Jessie Nicholson1

#11706, (23 September 1826-13 November 1917)
FatherDaniel Nicholson1 (c 1786-1 Aug 1843)
MotherJane Wilkie2 (c 1795-1 Apr 1846)
ChartsAylott Family - descendants
Brett Family - descendants
Darby Family - descendants
Descendents of Richard Darby
Last Edited30 Dec 2022
Jessie Nicholson
Source: The Observer Sat 24 Nov 1917 p.28
     (For a brief history and context on the Darby 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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Jessie Nicholson was born on 23 September 1826 at St. Cuthbert's, Edinburgh.3,1 She was the daughter of Daniel Nicholson and Jane Wilkie.1,2 Her baptism name was Janet Wilkie Nicholson.4

At the age of 13 Jessie emigrated from Greenock, Renfrewshire, Scotland, on 5 June 1840 on the 'Martin Luther' with her parents and older siblings.2,5 After a voyage of three and a half months Jessie arrived at Port Adelaide, South Australia, on 20 September 1840. Also on board was a Mrs Darby - this may well have been the wife of Samuel or William Darby, brothers of Thomas Darby who later married the Nicholson's youngest daughter Jessie. The Nicholsons also saw fit to arrive with 16 casks bottled ale, 9 cases sundries and 1 of cask cider.2,5,6
She was baptised at the Torrens river circa 1845 at South Australia. and subsequently joined the Baptist Church at North Adelaide.7

A visiting English artist drew a landscape of Morphett Vale 1845.
Morphett Vale c1845, artist Alex C. Kelly
(source:
State Library of South Australia, A. C. Kelly Collection, image B5765)


She married Thomas Darby, son of George Darby and Elizabeth Aylott, 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 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.1,8

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.9,10

Jessie, aged 23 and Thomas Darby became the parents of Edward Baker Darby on Tuesday, 5 February 1850 at Morphett Vale, South Australia.11



In 1854 Thomas was assessed for £42 for holding 160 acres (65 hectares), and exactly the same in 1867/1868.12 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.
Laying the foundation stone for the Morphett Vale Baptist Church - Thomas and Jessie were both involved with this church and were almost certainly present.
(source:
https://collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/resource/B+26911:WEB])


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.13
Noarlunga c.1875
(source:
State Library of South Australia B 26091)
Jessie Nicholson and Thomas Darby 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.14,15,16 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."17

On the occasion of the departure of the Darbys to Minlacowie on 12 February 1875:
"A social tea meeting was held in the Baptist Chapel last night to bid farewell to Mr. and Mrs. Darby and Mr. W. Holland, about to leave for the Peninsula. Mr. J. Clark, J.P., presented Mrs. Darby with a sewing-machine and Mr. Darby with a purse of money. The latter feelingly replied. Messrs. Ashton, Keats, and others spoke."18



Further:
"Mr. Darby's departure from this district yesterday was marked by the presentation of a Family Bible and Hymn-book, on which were inscribed the following:—' Presented as a token of love and esteem by the scholars of the Morphett Vale Baptist Sunday-School to their respected Superintendent, Mr. Thomas Darby, on his leaving for Yorke's Peninsula.' As address was read by James Holland, a scholar, who also handed over the testimonial, expressing regret at the removal, with warm wishes for their friend's welfare in his new sphere of labour. Mr. Darby feelingly replied, and thus severed his connection of nearly quarter of a century."19



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.20 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."21,22

Her brother's sister Martha died in their house in Minlacowie on 6 August 1876.23,24

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:
"New Baptist Chapel— Services were held at Minlacowie, Yorke's Peninsula, on Wednesday, August 30, in connection with the laying of the foundation-stone of a Baptist Chapel at that place. The stone was laid by two ladies of the congregation, Mesdames Darby and Holland, and the day being fine friends to the number of 150 assembled from adjacent parts to assist in the services. A tea meeting took place at 5 in the afternoon in a marquee erected tin the chapel ground, which was attended by most of those present and others who arrived subsequently. At the public meeting held afterwards Mr. Thomas Darby was unanimously voted to the chair. That gentleman having addressed the meeting, the Rev. J. Nancarrow read the financial statement, and stated that the desire of the members was if possible to erect the building free of debt."25,26

At their property in Minlacowie, Thomas farmed wheat and grazed sheep.27 She was recommended as provisional teacher on 5 December 1877 at Minlacowie.28



Jessie, as the mother of the bride, along with Thomas 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.29

Jessie, as the mother of the groom, along with Thomas 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.30 Jessie Nicholson was still teaching and her students getting above average marks on 26 November 1878.31 Louisa Margaret Darby began working as a provisional teacher on the resignation from the role of her mother, Jessie Nicholson.32

Jessie, as the mother of the bride, along with Thomas 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.. Others who may have attended include . William and Jessie went on to have two known children together.33,34

Jessie, as the mother of the bride, along with Thomas 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.35

Jessie, as the mother of the bride, along with Thomas 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. .36,37

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 .
Unloading wheat at Minlacowie c1916
(source:
State Library of South Australia, Pictorial Collection, image B 32232)


She had a short article written about her and another baptist on 15 March 1913:
'Mrs. Thomas Darby came
to South Australia in the Martin Luther, in 1840, when site was just entering herteens. She came from Edinburgh, where her father and mother (before their marriage) were baptised by James Haldane. Mrs. Darby, then Miss Nicholson, was baptised in the Torrens, and joined the first Baptist Church at North Adelaide when she was sixteen. She was married to Mr. Darby at Morphett Vale in 1848, and lived there until Mr. Darby took up land at Minlacowie in the seventies. A Baptist church was soon formed, and Mr. and Mrs. Darby took a great interest in the movement. Mr. Darby died in 1907. Mis. Darby is in her 87th year, but still maintains her interest in all that is good. Her sympathies are broad enough to take in India, and she has ever been an earnest supporter of missions. She has a large number of grandchildren, and ten great grandchildren."7

Jessie lived with Emily Mary Darby and her husband Robert Bain Carmichael circa 1914.38

Jessie died on 13 November 1917 at at 48 Mary Street in the Adelaide suburb of Unley at age 91.38,39 She was buried on 15 November 1917 at West Terrace Cemetery, in Adelaide.39

An obituary of her life was published in The Chronicle on 24 November 1917:
"Mrs Darby, whose death occurred on November 13 in her 92nd year, was born in Edinburgh on September 23, 1826, and arrived in South Australia with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Nicholson, by the Martin Luther, on September 20, 1840. In 1848 she married Mr. Thomas Darby, who arrived by the Somersetshire on August 25, 1839, and took up land at Morpnett Vale, where he resided till 1875, when he removed to Minlacowie. Mr. Darby died ten years ago, having reached the age of 91. Mrs. Darby left seven children (Messrs. Edward and Samuel Darby, of Minlacowie; Mr. Jonn Darby, secretary Marine Board ; Mr.James Darby, of Parilla; and Mesdames R B. Carmichael, John Nancarrow, and G. J. Denness, 24 grandchildren, and 14 great-grandchildren. Mr. and Mrs. Darby were active workers in religious and philanthropic objects, first in connection with the Congregational and afterwards with the Baptist denomination. For the last four years Mrs. Darby had resided with her daughter, Mrs. Carmichael, at Unley."38

Timeline

DateEventPlace
Family
Family
1826BirthSt. Cuthbert's, Edinburgh3,1
1,2
Baptism Name4
1845Baptismthe Torrens river, in South Australia7
1848Married Name1
1848MarriageMorphett Vale, South Australia1,8
1854Note memo only CR CR12
Note memo only CR CR13
1874NoteMinlacowie, South Australia14,15,16
1875Note memo only17
1875Quotation type 218
Quotation type 219
Note memo only CR CRMinlacowie20
1875Note memo onlyMinlacowie21,22
1876Quotation type 1Minlacowie25,26
Note memo only27
1877NoteMinlacowie28
1878Note31
1879Note memo onlyMinlacowie32
Note memo only CR CR
1913Quotation type 27
1917Death at 48 Mary Street in the Adelaide suburb of Unley38,39
1917BurialWest Terrace Cemetery, in Adelaide39
1917Quotation type 238

Family

Thomas Darby (c May 1816-4 Jun 1907)
Children

Citations

  1. [S239] The Adelaide Times, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, 27 Nov 1848 P.2 Col. C.
  2. [S243] The Adelaide Observer (later The Observer), Adelaide, South Australia, 17 Nov 1917 P.28 Col. C.
  3. [S1303] Kelly Dyer, Manuscript, 2021 p.161 (for exact place).
  4. [S1303] Kelly Dyer, Manuscript, 2021 p.161.
  5. [S557] Bound for South Australia (http://boundforsouthaustralia.net.au) http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/fh/passengerlists/…
  6. [S620] The Southern Australian, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, 1840 'IMPORTS.', Southern Australian (Adelaide, SA : 1838 - 1844), 16 October, p. 4, viewed 23 April, 2013, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article71620177
  7. [S206] The Chronicle, 1913 'NOTES FROM THE CHURCHES.', Chronicle (Adelaide, SA : 1895 - 1954), 15 March, p. 52, viewed 23 August, 2013, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article88736818
  8. [S1303] Kelly Dyer, Manuscript, 2021 p.160.
  9. [S1304] Flickr (https://www.flickr.com) https://www.flickr.com/photos/82134796@N03/49576466932.
  10. [S1306] Robert James Randall Donley The Golden Harvest - A History of the Southern Vales 1836-1880 p.217.
  11. [S338] Ancestry.com.au Ancestry.com, (http://www.ancestry.com.au/) http://trees.ancestry.com.au/tree/27173974/family/…
  12. [S1306] Robert James Randall Donley The Golden Harvest - A History of the Southern Vales 1836-1880 p.321.
  13. [S1306] Robert James Randall Donley The Golden Harvest - A History of the Southern Vales 1836-1880 p.290.
  14. [S338] Ancestry.com.au Ancestry.com, (http://www.ancestry.com.au/) South Australia Government Gazettes 1867-1884 (1874 p.2051).
  15. [S244] The South Australian Register, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, 1874 'LAND SELECTIONS.', South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), 11 September, p. 7, viewed 14 January, 2012, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article39821886
  16. [S1306] Robert James Randall Donley The Golden Harvest - A History of the Southern Vales 1836-1880 p.290-292.
  17. [S244] The South Australian Register, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, 1875 'THE HARVEST.', South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), 5 February, p. 3, viewed 14 January, 2012, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article40082543
  18. [S244] The South Australian Register, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, 1875 'COUNTRY CORRESPONDENCE.', South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), 12 February, p. 7, viewed 14 January, 2012, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article40081397
  19. [S244] The South Australian Register, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, 1875 'COUNTRY CORRESPONDENCE.', South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), 13 March, p. 7, viewed 14 January, 2012, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article40085934
  20. [S322] The Advertiser (Adelaide, South Australia), Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, 1950 'OBITUARY.', The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1931 - 1954), 3 October, p. 15, viewed 15 October, 2013, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article45684039
  21. [S244] The South Australian Register, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, 1875 'MINLACOWIE, November 25.', South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), 2 December, p. 1 Supplement: SUPPLEMENT TO THE SOUTH AUSTRALIAN REGISTER., viewed 14 January, 2012, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article40081148
  22. [S244] The South Australian Register, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, 1876 'MINLACOWIE, March 17.', South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), 27 March, p. 6, viewed 14 January, 2012, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article43003240
  23. [S244] The South Australian Register, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, 1876 'Family Notices.', South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), 30 August, p. 4, viewed 14 January, 2012, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article43008466
  24. [S6] South Australia, Death Certificate, Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages Vol.76 p.141.
  25. [S244] The South Australian Register, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, 1876 'THE SHIPBUILDING YARDS.', South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), 6 September, p. 3, viewed 14 January, 2012, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article43004881
  26. [S1306] Robert James Randall Donley The Golden Harvest - A History of the Southern Vales 1836-1880 p.313.
  27. [S577] E-mails from Geoff Frogley to Tim Hill, 2012- 09 Oct 2012.
  28. [S321] The South Australian Advertiser, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, 1877 'COUNCIL OF EDUCATION.', The South Australian Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1858 - 1889), 5 December, p. 7, viewed 14 January, 2012, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article29597054
  29. [S7] South Australia, Marriage Certificate, Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages Vol.117 p.37.
  30. [S7] South Australia, Marriage Certificate, Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages Vol.117 p.229.
  31. [S244] The South Australian Register, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, 1878 'COUNCIL OF EDUCATION.', South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), 26 November, p. 6, viewed 14 January, 2012, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article42982452
  32. [S321] The South Australian Advertiser, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, 1879 'The Advertiser SATURDAY, JUNE 28, 1879.', The South Australian Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1858 - 1889), 28 June, p. 4, viewed 15 January, 2012, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article29372427
  33. [S7] South Australia, Marriage Certificate, Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages Vol.164 p.1069.
  34. [S244] The South Australian Register, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, 1890 'Family Notices.', The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1889 - 1931), 22 October, p. 4, viewed 17 January, 2012, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article26763945
  35. [S7] South Australia, Marriage Certificate, Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages Vol.167 p.115.
  36. [S7] South Australia, Marriage Certificate, Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages Vol.176 p.815.
  37. [S244] The South Australian Register, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, 1893 'Family Notices.', South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), 19 October, p. 4, viewed 17 January, 2012, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article53627603
  38. [S232] The Adelaide Chronicle, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, 1917 'OBITUARY.', Chronicle (Adelaide, SA : 1895 - 1954), 24 November, p. 12, viewed 31 August, 2012, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article87415490
  39. [S322] The Advertiser (Adelaide, South Australia), Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, 1917 'Family Notices.', The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1889 - 1931), 15 November, p. 2, viewed 25 January, 2012, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article5572131
  40. [S239] The Adelaide Times, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, 11 02 1850 p.3 Col.B.
  41. [S338] Ancestry.com.au Ancestry.com, (http://www.ancestry.com.au/) http://trees.ancestry.com.au/tree/8223896/family/familyview