Fourth Generation  

The 1851 census show James aged 12 living in Commercial St Lerwick, with his family. James Hughson followed the family tradition and went to sea. He must have had some exciting times as shown in the following extract from the Shetland Times 18 June 1873;

"A Shetland man, second mate board the Newcastle owned "Concordia" which was wrecked on 18th June 1873, at Cape Auquielle, Gulf of St Lawrence. The ship sailed to Quebec on 6th June 1873 bound for Plymouth, under Captain Harrison. A storm blew up and at 3 am the captain, first mate, sailmaker, carpenter and a seaman left in the captain's gig to seek assistance. All five were drowned. James Hughson filled the captain's place and stood by his post until every man had been take ashore. He was praised for his bravery."

James' brother William was also a mariner, captain of the "Rattlesnake" until steam was introduced and then he was appointed manager of Mr Leask's business at Ulsta. A few years after Mr Leask's death William migrated with his family to NSW where he died in Kogarah near Sydney. James' brother Charles also migrated to Australia where he married and died in December 1873 at the age of 41 of cancer of the bone. He is buried in the Yan Yean cemetery, near Whittlesea, Melbourne.

James was in Australia in 1874 and had letters from his father, sisters Barbara and Jessie who had remained in Shetland. These two sisters later emigrated to New York U.S.A. where they died. In 1877 he also received a letter from his brother Peter who was sailing on board the barque "Oleander" of London which arrived in Victoria at the Port of Geelong. Peter wanted to visit James and his wife to tell him all his "Nues". Peter was drowned when the vessel 'Farnley' was lost 30 Dec 1880.

James married Ellen Eliza Holley in 1875 at Chalmers House East Melbourne.The witnesses at the wedding were Thomas Holley and Elizabeth Jamieson. James' occupation was shown as labourer on the marriage certificate.

James had commenced working for the Victorian Railways on 1 October 1874, beginning as a labourer there, then Porter, Head Porter and Guard until he retired at the age of sixty on 6 July 1902. There was a romance about railways in the days of steam that caused trains and the men who ran them to appear larger than life, to become legendary. It has been said that no other industry has so fascinated men. [Romance of Victorian Railways, Patsy Adam Smith]

James and his wife must have moved a lot for his work as his 10 children were born in various parts of Victoria. James died at the age of 78 of cerebral thrombosis and exhaustion after an illness of 14 days at his home in Port Melbourne.

James married Ellen Eliza HOLLEY on 15 May 1875 in East Melbourne, Melb, Vic, Aus.

Their children were:

          i.  Magnus James HUGHSON (born in 1876 Elmore, Vic, Aus - died in 1877 in Elmore, Vic, Aus)
         ii.  Jessie Eleanor HUGHSON (born in 1878 Chiltern, Vic, Aus - died in 1878 in Chiltern, Vic, Aus)
        iii.  Emily Louisa HUGHSON (born in 1878 Chiltern, Vic, Aus - died in 1931 in Sth Melbourne, Melbourne, Vic, Aus)
         iv.  William Horace HUGHSON (born in 1880 Melbourne, Vic, Aus)
          v.  Charles Bertie John HUGHSON (born in 1883 Emerald, Vic, Aus - died in 1946 in Fitzroy, Melbourne, Vic, Aus)
         vi.  Walter James HUGHSON (born in 1885 Melbourne, Vic, Aus - died in 1969 in Melbourne, Vic, Aus)
4       vii.  Leslie Holley HUGHSON (born on 23 May 1887 Melbourne, Vic, Aus - died on 7 Jun 1965 in Preston, Melbourne, Vic, Aus)
       viii.  Ethel Winifred HUGHSON (born in 1889 Beechworth, Vic, Aus - died in 1953 in Brunswick, Melbourne, Vic, Aus)
         ix.  Frederic Selwyn HUGHSON (born in 1892 Portland, Vic, Aus - died in 1961 in Ferntree Gully, Vic, Aus)
          x.  Dorris Clara HUGHSON (born in 1895 Portland, Vic, Aus - died in 1919 in Prahran, Melbourne, Vic, Aus)

Ellen married James Henderson HUGHSON on 15 May 1875 in East Melbourne, Melb, Vic, Aus.

John Thomas Mitchell came to Australia aboard the "Himalaya" leaving England 30 July 1849, landing in Adelaide on 16 November 1849 with his widowed mother Mary (nee Rowe), brother Robert James aged 5 and sister Mary Ann aged 12. Mary had deceased children, Nannie, Jane, and John.

John's father Robert James Mitchell died of cholera, the scourge of Europe, on board ship before the family's departure. His body was taken ashore and interred there before the vessel sailed. Mary continued on the voyage with some sympathetic friends.

John Thomas Mitchell was a coachbuilder. When he married Eliza Ellen Redclif on 15 June 1875 his address is shown as Corowa. The witnesses are Sarah who may be his sister-in-law (wife of Charles Colwell Oke Jnr) or his half sister Sarah Oke who married George Straughair in 1875 and Matthew Mitchell, (is this a nephew or cousin?) Eliza's father William Redclif was a miner arriving in Beechworth during the first years of the goldrush,

John gets a mention in the book "Ned Kelly Australian Son" by Max Brown Page 91 for the following advertisement that appeared in the Ovens & Murray Advertiser.

HOW TO CATCH THE KELLYS,

"Pay a visit to J.T. Mitchell coachbuilder, wheelwright and general blacksmith, High St Beechworth. His wheels run so fast that anyone patronising him who is anxious to go Kelly-hunting must succeed in getting the £8000 reward."

The book by Max Brown states that the editors of the Ovens and Murray Advertiser (does this mean owners? -John's brother-in-law and sister Richard and Mary Warren?) were not impressed with the way the Kellys and their sympathisers were being treated by the police. This attitude seemed to change later on when the members of the gang were described as foul murderers. There was one aspect of the Kelly hunt which brought the Advertiser pleasure, the spotlight of colonial publicity focused frequently on Beechworth at a time when the town was fearful of becoming a backwater.

John Thomas Mitchell moved between Beechworth and Melbourne with his family, wife Eliza, son, Robert John 1876, daughter Ellen Page 1878 and son William Charles born in 1880. John and Eliza then produced 6 more children. John Thomas Mitchell died of a heart attack at the age of 76 on 5 July 1923 at his house at 12 Smith St Northcote and is buried in the Coburg Cemetery.

John's half brother Charles Oke Jnr was married in 1875 to Sarah Straughair from Beechworth and his half sister Sarah Oke married George Straughair (Mark Straughair's brother). George was an engineer at the lunatic asylum. Sarah Straughair's father Mark Straughair who was born 16th May 1830 in Haswell County Durham England was the proprietor of the foundry in Beechworth in partnership with Duncan. Mark Straughair came to Victoria on board the Ocean Chief in 1856. He was mining at Stanley before entering into the partnership with Duncan.

Sarah's uncle was Thomas Straughair (brother of Mark and George) a blacksmith who was a good friend of Joe Byrne, the Lieutenant of the Kelly gang of outlaws and Aaron Sherritt, member of the gang who became the police informer against Ned Kelly and was subsequently murdered by Joe Byrne.

According to Ian Jone's book "The Friendship that Destroyed Ned Kelly - Joe Byrne & Aaron Sherritt", the police suspected that Thomas Straughair had made Joe Byrne's armour which was the finest suit of armour of the gang. (Photo in the book of Tom and the armour)

John married Eliza Ellen REDCLIF on 15 Jun 1875 in Beechworth, Vic, Aus.

Their children were:

          i.  Robert John MITCHELL (born on 24 Mar 1876 Corowa, Nsw, Aus - died on 17 Apr 1949 in Pascoe Vale South, Melbourne, Vic, Aus)
         ii.  Ellen Page MITCHELL (born on 19 May 1878 Melbourne, Vic, Aus - died on 4 Jun 1962 in Thornbury, Melbourne, Vic, Aus)
        iii.  William Charles MITCHELL (born on 16 Feb 1880 Beechworth, Vic, Aus - died in 1968 in East Malvern, Melbourne, Vic, Aus)
5        iv.  Mary Ann MITCHELL (born on 12 Dec 1882 Melbourne, Vic, Aus - died on 16 Apr 1954 in Heidelberg, Melbourne, Vic, Aus)
          v.  Emily Jane MITCHELL (born on 23 Oct 1884 Richmond, Melbourne, Vic, Aus - died in 1962 in Thornbury, Melbourne, Vic, Aus)
         vi.  May Warren MITCHELL (born on 29 May 1887 Richmond, Melbourne, Vic, Aus - died on 10 Nov 1983 in Bendigo, Vic, Aus)
        vii.  Ethel Mary MITCHELL (born on 18 Aug 1889 Beechworth, Vic, Aus - died on 30 Mar 1969 in Thornbury, Melbourne, Vic, Aus)
       viii.  Ida Alice MITCHELL (born on 27 Dec 1894 Beechworth, Vic, Aus - died on 14 Aug 1978 in Greensborough, Melbourne, Vic, Aus)
         ix.  Helah MITCHELL (born on 17 Sep 1899 Beechworth, Vic, Aus - died on 5 Aug 1965 in Thornbury, Melbourne, Vic, Aus)

Eliza married John Thomas MITCHELL on 15 Jun 1875 in Beechworth, Vic, Aus.

A native of Calstock. Cornwall, John Langdon commenced work in the copper mines of Devonshire at the early age of 10 years. Living in his native country he used to cross the river Tamar daily to go to his work on the other side of the stream where the copper mines in Devonshire were located.

After working for some time in the copper mines of Devonshire he came to Australia in 1873, under engagement to the Peak Downs Copper Mines company, Queensland. John Langdon only worked there for six months and at the end of 1873 came to Victoria and on to Bendigo.

Commencing work at the old Midaway, afterwards known as the Great Central Victoria mine, he stayed there for three years. Subsequently he served four years as a miner at the Johnson's Reef and in 1881 went to the United Hustlers' and Redan. While engaged as a miner at the latter mine he qualified as a first-class engine driver and for a time followed that avocation.

For six years he was underground boss at the United Hustler's and Redan and then was appointed Manager. During his employments John invented a signalling and registering machine was in use at the mine in the 1880's. There is a picture of the invention in the Eaglehawk & Districts Pioneer Register Vol 3.

For the next six years he was manager of Lansell's South Red White and Blue mine. Mr Langdon occupied the position of vice-president of the Bendigo Mine Manager's Association for three consecutive terms and also fulfilled the position of president of the association.

Ever since he came to Bendigo John Langdon was associated with the Methodist Church at Long Gully and occupied almost every office in the church. He was one of the oldest local preachers in the Bendigo district for the past 35 years and was a past president of the Local Preachers'Association. For a number of years he occupied the position of superintendent of the Long Gully Methodist Sunday School and was a teacher of the young men's Bible class at the school. He was a Rechabite being a member of Sutton Tent I.O.R.

DEATH: Well known Mine Manager. Tragically sudden was the death of Mr John Langdon, the well-known mining manager which occurred at his residence Bolt Street Longully on Wednesday 10 August, 1916. After partaking of supper at 10.30 oçlock Wednesday night the late Mr Langdon retired to bed in his usual state of health. For some time past he had been treated by Dr Cook for a cold, but his health seemed better during the last few days than it had been for some time. Half an hour after retiring however he became suddenly ill and Dr Cook was telephoned for, but death occurred before his arrival. The doctor gave a certificate that death was due to syncope. The deceased gentleman was 64 years of age. Being of a very genial and kind disposition, Mr Langdon was exceedingly popular and his unexpected death will cause deep sorrow to his many friends.

John married Emily Grace TRELOAR on 13 Jan 1877 in Sandhurst, Bendigo, Vic, Aus.

Their children were:

          i.  James Henry (Harry) LANGDON (born in 1877 Long Gully, Bendigo, Vic, Aus - died in 1953 in Warrnambool, Vic, Aus)
         ii.  Emily LANGDON (born in 1879 Sandhurst, Bendigo, Vic, Aus - died in 1940 in Caulfield, Melbourne, Vic, Aus)
        iii.  Samuel John (Jack) LANGDON (born in 1881 Sandhurst, Bendigo, Vic, Aus - died in 1933 in East St Kilda, Melbourne, Vic, Aus)
         iv.  Ethel Catherine LANGDON (born in 1883 Sandhurst, Bendigo, Vic, Aus - died in 1951 in Ivanhoe, Melbourne, Vic, Aus)
          v.  William John LANGDON (born on 30 Nov 1885 Sandhurst, Bendigo, Vic, Aus - died in 1952 in Thornbury, Melbourne, Vic, Aus)
         vi.  Albert Harold LANGDON (born in 1887 Long Gully, Bendigo, Vic, Aus - died in 1944 in Geelong, Vic, Aus)
6       vii.  Arthur Wesley LANGDON (born on 6 Jun 1890 Bendigo, Vic, Aus - died in 1943 in Collingwood, Melbourne, Vic, Aus)
       viii.  Julia LANGDON (born about 1893 Bendigo, Vic, Aus - died on 4 Jun 1904 in Misses Thorn's Private Hospital)
         ix.  Hilda LANGDON (born in 1895 Long Gully, Bendigo, Vic, Aus - died in 1895 in Long Gully, Bendigo, Vic, Aus)

Emily married John LANGDON on 13 Jan 1877 in Sandhurst, Bendigo, Vic, Aus.

William married Elizabeth HARRIS on 9 May 1881 in Bendigo, Vic, Aus.

Their children were:

          i.  Elizabeth Mary BRYANT (born in 1881 Sandhurst, Bendigo, Vic, Aus - died in 1881)
         ii.  Robert BRYANT (born in 1883 Sandhurst, Bendigo, Vic, Aus, - died in 1965 in Cheltenham, Melbourne, Vic, Aus)
        iii.  Elizabeth Ann BRYANT (born in 1885 Sandhurst, Bendigo, Vic, Aus)
7        iv.  Louisa Maud BRYANT (born on 2 Aug 1886 Sandhurst, Bendigo, Vic, Aus - died on 19 Oct 1974 in Melbourne, Vic, Aus)
          v.  William BRYANT (born in 1890 Bendigo, Vic, Aus)
         vi.  Thomas BRYANT (born in 1893 Bendigo, Vic, Aus - died in 1894 in Bendigo, Vic, Aus)
        vii.  Matthew BRYANT (born about 1895 - died in 1980 in Preston, Melbourne, Vic, Aus)
       viii.  Leonard James BRYANT (born in 1898 Bendigo, Vic, Aus - died in 1980 in Parkville, Melbourne, Vic, Aus)
         ix.  Leslie Albert Vivian BRYANT (born about 1900 - died in 1961 in Fairfield, Melbourne, Vic, Aus)

Elizabeth married William BRYANT on 9 May 1881 in Bendigo, Vic, Aus.