James Henry Harris Penberthy was the eldest son of James Harris Penberthy and Elizabeth nee MITCHELL, Penberthy. He was born on Christmas Day 25th Dec 1853 at Samford Spiney, a mining village near Tavistock in Devon, England.
James Henry Harris PENBERTHY
Earlier generations of the Penberthy family had been involved in mining as far back as 1670, first in Cornwall and then moving to Devon where James was born. In 1854, James Snr (age 23) and Elizabeth (aged 21) and young son James aged 1 ½ yrs, sailed for South Australia as assisted migrants where James Snr took up employment as a miner at the Burra Copper Mine. A year later the family left South Australia to join the rush to the Victorian Goldfields. James Snr was to work in various location in Ballarat and Clunes and in 1860 was appointed the first manager on the St Arnaud Goldfields. As the township of St Arnaud grew, the family realised the opportunity to divert to shopkeeping and in 1863 opened a general store at the corner of Alma and Napier streets, St Arnaud.
In the early years of this venture, Elizabeth managed the store and James Snr continued as mine manager. As the store prospered James Snr terminated his mining career to become a successful storekeeper and landowner. James Snr, an ardent Wesleyan, was largely responsible for the erection of the first Methodist church in the town. He also served on the local council and was a JP and a trustee for the Bank of Victoria.
Other children born to the couple were Eliza, Josiah, Thomas, Elizabeth and Sarah Jane. Two other children, Louisa and Ethel died in infancy. James assisted his father in the store until 1874 when he moved a few miles north to the new township of Charlton where he managed a second store. Both stores were known as James Penberthy and Co.
On the 17th October 1878 at St Arnaud, James married Laura Elizabeth POWELL, daughter of George and Susannah Powell nee SADDLER of St Arnaud. They lived at Charlton, where James continued to manage the store until Oct 1883 when the store was sold and James commenced business as a Auctioneer and Commission agent in Charlton.
In 1888 James visited Albany in Western Australia where he arrived on 16 Mar 1888 on the “Austral’ sailing from Melbourne. The following year James took up permenant residence in Western Australia, arriving on the 17 Jan 1889 on the ‘Massilia”.
Albany Mail and King George’s Sound Advertiser 26 January 1889
The enterprising firm of Messrs. Angove and Barratt have lately secured the services of Mr. J. H. Penberthy to look after their Auctioneering Department. We congratulate the firm on having secured the services of this gentleman, whose worth is acknowledged in his old district where he was known for 29 years as the following very flattering notice from the St Arnaud Mercury will show ‘”An acknowledged Knight and one of our cleverest wielders of the ivory, left the colony yesterday by mail steamer for Albany; Western Australia, where he is about to enter the firm of Angove and Barratt. auctioneers and estate agents, as salesman, we refer to Mr. J. H. Penberthy who carries away with him the best wishes of the whole community for his future welfare.”
Five months later James was reunited with his family when Laura Penberthy and their four children – George, Thomas, Rose and Ethel, arrived in Albany on the 28 Jun 1889 on the RMS Ohizaba. The following year James was to terminate his employment with Angove and Barratt and commenced his own business. The first issue of the Albany Observer dated 6 May 1890 had the following advertisement: –
J H Penberthy
Auctioneer, Land Insurance and
General Commission Agents
Frederick St, Albany
Having Commenced business
Are prepared to conduct
Sales in any part of the Colony.
Four more children were to be born to the couple in Western Australia. All four children were born in Albany where it appears Laura lived, as she didn’t accompany her husband to Coolgardie. They were, Lilian in 1890, Violet in 1892, Ivy in 1894 and Mabel in 1895 (died at 10 weeks).
In 1893-4 James commenced his business as an Auctioneer and Commission Agent in Coolgardie.
James Henry Harris Penberthy was not long to see his business prosper as while he was living in King Street, Coolgardie he died on the 9th Jul 1896 at the age of 42yrs from Pneumonia.
Coolgardie Cemetery, Wesleyan Section.
Moya Sharp
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I am a direct relative of James Penberthy (great great grandfather)and came across your blog by chance while searching for info on the Penberthy shop in st Arnaud. Thankyou so much, I was aware of his history but this is the best image I have seen of James and the summary of his life is very well done. Kind regards Viv Eames. My grandmother was Laura Penberthy, daughter of Thomas Penberthy.
Hi Viv I am so glad you stumbled across the story, it is for this reason that my blog and web site was started to untire families with their Goldfields connection. Thank you for letting me know of your find.