Benjamin Batey (1863 - 1923)

Born 24 Dec 1863 in Neasham, Durham, England, United Kingdom

Husband of Isabella (Court) Hails — married 23 Dec 1899 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Died 20 Aug 1923 at age 59 in Helensburgh, New South Wales, Australia

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Biography

Benjamin was born in Neasham in 1863 but was baptised a few years later on 3 Jun 1866 at Methley, St Oswald, Yorkshire, son of John Batey and Dorothy Maddison.

At the time of the 1871 census, 9 year old Benjamin was living with his parents and brothers and sisters in Coxhoe, Durham.

In 1881, Benjamin was living at home with his family at 22 Office St, Brandon and Byshottles. He was a coal miner.

Benjamin immigrated to Australia and arrived in Brisbane, Queensland on 6 July 1886 on board the "Duke of Westminster" which had sailed from London on 12 May. He was described as 22 years, single, a miner who could read and write, Protestant, born in Durham. Also on board was his sister Elizabeth and her two young children, Dorothy and Elizabeth. His passage was by way of remittance.

Benjamin married Isabella Hails, a widow with 6 children, on 23 Dec 1899 at the Congregational Mission Church at 157 Elizabeth St, Sydney. He gave his occupation as a Miner and she Home Duties. He was a bachelor, and she a widow. Benjamin's surname was recorded as BEATY. The witnesses to their marriage were James JEFFREY and N. HENNESS. It is possible this was Isabella's son-in-law, as her daughter Annie married a James JEFFREY in 1897.

They had two children together, Dorothy and Benjamin, but their son died in infancy.

The Batey family began investing in land and in 1905 Benjamin purchased his first block of land, being Lot 599 Boomerang St, Helensburgh. In 1907 Isabella purchased Lot 594 which was behind the land Benjamin had purchased two years earlier. In 1908 Benjamin made another two land purchases, Lot 600 in Boomerang St, and another piece of land in Undola Rd, Helensburgh 32. It is not known whether Benjamin and Isabella built on these blocks, as it would appear they actually resided in Parkes St, Helensburgh. Of the land purchased by Benjamin and Isabella, Benjamin sold Lot 600 to Andrew Otago McCullock, his step-daughter's brother-in-law in 1918 who subsequently sold it to Charles Campbell, Mary's husband in 1922. Upon Charles' death the title was transferred to Mary who had the land sub-divided and sold in 1945. The land in Undola Rd was also sold in 1918, and Lot 599 Boomerang St. was sold in 1919. Isabella's land (Lot 594) was transferred to her daughter, Dorothy in 1919. Dorothy retained the land until 1970 when it was sold.

It has been said that Benjamin was quite careful with his money, however he did develop a weakness for gambling later in his life and lost all his property. This has not been confirmed, although the sale of all their property at this time does appear to add some substance to this story.

Benjamin was found dead on some scrub on the Helensburgh reserve at 7.30 a.m. on Monday morning, 20 Aug 1923 having been out in the rain and cold all night. A finding of death from exposure was recorded. He was buried in the Church of England section at Helensburgh Cemetery near his wife, Isabella and their baby son, Benjamin.

Sources

• Birth Certificate, General Register Office, London. GRO Reference: 1864 M Quarter in TYNEMOUTH Volume 10B Page 204
• West Yorkshire, England, Births and Baptisms, 1813-1910, Reference Number: RDP76/2/4
• Census Returns of England and Wales, 1871. Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives of the UK (TNA): Public Record Office (PRO), 1871. Class: RG10; Piece: 4966; Folio: 98; Page: 28; GSU roll: 847429
• Census Returns of England and Wales, 1881. Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives of the UK (TNA): Public Record Office (PRO), 1881. Class: RG11; Piece: 4952; Folio: 81; Page: 15; GSU roll: 1342190
• Assisted Immigration 1848 to 1912 Page number: 249QSA Item: 18483 Microfilm: Z1963 per Duke of Westminster 1886 http://www.archives.qld.gov.au/Researchers/Indexes/Immigration/Pages/Immigration1848.aspx
• Death Certificate, NSW Registry of Births Deaths and Marriages Helensburgh #1923/15204
• Land Titles Office
• Helensburgh Benjamin Batey Sydney Morning Herald 22 Aug 1923
• In loving memory Benjamin Batey South Coast Times 20 Aug 1923
• Funeral Notice Benjamin Batey Sydney Morning Herald 22 Aug 1923
• Found Dead Benjamin Batey Illawarra Mercury 24 Aug 1923