Thomas Blackman (abt. 1856 - 1898)

Born about 1856 in Warro Station, Port Curtis District, Colony of Queensland

Ancestors

Died 2 Oct 1898 at about age 42 in Aramara, Queensland, Australia

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Pat McCallum [send private message]

Biography

Thomas Blackman is an Indigenous Australian.

Thomas was baptised at Maryborough on 12 Oct 1871 aged abt. 15 and recorded as the son of Robert Blackman a Stockman on Gootchee (also Gutchy, Gootchie etc.,) and 'Mother Aboriginal'. As Robert had already passed away, this may suggest that the 15 year old Thomas was the stockman at Gootchee. Neither of Thomas' parents are indicated as present with the owners of Gootchee station, Douglas and Francis Sarah Helsham standing in as witnesses.^[1] The Helsham's son was born there on 24 May 1871.^[3]

It is expected that Thomas may have been successful in selecting one of the farm blocks at Woocoo from the resumed Teebar Run which took place in the late 1880s.^[4]

Thomas was recorded on the list of electors for the Wide Bay District in 1895.

Blackman, Thomas, Aged 33. of Walker's Flat, Woocoo selector. Qualified by residence on claim received on 13 Sep 1895.^[5] In 1894, Thomas was listed as recommended to the Maryborough Land Board for an agricultural farm of 120 acres in the Parish of Woocoo.^[6]

Approximately two months before his death, Thomas' application for a certificate of fulfilment of conditions was received by the Land Commissioner and granted - being No. 291 in the name of Thos. Blackman, parish of Woocoo, 120 acres, 37 perches.^[7]

Thomas died of Cancer at Walker's Flat, Aramara in the Tiaro District. While his parents are not recorded, he is stated to be a 'half cast aboriginal' with the profession of selector, aged 48 at his death. His death was certified by Emily Blackman of Walker's Flat stated as no relation. He was buried at Walkers Flat, Aramara the next day. He was born at Warra Station near Gladstone Queensland and had been in Queensland since birth. There are no spouses or children recorded.^[8]

Thomas left no will; the Curator of Intestate Estates taking possession of his farm.

Name of Deceased Proprietor. Thomas Blackman, late of Aramara, near Tiaro, bushman.
Date of Death. 2nd October, 1898.
Name of Claimant. The Curator of Intestate Estates.
Description and Situation of Land. Portion 31v, county of Lennox, parish of Woocoo.
Estate Claimed to be Transmitted Fee simple.
Particulars of Will or Otherwise. Order of the Supreme Court dated 22nd March, 1899.^[9]

Research Notes

This profile has been prepared on the basis of sourced information available to the contributors and is an ongoing collaboration. Contributions, suggestions and corrections made consistent with the Wiki Genealogist Honor Code and respect for the person who is represented by this profile are encouraged and welcome.

On Thomas Blackman's baptism certificate in 1871, it does not say that Robert is deceased, He is recorded as a Stockman on Gootchee Station. However Robert Blackman from Warro Station, Port Curtis died in Fiji in 1868. For the 1871 baptism of Thomas Blackman is aged 15. On this calculation Thomas would have been born about 1856. On his death certificate in 1898 he is said to be 48 which would suggest a birth date of 1850 which would have been before Warro was established. On his elector record in 1895 he is said to be 33 which would put his year of birth at 1862, The baptism related year is preferred.

Supporting the connection to Gootchee is the presence of the witnesses Douglas and Francis Sarah Helsham who were the holders of Gootchie Station at the time.

Other Robert Blackman's who may be Thomas' father have been discounted.

Emily Blackman is the informant for Thomas' death register entry. She is noted as not a relative. There are a number of children born to Emily Graham with the surname Blackman and father Thomas. It is speculation that at the time of Thomas' death she considered no longer in a relationship with Thomas. None of these children are recorded on the Certificate. Emily Graham would marry Jason Deshong in 1906.

There is a Robert Blackman who died in 1921. Old aged pensioner aged about 75. Born England, died Urandangie.^[10][11] At the time of Thomas birth, Robert Blackman of Urandangie would have been 25.

Interestingly in 1908 when Robert of Urandangie would have been 62, the Commissioner for Crown lands at Gympie accepted a tender for a lease on crown land from Robert Blackman for a block unsurveyed, Gutchy, 100 acres; accepted.^[12] There is no reason to link the two other than by their same names.

In the electoral rolls for Queensland in 1908 there are two Robert Blackman's one of whom would be the Robert from Urandangie and the other, another possibility as the father of Tommy.

• Robert alternatively, a gardner/labourer at Carandotta, Walgra in the Urandangie area and continuously in this area for two decades consistent with his passing in 1921.^[13]
• Robert a labourer at the Hospital Maryborough and then at Mapleton, in the Nambour area of the Wide Bay District.^[14][15]

While the ages align for Robert Blackman of Urandangie being a possible alternative father to Thomas, if an alternative father for Thomas is to be considered the Robert Blackman from the Wide Bay/Nambour districts would be worthy of more consideration. There is no information yet which links either of these two electors with the lease granted to Robert Blackman at Gutchy or the birth of Thomas.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Maryborough Baptisms, Anglican Church, Diocesan Records Archives.Image of register page in the collection of Pat McCallum
2. ↑ Queensland Register of Births Deaths and Marriages - Death. Thomas Blackman 02/10/1898. Parents not recorded. Date of birth: 1850. https://www.familyhistory.bdm.qld.gov.au/details/b56a4502298e76eace58324bec1da0a6c2a16fd22e4180ed39015982f8c32115. Registration details: 1898/C/4364.
3. ↑ Maryborough Chronicle, Wide Bay and Burnett Advertiser, Tue 20 Jun 1871. p. 2. Family Notices.
4. ↑ Maryborough Chronicle, Wide Bay and Burnett Advertiser, Mon 29 Nov 1886. p. 3. No title.
5. ↑ Maryborough Chronicle, Wide Bay and Burnett Advertiser, Thu 3 Oct 1895. p. 3. Advertising.
6. ↑ The Brisbane Courier, Wed 6 Jun 1894. p. 3. MARYBOROUGH LAND COURT.
7. ↑ Maryborough Chronicle, Wide Bay and Burnett Advertiser, Sat 6 Aug 1898. p. 2. GENERAL NEWS.
8. ↑ Historical Death Image of the Register of Deaths in the collection of Pat McCallum No. 420 Registration Details: 4364/1898.
9. ↑ The Brisbane Courier, Mon 7 Aug 1899. p. 9. Classified Advertising.
10. ↑ Queensland Register of Births Deaths and Marriages - Death. Robert Blackman 22/05/1921. No parents listed. https://www.familyhistory.bdm.qld.gov.au/details/db5e68f0b732cc7ac394d1456d1409d7b1e072de550f847bd4ffa2d016f0a381. Registration Details: 1921/C/1708.
11. ↑ Information from the Historical Death Image of the register in the collection of Pat McCallum
12. ↑ Maryborough Chronicle, Wide Bay and Burnett Advertiser, Mon 9 Mar 1908. p. 2. GENERAL NEWS.
13. ↑ Electoral Register: "Australia, Electoral Rolls, 1903-1980"
    Australian Electoral Commission; Canberra, Australia; Electoral Rolls
    Ancestry Sharing Link Ancestry au Record 1207 #14542437 (accessed 26 May 2022)
    Name: Robert Blackman; Gender: Male; Electoral Date: 1908; Electoral Place: Boulia, Kennedy, Queensland, Australia.
14. ↑ Electoral Register: "Australia, Electoral Rolls, 1903-1980"
    Australian Electoral Commission; Canberra, Australia; Electoral Rolls
    Ancestry Sharing Link Ancestry au Record 1207 #6546527 (accessed 26 May 2022)
    Name: Robert Blackman; Gender: Male; Electoral Date: 1905; Electoral Place: Maryborough, Wide Bay, Queensland, Australia.
15. ↑ Electoral Register: "Australia, Electoral Rolls, 1903-1980"
    Australian Electoral Commission; Canberra, Australia; Electoral Rolls
    Ancestry Sharing Link Ancestry au Record 1207 #14640548 (accessed 26 May 2022)
    Name: Robert Blackman; Gender: Male; Electoral Date: 1908; Electoral Place: Nambour, Wide Bay, Queensland, Australia.