John Elmslie Chesser (1846 - 1888)

Born 1846 in Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland, United Kingdom

Husband of Emma (Freeman) Marra — married 1870 (to 1888) in Strathalbyn, South Australia, Australia

Died 15 Dec 1888 at about age 42 in Adelaide, South Australia, Australia

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Biography

Birth

John was born in 1846 in Scotland, he was the son of John Chesser.

Australian Arrival

John Chesser arrived in Australia aboard the vessel Atlanta into Port Adelaide South Australia, April 15, 1866. ^{[1] [2]}

Marriage

He married Emma Freeman in South Australia in 1870. ^[3]

Police Woes

John H. Chesser, was charged by Mrs. Chesser with using theatening language to her at Macclesfield on the 11th inst. MR. Tucker for the defendent. Mrs. E. Chesser, of Macclesfield, — said I am the wife of the defendent. Remember the morning of the 11th of November, when my husband came into the house and hit me twice with his hands, and asked me what did I do with what he left on the table. I said nothing. I tried to get outside the door, and he pulled me back again by the dress. He told me to sit down on the sofa, and said that he had three questions to ask me. I sat on the sofa and he pulled out the drawer and got hold of a knife. He stood over me and said that he would do for me that night for something that I said to Mr. Holland. He stood over me with the knife for about three hours- I had the baby with me at the time, and he said I suppose you got that for a . shield. I had five children in the house at the time and the screams awakened them. He threatened to kill the boy and made me promise that I would not say a word about it to the people. I left the house about 7 o'clock next morning and have not been there since. Am afraid to go back. He did not tell me what he was doing it for. Am living a quarter of a mile from his house and he did not send for me to return. John William Chesser, son of informant, said— remember last Tuesday morning. Heard a noise in the morning. My father said that he would stab mother with a knife. Mother called to me, but I did not go to her because father said that he would drive a knife through me. Did not hear him say anything more. Defendant was bound over to keep the peace for six months and ordered to find security, for £10. and pay costs £2 19s. ^[4] John Chesser was charged with leaving without adequate means of support his four children, aged nine, six, three, and one year respectively. From the evidence it appeared that Chesser — who is a member of the Salvation Army and wore his ' badge' in court — had so ill-used his wife that she had to leave him. His father-in-law (Wm. Freeman) had kept the children for two months, but was unable to do so any longer. Freeman said the defendant could easily earn enough to maintain his family, but he was too idle to work. Defendant, before he joined the Army, used to drink very hard, but, although he had discontinued that bad habit, he had done nothing for the support of his family for twelve months. He, however, was able to give £1 towards the purchase of a big drum for the army band. Defendant, in reply to the court, pleaded guilty to the charge of desertion, and said he trusted in Providence to maintain his family. To this the court sensibly retorted that Providence was not likely to encourage an able-bodied man in laziness and hypocrisy. An order was made for the payment of 15s. per week, defendant to find two sureties— himself in £10 and another in an equal amount — for its regular payment for three months. As the bonds were not forthcoming he was sent to gaol for three months. The four youngsters were then brought up on a charge of being deserted children, and were sent to the Industrial School. ^{[5] [6]}

He was admitted to the Adelaide Hospital on 16 January 1888 with epilepsy. He was discharged 22 February 1888. ^[7]

Death

He passed away aged 43 on 15 Dec 1888 ^[8] and was buried in West Terrace Cemetery. ^[9]

Sources

1. ↑ EMIGRANTS PER ATALANTA. (1866, March 16). The Adelaide Express (SA : 1863 - 1866), p. 3. Retrieved May 30, 2021, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article207607292
2. ↑ Passenger list for the Atalanta 1866 (State Records of South Australia. https://archives.sa.gov.au/. GRG 35/48/1 Official Assisted Passage Passenger Lists 1845 – 1886 : accessed 3 Jun 2023) Page 6/39 : CHESSER John (Age 21, labourer from Leith)
3. ↑ Marriage Record: 82/408; (Year: 1870). BDM, South Australia; (Name: Emma FREEMAN); (Spouse Name: John CHESSER); (Place: STRATHALBYN, SA).
4. ↑ Law Courts. (1884, November 20). Southern Argus (Port Elliot, SA : 1866 - 1954), p. 3. Retrieved May 30, 2021, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article96928764
5. ↑ MARINE BOARD (1885, June 27). South Australian Weekly Chronicle (Adelaide, SA : 1881 - 1889), p. 8. Retrieved May 30, 2021, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article93325821
6. ↑ "Australia, South Australia, Prison Records, 1838-1912", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:7VYX-19T2 : 3 November 2020), John Chesser, 1885-1885.
7. ↑ Admission Registers, Adelaide Hospital, later Royal Adelaide Hospital, 1840-1952, manuscript on digital images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS6D-8SVL-6?i=84&cat=2699404 : accessed 3 Jun 2023) Admission number 38, CHESSER John Elmslie (Residence: Milang, Age: 42, Admission date: 16 Jan 1888)
8. ↑ South Australia Death Index. (Genealogy SA, https://www.genealogysa.org.au/index.php : accessed 3 Jun 2023) database entry for ELMSLIE John (Date of death 15 Dec 1888, Age 43, Marital status N, Place of death Adelaide, Residence Mallala) Reference: District Adelaide, Book/Page 175/204
9. ↑ Burial Record (Adelaide Cemeteries Authority, http://www.aca.sa.gov.au/Records : accessed 3 Jun 2023) database entry for ELMSLIE John (Date of service 17 Dec 1888, Cemetery West Terrace, Location Road 5, Path 1, Aspect E, Site Number 39)