James THORNTON 1824 - 1908

[peterbroscombe51]

  Good Morning,   
                    James Thornton was born on 28th February 1824 and christened on 16th May in Heckmondwike, England. On 10th October 1847, in Leeds he married Sarah Ann Mallinson Swaine, 1823 - 1873. In 1851 Census, they are living in Kirkstall, with their sons William and George. They had two more children, David in 1853, and Mary Ann in 1854, both born in Leeds. After this time James left his family for Australia, where he married again in 1858 to Sarah Gillard in Ballarat, Victoria. But when did he Arrive? He may have lived at Ballarat all his life as all their children were born there: Jessie, 1859, William, 1860, Charles, 1861, Annie, 1862, Jessie Adelaide 1864, Emily, 1867, Walter Charles 1869, and Hubert James in 1871. Sarah Gillard died there in 1896, as did James in 1908, Jessie in 1859, William in 1860 and Charles in 1862. Not sure where Sarah is buried but the other four are buried in Ballarat old Cemetery as is James second wife, Amelia bennett, 1822 - 1908.
           Can anybody please help me to fill in details of their lives in Australia?
           Thank you

[cando]

This may be his arrival as an unassisted immigrant

http://prov.vic.gov.au/index_search?searchid=23
THORNTON    James 33 years   arrived Aug 1854 on the DAYLESFORD  Port B Fiche 073 Page 007   

Quite a few mentions of a James THORNTON in the Ballarat Star on TROVE digitised newspapers - including the funeral notice of his wife in 1896.
http://www.rootschat.com/links/01ggb/

Cando

[~MERLIN~]

Not sure where Sarah is buried...

Sarah is buried with her daughter Jessie:

http://ballaratcemeteries.com.au/php/sitesummary.php?id=6270

[cando]

THORNTON James.
Signatory May 1860
Place Ballarat Victoria
Occupation Builder.
Source - List of signatures appearing on a testimonial to James Daly Esq. Police Magistrate for Ballarat East and warden of the goldfields May 1860.

I note that James had occupation stonemason and builder on the 1851 census.

THORNTON James
Hospital record 24 Aug 1894
Place [residence] Victoria Street, Ballarat East
Birth Place - England
Age 70 years   Status Married   Occupation Stonemason
How long in colony - 40 years    Religion Church of England
Source - Ballarat Base Hospital, Victoria: admissions register 1856-1913.
Comment - Name of Recommender or remarks: Town Council Ballarat East

Cando

[~MERLIN~]

This may be his arrival as an unassisted immigrant

http://prov.vic.gov.au/index_search?searchid=23
THORNTON James 33 years arrived Aug 1854 on the DAYLESFORD  Port B Fiche 073 Page 007

Did he have a younger brother or known relative named Henry?
As there is a Henry Thornton 22yrs ticketed with the above James on the passenger list.

http://www.rootschat.com/links/01ggc/

[Aussie1947]

Hi,

Ballarat and Ballarat East Directory, 1865-66
Thornton, James, builder, Victoria St.

Gerry

[peterbroscombe51]

MERLIN,
           Thank you for your reply. I do not recognise a Henry Thornton, born around 1832, but it does not mean he is not a relative. The Thorntons had large families and I have only studied the ones relevant to my family.

[peterbroscombe51]

Thank you all for your contributions , I now know more about my Australian distant relatives

[Pronto]

I have much info on JT, my ggfthr. I doubt he married Sarah Gillard despite their long life together as he confused his marriage date and place on his children’s BCs. Also searched for marriage without success. His son Hubert James became a monumental mason in Ballarat and Melbourne, as did his son Hubert, who carved the Dampier Memorial in Broome. James, a builder, was also a monumental mason and carved the Bunninyong Gold Obelisk which also still stands. Family is mentioned on many tombstones both places by their initials usually on base of stone JT and HJT.