James Newitt (1860 - 1910)

Ancestors Descendants

Biography

James NEWITT, son of James NEWITT and Mary Ann TURNER, was born on 29 July 1860 in Aberdeen, Colony of New South Wales ^[1] died on 20 November 1910 in Goodyers Dam, West Maitland, New South Wales, Australia ^{[2] [3] [4] [5]} at age 50, and was buried on 24 November 1910 in Campbells Hill Cemetery, Telarah, New South Wales, Australia ^[6]. The cause of his death was from drowning in Goodyers Dam, near Maitland ^{[7] [8] [9] [10]}.

James married Clara Emily Jane HUGHES, daughter of John Francis HUGHES and Martha Ann GOODWORTH, on 31 July 1882 in Tamworth, Colony of New South Wales ^[11].

Clara was born on 5 January 1867 in Bokhara River (near Bourke), Colony of New South Wales and died on 9 June 1949 in Mills Crescent Street, Cessnock, New South Wales, Australia at age 82.

They had six children: Martha Ann, Sarah Ann, James, Charles Edward Laveen, Clara Jane, and Lillith Florence Victoria ("Lill").

• Residence ~ 8 September 1875 ~ James lived in Murrurundi, Colony of N.S.W.

• Residence ~ 1881 – 1882 ~ James lived at Werris Creek Gap, Werris Creek, Colony of N.S.W. ^[12].

• Residence ~ 1906 ~ James lived in Glen Innes, NSW ^[13].

• Occupation ~ James worked as a fettler.

• Occupation ~ 1906 – 1910 ~ James worked as a labourer.

Sources

1. ↑ NSW Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages, 1788-1921
   Birth: Name, Father's Name, Mother's Name, Year, District, Reg. Number
   James Newitt (James & Mary A) 29/07/1860 Wee Waa NSW BDM 13110.
2. ↑ NSW Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages, 1788-1991
   Death: Name, Father's Name, Mother's Name, Year, District, Reg. Number
   James Newitt (James & Mary A) 1910 West Maitland NSW BDM 14097.
3. ↑ The Maitland Daily Mercury (NSW) Wed, 23 Nov 1910, Page 4
   Man's Strange Disappearance.
   A labourer named James Newitt, who had been staying at the Rutherford Hotel, has been missing since Sunday, and the police, who have been investigating, have so far failed to obtain any trace of his whereabouts. He went to the hotel on Tuesday last, the 15th instant. On Sunday morning he complained of pains in the head. About 3 o'clock in the afternoon, he left the hotel, leaving all his belongings in his room, and later was seen on the Great Northern Road, near the Old Tollbar at Rutherford. He had no hat on, or coat and vest, and his boots were unlaced, and appeared to be suffering mentally. He was spoken to, but made no answer. Newitt entered a paddock adjoining the road, and disappeared into the bush, and has not since been seen. It is stated that he had previously remarked to a friend, that he had often thought of committing suicide, but did not do it. Newitt at one time worked at Lochinvar and also at Bishop's Bridge, but inquiries in those localities have proved fruitless.
4. ↑ The Maitland Daily Mercury (NSW) Thu, 24 Nov 1910, Page 4
   LABOURER FOUND DROWNED. A MYSTERY UNRAVELLED.
   The body of the man, James Newitt, who had been missing from the Rutherford Hotel since Sunday afternoon, was found this morning floating in a dam in Goodyer's paddock at Rutherford, just off the road leading to Farley. The discovery was made by Mr. Edward Simpson, whilst mustering stock in the paddock, and information subsequently conveyed to the police. Senior-constable Dolman and Constables Byrne and Swan proceeded to the scene with the police cart, and the body was removed to the Rutherford Hotel, to await the inquest. The body was floating face downwards, and a stone weighing between eight and ten pounds, tied in black handkerchief, was fastened round deceased's neck. Deceased, who was a married man, about 50 years of age, was a labourer, and known as a hard working industrious man.
5. ↑ The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW) Fri, 25 Nov 1910, Page 12
   BODY FOUND. A MISSING MAN. WEST MAITLAND, Thursday.
   The mystery of the disappearance of James Newitt, who has been missing from the Rutherford Hotel since Sunday last, was solved this morning by the discovery of his dead body, which was found floating in a dam in Goodyer's paddock at Rutherford. Attached to the body was a stone weighing about 10lb, tied in a black handkerchief, and fastened round his neck. Deceased was 50 years of age, and lived apart from his wife, who resided at Hillgrove. He had been drinking, and complained of pains in the head due to sunstroke. About four months ago be told his sister, Mary Anne Tanner, of Branxton, that he would do away with himself, but he was drinking at the time.
6. ↑ Maitland City Council Cemeteries
   Burial: Surname - Given Name - Age - Death Date - Burial Date - Religion - Cemetery - Section - Plot
   Newitt, James - 50 - 20/11/1910 - 24/11/1910 - CE - Campbells Hill - BR - Free - _ - burial - Ground.
7. ↑ "NSW Attorney General and Justice - Registers of Coroners' Inquests 1908-1913." (State Records of NSW). (Microfiche, State Library of NSW). AO Reel 2764 - Ref 10 NQ929.3944 8
   Coronial Inquest: 1183 - James Newitt - November 24 - A.H.N. Maitland - J. McKaisey - Novr 26 - 50 - Aberdeen - Goodyers Dam, near Maitland - suffocation by drowning no evidence to show how he came to be drowned - £5:15:0 - Nil - No - Intemperance G.P. 28:11:10 Rtd 30:11:10.
8. ↑ "Coroners' Inquests & Magisterial Inquiries, Maitland & District 1834-1942, aka, Death in the Hunter", Maitland Family History Circle, 1998, ISBN 0 9586331 2 6
   Coronial Inquest: Surname, First Name - Age - Place of Birth - Place of Death, or place where inquest was held - Inquest Number - Date of Inquest
   Newitt, James - 50 - Aberdeen - Goodyers Dam nr W.M. - 1183 - 24/11/1910. Comment: W.M. is an abbreviation for West Maitland
9. ↑ New South Wales, Australia, Registers of Coroners' Inquests, 1821-1937, Registers of Coroners' Inquests and Magisterial Inquiries, 1834-1942. (Ancestry.com)
   Coronial Inquest: Name: James Newitt - Inquest Date: 24 Nov 1910 - Inquest Location: West Maitland - Death Place: Goodyers Dam, Near W Maitland - Age: 50 - Estimated Birth Year: abt 1860 - Birth Place: Aberdeen
   Source Citation: State Archives NSW; Series: 2764; Item: X2088; Roll: 343.
10. ↑ The Maitland Daily Mercury (NSW) Thu, 24 Nov 1910, Page 4
    THE INQUEST.
    An inquest touching the occurrence was held at the courthouse this afternoon, by the Coroner (Mr. J. McKensey, P.M.).
    Senior-Constable Dolman deposed that at about 9 o'clock this morning, accompanied by Constables Byrne and Swan he went to a large dam in Goodyer's paddock at Rutherford, close to the Great Northern Road. He there saw the body floating in the water, face downwards, with a large stone, about 8 or 10lbs. weight, tied in a handkerchief around deceased's neck. The body was dressed in trousers and shirt and boots. He found a coat and vest corresponding with the trousers at the Rutherford Hotel, where he had been staying. His hat was also there. Deceased was reported missing on Sunday night.
    Mary Anne Tanner, a married woman, residing at Branxton, deposed that deceased was her brother. He was 50 years of age and married, but living apart from his wife, who resided at Hillgrove. Deceased had a fall from a horse at one time, and since then when he took liquor he complained of pains in his head. About four months ago, when at her place, deceased, who had been drinking, stated that he would do away with himself. She said, "You will do no such thing."
    William Thoms Hogan, licensee of the Rutherford Hotel, deposed that deceased came to his hotel on Tuesday evening last, and stayed on till Sunday. Deceased was only drinking lightly when at the hotel, and was not a drunkard by any means. He did not get up on Sunday morning for breakfast, and complained about pains in his head. He did not have any dinner. Between 4 and 5 o'clock on Sunday aflternoon he saw deceased on the Great Northern Road, something less than a quarter of a mile from the hotel. Deceased was without hat, vest, and coat, and was going in the direction of the paddock in which the body was found. Deceased seemed to be all right when he arrived at the hotel, he searched for him that night, but could not find him and then reported the matter to the police.
    Ambrose Dee, barman, at the Rutherford Hotel, deposed that; he had known deceased about four months. Deceased mostly drank small shandies while at the hotel, and on Saturday took only ginger beer. Deceased told him that he was tired of his life, that he had some trouble, and had often intended committing suicide. He had also seen him sitting down crying. He seemed low spirited. Deceased told him he had had a sunstroke.
    Walter Rampling, a labourer, residing at Rutherford, near the Old Toll bar, deposed to seeing deceased on the main road on Sunday afternoon. He saw him walk into Brunker's paddock, going in the direction of the dam where the body was found. When he last saw deceased, he was about 250 yards from the dam.
    The coroner found that deceased came to his death by drowning, but how or by what means there was not sufficient evidence to enable him to say.
11. ↑ NSW Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages, 1788-1971
    Marriage: Groom's name, Bride's name, Year, District, Reg. Number
    James Newitt & Clara Emily Pullin 31/07/1882 Tamworth NSW BDM 06581.
12. ↑ "1881-82 NSW Electoral Roll" (Microfiche / Repository: State Library of NSW)
    Electoral District of Tamworth, Division of Tamworth - Morpeth-Young, Reel 17
    No - Christian and Surname - Qualification, Where situate or how arising - Residence of Voter
    2295 Newitt - James - residence - Tamworth - Werris Creek Gap.
13. ↑ "1906 NSW Electoral Rolls" (Microfiche / Repository: State Library of NSW)
    Division of New England, Subdivision of Glen Innes
    No. - Surname of each Elector - Christian names of each Elector at full length - Sex - Place of Living - Occupation
    1728 Newitt, James, M, Glen Innes, labourer.