George Bampton (abt. 1817 - 1895)

Born about 1817 in Eton, Buckinghamshire, England, United Kingdom

Ancestors

Husband of Catherine (Robertson) Bampton — married 1842 in Newington, Surrey, England, United Kingdom

Descendants

Died 27 Aug 1895 at about age 78 in Alberton, South Australia, Australia

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Christine Grieder [send private message]

Biography

George was born in about 1817 and baptised in 1820 in Eton, Buckinghamshire, England. He married Catherine Robertson in Newington, Surrey in 1842.

Later in the same year they were married, the newlyweds emigrated to Nelson, New Zealand as assisted (free passage) migrants, aboard the ship Bombay. George was recorded as a gardener on the incoming passenger list.

In 1843, whilst working as a surveyor, George became involved in a violent confrontation over land rights, which unfolded between the colonial English and the native Māori peoples.

The incident became known as the "Wairau Affray" or "Wairau Massacre" of 17 June 1843. After the initial violence and fatalities unfolded, George escaped by concealing himself in fern bush about twenty yards from the scene. It took him two weeks to return to his home in Nelson, during which time he (according to newspaper accounts) survived on a single turnip.

In February 1845, George and Catherine's son Joseph Robertson Bampton was born in Nelson. In September of the same year, the family emigrated to South Australia aboard the ship Palmyra. George and Catherine settled in the western suburbs of Adelaide and went on to have more children together.

George died in 1895 at the age of 78, per his headstone photo, and was buried at Cheltenham Cemetery.

As a result of their emigration, he and Catherine were then and still considered "old settlers" of (colonial) New Zealand. Their obituaries were featured in the New Zealand newspapers upon their deaths.

Sources

• Baptism: "FreeReg UK Parish Register database"
  Buckinghamshire; Eton; St John the Evangelist; Other Transcript; File line number: 450
  FreeReg Transcription (accessed 14 July 2023)
  George Bampton baptism on 10 Dec 1820, son of Joseph Bampton & Lydia, in Eton, Buckinghamshire, England.

• Marriage Registration: "England & Wales Marriages 1837-2005"
  Volume: 4; Page: 359
  FindMyPast Image - FindMyPast Transcription (requires subscription, accessed 14 July 2023)
  George Bampton marriage registered Apr-May-Jun 1842 in Newington.

• Jury Duty Register: "New Zealand, Jury Lists, 1842-1862"
  1845
  Ancestry Sharing Link (free access)
  Ancestry au Record 1839 #72567 (requires subscription, accessed 14 July 2023)
  Year: 1845; District or Province: Nelson; Name: George Bampton.

• Death Registration: "South Australia Deaths 1842-1972"
  Registration Number: 228/449
  FindMyPast Transcription (requires subscription, accessed 14 July 2023)
  George Bampton death 27 Aug 1895 (age 72) in Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.

• Find A Grave: Memorial #99793857

• N.B. (RootsWeb source originally attached to this profile was removed, only because the link is no longer working).

Below are some links (within citations) for the newspaper articles that Christine Grieder has already kindly attached in the profile gallery:

• "Papers Past, National Library of New Zealand"
  Colonist, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8366, 30 September 1895, Page 2
  Papers Past Article (accessed 13 July 2023)

• "Papers Past, National Library of New Zealand"
  Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 94, 23 December 1843, Page 2 (Supplement)
  Papers Past Article (accessed 13 July 2023)