James Gorst

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Maureen Withey on 8th March 2024

James' first wife and marriage. Marriage Record. Launceston district. https://libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/RGD36-1-2/RGD36-1-2P145 Marriage 24 Feb 1834, James Gaust, free, of St Johns parish, Launceston, and Emma Beckett, free, of same parish, were married by Banns, by Revd. W. Browne. James signed his mark X, Emma her signature. Witnesses were Sarah Horsbell of Launceston, and William Jones, of Launceston.

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Maureen Withey on 8th March 2024

Digging for Gold. To the Editor of the Cornwall Chronicle. SIR,—Having returned from the Fingal diggings, I am able to inform you that gold lies in great abundance there ; myself and two others left Launceston on the 24th April, to try our luck ; when we arrived there we sunk two holes to the depth of fourteen feet, and we obtained, in three days, out of the two holes, upwards of one ounce and a-half of pure gold—and I believe we should have got double that quantity but for the rain that fell, as we were working in a gully, and too wet to dig. There were at the diggings, when I left, on Saturday last, upwards of fifty persons at work, getting from a quarter of an ounce to an ounce per day each. Sir, the gold I have in my possession, from Fingal, can be seen by any person, at my residence. By inserting these lines, you will oblige your obedient servant, JAMES GORST. Balfour-street, May 18. Cornwall Chronicle, 19 May 1852. To the Editor of the Cornwall Chronicle. MR. EDITOR,—I take the liberty of penning these lines, hoping you will find room for them in your next issue: As I have just returned from the Fingal Gold Diggings, I am able to give you a true account of the "doings" there. On the 16th August, myself and another person departed for Fingal, and were there about a month; we sunk two holes, and from the first we obtained nothing, as it came on to rain, and filled our hole completely with water—we sunk another, about ten feet down, and got from out of it, upwards of three ounces of gold!!! When we left the diggings, there were upwards of 80 persons there at work, all getting more or less. A digger up there obtained from a hole, about eight ounces of gold, and no mistake. Mr. Editor, I beg to state that this is not an exaggerated account, as the gold, which we obtained, can be seen at my residence. I should have stopped longer there only for the wet weather, but, in about a fortnight's time shall start again, and will send you a full account of the gold found there. Mount Alexander, in a few more weeks, won't be thought of.—So no more at present from your obedient servant. JAMES GORST. Balfour-street, Launceston, Sep. 23. P.S.—Excuse errors in composition, as I'm only a plain man. J. G. Cornwall Chronicle, 25 Sep 1852. -------------------------------------------------------------- James' Death. INQUEST.-An inquest was held yesterday at the " Carpenter's Arms," Charles. street, before the Coroner and a jury of whom Mr. Walter Stephen Bonner was foreman, upon the body of James Gorst, who met his death by the falling of a wall on Monday. JamesJohnston, a laborer, and Michanel Regan, a carter, deposed to the deceased being at work undermining a wall, which was standing on some premises next to Mr. Hart's, Elizabeth-street, and about ten feet high, in order to get it down quicker; the wall suddenly tell, and the deceased attempted to escape, but the bricks knocked him down; and when the witnesses, who were near the spot, ran to him he said his legs and thighs were quite dead. The falling wall struck the deceased on the back. Dr. John Daniel Ranson deposed to attending upon the deceased directly after the accident occurred; the lower part of his body was paralysed, but he was quite conscious, and complained of great pain. Witness had him carried home, and then found that the scat of the injury was in the back, which was broken in two. By the doctor’s wish, Doctors Maddox and Miller were sent for, and they were all agreed that the injury must, cause death. Witness considered that the deceased had received a blow upon the spine which had broken it in two. The jury returned a verdict of "accidental death." The deceased was 60 years old, and had been in the colony about 38 years; he died about three hours after the accident. Launceston Examiner, Thurs 2 Dec 1858. James Gorst, a carpenter living In Balfour-street, Launceston, was killed by the falling of a wall in Elizabeth-street. Launceston Examiner, 11 Dec 1858. Death Registration, Launceston district, as James Goss. https://libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/RGD35-1-27/RGD35-1-27P88 James Goss, died 1 Dec 1858, age 60, Labourer, Accidental death. Informant, H.R. Benedict, Coroner’s Clerk.

343

Maureen Withey on 8th March 2024

Absconded Prisoners. 1. Jas. Gorst, Mary (2), 20, Stratford, 5 ft. 3¾, gr. eyes, br. hair, pale rud. comp. Wellington Plains. Sydney Gazette, 26 Jun 1823. --------------------------------------------------------------- Colonial Secretary Index. GORST, James. Per "Mary", 1822 1822 Jan 28 On list of convicts landed from the "Mary" and forwarded to Minto for distribution (Reel 6008; 4/3504A p.359) 1824 Feb Embarked on board the "Woodlark" bound for Hobart Town, Van Diemen's Land (Reel 6060; 4/1776 p.27a) 1824 Feb 5 On list of persons proposed to be sent to Hobart (Reel 6012; 4/3510 p.289) 1824 Feb 9 Prisoner to proceed to Hobart per "Woodlark" (Reel 6012; 4/3510 p.303) 1824 Feb 9, Mar 15 Had testified before the Court of Criminal Jurisdiction. Embarked on "Woodlark" to serve remainder of sentence in Hobart (Reel 6019; 4/3522 pp.14, 28) 1824 Feb 10 Prisoner embarked on board the "Woodlark" for Hobart (Reel 6060; 4/1776 p.27a) ________________________________________________________________ Letter dated 9 Feb 1824.To Lieut. Gov. Soull, Van Diemens Land. Sir, I have the honor to acquaint you that the Prisoners named on the margin, having given their testimonial before the Court of Criminal Jurisdiction as Approvers, have been embarked on board the Woodlark for the purpose of serving the remainder of their sentences, to be forwarded by the next opportunity, at Hobart Town. Signed, F. Goulburn. Colonial Secretary. Names on Margin: John Crothers, Tottenham. Hugh Ryan, Brampton. Mark Westwood, Mangles. Jas. Browne, Hebe. Jas. Gorst, Mary Henry Hughes, Isabella (crossed out) Wm Scarfe, Mary 1, (crossed out). -------------------------------------------------------------- Tasmanian Convict Records. Convict Conduct Record. https://libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/CON31-1-15/CON31-1-15/CON31-1-15P94 No 401. James Gorst. See record for details. -------------------------------------------------------------- CAUTION. JAMES GORST, carpenter, formerly Prisoner, left our employ last Monday week, long before his engagement was finished. This is to caution all persons from harbouring or employing the said James Gorst, otherwise they will be prosecuted. JOHN SPRUNT, ROBERT HAY MARR. Launceston, February l8, 1828. Hobart Town Courier, 23 Feb 1828. -------------------------------------------------------------- James married twice in Launceston. His first wife Emma died in 1846. Death Registration. In Launceston District. https://libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/RGD35-1-16/RGD35-1-16P152 16 September, 1846, Emma Gorst, aged 34 years, Carpenter’s wife, cause of death, Internal Cancer, Informant, John Batall, of Upper George Street, Informant. -------------------------------------------------------------- He remarried: Marriage Record. In Launceston district. https://libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/RGD37-1-5/RGD37-1-5P235 (This record is listed under Gorsh, not Gorst) James Gorst, age 39, carpenter, Widower, and Martha Gibson, age 23, spinster, married at the Independent Chapel, St John’s Square, according to rites of the Independents, on Dec 24 1846. James signed his name, Martha, her mark X. Witnesses were W.H. Sanders, and Charles Jackson. -------------------------------------------------------------- There are several births registered, in Launceston district: James, born 16 Sept 1849, father James Gorst, carpenter, mother Martha Gorst, formerly Gibson. Informant, William Sanders, of Grange St, Friend. James died 22 Oct 1850. James Henry Gorst, born 29 June 1851. died 7 May 1854. George, born 6 Oct 1853, family resident at Balfour Street, informant, Father, James Gorst. James, born 28 May 1856. Baby girl Gorst, born 1 April 1858. Martha Gorst, born 18 May 1859. Martha died 30 July 1877, aged 18. ---------------------------------------------------------------- His wife Martha died in 1879. Death Registration: https://libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/RGD35-1-48/RGD35-1-48P14 1 May 1879, Death of Martha Gorst, age 56, Widow, of Heart disease. DEATH. GORST.— On the 1st May, at the residence of her son-in-law, Mr John Blackburn, York street, Martha, relict of the late Mr James Gorst, aged 56 years. Cornwall Chronicle, 2 May 1879. ------------------------------------------------------------------- There is a Marriage registered: https://libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/RGD37-1-27/RGD37-1-27P216 John Blackburn, age 23, labourer, bachelor, and Mary A. E. Gorst, age 20, spinster, on 15 Sept 1868, at the residence of Miss Waddell, St Johns Street, Launceston, according to the Congregationalists rites. Witnesses were Hannah Waddell and Ann Button.

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Maureen Withey on 11th May 2019

Tasmanian Record: CON13-1-3 Image 26 List of 5 convicts who having given their testimonies before the Court of Criminal Jurisdiction as Approvers, were embarked on board the Brig Woodlark on the 9th ultimo for the purpose of serving the remainder of their sentences at Hobart Town in V. D. Land. Signed by J. Goulburn, Colonial Secretary’s Office, at Sydney, and dated 15 March 1824. James Gorst (1829/298); Ship, Mary (2); trade, Carpenter 3 ½ years; Tried, Essex Ass; 12 March 1821; Sentence, 7 years.