John Bone (abt. 1837 - 1893)

Born about 1837 in Tavistock, Devon, England, United Kingdom

Ancestors

Died 6 Jun 1893 at about age 56 in Ballarat, Colony of Victoria

Biography

John was born about 1837. In 1851 he lived with his mother in 64 Westbridge Cottages. He was a tin miner.^[1]

John appears to have travelled to Australia and arrived at Sydney in 1852 at the age of 15. He married Bridget Hurley in Ballarat in 1865.

When John died in Ballarat 6 June 1893 he was a publican running the Commercial Hotel and newspaper reports tell us something of his life. Bone.—On the 6th June, at his late residence, the Commercial Hotel, Armstrong street, John J. Bone, of heart disease, native of Tavistock, Devon, Eng. Deeply regretted. (Ballarat Star 7 June 1893)

The many friends of Mr John Bone, the licensee of the Commercial hotel, Armstrong Street, will regret to hear of his sudden death, which took place yesterday evening. The deceased was one of the oldest residents, having arrived in 1852, and, like the majority of other arrivals of that date, struck out for the diggings, which he followed with varying success, both on the Lachlan, New South Wales, and the West Coast, New Zealand, as well as Victoria and Queensland. About 22 years ago he relinquished mining, and, returning to Ballarat West, became proprietor of the Western Freehold hotel, Eyre Street, but through that hotel being consumed by fire, he retired from the hotel business for a while. He then took the Bridge hotel in the East, and after about four years’ sojourn there, he took to farming in the Buninyong district, where he made numerous and warm friends, but returned again to hotel-keeping, assuming the host of the City Hall hotel, which he had to leave on account of the local option. He then came to the present premises about a month ago, where he died at the age of 56 years. (Ballarat Star 7 June 1893)

The funeral of the late Mr John Bone, of the Commercial hotel, took place yesterday, when the remains, which were enclosed in a costly brass-mounted coffin, were interred in the private portion of the New Cemetery. The hearse, which was drawn by four horses, was followed by three mourning carriages and a number of private vehicles containing the relatives and friends of deceased. (Ballarat Star 9 June 1893)

Bone.—On the 15th November, at the Commercial hotel, Armstrong street, Bridget Bone, relict of the late John Bone, aged 57 years. R.I.P. (Ballarat Star 17 November 1898)

They are buried in Ballarat New Cemetery Private B, Section 05, Grave 04

Sources

1. ↑ Repository: National Archives, Kew, HO107/1883/382/20