.au/
- Reference = https://museum.hall.act.au/display/1939/person/1944/joseph-bolton.html (Name, Notes)
- Notes: Joseph Bolton

Born: 1833; Died: 1917; Married: Mary Ann Griffiths

Related Places
Rockwood
Lyall Gillespie records that Joseph Bolton took up a selection, 'Rockwood', in the early 1870's...

The Cricketers' Arms
From the 1840s until about 1858 Julia Webb (known as 'Judy the Great') operated a sly grog...

Joseph Bolton was born at Redditch near Birmingham, England in 1833 and baptised there on 15 June that year. He was the son of Henry Bolton and Ann (nee Mutton).

His elder brother, George, migrated to Australia in 1836 and found work as a shepherd in the Molonglo district. Joseph himself migrated to Australia in 1857 as a free settler on the Emma and first settled at Carwoola in the Queanbeyan district. The Immigration List describes Joseph as follows:

'22 years of age, a brickmaker by trade and a native of Studley, Gloucestershire. His parents Henry and Ann (deceased) - father living at [place] in Staffordshire. Unable to read and write. A brother, George Bolton, a farmer at Bungendore'

Joseph's brother, George Bolton, was working as a shepherd on John Hosking's Foxlowe estate on the Molonglo River, south-east of Queanbeyan and Bungendore. Hosking was the wealthy Sydney merchant and son-in-law of Samuel Terry. George's wife had died, but he had three sons, Henry, born in 1846, George, born in 1847 and William, born in 1852, all of whose births were registered at Lake George, Canberra.

By February, Joseph had joined his brother at Foxlow, engaged by John Hosking, but he soon made off for the Braidwood goldfields, with J. W. Hosking posting a notice of his abscondment. Joseph was then thought to be working the goldfields at Tuena, near Bathurst, when on 22 October, 1858, his brother, George Bolton, died suddenly while on his way home from Queanbeyan to Foxlowe, with the coroner attesting to his death by natural causes. Hosking took care of George's three children and Joseph was granted the Letters of Administration of his estate, valued at £75, on 3 February, 1859.

In the same year, the new Christ Church building in Queanbeyan was being constructed by Rev. Alberto Dias Soares. The foundation stone was laid on 25 August. It seems that Joseph may have resumed his trade as a stonemason and brickmaker and worked on the new Christ Church building, including quarrying stone from the Wingello Quarry near Marulan.

It was at Carwoola in the Molonglo district that Joseph met, and subsequently married Mary Ann Griffiths - on 8 April 1865, at St Thomas Church of England, Carwoola. They had fourteen children together, the first Charles, born in September 1864, seven months before the marriage. Three more children - Henry (1867), Sarah-Jane (1869) and Anna Maria (1871) - were born at Molonglo, where Joseph and Mary Ann resided at Little Plain, Molonglo, working their selection for some years before the family moved to Ginninderra in 1872. Before that, their first-born, Charles, died after being bitten by a snake when he was barely a year old. Their Ginninderra property, Rockwood, originally comprised Portion 24 (40 acres) in the Parish of Ginninderra. They later purchased adjoining Portions 63, 64, 65, 108 and 109 to eventually assemble a holding of 282 acres.

In 1879 they took over the licence of the Cricketers' Arms Hotel - established by Patrick Grace in 1864 - from Samuel Davis. In January 1880 - presumably to supplement their income - Bolton was the successful tenderer (₤45) for the twice-weekly mail run from Yass through Murrumbateman and Jeir to Ginninderra. In 1882 he secured the mail run to Upper Gundaroo for three years. The following year a new building was erected beside the hotel to provide a sample room for commercial travellers, and additional bedrooms. These were described at 'cosy and comfortable' and the building was 'elaborately furnished'.

Life as a publican was not all plain sailing. In August 1883 he was charged with a breach of the Licensing Act for 'allowing dice to be thrown for drinks'. William Gillespie was amongst those who gave evidence, and the case was concluded with the light sentence, of ₤3. That same month he was also charged with Sunday selling. On this occasion George Curran was one of those to give evidence. The case was dismissed.

In 1866 Joseph suffered a serious accident. When returning from Queanbeyan the harness of his backboard broke while descending one of the hills. Joseph was thrown heavily to the ground by his kicking and plunging horse, and as a result was confined to hid bed for a while.

"While at the Hotel Joseph and Mary became heavily involved in the activities of the district and fostered sporting and recreational activities there and on the spots ground opposite. These included pigeon matches, horse races, cricket, hare coursing, athletic sports, ploughing matches and steel quoits. Joseph provided live birds for the pigeon matches and live hares for the coursing events"[Bolton, p.4]

In August 1887 a meeting at the Cricketer's Arms established the Ginninderra Ploughing Match Association, with Joseph elected Treasurer, James Gillespie Secretary, and Samuel Southwell (Jnr) President. The first match was set down for September. In 1889 he was appointed Treasurer of the newly created Ginninderra Pastoral and Agricultural Association. He was later an active member and supporter of the Ginninderra Farmers Union after its establishment in 1905.

Joseph reputedly introduced live hare coursing at the Cricketer's Arms in August 1888, when he provided 27 live hares. He himself had a dog named 'Darling Jack' which reportedly won most of the races!

"As well as raising a family [...in addition to the seven children born before they became licensees, Joseph, Francis , Edward and Arthur were all born at the hotel] Mary Ann catered for balls and the social events of the district and provided meals for contestants and spectators at sorting events. The Queanbeyan - Yass mail coach made the hotel a regular stopping place for meals". [Bolton p.4]

The hotel was the venue for a highly successful Bachelor's Ball in March 1884 - so successful that another had to be organised in July. The Queanbeyan Age reported on a 'sumptuous spread' and a programme of twenty six dances, the dancing continuing 'until the sun appeared on the eastern horizon'.

In July 1890 Joseph and Mary and their large family retired from the hotel business and returned to their property 'Rockwood' and a life of farming and grazing. The license of the Hotel was taken over by James McLaughlin. They remained involved in local social, sporting and civic activities. Joseph had interests in horse racing, and in 1905 is reported to have won a stock horse race with 'Paddy'. Joseph was often in demand as an MC - such as the ball in the Ginninderra Woolshed in June 1907.

Joseph died after a brief illness in 1917 and is buried in St Johns, Canberra. In March 1915 the Commonwealth Government acquired 282 acres from J. Bolton (Holding No 113). The property is now occupied by residences in northern Nicholls and southern Casey. At least four of Joseph's children remained in the Hall district and descendants are still living and farming in the district.

Obituary - The late Joseph Bolton

An Appreciation. After a brief illness there passed away at his residence, Gininderra, on the 20th December, 1917, one of the oldest and most highly respected residents of the district in the person of Mr. Joseph Bolton.

The deceased was born in Birmingham in 1833 and was 21 years old when he arrived in New South Wales. He thus passed through 33 years of the stirring days of pioneering in this State, and took a full share of the ups-and-downs of those eventful times, meeting trials and difficulties with a stout heart and undaunted spirit, determined to win out in the end. He was a true type of the grand old pioneers, who fought their way through droughts, floods, bush fires and hardships on the roads in the early pioneering days without further aid than the will to do, and the determination to succeed.

In his early life he followed station work at Carwoola. Purchasing land in that neighbourhood he ploughed his first field with a pair of bullocks and a wooden plough. He afterwards became proprietor of the One Tree Hill (Cricketers' Arms) Hotel at Hall, which he conducted with the able assistance of his excellent wife for eleven years, gaining the good opinion of all travellers and residents of the district for his honourable dealings and encouragement of manly sport.

After retiring from the hotel business, he interested himself in farming and pastoral pursuits at his late residence in the Federal Capital area. In the early days of the Farmers' Union, he was an untiring worker in its cause, and was ever ready to assist any movement for the advancement of the district. The deceased was of a cheery, courteous disposition, devoted to his family, kind and sympathetic in all cases of distress, and will be missed by a large circle of sincere and sorrowing friends. He was attended in his last illness by Dr. Blackall who did all that medical aid could do to alleviate his sufferings; but his fine constitution gradually broke down under the weight of years and he passed away under the tender care of his beloved wife and devoted family.

His remains were interred, as requested by himself, in the Canberra cemetery in the presence of a large concourse of relatives and friends. Mr. Bolton leaves a widow and the following children to mourn his loss, namely, Mrs T. Mayo (Majura), Mrs. R. O'Neill (Kempsey), Mrs. W. H. Jones (Sydney), Mrs. Cockburn (Werris Creek), Miss Florrie Bolton (Ginnderra) Senior-sergeant Bolton (Adelong), First class Constable Bolton (Bellbrook), William Bolton (Wagga), Joseph Bolton (Picton), and Edward, Arthur and Eric (Gininderra). [The late Mr. Bolton was one of the original subscribers to the Age and during the past 68 years constantly took the paper right up to the time of his demise - Ed. Q.A.]

[This 'appreciation' was written by Hall school master Charles W. Thompson. Queanbeyan Age Friday 11 January 1918, page 2]

The Bolton family is commemorated in the naming of Rockwood Street in the Gungahlin suburb of Casey.

NOTE: This article does not yet take into account the recent publication by Joanna Davis - The Boltons of Ginninderra (see references below)

References
Bolton, E., A Brief History of Joseph and Mary Ann Bolton; Residents of Rockwood, Canberra, 1994
Gillespie, L. L., Ginninderra: Forerunner to Canberra, Campbell, 1992
Purchase, S. (ed.), Canberra's Early Hotels: a Pint-sized History, Canberra, 1999
Smith, L. R., Memories of Hall, Canberra, 1975
Davis, J., The Boltons of Ginninderra, from Joanna Davis Publishing

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