→ Joseph Blinco (1816, Fulmer, Buckinghamshire ) → Australia. Arrived: Approx 1855 in advance of his family
Family Note: This is one year after younger Cousin Alfred Blinco 1836 emigrates to Queensland and 9 years befor cousin Henry Blinco 1832emigrates to Western Australia
Sarah Thomas (1811, Wraysbury) → with children: arrived 4 June 1856 to Geelong . Sarah Blinco (Nee Thomas) wife of Joseph Blinco 1816 of Fulmer, Buckinghamshire with children 8, 7 and 5. On board ship Arthur the Great which Departed: Southampton, England – 9 March 1856 Arrived: Geelong, Victoria – 4 June 1856. Public records office Victoria Sarah Blinco 45, Maria Blinco 8, Joseph Blinco 7, John Blinco 5.
The French Horn Inn, Fulmer.
Joseph was born most likely at this Inn or a nearby Farm which was run by his father Moses Blinco 1781-1820 and his mother Maria nee Jones. Moses Blinco was a Innkeeper and Farmer on the lands of the Duke of Sussex, a fairly common situation in this period where land was owned by gentry and even though Moses was both Farmer and Innkeeper he had no land of his own. In fact the land changed hands sometime before his death in 1820 and this document from the Blencowe Archives shows he had a complaint against the new Landowner for lack of maintenance
Joseph was the fourth of five children with two older brothers and so had to make his own way in the world with no inheritance. Family had a history in bother Tenant Farming and Market Gardening and indeed the sons of Moses Blinco followed the tradition.
At 30 years of age Joseph met a young widow Sarah Stannett (nee Thomas) , she had lost here husband of 10 years William Stannett, At this time was likely a tenant farmer himself living in Burnham, Buckinghamshire. However as was the custom the couple married at Saint George in the East: Cannon Street Road, Tower Hamlets on 26 July 1846. Why they choose to marry away from Burnham or Wraysbury (Sarahs home Village) is a matter of conjecture, but it could be that a man marrying a widow older than himself in London would mean the couple could avoid the reading of Banns and its gossip locally.
In any event a daughter was born soon and by 1851 census and Joseph is a Fruiterer by trade, later he seems to have been a Market Gardener very similar occupation. In 1855 the couple now had three children and decided it seems to seek assisted passage to Australia. A common plan amongst the 19th Century Blencowes was for Joseph to go ahead and get suitable accomodation etc which he did in about 1855 (we have no records for this voyage).
The 1855 Voyage- Joseph Blinco
Joseph Blinco arrived in the Colony in 1855 we know this from his mention for the first time in the Government Gazette of 1855. In fact the notices in the Gazette pertaining to Joseph are for unclaimed letters at the Williamstown Post Office. They are likely from Sarah and are in expectation of his arrival in the colony the letters unclaimed arrive 23 May 1855, 22 September and 2 November and 24 December. Its likely Joseph arrived after the first letter unclaimed, but when, is hard to say, as he simply could have failed to collect the letters.
This Government Gazette can give a fascinating view into the state of Victorian Colony in 1855. Still in its infancy many new lots are confirmed in towns and country, several escaped criminals have bounty’s on the head and I note a man name Vern (An Hanoverian German) is wanted. “WHEREAS a man known by the pame of Vern has unlawfully, rebelliously, and traitorously levied and arrayed armed men at Ballaarat, in the Colony of Victoria, with the view of making war against our Sovereign Lady the Queen”
Revenue gained by the state is very high for Gold Licences as one might expect at £661,000, and is only exceeded by levies on wine and spirits at £781,000. The proceeds from sale of land and town allotments was £1,500,000 (rounded) as one would expect in the time of huge population growth and expansion.
A lack of fencing and other containment of livestock is very evident in the Gazette, with a large number of Impounding Notices for trespass. Clearly a problem that most livestock owners were struggling with and Joseph Blinco was amongst them we shall see. This problem of fencing of livestock was to last at least 20 years before legislation curtailed the problem.
The Gazette also publishes an extensive list of Goverment purchasing prices for tools, domestic items etc. An example can give insight to costs for a new immigrant, a single mattress at 9 shillings and 6 pence is about a days wages (interestingly todays prices equate to about half a days pay) In any event we can see that Joseph in setting up a home for his family would need to work some time to have the money to buy mattresses etc.
So we while its a year or so before we can see evidence of Jospeh, it would appear he was to settle in the relatively rural Williamstown a similar environment to Buckinghamshire as far as population and amenities. He probably realised very soon the land around him was suited to Market gardening and so it seems from one later press release he tried farming sheep. Joseph may have had some capital from sales of his Fruit business in Buckinghamshire, but it was likely not a huge amount. We can only assume in the balance of 1855 and first half of 1856 he worked at preparing for his family to arrive and to house them.
The 1856 Voyage – Sarah and children
In contrast to Joseph, we can describe Sarah and the children’s voyage in some detail, especially an eventful arrival.
Sarah and the children followed in 1856 an assisted passage was paid for by the Australian government, their journey was in contrasting sections a very fast ocean crossing of 87 days was to result in a grounding south-east edge of the Point Wilson Bank just as it was reaching Geelong. The ship was completely lodged on the sand bank and the passengers were taken ashore the next dat by local steamers. The local newspaper reports below.
Monday 9th June Geelong Advertiser “THE ARTHUR THE GREAT.- Up to sunset yesterday evening, all efforts to move the ship had proved unavailing. The bank on which she lies is a tenacious mud or clay. It is not anticipated that any injury of a serious nature will result to the ship” “THE ARTHUR THE GREAT” CATASTROPHE It appears that the boat of the Water Police and the Immigration Officer’s boat arrived alongside of the “Arthur the Great’ soon after five o’clock on the afternoon of the day on which she ran aground; the accident having happened at about four o’clock. There appeared to be no probability that the vessel would be got off; and the instructions of Mr. Ford, the Immigration Officer, were, therefore, to do the best for the speedy release of the passengers. At daylight the next morning, Mr Ford (he having remained on board all night) had the passengers’ beds, and what little odd things could be quickly packed together, got ready for the arrival of the steamer, which came at half-past seven to take them off. As far, therefore, as the Immigration department is concerned, no delay whatever occurred. The immigrants were comfortably landed at the earliest possible moment. With regard to the exertions made to get the ship afloat, we must repeat that it is by no means creditable that up to Friday night no considerable portion of the cargo had been taken out of the ship. The whole of it might easily have been unladen between Wednesday afternoon, when the news reached town that she was aground, and Friday evening, the time up to which our information extended, when we censured the slowness of the arrangements. We do not know precisely at what time Mr McPherson, the Harbor Master, went off to render assistance, but we are within the mark when we say that he did not go near the ship for FOURTEEN HOURS after Mr Ford, the Immigration Officer. We publish the following letters from parties who felt aggrieved at our remarks on Saturday, and leave the public to form their own Judgment.“
As was very usual these paid passages were most for the recruitment of workers , and domestic servants a class much sought see the newspapers advice to prospective employers “south-east edge of the Point Wilson Bank just as it was reaching Geelong. “THE IMMIGRANTS AT THE DEPOT.-At 10 till 3 o’clock, this day, the immigrants by the Arthur the Great, will be open for hire. A good opportunity will be afforded for selecting seemingly good servant of every description. Individuals not known to the overseer, are requested to take with them testimonials, or they will not be ad mitted to the “single females” ward. To the other wards no such restriction is extended.“
The point of stranding from Richard Duffield article Torquay-history.com “The Geelong steamer and lighters proceeded to help free her, but it wasn’t until the passengers landed at Point Henry the next day. That shallow point was subsequently marked by a buoy, appropriately named ‘Arthur The Great’. Since then, a long pier has been built at Point Wilson, and an exclusion zone marked around the pier, active only when a ship is at the pier. Arthur The Great buoy has become the north-eastern point of the exclusion zone and is a snapper reference point for fishing and significant for the Geelong Trailable Yacht Club who hold the ‘Arthur The Great Sail Race“
Williamstown
Joseph had decided to settle the family in the brand new town of Williamstown on the edge of Melbourne, it was in a vibrant building stage when the family arrived but within 3 years a Railway to Melbourne was built and it had grown from 2 hotels to 70 in that period as well. 1861 shows that Joseph had two adjacent properties that he owned, but these were likely rather shanty type buildings of wood and the family lived in the 4 bedroom 318 and they rented the 3 Bedroom 319 Lot 23 of the Seedon Plan. The rates were £4 per property in comparison very modest accomodation to those around them. It appears that in 1861 Joseph has another rateable property on Illawarra St which is a place on old maps and present day maps. In 1864 he is renting a brick house, on Thompson St, Williamstown. This was one of the original streets of Williamstown and next to Josephs brick house is probably in a better location. In the same year 1864 he is listed as the owner of three wooden houses on Illawara St. Two are not occupied so could be for the use of the Blinco family comprising 6 rooms and one is rented to a quarryman named Peter McGregor.
In 1960 we get some insight into what Joseph is doing ie Sheep farming . He is fined 15shilling and court costs for letting his sheep roam outside his land as we noted above a very common occurence but 15 shillings was a lot of money for Joseph so a punishment he wouldn’t forget. MUNICIPAL COURT. Tuesday, 12th June, 1860. (Before, T. Mason, and J. K. Freyer, Esqs.) TRESPASS. Municipal Council v. PATRICK DEAGAN, for allowing his cows to stray about the streets; defendant was fined 10s. 6d., and costs of court. Same v. Joseph Blinco, for a similar offence, was fined 15s., with costs of court.
As time went on we lose sight of the family somewhat and we have to lean on previous genealogical work that says that Joseph may have gone back to England in 1875 leaving his family behind. There is it seems no record of death in either place so we leave this unsolved. However in October 1872 its Sarah (Mrs Blinco) who is refused rate relief of her Williamstown property , this implies she was living on her own at that time and struggling to pay her bills.
Timeline
| Event | Date and Place | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Full Name | Sarah Thomas | |
| Birth Date | 1809 | |
| Birth Place | Wraysbury, Berkshire | |
| Full Name | Joseph Blinco | |
| Birth Date | 1816 | |
| Birth Place | French Horn Inn, Oxford Rd. Fulmer, Buckinghamshire | |
| Marriage | 26 Jul 1846, St. George in the East, Tower Hamlets, London | |
| Birth of Daughter Maria | Jan 1847, Farnham Royal, Buckinghamshire | |
| Birth of Son Joseph | 18 Aug 1848, Farnham Royal, Buckinghamshire | |
| Birth of Son John Thomas | 4 Sep 1850 • Farnham Royal, Buckinghamshire, | |
| Occupation | 1851 | Fruiterer |
| Census UK 1851 (30 Mar) | 30 Mar 1851, Farnham Royal, Buckinghamshire | Head Joseph Blinco 35 Wife Sarah Blinco 40 Daughter-in-Law Mary Ann Stannett 9 Daughter Maria J Blinco 4 Son Joseph Blinco 2 Son John Thos Blinco 6 months Servant William Wilmott 11 |
| Residence | 1855, Victoria | Govt Gazette Name Joseph Blinco Williamstown, Victoria, Australia Page number 1242 |
| Emigration of Joseph Blinco | abt 1855, Australia | 1855 most likely. |
| Emigration of Sarah Blinco and family | 4 June 1856 | Sarah with children Maria 8, Joseph 7 and John Thomas 5. On board ship Arthur the Great which Departed: Southampton, England - 9 March 1856 Arrived: Geelong, Victoria ARTHUR THE GREAT The ship ran aground and the passengers eventually had to be taken ashore on local steamer |
| Residence | 1857, Victoria | Govt Gazette |
| Conviction | 16 Jun 1860, Williamstown, Vic | MUNICIPAL COURT. Tuesday, 12th June, 1860. (Before, T. Mason, and J. K. Freyer, Esqs.) TRESPASS. Municipal Council v. PATRICK DEAGAN, for allowing his cows to stray about the streets; defendant was fined 10s. 6d., and costs of court. Same v. Joseph Blinco, for a similar offence, was fined 15s., with costs of court. |
| Residence | 1861, 318/319 Seddon St., Williamstown, Vic | Rate book for the years shows Joseph owner of 318 and 319 properties rents out 318 3 bed property lives in 319 details of rates in notes |
| Residence | 7 Apr 1861, Illawara St. Williamstown, Victoria | Rate Book Entry |
| Residence | 1864, Williamstown, Vic | rate book for Brick dwelling rented |
| Possible return of Joseph blinco to England | Before 1872 | No records only circumstantial evidence see next entry |
| Travel | October 1872 | Mrs Blinco is refused rate relief on her Property in Williamstown |
| Marriage of Daughter Maria | 27 Mar 1875, Kilmore Victoria | To Michael O'Dea |
| Marriage of son John Thomas | 1876, Victoria | to Anne Jane Hatty |
| Death of Joseph | Unknown Eton, Buckinghamshire ? | |
| Death of Sarah | 19 Sep 1887 • Melbourne, Victoria, |
Descendants
John Thomas Blinco (1850-1931)
Baptised on 29 September 1850 at St Mary the Virgin, Farnham Royal, Buckinghamshire, England.
Married Anne Jane Hatty in 1876 at Flemington Bridge, Williamstown, Victoria, Australia.
Had eight children: John T (b ~1876), Joseph J (b 1877), Arthur M (b ~1879), Eleanor H (b 1881), Ruby V (b ~1885), Frank V (b ~1888), Sydney G (b ~1893), and Myrtle R (b ~1894).
Emigrated from Southampton, England on the Arthur the Great on 9 March 1856 , arriving at Geelong, Victoria, Australia on 4 Jun 1856.
Worked as a labourer at Melbourne Port and Flemington, Victoria, Australia.
Buried on 1 June 1931.
Maria Jones Blinco 1847-1911
After she married Michael O’Dea they progressively moved in valnd in Victoria and finally settled in New South Wales . Mari died in 1911 at Eugowra, Cabonne Shire, New South Wales,
Sources
- Daphne Austins Blencowe Database
- Ancestry and Family Search
- Trove Newspaper archive
- Victorian Government Gazette
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