Henry St John Bridgeman
What is known about Henry St John Bridgeman?
What is known about Henry St John Bridgeman?
The suburb of Bridgeman Downs was named after him. But have your ever wondered why?
My interest in H. St John
Bridgeman in relation to Brackenridge, was the result of researching some early
landholders in the region between Sandgate and Bald Hills. H. St John Bridgeman
held a very large parcel of land in 1924 in the area bounded by Bald Hills Road.
The question then became
"What was his relationship with the Brackenridge area?"
As we all do, the easiest way to obtain an answer is to ask Mr Google!
As we all do, the easiest way to obtain an answer is to ask Mr Google!
Mention is made of his being the
purchaser of lands in Northern Brisbane
The first land
purchaser in the Arana Hills District was Henry St John Bridgeman in November
1863. This portion 9 parish of Bunya which covers a pocket of land bounded in
part by Kedron Brook and Dawson Parade very soon became the property of William
McCallum Park, who sold to the Patrick family at the turn of the century.
Bridgeman Downs: About
12km north-west, named after early settler Henry St John Bridgeman who bought
land there in 1860
In November 1860 Henry St John
Bridgeman
bought land bounded by Albany Creek Road, Bridgeman Road and Beams Road
Unfortunately
that seems to all that can be researched about Henry St John Bridgeman.
Henry
St John Bridgeman must then have been a man of considerable worth, to be able
to purchase the large tracts of land. Perhaps
not the normal activities of an employee of HM Customs.
His
abilities and contribution as a pioneer of the area should be recognised as should his daughters.
Henry St John Bridgeman
Following the life of Henry St John Bridgeman and his family in Brisbane is not without its challenges.
There
were in fact two Henry St John Bridgeman's who worked at H.M. Customs, father
and son.
The
following chronological narrative of his life, as resourced from known facts
tells a far different and much more interesting version of his life, rather
than the "worked in Customs" tag.
According to the
Queensland Government Gazette of 1868
Bridgeman, Henry St. John,
appointed Locker, Customs Department, Brisbane .
This was Henry
Senior.
Customs
officer ie boatman, tidewaiter, locker, or even tide surveyor at a customs
house at a nearby port.
He
later worked at Rockhampton.
Sometimes
a family story begins with their death, and this one is no different.
Henry
St John Bridgeman came from County Clare in Ireland with his wife and children, possibly in 1859 on the "British Empire"
He
was the son of Henry St John Bridgeman and his wife Lucy Reddan from County
Clare in Ireland.
He
married Frances Stein Dewar, daughter of John Dewar and Frances Stein.
Henry
died 3rd July 1878 and Frances died 1901
Their
children included:
Henry St. John Bridgeman died unmarried 1891 aged 36 His birth would be 1855
Constance Mary Aloysius
Bridgeman died unmarried 5th August
1906
Mary
Florence Bridgeman died unmarried 5th
April 1914
Isabella Mary Gertrude
Bridgeman died unmarried 6th August 1881 at the home of her mother Light Street
Brisbane.
Joanna Mary Bridgeman died unmarried 1881
Lucy Bridgeman
died unmarried 28th July
1877
Theresa
Mary Bridgeman possibly
born in Ipswich 1866
Before moving to Brisbane, he was Manager of National
Bank in Moate Ireland as reported in 29 Aug 1857 and also at Loughrea
Westmeath Independent Westmeath, Republic of Ireland
BOARD. 'lhe lion Geokob
Hancock. Lieut—Col. J. Cbambkr Roberts. Charles
Roprb, Esq. AGENTS, Mr Jas. Henry Brown, National Bank.
Galway— .Mr F. Dennis, National Bank Moate— Mr
H.S. Bridgeman, National Bank. ROYAL-EXCHANGE
ASSURANCE, Incorporated
He and his family then left for Queensland possibly
in 1859.
The career of Henry
St John Bridgeman in Brisbane.
In
1863 he was the sub-manager of the Bank of Queensland.
Bank of
Queensland (Limited), (corner of Queen and George streets). General Manager,
Alexander Anderson; Sub-Manager, -Henry S. Bridgeman. Discount, daily.
Moreton Bay Savings' Bank (Queen-street,
next Post Office).
22 Jun 1864 -
BANK OF QUEENSLAND (LIMITED).
nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1259252
The
first ordinary meeting of the share holders in this bank was held on ...
to the shareholders the audited accounts of the company, to 31st December, 1863
BRISBANE BRANCH_
MANAGER. ALEXANDER ANDERSON, EsQ. ;
SUB-MANAGER. HENRY ST. JOHN BRIDGEMAN, Esq.
AGENTS.
In Ireland...
... ... The Union Bank of Ireland
(limited) „
Scotland ... National Bank of Scotland Liverpool ... ... Messrs. I
Barned and Co.
Manchester ..
... The Union Bank of Manchester (limited) Birmingham .. ... Birmingham and
Midland Bank
India and China
... Commercial Bank of India South Australia ...
South Australian Banking Company Melbourne
and Sydney Oriental Bank Corporation and branches.
The Head Office
of the Company in this Colony is now open for general business under an Act of
the Legislature of Queensland, 1863.
Local bills
discounted, Cash Credits opened, and advances made upon approved security to
customers only, on such terms as may be agreed upon. Bills on England
purchased, and Drafts on the United Kingdom sold, at rates fixed for each
outward mail to Europe; but in no case exceeding Sydney quotations. Drafts
granted and Bills purchased on Sydney, Melbourne, and other towns in the
Australian colonies.
Deposits
received for fixed periods of sums not less than £100, on terms, as
follows:-12 months ... ... ......... ... 6 per cent . per annum
In
1864 Henry was appointed Acting Manager.
In 1864 he
is mentioned many times in newspaper articles trying to secure tenants for a
property currently rented by Thomas Bishop in Ipswich. Perhaps Bishop has reneged on his housing
loan to the bank?
In 1864 there is evidence of his residing in Ipswich
The Brisbane Courier (Qld. :
1864 - 1933) Wednesday 9 November 1864
TO LET, the SHOP and HOUSE, in Ipswich,
in occupation of Thomas Bishop. Possession can be had on the 15th instant.
Apply to H. S. BRIDGEMAN
In 1864
the Bank were involved in lendings to the Catholic Church.
Queensland Times, Ipswich Herald and General Advertiser (Qld.
: 1861 - 1908) Thursday 14 April 1864 p
3 Article
...
unanimously adopted. Mr. H. S. Bridgeman, in moving
the second resolution, said that there could be no ..
He was on the
board regarding the St Stephen's Cathedral
From
the various reports in the newspapers of the day, he and his family were
heavily involved within the Catholic Church, and had dealings with the Right
Rev. James Quinn, Bishop of Brisbane, and was involved with St Stephen's
Church.
The North Australian (Brisbane, Qld. : 1863 - 1865)
Saturday 16 January 1864 p 1 Article
... thereupon Mr.
Anderson despatched a telegram to Mr. Henry St John Bridgeman,
the Sub-manager of the ... Henry St. John Bridgeman,
at the hour of 3 o'clock-in the afternoon of tbe said 30th day of December ...
James
Quinn,
also known as James O'Quinn (17 March 1819 – 18 August 1881), was the
first Roman
Catholic Bishop of Brisbane
(Photos:
State Library of Queensland and John Oxley Library)
Queensland
Times, Ipswich Herald and General Advertiser (Qld. : 1861 - 1908), Saturday 9
January 1864
In
1866, he was still at the Bank of Queensland Office in Ipswich, and his wife
gave birth to a daughter.
Queensland
Times, Ipswich Herald and General Advertiser (Qld. : 1861 - 1908), Saturday 17
March 1866,. There is a good chance this
is Teresa, as she married in 1899
But the good fortune of the Bank was not to
last. In 1866 the Board of Directors in
London were hearing of the incredible losses that the bank was making.
There was a severe financial crisis in Queensland
in 1866.
Pughs Almanac
Name:
|
B
President-H. S . Bridgeman
|
Residence Year:
|
1865
|
Residence Place:
|
Queensland,
Australia
|
Name:
|
S .
Bridgeman
|
Residence Year:
|
1874
|
Residence Place:
|
Queensland,
Australia
|
Occupation:
|
Ditto
|
Adding to
the crisis, the Bank of Queensland, established only three years earlier, also
collapsed.
Brisbane Courier (Qld. : 1864 - 1933), Thursday 9
August 1866
Winding up of the Bank of Queensland.
The Brisbane Courier (Qld. : 1864 - 1933) Thursday 9 August 1866 p 2 Article
... and H. S. Bridgeman, that an order should be made for the winding-up of the Bank of Queensland .
In 1866 the girls were students at All Hallows, in Brisbane and the Right Rev Dr Quinn gave prizes in December 1866
Life after the closure of the Bank
is unknown, but in 1869, he was mentioned in the following notice Brisbane
Courier (Qld. : 1864 - 1933), Monday 6 April 1868
He was mentioned in the Petty Debt Court
Queensland
Times, Ipswich Herald and General Advertiser (Qld. : 1861 - 1908) Thursday 4 March 1869
He commenced with HM Customs in 1868, and was posted to Rockhampton, and
then moved to become a Locker at Brisbane.
The Queenslander (Brisbane, Qld. : 1866 - 1939)
Saturday 7 November 1868 p 5 Article
... Bridgeman,
clerk, Rockhampton, to be locker, Brisbane, vice Hay, promoted; Mr. Edward
Eldridge Smith, junior ... clerk, Rockhampton, to be clerk, vice Bridgeman,
removed to Brisbane ;
This entry is similar to another entry of his
son, who joined in 1878..
In 1877 daughter Lucy died.
The Queenslander (Brisbane, Qld.
: 1866 - 1939) Saturday
1 December 1877 p 5 Article
... Sister Mary Bega (Miss Lucy Bridgeman).
His Lordship Bishop O'Quinn presided at the ceremonies,
Henry St John Bridgeman
died on 3rd July 1878
The Brisbane Courier (Qld. : 1864 - 1933)
Thursday 4 July 1878 p 2 Family Notices
...
DEATH BRIDGEMAN.-On the 3rd July, at his late residence,
Bowen Hills ... , Fortitude Valley, Henry St. John Bridgeman,
formerly of the Queensland Bank, limited, and......
His
service was at St Stephen's Cathedral, before burial at the cemetery.
THE Friends of the late Mr. HENRY
ST. JOHN BRIDGEMAN (of H.M. Customs) are respectfully invited to attend his
Funeral ; to leave his late residence, Rosetta's Paddock, Valley, THIS DAY, at
half-past 3 o'clock.
Later reports that his wife and son were living in Light Street, and he had previously been party to a petition to make sure that all new buildings were in stone.
The US
Navy's Torpedo Overhaul Shop was located in Rosetta Street, Fortitude Valley,
Brisbane, Queensland. It was located at the end of Light Street. The Benedict
Stone building was knocked down in about 1999. There are modern apartments now
located on the site.
http://www.ozatwar.com/locations/benedictstone.htm
Caption on
photograph: Corner of Wickham & Light Streets, built and owned by Mr J.
Meyers. Information taken from Queensland Post Office Directory 1885: John
Meyers, Carpenter, Light Street, Breakfast Creek Road. In 1849 immigrants from the ship 'Fortitude' arrived in Brisbane. They named the low lying land they occupied Fortitude Valley after the ship which brought them to Australia. Within a few years they had established thriving farms and dairies. By the early 1850s the Valley had 150 houses and cottages as well as two hotels and one store.
By the 1880s the area was densely settled, and
in 1891 the train was extended to Fortitude Valley from the city.
The Brisbane Courier (Qld. : 1864 - 1933)
Thursday 18 September 1879 p 2 Article
... late H. St. John Bridgeman,
Customs Department, £220
His wife was granted a gratuity
In 1879 a notice
appeared in both the Melbourne and Sydney papers in relation to a court case
involving an estate of which Frances Bridgeman was involved.
Perhaps she did
not receive the notice, as it was not posted in the Brisbane papers, although
her husband's cousin was working as a Solicitor at the time in Melbourne, and
he may have taken appropriate action.
This is another
of those snippets of information that allows more information to be found.
Frances Dewar
was the daughter of John Dewar, born 1787 in Collace Perthshire in Scotland,
and Frances Stein, born c 1730 Dublin in Ireland.
John and Frances had four children Margaret
Mary, Alexander, John Jr, and Francis
Frances died in
1834, in Canada, and is buried at the
Hotel-Dieu
(Historic Hospital)
Montreal
Montreal Region
Quebec, Canada
Montreal
Montreal Region
Quebec, Canada
Transcription of Death Record - courtesy of Doug
Wilshire: 17 October 1834. The undersigned priest performed the buriel in the
Hotel Dieu hospital cemetery. Frances Stein, originally from Ireland and the
Widow of John Dewar, Brewer. She died the previous day in this hospital. Age of
34 years. Present, George Begin & Jean Bernier Undersigned, Prosper Gagnon
George Begin -----------------------------------
Children: Margaret Dewar Dickson, John Dewar Jr., Alexander Dewar and Frances Dewar Bridgman.
Children: Margaret Dewar Dickson, John Dewar Jr., Alexander Dewar and Frances Dewar Bridgman.
There was
a land sale of rather au extensive character at the Central Police Court, Brishane, yesterday. It was conducted as usual,
by Mr. Griffin, Clark of Petty Sessions and by Mr. 0. B. Lyons. One hundred and thirty-seven
lots of country lands, near the German Station, Nundah Creek, the Nudgee Waterhole,
and on Moreton Bay, in the county of Stanley, parish of Toombul, were offered,
the upset price being £l per acre.
The areas
varied from eleven acres up to sixty-three acres Ono hundred and twelve lots were
sold as per particulars below. Though attendance was very good, the bidding was spirited,
and prices ranged high.
Included in the successful purchasers were both H.
St. J. Bridgeman, and Bishop Quinn
The lots which were purchased are included on the
list from the Lands department.
A search of the Queensland Archives provides details
of lands held by members of the Bridgeman Family.
BRIDGEMAN Constance 838 1863 18764 IMM/247
Z1570
BRIDGEMAN Henry 838 1863 18764 IMM/247 Z1570
BRIDGEMAN Henry J 837 1863 18764 IMM/247 Z1570
BRIDGEMAN Henry J 838 1863 18764 IMM/247 Z1570
BRIDGEMAN Henry J 839 1863 18764 IMM/247 Z1570
BRIDGEMAN Henry J 840 1863 18764 IMM/247 Z1570
BRIDGEMAN Johan 838 1863 18764 IMM/247 Z1570
BRIDGEMAN Lucy 838 1863 18764 IMM/247 Z1570
BRIDGEMAN May 839 1863 18764 IMM/247 Z1570
BRIDGEMAN May 840 1863 18764 IMM/247 Z1570
BRIDGEMAN Richard 839 1863 18764 IMM/247 Z1570
BRIDGEMAN Richard 840 1863 18764 IMM/247 Z1570
BRIDGEMAN Robert 62 110 1870 1076738 IMM/249
Z2516
BRIDGEMAN Thomas 837 1863 18764 IMM/247 Z1570
From the records, perhaps Constance, Henry, Lucy and
May have been recorded as the owners of several of the lots.
Perhaps Richard, Robert and Thomas are related to
the family.
Perhaps Bishop Quinn was purchasing for himself, or
for the Church, or as an agent.
Perhaps the Bank of Queensland lent the funds for
the purchase!
The life of Bishop Quinn is very enlightening
.........................
The Family of Henry
St John Bridgeman
In 1881his daughter
Isabella Mary Gertrude Bridgeman died, at the home of her mother in Light
Street Brisbane.
Johanna Mary also died
in 1881.
In 1891 his son Henry
St John Bridgeman died.
At
the time of his father's death in 1878, his son, also named Henry St John
Bridgeman, was working in HM Customs.
Henry
St John Bridgeman was recorded as living:
H.S. Bridgeman, customs locker 1874
Jane Street Brisbane
Henry St John Bridgeman 1889 1890
Lived in Light Street Brisbane
Prospect St Bowen Hills 1890
BRIDGEMAN.—On
the 27th May, at his residence, Bowen Hills, Henry St. John Bridgeman, aged 36,
late of H.M. Customs, eldest son of the late Henry St. John Bridgeman, formerly
manager of the National Bank, County West Meath, Ireland, and late of H.M.
Customs, Brisbane.
The
following death notices as per the Brisbane Courier.
DEATHS.
BRIDGEMAN.—On the 28th November, at St. Saviour's Convent of Mercy, Toowoomba,
Lucy (in religion, Sister Mary Bega), the beloved daughter of Mr. Henry
St. John Bridgeman,
of this city. R.I.P.
The
Brisbane Courier (Qld. : 1864 - 1933) Thursday 4 July 1878 p 2 Article
We are
requested to mention that the funeral of Mr. Henry St ... . John
Bridgeman, which takes place to-day, will, after leaving his residence
at Bowen Hills, proceed to St Stephens before the cemetery.
BRIDGEMAN-On
the 6th August, at the residence of her mother, Light-street, Bowen Hills,
Isabella Mary Gertrude youngest daughter of the late Henry St, John Bridgeman, formerly
of H.M. Customs, Brisbane, and of
County
Clare, Ireland, (Home and American papers please copy. R.I.P
Mr. Henry St. John Bridgeman, an bid servant in the Customs Department, died on Wednesday
from rheumatism of the heart. The deceased entered the service in 1878 as
tidewaiter, which position he held until 1886, when he was promoted to the rank
of locker.
The Brisbane Courier (Qld. : 1864
- 1933) Friday
29 May 1891 p 4 Article
. Henry St. John
Bridgeman, an old servant of the Customs
Another
old servant of the Customs Department has passed away in the person of Mr.
Henry
St. John
Bridgeman, who died on Wednesday night from rheumatism of the heart. The
deceased had been thirteen years in the service, having entered in 1878 as
tide-waiter, which
position
he held until 188C, when he was promoted to the rank of locker. The deceased,
who was
unmarried, had been ailing for some time. He was 36 years of age.
BRIDGEMAN.-On
the 29th September, at her residence, Spring Hill, Francis Stein Bridgeman, relict
of the late Henry St. John Bridgeman, formerly manager Royal Bank, Ireland ;
Bank of Queensland, Brisbane ; and H.M. Customs, aged 65 years. (Home papers
please copy.) (1836 - 1901)
Of his
children it appears that there were not many who married , but the following
marriage announcement for Teresa Mary Brackenridge provided information about
her family.
The Brisbane Courier (Qld. : 1864
- 1933) Saturday
6 May 1899 p 6 Family Notices
... ., Cumberland, England, to
Teresa Mary (Tessie), sixth daughter of the late Henry St. John
Bridgeman,
Name:
|
Teresa
Mary Bridgeman
|
Spouse Name:
|
Percy
Banks Wilkias
|
Marriage Date:
|
26 Apr
1899
|
Marriage Place:
|
Queensland
|
Registration Place:
|
Queensland
|
Registration Year:
|
1899
|
Percy appears to be the son of
Thomas and Isabel Wilkins from England, his mother was born in Cumberland, his
father in Coventry, and his father was a School Master. An arrival of the
Wilkins family on the Duke of Sutherland
Name:
|
Percy
Wilkins
|
Age:
|
11
|
Birth Year:
|
abt
1874
|
Ship Name:
|
Duke of
Sutherland
|
Port of Departure:
|
London,
England
|
Port of Arrival:
|
Brisbane
|
Arrival Date:
|
18 Oct
1885
|
And a death in Tasmania
|
|
Name:
|
Percy
Banks Wilkins
|
Death Date:
|
1903
|
Death Place:
|
Tasmania
|
Registration Place:
|
Hobart,
Tasmania
|
Registration Number:
|
0196
|
But
it is also the lives of Henry's two unmarried daughters that becomes quite
interesting.
These ladies may very well have been the very first female real estate agents in Brisbane!
They were not without some controversy, nor involvement with the Courts!
The Brisbane Courier (Qld. :
1864 - 1933) Saturday 5 November 1892 p
2 Advertising
... Misses Bridgeman, next General Post Office
Waiting a superior class of Governesses Helps
The Brisbane Courier (Qld. : 1864
- 1933) Wednesday
8 December 1897 p 3 Article
...
costs. Bridgeman v. Macalister. 'Constance Bridgeman claimed
£200 damages from J. Macalister, a justice ... the Crown Solicitor's Office)
for defendant. Constance Bridgeman
ADJOURNED FULL COURT. (Transcript included for the historical value of its content)
Before
their Honours the Chief Justice (Sir S. W. Griffith), Mr. Justice Copper, and Mr.
Justice Real.
Bridgeman
v. Macalister (judgment).
The
Attorney General (Hon. T. J. Byrr.es), with him Mr. M'Donnell (instructed by
the Crown Solicitor), for J. Macalister, J.P., the appellant ;. Mr. P. B.
Macgregor (instructed by Mr. E. J. Peterson) for Constance Bridgeman, the
respondent.
This
was an appeal from a judgment de-livered by his Honour Judge Paul in an action
brought by Constance Bridgeman against J. Macalister, J.P. The action was one
in which the plaintiff, who carried on a tourists' exchange, claimed £200 from
Mr. Macalister for having, in his capacity as a J.P., issued a warrant for a
search of her premises. She obtained £1 damages, with costs on the small debts
scale. That judgment was appealed from on the ground that it was contrary to
law ; that there was no evidence to support the judgment ; and that on the
facts proved at the trial the defendant was entitled to judgment.
The
matter was now called on for judgment.
The
Chief Justice, in delivering judgment, said this was an action brought in the
District Court by plaintiff against the defendant, a justice of the peace, for
a trespass committed in the execution of a search warrant, issued by him,
requiring the police to search on the premises which the plaintiff occupied.
The only question that arose on this appeal was whether the justice had
jurisdiction to issue the search warrant. Of course a justice could not, any
more than any other person, authorise another to enter the premises of a
stranger unless he was authorised by law to do so. The question, therefore, was
whether the circumstances-that was the facts that were presented to the justice,
on the issue of the warrant-were such as to give him authority under the law to
Issue the warrant.
They
(their Honours) happened to know now something about the actual facts of the
case, but these ought to be dismissed from consideration, except so far as they
were brought to the knowledge of the justice. The question whether he had
jurisdiction to issue the warrant or not depended entirely upon the facts
presented to him. Now, the Statute under which the warrant was claimed to have
been issued was an Act 19 Victoria, No. 24, one of the Towns Police Acts.
Section 21 provided that if information shall be given on oath to a justice
that there is reasonable cause for suspecting that anything stolen or
unlawfully obtained is concealed or lodged in any dwelling-house, or other
place, it shall be lawful for the justice to issue a warrant, and so on.
In
order, therefore, that the justice might be authorised to issue a warrant, it
must be proved to him that there is reasonable cause for suspecting that something
has been stolen, or unlawfully obtained, that the thing so stolen or unlawfully
obtained is concealed or lodged in some particular place.
It was necessary, not that it should be proved
to him or sworn to him that the thing had been stolen, or had been unlawfully
obtained, but that there was reasonable ground for suspecting that it had been
stolen or unlawfully obtained, and that there was reasonable; ground for
«suspecting that it was concealed somewhere. The reasonable ground for
suspicion was the foundation of his authority. In the present case there was no
question of stealing. The question was one of unlawfully obtaining. The search
warrant which was issued was very inartificially drawn, and had to be read
several times to discover what was to be inferred from the grammatical
construction, or, rather, to discover what was to be inferred from the
ungrammatical construction of it. The words, leaving out the unnecessary ones,
were "the following goods the property of the Railway Commissioner-namely,
a quantity of passenger railway tickets, which tickets he (the deponent) has
reasonable cause to suspect, and does suspect, are concealed on the premises of
the Tourists' Ticket Exchange, by reason of tickets being advertised for sale
by the Tourists' Ticket Exchange." There was really no sentence beginning
with " the following goods the property of the Railway Commissioner namely,
a quantity of passengers' railway tickets." That was never finished, and
no definite allegation was made in the document With respect to them at all,
except in the following sentence, beginning, " which tickets he (the
deponent) has reasonable cause to suspect, and does suspect, are concealed on
the premises of the Tourists' Ticket Exchange." Now, the only definite
statement there, taking it most favourably, giving it all the sense that you
could give it, was that he suspected that certain rail-way tickets the property
of the Railway Commissioner were concealed at the Tourists' Ticket Exchange ;
and then he gave as his reason for that suspicion that tickets were advertised
for sale by the Tourists' Ticket Exchange.
Now,
the rule of construing a complaint on which to found a search warrant, he
apprehended, must be taken to be that laid down by Lord Russell in the case of
Jones and German, and substantially adopted by the Court of Appeal. At page 428
he said : " The question is, whether the information can be fairly
under-stood as alleging reasonable ground for suspecting that the goods are
feloniously held?" -in this case it would be unlawfully obtained. Now,
could the information in question be fairly understood as alleging reasonable
ground for suspecting that these goods were unlawfully obtained ? If there had
been a definite allegation that passenger railway tickets the property of the
Railway Commissioner were concealed on those premises, he (the Chief Justice)
would be disposed to think prima facie that they must have been unlawfully
obtained by some means or other, but that was not what was alleged. What was
alleged was that the deponent suspected that property of that kind was
concealed on the premises ; and what the statute required, as he had already;
pointed out, was that it should be shown on path to the justice that there is
reasonable cause for suspecting that something un-lawfully obtained is
concealed on the premises.
The only allegation here was an allegation of
suspicion that something was concealed. There must be more than that -there
must be reasonable ground for the suspicion What was reasonable ground; for
suspicion that this property was there concealed? There must be evidence, of;
course, on the face of the information, reasonable ground for suspicion that
the property had been unlawfully obtained. As he had pointed out, the only
definite statement was a statement of the deponent's suspicion that this
property was concealed there. If there were reasonable ground for suspecting
that this property was concealed there, he would be disposed to think that that
might be sufficient evidence that it was unlawfully obtained, considering the
nature of the property, and that such property could not properly be in the
possession of anybody except the Railway Commissioner himself.
But
the information must state the ground, the reasonable ground for suspicion.
What were the grounds of the suspicion?--" By reason of; tickets being
advertised for sale by the Tourists' Ticket Exchange. " That was the
ground for suspecting that the Railway Commissioner's property was concealed on
the premises. What connection was there between the two things ?
Somebody advertised tickets for sale, and the
inference the magistrate was asked to draw from that statement was that the
tickets offered for sale were the property of the Railway Commissioner, and
were concealed on the premises. From that point of view there seemed to be no
connection between the fact and the suspicion alleged to be founded upon it.
Therefore,
for his (the Chief Just-ice's) part, he was disposed to think that if it had
been alleged that there was reasonable ground for suspecting that there was
property of the Railway Commissioner concealed on the premises if would be
sufficient, but in this case he could not see any ground whatever for
entertaining any such suspicion. As he had pointed out, there was merely a
statement by the deponent that he entertained a suspicion for which he gave no
reason whatever. As the only suggestion of the unlawful obtaining of the
property was that it was the property of the Railway Commissioner, and
consisted of passenger tickets, and there was no ground for drawing that
inference at all-the necessary element for reasonable suspicion that the
property had been unlawfully obtained was entirely absent, and the magistrate
was really acting upon what was a most shadowy statement.
He (the Chief Justice) did not much wonder at
the magistrate being misled, considering the extraordinary way in which the
document was drawn. Any one reading it would fancy perhaps that there was in it
an allegation that these tickets were concealed on the premises; but he did not
see any such statement. It merely contained a statement that the deponent
suspected they were ; he gave no ground for suspecting it. Therefore the ground
for the exercise of this summary power was wanting, and the magistrate was
acting without jurisdiction, and he was liable to an action by the person
affected by his acts. The appeal therefore failed.
Mr.
Justice Cooper and Mr. Justice Real concurred.
Mr.
Macgregor asked for the costs of the appeal.
And
another
In the summons division of the City Police Court,
before Mr. R. A. Banking, P.M., and Mr. W. Tracey, J. P., yesterday afternoon,
Mary Flora Frances Bridgeman was charged with selling to one Henry V, Becker on
August 13 last the return half of a railway ticket purporting - to entitle the
holder to travel from Brisbane to Roma.
Mr. P. B. Macgregor (instructed by the Crown
solicitor) appeared for tho Commissioner for Railways, and Mr, P. J. O'Shea
(Messrs. O'Shea and O'Shea) appeared for defendant. Defendant pleaded not
guilty. Mr. Macgregor said tho case was the soma , as that brought before Mr.
Ranking and Mr. Armstrong In October last. Mr. Ranking: When you bad the wrong
.defendant? Mr. Macgregor: Yes. your worship. Mr. Ranking: Well, you think you
have the right one now? Mr. Macgregor again assented, Samuel J. Hendren,
superintendent of metropolitan railway stations, deposed that defendant was not
authorised to soil railway tickets. John B. Cochrane, master of the Central
railway station, deposed that on August 13 last a bylaw under which tho action
against defendant was taken was exhibited at the Control railway station. Henry
V. Becker, a shearing machine agent, residing at Sydney, said he had come to
Brisbane in connection with the case in question. On August 13 last witness arrived
at Brisbane from Sydney, and asked defendant to sell" him a ticket to Cunnamulla.
Defendant did not have a ticket to Cunnamulla, but sold defendant the return half
of a railway excursion ticket to Roma. Defendant said she might have a ticket
to Cunnamulla the next day, and if so shewould exchange it for the one which
she had sold to him. Witness met defendant the day following, but defendant
said she had not received a ticket to Cunnamulla since she last saw him. On August
14 witness travelled to Roma on the ticket in question. Something was said
about the ticket by the station-master at Roma. Witness obtained another ticket
at Roma. He appeared at the City Summons Court in October last in connection with
the charge preferred against Miss Constance Bridgeman. Important business
called him away immediately afterwards, and he was unable to return until the
present time. Mary Flora Frances Bridgeman said she espied on a registry
business in conjunction with two of her sisters in Queen street.
The first occasion upon which she saw the last
witness was on October 17 last, the day upon which the case was brought against
her sister Constance. Defendant did not sell a railway ticket to Booker on
August 13 or at any other time. Nor did any other person at her premises sell a
ticket to him so far as she was aware.
By Mr.,
Macgregor : She could not remember what I was doing on August 13 last, but
supposed she was in the office on that date. She admitted that she advertised
tickets for sale. Mr. O'Shae, in addressing the bench, dwelt it so/so length of
the lack of corroboration of the evidence of the principal witness in the case.
If such eases were decided against defendants . would be useless for defendants
to enter tho box at all. It was simply a case of oath against oath. Mr.
Macgregor, in replying, reminded the bench that it had been clearly laid down that
the corroboration of evidence was quite unnecessary iu such cases. If a case
like that in question were to be dismissed, what was the use of the Commissioner
proceeding against anyone ? After a few minutes' deliberation, the police-magistrate
announced that there was a feeling in the minds of the bench that there was a
possibility of a jury giving the benefit of the doubt to defendant. The ease
would, therefore, be dismissed. An application by Mr. O'Shea for costs was
disallowed.
trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/20717984
MISSES
BRIDGEMAN'S OFFICES, next G.P.0., Brisbane.
... 75.; boy*, all with references, for stations, Ac. Personal attendance on
departure of employees.
.... land, Australia; last heard from October, 1890,
when working in the tin mines close to ...
In 1903 Constance and Mary Bridgeman - Agents Lived
at 58 Warry Street Brisbane 1903
Brisbane
in 1893 to 1903 was very different to the City of today. In 1893 there was a
flood and the GPO was under water.
In 1901, Royalty came
to visit, when Australia became part of the Commonwealth, everyone was enjoying
the parade outside the GPO.
But
in this old photo of the GPO, perhaps it was the building on the left hand side
that the Bridgeman girls had their business.
Then Constance died.
The funeral notice provides some interesting
facts. A Mrs Ernest Bellis was her
sister.
So who was married to Ernest Bellis? The only sibling it could be is Teresa, but
Ernest married in 1908 to Julia
According
to Qld Births Deaths and Marriages, there was no Bridgeman married to a Bellis.
1908
|
C124
|
Julia
Winton
|
Bellis
|
Ernest
Albert
|
|
..
plaintiff, Ernest Bellies,
a sawmill, proprietor owning a sawmill at Nerang Creek, sued the defendant ...
260 words
But
In the 1908 census Ernest Bellis and his wife Teresa Mary are living at
Beechmont Hotel.
Which means that Teresa
Bridgeman remarried after her husband died. Teresa Mary Bellis died in 1944.
1913 Mary Flora Frances Bridgeman is living at Manning Street
South Brisbane
her position - a Land Agent
And then a death for
Teresa
Teresa Mary Belliss
|
1944
|
Queensland
|
Henry St.John
Bridgeman, Frances Stein
|
|
Some unexplained facts.
There
is an entry for arrivals John Bridgeman arriving in 1859
Page
Number:
|
1591
|
Name:
|
John Bridgeman
|
Age:
|
23
|
Birth
Year:
|
abt 1836
|
Ship
Name:
|
British Empire
|
Arrival
Date:
|
1859
|
This is probably the
arrival of Henry St John Bridgeman, as
often the names were transcribed incorrectly and it is the only record which could
relate to their arrival.
There is a record in
the newspaper archives under Government business in 1914 relating to H.S.
Bridgeman
1914 HS Bridgeman mentioned in paper The
Brisbane Courier (Qld. : 1864 - 1933) Saturday 2 May 1914 p 12
Article
... . George, H. S. Bridgeman, R. Little, John
Petrie, P. Ar. Roche, R. 17. D. AWhite, C'S. Graham, Fenwick ...
Who is this HS Bridgeman? Perhaps he has something to do with the lands
in Brackenridge!
And a death for
1931
|
C4165
|
Mary
Theresa
|
Bridgeman
|
-
Bridgeman
|
- **
born West Meath, Ireland aged 78 years
|
She was a teacher in a convent No parents names are mentioned, but her
age would mean a birth in 1853, still in the correct timeframe if she was
related to this family.
*Transcription errors
are very common when researching old documents.
The marriage notice of Teresa, reveals just to whom Henry St John Bridgeman is related
The Family of Bridgeman were influential in County
Clare, and the original Henry St John Bridgeman was one of the settlers granted
land when Cromwell divided the country.
There are listed in the Irish records of Landed Gentry.
At the time of Griffith's Valuation the
representatives of St John Bridgeman held land in the parishes of Kilmaley,
barony of Islands and Tomfinlough, barony of Bunratty Lower, county Clare. The
Bridgemans had been settled in county Clare from the late 17th century and were
head tenants on lands in the parishes of Killuran and Kilseily, barony of Tulla
Lower. Willliam Bridgeman buried in Kilseily cemetery, barony of Tulla Lower,
appears to have married firstly Elizabeth Ievers and secondly Ellinor Wall.
His son Henry Bridgeman and his wife Catherine St
John of county Tipperary erected a memorial to the family in Kilseily in 1714.
St John Bridgeman was sheriff of Co Clare in 1737.
Joanna Bridgeman, a Sisters of Mercy nun and a nursing
pioneer, was born in Ballagh, Ruan Parish, barony of Inchiquin, county Clare,
around 1812. Her father was St. John Bridgeman and her mother was Lucy
Reddan of Derrynane, county Kerry.
(She was Henry St John Bridgeman's sister). Her story is in the book.
The
representatives of St John Bridgeman held land in the parishes of Kilmaley,
barony of Islands and Tomfinlough, barony of Bunratty Lower at the time of
Griffith's Valuation. Hewitt Bridgeman sold the rental of 840 acres including
Crough South, which he held from George Lysaght, in the baronies of Burren and
Inchiquin, in the Encumbered Estates' Court in 1851.
Bridgemans still held 12
acres in the parish of Ruan in the 1870s.
A St John Bridgeman was residing at Rathluby, parish
of Quin, barony of Bunratty Upper, in 1799 and in the mid 19th century Henry
Bridgeman held Rathluby from Eliza Piercey. In December 1861 the estate of Jane
Piercy (a daughter of John Westropp of Fort Anne) at Cappagh in the barony of
Lower Connello, county Limerick, and at Rathluby were advertised for sale in
the Landed Estates Court. The sale rental records that Henry Bridgeman's lease
had just expired.
By the end of the 18th century Rathluby was in the
possession of the Bridgeman family. The buildings were valued at £5 at the time
of Griffith's Valuation when Henry Bridgeman occupied the house which he held
from Eliza Piercey and it continued to be a Bridgeman home until the end of the
19th century. The house is now a ruin.
He was cousins of the following, and it could answer
some questions as to his wealth and standing in the community.
The oldest son of the 1st Baron Bradford and Elizabeth Simpson, he was educated at Harrow School, London and at Trinity College, Cambridge. From 1784 to 1800, he was Member of Parliament (MP) for Wigan. Bridgeman succeeded to his father's titles on 5 June 1800. On 30 November 1815, he was made Viscount Newport, in the County of Shropshire and Earl of Bradford, in the County of Shropshire. Bradford died aged 63 in Weston Park in Staffordshire.
Family
Lord Bradford married Hon. Lucy Elizabeth
Byng, daughter of the 4th
Viscount Torrington on 29 May 1788.
They had four children:- George
Augustus Frederick Henry Bridgeman, 2nd Earl of Bradford
(1789–1865)
- Vice-Admiral
the Hon. Charles Orlando Bridgeman
(1791–1860), married Eliza Caroline Chamberlain, daughter of Sir Henry Chamberlain, 1st Baronet on 2
January 1819
- Hon.
Orlando Henry Bridgeman (1794–1827), married Lady Selina Needham, daughter
of the 5th Earl of Kilmorey on 5 July
1817
- Reverend
Hon. Henry Edmund Bridgeman (1795–1872), married Louisa Elizabeth Simpson,
daughter of Hon. John Simpson, son of the 1st Baron Bradford on 25
August 1820
Daniel O'Connell
(Irish: Dónall Ó Conaill; 6 August 1775 –
15 May 1847), often referred to as The Liberator[1]
or The Emancipator was an Irish political leader in the first half of
the 19th century. He campaigned for Catholic emancipation—including
the right for Catholics to sit in the Westminster Parliament,
denied for over 100 years—and repeal of the Act
of Union which combined Great Britain
and Ireland.
O'Loghlen,
Sir Bryan (1828–1905) by S. M. Ingham
This article was published
in Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 5, (MUP), 1974
The O'Loghlen family had been settled for centuries in County Clare. Michael was a distinguished lawyer who was elevated to the Irish bench in 1836 and appointed first baronet in 1838. He was the first Catholic since the 1688 revolution to be raised to a judicial office either in England or Ireland.
Bryan was educated at Oscott College, Birmingham. On 14 October 1845 he entered Trinity College, Dublin, where he took honours in classics and mathematics but left in 1847 to join the Young Ireland movement. Hoping to become a railway engineer he was articled in 1848 to T. Flanagan, an engineer of the Bolton, Blackburn and Clitheroe line.
During the railway slump of 1849 he returned to Ireland and in 1850 gained farming experience on the family estate, Drumconora, County Clare. In 1851 he worked in a Swiss-German mercantile house in London.
In 1852 he decided to read for the Bar and returned to Trinity College (B.A., 1856) and was called to the Irish Bar in Easter term. After five years on the Munster Circuit he arrived at Melbourne in January 1862 and was soon admitted to the local Bar. In April 1863 he was appointed a crown prosecutor and in the 1870s conducted some of the heaviest criminal cases in the metropolitan district. On 17 September 1863 he married Ella, third daughter of James Mackay Seward of Melbourne.
In 1876 O'Loghlen was appointed a land tax
commissioner, but resigned to contest North Melbourne without success for the
Liberal party in the election of May 1877. On 22 July he succeeded to the
baronetcy when his elder brother died unmarried. Friends nominated O'Loghlen to
succeed his brother as member for Clare in the House of Commons and, despite absence, he headed the
poll.
As you can see, there was a great deal more about Henry St John Bridgeman,
than his time as a Custom's Officer.
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