James Taylor (1842 - 1901)

Born 6 Jul 1842 in Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland

Husband of Sarah (Thomas) Taylor — married 13 Sep 1866 in Sandhurst, Victoria, Australia

Descendants

Died 22 Sep 1901 at age 59 in California Gully, Victoria, Australia

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Biography

James Taylor was born in Scotland.

James was born in 1842 in Scotland. ^[1]

James Taylor married Sarah Thomas on 13 September 1866 in the Manse, Sandhurst, Victoria, Australia.

MARRIAGE. On the 13th instant, at the Manse, Sandhurst, by the Rev James Nish, Mr James Taylor to Sarah, fourth daughter of Mr John Thomas, California Gully.^[2]

He passed away in 1901.^[3][1]

Research Notes

"DEATH OF MR. JAMES TAYLOR. The intimation that Mr. James Taylor, the well-known sharebroker, died at his residence, "Ellerslie," California Gully, will be received with widespread regret. The sad event took place at 6 o'clock yesterday morning, after Mr. Taylor had suffered from a trying illness extending over six months. When his familiar and genial presence was missed from under the verandah at the Beehive Exchange, and it was learned that he had been stricken with illness, the daily inquiries concerning his health were frequent, and his many friends at the Exchange and elsewhere continued to evince keen anxiety for his return to health and strength. He suffered from cirrhosis at the outset, and when a dropsical complaint intervened his condition grew so serious that Dr. Atkinson, his medical adviser took a grave view of the case. During the last two months his health fluctuated a good deal, but latterly his end was daily expected. Mr. Taylor was only in his 59th year. The deceased citizen was one of the prominent speculators when the great quartz reefing boom of the early seventies broke out, and from that time onward his association with Bendigo mining interests was close and active. He was a native of Paisley, Scotland, and on coming to Victoria in 1859, he set out for the Bendigo gold diggings, but after working for a short time here he was atracted to New Zealand by the gold rushes at Gabriel's Gully and the West Coast. In 1862, however, he returned to Bendigo, as his New Zealand enterprise was not up to expectations. After following mining for some time, he entered into the employment of a relative who was at that time engaged in contracting amongst the mines. Mr. Taylor's natural abilities and enterprising spirit, however, urged him on to try and carve out his fortune by speculation, and when the quartz reefing era set in, he at once became prominent as a speculator at the exchange. He met with very satisfactory success, amassing a good deal of wealth. His success continued during the years of the well-remembered boom. He was one of the party instrumental in establishing an exchange in opposition to the old Mining Exchange, which then conducted its business at the Victoria Hotel, Neither of these exchanges was of a permanent character, and out of them was established the present Beehive Exchange. Mr. Taylor remained in Bendigo until 1889, when he joined the Melbourne Exchange, and did an extensive business in silver shares. He remained for between two and three years, and then returned to Bendigo and took his place once more under the verandah, where he was in daily evidence until his illness forced him to take to his bed. He was chairman of the Bendigo Exchange from 1880 till 1889, and again for two years after his return from Melbourne. As a mining speculator he displayed that business acumen which earned for him the reputation of being one of the keenest men amongst the group that in bygone years practically controlled the Exchange. His geniality was proverbial, and he was not only respected for his own personality, but strong clientele. His death is sadly remindful of the fact that there are only a few of the band of big speculators whose transactions were at times sensational, now left in Bendigo. He leaves a widow and six daughters and two sons to mourn their loss. Mr. John Taylor, his eldest son, is at present a prominent member of the Bendigo Stock Exchange. One of his daughters is wedded to Mr. H. Hattam, formerly a bank manager at Kerang, and now in West Australia. Another is married to the Rev. J. Rouse, Wesleyan minister, of Stawell, who is known to many residents of Bendigo. It is probable that the Beehive Exchange will close to-day after the morning room, out of respect to the memory of' the deceased member. The funeral will take place this afternoon at 4.30 o'clock to the Eaglehawk Cemetery, as indicated in a notice elsewhere."^[4]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Memorial: Find a Grave (has image)
   Find A Grave: Memorial #157265384 (accessed 11 January 2023)
   Memorial page for James Taylor (6 Jul 1842-22 Sep 1901), citing Eaglehawk Cemetery, Eaglehawk, Greater Bendigo City, Victoria, Australia (plot: Mon K GRAVE NUMBER 281); Maintained by Rose (contributor 48786863).
2. ↑ 1866 'Family Notices', Bendigo Advertiser (Vic. : 1855 - 1918), 18 September, p. 2. , viewed 11 Jan 2023, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article87963762
3. ↑ 1901 'DEATH OF MR. JAMES TAYLOR.', Bendigo Advertiser (Vic. : 1855 - 1918), 23 September, p. 3. , viewed 11 Jan 2023, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article89444635
4. ↑ 1901 'DEATH OF MR. JAMES TAYLOR.', Bendigo Advertiser (Vic. : 1855 - 1918), 23 September, p. 3. , viewed 11 Jan 2023, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article89444635

Also see: Annette O'Donohue and Bev Hanson, Eaglehawk & District Pioneer Register Volume 6- T~Z , 6 volumes (Bendigo, Victoria: Annette O'Donohue, 2008), Entry 8242 for James Taylor page 1562.