James Alfred PITTARD
James Alfred PITTARD
(1809-1898)

 

Family Links

Spouses/Children:
Ann WARR

James Alfred PITTARD 5

  • Born: 1809 239
  • Marriage: Ann WARR on 1 Jan 1832 in Walcot, Somerset, England
  • Died: 10 Apr 1898, Hammil Street, Donald, Victoria, Australia. at age 89
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bullet  Events

• James Alfred Pittard was born in Bristol, England in 1845. He came out to Australia with his mother Ann Pittard (nee Ann Warr), younger sister Mary Ann and younger brothers John & George. They arrived on the "Nimrod" in 1859.



• James Pittard was a Boot and Shoe Manufacturer.

James and Ann came to Australia, and settled in Ballarat, Victoria, with their four youngest children. There was a Pittard Shoe Store in Ballarat for many years, James was the shoemaker, as were later, some of his sons.

61 Sturt Street is listed as one of the Pittard Shoe Stores. When visited in 2004, the building was being refurbished to complete "Unicorn Apartments".



• If you look closely into this photograph, which was taken about 1900, you will see the shop on the left is identified as "Pittards Shoe Warehouse".



• The two views here are of one of the original shops the Pittard family owned and operated in Ballarat.

This front view shows the large window at the front of the shop - this probably wasn't like that in the Pittard's days. The three windows on the first floor would let in limited light for the occupants - they probably lived up there.

If you look behind the ornate lamp post, you will see an alley which goes to the back of the building, leading to a yard out the back.



• This rear view shows four or five narrow windows on the side of the building, and a single doorway on the first floor. We can only guess if the door was part of the original building, or if it had been added later.

In any case, the stairs have gone.

The out-house is an interesting feature which has been retained.



• Another of the Pittard Shoe Stores was operated from this premises at 217 Sturt Street.

Interestingly, this is still a shoe store - Gallagher's Shoes.

Inside, the proprietor proudly displays a picture of "the original store", and boasts of this one hundred + year old business.



• 323 Sturt Street is yet another Pittard Shoe Store operation.

The Pittard family must have had the Ballarat shoe supply to their own, although if the cold, wet weather is to be considered, and the harsh conditions of tromping around in the goldfields, it is not surprising that shoes were worn out quickly.



• 323 Sturt Street in the 1900s is shown here. The two distinctive windows can be discerned.



• This photograph was taken in the 1980s, still the windows are the main feature.

We can only wonder about the history and various occupants of this shop. It is now "Ski Sun & Surf".

• This advertisement appeared in the Donald Express on March 31, 1882:

JAMES PITTARD
BOOTMAKER

Next to Baensch's Hotel
Camp Street, Donald

All classes of work made to order.

Good Workmanship and Moderate Prices.

• An advertisement from The Donald Express placed on Friday 13th October, 1882:

JAMES PITTARD
BOOT AND SHOE MAKER
(Next Baensch's Hotel)

Repairs Neatly and Promptly Executed at Moderate Charges.

• An advertisement placed on 10th July, 1885, in the Donald Express:

Messrs Glowrey, Danaher & Co, report having sold the following allotments in Donald:-

On account Mr J. W. Pittard, an allotment in Blair Street, adjoining Mr Lovett's, to Mr R. I. Odgers, at a satisfactory figure.

• On the passing away of James Pittard, the Donald Express published his obituary on Thursday, 14th April 1898:

DEATH OF MR. JAMES PITTARD.

Again it becomes our painful duty to record the fact that another old resident of Donald, in the person of Mr. James Pittard, has gone to his long home. The deceased, who had attained the ripe old age of 89 years, met with an accident on Wednesday evening in his bedroom, having fallen when retiring, and the back of his head struck the washstand. Dr. Lewis, on being called in, found that the patient had sustained a severe shock to the system, and from the first grave consequences were feared. However, the old gentleman lingered until Sunday morning, and then calmly passed away into his last sleep.

The remains were interred in the Donald cemetery on Tuesday in the presence of a number of friends and relatives, the pall bearers being Messrs J. A., J. W. and G. Pittard, J. H. Onley, W. H. Crone and W. Bazeley. The Rev. E. F. Barker conducted the service.

Mr. Pittard was born in Bath, Somersetshire, and was apprenticed to the cordwaining trade (or bootmaking as we know it). In 1858 with his wife he came to Victoria, and shortly afterwards settled in Ballarat, where he carried on business for a number of years. After the death of his wife he next came to Donald about 22 years ago, and again followed his trade up to about 6 or 7 years since, when he retired, and had in the meantime resided with his second daughter, Mrs. J.H. Onley. The old gentleman retained his faculties right up to the time of his accident, and could read and write with many men not half his age. Mr Pittard, at the time of his death, was probably the oldest man in Donald, and leaves behind him the following family, viz.,- Mrs Bowering, Geelong; Mrs Onley, Donald; Mrs Smallwood, Rockhampton, Queensland; Mr J. A. Pittard, Ballarat; Mrs Taylor, Rockhampton; Mr. J. W. Pittard, Bunyip, Gippsland and Mr. G. Pittard, Ballarat. All of these are married and have families, and the deceased's descendants, down to his great great grandchildren, now number considerably over 100 persons.

"After life's fitful fever he is at rest."



• James Alfred Pittard's original shoe store is believed to have been in Humphreys Street.

The business must have thrived, well beyond James' passing away, as we can see here a prosperous business, Pittard & Son, advertising all manner of footwear.

The following advertisement was placed in the Ballarat Courier on Monday 25 August 1913.




TRADE NOTICES

SMART FOOTWEAR FOR SPRING.
UP-TO-DATE FOOTWEAR FOR SPRING
At PITTARD'S.

We have been very fortunate and have
secured early in the season a Vast and
Varied Assortment of
NEW SPRING GOODS
Which we offer to you.
They embrace
ALL THE NEW SHAPES
In
ENAMELS AND GLACIE
Both in
LADIES' AND GENTLEMEN'S
FOOTWEAR.

LADIES ENAMEL 2-BUTTON SHOES-
At
12/6

LADIES' PAT. TIE SHOES-
At
11/6.

LADIES' GLOVE KID LEG, FANCY
BUTTON, ENAMEL GOL BOOTS-
At
17/6.

LADIES' "MARSHALL" SHOES-
At
15/6.

LADIES' "HARKNESS" SHOES-
From
12/6

At

PITTARD'S,
Also,
GENTS' FANCY GOL. PATENT CAP
BALS-
13/6.

GENTS' FLACE BALS, with the New
Snub Toes-
At
17/6, 21/, 18/6.

GENTS' GLACE BALS. FREAK TOES-
12/6, 15/6.

GENTS' ALL-PAT. BALS-
From
15/6.

GENTS' ENAMEL SHOES -
Very Up-To-Date-
At
17/6.

GENTS' LOW-PRICE LINES-
Start
At
7/6.

WORKING BOOTS STOUT-
BLUCHERS, from … … … …4/6
WATERTIGHTS, from ... … 7/11
LACE-UPS, from … … … ...6/6

SCHOOL BOOTS. SCHOOL BOOTS.

An
UNLIMITED QUANTITY.

At
OUR THREE STORES
PITTARD & SON.
STURT STREET, LYDIARD STREET
BRIDGE STREET.

Phone 297.


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James married Ann WARR, daughter of John WARR and Elizabeth UNKNOWN, on 1 Jan 1832 in Walcot, Somerset, England. (Ann WARR was born about 1812 in South Petherton, Somerset, England 244,245 and died on 16 Jun 1875 in Ballarat, Victoria 245.)



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