James Atherton (1830 - 1903)

Born 8 May 1830 in Blackrod, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom

Husband of Mary (Patterson) Atherton — married 22 Jun 1861 in Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia

Husband of Ann (Part) Atherton — married 26 Mar 1888 in Queensland, Australia

Descendants

Died 23 Dec 1903 at age 73 in Yeppoon, Queensland, Australia

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Biography

James Atherton was born in Lancashire, England.

This profile is part of the Atherton Name Study.

James Atherton was born on the 8th of May 1830 in Blackrod, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom, son of Edmund Atherton (1804–1863) and Esther Ainscough (1806–1888).^[1]

In 1841, James (11) was living in Bolton in Wigan registration district in Lancashire with his parents, and his siblings. ^[2]

James Atherton was an Assisted Immigrant to New South Wales.

He arrived in Australia on 26 January 1844 aboard Briton with his parents and 6 siblings. ^[3]

• Atherton Edmund 40 Native place Lancashire, Protestant, Farm Labourer
• Esther, 37, Farm Servant
• James, 13
• John, 6
• Edmund, 4
• Henry, 2
• Thomas 3 months
• Alice 10
• Rebecca, 8

James (31) married Mary Patterson (29) on the 22 June 1861 in Rockhampton, Queensland.^[4] Their children were:

• Edmund Arthur Atherton (1862–1863)
• James Edmond Atherton (1863–1887)
• Arthur Patterson Atherton (1864–1940)
• Henry Atherton (1866–1932)
• Esther Mary Atherton (1868– )
• George Thomas Atherton (1869–1940)
• Alfred John Charles Atherton (1871–1917)
• Annie Atherton (1873–1959)

As a widower, James (57) married Ann Part (40) on the 26 March 1888 in Queensland.^[5]

James died on December 23, 1903 in Yeppoon, Queensland, Australia, aged 73 ^[6]. He was buried in Yeppoon Cemetery, Yeppoon, Rockhampton Region, Queensland. ^[7]

Obituary: DEATH OF MR. J. ATHERTON. ^[8]

News was received in Rockhampton yesterday of the death, early in the morning, at his residence, Copland, near Yeppoon, of Mr. James Atherton.

Mr. Atherton came to Queensland from the New England district of New South Wales ; but removed to the Central Division, from the Burnett district, in 1858, and settled with with his father and mother at Mount Hedlow. Shortly after he took up West Hill, in the St. Lawrence district, but subsequently migrated to Rosewood, where he took up a grazing farm. Later he settled at Adelaide Park, near Yeppoon, and resided there until a year or two ago. Then he removed to Copland. Mr. Atherton was a man of a quiet and retiring disposition ; but from its foundation he took a very active interest in the work of the Gogango Divisional Board, now the Livingstone Shire Council, and was on several occasions elected its chairman. He continued to lie interested in that body until a few weeks ago, when he resigned. Mr. Atherton also displayed a keen interest in the ???e of the Rockhampton Agricultural Society, and few men did more, probably, than he, to advance agriculture in the district, and especially in that part of it in which be lived. Mr. Atherton attained to the age of seventy-four years, and was vigorous and active right up till the last. His death therefore came as a surprise to most people, and was received with very genuine regret. The greatest sympathy will be felt for his relatives in their bereavement.

Obituary ^[9]

Early Pioneer Gone. Death of Mr. J. Atherton.

Word was received in Rockhampton to day (says the Rockhampton "Record" of December 24) of the death, at his residence, Adelaide Park (Yeppoon), of Mr. J. Atherton. Mr. Atherton was one of the very earliest, settlers in Central Queensland. He was a native of Lancashire (England), and with his parents, came to Australia, when he was a mere child. With them he settled in Armidale (New South Wales). In 1858 or 1859 the family arrived at Gracemere with some teams and stock. Since then he has lived in the district. of which he has thus been a resident for 44 or 45 years. At the time of their arrival here the family consisted of father and mother, James (the eldest son), his four brothers (Edmond, John, Thomas, and Richard, and three sisters. Mr. Atherton, sen., took up Mount Hedlow, while other members of the family acquired other station holdings in this district. Mr. James Atherton first of all settled at Westhill, in the St. Lawrence district, but subsequently acquired Rosewood, and later on removed to Adelaide Park. At that time little or nothing was known of Yeppoon, and in this way Mr. Atherton must be regarded as the virtual founder of tho place. Up to the time of the Mount Morgan boom Mr. Atherton was very well-to-do. By speculation in this direction, however, he was hit very heavily. But his was a very active, resolute nature, and since then he has, liy his energetic efforts, kept his settlement well to the front. Of such stock as the foregoing particulars would indicate it will be heard without surprise that he had a very sincere regard for the welfare of the Yeppoon district. Indeed, he neglected absolutely no oppotunity of proving this. Besides advancing the interests of the place in minor ways he represented it, for many years as a member of tho Gogango Divisional Board, of which, from time to time, he also held the position of chairman. Mr. Atherton was 74 years of age. He was outwardly of most robust physique. Six weeks ago, however, he was seriously troubled with weakness of the heart — a complaint from which he had been suffering slightly for some time. For the six weeks in question he was practically confined to his home and the news of his death, which took place at 8 o'clock last night, was not altogether unexpected. Mr. Atherton was at tended by Dr. F. H. V. Voss. The deceased is survived by his second wife, who is the eldest daughter of the late Mr. S. Part. He leaves six grown-up children by the first Mrs. Atherton—four sons and two daughters.

Sources

1. ↑ Baptism: "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975," database
   FamilySearch Record: JMF5-LB9 (accessed 11 July 2023)
   James Ainscough baptism on 6 Jun 1830, son of Esther Ainscough, in Blackrod, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom.
2. ↑ 1841 Census: "England and Wales Census, 1841," database
   citing PRO HO 107, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey.
   FamilySearch Record: MQLN-1T6 (accessed 11 July 2023)
   FindMyPast Image
   James Atherton (11) in Bolton in Wigan registration district in Lancashire, England. Born in Lancashire.
3. ↑ NSW Assisted Immigrants Shipping Lists (digital) Item No: [4/4785] | Ship: Briton | Series: NRS-5316 | Reel No: Reel 2135
4. ↑ Marriage Certificate
   Queensland BDM Registration: 1861/C/170
   Groom: Atherton James
   Bride: Patterson Mary
   Marriage Date: 22/06/1861
5. ↑ Marriage Certificate
   Queensland BDM Registration: 1888/C/1881
   Groom: Atherton James
   Bride: Part Ann
   Marriage Date: 26/03/1888
6. ↑ Death Certificate
   Queensland BDM Registration: 1903/C/5149
   Atherton James
   Father: Edmund Atherton
   Mother: Esther Ainscough
   Date of Death: 23/12/1903
7. ↑ Memorial: Find a Grave (has image)
   Find A Grave: Memorial #93872787 (accessed 7 October 2023)
   Memorial page for James Atherton (8 May 1830-23 Dec 1903), citing Yeppoon Cemetery, Yeppoon, Rockhampton Region, Queensland, Australia (plot: Sec. 1a, Lot 32, Grave 24); Maintained by Rebecca Ewing Peterson (contributor 46987065).
8. ↑ Obituary DEATH OF MR. J. ATHERTON. (1903, December 25). Morning Bulletin (Rockhampton, Qld. : 1878 - 1954), p. 6. Retrieved October 7, 2023, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article52992520
9. ↑ Early Pioneer Gone. (1903, December 29). The Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld. : 1872 - 1947), p. 2. Retrieved October 7, 2023, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article174835357

See also:

• FamilySearch Person: 9464-Y7N
• Trove Tag Atherton-2235