James Pratt

BIRTH & BAPTISM James Pratt was born in Calverley a village near Leeds, now a suburb. James Pratt born 16 June 1806, at Calverley, was baptised at the Farsley Rehoboth Chapel (Baptist), to Joseph and Hannah Pratt. Joseph was a clothier. Since James also became a clothier, Calverley and Farsley are now the same ward of the City of Leeds, and the children's names strongly suggest a non conformist persuasion, I am fairly confident this is James' family. I will add the birth record in docs. Joseph was a cloth or clothing manufacturer, and James followed him in that trade. James married and brought up his family there. The family migrated to Australia in 1849, arriving at Port Phillip on 4th October in "Mahomed Shah". See docs

MARRIAGE 1
Name: James Pratt
Marriage Date: 9 Feb 1829
Marriage Place: Calverley, St Wilfrid, Yorkshire, England
Parish as it Appears: Calverley, St Wilfrid
Spouse: Mary Farrer

1841 census, New Row, Calverley, West Riding, Yorkshire. [ages rounded down to nearest 5 years] James Pratt, b. 1803-1807, (34-38 yrs), clothier, b. Calverley, registered at Bradford. Mary, b. 1806-1810 (31-35 yrs) b. Calverley; Job, b. 1831 (10 yrs) b. Calverley; Sarah, b. 1833 (8 yrs) b. Calverley; Eliza, b. 1834 (7 yrs), b. Calverley; Jane b. 1837 (4 yrs) b. Calverley; Grace, b. 1939 (2 yrs) b. Calverley; Emanuel, b. 1841 (1 month), b. Calverley.

There are a lot of Pratts in Yorkshire from knights and baronets; solicitors, clerics and chemists; booksellers, printers and drapers; seamen, soldiers, masons and farmers; to paupers and employees in the mining and cloth industries. A challenge for any researcher looking for lineages. I am not entirely confident in attributions before Joseph and Hannah, except for the first John.

MIGRATION
The family emigrated in 1849 as assisted migrants, and Mary died and was buried at sea. Their ship was dismasted in a storm and everyone was in peril for their lives. Several seamen were killed. James migrated as a labourer, so not sure what happened to his work as a clothier but the colonies didn't have much need of a cloth trade at the time. Growing the wool has always been easier and more profitable. Perhaps they changed occupation to better fit requirements for migrants. See documents for passenger lists and news reports.

26 Aug 1849: Mary (Farrer) Pratt d. on "Mahommed Shah" en route to Port Phillip.
James & Mary's children arriving in Mahommed Shah: Sarah Ann, house servant; Eliza, ditto; Job, Ag lab; Ann, Grace and Emanuel, children.

South Australian Gazette and Mining Journal 27 Oct 1849
SHIPPING.
No'arrivals or departures to report since our last
The Mountstuart Elphinstone, arrived at Sydney, 3rd Oct, sighted a ship apparently dismasted. Being unable to
reach her before dark, she hove to for the night At 8 a.m. the following day she came up with her, and ascertained that it was the Mahomed Shah, Captain Macmeikan, from Plymouth, 22nd June, bound for Port Phillip with emigrants. She had iost her foremast, mainmast, and mizen topmast, during a heavy north-west gale, which occurred on the 3rd September. Eight of the crew had been carried overboard with the wreck of the masts, and lost; and with the exception of four, the remainder were unable to work, from having broken limbs. Captain Loney supplied her with four seamen, and they immediately commenced rigging jury masts.
The vessels parted company at noon of the 6th September, in lat 40-49 S., long. 66 51 E.

SMH 13 Oct 1849
PORT PHILLIP.
ARRIVALS. - October 2. Duncan, barque, 356 tons. James Reid, commander, from Leith via Adelaide, 27th ult. Passengers, cabin, Mrs. Reid, Mr. A. H. Nicol, Mr. R. M. Reid, Mr. M'Cormiek. and Mr. Morehead ; steerage, Mr. and Mrs. Kinross, Mr. Yellowless, and Mr. Henderson ; Bride, schooner, 66 tons, John Ross, master, from Sydney, 14th ultimo. 4.
Mahomed Shah, barque, 615 tons, H. M'Meikan, commander, from London, 17th June.
Passengers, cabin, Mr. James Harrison, and 246 immigrants in the steerage ; James Sheriff, Esq., M.D., Surgeon Superintendent.
The Mahomed Shah brings out 246 immigrants, mostly Scotch - 5 deaths and 4 births occurred on the passage. She spoke the Nelson, hence the 12th February, off Margate, and on the 6th September, Mountstuart Elphinstone, for Moreton Bay, with convicts. - Melbourne Daily News.
THE MAHOMED SHAH. - Extract from the journal kept by the Surgeon Superintendent on board the barque Mahomed Shah, with emigrants from London to Port Phillip. "September 3. Lat. 40 28 S., Lon. 63 45 E., ther.
56, bar. 28 82. A dreadful disaster occurred this afternoon : all hands were aloft, they had been close reefing the foretopsail, some of them were reefing the foresail, and the remainder on their way down to assist on the
foreyard, in all twenty-five men aloft, when suddenly a tremendous squall or whirlwind struck the ship nearly dead aft, carrying away the three masts, when the whole twenty-five men were precipitated into the sea. Seventeen were rescued, but the remaining eight perished viz., the carpenter, five able seamen, and two
apprentices ; of those saved, eleven were disabled, two severely, one receiving a fracture in the inferior third of the left femur, the other a fracture of one of the bones of the left foot. The mass of cordage and spars fell to
starboard. The foremast went about fifteen feet above the deck, the mainmast by the eyes of the rigging, and the mizen topmast by the cap. Saved nothing of consequence but the mainyard, obliged to cut away everything
else, for the safety of the vessel. The hull sustained some slight injuries, but does not make much more water than before the accident. A good deal of consternation amongst the emigiants, but most of the men assisting in what ever way they could make themselves useful. The whole afternoon waa occupied in clearing away the wreck. The ship hove to and under the mizen, the only sail left, while she strained and rolled fearfully. The night closed in gloomily, heavy squalls and rain. None of the emigrants were injured by any of these disasters. - Melbourne Daily News, October 5.

MARRIAGE 2
26 June 1852, James married Ann Smith (1810-1858) in Melbourne. [She also died 26 Jan 1858 Adelaide SA]

From Anne (descendant)
I was wondering though if his second marriage was to a fellow passenger on their voyage. Ann and William Smith and three children immigrated at the same time and a William Smith died in 1852. I have no idea what James did in Adelaide for the eight or more years he was there. James and Ann were living in Coromandel Place in January 1858. They had been looking after their grandchild William Baldock 22 months when he died on the morning of Jan 26 1858. James had gone to the cemetery at about 3pm to select a site to bury his grandchild and when he returned home about 5pm his wife was dead. The doctor believed her death was caused by intense excitement after the loss of her grandchild accelerated by excessive heat due to the weather. There was an inquest and the jury found the deceased came by her death in consequence of excitement and the heat of the weather acting on an enfeebled frame. Ann and William were both buried together at the West Terrace Cemetery on 27 January 1858, specific location of burial site within the general cemetery grounds is unknown.
James then married Johanna Christiane Logan (Ruhl). She was previously married to my 3X great grandfather James Logan.
In the 1860s they moved to Mount Gambier as this appears to be where his sons were. There are a few articles mentioning them having a chaff store and a boarding house. James also donated a piece of the wreckage of the Royal George, (a British Warship) to the Mount Gambier Institute according to Trove. There are other articles on the earth cure and a fire at the chaff store. I also have a photo of the boarding house in Sturt Street, Mount Gambier.

Various articles suggest James moved his family around a lot after their arrival, including the Victorian gold fields, before settling in Mount Gambier, SA. Not hard to imagine the whole family was traumatised.

There are articles in the Ovens and Murry papers re James Pratt on the goldfields at Dunnolly. Unable to confirm if it is the same man. Ditto for a Miners Right for James Pratt on the Eureka Field, issued at North Grant, Ballarat East Baallarat

With many thanks to Mary Catherine Connolly, also a descendant of James and Mary Pratt, we now have photographs of some of their children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren, especially in the Baldock and Kilsby lines. Also documents related to the service in WW1 of cousins, Raymond Vernon Baldock, Claude Mellnotte Perry, and Percy William Logan, all grandsons of James and Eliza, and nephews of Grace Diver (nee Pratt). These descendant families settled and stayed in Jeparit, Victoria. Bronwyn Barrie, also a descendant of James and Mary via Grace Diver, has also joined the tree and has more to contribute to the Pratt/Diver story.

James Pratt was in Melbourne in 1859 when he was witness in a court case. See documents re Alfred Tweddle.

TO SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Destitute Asylum register shows James arriving in Adelaide in "Sea Witch" from Melbourne in 1852, aged 34yrs. [He has taken about 10yrs off his actual age]

MARRIAGE 3
It seems very probable that James remarried. This couple are in Mt Gambier where the Pratts settled.
MARRIAGE
James
Last name Pratt
Marital status Not Recorded
Age Full Birth year -
Marriage year 1860
Marriage date 23 Jan 1860
Place Registry Office Adelaide
District Adelaide
State South Australia
Country Australia
Father's first name(s) Joseph
Father's last name Pratt
Spouse's first name(s) Johanna Christina
Spouse's last name Logan
Spouse's marital status Not recorded
Spouse's age Full
Spouse's birth year -
Spouse's father's first name(s) Gabriel
Spouse's father's last name Ruhl
Registration number 1/347

Border Watch Oct 1868
DEATH.
PLACE.-Died at Mount Gambier, on October 29th, Mary Ann Place, wife of Isaac P. Place, Bushman,
Reedy Creek Station, aged 52.
I beg to thank my friends and neighbors' especially Mr. James Pratt, of the Eating-house, Ferres-street, Mount Gambier, for the kindly interest they have taken in my wife, Mary Ann Place, deceased, and for all their kindness to her and myself. I would also thank the Clergymen of Mount Gambier for their kind visits.
ISAAC P. PLACE.

Border Watch 17 Oct 1868
" LOSS OF THE ROYAL GEOBGE.-It will come home to historical minds that on the 28th June, 1782, "the Royal George, with Kempenfelt and twice four hundred men," went down at Spithead through a sudden gust of wind laying her on her beam ends whilst undergoing the operation of careen ing, and all her ports being open. The
advance of science pointed out how the wreck of this unfortunate vessel might be blown to pieces, which was adopted; and a iece from the remains of the wreck has een presented by Mr. James Pratt, of the Ferres-street boarding house, to the Mount Gambier Institute.

Border Watch 10 Feb 1869
ADVERTISING
JAMES PRATT, Labour Office and Boarding House, Ferres Street, Mount Gambier. Good stabling.

This article referencing James Pratt at Mt Gambier is almost certainly our James. It was widely reprinted. Geelong Advertiser 17 Aug 1869 Some time ago (says the Mount Gambier Standard), we published an article mentioning several remarkable cures effected by the simple application of dry earth to the diseased part. We have now the pleasure of recording a cure by this simple means, of quite as remarkable a character, and much nearer home. Mr James Pratt has informed us that about six years ago he received a kick from a horse below the knee of his right leg. The wound was partially healed, but after a time broke out again, and spread until "the whole of the lower part of the leg was affected. On seeing the article referred to in the Standard, Mr Pratt procured some virgin earth, taken from below the roots of the grass, and applied it to the wound, which at the time was as large as his hand, and caused the leg to be very much swollen. The result was that the swelling was reduced in the girth measurement three inches upon the first application. The treatment was continued for three weeks, at the end of which time the wound was quite healed. Mr Pratt assures us that he had previously spent £20 for medical advice, but without any good result; but since the first application of the earth he felt no pain from the injured leg, although for five years previously he had suffered incessantly, and he believes that the wound is now soundly healed.

Border Mail23 March 1872
ADVERTISING
JAMES PRATT, Boarding House, Ferres-street, (opposite the Globe Inn) Mount Gambier. Good Stabling; Corn, Bran, and Chaff always on hand wholesale.

Border Watch 9 April 1873
THE FIRE AT PRATT'S CHAFF-STORE,
On Monday afternoon an inquest was held by Mr. R. J. Turner, S.M., at Mac's Hotel, to enquire into the origin of the fire that occurred at Mr. Pratt's chaff-store on the morning of Wednesday, April 2. The following jury was sworn—Alexander Johnston (foreman), Hugh McPhail, Edward Virgin, Emil Boehm, John Spain, Charles Wheeler, Charles Sherwood, William Davis, William Morris, Duncan Craig, Jamieson Steele, and John McDonald. After the jury had viewed the building, the following evidence was given. James Pratt, said he was the owner of the chaff-store and stables in James Street. On the evening of April 1, and, morning of the 2nd, witness with three or four men-carters and men employed in the store—were sleeping in one of the rooms adjoining the chaff-store. There was a skillion at the rear of the building —the south side—containing two rooms. There was nothing inflammable in either of these rooms. He had a quantity of chaff in the store-about 13 tons. He was alarmed in the morning,
about 3 o'clock, by a crackling noise. He jumped up and seeing the fire cried out "The store is on fire." He saw all the men were in bed at the time, called them up, and witness went into the front of the store, and could see the flames through the shingles. He saw no one outside. Then he went behind the building and saw the roof burning, and the flames rising fully six feet high. He saw on going into one of the small rooms in the skillion that the fire was
just coming through the shingles. All the fire was on the outside. He called for help, and in the meantime the lames broke through the shingles. When the fire broke through it fell on some bales of sheepskins in one of the small rooms, and the first thing they did was to throw the sheepskins out of the road, All the men employed at the stables assisted him, and also several carters. Then he got all the men placed, and got the fire out by throwing
water on it. The fire he was sure originated on the roof of the skillion four or five feet from the eave, and about seven feet from any of the chimneys. There were two fire places in the building, but there was no fire in either of them when he went to bed. He could ot form any idea as to what caused the fire. He noticed a smell of kerosine when he first went out. He had no kerosine on the premises except what was in the lamps. He supposed the oil had been thrown on the roof by some one. He noticed some melted lead on the roof, but nothing else. Some chaff had been damaged inside the large store by the fire coming in contact with it, and by the water. It was a very dark still night, and moist. He had had no quarrel with any one that would be likely to fire the place. He had no suspicion of any one. Next day at daylight he found a piece of tin similar to a bit of such vessels as contain paint oil, on the roof, but had lost it. Wm. Edgecombe, carrier, Penola, said he was sleeping on Mr. Pratt's premesis on the morning, of the 2nd of April, and was called by Mr. Pratt at about 3 o'clock. He asked witness what was cracking, and he said he thought something was burning. Witness said he thought that there was a fire in the chaff house. He (witness) got up, went out, and saw the fire on the roof. It had got through the roof. Assisted to put it out. When witness first saw the fire it was half way up the south side of the roof of the building. There was no fire in either of the fireplaces the night before. He thought the fire commenced on the outside, and should thiuk (sic.) it was fired intentionally. He did not hear any one about before the discovery of the fire, and never heard any threats made by any one against Pratt. Witness thought he was the first that saw the fire. Thomas Edgecombe, laborer, Mount Gambier, said he was sleeping on Pratt's premises on the morning in question, and was awoke between four and five o'clock by an alarm of fire. He saw the fire from the room he was sleeping in. He got up, went out, and assisted to extinguish it. He thought it was an act of incendiarism. Frederick Huntly, labourer, said he lived at
Mr. Plate's, and was sleeping in Mr. Pratt's stables on the morning of the 2nd of April. One of the men awoke him by calling "Fire." He got up and observed the place was full of the smoke of burning kerosine, and mentioned this
to another. He thought the smell came from the fire. There was no lamp or any kind of light in his room. Then he went out and assisted to put out the flames. The fire was on the south side of the roof, about a foot or 18 inches above the eave when he first went to it. Saw kerosine on some of the shingles next morning. He believed the premises were wilfully set fire to by some one ; but had no suspicion against any one. He heard no threats
made against Mr. Pratt at any time. Sergeant Besley stated that having received information of the fire, he went there and examined the place. He found a lot of lead, which he believed to be tea chest lead, or some lead similarly used, on the roof. There was a strong smell of kerosine, and he thought that perhaps it was tea chest lead which with the paper about it had been saturated with kerosine, and thrown on the roof alight. There was no
doubt it had been maliciously done, but no clue could be obtained. So many wore about that it was useless to look for footmarks. Christopher Giddings, storeman at the chaffstore, was sleeping ou the premises on the 2nd inst., and gave similar evidence to that given by the other witncsses that had slept there, there were nine of the circus horses there. Sergeant Besley, recalled, said there were four men discharged from the circus for misconduct on the day before that, and there were eight or nine of the horses in Mr. Pratt's stables. James McLean, painter, Mount Gambier, said he was sleeping at Mac's Hotel on the morning of April 2, and being aroused by a cry of
"Fire," he rose and went oyer to the stables in company with Mr. Blacklaws to assist in extinguishing it. He saw T. G. Williams standing in his shirt sleeves at the gate of the yard, with his arms crossed. He asked Williams if it
was all on fire inside, but did not hear an answer. Williams asked witness if he heard the bell ringing, and witness said "No," and passed on. Williams did not assist to put out the fire, but looked on. Archibald McKenzie, publican, Mac's Hotel, also said that being aroused by one of the chaff store men he went over and assisted to put it out. He saw several people near at hand, including G. Williams. After the fire was put out Williams went on the roof to see the effects. Had no conversation with him then. Heard no one threaten to injure Pratt. William Blacklaws, laborer, corroborated the evidence of James McLean. Thomas Grenville Williams, livery stable-keeper, said he was awoke early in the morning of April 2 by observing a reflection of the fire through an opening in the roof of the place he was sleeping in in Sturt-street opposite Mac's Hotel. He went to the door and saw Pratt's place on fire. Hastily dressing himself, he shouted "Fire," rang a bell, then went across the road, called Robert Barrow, and with him proceeded to the scene. It was rather dark then, and he could not distinctly see any one then. When he went
over there he saw a lot of people about, some drawing water, others carrying it to the burning building, and others on the roof applying it to the fire, Robert Barrow assisted actively to put out the fire, but witness did not, there being no room for everybody. When the fire was put out he went on the roof and looked down through the hole the flames had made. He smelt no kerosine, and thought if any had been present he should have been conscious of the fact. He then went home again. Had no idea how the fire originated. This was all the evidence, and the Jury after a few minutes' consultation returned a verdict to the effect that the fire was caused maliciously by some person or persons unknown, with the intention of burning the place.

In 1878, James Pratt was a boarding house keeper at Mt Gambier, married to Christina Pratt. In that year they are witnesses in a trial at the Mt Gambier Police Court.

James Pratt
in the South Australia, Australia, Destitute Asylum Ledgers and Admissions to Industrial and Reformatory Schools, 1849-1913
Name James Pratt
Admission Age 76
Record Type Admission
Birth Date abt 1806
Admission Date 23 Dec 1882
Residence Place South Australia, Australia
Last Known Residence Mount Gambier
Death Date 21 May 1883

DEATH & BURIAL
Name James Pratt
Death Age 77
Birth Date abt 1806
Residence Date Abt 1883
Residence Place Mount Gambier
Death Date 20 May 1883
Death Place Adelaide, South Australia
Registration Place Adelaide, Australia

Name James Pratt
Birth Date 16 Jun 1806
Death Date 20 May 1883
Death Place Adelaide City, South Australia, Australia
Cemetery West Terrace Cemetery
Burial or Cremation Place Adelaide, Adelaide City, South Australia, Australia

James Pratt
BIRTH
16 Jun 1806
DEATH
20 May 1883 (aged 76)
Adelaide City, South Australia, Australia
BURIAL
West Terrace Cemetery
Adelaide, Adelaide City, South Australia, Australia
PLOT
Road 5

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James Pratt
BIRTH
16 Jun 1806
DEATH
20 May 1883 (aged 76)
Adelaide City, South Australia, Australia
BURIAL
West Terrace Cemetery
Adelaide, Adelaide City, South Australia, Australia
PLOT
Road 5

Family Members
Spouse Mary Farrar Pratt
1810–1849 (m. 1829)
Children
Janet Pratt Baldock
1837–1919

From Anne (descendant)
On 23 Dec 1882, James was sent from Mount Gambier to Adelaide to the Destitute Asylum by his sons Job and Emanuel, both having agreed to pay per week for his care. It was stated in the ledger that “The old man is partly imbecile, suffering from senile decay” and his occupation was given as a labourer.
He was buried at West Terrace Cemetery on 22 May 1883. On the 30 May a William Bunning was buried in the same grave. There have been three other burials there in the 1960s. There is a headstone for William Bunning. [Appears to be a paupers grave]

Johanna Christiane Pratt had a fall hurting her hip and was admitted to the hospital in October 1882 in Mount Gambier where she remained until her death about a month after James. She is buried in an unmarked grave at Mount Gambier.

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Name James Pratt
Gender M (Male)
Birth Date 1806
Birth Place Calverley, West Yorkshire (Yorkshire), England, United Kingdom
Marriage Date 9 févr. 1829 (9 Feb 1829)
Marriage Place Calverley, West Yorkshire (Yorkshire), England, United Kingdom
Death Date 20 mai 1883 (20 May 1883)
Death Place Mount Gambier, South Australia, Australie (Australia)
Spouse
Mary Farrer
Child
Edward Pratt
Eliza Pratt
Emanuel Pratt
Grace Pratt
James Pratt
Jane Pratt
Job Pratt
Sarah Pratt