2.4.5 Daniel Barnett

[Last amended: June 16, 2006]

James Barnett was the fifth child and third son of George Barnett and Mary Brangwin. He was born on July 22, 1816 at Hambleden, Bucks and baptised on January 12, 1817 at Pheasant's Hill Independent Chapel, Hambleden, Bucks.

In 1839, Daniel’s occupation was given as butcher of Henley-upon-Thames when he swore for the Admon of the estate of his grandmother Mary Brangwin.

In 1841, according to the census, Daniel was living with his mother, Mary, and youngest sister, Eliza, at Hart St, Henley.

Daniel married Elizabeth Dreweatt on April 19, 1849, at Reading St Mary’s, Berks, by licence.

According to the licence application, Daniel was of the Parish of Shiplake, Oxon, a bachelor of 21 years and upwards. Elizabeth was of the Parish of Reading St Mary's, Berks, a spinster and also of 21 years and upwards.

As can be seen on the marriage register entry, Daniel's profession was listed as yeoman and his place of residence as Binfield Heath, Oxon. Elizabeth was listed without a profession. Her place of residence was Castle Street, Reading.

The marriage was performed in the Parish Church in the Parish of St Mary, Reading in the County of Berkshire by Charles Joseph Goodhart, the Officiating Minister. The marriage was witnessed by Joseph Bruce, A. S. Dreweatt, Eliza Barnett [probably Daniel’s youngest sister] and Sarah Ann Dreweatt [sister of Elizabeth. The signature was not that of her mother.].

There is a suggestion that Elizabeth and Daniel married against family wishes.

Daniel Barnett Elizabeth Dreweatt Photos courtesy of Kevin Gibson

The following was supplied by Barbara Lorrains:

Daniel and Elizabeth left England on the Travencore from Plymouth and London, arriving in Geelong, Victoria, Australia on November 1, 1849 after stopping in New Zealand. In the ship's record Daniel Barnett, a clerk, worked for 40 pounds. Mrs Barnett was a dressmaker. The ship, the Travencore, 583 tons, had good weather for its first voyage to Australia. The captain’s name was Thom. Brown. All the passengers had interest in land arranged by the notorious Dr. Lang.

Daniel and Elizabeth made their first home at You Yang just outside of Geelong. When the gold rush started Daniel carried shoes and other goods between Geelong and Bendigo (Sandhurst) for the goldfields.

In approximately 1860 Daniel took 3 days to go from You Yang to Moorabbin with a horse and cart where he purchased 100 acres with a house that stood in Wickham Road. The land had a frontage to Bluff Road, Wickham Road and Spring Road, which he worked as a market gardener. A coach served the residents along the Nepean Highway to Melbourne.

During their time in Australia, Daniel and Elizabeth had eight children. Unfortunately the four daughters all died young leaving the four sons. Daniel divided the land into four equal parts and the sons worked it as their father had previously done.

In time the land was passed down to Alfred John and William Daniel, sons of Edwin James Barnett and Ray, Charles George Raymond, William Henry Barnett's son. The land was eventually sold.

Daniel died on April 22, 1895 at his residence in Wickham Road, South Brighton. He was buried in the Old Cheltenham Cemetery on April 23, 1895.

On his death certificate, Daniel was listed as a Gardener. Of interest is the witness to his burial, a W E Organ. The medical attendant was George Scantlebury who last saw Daniel on April 11th, 1895. Cause of death was given as senile decay - about three weeks. His father was listed as George Barnett, Farmer; mother unknown. The informant was his son Edwin. The Rev J L Blamiris conducted the burial.

The Age, Melbourne, carried a death notice on Tuesday April 23, 1895: On the 22nd April, at Wickham-road, South Brighton, Daniel Barnett, aged 79 years

Daniel's real estate did not exceed £750 and his personal estate £20. Probate was granted to his sons Edwin James and William Henry.

Elizabeth Dreweatt was bapised on 17 August 1823 at Headington, Oxfordshire. She had been born at nearby Barton, now absorbed into greater Oxford. Shw was the fourth child and second daughter of John Dreweatt and Sarah Ann Swallow. John was a nurseryman and Sarah Ann's family were nurserymen and seed merchants from Henley-on-Thames. Her family was in Reading, Berkshire when her younger sister Harriett was born in 1825.

What happened to Elizabeth and her family between 1825 and 1842 is unclear. Certainly, her two brother had died. John, her first brother, had died shortly after birth and then 3 year old William Henry died in reading in 1825. In 1842 Elizabeth and her older sister Sarah Ann were running a school in Reading.

Elizabeth's sister Sarah Ann was a regular visitor to her after Elizabeth and Daniel moved to Australia. Indeed, Sarah Ann was in Austalia at the time of her death on 27 July 1888 and she shares a grave in the Old Cheltenham Cemetery with Elizabeth and Daniel.

Elizabeth died on 16 July 1901 at Wickham-road, South Brighton. She was surrounded by her family singing hymns at the end. She was 77 years old and had out lived 5 of her 8 children. The cause of death was given as pneumonia and asthma.

Elizabeth was buried with her husband Daniel and older sister Sarah Ann in the Methodist Section of the Old Cheltenham Cemetery the day following her death.

Children of Daniel Barnett and Elizabeth Dreweatt: