Difference between revisions of "J.B. Humffray"

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== Obituary ==
 
== Obituary ==
  
James Basson Humffray, who arrived in Collingwood in 1853, has died, aged 61. His public career began at Ballarat during the troublous times which culminated in the Eureka stockade in 1854, he being one of the popular leaders who sought redress of tho diggers' grievances ; but he was always a man of peace, and was in favour of seeking redress by moral and not physical force. He was secretary of the Reform League, formed by the diggers to carry their views into affect. Counselling an agitation only, he left the stockade the night before the battle, and after that affair he continued the agitation. He went with others to present the resolutions to the Governor, and was arrested. At the first Parliamentary election he was returned to the Assembly for North Grant, which included Ballarat East When Mr. Heales took office in 1860, Mr. Humffray was chosen Minister of Mines. The Administration retired in 1861. He was returned the last time at the general election in 1868. He has left a widow and one son.<ref>''Sydney Morning Herald'', 19 March 1891.</ref>   
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James Basson Humffray, who arrived in Collingwood in 1853, has died, aged 61. His public career began at Ballarat during the troublous times which culminated in the Eureka stockade in 1854, he being one of the popular leaders who sought redress of tho diggers' grievances ; but he was always a man of peace, and was in favour of seeking redress by moral and not physical force. He was secretary of the Reform League, formed by the diggers to carry their views into affect. Counselling an agitation only, he left the stockade the night before the battle, and after that affair he continued the agitation. He went with others to present the resolutions to the Governor, and was arrested. At the first Parliamentary election he was returned to the Assembly for North Grant, which included Ballarat East When Mr. Heales took office in 1860, Mr. Humffray was chosen Minister of Mines. The Administration retired in 1861. He was returned the last time at the general election in 1868. He has left a widow and one son.<ref>''Sydney Morning Herald'', 19 March 1891.</ref>
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:DEATH OF MR. J. B. HUMFFRA Y.
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BALLARAT, WEDNESDAY
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Mr J B Humffray, one of the first Parlia- mentary representatives of Ballarat East and  Minister of Mines in the Heales administra tion died this morning after a lengthened and painful illness. He was 61 years of age, and leaves a widow and several grown up chil
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dren.
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James Basson Humffray who was born      Newtown Montgomeryshire, Wales in 1830,  was articled in the old country to a solicitor  and arrived in this colony towards the end of  1853, and went to Ballarat early in 1854. His father was a manufacturer in the flannel trade. The subject of our sketch at first worked in the Gravel Pits Ballarat and was not successful in that vocation. For some  time he prosecuted his studies with the in tention to procure admission as a barrister, but he never passed the necessary examina tion. Subsequently he opened a bookselling and stationers shop in Main road Ballarat but he relinquihed that business and during the later years of his life he was dependent  
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on charity.
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Mr Humffray's career as a public man  began at Ballarat during those troublous times which culminated in December 1864 in  the Eureka affair he having been one of the popular leaders who sought to obtain redress of the diggers grievances. He however was  always a man of peace-an advocate of moral as distinguished from physical force. He was secretary of the reform league formed by the diggers to carry their views into effect and  in foot his name frequently appears in the chronicles of the events preceding the storm ing of the Eureka stockade by the authorities  Counselling legal agitation only to the last, he left the stockade on the night before the battle, which took place on December 2 1854. Immediately after that event he re appeared on the scene, still consistently try mg to promote peace. On December 6 a, meeting was held at which resolutions in favour of the exercise of forbearance and humanity were passed. Martial law had then  been proclaimed and there was some vagueness about the resolutions which might be construed as conveying a gentle remonstrance to the authorities on the one hand or to the rebellious subjects of the Queen on the other. At any rate they did not satisfy the authorities and when Mr Humffray who had tukm an active part in  the meeting went with others to present the resolutions to the representative of the Governor at Ballarat he was arrested. He was however liberated almost immediately. At periods of great excitement when passions are burning persons of moderate views are always liable to be denounced as trimmers.  That epithet was applied to Mr Humffray in the days we are now dealing with by some of the extremists on his own side. He was indeed accused of having been a traitor to the diggers cause. But in calmer times it was generally acknowledged that he had done good and faithful service to the side with which he had identified himself and it became known that so far from having been traitorous he had given secret assistance to some of the unhappy men who had been wounded at the affray and had scorned to secure the blood money which was placed on their heads. That his course of action throughout the crisis commended itself to the approval of the community in which he lived is evident from the circumstances now  to be related. Under the Constitution Act 1855 two Houses of Parliament were created in Victoria and pending the royal assent to that measure, five representatives from the goldfields were added to the old Legislative Council. Mr P Lalor and the subject of this sketch were chosen to represent Ballarat. At the election of the first Parliament under the new constitution in October 1856 Mr Humffray was returned to the Assembly for North Grant which electorate included Ballarat East. He was one of the first of our  legislators if not the first to try to pass a Mining on Private Property Bill he having moved in that matter us far back as March 1857. In later years he made other unsuccessful efforts to secure that object. Ballarat East having been an electoral district, he  was returned by in August 1859. When Mr Heales took office in November 1860 he chose Mr Humffray as one of his colleagues  making him the first Minister of Mines of the colony, a mining department not having, existed here before that date. That Administration retired in November 1861 and Mr Humffray was defeated at the next general election in 1864. He was however again returned for the same electorate and for the last time at the general election of February 1868. His subsequent efforts to obtain a seat were not successful. As a legislator Mr Humffray never attained a prominent or influential position He seldom addressed the House and when he did it was rarely indeed on the more important questions which agitated the community during his parliamentary career. In the political struggles of 1868 he voted as a rule with the Constitutional party and was one of the minority which in the Parliament which began in that year, opposed the M'Culloch Government. Unlike several other members of that minority, however he was always in favour of payment of members in our Parlamentary annals. Mr Humffray's name last appears in connection with a grant of about £300 which was voted to him in 1872 as payment of his claim (held to be good equitably but not legally) to a pension on ac count of his having held office as Minister of the Crown. In July 1858 he opened the first gasworks erected in Ballarat.<ref>''The Argus'', 19 March 1891.</ref>
  
 
== In the News ==
 
== In the News ==

Revision as of 01:05, 23 June 2013

Background

John Basson Humffray was born on 17 April 1824 at Newton, Morganshire, South Wales.[1] He was articled to a solicitor, but left for Victoria in search of gold, sailing on the Star of the East.[2]

Humffray lived in Wendouree. He died a pauper on 18 March 1891 of chalky gout. His tombstone was erected by the people of Ballarat.[3]

Goldfields Involvement, 1854

At the meeting on Bakery Hill, held on 11 November 1854, Humffray was elected secretary of the Ballarat Reform League.

Post 1854 Experiences

In 1855 Humffray was elected unopposed for the seat of Ballarat. In the following year he contested the seat of North Grant in the Legislative Assembly.[4]

He signed the Benden Hassell Petition in 1856 listing himself as a Digger residing at Ballarat. [5]

Humffray Testimonial made out to Hugh Gray, University of Ballarat Historical Collection, Gift of Peter Spark.


Obituary

James Basson Humffray, who arrived in Collingwood in 1853, has died, aged 61. His public career began at Ballarat during the troublous times which culminated in the Eureka stockade in 1854, he being one of the popular leaders who sought redress of tho diggers' grievances ; but he was always a man of peace, and was in favour of seeking redress by moral and not physical force. He was secretary of the Reform League, formed by the diggers to carry their views into affect. Counselling an agitation only, he left the stockade the night before the battle, and after that affair he continued the agitation. He went with others to present the resolutions to the Governor, and was arrested. At the first Parliamentary election he was returned to the Assembly for North Grant, which included Ballarat East When Mr. Heales took office in 1860, Mr. Humffray was chosen Minister of Mines. The Administration retired in 1861. He was returned the last time at the general election in 1868. He has left a widow and one son.[6]


DEATH OF MR. J. B. HUMFFRA Y.

BALLARAT, WEDNESDAY

Mr J B Humffray, one of the first Parlia- mentary representatives of Ballarat East and Minister of Mines in the Heales administra tion died this morning after a lengthened and painful illness. He was 61 years of age, and leaves a widow and several grown up chil

dren.

James Basson Humffray who was born Newtown Montgomeryshire, Wales in 1830, was articled in the old country to a solicitor and arrived in this colony towards the end of 1853, and went to Ballarat early in 1854. His father was a manufacturer in the flannel trade. The subject of our sketch at first worked in the Gravel Pits Ballarat and was not successful in that vocation. For some time he prosecuted his studies with the in tention to procure admission as a barrister, but he never passed the necessary examina tion. Subsequently he opened a bookselling and stationers shop in Main road Ballarat but he relinquihed that business and during the later years of his life he was dependent

on charity.

Mr Humffray's career as a public man began at Ballarat during those troublous times which culminated in December 1864 in the Eureka affair he having been one of the popular leaders who sought to obtain redress of the diggers grievances. He however was always a man of peace-an advocate of moral as distinguished from physical force. He was secretary of the reform league formed by the diggers to carry their views into effect and in foot his name frequently appears in the chronicles of the events preceding the storm ing of the Eureka stockade by the authorities Counselling legal agitation only to the last, he left the stockade on the night before the battle, which took place on December 2 1854. Immediately after that event he re appeared on the scene, still consistently try mg to promote peace. On December 6 a, meeting was held at which resolutions in favour of the exercise of forbearance and humanity were passed. Martial law had then been proclaimed and there was some vagueness about the resolutions which might be construed as conveying a gentle remonstrance to the authorities on the one hand or to the rebellious subjects of the Queen on the other. At any rate they did not satisfy the authorities and when Mr Humffray who had tukm an active part in the meeting went with others to present the resolutions to the representative of the Governor at Ballarat he was arrested. He was however liberated almost immediately. At periods of great excitement when passions are burning persons of moderate views are always liable to be denounced as trimmers. That epithet was applied to Mr Humffray in the days we are now dealing with by some of the extremists on his own side. He was indeed accused of having been a traitor to the diggers cause. But in calmer times it was generally acknowledged that he had done good and faithful service to the side with which he had identified himself and it became known that so far from having been traitorous he had given secret assistance to some of the unhappy men who had been wounded at the affray and had scorned to secure the blood money which was placed on their heads. That his course of action throughout the crisis commended itself to the approval of the community in which he lived is evident from the circumstances now to be related. Under the Constitution Act 1855 two Houses of Parliament were created in Victoria and pending the royal assent to that measure, five representatives from the goldfields were added to the old Legislative Council. Mr P Lalor and the subject of this sketch were chosen to represent Ballarat. At the election of the first Parliament under the new constitution in October 1856 Mr Humffray was returned to the Assembly for North Grant which electorate included Ballarat East. He was one of the first of our legislators if not the first to try to pass a Mining on Private Property Bill he having moved in that matter us far back as March 1857. In later years he made other unsuccessful efforts to secure that object. Ballarat East having been an electoral district, he was returned by in August 1859. When Mr Heales took office in November 1860 he chose Mr Humffray as one of his colleagues making him the first Minister of Mines of the colony, a mining department not having, existed here before that date. That Administration retired in November 1861 and Mr Humffray was defeated at the next general election in 1864. He was however again returned for the same electorate and for the last time at the general election of February 1868. His subsequent efforts to obtain a seat were not successful. As a legislator Mr Humffray never attained a prominent or influential position He seldom addressed the House and when he did it was rarely indeed on the more important questions which agitated the community during his parliamentary career. In the political struggles of 1868 he voted as a rule with the Constitutional party and was one of the minority which in the Parliament which began in that year, opposed the M'Culloch Government. Unlike several other members of that minority, however he was always in favour of payment of members in our Parlamentary annals. Mr Humffray's name last appears in connection with a grant of about £300 which was voted to him in 1872 as payment of his claim (held to be good equitably but not legally) to a pension on ac count of his having held office as Minister of the Crown. In July 1858 he opened the first gasworks erected in Ballarat.[7]

In the News

The first telegraphic communication between Ballarat and Melbourne and vice versa, took place yesterday afternoon at twenty minutes past three o’clock. Last evening evening, about eight o’clock, the representatives of the Press in Ballarat were invited by Mr M’Gowan to witness the working of the telegraph. There being no office accommodation ready at present the spot selected was the last post near the Unicorn hotel on the Township. A wire was carried from the post to a small testing machine placed on a stump at its base, and thence, to secure moisture, carried to the steam adjoining, which runs from Bath’s claim [now Cobb’s corner]. Mr Humffray, who was at the Melbourne station, transmitted the flowing remarks to Mr M’Gowan:- “The establishment of electric telegraph communication between Ballarat and Melbourne is a far more pleasing event to celebrate on the anniversary of the 3rd of December than stockades and massacres. [8]


MEETING AT THE CHARLIE NAPIER HOTEL.
On Thursday evening Mr Humftray held a monster meeting in the large concert room be longing to the Charlie Napier Hotel, when he addressed the electors. There were between 1500 and 2000 persons present. Mr Ryce was to have filled the chair; but in his absence, Mr D. Oliver occupied it, and called upon the meeting to give every one a fair hearing.
Mr Fraser rose to propose the first resolution. He said he hoped that they would give every one a fair hearing. If they thought Mr Humffray a better man than any one else, then return him ; but if not, then they could express their disapprobation. They had had some meetings in Melbourne that did not reflect much credit upon the people of Melbourne, he hoped those of Ballarat would set a better example in this respect, and after calm discussion act on reflection, then every man would do his duty. The press had dealt in insinuations with respect to the Local Court, but had not dared to bring any charge against its members. The resolution he had to propose was
"That this meeting is of opinion that many of the evils of past legislation for the gold fields have arisen through ignorance on the part of the law makers of the wants and exigencies of the mining community, and therefore deem it both the interest and duty of the electors of North Grant to return a man having a knowledge of, and identified with their wants."
Every one knew to what desperate resistance the tyranny of ignorant officials had formerly driven the miners. The alteration in the mining regulations had been a great benefit ; but if they sent into the Assembly a man ignorant of their wants, if they sent a capitalist he would cramp that benefit they had received for ever. Mr Fraser, after referring to questions of reform in the Local Court, wound up his speech by putting the right man in the right place.
Mr N. B. Rodier very briefly seconded the resolution. !
Mr O'Connor supported the resolution - it was an insult to their intelligence to use any argument in favor of the resolution, it's truth was too apparent. No doubt there would be plenty of men come forward and try to talk them over ; but, if they sent men of that kind to represent them, they would deserve what they might get as their reward. He would not con ceal facts that were before his eyes and his mind. If they sent a man who could talk them over, when tiley were laboring under the iron heel of oppression, he would tell them that they well merited their reward. They wanted a man identified with their interests, just as a community' of blacksmiths would rather be re presented by one belonging to their own occu pation, and knowing their own feelings and wants.
The resolution was then put and carried.
Mr Humffray then rose to address the meeting, and was exceedingly well received. He said he was pleased to see so large an assembly. It showed the lively interest taken in political affairs by the people. He had said before, and he said so now, that a people were always governed as well as they deserved to be. He was glad to see so large a meeting, because then they could give their approbation or disapprobation, or otherwise. He would give them his opinions and views with respect to many topics that were interesting. He had had the honor of representing them in Melbourne, and doubt less they expected that he had done his best to deserve that honor. It would be egotism in him to say that he had done what he had to do well, but he had used his best exertions to dd his duty. ... [9]


Charlie Napier Hotel,
10th October, 1856
(To the Editor of of the Star)
Sir, - In the report of Mr Humffray’s speech, delivered by him at the Charlie Napier on Thursday, he is stated to have made use of language so derogatory to my character, that at my request a friend waited upon him to ascertain whether of not the report was correct.
He denies the accuracy of the report, and utterly disclaims all intention of imputing the charge to me, May I request that you will, as a matter of justice to me, give insertion to his letter in contradiction to the report in the paper.
I am, Sir,
Yours obediently,
T.Hayes. [10]


TO MR. T. HAYES - (Per favor of the Star)
Dear Sir, - My attention has been called to a report in the Miner of this morning; wherein I am reported to have said - “Hayes’ charge that he (Mr Humffray, J.B.) had refused to attend and give evidence or advice in his favor was a wicked and cruel lie.” This report is not correct, inasmuch as my words applied to the attorney or those on his behalf who had made the statement to you to the effect that I had refused to give evidence on your behalf, and I now utterly disclaim all intention of for one moment applying the charge to you.
I am, Yours, &c., J.B. Humffray.[11]


BALLAARAT RIOTS – Bentley’s Hotel - Mr Humffray moved, pursuant to notice, That a select Committee be appointed to enquire into the claims for compensation arising out of the losses alleged to have been sustained at the time of or in connection with the destruction of Bentley’s Hotel, on Ballaarat, with power to take evidence and examine all books, petitions, reports, or other documents relating thereto, now in the hands of the Government, and that the following gentlemen be appointed to act on the Committee – Mr Haines, Mr Greeves, Mr Stawell, Mr Pyke, Mr Michie, Mr Horne, Mr Grant, Mr Brooke, Mr Sargood, and the Mover. [12]

See also

Ballarat Reform League

Benden Sherritt Hassell Compensation Case

Chartism

Hugh Gray

Timothy Hayes

Further Reading

Corfield, J.,Wickham, D., & Gervasoni, C. The Eureka Encyclopeadia, Ballarat Heritage Services, 2004.

Townsend, Helen, Above the Starry Frame, Macmillan, Sydney, 2007.

References

  1. Corfield, J.,Wickham, D., & Gervasoni, C. The Eureka Encyclopaedia, Ballarat Heritage Services, 2004
  2. Corfield, J.,Wickham, D., & Gervasoni, C. The Eureka Encyclopaedia, Ballarat Heritage Services, 2004
  3. Corfield, J.,Wickham, D., & Gervasoni, C. The Eureka Encyclopaedia, Ballarat Heritage Services, 2004
  4. Corfield, J.,Wickham, D., & Gervasoni, C. The Eureka Encyclopaedia, Ballarat Heritage Services, 2004.
  5. Wickham, Dorothy, Shot in the Dark: Being the Petition for the Compensation Case of Benden S. Hassell, Ballarat Heritage Services, 1998.
  6. Sydney Morning Herald, 19 March 1891.
  7. The Argus, 19 March 1891.
  8. Ballarat Star, 4 December, 1855.
  9. Ballarat Star, 20 September 1856.
  10. Ballarat Star, 10 October 1856 .
  11. Ballarat Star, 10 October 1856 .
  12. Victorian Votes & Proceedings of the Legislative Assembly, 2 December 1856

External links

Australian Dictionary of Biography - http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/humffray-john-basson-3818



--Clare K. Gervasoni (talk) 16:24, 10 March 2013 (EST)

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Caption, Reference.