John Broomfield (1822 - 1903)

Born 24 May 1822 in Eling, Hampshire, England, United Kingdom

Husband of Hannah (Morris) Broomfield — married 1 Sep 1855 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Descendants

Died 22 Aug 1903 at age 81 in East Balmain, New South Wales, Australia

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Biography

John Broomfield was born on 24 May 1822 and was baptised on 25 May 1823 at Eling, Hampshire, England. He was the son of Anthony Broomfield and Mary Taylor.^[1]

He immigrated to the Colony of New South Wales.

On 1 September 1855 at St Andrew's, Sydney, he married Hannah Morris.^[2]

MARRIAGE.

At St. Andrew's Church, by the Rev. G. King, Hannah, second daughter of John Morris, Esq., senior, to Mr. John Broomfield, commander of the ship Jane Catharine.^[3]

John and Hannah had children:

1. Hannah Broomfield
2. William Taylor Broomfield m Margaret Thallon
3. Mary Sarah Broomfield died young
4. Sydney John Broomfield m Jessie Stuart Melrose
5. Edith Annie Broomfield m John Henry Laycock
6. Reginald Cobden Broomfield m Annie Bolton Love
7. Ethel Taylor Broomfield m1 Charle Short Salmond m2 Dr James Struan Robertson
8. Adeline Broomfield m Percy Rundle
9. Gertrude Elkington Broomfield died young
10. Herbert Machefer Broomfield m Alice Grace Hannah
11. Charles Walter Broomfield
12. John Grafton Broomfield m Helen Elizabeth Walsh

Captain John Broomfield passed away on 22 August 1903 in Sydney^[4] and was interred in St Jude's Anglican Cemetery, Randwick.^[5]

Death of Captain John Broomfield.

At the ripe age of 81 years, Captain John Broomfield, an old and well known Sydney resident, died at his residence, "Glentworth," East Balmain, on Saturday morning.

Captain Broomfield was born in Hampshire, England, in 1822, and, when 15 years of age, went to sea. He enjoyed a successful career, and, in 1845, passed his examination for master. It was said in Sydney that the captain held the oldest certificate in the country.

It is understood that Captain Broomfield made his first trip to Australia in 1847. He was then in charge of a vessel called the Woodlark. About this period the gold fever had broken out in the Turon district, but after a brief experience on the fields, he went back to the sea. He was in the Ralph Brunel and Jane Catherine. The latter vessel was taken by the captain to Callao, on the West Coast of South America. After this he visited California, where he purchased a vessel, and brought her to Sydney, assisted by a passenger.

His next venture was in the coal mining Industry, but at the time success did not reward his efforts. Once more he was afloat, and after visiting London again, he returned to Sydney. His next effort was in the timber trade, which was most successful. Not long after this, a biographer writes that Captain Broomfield got a "Bottomry Bond" over a vessel called tho Pacific, for £7000. The ship was condemned at Valparaiso, but Captain Broomfield fought the underwriters, with the result that his costs amounted to £15,000.

He returned to Sydney, and it was he who brought the first news of the end of the Crimean war. Following this he entered the mercantile world again, and up to the present time, the business of John Broomfield, merchant and ship chandler, still stands, and is carried on in Sydney.

He was a director of Mort's Dock and Engineering Company, the N.S.W. Fresh Food and lce Company (he was one of the founders of this company), the Mercantile Mutual Insurance Company, and the N.S.W. Creamery Company.

For many years he was a member of the old N.S.W. Marine Board, of which he filled the position of vice-president.

He leaves a wife and a family of ten - the latter are all grown up.^[6]

Research Notes

The baptism record has a birth date of 24 May 1823 not 1822. Emily Millicent Broomfield is not the daughter of John and Hannah.

Sources

1. ↑ Baptism: "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975"
   citing FHL microfilm: 6344205; Record number: 428; Packet letter: C
   FamilySearch Record: NVVS-KX1 (accessed 29 January 2024)
   John Bromfield baptism on 25 May 1823, son of Anthony Bromfield & Mary Bromfield, in Eling, Hampshire, England, United Kingdom.
2. ↑ Marriage Index (NSW Registry of Births Deaths & Marriages : accessed 29 Jan 2024), Index entry for JOHN BROOMFIELD and ANNA MORRIS; District: NL; Registration Number: 289/1855 V1855289 43B
3. ↑ 1855 Newspaper: "Trove, National Library of Australia"
   The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), Mon 3 Sep 1855, Page 8 : Family Notices
   Trove Article (accessed 30 January 2024)
4. ↑ Death Index (NSW Registry of Births Deaths & Marriages : accessed 29 Jan 2024), Index entry for BROOMFIELD JOHN; Parents: ANTHONY & MARY; District: BALMAIN NORTH; Registration Number: 9231/1903 
5. ↑ Memorial: Find a Grave (has image)
   Find A Grave: Memorial #241891324 (accessed 29 January 2024)
   Memorial page for CPT John Broomfield (1822-22 Aug 1903), citing Saint Jude's Cemetery, Randwick, Randwick City, New South Wales, Australia; Maintained by Renee Cunningham (contributor 47418798).
6. ↑ 1903 Newspaper: "Trove, National Library of Australia"
   Australian Town and Country Journal (Sydney, NSW : 1870 - 1919), Wed 26 Aug 1903, Page 40 : Death of Captain John Broomfield
   Trove Article (accessed 29 January 2024)