Thomas Darby

     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.


(For a brief history and context on the Darby family see this page)

Thomas was born circa May 1816 at Hertford. He was the son of George Darby and Elizabeth Aylott. The city of Hertford dates back to at least 673, and was an important market town surrounded by agricultural land. From the late 16th century, it had access to the London corn markets via the Lea river.

Thomas Darby was baptised at Lady Huntingdon's Connexion on Sunday, 8 December 1816 at Hertford.¹ Lady Huntingdon's Chapel was one a series of chapels founded in the 18th century by the Countess of Huntingdon's Connexion as part of a Calvinistic movement within the Methodist church. She insisted that they should all subscribe to the doctrines of the Church of England and use only the Book of Common Prayer. It was apparently founded in 1800, and started keeping registers from 1806.



His mother died circa January 1821. He was about 5 when this happened.²

He may have attended the wedding of his sister in the marriage of Jerimiah Playl and Eliza Darby in a Church of England ceremony at St. Leonard's on Monday, 7 April 1828 at Shoreditch, London. Eliza was married on the same day as her older sister Lucretia, and they, along with their father, were witnesses for each other. Jerimiah and Eliza went on to have six children together.³

He may have attended the wedding of his sister in the marriage of John Warner and Lucretia Darby in a Church of England ceremony at St. Leonard's on Monday, 7 April 1828 at Shoreditch, London. Lucretia was married on the same day as her younger sister Eliza, and they, along with their father, were witnesses for each other.³

Thomas Darby was indentured to George Darby as an apprentice carpenter and builder for 7 years on 6 June 1834. George took on another of his sons, Samuel, as an apprentice millwright on the same day.⁴

He may have attended the wedding of his sister in the marriage of John Speller Wright and Martha Darby in a Church of England ceremony at St. Pancras Parish Chapel on Wednesday, 11 January 1837 at St. Pancras, London. John and Martha went on to have two children together.^5,6,7 Thomas Darby made an application for free passage to South Australia. He made the application at the same time as his brother John and his wife and their sister Ann and her husband Joseph Peck on 1 March 1839.⁸ He was a carpenter, and perhaps still working for his father up until the time he emmigrated on 1 March 1839.^9,10 Bengeo is a parish and village just north of Hertford; the village was gradually incorporated into the larger town. The part that ajoins Hertford is lower, rising to agricultural land to the north. The chief crops were wheat, barley and turnips.^1112,13



He may have attended the wedding of his sister in the marriage of Joseph William Peck and Ann Darby in a Church of England ceremony at St. Leonard's on Monday, 1 April 1839 at Shoreditch, London. They married seventeen days before they set sail for South Australia.^14,2

Thomas emigrated with Thomas' brother John, his sister and her husband Joseph Peck, and his sister Martha and her husband John Speller Wright from London on 20 April 1839 on the 'Somersetshire.¹⁵' Thomas arrived at Port Adelaide, South Australia, on 25 August 1839.¹⁵




In the Colonies


On his arrival, there were a little over 10,000 people in the colony.¹⁶

The family was mentioned in a letter from another South Australian immigrant. Describing something of their circumstances on 21 March 1840:


No doubt this letter was very eagerly received back home.^17,18 Confusingly in such a small colony, on 10 February 1842 another Thomas Darby was committed for stealing a cow of 5 pounds value. Whilst he was admonished to "be careful of his conduct for the future" he had further difficulties with the law. Over time, these two unrelated families must have been regularly mistaken for each other.^19,20,21 He became a subscriber to the Vigneron and Gardeners Manual on 15 July 1843.²²

Thomas Darby was called to jury service in a manslaughter case (where a doctor was accused of causing the death of a man by administering too much morphine) on 14 March 1845.²³ He and John D. Darby made a declaration of 320 acres which was gazetted by the Commissioner of Crown Lands on 6 April 1847 at Noarlunga, South Australia.²⁴ Thomas Darby and John D. Darby made a declaration of 570 acres which was gazetted by the Commissioner of Crown Lands. Thomas held Sections 628 and 629, which amounted to 64 hectares, and Sections 720, 801. The Darby family lived on Section 628 in a four-roomed house. on 11 December 1847 at Noarlunga, South Australia.^25,26

A visiting English artist drew a landscape of Morphett Vale 1845. Thomas Darby and John D. Darby were evidently sheep farmers as they advertised for sale 850 "Two and Four tooth ewes and wethers, perfectly free from all disease". Richard Edward Tapley, a distant family member, was listed as a contact. on 13 September 1848 at Morphett Vale, South Australia.²⁷

He married Jessie Nicholson, daughter of Daniel Nicholson and Jane Wilkie, in a Congregationalist ceremony conducted by Reverend Edward Knight Baker on Thursday, 23 November 1848 at Morphett Vale, South Australia. A week earlier at the same place, Thomas' brother John had married Mary Leonard. No parents of the bride and groom attended the ceremony. Jessie's father was a wine and spirit merchant.. Jessie and Thomas went on to have nine known children together Brothers and sisters who may have attended include Martha Darby, Ann Darby, William Darby, John D. Darby and Samuel Darby.^28,29

A year after the Independents met at Morphett Vale, the congregationalists laid the foundation stone for the Union Chapel on Thursday, 30 August 1849. It was completed in February of the following year for harvest thanksgiving, for a total cost of less than £200. It was intended that this would serve the needs for all the local Presbyterians. Reverend Edward Knight Baker was the initial minister, but had to resign his position four years later due to poor health.^30,31

Thomas continued to work as a carpenter and joiner in the colony, and was said have been involved in the construction of Government House and the Union Bank, both substantial architectural projects of the day.^29,32

Thomas and Jessie Nicholson, aged 23 became the parents of Edward Baker Darby on Tuesday, 5 February 1850 at Morphett Vale, South Australia.³³

Thomas was Deacon of the Union Chapel, in Morphett Vale, South Australia, when it was completed Sunday, 10 February 1850.³⁴ He witnessed his brother William Darby's death on 1 July 1850 at Morphett Vale, South Australia. William died in the house his brothers Thomas and John shared.^35,36,37

Thomas Darby was granted a succession of timber licences in August 1850.³⁸ Thomas and John became quite politically active in the ealy 1850s on issues such as universal suffrage.^39,40,41

Thomas Darby and Reverend Edward Knight Baker both signed a passionate letter, published in a newspaper 8 March 1851, against the state financial support of religion - what at first glance might seem an unusual position for men who were both deeply religious. However, the Congregationalists lead the fight in South Australia against state aid. They were motivated by not wanting to see the influence of the Church of England grow, but also the Congregationalist ethos of a rejection of organisational hierarchy.^42,43,44

Thomas leased section 801 to Edward Collins, a parcel of land of about 16 hectares (40 acres).⁴⁵

His brother John died Wednesday, 26 January 1853 after a brief illness, aged approximately 34.⁴⁶ Thomas was a beneficiary of his brother John D. Darby's will on 26 January 1853. To his brother Thomas he left all of his real estate and personal effects, after payment of his debts and funeral expenses. He also stated that his "beloved wife" Mary was to enjoy the "use and benefits" of the property held jointly with his brother Thomas, namely half of Sections 628 and 801, as well as half of the allotments in Albert Town [Alberton] and Carrington Street, Adelaide. This share was to then pass to their children. He also wished Mary to have access to the reaping and winnowing machines along with "all the corn, hay, five horses with harness cart", as well as the leases of sections of 9, 10 and 90 owned by Reverend Edward Baker. John was to die later the same day..⁴⁷

His father died 4 March 1853 at the approximate age of 74.

The will of his brother John, in which Thomas Darby was named as a benficiary was probated on 4 April 1853.⁴⁷

In 1854 Thomas was assessed for £42 for holding 160 acres (65 hectares), and exactly the same in 1867/1868.⁴⁸

Thomas was a committee member and Richard was the chairman of the 'Farmers Mutual Insurance Association'.⁴⁹

In 1859 he almost certainly became familiar with Rev. Charles Manthorpe who had just arrived in the colony and took over the Morphett Vale Congregational church. Charles was to later that year marry his brother's wife's first cousin. On 13 June 1859 Thomas was granted a licence to teach by the Chief Inspector of Schools. In 5 years time the Sunday school had 138 students under the care of Thomas and his teachers.^50,51 He attended the annual meeting of the Congregational Union of South Australia on 9 April 1862 at Rundle Street Chapel, in Adelaide.⁵² Thomas and Jessie were almost certainly present at the laying of the foundation stone for the Morphett Vale Baptist Church on Thursday, 20 June 1867. On 4 July 1863 Thomas applied to have his land Noarlunga, South Australia, placed under the Real Property Act.⁵³ Thomas lived in August 1863 at Morphett Vale, South Australia.⁵⁴ On 7 August 1863 Thomas Darby applied with his brother John's sons George and James for their lands at Section 628, in Noarlunga, South Australia, to be brought under the Real Property Act.⁵⁴ He was asked to be one of two umpires in a commercial dispute, but were unable to come to a decision on 6 May 1864.⁵⁵ On 3 December 1864 a man of the same name and age pleaded guilty and was convicted of two counts of child abuse and sentanced to two years and six months hard labour. However, other records establish that it was not this Thomas Darby.⁵⁶ He offerred to let 80 fenced acres (2 sections), half under cultivation and half timbered, water at 5 foot depth on 28 March 1865 at Morphett Vale, South Australia.⁵⁷ He was Returning Officer for the election of Mr. Bain in No.4 Ward on 29 November 1865 at Morphett Vale, South Australia.⁵⁸

At about this time, the Congregationalist minister, David Badger, "became convinced that the immersion of believers was the only form of baptism taught in the New Testament." Badger, uncertain about how this would be received, offered to resign. The congregation agreed with him, wanted him to remain as their pastor. Unfortunately, this was unacceptable to the Congregational Home Mission Society and they withdrew their grant. The congregation then became a Baptist church.⁵¹

Thomas was one of four people who formed the Morphett Vale Baptist Church building committee. They began planning a larger place of worship to seat 360 people, and the foundation stone was laid in the following year and opened in 1868. The cost was £1,500.^51,59

On 16 November 1867 Thomas Darby made a report to the papers that red rust was destroying all the wheat in the local area, and he couldn't predict the yeild. A week later he was saying that there may be no yeild at all. at Morphett Vale, South Australia.^60,61

Thomas was one of a number of farmers who met 13 February 1868 to seek relief from the government due to the effects of the red rust infestation. They primary sought the loan of seed wheat over a period of two years.⁶² He represented his local area at the South Australian Baptist Association, and was on the committee of the Morphett Vale Branch Bible Society on 29 October 1868.⁶³

At some point Thomas came to the view that 160 acres was not enough to make a reasonable living, and it might have been at this point that the Darby's consider moving from the district.⁶⁴

Thomas Darby was the foreman at an inquest into the death of a little boy, the eldest son of a widow, who had fallen from a horse. on 9 March 1870.⁶⁵ He joined the commitee of the Bible Society's branch annnual general meeting on 13 September 1870 at Morphett Vale, South Australia.⁶⁶ He was one of the local delegates to the Baptist Association's three-day meeting, and so again in the following year on 7 October 1870.^67,68 He was senior deacon on 27 April 1872 at the Baptist Chapel, in Morphett Vale, South Australia.⁶⁹ He gave an address to 300 to 400 people, gathered for the Band of Hope on 17 June 1872 at Morphett Vale, South Australia.⁷⁰ He stood down as an auditor on 9 July 1874 at Morphett Vale, South Australia.⁷¹ He and Jessie Nicholson purchased 608 acres (County of Fergusson, Hundred of Minlacowie, Section 6) by selection for £1216. Purpose for this was not only the desire to have a larger selection in order to make more income (and perhaps provide land for their children to do the same), but also due to the devastation of the red rust in the Southern Vales. They weren't alone; dozens of families made the same choice. on 8 September 1874 at Minlacowie, South Australia.^72,73,74 It was noted that many families - not just the Darbys - were leaving the Morphett Vale region which "makes people think that the glory of this once thriving and thickly-populated district has departed— let us hope not for ever."⁷⁵

On the occasion of the departure of the Darbys to Minlacowie on 12 February 1875:



Further:





To Minlacowie




When the Darby family moved to Minlacowie by travelled by bullock dray and on arrival cultivated the land, which was scrub, with a single furrow plow and one horse.⁷⁸ Now settled in Minlacowie, Thomas became involved in the local Baptist Sunday School, and became involved in fund-raising for the construction of a chapel, hosting a lecture on the "'History of the English Bible.' The address was given in three parts, the intervals being filled with music, &c."^79,80

Thomas provided information on the death of his sister Martha Darby, on 6 August 1876, at Minlacowie. She died in his house.^7,81

Thomas and Jessie attended the laying of the foundation stone for the new Baptist Chapel at Minlacowie after being instrumental in its establishment on 30 August 1876:

At their property in Minlacowie, Thomas farmed wheat and grazed sheep.⁸⁴ Thomas represented the district at the annual South Australian Baptist Association for a number of years from 1877.^85,86 On 22 May 1878 Thomas was commended for his management of the local school. These provisonal schools had less than 20 students and needed to be not denominational or sectarian in character.^87,88



Thomas, as the father of the bride, along with Jessie almost certainly attended the wedding of Alice and John Nancarrow, a Baptist minister, at her parent's house on Thursday, 3 October 1878 at Minlacowie. The wedding was conducted at their house. Others who almost certainly attended include . John and Alice went on to have some 10 children together.⁸⁹

Thomas, as the father of the groom, along with Jessie may have attended the wedding of John and Edith Watson at the residence of George Wright on Saturday, 12 October 1878 at the Adelaide suburb of Woodville. John was 24 and his wife Edith was 25. Others who may have attended include Charlotte Eliza Float as mother of the bride and Henry Watson as father of the bride. Edith and John went on to have nine known children together.⁹⁰ On 14 February 1881 Thomas Darby gave a report on the test-growing of two new types of wheat - Champlain and Defiance. The wheat was passed to him by his brother-in-law George Speller Wright J.P.⁹¹ In early 1883 Thomas was a valuator of surrendered selections under the Land Act.⁹² He purchased some land at Minlacowie that had been surrendered to the Government. He purchased this land for half its original value on 13 April 1883.⁹³ He purchased 392 acres at 1 pound per acre by selection on credit from the land office. Provided that he retained his original holding from 9 years before, he would have had exactly a thousand acres (about 4 square kilometres) on 6 September 1883.⁹⁴

Thomas, as the father of the bride, along with Jessie may have attended the wedding of Jessie and William James Long in a baptist ceremony conducted by John Nancarrow at the Baptist Church on Wednesday, 24 September 1890 at Minlacowie, South Australia. Jessie was 24 and her husband William was 28.. . William and Jessie went on to have two known children together.^95,96

Thomas, as the father of the bride, along with Jessie almost certainly attended the wedding of Louisa and George James Denness at her parent's house on Thursday, 16 April 1891 at Minlacowie. Louisa was 39 and her husband George was 32. The wedding was conducted at their house. Others who almost certainly attended include . George and Louisa went on to have three children together.⁹⁷ Thomas placed an advertisment in the paper on 24 December 1892, describing a disease his cattle were dying from and hoping for a solution. He received a reply in the following week which included many details, but it isn't known if this helped solve the problem.⁹⁸

Thomas, as the father of the bride, along with Jessie attended the wedding of Emily and Robert Bain Carmichael, a widowed farmer, at her parent's house in a Baptist cermony conducted by Emily's brother-in-law John Nancarrow on Thursday, 14 September 1893 at Minlacowie. Emily was 29 and her husband Robert was 31. The wedding was conducted at their house. .^99,100

It isn't known what happened in the last fourteen years of Thomas' life - as he was in his late seventies, perhaps he was able to take some pleasure in his grandchildren and great grandchildren .

Thomas died on 4 June 1907 at "Hopelands", in Minlacowie, South Australia, He outlived all his siblings.. His obituary said:

Thomas had a short obituary written about him on 7 June 1907: