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Information contained in these pages is intended for genealogical research only,
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James Buckby and Anna Maria Sutton © The third son of John Buckby and his wife Mary (nee Wood), James was baptized on the 25th December, 18311, in Cranford St Andrews Parish Church, Northampton, England. James appears on the 1841 Census10 as a 10year old Agricultural Labourer, in Cranford St Andrew, with parents John & Mary and siblings Richard, George, William, Cordelia, John & Hannah. We pick up James again on the 14th April, 18502, when he boarded the passenger ship Emigrant2 at Plymouth for his voyage to Moreton Bay, Australia, as a free settler. What could have prompted him at the age of 19 to set off for faraway places? It is believed two of his brothers, George & William, had already made the journey, could it be that they encouraged James to do the same? Or, was it the lure of riches on the gold fields, or the appeal of a better life in the rapidly growing new colony? Whatever the reason behind James' journey, it proved to be less than a favourable start to his new life. On the 8th May, 1850, one of the passengers aboard the Emigrant developed Typhus3. An extremely virulent and contagious disease, it soon spread through the ship, and by the time the ship anchored in the waters of Moreton Bay, Queensland, Australia, 14 people had died with a further 64 passengers still suffering from the terrible disease. Australian government officials boarded the ship on the 8th August, 1850, ordering the entire ship into quarantine, and by the 14th August, the 241 passengers and crew had been transferred to the Quarantine Ground, situated at Dunwich on North Stradbroke Island in Queensland11. Originally built to house convicts, the Quarantine Station was not equipped to handle such a large number of people, its few buildings were old and dilapidated, and it certainly was not ideal conditions for patients suffering from Typhus. The Captain of the Emigrant provided awnings and sails from his ship for makeshift shelters until wooden huts could be built, and the government sent tents in an attempt to alleviate the shortage of accommodation. To avoid further contamination, healthy emigrants were segregated to higher ground above the hospital, where they cooked for themselves on open fires, with fresh food and supplies ferried over regularly from the mainland. People on the mainland also sent items, such as books, games and newspapers, to assist the emigrants in their daily life12. After being offered wages and extra compensation, a number of the emigrants volunteered their services to help in the hospital. Records show James was one of these volunteers, records also indicate James had earlier suffered, and recovered, from Typhus3. By late October the Typhus outbreak was abating, and on the 5th November arrangements were made to ferry the remaining emigrants to the mainland. A total of 236 people had to be relocated, and this was completed by the 19th November. The Moreton Bay Courier4 reported that by Christmas time all emigrants had been engaged in work. Many employers had been waiting for the settlers release from quarantine, and were eagerly waiting on the docks for their arrival. It is not know who James went to work for, but it is believed he may have gone to work at German Station Nundah5. On the 8th May, 1851, at St John's Church of England in Brisbane, James married fellow ‘Emigrant’ passenger, Anna Maria Sutton6. The record shows James and Anna were both unmarried and both from Brisbane. They were married by H. O. Irwin and the witnesses were Joseph Melton and Mary Ann Connor. Although the shipping index indicated that both James and Anna could read and write, both made their mark in the register. The daughter of William & Ann (nee Wickes) Anna was baptized in the Parish Church Stapleton Gloucestershire on the 20th May, 18321. Located on the 1841 census10, age 10, Anna was living at Fishponds Road, Stapleton, Gloucestershire, with parents William & Ann, and siblings: John age 15, Charles age 12, Hannah age 9, Sarah age 3, and Emily age 1. Although Anna arrived in Australia on the ill-fated Emigrant, it is not known if she suffered from Typhus, as she is not mentioned in the records of suffers. She was listed on the shipping index as Amelia2, and the record indicates she may have been planning to join her brother in Port Phillip. It is believed Anna only had two brothers, John and Charles, and to-date, the identity of this brother in Australia has not been established. Records7/9 suggest James and Anna had ten children: Mary 1852; Elizabeth 1854, married Thomas Butler 1880 in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia; William Charles 1856; Alfred Wood 1858; Emily June 1861; James 1865; David Henry 1868; Arthur Henry Ely Sutton 1873; Herbert Frederick 1876; and George 1863. Published in the Moreton Bay Courier on 8th July, 1854, the 1854 Electoral Role4 lists James Buckby as a Householder of Eagle Farm. Four of his children are recorded as 'Foundation Scholars' at German Station School 1865. James is also recorded as a Farmer of German Station, in the 1868 Queensland Post Office Directory. James appears on the 1854 Electoral Role as a Householder of Eagle Farm, and four of his children are recorded as 'Foundation Scholars' at German Station School 18655. James is also recorded as a Farmer of German Station, in the 1868 Queensland Post Office Directory. Family story8 tells that James, along with other members of his family, assisted in the building of the Presbyterian Church and school at Bald Hills around 1863. It is also said the Buckby family were well known in the local area, purchasing several blocks of land at varying times13. Anna Maria died at Union Street Fortitude Valley on the 23rd September, 18917, cause of death was given as Phthisis Pulmonalis (Tuberculosis). This record identifies Anna’s father as William Sutton, Mason, she was born in Gloucestershire England, she had been in Australia for 41years, and had born ten children, two of whom had pre-deceased her. Certified by James, it is interesting to note he made his mark on the death registration which, along with the fact both he and Ann made their mark when marrying, indicate the shipping index wrongly recorded his reading and writing ability. Anna was buried on the 24th September, at the Nundah Cemetery7. It is believed there is no headstone marking her final resting place. Leaving a Will dated the 28th October, 18909, Anna bequeathed all her real and personal estate to her husband James as trustee during his life. She also instructed that James was not to sell, mortgage or otherwise encumber her property, and after his death all her real and personal estate was to be equally divided between her children and grandchildren, whom she named. Anna's will is a hand written document and again instead of signing, she made her mark. James continued to live at Union Street after Anna's death and remarried, at the age of 586, to Catherine Celia Middleton (nee Moore). Catherine and James had a son Percy Milton born June 1893. The Post Office Directory, 1893, lists James as a Labourer of Union Street, Fortitude Valley. On the 8th September, 18937, sadly James died just four short months after Percy was born. The cause of death was Pneumonia and a Lung Abscess, he died at Union Street, and his death was certified by his wife Catherine. On the certificate his parents were identified as John Buckby & Mary (nee Wood), his place of birth as Cranford, Northamptonshire, he had been in Australia for 40years, and he had fathered 11 children, two of whom had pre-deceased him. James was buried on the 9th September at the Nundah Cemetery7. Again the location within the cemetery is unknown and it is believed there is no headstone on his grave.
References:
3. The Voyage and Quarantine of the Emigrant 1850. Redlands Shire Council
Library Local History Collection
11. History of North Stradbroke
https://www.redland.qld.gov.au/info/20145/suburb_histories/193/history_of_north_stradbroke_island
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