Australian hero - John Basson Humffray [Humphreys?]
by Gold Group Asia/Pacific - AU
I am facts-checking my new book on Australia’s “Eureka Rebellion” (this
November is the 150th anniversary) and came across an anomaly regarding
the leader of the reform movement’s [reportedly] Newtown-born, “Moral
Force” leader, John Basson Humffray, who became a respected
parliamentarian in 1855 and later Minister of Mining.
The only Australians with the Humffray name are the direct decedents of
J. B. and his brother Frederick who both emigrated in 1853, perhaps on
the same boat, The Star of the East. A ‘John Basson Humffray’ did marry
in Shropshire in December Quarter 1852, about six months before the
brothers emigrated but I cannot find any “Humffray” in the 1871
England/Wales census. A test of UK telephone directories last night came
up negative; no current British Humffray appears to have a listed
number.
It is a family memory that J. B. was born on 17 April 1824 in
Montgomeryshire to John Humffray and Jane (nee Basson). Strangely, the
FamilySearch index only records the 11 August 1819 marriage of John
Humphreys to Jane Basson (or Bason).
This all strongly suggests that the brothers changed the spelling of
their family name for some reason. Given J.B.’s legal training
[reportedly he was an articled clerk in Wales], a purpose there must
have been. Is the family recorded in the 1841 and 1851 censuses under
Humphreys or Humffray? Is the family related to the Lewis Humphreys
transported to NSW in 1840 for violent acts within the Chartist movement
in 1839?
Any assistance would be appreciated.
Regards, Geoffrey Gold
Melbourne, Australia
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