Charles James Nantes, Free Settler "Africaine" 1836

Charles James Nantes (1817 – 1877) was born in Abbotsham, Devon, England to Henry Nantes and his third wife Patty Eliza Benson. Charles was the fifth of seven children. In 1836, at the age of 19 Charles Nantes was appointed clerk to Colonial Secretary Robert Gouger and sailed with him to South Australia aboard the Africaine.

Nantes was one of the party of men who attempted to hike across Kangaroo Island when the Africaine called in at the coast of the Island. Nantes and 3 others were found alive but the remaining two men in the party perished. In 1838-1839 he was recorded as clerk to the Accountant General of the colony. In about 1847 he appeared in Geelong, Victoria where he established himself as a businessman – wine and spirit merchant, lessor of premises, etc. He was a councillor for Geelong and Mayor of Chilwell as well as the trustee for numerous public bodies including Geelong Grammar School. He married Helen Gibb Smith in 1848 at St Peters Church, Melbourne. By about 1860, he was declared bankrupt and ended his working life as a station master. He died in Melbourne on 27 July 1877.

Charles James Nantes
Charles James Nantes
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Birth: Jan 26 1817 - Abbotsham, Bideford, Devon, England UK
Death: July 29 1877 - Sandridge, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Parents: Henry William (Heinrich Wilhelm) Nantes, Patty Eliza Nantes (born Nantes (Born Benson))
Siblings: Richard Nantes, Daniel Nantes, Christina Adelaide Nantes, Maria Ann Nantes/corlett, Adelaide Marianne Nantes, Henry Nantes/corlett, James Nantes, William Hamilton Nantes, John Ogle Nantes, Louisa Ede Loggin Ogle (born Nantes), Jane Henrietta Thring (born Nantes), Frederick Thomas Nantes, George Willett Nantes, Alicia Nantes
Wife: Helen Gibb Nantes (born Smith)
Children: Charles Nantes, Lady Ida Henrietta Mackenzie (born Nantes), Alice Nantes, Catherine Patty Nantes, Lucy Marina Turner (born Nantes), Adeline Mary " Mary" Nott (born Nantes), Caroline Helen Aspinall (born Nantes), Elizabeth Diana Nantes, Charles James Henry Nantes, Charles James Henry " James" Nantes, Adelaide Helen Le Cren (born Nautes), Richard Hutton Nantes, Frances Theodora Aspinall (born Nantes)