Thomas Hiscock
Contents
Background
Thomas Hiscock was born in 1812 at Shinfield near Reading, Berkshire, England.[1]
Hiscock arrived at Geelong with his wife and two sons[2] on board the Caroline.[3] He married Phoebe Blanchard of Hampshire at Shifield on 09 April 1833. [4]Thomas obtained employment as a blacksmith of Mr Goldsmith’s station at Trawalla. In 1844, after about three years at Trawalla Station he set up as a blacksmith, wheelwright and storekeeper at Buninyong, possibly taking over from scotty McLachlan. [5]
Hiscock and his son, Thomas, and John Thomas went in search of gold in 1851 after reports of John Hargreaves find. On 2 August 1851 they went in a westerly direction examining the outcrops as they went. They were successful, the gold being sold to Mr Patterson, a jeweller at Geelong. Hiscock announced his discovery in the Geelong advertiser on 10 August 1851.[6]
Hiscock first dug for gold at Golden Point, and was listed as being a Ballarat pioneer who was resident in the Ballarat district before the first Gold licence issue, on 20 September 1851. Hiscock was rewarded £1000 for discovery of gold at Ballarat in August 1851. [7]
Thomas caught a cold while visiting the rush at Mt Alexander, and died. He is buried at Buninyong Cemetery. [8]
Obituary
- We regret to announce the death of Mr Thomas Hiscock, of Buninyong, who expired on Monday, the 26th instant, at his residence. Mr Hiscock it will be remembered, was one of the first discoverers of gold in Victoria, and has gone down to his grave honoured by his friends, and appreciated by the people of the Western District, upon whom, in conjunction with the colony at large, he conferred inestimable services by pioneering the way to the development of Ballarat, by the discovery of the Buninyong diggings. He has left a disconsolate widow and family, unprovided for, to mourn the loss of a good father, in whom the colony is bereft of a sterling citizen, who leaves behind him a fame for a widow's and family's support, and a hope that the sum which was voted to him by the Legislative Council, will be apportioned by the Government to his relict, and dependent family.[9]
Goldfields Involvement, 1854
Post 1854 Experiences
He was residing at Buninyong in the 1880s.[10]
In The News
- VICTORIA and EUREKA STORE, Learmonth street. BUNINYONG.-THOMAS HISCOCK, HAVING opened the Above store, with an ample stock or requisites for the Diggings, begs to solicit the attention of his Old friends, the Diggers, and hopes to he favoured with a share of their patronage. THOMAS HISCOCK would remind the public or Victoria, that he was the FIRST DISCOVERER of Gold at Buninyong. [11]
- Obituary. - It is with sincere regret that we have to record the death of Mrs. Hiscock, relict of the late Mr. William Hiscock, and a resident of Kew for 40 years. The deceased lady, who had attained the age of 78 years, passed away at her eldest son's residence, Middle Brighton, on Sunday, 13th inst, after a brief illness. She was held in the highest esteem by a large circle of friends. The family consists of four sons - Cr. W. G. Hiscock (mayor of Kew), and Messrs. Percy, William, and Thomas Hiscock, for whom the utmost sympathy is expressed in their bereavement. The funeral took place on the following Monday, councillors of the borough joining in the cortege to the Kew cemetery. At the council meeting on Tuesday, Crs. Atkyns and Wishart spoke with feeling at the loss sustained by the mayor, and a vote of condolence was passed.[12]
See also
Further Reading
Corfield, J.,Wickham, D., & Gervasoni, C. The Eureka Encyclopaedia, Ballarat Heritage Services, 2004.
References
- ↑ Corfield, J.,Wickham, D., & Gervasoni, C. The Eureka Encyclopaedia, Ballarat Heritage Services, 2004.
- ↑ Wickham, D., Gervasoni, C. & Phillipson, W., Eureka Research Directory, Ballarat Heritage Services, 1999.
- ↑ Corfield, J.,Wickham, D., & Gervasoni, C. The Eureka Encyclopaedia, Ballarat Heritage Services, 2004.
- ↑ Corfield, J.,Wickham, D., & Gervasoni, C. The Eureka Encyclopaedia, Ballarat Heritage Services, 2004.
- ↑ Wickham, D., Gervasoni, C. & Phillipson, W., Eureka Research Directory, Ballarat Heritage Services, 1999.
- ↑ Wickham, D., Gervasoni, C. & Phillipson, W., Eureka Research Directory, Ballarat Heritage Services, 1999.
- ↑ Wickham, D., Gervasoni, C. & Phillipson, W., Eureka Research Directory, Ballarat Heritage Services, 1999.
- ↑ Wickham, D., Gervasoni, C. & Phillipson, W., Eureka Research Directory, Ballarat Heritage Services, 1999.
- ↑ Geelong Advertiser, 28 July 1855.
- ↑ Wickham, D., Gervasoni, C. & Phillipson, W., Eureka Research Directory, Ballarat Heritage Services, 1999.
- ↑ Geelong Advertiser, 23 December 1852.
- ↑ Box Hill Reporter, 25 February 1910.
