James Courtis (abt. 1834 - aft. 1892)

Born about 18 Feb 1834 in St Agnes, Cornwall, England, United Kingdom

Ancestors

Husband of Catherine (Pengelly) Courtis — married Jun 1858 in Truro, Cornwall, England

Descendants

Died after 28 Jul 1892 after about age 58 in Bendigo, Victoria, Australia

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Darren Gladman [send private message]

Biography

James Courtis was born in Cornwall, England.

James Courtis migrated from Cornwall, England to Victoria.

James seems to have used the names ‘Curtis’ (e.g. in his death record) and ‘Courtis’ (e.g. on his headstone). There is some conjecture as to whether James is descended from William Courtis and Joanna Trewartha.

James’ death record shows he died in Bendigo in 1892, aged 59. (So he was born about 1833). His father’s name was William and his mother’s name was Johanna.^[1]

He married Catherine Pengelly in Truro, Cornwall, England in June 1858.^[2][3]

James Curtis (aged 25) and Catherine Curtis née Pengelly (aged 19) who was also Cornish born ^[4] arrived in Australia from England in Nov 1858 on ‘Champion of the Seas’^[5] The family settled in Specimen Hill, Bendigo.^[6]

Tony Woods says:

I believe you have the wrong William Courtis connected to Joanna Trewartha/Skinner. Joanna's husband passed away in 1840, aged 40 something from Skinners Botton, St Agnes. In the 1841 and 1851 UK Census Joanna is a widow. My mother has a DNA link both Dianne Vort-Ronald, the profile manager of Joanna as well as descendants of daughter Mary Courtis/Curtis, Joanna's grand-daughter Elizabeth Kneebone and Annie Kneebone. My mother and Dianne share at least 18 known DNA connections of 7cM or greater. The only logical explanation for the DNA connection of that Joanna married William Courts/Curtis born in 1896 from Fowey.“

Need to reconcile this with what is known from records.

James was born 18 February 1834 in St Agnes, Cornwall.^[7] (But is this the same James Courtis?)

Christened on 18th February 1834 at St. Agnes, Cornwall the son of William Courtis and Johanna nee Trewartha. ^[8]

Check Freebmd and the reference in ‘The Cornish of Bendigo’ - how do we know James Courtis is the child of William Courtis and Johanna?

James had a mining lease at Bendigo with his older brother, William, registered 30 October 1863.^[9]

James Courtis (or Curtis) was the father of John Courtis who was born in 1870. ^[10]

James Curtis James died on 28th July 1892 at Bendigo.^[11] He was buried at White Hills Cemetery, Bendigo on 30 July 1892.^[12]

Sources

1. ↑ Vic BDM, record #9189/1892
2. ↑ freebmd.org.uk, Marriages, Jun 1858, vol.5C, p.299
3. ↑ "England and Wales Marriage Registration Index, 1837-2005," database, FamilySearch (http:familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2DQB-DJF:13 December 2014), James Courtis, 1858 from "England and Wales Marriages, 1837-2005'" database, findmypast (http:www.findmypast.com.2012); citing 1858, quarter 2, vol.5C, p.299, Truro, Cornwall, England, General Registry Office, Southport, England
4. ↑ The Cornish of Bendigo
5. ↑ www.prov.vic.gov.au, fiche 153, page 7, Port B
6. ↑ The Cornish of Bendigo
7. ↑ Freebmd.org.uk, Marriages, June 1858, vol.5C, p.299
8. ↑ The Cornish of Bendigo
9. ↑ Mining Claims and Leases, March 1863 - October 1870 at https://www.bendigofamilyhistory.org/freeindexsearch.htm
10. ↑ record #11325, Australian Birth Index
11. ↑ The Cornish of Bendigo
12. ↑ www.rpcv.com.au, viewed 5 Nov 2017

• Named on daughter's death record