John SMALLWOOD ^5,168

  Events

• At the time of the 1851 Census, John was living with the Bull family, at 24 Sale Street, Paddington, London.

He was an unmarried, eighteen year old Apprentice Carpenter. John indicated that his birthplace was Kensington, Middlesex.

Also in the house were, amongst others, the Bull Family, who are being researched by Fay McCamley, of Bajool. Her Bull family also settled in the Rockhampton area, as did John Smallwood and his wife-to-be, Ellen Pittard.

Henry Bull, the head of the household, 53 years old, a Carpenter, who was born at Hants, Gosport.

Henry's wife, Sarah Bull, 39 years old, who was born in Middlesex, as were all her children, as follows:

Alfred, 16, Apprentice Carpenter
George, 15, Scholar
Eliza, 8, Scholar
John, 5, Scholar

The house must have been a large residence, as also recorded in other parts were the following persons:

William Payne, Head, married, 40 years old. William was a General Porter, born at St Georges, Southwark.

Elizabeth Hall, Head, unmarried, 53 years old. Elizabeth was a Housekeeper, born in Shoreditch, Middlesex.

James Ayers, Head, married, 44 years old, and his son James E. Ayers, unmarried, 22 years old, both born in Elham, Kent. James Senior was a Coachman, and James Junior was a Conductor.

Horatio and Selina Marshall (husband and wife) occupied another section of the house, Horatio 26 years old, and Selina 30 years old. Horatio was a General Clerk, born at Surrey, Wandsworth, and Selina - no occupation listed - born at Torquay, Devon. Also listed as living with Horatio and Selina was Horatio's daughter-in-law Emma Humphrey ~ she was only 9 years old. Little Emma was born at Lambeth, Surrey.

In this case, the "daughter-in-law" goes back to its original, most pure meaning. That is, Emma was Horatio's step-daughter - his daughter in law.

• John Smallwood was to travel to Australia when he was twenty-five years old, on the vessel "Beejapore".

It advertised regularly in "The Times" of London, to seek out travellers to Australia. This is one such advertisement, placed as long ago as 30th April, 1838:

Australia - Beejapore - WHITE STAR Line of British and Australian Ex-Royal Mail Packets, sailing from Liverpool to Melbourne on the 20th and 27th of everymonth (passage money £ 14 and upwards):-

Ship Captain Register Burden To Sail

Beejapore Drenning 1,676 4,750 May 20
Simonds J. Leavitt 1,203 4,000 May 27
Red Jacket O'Halloran 2,460 5,000 June 20
White Star T.C.C. Kerr 2,360 5,000 July 20

The Beejapore is sister ship to the celebrated clippers White Star and Morning Light, and has made the unparalleled passage of 74 days from England to Sydney; she has carried over 4,000 passengers in safety and good health. The Simonds has made some very remarkable passages, and made the great run of 90 days from London to Callao. Her cabins and second cabin accommodations on deck are unsurpassed. Passengers embark on the 19th and 26th of May. For freight or passage apply to H.T. Wilson and Chambers, 21 Water-street, Liverpool; or to Grindlay and Co., 63, Cornhill, or 9, St. Martin's-place, Charing-cross, London.

• This enticing advertisement appeared in The Times on Saturday 11th October 1856. Can we picture young John Smallwood, sipping his breakfast cup of tea, and deciding to take up the offer of Marshall and Edridge?

"MARSHALL and EDRIDGE's LINE of AUSTRALASIAN PACKET SHIPS. - For SYDNEY direct, under engagemetn to H.M. Land and Emigration Commissioners, last shipping day 6th November, to sail 13th November, the splendid British Ship BEEJAPORE. A1, 1,676 tons, J.L. McLAY, Commander; loading in the East India Dock. This ship, noted for her remarkably fast-sailing qualities, made her last passage to Sydney in 84 days. Apply to Messrs. Charles Walton and Sons, 17, Gracechurch-street ; or to Marshall and Edridge, 34, Fenchurch-street.

• A further ad regarding the departure on 13th November was placed in The Times on the next Tuesday, 4th November, entreating possible passengers thusly:

MARSHALL and EDRIDGE'S LINE of AUSTRALASIAN PACKET SHIPS. - For SYDNEY direct, under engagement to H.M. Land and Emigration Commissioners to sail 13th November, the splendid British ship BEEJAPORE. A1, 1,676 tons. E.B. DRENNING, Commander; loading in the East India Dock. This ship, noted for her remarkably fast-sailing qualities, made her last passage to Sydney in 84 days. Apply to Messrs. C. Walton and Sons, 17, Gracechurch-street ; or to Marshall and Edridge, 34, Fenchurch-street.

In only twenty-four days, the ship has changed Commanders. Interesting.

• John Smallwood travelled to Australia in the vessel "Beejapore", which departed Southampton, England, on Tuesday 2 December 1856, arriving in Sydney on Saturday 14 March, 1857.

• John is listed in the Shipping Records as 25, in good health, Church of England, can both read and write. His parents are stated to be father Joseph, mother Elizabeth - both dead.

His birthplace is listed as Kensington, Middlesex. John paid one pound fare. He had no complaints about the journey.

John had no relations in the colony.

• The Port of St. John
by H.A.Cody

Where is the Port of grey St.John?
The sea clans knew it well;
They winged up by my Island light,
They steered by buoy and bell,
And of the welcome that I gave,
They had one tale to tell.

I bred a hardy seaman race upon my rugged steeps,
Who sailed my fastest clipper hounds and sounds the deeps;
My ships were known in every port,
manned by bluenose breed,
Stern fearless driving skipper-men,
hard both in will and deed.

The finest wooden sailing-ships were built upon my shore,
The roaring "Marco Polo" and the bounding "Beejapore";
The "Flying Cloud", the "Guiding Star",
and other far famed ships,
Designed and built by St. John men,
went smoking from their ships.

The tide flows out, the tide flows in,
it never can be still,
It follows where the strong sea call,
the sea that works it will,
And ships come up, and ships go down
black smoke trailing far,
Great rovers of the ocean ways where ports of heros are.

But sure as homing swallows wing in from the open main,
The ships from all the Seven seas coming sweeping back again.
The know the port is open wide,
my headlights always clear,
No ice to stab, no rocks to scar,
no tempest blast to fear.

Where is the Port of grey St. John?
The sea clans know it well;
They point up by my Island light,
The steer by buoy and bell,
And of the welcome that I give,
They have one tale to tell.

• A passenger named James Baldwin, 25, a Joiner and Carpenter, from Boxington, Hertfordshire, lists his "Relations in the Colony" as "Uncle Robert Lyall - residence not known".

James' parents, James and Caroline, are listed at "living at London".

James is later to become the witness at John's marriage to Ellen Pittard.

An interesting and quaint column in some of the shipping registers of the day was a column intended to be completed as to "State of bodily health, strength, and probable usefulness".

• This list of the crew of the Beejapore, and summary of the passengers, has the Master's signature - Edward M. Drenning - at the bottom right hand of the page.

Beejapore of Liverpool

Edward M. Drenning, Master, Burthen 1676 tons

from the Port of Southampton to Sydney, New South Wales, 17th March 1857

Surname Given name Station Age Of what Nation Status Comments

Fidler Michael 1st Mate 26 British Crew
Denper John 2nd Mate 23 British Crew
Driscoll John 3rd Mate 18 British Crew
Willmore S. Purser 25 British Crew
Thompson August Carpenter 23 British Crew
Barrett Henry Carpenters Mate 22 British Crew
Holmes William Boatswain 26 British Crew
Bryan James Sailmaker 30 British Crew
Simpson Albert Steward 28 British Crew
Rillen Jipe Cuddy Servant 21 British Crew
Scott William Cook 31 British Crew
Clark Henry Able Seaman 25 British Crew
Summer Robert A. B. 28 Foreign Crew
Mann Frederick A. B. 28 British Crew
Miller August A. B. 33 British Crew
Conny John A. B. 22 British Crew
Kearney John A. B. 28 Foreign Crew
Green James A. B. 20 British Crew
Plunt Joseph A. B. 21 British Crew
Griffiths Thomas A. B. 26 British Crew
Brown William A. B. 51 Foreign Crew
Elford Thomas A. B. 22 Foreign Crew
Prammer James A. B. 23 Foreign Crew
Baker George A. B. 44 British Crew
Bunner Gelige A. B. 19 British Crew
McDonald Alexander A. B. 32 Foreign Crew
Johnston Henry A. B. 42 British Crew
Andrews William A. B. 21 British Crew
Waterhouse Richard A. B. 25 British Crew
Dunlop David A. B. 26 British Crew
Curtin James A. B. 23 British Crew
Wall Richard A. B. 18 British Crew
White Thomas A. B. 32 British Crew
Clark John A. B. 28 British Crew
Strinder John Able Seaman 20 British Crew
Datton Daniely AAB 21 British Crew
Botham Nicholas A. B. 20 British Crew
Antonio Frank A. B. 25 Foreign Crew
Callam John A. B. 30 British Crew
Burgess William O. S. 20 British Crew
Ellis George O. S. 20 British Crew
Nolan Joseph O. S. 25 British Crew
Gore Silvester O. S. 29 British Crew
Clark James O. S. 22 British Crew
Murnlly Anthony O. S. 21 Foreign Crew
Melisun Henry Emigrants Cook 30 British Crew
Jones Chas. Emigrants Cook 22 British Crew
Blawood William O. S. 32 British Crew
Mara William O. S. 20 Foreign Crew
Spence John A. B. 29 British Crew
Paines Frederick O. S. 17 British Crew
Santhwood Henry Emigrants Cook 24 British Crew
Smith Frederick Boy 16 British Crew

Drenning Mrs Passenger Cabin

Farrer W. Revd. Passenger Cabin
Farrer Mrs Passenger Cabin
Farrer John Master Passenger Cabin
Farrer A. R. Master Passenger Cabin
Farrer Annie Passenger Cabin
Farrer Herbert Master Passenger Cabin

193 Male Adults Passengers Immigrants
167 Female Adults Passengers Immigrants
39 Male Children Passengers Immigrants
53 Female Children Passengers Immigrants
9 Male Infants Passengers Immigrants
8 Female Infants Passengers Immigrants

• James and Elizabeth, and John and Ellen, were all passengers on the "Beejapore", so one can imagine that these four friends, and Elizabeth's Guardian, Sophia Brown, formed a friendship on board the vessel.

• John and Ellen were married according to the rites of the Presbyterian Church, with Sophia Brown, the Guardian of the Bride, giving consent. Witnesses to the marriage are listed on their certificate as James Baldwin, and Elizabeth Graves.

• John is listed on the marriage certificate as a 24 years of age Bachelor, a Carpenter, and his usual place of residence as Sydney, NSW.

• An item which is available for reading is entitled "Diary from the Beejapore - 1863".

This would be interesting reading, I am sure.

Details are as follows:
Diarist: Good, Abijou
Departure: 28 February 1863
Port: London
Destination: Rockhampton
Ship: Beejapore
Class: 4ma

The National Library of Australia's Call No. for this item is MS 513. We will pursue this information further, and see if there is anything juicy to be gained from it.

• Rockhampton is now one of the finest cities in Queensland. Certainly for elegance and style it is the equal of Townsville, Ipswich, Warwick and Charters Towers. The central business district, particularly Quay Street (which is part of the National Estate) and East Street, is one of Australia's most elegant streetscapes. The concentration of beautiful old buildings, the tree lined streets, the malls, the lazy Fitzroy river beside Quay Street, all make this area of Rockhampton one of the delights of any visit to the city.
Initially this concentration of buildings tends to overwhelm the visitor. The Rockhampton's Heritage brochure (available at the Tourist Information Centre in East Street Mall) lists 26 buildings of historical significance in three blocks of Quay Street and East Street. However, the reality is far more manageable.

But before inspecting these superb buildings it is necessary to get the city into context.
Rockhampton is the unofficial capital of Central Queensland. It is located 638 km north of Brisbane, 8 m above sea level and just a few kilometres north of the Tropic of Capricorn.

The area was first explored by Charles and William Archer who discovered and named the Fitzroy River (after Governor Charles Fitz Roy) on 4 May 1853. The Archers were of Scottish descent but their family had moved to Norway in 1825. It was from their adopted country that they took the names Eidsvold and Berserker (a Norse hero) after whom they named the local mountain range.

Charles Archer moved into the area in 1855 (he settled on Gracemere Station - see below) and the following year the New South Wales Government (Queensland was not a separate colony at the time) decided to establish a settlement near the mouth of the Fitzroy River. The site chosen was the rocky upper limit of navigation on the river. This offered an obvious, if somewhat unimaginative, name to the town. 'Rock' was simply attached to the English suffix 'Hampton' which denotes a place near water (as in Northampton, Wolverhampton, and Southampton) to produce a name which meant 'place near the rocks in the river'.

The town grew slowly with the first store being built in 1856 and the first inn appearing six months later. The discovery of gold at Canoona in 1858 resulted in a sudden influx of miners and prospectors. The rush was short lived but it did ensure a dramatic increase in the local population. Some people stayed to work on the surrounding cattle properties while others found work in Rockhampton which had grown significantly as a result of the rush.

Queensland is unique amongst the Australian states in that it has a number of genuine coastal capitals. This sense of individuality has made cities like Cairns, Townsville, Rockhampton, Mackay, Bundaberg and Maryborough independent centres which do not rely on Brisbane. It has also ensured that rural Queenslanders don't see Brisbane in the same way that people in New South Wales, for example, regard Sydney.
It is worth noting that when Queensland became an independent colony the people of Rockhampton were eager to establish themselves as an independent state. They certainly didn't appreciate being answerable to politicians in Brisbane. From the early 1860s Rockhampton was the home of an active and committed secession movement.
Rockhampton continued to grow throughout the nineteenth century. It was lucky to have a series of industries surrounding it which ensured its continuing prosperity. There was wool which inevitably, because of the climate, gave way to cattle. Today Rockhampton proudly declares itself the 'Beef Cattle Capital of Australia'.

It is not easy to forget that today the city's wealth is largely based on the cattle industry which surrounds it. Reminders exist at both the northern and southern ends of town where the visitor is greeted by life size statues of bulls in the median strip. There is also a huge 'big bull' on top of a shopping complex at the southern end of town.

The city's early wealth was built on the gold which was discovered in the hinterland. The first wave of miners in the 1860s did not have a major impact on the development of the city. It was the later discoveries, particularly at Mount Morgan (q.v.), which created the wealth out of which the city's stately buildings were constructed.
Mining began at Mount Morgan in 1882. On 22 July 1882 the Morgan brothers, after whom the town is named, pegged out a gold mining lease on Ironstone Mountain (Mount Morgan).

The Morgans, with some Rockhampton businessmen, formed a six man partnership to mine the mountain. All the partners became fabulously rich. One of the partners in the syndicate was Thomas Skarrat Hall whose brother's widow donated some of the Mount Morgan fortune to a fund which established the famous Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research in Melbourne.

Another partner was William Knox D'Arcy, who having made an incredible £6 million from his share in the mine by 1889, went to London and later made another fortune when he financed drilling for oil in Persia (modern day Iran), which led to the formation of the famous BP Company.

We will see later that William's father was the solicitor who dealt with John, on the preparation of his will, in 1874.

Some of the money from Mount Morgan inevitably found its way to the port. Many of Rockhampton's more ostentatious buildings were constructed from the wealth of the Mount Morgan goldmine.

In recent times Rockhampton has been sustained by the mining activities in the Bowen Basin where towns like Blackwater, Dysart and Moura produce vast quantities of coal which is transported to the coast by rail and shipped overseas. Rockhampton with its population of over 60 000 and its specialist services has become the centre for the mining towns which lie beyond the Great Dividing Range.

Among the city's more famous sons and daughters are the novelist Ernestine Hill (1900-1972) who wrote My Love Must Wait, a popular account of the life of Matthew Flinders, Vincent Gair (Premier of Queensland 1952-57, leading member of the famous Labor Party split, Federal Senator 1964-74 and Ambassador to Ireland after Gough Whitlam managed to remove him from the Senate with the offer of an overseas posting which was heavy with irony) and Rod Laver, the man reputed to be the greatest tennis player ever.

• The former Office and Gold Store of the Mount Morgan Gold Mining Company Limited, at 236 Quay Street, Rockhampton has been the home of ABC Radio and Television since 1963.

The building was completed in 1898 and featured a rear courtyard enclosed by a double brick wall three metres high, topped with broken glass, no doubt secured by solid gates. The courtyard was the entry point for the trooper-escorted coaches which, from time to time, delivered consignments of gold bars from the smelter in Mount Morgan, thirty minutes drive South-west these days.

The gold was loaded onto a trolley and rolled into storage in the front vault. Ultimately the bullion was consigned to ships for delivery to buyers.

If the walls could talk they'd tell some very interesting stories. Perhaps the dominant figure in those stories would be the Chairman of the Company, local solicitor, William Knox D'Arcy.

Born in England, William Knox D'Arcy arrived with his family at Rockhampton, Queensland in 1866. As a young man he was articled in his father's law firm, but with the untimely death of his father D'Arcy moved between several law firms before qualifying as a solicitor in 1872.

Stories abound as to his character, some suggesting he was a pillar of the community and a man of great integrity, others painting him a 'cad and a bounder'. Whatever, his business acumen and nose for a profit made D'Arcy and the company extraordinarily wealthy. In terms of personal fortune by the time he left to return to England, William Knox D'Arcy would have been the Bill Gates of his day.

In 1883 in his capacity as a respected Rockhampton solicitor he became a major shareholder and partner in the syndicate that would eventually own the fabulously rich Mt Morgan mine.

D'Arcy owned a couple of magnificent estates and loved to hold soirees. On one particular evening, in the drawing room of one of his mansions, D'Arcy and guests thrilled to songs from Enrico Caruso and Nellie Melba.

With rumblings of war descending on Europe, D'Arcy recognised the need for substantial and secure oil supply to increasingly mechanised armies. From his own pocket he established the Anglo-Persian Oil Company, and funded the search for oil in what was then Persia, known today as Iran.

It's at this point the story becomes a bit romanticised. So it is said, D'Arcy could see his fortune sinking into the sands of exploration along with the drill bits of his crews, with nothing to show for the effort. He cabled his foreman to pay off the men, pack up and return to England. The foreman, so the story goes, being an old oil man could 'feel a strike in his bones'.

He cabled D'Arcy with a request that he confirm the original order by letter, knowing that mail would take around three weeks to come by ship. Duly a letter arrived on the day they struck a gusher.

Oil being a strategic resource, the British Government subsumed the company, calling it British Petroleum. We know it today as BP.

When, in 1998 the ABC decided to restore the building, stripping away 35 years of sixties dιcor kitsch, the buildings grandeur was revealed. Fortunately someone had the foresight to store most of the original solid red cedar doors complete with cast bronze hinges. Only one brass handle set could be found, so replicas were made.

With the exception of those installed in new work, the mouldings around windows, and foot-deep skirtings are also solid cedar. They were painted in 1918 whilst the building was occupied by a New Zealand Insurance company.

All but two of the original etched fanlights remain, and most of the original entry lead lighting is intact.

When the cabling for computers and other equipment was being installed beneath the floor, technicians discovered a letter headed "James Hardie and Company, Asbestos House, Brisbane", and dated 1932. With the exception of one small corner missing, the document was intact. A Schnapps bottle was found sporting a dual ribbon label, the lower portion of which stated that the contents were "As recommended by the medical fraternity".

The ABC has married the grand old building with the latest in radio broadcast technology, breathing new life into an historic Australian edifice.

• The following quote from The Maryborough Chronicle supplement, Monday July 13th 1863, gives a slight indication of the conditions on the vessel "Beejapore".

"Arrivals:

July 3rd, "David McIvor" Black Ball Line,
869 tons, Captain Manley, from Liverpool with 415 immigrants.

Thursday July 16th, 1863. (Page 2.)
Arrival of the "David McIvor" with 414 immigrants"

"The voyage of the "David McIvor" has been an unusually prosperous one. The only death on board was that of an infant, who was sickly at the time of starting.

There were nine births.

The health of the passengers was largely due to the excellent arrangements and energetic action of the surgeon superintendent.

The same complaint may be lodged against fitting up between decks as made against the "Beejapore"; the partition dividing the single women's portion was too slender to be any obstacle to the evil-disposed, and it says something for the character of the immigrants, as well as fir the vigilance of the medical officer, that order and morality have been preserved.

As this is the first voyage of that gentleman in this capacity, it must be no small satisfaction to have been so thoroughly successful. "

• John Smallwood is recorded as a Carpenter, Bolsover Street, Rockhampton, in 1868, and again in 1972. It is remembered by family members that he was a talented tradesman, and an astute businessman.

This is a house that John built, and the family lived in it in Rockhampton.

• On 9 December 1873, John Smallwood, Mrs Smallwood, and six small Smallwoods arrived in the steamship Florence Irving, of Sydney, 625 tons, from the Port of Rockhampton.

They travelled with five other "steerage" passengers on this voyage.

• John Smallwood is recorded in 1874-1875 as being a Freeholder of land, value £100, living at Stanley Street, Rockhampton.

• John Smallwood's will, we will discover, nominated Alexander Grant as his trustee. Alexander had an illustrious history in the formation of Rockhampton.

Rockhampton was proclaimed a town on the 15th December 1860 under the Municipality Act of 1858, and became a city in 1902.

The first Council was elected on 26 February 1861 and held its inaugural meeting on the 1 March 1861.

The six members were John Palmer, Mayor, Richard McKelligett, John Ward, John Stevens, Alexander Grant, and P.D. Mansfield, serving a four year term as was the practice until 1921.

Rockhampton's population at the time was approximately 600, with boundaries stretching from both sets of mountains to encircle the area.

The ward system was introduced in 1864 with three wards, Fitzroy, Archer and Leichhardt.

• John Smallwood is recorded in 1876 as being a Freeholder of land, value £100, living at Stanley Street, Rockhampton.

• John Smallwood is recorded in 1877 as being a Freeholder of land, living at Stanley Street, Rockhampton.

• John Smallwood is recorded in 1878 as being a Freeholder of land, living at Bolsover Street, Rockhampton.

A map showing the location of the Smallwood residence indicates exactly where they lived in Bolsover Street - corner of Stanley Street. We can see the name "J. Smallwood" on the top right of this map.

Although this map is recorded as being issued in 1863, we believe the same block of land was in the Smallwood family for many years.

• John Smallwood is mentioned in Hopkins' Rockhampton Almanac published in 1878, as follows:

In the year 1855 the first settlers arrived on the site of our town ; the first buildings being Palmer's store and the Criterion Hotel in Fitzroy-street, close to the southern abutment of the Fitzroy Bridge, now under construction.

No history is here attempted father than that the township grew, supported by trade with inland stations till 1858, when the discovery of gold at Cannoona caused a rush ; thousands came from the Southern Colonies, and left again ; but the town became firmly established, and soon, by its natural advantages, being nearer and more easily approached from the interior, it eclipsed Gladstone, the older Government settlement, and became the port and emporium of Central Queensland.

The following list contains the names of living residents who were here at the time of the separation of Queensland from New South Wales, 10th December, 1859. Shortly after, a new rush of squatters taking up and stocking the inland districts took place, when many more were added to the permanent population. The compiler apologises for any inaccuracies or omission, and will rectify same next year, if duty informed: -

Messrs. Jas. Archer, J. F. Kanker, C. M. John, J. Kelly, and H. W. Risien are believed to be the very oldest inhabitants ; but the under-mentioned came to Rockhampton without leaving New South Wales :- Messrs. A. Bertram, A. Boyer, B. Brogli, R. Bracley, - Elliott, A. Feez, A. Grant, C. Harden, M. Harris, R. M. Hunter, A. Halberstaedler, A. Jardine, W. Jager, A. Kohler, J. Lannigan, S. H. Mills, R. McKelligett, B. Pene, C. Pybus, D. Ramm, J. Ross, I. Sandel, H. Schmidt, J. Smallwood, H. Struber, A. Thozet, W. Ward, A. F. Wood, L. Wittgenstein, and no doubt others unknown by name to the compiler.

• John and Ellen's second last child, a daughter, was named after John's two sisters, Florence and Elizabeth.

• John Smallwood is recorded in 1879 as being a Freeholder of land, living at Bolsover Street, Rockhampton. The block of land was located at the corner of Bolsover and Stanley Streets.

• John tendered to the Queensland Government for the building of local schools in the late 1870's.

This tender, dated October 1879, shows the following tenders:

School Tenders Opened

The headings list No, Name of Tenderer, and Amount

The Central State Schools, Rockhampton did not attract a tender from John's company, Dean and Smallwood.

However, the second school on this list, Stanwell School, did. Against competition of David Wiley (no timeframe mentioned to complete school and residence) £13 12/-, F. Blunie (two weeks to complete work required) of £13, John O'Dwyer (four weeks to complete work required) £33, and George Jones (1 month to complete work required), the Dean and Smallwood quote was 2 weeks to complete the work required, at a cost of £20.

We wonder if they were successful!

• A second page from the Tender Book of the 1880s lists tenders for Port Curtis Road School.

This page shows Dean and Smallwood, taking six weeks to do the work required, tendering for £122.

Other tenders were from David Wiley (no timeframe mentioned) at £106 4/-, F. Blume (one month) at £110 10/-, and J. O'Dwyer (four weeks) at £87.

• John and Ellen Smallwood are mentioned twice in the book "The Early History of Rockhampton", written by J.T.S. Bird.

This book has been a collectors item up to date and it has been out of print for many years. This book was retyped and indexed by a member of the Central Queensland Family History Association, John Humphries.

J.T.S. Bird wrote articles for the Rockhampton Morning Bulletin over many years and many of these articles form this book. It tells the early history of Rockhampton mentioning events, people and institutions to around the 1870s.

Read the book and get a feeling of the times. A valuable book to anyone who has Rockhampton connections in the last century.

John and JTS have many common interests, as JTS also travelled on John's ship, the Beejapore. As you will read in JTS's biography, he arrived in Rockhampton, alighting from the Beejapore, on Thursday 25th June 1863, six years after John originally arrived in Sydney on the same ship.

• John Theophilus Symons Bird -- printer, journalist , sports columnist, gold miner, drama critic, author and historian -- was born in U.K. at the family farmhouse `Rose in the Grove' Parkham, Buckland Brewer, in the County of Devon, 10th.May 1842. He died in Brisbane on the 7th.May 1932. He was entered in the Birth Register under the name `Zephunneh' a biblical name Jephunneh (another spelling) which means THE BEHOLDER. All his life however, he was called JOHN. His name is shown on the shipping list of the voyage to Australia as `John' and the autographed copies of his book were signed John T. S. Bird. His third name is often spelt as Simmons, but his mother seems to have always used the form Symons and it was her maiden name.

J.T.S. and his two younger brothers , arrived in Rockhampton on board the ship Beejapore, a migrant ship, landing on the 25th.June 1863. He had attained his 21st birthday at sea. There are several accounts of the voyage in existence, as it is notable for the large number of future Rockhampton residents it brought. J.T.S. did keep a diary on the voyage. It has not survived, but a short summary is extant. The day after landing, he began work on the Rockhampton Newspaper, `The Morning Bulletin' as a compositor. One would imagine in those days a trained compositor would be most welcome in the young and thriving township.

J.T.S. was trained as a printer/compositor in Devon, and had been working on newspapers in Torquay before embarking for Australia, where he hoped to make his fortune! He worked on the Chronicle in Torquay, later being transferred to the Recorder. He and his brothers always thought they might return to England, if only for a holiday. None ever made a return journey.

He remained with the Bulletin until the end of 1866, when he resigned, to try his luck in the goldfields, where it seems so many people were optimistically seeking fame and fortune. He spent most of the time gold panning in many fields around Rockhampton, where the Crocodile field near Bouldercombe was proving to be a great attraction. He was certain the Canoona field, discovered in 1858 was a good one, as it provided many thousands of ounces of easily won gold. He also went prospecting at Peak Downs and as far south as Gympie.

With his friend Arthur Hosking, he left for Ridgelands and, in February 1867, discovered gold in the granite and slate deposits in the area. He lodged alluvial and reefing claims, and was granted a reefing claim by the Gold Commissioner, but for some reason the alluvial claim was granted to another man. The field was a good site, having an excellent water supply, and gold diggers commenced to pour into the area in their thousands. A thriving township soon sprang up, with stores and hotels.

J.T.S. and Hosking, applied for a £500 reward being offered by the Government for the discovery of new goldfields, however the amount received was only £200. They were the first in Queeensland to obtain a reward for finding gold, at least it was an encouragement . In those days it represented a considerable amount of money.

He later moved from Ridgelands, and went gold seeking in the Raglan and Langmorn fields, what success he had is not known , but he had made and sent to a sister in Devon a beautiful gold brooch in the form of a gold prospector's pick and shovel, with a nugget of gold on the blade, which I have seen over in UK, belonging now to a cousin, her great grandson. At this time the family is not aware of what other articles he had made. It is known that he regularly sent cuttings from the newspaper to his parents. He was still unmarried at this time, so it is possible he only had gifts made for his sisters in England. However he did marry in 1868, his bride being Kezia Seymour from London, and they were married on the 4th.April 1868 in Maryborough . At this time he was gold mining at Nashville, on the Gympie goldfields,

From Gympie he headed north for the Gilbert River but stopped at Mackay, where he worked on the Mackay Mercury for some time. He was back in Rockhampton 1869/70 heading for Cania, when he accepted a new position at the Morning Bulletin. So he rejoined the Bulletin staff, happy to do this no doubt, as life on the goldfields would not have been easy for wives and young children and he now had a child as well as a wife to support.. His firstborn child Ella Roseanna was born in July 1869.

Back at the Bulletin he spent many years in the composing room, approximately 48 years. He became foreman and overseer in 1875. By 1876 he had developed his journalistic skills. With his practical knowledge of mining, it was not long before he had taken over the mining column. He had the ability to decide very quickly whether a claim was `wild cat' or not. As mining editor he was one of the first to write about the mines at Mount Morgan, after finds there in 1883.

He wore other hats as well, all quite successfully, one being Sporting Editor; another was Drama Critic; also Leader Writer, he used the pen-name VENO, the origin of which is unknown.

J.T.S. and his wife had seven children.. His first born was Ella, who remained at home with him after the death of his wife, and there were 2 boys and 4 other girls. Both sons were employed at the Bulletin; Robert as a compositor and linotype operator, and John as a reporter. At one stage he and his two sons were on the staff, and they claimed, if needed, they could produce the whole newspaper, from reporting, to printing and sale.

His family after they married gradually all moved to Brisbane to reside, but J.T.S. remained in Rockhampton, at the Bulletin until his retirement in 1915. When his wife died in 1918, he finally decided to move to Brisbane with daughter Ella, where he remained for the rest of his life. It was a reluctant move on his part, having been an active participant in the growth of the town all those years. He died on the 7th.May 1932, just three days short of his 90th.birthday

His most notable contribution to the Bulletin, his major work , was the writing of ` The Early History of Rockhampton.' This volume contains detailed accounts of the city from its founding in 1855 until about 1870. It was first published weekly in chapter form in the paper, where it must have proved of great interest to the newspaper readers of the day. Later it was published in book form. The book also incorporates `The History of Mount Morgan Mine'.

In the preface J.T.S. acknowledged that `if the files of the Bulletin had not been available, the work in a trustworthy form would have been impossible. A planned second edition never eventuated.

Copies of the book are now a national treasure, some being held in the Rare Books section of the Oxley Library in Brisbane, many other copies are kept in Libraries such as Rockhampton Public Library, University College of Central Queensland's Capricornia Collection, the University of Queensland, and the Mitchell Library in Sydney. Here I must relate the story told by a cousin visiting the U.S.A. where he found the book advertised on the Internet in a secondhand bookshop, the price being approximately $900 American dollars. Having checked various secondhand bookshops here in Brisbane, I have ascertained that, if original copies were available the price would be approximately $1,500 Australian dollars. None it seems are available today. In some of the local Libraries around Brisbane I have found it on micro-fiche..

However, this book has recently been republished by the Central Queensland Family History Assoc. Inc. with an index added by John Humphries.. and is readily available from booksellers and newsagents in Rockhampton and from the Queensland State Public Library Bookshop, at South Brisbane.

• J.T.S. was a respected member of the Bulletin staff, and the Rockhampton community. An authority on sport, mining, reporting, he was often referred to as an arbiter in cases of disputes. Here I quote from the Capricornian of the 18th.May 1889, from an article published regarding a send-off to Mr.Will McIlwraith, editor of the Morning Bulletin, and The Capricornian , who was going on an overseas trip.

Various toasts were made in favour of several people including J.T.S. who was also honoured musically. It was stated that much of the good feeling between masters and men was due to the overseer, Mr.Bird ` than whom there was not a fairer man between employer and employed in the whole of the colonies.' Mr.Bird responded saying he thought he scarcely deserved all the warm eulogy that had been passed on him.. He could however conscientiously say he had always tried to do what he had considered fair between employer and employed, and he should always do so. He stated he would never do anything that he did not think was strictly fair. There was much applause.

In 1914, he was a pall bearer at the funeral of Mr.McIlwraith.

From 1909 to retirement 1918, J.T.S. was a sub-editor of the Capricornian as well as working with the Bulletin.. During this time he also reported on the growing activities of the city.

After his retirement he continued to write for the Bulletin and other periodicals and newspapers His retirement was just one month short of fifty five years since he first took up employment with the Bulletin.

After early interruptions for gold prospecting, he had worked continuously for forty eight years. It has been noted that, with his freelance contributions after 1918 retirement, he was a part of the paper for almost seventy years. Quite an achievement!

As I am a good many year younger than the other grandchildren of J.T.S. it means I have missed out on a lot of the early family history, and seeing I am the last surviving grandchild I must mostly rely on my own memory for anecdotes. One thing which comes to mind related by my father Robert, the elder son of J.T.S. is grandfather's love of reading. In those early days lighting was mainly candles. His desire to read a short time when first retiring to bed, could only be achieved with the assistance of his wife, Kezia, who so obligingly held the candle holder firmly on her chest , to allow him to read

By the time he retired, grandmother Kezia had already died, and all of his family, with the exception of daughter Ella were living in Brisbane. He was reluctantly persuaded to come to Brisbane to live to be closer to his family. Ella was caring for him, and about this time suffered a bad fall. I recall her as being a short stout lady, so no doubt the fall would be a heavy one, with resultant fractures. From later hearsay , and memory it must have been a bad hip break, and she was indeed fortunate to make a recovery. It was sometime before she was mobile again.

J.T.S. came to reside with our family, and presumably I was about a year old, and would be settled on a rug on the floor of the breakfast room to play while he sat at the table writing. This was the days before play pens! Seems I would crawl to the kitchen to play with the door handle on the ice chest --pre refrigerator days - my rattling of the handle would disturb him and I guess his concentration, and I've been told he would lovingly and gently come and pick me up and return me to the rug, all too soon I would manage to return to the ice chest, so my mother would have to take me elsewhere. He wanted to have me nearby , but also wanted to finish his writing. A difficult choice...

It appears I could whistle almost as soon as I could talk. He loved this, and would stop his writing to listen to my baby efforts. My mother related that he would say 'pon my soul, listen to this baby whistle, incredible, sing sweet bird' it gave him pleasure. I vaguely recall him telling me never to touch matches. He would call me his 'tuppence three ha'pence' a phrase of endearment in those days, mostly he would call me his sweet bird. I was a few years older by then.

He did make all the grandchildren aware of the importance of correct use of English language, this has been handed on down the generations, pedantry runs through the family to this day.. He stressed to all of us the importance of grammar, spelling, correct pronunciation etc. One story I do recall told by my late sister Doris ,who was quite a few years older than me, and who had spent considerable time with our grandparents when they all lived in Rockhampton. She came home from school one day, amazed to have heard someone speak of false teeth, quite a novelty to her. She told J.T.S. about this, and he reprimanded with the comment `my dear, they are not false, but artificial teeth'. Doris recalled the happy days spent at the holiday home of our grandparents, where he would encourage her love of reading, especially the daily newspaper, and she did this from a very early age.

When Ella was well enough to care for grandfather, he bought a house at Eagle Junction. His breakfast room had one whole wall built in with bookshelves and these were packed with newspapers, some of which contained articles he had written for many newspapers in his retirement. The dining room had a vast collection of books in a bookcase. The collecting of books is a bonus he has handed on to his descendants, so many of us carry on this tradition, and receive such enjoyment from reading.

Visiting him one day at Eagle Junction he took me to view a fowl yard, something new to me, and I was astonished and commented, `look at all the sparrows!' he very gently chided me and explained,` they are not sparrows my dear, but chickens'. He proceeded to show me the roosts, and some eggs which we gathered.

Loving memories remained with my sister before she died, and I too can still see him in my mind's eye, he wore the then style of suits made from fine alpaca wool in the summer time to keep cool Another granddaughter the late Theo Stoodley, recalled visiting him at his home in 1925, when he was writing his article on the voyage of the Beejapore, for publication in the Bulletin on 18th.July 1925. It is most unfortunate that the majority of his papers and memoirs were lost in a fire in later years at the home of daughter Beatrice, where he was living before he died.

In later years after the death of daughter Ella, he sold his home and went to live with daughter Beatrice at Ascot, where he remained until his death in 1932. A firm, but gentle and loving man; certainly a pedant, which he has passed on down the generations. He was always precise in his speech, and correct in his appearance. He is remembered fondly by me, his last surviving grandchild. Writing the above has been an honour for me, and helped to recall the loving times shared with him in the past.

Here are some comments made by other people. One fellow newspaperman stated he was `radical in some things, conservative in others' and others described him as honest, fairminded and hard working. He was loath to speak ill of others. He was a very good cricketer, a respected sportsman., and a most able and versatile writer, noted for his diplomatic personal comments.

Verna M. Carseldine (nee BIRD)
Bray Park, Queensland.
February 2001

Bird Court, named in honour of her grandfather, J.T.S. Bird.

• John Smallwood's will, prepared in March 1874, was administered on his death on 2 August 1890 by his two sons: John James Smallwood, a fitter of Cairns and George Smallwood, a Coachbuilder of Townsville.

John had no debts over 974 pounds 8 shillings.

Witnesses to John's will were A.L. D'Arcy, Solicitor of Rockhampton, and W.A. Mnayne, articulated (articled) clerk to D'Arcy.

John instructed that he wished to leave all his possessions to his wife, or if she died first, to his children - boys at 21 years, girls at 21 years or when married.

• From page 88 of J. T. S. Bird's book, The History of Rockhampton, we read:

Mr And Mrs. Smallwood came to Rockhampton at the time of the Canoona rush.
They landed at Gladstone from Sydney, and came overland.

Mr. Smallwood was afterwards in partnership with Mr. Daniel Ramm, also an early resident, and they built many houses whilst together.

Mrs. S. Smallwood might have been the mother of the first child born in Rockhampton, but she went back to Sydney for the interesting event.

Mrs. Smallwood now lives in Brisbane. Time has dealt lightly with her in spite of rough pioneering and the fact that she has brought up a large family. Her husband has been dead some years.

• And from pages 148 and 149, regarding "The Trial of Williams"

John Williams, commonly known as "Old Jack," was the second prisoner tried.

The following jury was empanelled:- William Laws, James Presland,
John Brewer, Thomas Marshall, Joseph Rosell, John Smallwood, John Bracewell,
Thomas Hansen, William Esdale, Francis Raymond, J.C. Blackburn, and George
Henderson.

This trial was regarding the murder of Patrick Halligan.

• This loving memorial to John Smallwood was erected by Ellen, his wife, at Toowong Cemetery, Brisbane.

Erected by ELLEN to the memory of her beloved husband JOHN SMALLWOOD
was born Feb 14TH 1833 died Aug 3RD 1890

also of their children

Alice Ann born June 23RD 1867
died July 22ND 1889

Henry James born May 9TH 1858
died July 11TH 1858

Ellen born December 1ST 1869
died December 10TH 1864

Emily born October 29TH 1872
died November 1ST 1872

Ellen born April 28TH 1875
died August 20TH 1876

Weary of earth and laden with sin, I look at heaven and long to enter in
But there no evil thing may find a home, and yet I hear a voice that bids me come.

• John Smallwood's will was administered by his son, John James, a fitter of Cairns, and George, a coachbuilder of Townsville.

He had no debts over £974 8/-.

His will had been made sixteen years earlier, in March 1874.

The witnesses to John's will were A. L. D'Arcy, Solicitor, Rockhampton, and W. A. Mnayne, articulated clerk to Mr D'Arcy.

John left everything to his wife, or if she died first, to his children - the boys at 21 years, the girls at 21 years or when married.

Presented here is the original text of John's will, and a transcription of the legalese of the day.

• This is the last Will and Testament of me John Smallwood of Rockhampton in the Colony of Queensland Carpenter .

I direct my executor in trust hereinafter named to discharge my just debts funeral and testamentary expenses as soon as possible after my decease.

I give devise and bequeath all my real and personal property of what nature or description soever and wheresoever in situate to my friend Alexander Grant of Rockhampton aforesaid Timber Merchant his executors administrators and assigns on trust that my said trustee his executors or administrators do and shall as and when he may deem expedient call in sell and convert into money all such part of my said Estate as may not consist of money and stand possessed thereof and of the money I may have at my decease and of other my Estate on trust after payment thereons of the charges aforesaid to invest the same in his name in any banking Company or Corporation in Rockhampton, aforesaid or any other banking company or corporation in this or any other of the Australian Colonies or on Government Securities of any of the said colonies with power to vary the same as occassion shall require and stand possessed of my said trust Estate in trust for my wife Ellen Smallwood her executors administrators and assigns absolutely and in case of the death of my said wife in my life time in trust for my children equally who being sons or a son shall attain the age of twenty one years or being daughters or a daughter shall attain that age or marry and if only one for the absolute use of that one and my will is that the income of the share of any child claiming under this my will shall during minority be applicable for his or her maintenance or education.

And I declare that the receipt and receipts of the trustee or trustees for the time being of this my will shall exonerate all persons paying or delivering to him or them any money or effects under this my will from seeing to the application thereof or being answerable for the misapplication or nonapplication thereof. And I further declare that if the trustee hereby appointed or any trustee to be appointed as hereinafter mentioned shall die in my life time or if he or they or any trustee or trustees to be appointed as hereinafter is provided shall after my death die or decline or desire to be discharged or refuse or become incapable to act then and so often the said trustees or trustee (and for this purpose every retiring or refusing trustee shall be considered a trustee) may appoint a new trustee or new trustees in the place of the trustee or trustees so dying or desiring to be discharged or refusing or becoming incapable to act.

And upon every such appointment the said trust premises shall be so transferred that the same may become vested in the new trustee or trustees jointly with the surviving or continuing trustees or trustee or solely as the case may require and every such new trustee shall (as well before as after the said trust premises shall have become vested) have the same powers authorities and discretions as if he had been hereby originally appointed a trustee.

• And I declare that the trustees for the time being of this my will shall respectively be chargeable only with such moneys as they respectively shall actually receive and shall not be answerable for each other nor for any banker broker or other person in whose hands any of the trust moneys shall be placed nor for the insufficiency or deficiency of any stocks funds shares or securites nor otherwise for involuntary losses.

And that the said trustees for the time being may respectively reimburse themselves out of the trust premises all expenses incurred in or about the execution of the aforesaid trusts and powers.

And I give and devise all or any lands and heredisaments vested in me by way of mortgage or on any trust unto and to the use of the said Alexander Grant his heirs executors and administrators according to the nature thereof and subject to the trusts and equities affecting the same.

And lastly I appoint the said Alexander Grant executor and trustee of this my will hereby revoking all former or other will or wills by me at any time heretofore made. In witness whereof I have to this and the preceding page of this my will set my hand this Eighteenth day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy four.

Signed and declared by the testator John Smallwood as and for his last will and testament in the presence of us who at his request in his sight and presence and in the presence of each other all being present at the same time - have hereto subscribed our names as witnesses.

John Smallwood

H. L. D'Arcy
Solicitor
Rockhampton

W. A. Mayne
Articled Clerk to H. L. D'Arcy
Solicitor Rockhampton


_____________________________________

This is the First Sheet of the paper writing referrred to in the annexed affadivit of John James Smallwood sworn at Rockhampton this Twenty third day of October AD 1890 before me.

John J Smallwood
Deponent

MMMMM,
Commissioner

_____________________________________

This is the Second Sheet of the paper writing referred to in the annexed affadavit of John James Smallwood sworn at Rockhampton this Twenty third day of October AD 1890 before me.

John J Smallwood
Deponent

MMMMMMMMM,
Commissioner

• It is recalled that the two youngest girls, Florrie and Elizabeth, who lived together, would go on a jaunt with the proceeds from the sale of one of John's houses. When they wished to go on another jaunt, they merely sold another property, and off they went.

It is presumed from this that John's estate was a generous one.

John married Ellen PITTARD, daughter of James Alfred PITTARD and Ann WARR, on 14 Nov 1857 in Pitt Street, South Sydney, New South Wales. (Ellen PITTARD was born on 30 May 1839 in Leopard Lane, St Augustine, Bristol,¹⁶⁰ died on 19 Aug 1909 in College Road, Brisbane ¹⁵⁹ and was buried on 19 Aug 1909 in Lutwyche Cemetery, Brisbane ¹⁶¹.)