When James and Jane and their son, Percy, arrived in Australia they went to live at Anglesea St. Waverly, Sydney, and a month later Jane(1) gave birth to their first daughter, Mabel Annie, on 11th August, 1884, and soon after the family moved to Bathurst to live.
By then Bathurst was slowly settling down to an era of stable growth, although there were still numerous complaints about various conditions in the city. One of these was about the thoroughfares, where is was claimed that "the cheapest commodity in Bathurst was dust". When the wind was high the clouds of dust whirled about the streets damaging goods and preventing people from coming out of doors. After showers the streets were quagmires, the crossings were swamps and the ladies had to pick their way to church. There was also a need for better lighting in the streets with only eighty gas lamps in Bathurst. Sanitation was bad, slops were still being emptied in the streets, dirty water lay stagnant in pools, producing a repulsive stench. The presence of the earth closets in the backyards in close proximity to wells no doubt had much to do with grave incidents of typhoid fever. Class distinction was clear cut and snobbery rampant. There was a start contrast between the way of life of the group of landed proprietors in a ring of houses on the outskirts of Bathurst and that of the poor in town. There were complaints of larrikins roaming in the streets at all hours, smoking, gambling, swearing, fighting and destroying and making it unsafe for people to venture out at night. (2)
On wonders what a contrast there was between Bathurst and the conditions that James and Jane left behind in Durham. When they arrived they had very little money but their hopes and faith for the future were high and they soon settled down to a busy life in Bathurst.
The railway line between Sydney and Bathurst had opened in 1876, which proved to be an historical and valuable acquisition to the town. The railway with its workshops was the centre of industrial activity. It's not known whether or not James had a position waiting for him when he arrived in Bathurst. He commenced working with the Department of Railways on 23rd February, 1885, as a fitter's labourer at the rate of pay of eight shillings (eighty cents) per day and later as a coppersmith, until he retired on 19th March, 1916.(3)
In 1895 the Great Western Railway Mutual Sick Club was formed and James was elected secretary, a position he held for nineteen years when failing health forced him to retire. The club was formed for the benefit of the sick and those who met with accidents in the service.
About the same time as James' and Jane's arrival in Australia, James' stepfather and mother, William and Mary Ann Bains, came to Australia on an extended visit and lived in Bathurst also.
In 1886 Jane gave birth to another son on 12th October in Seymour Street but this child only survived a few hours.(4) Two years later Lewis James was born on 4th January. James' mother, Mary Ann, acted as midwife at the birth.(5) Soon after the family moved to Pye Street where another son, Clarence Frederick, was born on 28th January 1890. (6) Mary Alm again acted as midwife.
Two years later the family were living in Busby Street, where Jane gave birth to their second daughter, Gladys Mary, on 16th January, 1892.(7) Once more the family moved this time to Torch Street. It was here that Clarence caught scarlet fever and sadly died after only one day's illness on 11th December 189648) He is buried in the Church of England portion of the Bathurst cemetery.
James and Jane moved again to 8 Brilliant Road, South Bathurst, where they spent the rest of their lives. On 17th June, 1900, Jane gave birth to another son, Lance Frederick.(9) Samuel Lewins, James half brother and his wife Elizabeth, also moved to Brilliant Road, next door to James and the families spent many happy time together. One wonders why James and Jane made so many moves - perhaps as the family grew and James' wages increased they moved to better and bigger residences. James was always a lover of flowers and in his leisure time spent many hours in his garen which was greatly admired by those who passed by his house.
James and Jane were only in Bathurst a short time when they began to worship at St. Barnabas Church, South Bathurst. A note in the family scrap book shows that they commenced attending the church on 1st March 1885 and were soon regular worshippers there, and became involved with the church activities for many years. The foundation stone for St. Barnabas Church was laid on 25th August 1875 by Mrs. S.W. Marsden, wife of Bishop Marsden, the first Bishop of Bathurst. The first building was a weatherboard church and was later replaced by the present church in 1881. It's understood the reason for establishment of St. Barnabas Church in Milltown (South Bathurst)(10) was partly because of the growth of Bathurst necessitating the building of a second church within the Cathedral parish, and also because parishioners who lived in Milltown were often waylaid and beaten up by the town toughs whilst proceeding on foot to the Cathedral for Evensong. (11)
Jane joined the Women's Guild and was for many years the president of the group and was always busy sewing for stalls at the Annual Fairs and helping with Parish teas, and as the family grew up they too became involved with the church activities. James was leading tenor in the choir and at one time his sons, Percy, who became choir master, and Lewis and his daughter Gladys were all members and Mabel was a Sunday School teacher. Sometime later James, who had been christened in the Primitive Methodist Church at Shildon was rechristened at St. Barnabas.(12)
On 2nd July,1878, an application was made by parents of the children in Milltown for a school to be built there, as the Public School was a mile and a half away. A school was eventually built to accommodate eighty pupils. Fees to be charged were one shilling a week for one child, tenpence halfpenny for two children, ninepence for three and sevenpence for four and for each additional child sixpence per week.(13)
It was at this school that James and Jane's children began their education. In 1889 Evening classes began for twenty seven men working on the railways but owing to lack of interest these classes closed at the end of 1890.
In 1885 James and his half brother, Samuel Lewin, found that there was a need for the District Brass Band and they were two of the founders of the Bathurst District Band. Samuel became a well known conductor and James secretary in 1890. James helped to tide the band over its early struggles to secure funds for instruments and general equipment and it was largely due to his executive ability that the band was put on the road to success it achieved. See here for more information about James and Sam and there band exploits.
James was an active playing member of the band, playing an E flat bass instrument. He never figured in a solo programme. Jane often marched up and down their backyard holding music while James practiced his playing and marching. When he played out at a night engagement he played with candle in an inverted bottle. Apparently he was never able to memorise a march. This was in the days before acetylene gas lights were used for street parades and when the old torches threw deep shadows just as the band came along, so James took care he was never without a light when the band turned out at night.
James was the prime mover for the formation and the working of the Western Band Association, which was the first real live and progressive association in Australia and was appointed secretary at the first meeting. He also helped the cause of the brass bands by contributing readable articles to Bulches Brass Band News and wrote under the name of "Young Recruit". The Bathurst District Band was well known for its successes in State competitions and those in Ballarat in Victoria. James believed that band music would some day play a most important part in the life of Australia and he wanted the bands to be ready with their part when the time came. His efforts in the good work helped the bands along the way towards the goal of his desires before he hung up his instrument for the last time.(14)
He was to see his son, Percy play with many successful wins. In a booklet printed for the Bathurst District Band Jubilee in 1935 a tribute was made to the work of James as secretary which read as follows:
A more efficient official would have been hard to find. Records disclose that he fought hard for the band on all occasions, as it be mentioned that the life of the Bathurst District Band has not been all milk and honey. Bitter opposition is revealed in many of the newspaper cuttings he filed with the band records and invariably James
Appleby won his argument for his old love - the band. He was not only a fighter in that respect - he was a fighter for all good causes and the originator of many of the rules and regulations governing bands and band contests to-day. His work and records for this band would be incomplete without this special mention of his name.
As well as his activities with the band, James was a member of the Bathurst Choral Society and took part in many of the musical battles and victories with that choir.
James died on 27th September 1922 in Bathurst at the age of 69 years, after suffering from cancer of the stomach for about eighteen months.(15)
Jane died three years later at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital on 25th September 1925 after also suffering from cancer.(16) They are both buried in the Church of England portion of the Bathurst cemetery.
James and Jane brought up their family with close family ties, with deep religious beliefs and an appreciation for fine music, which have carried on down the succeeding generations.
They were both respected by the citizens of Bathurst and St. Barnabas Church as was shown by obituaries written in the local newspapers. Writing about James an extract reads as follows:
Like most active men James was never too busy he couldn't find time to assist in the movements for the good of his fellows and city. In this way he was active in many directions during his long residence in Bathurst.
and about Jane the following words were written:
Many floral tributes testified to the popularity and esteem in which the deceased was held. Jane Appleby was known as the Mother of St. Barnabas as she had been attached to the church for thirty-eight years.
It is sad that James and Jane died at such an early age as they were to be succeeded by several more grandchildren and I, for one, would have loved to have known them and this is one reason why this story is written so those of us who weren't fortunate enough to know our grandparents will be able to share some of the events of their lives.
On Sunday, 20th November 1988, a Heritage Wall, built as a tribute to the people who contributed so much to the growth and prosperity of the City of Bathurst, was unveiled. On this wall plaques were placed and the grandchildren of James and Jane were privileged to have one of these plaques presented on behalf of the Appleby family.
Ten members of the family met and attended the ceremony.
REFERENCES
- Birth Certificate Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages, Sydney.
- The Story of Bathurst by Bernard Gnaws
- Railway Service Records, Archives, State Rail Authority, Sydney.
- Birth Certificate, Registrar of B.D. and M. Sydney.
- Birth Certificate, Registrar of B.D. and M. Sydney.
- Birth Certificate, Registrar of B.D. and M. Sydney.
- Birth Certificate, Registrar of B.D. and M. Sydney.
- Death Certificate, Registrar of B.D. and M. Sydney.
- Birth Certificate, Registrar of B.D. and M. Sydney.
- South Bathurst was originally known as Milltown bcause of the number of flour Mills in the area.
- Booklet printed on the occasion of the Centenary Celebrations of St. Barnabas Church.
- Information from Madge Appleby
- School Records, State Archives, Sydney.
- An articles written in the local newspaper, in the Family Scrap Book (No date shown.)
- and (16) Death certificates, Registrar of B.D. and M. Sydney.