Benjamin Bowtell (1859 - 1933)

Born 30 Dec 1859 in Goulburn, Colony of New South Wales

Ancestors

Husband of Margaret Ellen (Leslie) Bowtell — married 1883 in Bombala, New South Wales, Australia

Descendants

Died 22 Oct 1933 at age 73 in Bombala, New South Wales, Australia

Biography

Benjamin Bowtell, son of Benjamin and Maria (Pedley) Bowtell, was born 30 Dec 1859, in Goulburn, in the Colony of New South Wales.^[1] Benjamin's father had arrived in Australia 10 years before,^[2] bringing with him the family trade of brickmaker.

Benjamin Jr. left Goulburn and went to Bombala as a young man, during the early 1880's.^[3]

When Benjamin Jr. was learning the trade of brickmaking, it was still done by hand. Clay was dug, mixed with water to the right consistency, tossed into a mold (the tossing helped eliminate air bubbles), leveled off, turned out of the mold and set to dry. After drying, the bricks were set inside a kiln to be fired. The firing turned the clay, into the hard, water proof bricks. The whole process of mixing and drying took weeks.

During the years that Benjamin was a brickmaker, coal fired kilns were introduced and steam driven brickmakers were created. These made the cost of bricks cheaper and more economical, which created a highpoint in the creation of brick buildings during the late 1800's and until World War I. Transporting bricks, because of their weight, was always a significant cost. Having a brickmaking operation nearby, made the product even more economical. Even though Benjamin continued to make bricks by hand, during these years he made many of the bricks used in buildings in Bombala.

In 1901 he provided information at the Federal Capital inquiry (the area near Bombala was a candidate for the new National capital. An area further north was selected and became Canberra). He stated that there was sufficient pipe clay in the Bombala area to build a city. He made bricks by hand, but machinery would be necessary for the amount of bricks required for a city.^[4] The price of hand made bricks was £2 per 1000 bricks in 1901.

Benjamin Bowtell eventually retired from making bricks, which was a physically demanding job. He enjoyed sports and attended a cricket match on the day of his death. After the match, he walked home to the house of his daughter and son-in-law, George Warne. His collapse later in the day was very sudden.^[5][6]

He was survived by a widow (formerly Miss Leslie) and two sons (Alfred and Arthur) and seven daughters (Mrs. Price, Mrs. Helmers, Mrs. Clarke, Mrs. Sutherland, Mrs. Warne, Mrs. Douch, and Mrs. W. Dawson).^[3]

Photo of the Bowtell Brick^[7] This may be a brick made by his father, or by his Uncle Joseph who had a brickworks in Merewether.

Sources

1. ↑ NSW BDM 6953/1860 (F= Benjamin, M= Maria Pedley)
2. ↑ Arrival. NSW State Records Archive
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} Obituary, The Bombala Times (NSW), Friday 27 October 1933
4. ↑ Bombala Times and Manaro and Coast Districts General Advertiser (NSW), Friday 13 February 1903
5. ↑ Obituary, Delegate Argus (NSW), Thursday 26 October 1933
6. ↑ NSW BDM Index, 6953/1860 (no parents listed)
7. ↑ cite web |url=http://from.ph/195397 |title=A8020 Rectangular earthenware brick, diamond moulded cross hatch on one side. Bowtell, Australia.(OF). |author=Powerhouse Museum |accessdate=24 May 2015 |publisher=Powerhouse Museum, Australia

See Also: On Brickmaking

• Download Here EARLY BRICKS AND BRICKWORK IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA. Department of Environment and Resources.
• A Thriving Industry The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957) Wednesday 28 December 1881. At Trove Digitized Newspapers and More.
• Brickmaking in the USA