John Booth (1822 - 1898)

Born 27 Feb 1822 in Bermondsey, London, England, United Kingdom

Husband of Mary Susannah (Weatherall) Booth — married 1850 in Kincumber, New South Wales, Australia

Descendants

Died 11 Apr 1898 at age 76 in Bundanoon, New South Wales, Australia

Biography

John Booth is Notable.

John, son of Henry Booth and Bohannah Walmsley, was born about 1821. He passed away in 1898.

John Booth not so much lived in Balmain - he owned Balmain.   He built the houses for his workers and was the first mayor of the new suburb which he created.  He ran an extensive timber mill and joinery, and he built ships which he ran along the eastern coast as a ship owner.  The mill was located on the site where the Balmain (White Bay) Container Terminal was built. He was a member of parliament in 1872 and was in effect the minister for light-houses.  Interestingly as the father of the bride, Ellen Octavia Booth when she married Herbert Ewing Moxham, he held "an over the top" wedding reception - he dropped dead the next day.   In John Kerr's (the dismissal chap) book - he mentions the Booth operations and describes him as the nasty capitalist at the bottom of the hill.  In John Booth's Will he leaves not houses but streets.  He was said to speak in the "vernacular" in parliament.  There is a family story that he was "the boy" on a ship that sailed into Sydney Harbour and he was thought to have had smallpox.  If this was the case the ship would have been delayed which would have cost the shipping company money.  So John Booth was tossed overboard with a life ring just off the Heads and he came to Australia as washed-up flotsam.  Considering all the other myth like family stories the veracity of this yarn cannot be guaranteed.  Over John Booth's office he had carved in wood - the Motto.  "Insistence Persistence and Resistance".  Source Dr Ken Moxham.

Notices

Sydney Morning Herald (NSW: 1842 - 1954), Tuesday 12 April 1898, page 4. ^[1] DEATH OF MR. JOHN BOOTH, J.P. - Intelligence was received in the city last evening of the death of Mr. John Booth, the head and founder of the firm of John Booth and Co., Limited, timber merchants, of Balmain, which took place at Bundanoon yesterday afternoon. We understand that the remains will be brought to Sydney for interment during to-day. The suburb of Balmain will lose a hearty supporter, inasmuch as the deceased had always identified himself with the interests of the borough, he having been the first to occupy the Mayoral chair.

Daily Telegraph (Sydney, NSW: 1883 - 1930), Wednesday 13 April 1898, page 1. ^[2] BOOTH. — April 11th, at his country residence, Ferndale, Bundanoon, suddenly, John Booth, sen., of Surbiton House, Balmain, in his 77th year.

Evening News (Sydney, NSW: 1869 - 1931), Thursday 14 April 1898, page 2. ^[3] FUNERAL OF MR. J. BOOTH. The funeral of the late Mr. John Booth, J.P. one of the oldest residents of Balmain, and first Mayor of that borough, took place yesterday afternoon, the remains being interred in the Waverley Cemetery. Prior to the cortege leaving Surbiton, deceased's late residence, in Donnelly street, a memorial service was conducted by the Rev. H. Gainford (Congregational minister). The funeral was one of the largest that had ever taken place in the district. The chief mourners were Mrs. John Booth, sen., Mr. and Mrs. John. James Booth, Mr. and Mrs. Archibald Booth, Mr. Walter Booth, Mr. and Mrs. William Booth, Mr. and Mrs. T. Macgregor, Mr. and Mrs. C. A. Buchanan, Mr. and Mrs. Bennett, Mr. and. Mrs. Herbert Moxham, Messrs. Edward and Arthur Booth, and a number of grandchildren, included in the cortege were the Mayor. (Alderman G. C. Murdoch), and aldermen. of the Borough of Balmain, the Hon. Jacob Garrard (Minister for Education), Mr. W. H. Wilks, M.L.A., Mr. Alexander Kethel, M.L.C., Alderman John Booth, Alderman F. Buckle, Captain J. G. Punch. Captain M'Clemens, Colonel J. H. Goodlet, Alderman John Taylor, Captain Thomas Heselton, Captain Garde, Messrs. J. H. Seamer, Henry Hudson, Alexander Gow, Robert Campbell, jun.; Samuel Hordern, jun., John Clubb, D. H. Easton, R. W. Richards, S. N. Hogg, A. Forsyth, John Young, H. Selfe [1], D. Cruickshank [2], W. H. Simpson, Rev. A. J. Griffiths, Captain Gray, W. M. Burns; Dr. C. W. Carruthers, J. Fitzsimmons, S. N. Hogg (manager Balmain branch of Bank of New South Wales), R. Guy, S. Perdriau [3], L. Gilles Colonial Mutual Insurance Company), J. Paul (Messrs. Potts and Paul), P. Hogan, James Stedman, J. Laing, and J. J. Wheeler. The funeral was headed by a large number of the employees of the firm of Booth's Sawmills Proprietary, Limited, while the following acted as pall-bearers: Messrs. W. Hunt, C. Linquist, W. Clarke, J. M. Clear, W. Cristford, and J. C. Ireland. The service at the grave was conducted by the Rev. E. D. Madgwick, of St. Peters, Cook's River, who also delivered a brief address. Numerous floral tributes were sent by relatives and friends, and the funeral arrangements were carried out by Messrs. Wood and Company.

Research Notes

• John Booth moved some of his operations to White Bay around 1854 and established a steam powered saw mill and joinery. Packing case and box components were produced in significant quantities. The construction of the Glebe Island Bridge did begin until until 10 October 1866, so the usual access was by water.
• The Municipality of Balmain was proclaimed on 21 February and Gazetted on 27 February, with the first elections held on 27 March 1860. John Booth was the last Chair of the borough (he represented the South Ward) - 15 February 1867 – 23 December 1867. Following the passing of the Municipalities Act, 1867, Chairman was re-titled "Mayor" and John Booth held that position from 23 December 1867 – 6 February 1868 - The first Mayor.
• 31 Booth Street, is the address of the Balmain Hospital.
• The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW: 1842 - 1954), Saturday 23 June 1866. ^[4] "ELLIOTTS CHEMICAL WORKS. FEW people are aware that another important branch of colonial industry has been established within the last fifteen months and is now being carried on successfully. We allude to the chemical works at Balmain, the property of the Messrs. Elliott, who are well known as wholesale chemists of Pitt-street. These gentlemen have, during the last few years had great and constantly increasing demand for sulphuric acid, and being unable to obtain a sufficient supply by importation from England, they determined upon the manufacture of the article for themselves ....................................................................We may state in conclusion that the manufacture of sulphuric acid assists other colonial manufactures in addition to those specially mentioned above, inasmuch as the jars into which the article is finally poured and sold are made at the pottery at Camperdown, and the cases in which these jars are packed are manufactured at Mr. Booth's Saw Mills, at Balmain."
• Australian Town and Country Journal (Sydney, NSW: 1870 - 1907), Saturday 2 September 1876, page 20. ^[5] Mr, Booths Steam Saw-Mills, Johnson's Bay, Balmain. IT will be remembered that in December, 1874, a disastrous fire occurred at Johnson's Bay, Balmain, whereby the extensive saw-mills of Mr. John Booth were entirely destroyed. The erection of these mills was first commenced by Mr. Booth in 1855, at which time saw-mills, as far as this colony is concerned, were in their infancy; but at the time of the destructive fire in 1874 Mr. Booth's business had developed into great extent and effectiveness. ......................................... He determined to construct the works in the most improved manner, and to furnish them with the latest appliances, and in that matter he had received the greatest assistance and best advice from his son-in-law, Mr. N. Selfe; in fact, that gentleman had done the whole of the engineering work. The new establishment was fifteen years before the times, he might say, and would admit of a very large amount of work being done. He begged heartily to thank the gentlemen present for their good wishes as to the success of the new undertaking. Mr. John Sutherland proposed the health of Mr. N. Selfe, and that gentleman responded. Mr. B. James proposed "The Commercial Interest," coupling with it the name of Mr. M'Gregor, and that gentleman replied. The health of Mrs. Booth was proposed by the vice-chairman, Mr. Hyam, and was responded to by Mr. Booth. The toast of "The Press was then proposed by Mr. Young, and having been responded to, the company separated.
• Australia and New Zealand, Find a Grave Index, 1800s-Current. ^[6] Name: John Booth Birth Date: 27 Feb 1822 Birth Place: Bermondsey, London Borough of Southwark, Greater London, England Death Date: 11 Apr 1898. Death Place: Bundanoon, Wingecarribee Shire, New South Wales, Australia. Cemetery: Waverley Cemetery Burial or Cremation Place: Bronte, Waverley Council, New South Wales, Australia Has Bio?: Y

Spouse: Susannah Booth Children: Emily Ann Selfe, Walter Booth, William Edward Booth, Archibald Henry Booth.

• Balmain - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balmain,_New_South_Wales

Sources

1. ↑ https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/14180000
2. ↑ https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/238381209
3. ↑ https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/109651366
4. ↑ http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/13133187
5. ↑ https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/70603978
6. ↑ https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/88440656/john-booth

• NSW BDM MC V619 36B NP/1850 - Groom=BOOTH, JOHN. Bride= WEATHERELL, SUSANA. – NP C of E Gosford/Kincumber, DC 6204/1898 - F=Henry.
• https://archives.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/nodes/view/495003 - 1899 - Surbiton House was at 38 Donnelly Street, Balmain. Mrs. Susannah Booth is listed as the occupant of 38 in 1908-9.
• https://archives.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/nodes/view/1899966 - 1904 - 32 or 34 Booth Street, Balmain, Office of J. Booth & Co. Ltd., (in liquidation), steam sawmills, joinery and timber works, and wharves.
• http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/booth-john-3024
• Link - https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/GW5P-JPG