| Notes |
- Anecdote
I have attached John to Richard and Flora as parents though there is not definite proof that this is correct (see below).
Extract from "HAM FAMILY HISTORY" 2002 by Beth Quinlan and Gail White
John Ham, Baptist Minister could be the son of:-
1. John Ham and Elizabeth Jeffery - they had a son John baptised 7 April 1799 in Launcells (John and Elizabeth were married 1798). The father John,was the brother of our direct line, Nathaniel Harefoot. The death of this John, baptised 1799, cannot be found in Cornwall and all other dates relating to John Ham, "Baptist Minister", of Sydney, N.S.W., Australia, coincide within 3 years of this baptism. There are no other records of any baptisms for a John Ham in the 1790's.
2. In the Bible of David Ham, (1830-1908), it is recorded that John, the Baptist Minister, is the son of Richard Ham and Flora nee Hambly, but there are mistakes in this extract so this may not be true. It is mentioned in this extract that Flora is the brother of Richard, when she is actually Richard's wife, that the wife of John Ham, born 1740, was Grace Lyle, but should be Anna Maria Lisle, and that John had 3 sons and 1daughter but actually had 6 sons and 4 daughters. David would be unlikely to record this fact if Rev. John Ham was not actually closely related to him. The Rev John's son, Cornelius, is in a family wedding photo of David's daughter Ethel to Arthur Sydney Baillieu in 1899. David Ham and hiswife attended the marriage of Cornelius' daughter, Cornelia, in 1891. Were they relations or just friends as they were both MLAs in the Victorian Parliament at the same time?
The general consensus in our extended Ham family is that he is "one of us". There have been several people from various lines all trying to prove this connection for many years.
From the 1841 Census taken in June, John's age was listed as 43 and on his death certificate of March 1852 his age was recorded as 55. This would make his birth date between 1796-98. There is no record in the parish registers of a son named John born to Richard and Flora Ham. As Richard andFlora were married 1797 and their first child recorded was Anna Maria baptised Dec. 1799, they could have had a son born, called John, who was not recorded and be the Rev. John Ham!
From information written about the Rev. John's life, we know that John's parents were Church of England. About 1812 John was thought to be inLaunceston living with his family relations and at school, and it was at this time he was introduced to the Wesleyan faith. On returning home he was met with opposition from his parents and friends because of his Wesleyan beliefs. He felt forced to leave home, but after spending time with anUncle of Wesleyan beliefs, his parents became reconciled with their son's beliefs and John returned home and attended Wesleyan Methodist meetings.He began to preach in the area. Due to the shortage of lay preachers in the Devon area circa 1816, John moved there and began preaching the gospel in Devon. About 1817-1820, John was in Penzance for baptism, marriage and instruction for the Baptist ministry, under the instruction of the Rev.Smith of Penzance.
It is interesting to note that in all the material written about the Rev. John nowhere are his parents mentioned or where he was born or baptised orthe names of any brothers and sisters.
John Ham married Ann Job Tonkin 30 Oct. 1818 at Madron, Cornwall. It is thought Ann was born in Penzance in 1796, the daughter of Thomas Tonkin andJane Job.
Information taken from the sermon at the funeral of John Ham in 1852, a little of his life in England was as follows:- John was first a member of the Wesleyan Society and began to preach in many villages in the North of Devon ,who did not have the privilege to hear the gospel , all this at his own expense. John then became interested in the doctrine of the Baptist Faith and thus was baptised into the Baptist Denomination atPenzance,Cornwall and preached in the many villages around Penzance. After about 3 years, poor health forced him to leave that part of Cornwall. He moved to Teignmouth (circa 1820), Devon for 2 years, then to Crewkerne, circa 1822 in Somerset, then to Warwick, circa 1823 for about 2/3 years then to Bilston, circa 1826 Staffordshire for another 5 years, where he ministered through the cholera epidemic. About 1832/3 he moved to Newhall Street, Zion Chapel, the Baptist Church in Birmingha m where he stayed until he and his family migrated to Australia in 1842.
The family of the Rev. John Ham, are listed as living in 29 Bath St., Snow Hill, Birmingham according to the 1839 Directory of Birmingham.
The family is listed in the 1841 census of St. Mary's Parish, part of Birmingham as John Ham, assistant preacher, age 43, Thomas, apprenticeengineer, age 15, Jabez, apprentice printer, age 12, Theophilus, age 10, Cornelius, age 5, Amelia, age 8 and Ann Job, age 42. All except Corneliuswere listed as not born in the county.
The family came to Australia in December 1842, on the ship "Dublin" from Birmingham, England looking for a better climate as John suffered from acute asthma, which had arisen during his work at Bilston during a cholera epidemic.
The family arrived in Melbourne on the 13th December 1842, on route to minister in Sydney. John was met at Melbourne by eager Baptist ministers, who persuaded him to preach, (while the ship was in port), in the Mechanics Institute, Collins St. and in the evening at the Independent Church,CollinsSt.
John Ham was persuaded to stay on in Melbourne, while his family sailed to Sydney. After 3 months his family returned to join him Melbourne.
John became the first minister of the Baptist Church erected in Collins St. in 1845. John was instrumental in the application to the Government for the land grant in Collins Street to build this chapel and brother Thomas engraved the foundation stone for the chapel, which was laid 22 May1845.John started a school in connection with the Baptist Church to teach the aborigines in the area of Melbourne. In early 1847 John Ham, while still based in Collins Street, Melbourne, spent about 4 months on exchange in Hobart, Tasmania preaching the gospel.
Due to Melbourne's climate John's health did not improve and in late 1847 he moved to Sydney and was inducted into the Bathurst St. Baptist Church in January 1848.
John died 14 March 1852, age 55, at his residence, Burton Street, Old South Head Road, Sydney, and was buried the next day in the Field ofMarsCemetery, Sydney. There is a memorial to Rev. John Ham in the Melbourne General Cemetery. Ann died 19 Dec. 1870, age 74, and is buried in theMelbourne General Cemetery.
Children of John and Ann were:
(i). Jemima Job, baptised 22 April 1819, Cornwall. Jemima married George D. Duniam 15 Dec. 1842. George was the commander of the Ship "Dublin" soitis presumed this romance commenced on the ship as Jemima was coming out to Australia in 1842. Their marriage took place 2 days after theshiparrived in Melbourne. Jemima had twins born 1844 in N.S.W. - named Thomas H. and John. H. A. Jemima died, at sea, on board the ship "PenyardPark"on the passage to Sydney, 6 September 1848.
(ii) Thomas Job was baptised 17 Feb 1821 died before 1825.
(Note: there is some doubt on the birth of Thomas Job. Some notes say he was born 1821 but on the 1841 census he was 15 and he was 45 at deathin1870 - there may have been 2 children born and the first dying and the second renamed the same).
(iii). Thomas Job was baptised 17 Feb 1825, Teignmouth, Devon, married Mary Jull Collings, (who was born 1827, the daughter of John Collings andMaryJull) 18th September, 1851. Their children were:- Mary Alice 1854 - 1928, John Collings 1855-1893, Thomas Ernest 1858-1935, Alfred Westbrook1859,and Isabella Rose 1861-all born Melbourne then Florence Emily 1863, Laura Jessie 1864, Kate Winifred 1866, and Cornelius Henry 1867 borninQueensland. Thomas first rented land on the Plenty River, 13 miles from Melbourne, about 1845,and with his brothers, Jabez and Theophilus,farmedextensively. He also farmed in the Lower Murray and Avoca district, Lake Lalbert being on the "run" about 1846-7, (Shire of Kerang). They werethefirst to export wheat to London in 1846. Thomas was a well known engraver, publisher and lithographer. In 1843 he was commissioned to engravethecorporation seal for the Town of Melbourne, he engraved a postage stamp for Victoriain 1850 and also the first plates for the Bank of NewSouthWales in the 1850's. In 1847 he published a map of the squatting districts "Australia Felix" as well as many other maps, "Melbourne andGeelongDistricts" in 1849, "Map of the Suburban Lands of the city of Melbourne" 1852 and "Plan of the City of Melbourne" 1854. Thomas and wife Maryspentsome time on the gold fields, living in a tent. His business was in Collins St. East Melbourne. In 1853 as a land and commission agentThomasopened the Central Land office at 36 Swanston St. and in 1855 was joined by Cornelius in what became the long- standing firm of C.J.&T.Ham.Sometime after 1861, after transferring the business to Cornelius, Thomas moved to Brisbane where he once again continued his engravingandlithographic business. Thomas also developed sugar plantations on the Albert River and later bought a farm at Redcliffe. Thomas died 10 March1870,age 45 in Brisbane and was buried in the Baptist burial ground then reinterred on the 12 June 1913 at Lawnton Cemetery, Brisbane. Mary died 7March1903 Narangba, Queensland, where she had spent her last years, as her son was an orchardist there and was buried Lawnton, Brisbane.
(iv). Jabez Job was baptised 13 July 1826, Staffordshire. Jabez tried his luck in the Mallee in pastoral pursuits but due to disastrous droughtslostall his stock and was forced to sell at a great loss. He was one of the first editors of the age. He went to New Zealand and continued hisliterarypursuits. He was listed on the 1865 Electoral Roll of Dunedin, New Zealand.
(v). Theophilus Job was born/ baptised 9 July 1828 in Bilston in Staffordshire. After his farming pursuits with his brothers he went to theMalleefor pastoral pursuits but when this failed came back to Melbourne and joined brothers Thomas and Jabez and in 1850 produced the periodical"Ham'sMagazine". When gold was discovered in 1851 this enterprise ceased as all rushed to the gold fields to make their fortunes. After this,Theophilusreturned to Melbourne and firstly in 1852 became a commission agent, then a timber merchant and finally joined his brother Cornelius inthe estatebusiness, in 1867. Theophilus married Elizabeth Perry, (daughter of William Perry of Paddington, Sydney), 6 October 1868. Their childrenwere andHerbert Perry 1869, Edith Beryl 1871 and Arthur William 1873. Theophilus lived in Bentham Place, Church Street, Richmond. Elizabeth died in1874.Theophilus died 29 Aug. 1892 at Richmond and was buried in the Anglican section of the Melbourne General Cemetery.
(vi). Amelia Annie Job was baptised 9 Nov. 1833 in Bilston, Birmingham, Staffordshire. Amelia married Henry Cooke, in 5 Aug.1851, in her father,JohnHam's Church in Bathurst St. Sydney. Henry, born 10 March 1817 in Yorkshire, was the son of Henry Cooke and Mary Monkhouse. Henry and hisbrotherJohn founded the "The Age" on 17 October 1854. (The Cooke brothers are believed to come to Australia about 1839 from New Zealand). Ameliaand Henry'sfamily were:- Edwin Henry 1853-1927 married Emily Sarah Annie Kernot 1900, Annie Amelia 1856-1931, Charles Wilkinson 1857-1921 marriedMargaret EthelAnderson 1881 then Susannah Jones 1889, Arthur James 1859-1930, Isabel Alice 1859-1860, William Ernest 1861-1924 married MaryCatherine Powell 1896,Alfred John 1864-1897, Frederick Albert 1866-1867, Florence Maud Mary 1869, Edith Isabella 1871 married Hugh Jones 1896,Hattie Winifred 1873 marriedHarold Ernest Cooke 1899 and Olive Theodora 1876 . Henry died 18 March 1889 in Melbourne and Amelia died 6 Oct. 1909 inMelbourne
(vii). Cornelius Job was born/ baptised 13 Jan 1837, Birmingham, England, married Hattie White Latham (daughter of John Latham of West Virginia,andsister of General G.R. Latham who was the Consul-General for the United States) in 1868 in Carlton, Victoria. Their known children were CorneliaAnn1870, Laura Amelia 1872, Kate Isabella 1874, Eva Gertrude 1875, Mabel Constance 1876-1934, Frank Livingston 1878, Hattie Juliet 1879-1957,HenryRupert 1881, Ethel Beatrice 1882 and Wilbur Lincoln 1884. Cornelius worked as a clerk for H. & J. Cooke, Merchants of Melbourne about 1855,whowere the first proprietors of the Melbourne Age, then later worked with his brother Thomas, who was an estate agent. Cornelius then took overtheestate business in 1860, in Swanston Street, Melbourne, when Thomas moved to Brisbane and his brother, Theophilus, joined him as a partner in1867.Cornelius became well known as an auctioneer. In 1870 Cornelius was elected to the Melbourne City Council and in 1879-1909 was alderman for LaTrobeWard. Cornelius was the Mayor of Melbourne 1881-1882 and during this time helped to establish the Working Men's College. He was RoyalCommissionerfor public instruction 1881, MLC for Melbourne Province 1882-1904, Director of the Metropolitan Gas Company for a period and waschairman of manyinsurance companies. Cornelius lived at his residence "Lalbert", in Orrong Road, Armadale. This magnificent two-stored home, usedfor many officialMayoral functions, was named after the lake on the squatting run taken up by his brothers in the 1840's. This home was demolishedcirca 1943.Cornelius, died 10/11 Dec. 1909 in Armadale.
Places lived in:
Penzance ordained and married 1818
Teignmouth Devon 1819-1822
Crewkerne Somerset 1822-1823
Warwick Warwickshire 1823-1828
Bilston Staffordshire 1828-1833
Birmingham Warwickshire 1833-1842
Melbourne 1842
Sydney 1847
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AIGS/FHC Member's - Family Trees
Abt 1798 - 1852 (~ 54 years)