Francis Edward Bigge (bef. 1820 - 1915)

Born before 2 Sep 1820 in Long Benton, Northumberland, England, United Kingdom

Ancestors

Husband of Elizabeth Barbara (Ord) Bigge — married 1857 in Brixworth, Northamptonshire, England, United Kingdom

Died 3 Dec 1915 after age 95 in Torquay, Devon, England, United Kingdom

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Biography

Francis Bigge is Notable.

Francis was born before 1820. He was the son of Thomas Bigge and Charlotte Scott.^[1]

He was educated at the Royal Naval College, Portsmouth. In 1835 he was appointed as a midshipmen on the Barham (a 50-gun frigate) in 1835, and served a commission in her in the Mediterranean for some four years.

In 1839 he left the Navy, and travelled to Australia, to join his brother Frederick William Bigge, who had settled in New South Wales. Together, the two attempted pioneering in the Moreton Bay district. They travelled overland to the Moreton Bay area in about 1842, where they "squatted" in the Mount Brisbane district, their headquarters being known as "Bigge's Camp". They were nicknamed "Big Bigge" (Frederick) and "Little Bigge" (Francis).

From September 1851 to December 1852, Francis was elected to the New South Wales Legislative Council representing the Pastoral Districts of Moreton, Wide Bay, Burnett and Maranoa (areas that would later become part of the Colony of Queensland).^[2] About 1852, he had Cleveland House built for him in Cleveland; it may have been intended as a hotel, but was unoccupied for many years and became known as Bigge's Folly. However, later it became the Brighton Hotel and is now the heritage-listed Grand View Hotel.^[3][4]

In November 1853, Francis returned to England, expecting to be away for two to three years. While in England, he pressed for separation of Queensland from New South Wales and also married - to Elizabeth Barbara Ord in 1857.^[5]

The newly married couple returned to Moreton Bay in June 1858. Francis was appointed a Member of the first Queensland Legislative Council in 1860 - a post which he held until 1873.^[6] During this time, Bigge's Camp became the terminus of Queensland's first railway line, which Governor George Bowen renamed Grandchester.

In 1873, Francis Bigge returned to England to settle in Cockington, Devon. He passed away in 1915, at the age of 96. He was thought to be the oldest officer of the Royal Navy. Apart from some small bequests, his estate valued at £133,795 was shared between his cousin Lord Strathfordham and another cousin Harry Scott Judd.

Sources

1. ↑ "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NBR5-N94 : 22 March 2020), Francis Edward Bigge, 1820.
2. ↑ Entry for Mr Francis Edward BIGGE (1820 - 1915) in the Parliament of New South Wales website.
3. ↑ "DO YOU KNOW YOUR BRISBANE?" Sunday Mail (Brisbane, Qld. : 1926 - 1954) 14 October 1928: 23. Web. 31 Jul 2020 <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article128502513>.
4. ↑ "Grandview Hotel (entry 600771)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council.
5. ↑ "England and Wales Marriage Registration Index, 1837-2005," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2DSL-R84 : 13 December 2014), Francis Edward Bigge, 1857; from "England & Wales Marriages, 1837-2005," database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing 1857, quarter 4, vol. 3B, p. 283, Brixworth, Northamptonshire, England, General Register Office, Southport, England.
6. ↑ Entry for Francis Edward Bigge, as published by the Queensland Parliament.

• "England and Wales Census, 1871", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VFT8-RGD : 28 September 2019), Francis Edw Bigge in entry for Jemima E Ord, 1871.

• "England and Wales, National Index of Wills and Administrations, 1858-1957," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QPLQ-5ZJC : 17 September 2018), Francis Edward Bigge, 19 Feb 1916; citing Probate, Devon, England, United Kingdom, Her Majesty's Stationery Office, Great Britain.; FHL microfilm .

• "The Late Mr. F. E. Bigge." Queensland Times (Ipswich, Qld. : 1909 - 1954) 12 February 1916: 2 (DAILY.). Web. 31 Jul 2020 <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article113130701>.

See also:

• Wikipedia: Francis Edward Bigge
• Wikidata: Item Q19871328, en:Wikipedia