James Whitrow (25 July 1821 - 28 July 1908) THE HAIRDRESSER AND MINER
James Whitrow was christened on the 25 July 1821 at Ratcliff, Middlesex, England to parents Charles and Sarah Whitrow (nee Ditcham).
On 15 April 1849, James Whitrow marries Caroline Mothersole at All Saints, Poplar, Middlesex, London, England. At the time James was a hairdresser. Caroline's father was Phillip who was a builder. James' father Charles was a plumber.
They had three children:
In 1850, Alice Whitrow was born.
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| Alice Whitrow in later life |
In the 1851 Census, they are living in 4 Wellington Place, Ratcliff, Middlesex, England. Alice is 1. James is listed as an occupation of a hairdresser. A Jane Mothersole is living with them. She is 9.
On 17 October 1852, Alfred James Whitrow was born at All Saints, Poplar, Middlesex, London, England. Alfred James is my great great grandfather.
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| Alfred James Whitrow in later life |
EMIGRATING TO VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA (23 June 1855 - October 1855)
Caroline, Alfred and Alice left the Port of London on board the Caractucus on 23 June 1855 bound for Melbourne.On Board the Caractucas were 8 men and 10 women and 4 boys and 2 girls. The Ships Master was a Captain Dennis WHELAN. Caroline, his wife, with their two children Alfred, aged 3 and Alice aged 5 left the Port of London on board the ship "Caractacus". They were unassisted passengers. Caroline was aged 37.
In October 1855, they arrived in Melbourne, Australia aboard the ship "Caractacus"" They migrated under the Family Colonization Programme to set up house for his family.
MOVING TO ARARAT, VICTORIA
7 March 1859 - Ararat Advertiser - DISCOVERY OF A QUARTZ REEF - lt is with no small gratification that we have to announce the discovery of a remarkably rich quartz reef in our immediate vicinity. The discoverers of this harbinger of prosperity are Mr James Whitrow, the late landlord of the Allies Hotel, View Point, and Mr Jenson, who is well known on Ararat. The enterprise and perseverance which these parties have displayed have only met with their just reward, and for their sakes we hope that the claim. may prove second to none in the colony. The reef is situated about two miles north-east from the Camp, the direct way to it being past the cemetery and the Chinese garden.: The depth the prospectors have gone down in 80 feet, and the specimens they obtained are remarkably rich, although the gold is rather fine. They have named their discovery the Pioneer Reef, which, under the circumstances, is a remarkably appropriate cognomen. Now that the Pioneer Reef has been opened in the neighborhood of Arnrat, we have little doubt but that others will soon follow. The parties applied yesterday for a prospecting claim to the Resident Warden.
[At this stage, I'm unsure whether this is our James Whitrow. I had thought this was an Allies Hotel, View Point in Bendigo but the Bendigo Historical Society have no record of an Allies Hotel in their View Point. They believe it to be the View Point in Ararat. They noted that the article started he was a late landlord rather than a licensee which may indicate that he had a smaller business than a large hotel. The article also mentions a Pioneer Reef which is near Ararat. As far as they know, there is no Pioneer Reef in Bendigo.]
MOVING TO RAGLAN (1856 -
In 1856 they lived in Raglan, Victoria, Australia a small town out of Ararat. Caroline Katherine (Katy) Whitrow was born.
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| Caroline Katherine Whitrow in later life |
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| Caroline Whitrow (nee Mothersole) |
MOVING TO MELBOURNE (23 March 1858 - June 1865?)
Reference has been made to the fact James left for Melbourne before moving to Avoca. He lived there for about 2 years but I haven't found any reference at this stage.
MOVING TO AVOCA AND MARRYING ELIZA DRINKWATER (June 1865 - 28 July 1908)
James went to the goldfields to try his luck at Avoca where he met Eliza Drinkwater.
In June 1865, he marries his second wife Eliza Drinkwater. At the time of his second marriage James Whitrow was 43 years old, a miner, a widower, had four children living and three deceased. They were married at St Johns Temp Church in Avoca, Victoria, Australia.
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| James and Eliza Whitrow |
In the paper on 1 February 1868 - ""BURNT TO DEATH - An inquest was held at the Victoria Hotel, on holiday last, by the District Coroner (L. Wordey, Esq.) on the body of Catherine Grayling, who was so seriously burned on the night of the 25th instant that she died on the following day. The following evidence was taken - Catherine Reid, an intelligent looking child about eleven years of age, deposed - I am the daughter of the deceased. When I and my sister went to bed there was no light or fire in the house of any kind. After I had been in bed sometime I was awoke by my sister who called out that mother was on fire. I jumped up and saw her on the floor in flames, and immediately threw some water over her. At this time the deceased was calling out, and appeared to be in great pain. There was a candle in the room, but it was not burning. After putting the fire out, I ran to Mrs Whitrow, a neighbour, who returned with me. Mr Whitrow reached the house before us and had placed my mother on the bed when we arrived. On the Saturday afternoon my mother told my sister there would be a large fire in the evening, and my sister asker her where it would be; I do not know why she said such a thing. When I went to bed there were some matches on a table near the bed in which my mother was then sleeping. My father was away last Christmas in search of work, and we expect him back next week.
Grace Morrison deposed - I am a married woman and live near the deceased, who I have know about six weeks. About dusk she sent her two children to ask me to go to her place to see her as she was unwell. I went and found her in bed, she was very feeble and appeared to have been drinking. There was some gin in a cup on the table, but she drank nothing during the time I remained in the place. When I left the children had not gone to bed, and there was a light burning. The following morning the little girl came to me and said her mother had been burned, that the candle had caught the bedclothes, and that the doctor said her mother could not live long. I immediately went down and found her in bed. I examined her and found very severe burns all over her body. In answer to a question from me, she said that in trying to light a candle during the night it had fallen out of her hands and set her nightdress on fire.
James Whitrow deposed - I am a miner living in Avoca. The deceased's children came to my house about one o'clock on Sunday morning and said that their mother was on fire. I immediately ran down to her house, but found no fire. It was quite dark at the house and it was some little time before I could get into the house and it was full of smoke; when I did get in I called out to the deceased but did not receive any answer. The smoke then cleared away and I saw her lying on the floor; a portion of her body being under the bed. After a few minutes the deceased seemed to recover a little, and asked me to send for Mrs Whitrow. My wife then came in and I left.
Eliza Whitrow, wife of last witness, deposed - When I arrived at the house of the deceased, I spoke to her but she made me no answer. There was a candle that appeared to have fallen out of the candlestick on to the floor; it was lying within an inch of the deceased's body. All her clothes were burnt.
I did what I thought necessary and went for Dr McMahon. The deceased told me that in trying to light a candle it had fallen on her clothing, and that was all she knew. I remained with the deceased until her death which took place about nine oçlock on Sunday evening. I believe the deceased had been drinking for several days previous to the accident.
Dr McMahon deposed to the nature and extent of the injuries received, which in his opinion were very serious, the principal wound being in the region of the bowels and quite sufficient to cause death.
The jury, after some little consideration, brought in a verdict of'"death by burning"".
They had two children Ann Brook Whitrow born in Avoca in 1866 and Sarah Ellen (Nellie) in Avoca 1870.
Records show that James Whitrow was listed in the 1884 Victorian directory as a hairdresser and lived on High Street.
In February 1874, residents of Avoca complained about having their fruit and vegetables stolen from their gardens. James had one side of his grapes vines stolen and two very heavy marrows.
In August 1874 the paper wrote - Änother child, a fine little boy, of thirteen months old, a boy of Mr Larescey, died yesterday of throat disease. The child, whose mother died about a fortnight ago, received the best of medical attention, and every care from Mrs Whitrow, who, in a neighbourly way, had taken charge of the little sufferer since it's mother's death."
In July 1880, James Whitrow requested that the council rates not be paid on his house as it had flooded and he had had to move out.
In 1887, James and Eliza's second daughter Sarah Ellen (Nellie) died in South Melbourne, Victoria of typhoid.
In November 1897, a large storm came to Avoca and a sign board from "Mr Whitrow's barber shop on High Street" flew away.
In the Victorian Federal Referendum of 1899, Mr J Whitrow is listed as having voted in Avoca.
Records show that James Whitrow was listed in the 1890 Avoca Postal Directory as a hairdresser living on High Street.
James and Eliza's daughter Ann Brook married Hugh McCallum in 1902 in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia.
In Avoca Mail - 1904 - "Lost - In High Street, Avoca, Old Age Pension Card. Reward. Leave at Post Office, Avoca. James Whitrow""
On the electoral rolls of 1905, James Whitrow is working as a hairdresser in Avoca.
He owns a 4 room mud brick house at Section A2, Allotment 13 on his probate papers. Section A2 is near the Avoca Railway Station. Unable to locate Allotment 13 at this time.
He died on 28 July 1908 at Maryborough Hospital, Victoria, Australia from senile decay. It was thought James was buried at the Maryborough Cemetery but in fact he was buried at Avoca Cemetery, Plot A219 (unmarked). His death certificate is #10427.
The Ballarat Star paper wrote on 3 August 1908:
"AVOCA - DEATH OF AN OLD RESIDENT - A very old resident of this district in the person of Mr Jas. Whitrow, has died from senile decay at an advanced age of 87 years. A funeral service was held at St. John's Church of England, the late Mr Whitrow having been verger at the church for about 25 years, but he had to relinquish the office some years ago owing to his advanced age.
""OBITUARY - MRS JAS WHITROW (Eliza Drinkwater) - The many friends of Mrs Eliza Drinkwater, relict of the late James Whitrow, will regret to learn of her death which took place on Monday, at Perth, Western Australia. A telegram conveying the sad intelligence was received by Mr Geo Downton the same afternoon. The deceased lady, who was held in the highest esteem, had reached the advanced age of 86 years. A few weeks ago she contracted a severe cold, and pneumonia and pleurisy set in. Although she received the best medical attention and nursing Mrs Whitrow gradually sank and passed peacefully away. About five years ago her husband, who was also 80 years of age, entered his rest, and some two years later Mrs Whitrow decided to go over to the Western State, where she took up her residence with her daughter and son-in-law Mr and Mrs H McCallum. Both Mr and Mrs Whitrow were early pioneers of Victoria and they were old identified of Avoca and Ararat. They were active workers in St John's Church of England and nothing gave Mrs Whitrow greater pleasure, even when that lady was over 70 years old, than assisting in decorating the church for Harvest Thanksgiving Sundays. She was of a genial and kindly disposition, and her name, like that of her esteemed husband's, will love long in the memories of many. Mrs H Powers of Avoca, is a grand-daughter of deceased. Sincere sympathy is felt for the relatives in their sad bereavement.
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