James Bourke

#276, (27 August 1849-after 6 December 1900)
FatherPatrick Bourke (c 1811-2 Aug 1863)
MotherMary Ann Cannon (1821-6 Sep 1885)
ChartsBourke family - descendants
Descendents of Patrick Bourke
Last Edited8 Apr 2022
WikiTree ID:https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Bourke-1678.
     (For a brief history and context on the Bourke family see this page)

NOTE: The information on this page is my research to date and is subject to change as I become better informed. I very much welcome any corrections or additional info you might have - my email address is at the bottom of this page. Whilst historical facts are not copyright, my writing about these facts are. If you wish to use any text from this site on Ancestry or on any other website, please ask me first - Tim Hill.
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James was born on Monday, 27 August 1849 at Melbourne.1 He was the son of Patrick Bourke and Mary Ann Cannon. James Bourke was baptised on Monday, 17 September 1849 at Melbourne. he was baptised in a Roman Catholic ceremony.2 He presumably lived with his parents at Jeffcott House in Jeffcott Street, Melbourne, in August 1863. This was a wooden house, "with double verandah, and contains seven good rooms and kitchen". It was probably used as a boarding house.3,4,5,6

His father died 3 August 1863 at the approximate age of 63 years. James was aged 13 when this happened.

He may have attended the wedding of his brother in the marriage of Michael Bourke and Susannah Alletta Nicholson in a Wesleyan Methodist ceremony at her father's house on Saturday, 26 December 1874 at Parkes, New South Wales. Michael and Susannah went on to have five children over the next 10 years.7

A James Bourke was associated with the Terminus Hotel, in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, in 1876.8

A Mr.D. W. Allen transferred his interest in at the Royal Hotel in the tin mining town of Tingha, New South Wales, to James Bourke in March 1878.9

James become insolvent on 25 September 1878:
James Bourke, of Emu Flat, Wagga Wagga, hotel keeper. Liabilities, £166 13s. Id. Assets, £15. Mr. Lyons, offical assignee.10



On May 1883 people with the same names as Mary, Michael and James from the Emmaville district gave money to the Irish National League - perhaps it was this family.11 The license for the General Washington Hotel on George Street was transferred to him 4 October 1883.12 In early November 1883 James' brother Michael had come to Sydney, but within two weeks had succumbed to alcoholism at the age of thirty six. The funeral moved from James' hotel.13,14 James lived in November 1883 at George Washington Hotel at 272 George Street, in Sydney.15 James provided information on the death of his brother Michael Bourke, on 27 November 1883, at at Sydney Hospital in the Sydney suburb of Liverpool at age 34. Michael had been in Sydney for two weeks before his death (perhaps in the care of his brother James, who ran the George Washington Hotel)..16 James Bourke witnessed his brother Michael Bourke's burial on 28 November 1883 Waverley Cemetery at the Sydney suburb of Bronte.17,18

James Bourke married Margaret Carrick in 1884.19,20

His mother died 6 September 1885. James was aged 36 when this happened.

James paced a death notice in th paper concerning the funeral of his sister-in-law Catherine Frances Sawyer on 11 June 1888.20,21 James and Margaret lived in 1889 at at Little Gipps Street in the Sydney suburb of Surry Hills.22 His licence for the New Zealand Hotel was renewed 11 July 1889.23

James was involved in a lawsuit on 11 March 1890:

"BOURKE V. KELLY.
This was an action brought by plaintiff, James Bourke, the lessee of the New Zealand Hotel, against the lessor, for breach of covenant, under which the defendant was to keep the roof of the hotel in good repair. Plaintiff claimed £100. From the evidence it appeared that the roof was allowed to remain in an unsound condition, and as a result rain in large quantities fell through, doing considerable damage. Defendant suggested that portion ot the damage was caused by plaintiff neglecting to keep certain down-pipes clean, but his Honor was of opinion that the entire damage was caused by the defects in the roof, and gave plaintiff a verdict for £89."24

He was transferred the licence of the Mansion House Hotel, in Sydney, on 30 June 1891.25 He transferred the licence of the Mansion House Hotel to John Lyons, only to have it transferred back less than 3 months later.26,27 On 30 May 1893 he was paid a small amount of damages when someone broke a window of his hotel.28 On 23 May 1894 he placed a death notice in the paper for William O'Mara (also mentioining Michael Cody and William Sheehan). At this stage he was associated with the Mansion House Hotel.12

James was involved in another lawsuit on 28 March 1895:

"POLICE COURTS.

SELLING DELETERIOUS BRANDY.

In the Summons Division of the Central Police

Court yesterday, before Mr. G W. F. Addison, S M Thomas Crow, licensee of the Palace Hotel, Haymarket, was proceeded against by Inspector Lenthall for having, on the 8th January, to the prejudice of the informant, sold an article of drink which was not of the nature or substance or quality of the article demanded by such purchaser, to wit, brandy. Mr Charles Bull appealed for the prosecution, and Mr Clark Irving for the defence.

Inspector Lenthall stated he took a sample of brandy, for which he paid 2s, and left it with Mr Hamlet for analysis. Subsequent he received the result of the analysis, the consequence of which he laid the information. W. M. Hamlet, Government Analyst, gave the result of his analysis of the spirit handed to him by Mr Lenthall. The result was as follows -the specific gravity of the distillate was 0.9650, and the percentage of absolute alcohol bv weight, which showed alcoholic strength 46.7 underproof. It was not a natural product. It was alcohol, consisting of water, alcohol and burnt sugar, oil of cognac, and the higher alcohol, commonly called fuel oil, and as such unfit for human consumption. It was probably made from crude immature products, probably prepared from illicit spirits. The alcohol in the sample might be worth two cents.

For the defence, James Bourke, manager of the Palace Hotel, stated that they bottled the spirit themselves, "breaking it down" with water, nothing else.

He never used any chemicals, and no one beside himself and his wife did the breaking down. When ordering the spirit from the brewery he ordered the best they had and paid the highest price, paying 24s per gallon, and the same liquor that he bought from the brewery he sold. To Mr. Bull: The business was not his. He was only manager. Defendant was fined ten pounds, with costs, one pound 1s costs to the professional analyst, and three pounds 3s professional costs. Two other similar cases were postponed pending the decision on an application to the Supreme Court."19

He instituted a motion hoping to stop a licence being granted to William Magrath for the Palace Hotel. James was hotel manager of the Palace Hotel. This was granted less than a week later. on 1 August 1895 at Palace Hotel, in Sydney.29,30 On 1 February 1897 his license renewal for the University Hotelin in Parramatta Road, in Sydney, was postponed for 14 days.31

James died after 6 December 1900.32

Timeline

DateEventPlace
Family
Family
1849BirthMelbourne1
1849BaptismMelbourne2
1876Note memo only CR CRTerminus Hotel, in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales8
1878Note memo only CR CR at the Royal Hotel in the tin mining town of Tingha, New South Wales9
1878Quotation type 1Wagga Wagga, New South Wales10
1883Note memo onlythe General Washington Hotel on George Street, in Sydney12
1883Note memo onlyGeorge Washington Hotel at 272 George Street, in Sydney13,14
1883ResidenceSydney15
1884Marriage19,20
1888Note memo onlySydney20,21
1889Residence at Little Gipps Street in the Sydney suburb of Surry Hills22
1889Note memo onlyNew Zealand Hotel in William street, in Sydney23
1890Quotation type 1the New Zealand Hotel, in Sydney24
1891Note memo onlythe Mansion House Hotel, in Sydney25
1892Note memo onlySydney26,27
1893Note memo only28
1894Note memo only at Mansion House Hotel in the Sydney suburb of Haymartket12
1895Quotation type 119
1895NotePalace Hotel, in Sydney29,30
1897Note memo onlyUniversity Hotelin in Parramatta Road, in Sydney31
1900Death32

Family

Margaret Carrick (c 1850-Feb 1889)

Citations

  1. [S258] Parish Registers for Melbourne, 1849 No. 42,887.
  2. [S258] Parish Registers for Melbourne, 1949 No. 42,887.
  3. [S265] Victoria, Death Certificate, Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages 1863 No.7020.
  4. [S336] The Argus, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1856 'Advertising', The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), 10 November, p. 2. , viewed 12 May 2018, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article7139772 (for description of Jeffcott House).
  5. [S1031] The Herald, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1863 'Family Notices', The Herald (Melbourne, Vic. : 1861 - 1954), 3 August, p. 1. , viewed 12 May 2018, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article244294972 (lmentioned Jeffcott House).
  6. [S336] The Argus, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1859 'Advertising', The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), 26 August, p. 1. , viewed 13 May 2018, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article5686938 (Jeffcott House used as a boarding house).
  7. [S3] New South Wales, Marriage Certificate, Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages 1874 No. 2353.
  8. [S268] The Sydney Morning Herald, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1876 'WAGGA WAGGA.', The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842-1954), 1 December, p. 3, viewed 12 January, 2011, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article13384465
  9. [S593] The Australian Town and Country Journal (New South Wales), Parkes, New South Wales, Australia, 1878 'TINGHA.', Australian Town and Country Journal (NSW : 1870 - 1907), 6 April, p. 39, viewed 28 September, 2013, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article70615462
  10. [S268] The Sydney Morning Herald, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1878 'INSOLVENCY COURT.—WEDNESDAY.', The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842-1954), 26 September, p. 8, viewed 12 January, 2011, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article13419590
  11. [S674] The Freeman's Journal, Sydney New South Wales, Australia, 1883 'Advertising.', Freeman's Journal (Sydney, NSW : 1850 - 1932), 19 May, p. 11, viewed 28 September, 2013, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article110556742
  12. [S268] The Sydney Morning Herald, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1883 'WATER POLICE COURT.', The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842-1954), 5 October, p. 4, viewed 12 January, 2011, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article13553508
  13. [S2] New South Wales, Death Certificate, Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages 1883 No.1973.
  14. [S268] The Sydney Morning Herald, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, November 28th 1883 page 16 col. 1.
  15. [S268] The Sydney Morning Herald, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 28th November 1883 page 16 col. 1.
  16. [S2] New South Wales, Death Certificate, Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages 1883 No. 1973.
  17. [S2] New South Wales, Death Certificate, Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages 1882 No.1973.
  18. [S268] The Sydney Morning Herald, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1883 'Family Notices.', The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842-1954), 28 November, p. 16, viewed 9 January, 2011, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article13556389
  19. [S268] The Sydney Morning Herald, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1895 'POLICE COURTS.', The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842-1954), 28 March, p. 6, viewed 12 January, 2011, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article14000669
  20. [S268] The Sydney Morning Herald, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1888 'Family Notices.', The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842-1954), 11 June, p. 12, viewed 12 January, 2011, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article13688801
  21. [S2] New South Wales, Death Certificate, Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages 1888 No.1044 (index only).
  22. [S268] The Sydney Morning Herald, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1889 'Family Notices.', The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), 28 February, p. 12, viewed 12 January, 2012, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article13715808
  23. [S268] The Sydney Morning Herald, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1889 'QUARTERLY LICENSING MEETING.', The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842-1954), 12 July, p. 4, viewed 12 January, 2011, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article13736767
  24. [S268] The Sydney Morning Herald, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1890 'METROPOLITAN DISTRICT COURT.', The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842-1954), 11 March, p. 3, viewed 12 January, 2011, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article13762647
  25. [S268] The Sydney Morning Herald, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1891 'ANNUAL LICENSING COURT.', The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842-1954), 1 July, p. 7, viewed 12 January, 2011, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article28271137
  26. [S268] The Sydney Morning Herald, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1892 'LICENSING COURT.', The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842-1954), 29 June, p. 5, viewed 12 January, 2011, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article13843563
  27. [S268] The Sydney Morning Herald, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1892 'LICENSING COURT.', The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842-1954), 7 September, p. 7, viewed 12 January, 2011, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article13878101
  28. [S268] The Sydney Morning Herald, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1893 'POLICE.', The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842-1954), 30 May, p. 7, viewed 12 January, 2011, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article13932672
  29. [S268] The Sydney Morning Herald, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1895 'LAW REPORT.', The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842-1954), 1 August, p. 3, viewed 12 January, 2011, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article14004592
  30. [S268] The Sydney Morning Herald, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1895 'LAW REPORT.', The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842-1954), 7 August, p. 4, viewed 12 January, 2011, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article13977380
  31. [S268] The Sydney Morning Herald, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1897 'CENTRAL LICENSING COURT.', The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842-1954), 2 February, p. 3, viewed 12 January, 2011, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article14086897
  32. [S268] The Sydney Morning Herald, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1900 'Advertising.', The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842-1954), 6 December, p. 1, viewed 2 February, 2011, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article14339248