There is an on-line index for the Philanthropic society.
http://www.surreycc.gov.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/449213/Philanthropic-Society-School-Redhill-Registers-of-Admissions.pdfJames BUSHELL D o B 1844
Date of admission 4.1.1855
Notes: Emigrated to Sydney per "Nimrod", age given as 11 plus notes
Document reference: 2271/10/10 Page/Folio No: 175
Obviously there are some further notes to be seen in the actual records.
Seems quite a long way from Kent to Surrey (in those days) and one wonders if he was in trouble with the law as it seems that was one reason for admission.
Now, how do you know that your man finished up at the Philanthropic Society? This boy seems to be the one I found on an earlier post:
James BUSHELL
Port of Departure: London
Port of Arrival: Sydney, New South Wales
Voyage Arrival Date: 6 Oct 1857
Vessel Name: Nimroud (sic)I wonder if he came with others from the Philanthropic Society. And where did they go to in Australia? By yourself at the age of 11.
I see a few others emigrating to various states of Oz in the 1850/60s from this institution - many to Canada also. I had a quick look at about half of the entries and didn't find anyone else emigrating on the same ship.
My reason for the query is that there is a family in 1851 census with surname BUSHEL - which may just be wrongly recorded. James BUSHEL, b 1843 Margate, is in the District Union Workhouse, Isle of Thanet. He is listed with what would seem to be his brothers - John aged 13 and George 4. All b Margate and all listed as 'son of a bricklayer'.
This corresponds with a birth reg from FreeBMD for a James BUSHELL, reg Isle of Thanet, Jul qr 1843. (Margate is part of this reg district.)
Seems as though this may be the father of the boys, also in the Workhouse as above - John BUSHEL, 45, bricklayers labourer. I think it says he's married - bit hard to read. Hmm - there's also an older man recorded near to the boys on the Workhouse list, so not sure.... Richard BUSHEL, widower, 63, bricklayer.
Anyhow, these boys may have nothing to do with your man; just seems a bit of a co-incidence. And whether it's your man or this boy in the RN
Do you have the death cert? Just wondered if it gave the number of years in NSW. Dis he name Margate as his birthplace?
Judith