Charles Alexander John Piesse (1812 - 1851)

Born 11 Sep 1812 in Marylebone, Middlesex, England, United Kingdom

Ancestors

Died 6 Mar 1851 at age 38 in Perth, Western Australia, Australia

Hashemy - arrived in WA in 1850 - (from Perth DPS)

Hashemy, 1850 Convict Ships

Biography

Charles was born on 11 September 1812 in Marylebone, Middlesex.^[1] He was the son of Charles Piesse and Harriet Nicolson.

Other Passengers ^[2]

Surname | Christian Name(s) | Age | Rank; | Regiment & Remarks . . . . .

Piesse C. Alexander John | 38 | Colonial Secretary; | injured during voyage; died (WA) in March 1851

Perth Gazette and Independent Journal of Politics and News (WA : 1848 - 1864), Friday 14 March 1851, page 3
THE LATE MR. PIESSE. - When briefly noticing the indisposition of Mr Piesse in our last week's paper, we little anticipated that, before we again went to press, it would be our melancholy lot to follow his remains to their final resting place. Such, however, has been the case, and a short and severe illness has terminated in the death of our Colonial Secretary. We need not remind our readers that the subject of this short notice had but recently arrived amongst us, having ouly reached our shores in the ship Hashemy in Octo-ber last, and entered upon his duties early in the following month. We will, therefore, not pre-sume to judge of all his capabilities for discharging his public duties; but if a sound judgement, quick perception, untiring zeal, and a straightfor-wardness in all matters were necessary requisites, we may with confidence assert that the late la-mented gentleman possessed them, and was thus qualified in an eminent degree for the high office to which he was appointed.

Mr Piesse was taken ill on the 16th February, and died, somewhat sud-denly, on the evening of the 6th instant, in the very prime of manhood, and at a time, too, when he doubtless would have proved himself a great acquisition to His Excellency and the colony at large. The funeral took place on Saturday last, and considering the necessarily short notice given, was numerously attended. The Governor himself followed the remains to the grave, and directed that all Government Officers should do the same. The day was marked by closing the Public Offices, and a total cessation from business was observed there. The military also furnished a funeral party. In this remote land it often is our lot, and, being so, it fails to make any lasting impression, to wit-ness the performance of the last sad ceremony, unaccompanied and unmourned by any kindred of the deceased. Friends, however, may and do follow and feel the mournful procession, and the last offices are performed by them with as scrupulous and affectionate a care as the dearest relatives could desire. Such friends had our late Colonial Secretary ; and if he was unattended by any members of his family during his residence and melancholy illness in this colony, he, at least, had the unremitting attention of those, who must have solaced his last hours, and in a great measure compensated for the absence of others who are nearer and dearer to him.^[3]

Sources

1. ↑ "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:2:9C9Z-GHZ : 19 March 2020), Entry for Charles Alexander John Piesse, 1812.
2. ↑ Other Passengers
3. ↑ https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/3172314