The Jones Family Part V: The Long Arm of the Law and The Blenheim.

I have previously mentioned that the Jones family ran the Blenheim hotel in Adelaide, South Australia from 1855 to 1859. Pubs are eventful places not only as meeting spots and entertainment venues but they can also have their fair share of crime. The Blenheim was no exception.  There are many accounts of Thomas in court dealing with small crimes and bar room fisticuffs.

Sketch of Hindley Street by Rev. Theodore Percival Wilson.
 SLSA PRG 1399/122/1
http://collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/resource/PRG+1399/122/1

NICE TRY

On the 24^th of July 1855 Thomas Rowlands Jones was charged by Inspector Reid (I assume the same Inspector Reid mentioned in Part III) with not closing the outer doors to the Blenheim Hotel after 10pm. There were police reports of people coming and going after 12am, the sound of liquor being served and money was being collected even at 4am. The fine was £2. Thomas appealed to the Local Court with the argument that technically he had closed his doors at 10pm and had not re-opened the doors until after 12 am, which would have been the morning of the 25^th and so the next day. Sadly he lost his appeal, but the fine was kept at a token £2.

THE GIG IS UP!

In the morning of the 25^th January 1856 at around a quarter to 7, Thomas R Jones and Thomas Donkin Chisholm left together to bathe at the City Baths. Back in the days before running water and bathrooms, people who could afford it would wash in public bathhouses. Before they left Thomas Jones left a couple of £5 notes under a book on his dressing table taking only small change to pay for his bath.

Thomas Chisholm who had been staying at the Blenheim with his wife and child for a couple of months, went upstairs on his return. Thomas Jones had said that he could borrow books from his bedroom. When our Thomas went upstairs to dress, to his dismay he found that the two £5 notes had gone. When Thomas asked Chisholm’s wife where he was, she told him that he had gone out to get his shoes repaired. When Chisholm had not returned by 11am Thomas became suspicious and decided to ask around at the Livery stables to see if anyone had seen him.  Chisholm had hired a horse and gig from William Rounsevell  a highly successful stage coach company owner. The gig was hired to drive to Mt Barker and a driver to return the carriage as he “did not know that he should return”, but hoped to be back to see the “show” (possibly the flower show).  The gentlemen became concerned that Chisholm may have bolted with the horse and gig. Mr Rounsevell sent his son John off to chase Chisholm. Thomas Jones followed, bringing Police Constable Clark with him. When they got to Mt Barker they learned that Chisholm had “made haste” on to Strathalbyn. Constable Clark and John Rounsevell continued the chase. The journey from Hindley Street Adelaide to Strathalbyn these days only takes about an hour by car, but I imagine that in the 1850s it would have taken hours in a horse and gig on rough roads. 

Detail from a sketch of Hindley Street by Rev. Theodore Percival Wilson.
 SLSA PRG 1399/122/1
http://collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/resource/PRG+1399/122/1

It was dark when they arrived at Strathalbyn, but they managed to spot the horse and gig and then saw Chisholm standing in the doorway of an Inn.  John Rounsevell in disguise followed Chisholm and managed to strike up a conversation. Chisholm referred to the horse and gig as though it was his own. Rounsevell heard that he planned to go on to Wellington, New Zealand. Constable Clark then arrested Chisholm and when asked where he was headed, Chisholm replied “Port Elliot”. When he was searched he had only Melbourne notes totalling £10, 10 sovereigns, and some silver. There was no sign of the missing £5 notes.

A Dishonorable Namesake

I am sure John Rounsevell would have made his father proud and relieved when he returned home with the horse and gig. John later became a pastoralist and politician elected to the South Australian House of Assembly in 1865 and served on the Adelaide City Council.

When Thomas Jones returned to the Blenheim more of Chisholm’s deception was revealed. Frederick William Lindrum a billard marker (a person who keeps score on billiard matches and helps run the table rooms) working at the Blenheim knew Thomas Donkin Chisholm as Captain Chisholm. Captain Chisholm had claimed that his pocket book had gone missing containing £9. Over time “Captain” Chisholm had borrowed different sums of money from Mr Lindrum totalling £38 10s, promising to pay it back when his money came in on the White Swan steamer from Melbourne. A portion of the money had been requested to buy apples to send to Melbourne. Of course, the borrowed money had not been repaid. 

As an aside Frederick William Lindrum went on to be a very famous name in Billiards, he eventually ran his own billiards hall and won against a visiting world champion.  Two of his sons were considered billiards prodigies and he devoted his time to training them. Several grandchildren were also world class players. His grandson Walter Lindrum was considered the “best player ever seen” in the 1930s and is considered one of Australia’s all time sporting greats. You can read more here: http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/lindrum-frederick-william-7200/text12453

Walter Lindrum, 1932. "The Daily Standard"
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article186485253

There was also the matter of Thomas Donkin Chisholm’s bill at the Blenheim. Over his stay, his bill had come to total £88 13s 8d. Thomas R Jones had received a cheque for £70 10s from Chisholm and had deposited it at his bank. The cheque was eventually dishonoured. It was for a bank called the “Union Bank of Victoria”. Jones’ bank did not have a listing for a bank of that name, but they could not be certain with so many new banks opening in Melbourne. The cheque was sent by steamer to Melbourne to hopefully be cashed. There was not a Union Bank of Victoria in existence, and neither of the similar sounding banks named “Union Bank of Australasia” or the “Bank of Victoria” had an account in Thomas Chisholm’s name.

At first the case was heard at the Police Court in Adelaide. Poor Mr Lindrum was laughed at for lending so much money to buy apples, and that it could not be proved that Chisholm had not bought apples. The Police court also heard the matters of the missing notes, the stolen horse and gig and the dishonoured cheque, with the hearing going over a number of days. The lawyer for Mr Chisholm asked for the money found on his client be released for his wife and child, who had no other means of support and were dependent on “Mr Jones’s kindness”. The court rejected the request. Thomas Jones stepped forward promising that “they should not want”. On the 4^th of March Thomas Donkin Chisholm was committed to gaol for Larceny in a dwelling house, until the matter could be seen at the Supreme Court.

The trial went to the Supreme Court in May. In the matter of the missing £5 notes from Thomas Jones dressing table, the case was made that it could have been stolen by any number of people. The bedroom adjoined the breakfast room where other lodgers could have easily taken the money and there were around 8 servants who could have taken the money without anyone noticing. As the money was not found on Mr Chisholm there was no proof that he had taken it, so he was acquitted.

On the charge of stealing a mare, gig and harness from William Rounsevell, he was also acquitted by the Judge. Chisholm’s defence had been that he had travelled to Mt Barker to try and find work in the legal profession. He had not had any luck so travelled on to Strathalbyn to find work there. There was no evidence that he had intended to steal the gig, he had paid for the hire and had simply taken it further than first intended.

In the end, the Jury found Thomas Donkin Chisholm not guilty on the other charges. The judge cautioned him “as to his future conduct”.

When I looked into Thomas Donkin Chisholm it appears that he had been accused and again acquitted of a similar crime of obtaining money by false pretences previously in 1854. He had been living at a hotel in Sydney, conducted himself as a gentleman but when a cheque that he had paid his bill with was presented to the bank the bank said that there was not enough money in the account. When Chisholm was approached he said that he would pay money in from another bank account. The hotel keeper then learned that a number of other people were in the same position, eventually it was taken to court, and one cheque was even to be found to be dated months before the Bank had even opened. Despite this, he was acquitted.

AN UNFORTUNATE PUB CRAWL

On the 26^th of April 1856, Thomas Jones observed three men entering the Blenheim hotel for a drink. One man was a very tipsy Arthur James Adlam, a publican from Kanmantoo.  The second man was Henry Ellis who was less tipsy, and the third was an un-named man with a wooden leg who did not seem to bear a very good character but perhaps this was just a matter of 1850s typecasting. The three men stood at the bar to order drinks.  When the man with the wooden leg borrowed 5s from Adlam, Thomas became suspicious and went to fetch a police officer, thinking that maybe Adlam was being taken advantage of. Adlam tried to pay for his order, but discovered that the Blenheim did not accept cheques at the bar, so pulled out his money to pay.  I can just imagine Adlam, a picture not uncommon in pubs today, tipsy and pulling all of his money out of his pockets. He stuffed his notes into his friend Henry Ellis’ hand to mind as he searched for the correct money. The Blenheim’s bartender James Simpson Stevens noticed Henry Ellis hand over to Adlam a £1 note and stuff the others into his own pocket, joking that maybe he should look after them. Adlam asked for them back and some crumpled notes were handed over. The drunk men finished their drinks and left to go on drinking at the Southern Cross Hotel. The man with the wooden leg went his separate way. At the Southern Cross, Adlam realised he was missing a £20 note, so they returned to the Blenheim to see if it had been given to the bar. A man named Charles Hill accompanied them. Thomas checked his takings but found the highest bill to be £10. The bartender James Simpson Stevens informed Thomas that he suspected that Henry Ellis may have pinched the note earlier. Thomas confronted the man and accused him of the theft. Henry replied that he would be happy to subject himself to a search at the police station. Thomas made the observation that he might lose the note on the way to the police station but as Detective Francis Percy had just walked in, perhaps he would be willing to be searched in the private parlour. When they entered the parlour Stevens (bartender) called out to Thomas, “he has slipped the note onto the sofa!”. Sure enough under Henry Ellis’ hat and stick on the sofa was the £20 folded up into a tiny little square. Henry Ellis said “There now you have got the money – now let it drop. “ For God’s sake give him back the £20, and have done with it; it was only done in a drunken spree. I was not aware I had it on my person till I felt it in my pocket, and I threw it on the sofa. If I had known I had the note on me I should have given it up.”

The Case went to trial, with several witnesses; Thomas Jones, Arthur Adlam, James Simpson Stevens, and Constable Percy. There were also witnesses called testifying to the good character of the accused Henry Ellis.  The jury, in the end, found a verdict of not guilty. However, the judge ordered that “the expenses of the witnesses be paid, except for Adlam. The judge declared he “would never allow the expenses of a drunken prosecutor.”

CLEARING THE TAP ROOM

Late in 1856 just a week after little Robert James JONES was born, Inspector Reid charged Thomas Rowlands Jones with not clearing his tap room at 11pm. When the matter went to the Police Court, Eliza Hart a former barmaid at the Blenheim and E.B. Gleeson a lodger at the hotel testified that the doors were always closed to the public at 11pm and drinks were only sold to lodgers after that time. The benefit of the doubt, this time, was given to Thomas Jones.

JUST A STICK!

On the 23 Nov 1858 a man named Michael Lennon/Leonard was placing a horse and gig in Gilbert’s yard next to the Blenheim hotel. Thomas Jones came out and objected to his placing the horse and gig there. They got into an argument which soon came to blows. When Thomas Williams, publican of the Paradise Hotel saw Thomas punched in the chest, he rolled his sleeves up and shouted “Get out of the way and leave him to me!” .  Michael L. then picked up a stick, so Thomas Williams backed off. Michael, however, chased him and struck him on the arm, and then on the head. Thomas Williams described the stick in court as being a bludgeon but Michael described it as just a moderately sized walking stick. Michael L. was fined 5s by the court because there had been provocation and costs were divided.

View of Adelaide from West end of Hindley Street 1849.
State Library of South Australia B 2268

NEXT BLOG 

My next instalment will be about the Jones family in Kapunda.

1855 'LAW AND POLICE COURTS.',Adelaide Times (SA : 1848 - 1858), 1 August, p. 3. , viewed 27 May 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article207072162

1855 'WEDNESDAY MARCH 7.', South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), 8 March, p. 3. , viewed 19 May 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article49306137

1855 'LOCAL COURTS.', South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), 6 September, p. 2. , viewed 27 May 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article49300895

1855 'ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE',Adelaide Times (SA : 1848 - 1858), 9 August, p. 3. , viewed 27 May 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article207072474

1856 'LAW AND CRIMINAL COURTS.',South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), 21 May, p. 3. , viewed 21 May 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article49748217

1856 'LAW AND CRIMINAL COURTS.',Adelaide Observer (SA : 1843 - 1904), 1 March, p. 1. (Supplement to the Adelaide Observer), viewed 21 May 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article161257280

1856 'POLICE COURTS.', South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), 3 March, p. 3. , viewed 21 May 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article49750554

1856 'LAW AND POLICE COURTS.',Adelaide Times (SA : 1848 - 1858), 3 March, p. 3. , viewed 21 May 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article207089835

1856 'POLICE COURTS.', Adelaide Observer (SA : 1843 - 1904), 8 March, p. 4. , viewed 21 May 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article161257414

1856 'GAWLER TOWN RACES.', South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), 29 February, p. 2. , viewed 21 May 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article49753054

1856 'DOMESTIC NEWS.', Adelaide Times (SA : 1848 - 1858), 29 February, p. 2. , viewed 21 May 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article207089783

1856 'LAW AND POLICE COURTS.',Adelaide Times (SA : 1848 - 1858), 1 March, p. 3. , viewed 27 May 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article207089801

1856 'Advertising', Adelaide Times (SA : 1848 - 1858), 6 May, p. 1. , viewed 21 May 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article207091765

1854 'CENTRAL POLICE COURT.', The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), 30 March, p. 4. , viewed 21 May 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article30939887

Wikipedia contributors, 'John Rounsevell', Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 10 November 2015, 21:01 UTC, <https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=John_Rounsevell&oldid=690025009> [accessed 21 May 2016]

Evan Jones, 'Lindrum, Frederick William (1888–1958)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/lindrum-frederick-william-7200/text12453, published first in hardcopy 1986, accessed online 22 May 2016.

1932 'LINDRUM.', Daily Standard (Brisbane, Qld. : 1912 - 1936), 14 June, p. 6. , viewed 28 May 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article186485253

1856 'LAW AND POLICE COURTS.',Adelaide Times (SA : 1848 - 1858), 16 May, p. 3. , viewed 29 May 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article207092063

1856 'POLICE COURTS.', South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), 29 April, p. 3. , viewed 29 May 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article49749232

1857 'POLICE COURT- ADELAIDE.',Adelaide Times (SA : 1848 - 1858), 7 January, p. 3. , viewed 27 May 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article207172149

1857 'POLICE COURTS.', South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), 7 January, p. 3. , viewed 27 May 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article49768505

1858 'ADELAIDE: WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 1.', South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), 2 December, p. 3. , viewed 28 May 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article49781981

1858 'LOCAL COURT—ADELAIDE.', The South Australian Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1858 - 1889), 2 December, p. 3. , viewed 28 May 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article786058

1858 'LAW AND CRIMINAL COURTS.',South Australian Weekly Chronicle (Adelaide, SA : 1858 - 1867), 4 December, p. 3. (Supplement to the South Australian Weekly Chronicle.), viewed 28 May 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article88821133

The Jones family part IV: Music, Ice and Pineapples at the Blenheim Hotel

Blenheim Hotel, Adelaide, S.A. Hindley St., 1851.[i]

Borrow Collection, Flinders University Library.

Thank you to Jenny and Kylie for their assistance.

I mentioned in the previous post, that in 1855 Thomas and Theophila Jones had a baby girl. At the time I did not know the baby’s name, but luckily my 4th cousin Nick Haines contacted me with information transcribed from the Jones Family Bible. The baby’s name was Florence Edith JONES[i]. Thanks Nick!

The couple had three more children whilst living in Adelaide. Robert James JONES was born 14 Dec 1856 but sadly died when only two months old[ii]. On the 17th Jan 1858 they had a daughter Emily Agnes JONES, then on the 2 Aug 1859 they had another daughter Caroline Rowlands JONES. So by 1859 they had five surviving children, 4 daughters and one son, and had lost two little sons.[iii]

Under the patronage of Thomas, the Blenheim Hotel became well known for its musical evenings on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. They ran a series of weekly excursions to Glenelg and opened billiard rooms. The Blenheim became well known for its lavish functions, wine, and cold drinks.

Ice! Domestic News, Adelaide Times 1856.[iv] 

Ice!

In 1856 the Blenheim began serving chilled and iced drinks. It was even mentioned in a Tasmanian newspaper that T.R. Jones at the Blenheim was serving ice. This made me wonder, how did anyone in South Australia get ice in 1856?

Ice, The Adelaide TImes  [xi]

Most ice in Australia in the 1850’s came from ice harvesting in the U.S.A. The ice was shipped in from Wenham Lake in Massachusetts, [v]., which was at least an 115-day journey by steamship. At Wenham lake, there was a large ice farm where the ice was cut into slabs and shipped all around the world. Wenham “Crystal ice” claimed to have special properties that kept it frozen for longer than other ice and marketed as being very pure and clean. Wenham ice was popular in England, but the need for ice in India and Australia was great. There were huge difficulties in shipping ice half way around the world, the length of the journey, temperatures crossing the equator, and the salt air would all melt the ice.[vi] This made shipping ice to Australia very expensive, and so was quite a luxury. Plant Ice began to be competitive by around 1858[vii] when Melbourne manufacturers The Patent Ice Company began exporting to other Australian colonies, and soon manufactured ice began to dominate the Australian market.

Wenham Ice Harvest.
Thanks to "Welcome to Wenham" http://wenham.essexcountyma.net/[viii]

Disney's Frozen has a musical scene dedicated to Ice Harvesting.

In 1857, the Blenheim really ramped up the luxury by offering not only ice but punch containing pineapple! They also on-sold ice to families and businesses.

Pine Apples,Adelaide Times (SA : 1848 - 1858)  [ix] 

I tried to find a recipe for Rhine Wine Punch, and I could find a few variations. It could have been based on the traditional German May Wine punch flavoured with Woodruff, but there are a number of Rhine wine punch recipes containing wine, brandy, tea, and fruit.

Classic Mixology has a May wine Punch
http://classicmixology.com/punches/may_wine_punch/1888
The Flowing Bowl, published in 1892 has a Rhine Wine Punch recipe on pg. 233. The Flowing Bowl

Glenelg

In 1857 Thomas Jones began running catered day trips to Glenelg via paddle steamer, complete with musical entertainment.

LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.
The Excursion Trip to GLENELG We see by advertisement that Mr Jones, of the Blenheim , Hotel, has announced his first of a series of weekly excursion trips, to start on Sunday morning for the Bay. The route selected offers the greatest variety of objects of interest within the range of a day's excursion from the city, and the fares are so moderate, that no possible objection can be raised on that score. This trip will not only offer the advantage of novelty, but will be a decided improvement on any attempts hitherto made in this colony to cater for outdoor amusement. We may add that a first rate band has been engaged to give additional animation to the proceedings.[x]

Glenelg advertisement[v]

Sketch of the old Glenelg Pier with the Pier Hotel in the background c.1870. 
State Library of South Australia SLSA PRG280/1/44/508

Music

As well as the musical evenings held at the Blenheim in 1858 Thomas played what I think might have been a  Xylophone at the Victoria Theatre to a large crowd.  

“A solo performance by Mr. Jones, of the Blenheim Hotel upon the yElophone, was deservedly encored, but the instrument is scarcely adapted for so large a building.”[xii]

Billiards

The Blenheim Hotel had a Billiard room attached at the back it was large and well lit for the times and held competitive matches. 

There was a fire in the Billiard room at 10pm 24th Feb 1856. It had started in the chimney of the adjoining kitchen, and had spread to the skirtings and walls of the Billiard room. It was discovered early and with community effort, a good water supply and the assistance of two fire engines (the Cornwall and the “small but useful” engine of Mr. Nitchke) the fire was put out without too much damage.[xiii] 

By 1858 Thomas was advertising that he had the “Best billiard room in the Colony.”[xiv]

“SPORTING.-We are informed that a billiard match, for £50 a-side, will be played in Mr. Jones's billiard-room, attached to the Blenheim Hotel, between Mr. A. Lazar and a "crack'' player expected from Melbourne by the Havilah, immediately after the arrival of which vessel the match is to come off. The money has been posted on both sides, and the match will no doubt be one of unusual interest, and prove an exhibition of superior play not often to be seen. We understand that Mr. Jones has just purchased an excellent billiard-table, which will add to the attractions of his already very attractive room, and afford the means of accommodating even a larger number of visitors than at present attend his tables.”[xv]

For my next blog post I will have more on the Jones Family.

[i] Thomas Rowlands Jones Family Bible. Transcribed by Nick Haines in 1980s.
[ii] 1856 'Family Notices', South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), 15 December, p. 2. , viewed 27 Feb 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article49759345
[iii] South Australian Birth Registration transcription. Genealogy SA.
[iv] 1856 'DOMESTIC NEWS.', Adelaide Times (SA : 1848 - 1858), 16 February, p. 2. , viewed 24 Apr 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article207089431
[v] Ice trade. (2016, April 22). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 07:37, April 24, 2016, from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ice_trade&oldid=716491730
[vi] http://www.iceharvestingusa.com/crystalblocks1.html
[vii] Nigel Isaacs, Sydney's first ice, Dictionary of Sydney, 2011, http://dictionaryofsydney.org/entry/sydneys_first_ice, viewed 24 April 2016
[viii] "Welcome to Wenham" http://wenham.essexcountyma.net/
[ix] 1857 'LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.', Adelaide Times (SA : 1848 - 1858), 25 February, p. 2. , viewed 24 Apr 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article207173378
[x] 1857 'LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.', Adelaide Times (SA : 1848 - 1858), 19 December, p. 2. , viewed 23 Apr 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article207126256
[xi] 1857, Adelaide Times (SA : 1848 - 1858), 19 December, p. 1. , viewed 23 Apr 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-page22713284
[xii] 1858 'No title', The South Australian Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1858 - 1889), 13 August, p. 3. , viewed 24 Apr 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article782230
[xiii] 1856 'IMMIGRATION BOARD.', South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), 25 February, p. 3. , viewed 24 Apr 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article49751727
[xiv] 1858 'Classified Advertising', The South Australian Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1858 - 1889), 9 September, p. 4. , viewed 24 Apr 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article783138
[xv] 1859 'The Advertiser.', The South Australian Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1858 - 1889), 20 December, p. 2. , viewed 24 Apr 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1200382

The Jones Family Part III: The Blenheim, electioneering and riots.

In my last post I finished with Thomas Rowlands Jones’ advertisement for the Blenheim hotel and wine tasting on the London Docks.

Thomas’ wine tasting experience was put to good use in his new hotel.

"Colonial Wine-We have now before us a sample of some colonial wines, about to be introduced to public notice by Mr Jones, of the Blenheim Hotel. There are two samples, one of Tokay and the other Red Muscat. For soundness and delicacy of flavour we can recommend them especially to the notice of families, as an agreeable and cheap substitute for imported wines generally used."[i]

            [ii]

On the home front Theophila's recently remarried mother Rosalia Shroeder died on the 29th of April 1854 in Adelaide. She was only 40 years old. On the 12th of August 1855 in the Blenheim hotel Adelaide, Thomas and Theophila had a baby girl. Her birth was advertised in the newspaper[iii] but I cannot find an official birth registration for her. I do not know her name or if she survived past infancy.

Blenheim hotel held Billiard matches, musical evenings as well as, Adelaide city council meetings, Masonic lodge meetings, coroner’s inquests, voting and electioneering, and many other community meetings and events.

This is a photo of Hindley street around 1870. The Blenheim Hotel is the one on the corner with the cart out the front. State Library of South Australia [B 1934]

ON the 19th September 1855 at about 12 o’clock in the afternoon, gunfire rang out from the balcony of the Blenheim Hotel. Members of the public had begun to assemble outside the hotel to listen to the candidates for West Adelaide in the Legislative Council, Mr. James Hurtle Fisher and Mr. Anthony Forster speak . The crowd had begun forming early in the morning and by the time it was 12 o’Clock the group was large stretching in both directions of Hindley street. The Mayor acting as Returning officer spoke at 1 o’clock, and then it took 45 minutes for the candidates to argue over who was going to speak first[iv]. I imagine this would have made the crowd quite impatient.

The Legislative Council was originally appointed by the Governor of South Australia on behalf of the Crown, and was reformed in 1851 to include 16 elected representatives, and eight appointed by the Governor, making a total of 24 members. Voting for the elected representatives was restricted to land-owning men only.

Over the next five hours the two candidates and a few of their supporters addressed the crowd. For many the primary difference between the two candidates was how each proposed that a new Constitution and system of governing should be drawn up.

Anthony Forster. State Library of South Australia [B 53194]

Mr. Anthony Forster was the editor and part owner of the South Australian Register newspaper. Forster supported a model of Legislative Council that was fully elected with universal suffrage which meant common men being able to vote along with male landowners. He also supported elections being held by confidential ballot, and for responsible government with an upper and lower house. He was against public money going towards churches as annual grants.

Sir James Hurtle Fisher. State Library of South Australia [B 6978]

Mr. Fisher was a barrister-at-law and the former resident commissioner of the colony of South Australia, arriving in 1836. He was the first Mayor of Adelaide, and was elected as a member of the Legislative council in 1853[v]. He believed in a single chamber and for it to remain as 16 elected members along with Governor appointees. He also held the strong belief that the Legislative Council and Governor should gain control of the Land Fund. He was against universal suffrage. Mr. Fisher wanted to postpone building of railways, including one to Gawler, instead focusing on the need for water supplies in Adelaide. There was also some controversy over “Victoria Square” which was an area he was engaged in professionally, to make a land allowance for a “dominant” Anglican church he was a member of. He was also for the continuation of annual grants to churches.

During the speeches the crowd was quite unsettled.

 “It was as if all the flibbartigibbits in Adelaide had assembled.”[vi]

Some of the crowd carried cudgels and several fights broke out. More than one person had their heads bloodied by blows. A large group of “Irishmen” (the implication being that they were working class and unable to vote) broke into a “war dance” yelling and waving their shillelaghs (a type of cudgel) in the air. Captain Fewson demanded them to be quiet, yelling at them “Lie down you blaguards!” and “Attention rascals!”.[vii] At one stage members of the crowd began throwing brick-bats (stones and bits of broken bricks) up at the balcony and at the voters. People rushed into the Hotel trying to get away from the missiles, knocking over tables in their rush. Windows were smashed and more than one person was struck by the stones. Fights broke out in the crowd and people were beaten with cudgels.

“One ruffian struck a man on the head with a loaded whip, but he was himself soon disarmed, and received such a blow from a fist as sent him slinking off quite satisfied with his share of the disturbance.”[viii]

Some of the injured were innocent spectators. The skirmish lasted a few minutes and the police under instruction of Inspector Reid did not interfere. Several more minor skirmishes broke out during the speeches.

When the candidates had concluded their speeches, the Returning Officer asked for a show of hands, which seemed to be in favour of Mr Forster. Mr Fisher of course demanded a poll which was declared to take place there at the Blenheim hotel between 9am and 4 pm the following day.

Hindley Street Looking West. c. 1846. George French Angus.  State Library of South Australia [B 15276/41]

BALLOT DAY

After the trouble that had occurred the day before, Police were expecting the worst. They were ready with the metropolitan force and the mounted force. Extra police were sworn in the night before.

On Ballot day, the 20th September 1855, a large crowd had assembled outside of the Blenheim hotel, stretching well down the street. Polling was out in the open under the balcony of the Blenheim (perhaps because of the overturned tables the day before?) and the crowd was easily able to see who each man was voting for by the coloured card in their hand. I am sure the crowd would have been quite vocal in their approval or disapproval.

For most of the morning things had proceeded quite peacefully apart from the stirring up of dust on the unmade street by the large number of spectators. Before long though some voters had begun reporting to police that they had been assaulted on the way to the polling station and were unable to cast their vote.

By ballot closing time at 4 o’clock it began to be apparent that Mr. Forster had a significant lead and supporters of Mr. Fisher felt that his voters had not been given fair access to give their vote due to the crowd.

A large group of drunk and disgruntled Irishmen became enraged outside. A dozen or two of them stormed into the Blenheim and forced their way upstairs and onto the balcony. Once on the balcony they tore down the flags. They broke the flagpoles up to make staves. They then rejoined the main group then numbering over one hundred, all armed with cudgels and other weapons like fire pokers. The mob then pushed the crowd down the street causing chaos and attacking anyone wearing the colours of Mr Forster.

The Exchange Hotel c. 1865. State Library of South Australia [B 3645] 

They arrived at the Exchange hotel, (also in Hindley Street) where Mr Forster's campaign had been run from. There they tried to climb onto the balcony to tear down the flags, but people on the balcony forced them down. Stones and brick-bats were then pitched at the Exchange balcony forcing people inside and smashing windows. Forster’s supporters rushed outside the hotel began to fight back Fisher’s supporters.

“Sticks and heads were meeting in the street in all directions”[ix]. 

Some of Fisher’s supporters then managed to climb onto the balcony and tore down the flags and again used the flagpoles as weapons. They then threw stones down at the crowd below hitting both their supporters and opponents. The mounted police at that point galloped in with the metropolitan foot police lead by Superintendent Tolmer closing in from the other side to tackle the riot. The rioters had then forced their way into the Exchange hotel and had locked the doors from within. Superintendent Tolmer attempted to climb up onto the balcony. A rioter grabbed his leg to drag him down but he managed to free himself by kicking the man in the face with the heel of his heavy spurred boot. Other police joined him on the balcony and soon the rioters were overpowered and many of the worst of them were arrested. As the riot act was apparently read at the Blenheim hotel (the only time in Adelaide’s history) it is possible that some arrested were given life in prison. [x]

Although Anthony Forster won the ballot, Mr Fisher of course contested that it was not run fairly. It was not until the following year that Mr. Forster was seated on the Legislative council. It is not surprising that after the riot 15 out of the 16 Legislative Council members voted for the secret ballot and it was used for the next election in 1857. James Hurtle Fisher became Speaker of the house in 1855 -1856 and President of the House in 1857 - 1865.

In 1856 the Council began drafting the Constitution and by 1857 the new parliament of South Australia was formed.

Amongst all of these history making events I wonder what Thomas, Theophila , my four year old great great grandmother Elizabeth, little toddler Henry and the new baby were doing. I imagine Thomas was probably in his hotel when it was dramatically stormed. I wonder if Theophila and the children sensing trouble brewing had kept away on the speech and polling days.

In 1856 Thomas Jones went to court suing the Returning officer for damages incurred on the polling day the amount of £30. To my disappointment Thomas did not make a lot of money at the bar in the hotel that day. The court found in his favour and at first for the full amount of £30 but the “Act” only allowed the sum of £20 to the returning officer, so judgment was given for that amount.[xi]

Years later in 1900 when the Blenheim hotel was demolished the South Australian Register Newspaper reported on the historical significance of the hotel . A new hotel was built in its place.

If you would like to read more on the Riot at the Blenheim, you can read the news accounts on TROVE listed below in my references, or you can read articles at History SA. I have based my retelling on news reports, but the History SA articles helped me to get my head around what went on. If I have made any mistakes or if I have misunderstood the meaning of any events please let me know.

Corinne Ball, Migration Museum, ‘Hindley Street riot’, Adelaidia, History SA, http://adelaidia.sa.gov.au/events/hindley-street-riot, accessed 6 April 2016.

Corinne Ball, Migration Museum, ‘Hindley Street riot’, SA History Hub, History SA, http://sahistoryhub.com.au/events/hindley-street-riot , accessed 6 April 2016.



More on the Jones Family next time






[i] 1855 'DOMESTIC NEWS.', Adelaide Times (SA : 1848 - 1858), 22 November, p. 2. , viewed 29 Mar 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article207075590

[ii] 1855 'Advertising', Adelaide Times (SA : 1848 - 1858), 11 December, p. 1. , viewed 07 Apr 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article207076233

[iii] 1855 'Family Notices', South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), 13 August, p. 2. , viewed 27 Feb 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article49300221

[iv] 1900 'AN HISTORIC BUILDING DEMOLISHED.', South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), 20 July, p. 3. , viewed 27 Feb 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article54454310

[v] 'Fisher, Sir James Hurtle (1790–1875)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/fisher-sir-james-hurtle-2045/text2531, published first in hardcopy 1966, accessed online 7 April 2016.

[vi] 1855 'WEST ADELAIDE.', South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), 20 September, p. 3. , viewed 4 April 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article49298579

[vii] 1855 ‘NOMINATIONS’, Adelaide Times (SA: 1848 - 1858), 20 September, p.2. , viewed 4 April 2016. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article207073569

[viii] 1855 'WEST ADELAIDE.', Adelaide Observer (SA : 1843 - 1904), 22 September, p. 8. , viewed 07 Apr 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article158105660

[ix] 1900 'AN HISTORIC BUILDING DEMOLISHED.', South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), 20 July, p. 3. , viewed 27 Feb 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article54454310

[x] 1911 'THE RIOT ACT.', The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1889 - 1931), 17 October, p. 9. , viewed 31 Mar 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article5325128

[xi] 1856 'LAW AND CRIMINAL COURTS.', South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), 7 March, p. 3. , viewed 03 Apr 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article49747610

The Jones Family Part II: The Alliance Hotel, a move to Adelaide and a hint of London.

In Part I, I wrote about the Thomas and Theophila Jones’ move to the Alliance Hotel in Tanunda, and the birth of my Great Great Grandmother in 1851.  Their second child was born the next year. William Henry JONES was born on the 14^th October 1852[i] but sadly he died when only six months old in April of 1853.[ii] 

As an aside, people often comment that the death of children in the old days was accepted as part of life, and people “just got on with things”. I have always had trouble believing this. I think the death of a child in the past would have been just as painful as it is today. It being common would not have made it easier. I do imagine though that it being an experience shared my many, there would have been good support from friends and family who would have understood the grief first-hand.

In  February 1853 their horse went missing. Thomas advertised in the hope of her return.

TWO POUNDS REWARD.
STRAYED from Tanunda, the end of January, a small LIGHT BAY MARE, aged, branded M under saddle, switch tail, off fore foot a little grey. Supposed to have gone in the direction of Encounter Bay. The above reward will be paid on delivery of the above mare at the
Alliance Hotel. Tanunda.
THOS. R. JONES.[iii]

I noticed that there were a number of missing horses in the area around that time. I wonder if there was a horse thief, or perhaps it was just a common occurrence in those days for horses to wander off.

On the 6^th of July that year (1853) Theophila’s widowed mother Rosalia GÖETTLING (nee SOBIESKI) married Johann Gottfried SCHROEDER in her Adelaide home[iv].  Later that same year Thomas and Theophila’s next child Henry Rowland JONES was born on the 9^th December in Tanunda.[v]. 

In March of 1855 the family moved to Adelaide and held the licence at the Blenheim Hotel in busy Hindley St.[vi]

On one of Thomas’ first advertisements of his new business gives not only a lovely description of what was on offer but gives us a clue to his life in London before moving to Australia.

1855 'Advertising', Adelaide Times (SA : 1848 - 1858), 13 September, p. 1. , viewed 29 Mar 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article207073411

A diversion back further in time.

Thomas Rowlands JONES was born in Temple Street, Southwark, London on the 8^th Feb 1823. His parents were Thomas JONES and Anna Maria ROWLANDS[vii]. Southwark was not far from the London docks, and Thomas mentions in his advertisement that he worked on the Docks for many years as a wine taster.  This made me wonder, what would life as a wine taster on the London docks be like?

Thanks to the Graphics Fairy for this nice picture and nifty craft idea.  

http://thegraphicsfairy.com/craft-project-london-map-decor-diy/

The following quotes I took from the marvellous “The Dictionary of Victorian London” The section on the London Docks.   http://www.victorianlondon.org/thames/londondocks.htm

"As you enter the dock, the sight of the forest of masts in the distance, and the tall chimneys vomiting clouds of black smoke, and the many- coloured flags flying in the air, has a most peculiar effect; while the sheds, with the monster wheels arching through the roofs, look like the paddle-boxes of huge steamers. Along the quay, you see new men with their faces blue with indigo, and now gaugers with their long brass-tipped rule dripping with spirit from the cask they have been probing; then will come a group of flaxen-haired sailors, chattering German; and next a black sailor with a cotton handkerchief twisted turban-like around his head. Presently a blue-smocked butcher, with fresh meat and a bunch of cabbages in the tray on his shoulder, and shortly afterwards a mate with green parroquete in a wooden cage. Here you will see sitting on a bench a sorrowful- looking woman, with new bright cooking tins at her feet, telling you she is an emigrant preparing for her voyage. As you pass along this quay the air is pungent with tobacco, at that it overpowers you with the fumes of rum. Then you are nearly sickened with the stench of hides and huge bins of horns, and shortly afterwards the atmosphere is fragrant with coffee and spice. Nearly everywhere you meet stocks of cork, or else yellow bins of sulphur or lead-coloured copper ore. As you enter this warehouse, the flooring is sticky, as if it had been newly tarred, with the sugar that has leaked through the casks, and as you descend into the dark vaults you see long lines of lights hanging from the black arches, and lamps flitting about midway. Here you sniff the fumes of the wine, and there the peculiar fungous smell of dry-rot.

Henry Mayhew, Labour and the Poor in the Morning Chronicle for Oct., 1849. Quoted by Peter Cunningham, Hand-Book of London, 1850

This is the great depot for the stock of wines belonging to the Wine Merchants of London. Port is principally kept in pipes sherry in hogsheads. On the 30th of June,1849, the Dock contained 14,783 pipes of port ; 13,107 hogsheads of sherry ; 64 pipes of French wine; 796 pipes of Cap wine ; 7607 cases of wine, containing 19,140 dozen; 10,113 hogsheads of brandy; and 3642 pipes of rum. The total of port was 14,783 pipes, 4460 hogsheads, and 3161 quarter casks.

Peter Cunningham, Hand-Book of London, 1850

Under the London Docks are the finest vaults in the world, vast catacombs of the precious vintages garnered from every famous vineyard in the globe. The vaults in the London docks cover an area of eighteen acres, and afford accommodation for eighty thousand pipes of wine. One of the vaults alone is seven acres in extent, and the tea warehouses will hold one hundred and twenty thousand chests of that fragrant herb.
To go into these vast wine vaults is indeed a treat. It is like entering a City of the dead, only that instead of the skeletons of human beings piled on top of each other, you find an Aceldama of casks, pipes, barrels, hogsheads, and butts, bonded and stored tier upon tier ... The vaults are only separated from the bed of the Thames by a thick wall, and at noonday gas has to be turned on to light the way to the enormous storehouses of wine and brandy. Passes are granted by the companies and the owners of liquors on bond, called "tasting permits," which gives the privilege to the visitor to ask an attendant for a sample of any wine, or wines and liquors that he may choose to taste.

Daniel Joseph Kirwan, Palace and Hovel : Phases of London Life, 1878

WINE VAULTS, London Docks. The London Docks lie to the East of St. Katherine's Docks, and were constructed in 1805, at a cost of £4,000,000. They extend over an area of 120 acres and contain water space enough for 300 vessels. They have extensive warehouses for goods and their wine vaults can store more than 8,000,000 gallons of wine. At times more than 3,000 men are employed at these docks in one day, and every morning at the principal entrance a large crowd of labourers may be seen waiting in hopes of obtaining work. Permission to visit the vaults may be obtained from the Secretary of the London Dock Company at 109 Leadenhall Street, E.C. Those wishing to taste the wines must obtain a tasting order from a wine merchant. Ladies are not admitted after 1 p.m.

George Birch, The Descriptive Album of London, c.1896

Please check Lee Jackson’s site out it is really interesting. I love the bit on the Wool warehouse on the London Docks, but there is lots of other great stuff too.   http://www.victorianlondon.org/index-2012.htm

"Tom, Jerry and Logic 'tasting' Wine in the Wood on the London Docks".1823 Isaac Richard and George Cruickshank

I do not know that the smell of dry rot in the dark vaults would have been too nice, but the docks do sound like they would have been an exciting place for a young man to work. I wonder if Thomas picked up German language with his dealings with wine merchants and importers, or if he already had the ability to speak German and so it helped him get his job as a taster.  Perhaps it was here in the hustle and bustle of the Docks that Thomas heard tales of the far off Barossa Vally, and decided to emigrate to Australia for the fresh air and peaceful countryside.

In my next instalment, I will have more on the Blenheim Hotel.

---

[i] Birth Registration index: William Henry JONES #4/88

[ii] Research by Christopher Ridings http://www.chrisridings.blogspot.com/

[iii] 1853 'Advertising', South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), 9 February, p. 3. , viewed 29 Mar 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article38461527

[iv] Marriage Index : Rosalie Gottling and Johann SCHRODER #17/175

[v] Birth Registration index: Henry Rowlands JONES #4/246

[vi] 1855 'BENCH OF MAGISTRATES.', Adelaide Times (SA : 1848 - 1858), 15 March, p. 3. , viewed 29 Mar 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article207022731

[vii] England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975," database, FamilySearch https://familysearch.org