Jephunneh Theophilus Symons Bird (1842 - 1932)

Born 10 May 1842 in Buckland Brewer, Devon, England, United Kingdom

Husband of Kezia (Seymour) Bird — married 3 Apr 1868 in Maryborough, Colony of Queensland

Descendants

Died 7 May 1932 at age 89 in Ascot, Queensland, Australia

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Biography

Jephunneh Theophilus Simmons BIRD (later known as John Theophilus Symons BIRD or J. T. S. BIRD) was born on 10 May 1842 in Buckland Brewer, Devon, England^[1]. His parents were Robert Courtice BIRD and Sarah SIMMONS or SYMONS.

1851, 9 year old, school boy, Jephunah BIRD and his brother Jesse (age 6) were living in Coldridge, Devon, England with their uncle. John SIMMONS (31), aunt, Elisabeth (31) and cousins John (6) and William (4)^[2].

The ship, Beejapore set sail from Gravesend, England on 5 March 1863 with John Jephunnah BIRD (age 20) and his 2 brothers, Jesse Theodore (17) and Robert (15) among the assisted immigrant passengers and arrived in Brisbane, Colony of Queensland on 17 July 1863^[3][4][5]. The BIRD brothers appear to have disembarked the ship at Keppel Bay, Colony of Queensland.

Kezia SEYMOUR and John Theophilus Symons BIRD were married on 3 April 1868 at Maryborough, Colony of Queensland^[6].

Marriage Notice 13 Apr 1868^[7]

BIRD—SEYMOUR.—On the 3rd instant, at Maryborough, by the Rev Chas. Wiles, Mr. J. T. Symons Bird, to Kezia, eldest daughter of Mr. Charles Seymour.

Their children included:

Ella Rosanna BIRD 1869-1928

Robert Seymour BIRD 1871-1961

John Theodore Harvey BIRD 1873-1923

Ida Lizzie BIRD 1875-1886

Camilla May BIRD 1878-1903

Violet Sarah BIRD 1884-1918

Beatrice Kezia BIRD 1880-1978

He passed away on 7 May 1932 in Ascot, Queensland, Australia^[8] and was buried at the Toowong Cemetery, Brisbane, Brisbane City, Queensland, Australia^[9].

Obituary 9 May 1932^[10]

VETERAN PRESSMAN

Death of Mr. J. T. S. Bird

One of the pioneers of the Central district, Mr. John T. S. Bird, died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. J. T. Wiley, Palm Avenue, Ascot, on Saturday afternoon. He had been ailing for the last six months, and had been unable to leave his residence during that time.

The late Mr. Bird was born in Torquay, Devonshire, England, on May 10, 1842, and was consequently within a few days of his ninetieth birthday. He arrived in Rockhampton by the immigrant ship Beejapore in June, 1863, and the next day he commenced work on the "Morning Bulletin" as a compositor.

With the exception of a few short intervals he had been associated with that office since he first arrived in Queensland.

Like many other young men in the early days he several times caught the "gold fever," and more than once he dashed away to the gold rushes seeking elusive fortune, but invariably he found his way back to the "Bulletin" office. For the long period of 55 years he took an active and responsible part in the production of the northern journal, filling the positions of printer, overseer, mining editor, and sporting editor. He wrote under the pen-name of "Veno" and was well known throughout the Central West.

In 1904 he published a book, "The Early History of Rockhampton," and many of the old residents declare that this book is an authentic and interesting account of the early days.

Mr. Bird had a varied career in mining, for he both made and lost money. In partnership with Mr. Arthur Hosking he discovered the alluvial gold mine at Ridgelands, about 20 miles from Rockhampton. The partners were rewarded with a bonus of £500 from the then Government.

Mr. Bird was one of the first Pressmen to visit the famous Mount Morgan gold mine and he wrote up. the history of that golden mountain. He was the last surviving pioneer member of the Loyal Victoria Lodge of Oddfellows, Rockhampton, which celebrated its jubilee in 1930.

On the death of his wife 14 years ago, he left Rockhampton and came to reside with his married sons and daughters in Brisbane. Nevertheless he always kept up a weekly contribution to his old paper and practically died "in harness." He Is survived by two of his children, Mrs. J. T. Wiley, Ascot, and Mr. R. S. Bird, a member of the staff of "The Telegraph." The funeral will take place to the Toowong Cemetery this afternoon.

Sources

1. ↑ General Register Office UK: Births. BIRD, JEPHUNNEH THEOPHILUS SIMMONS; SIMMONS; GRO Reference: 1842 J Quarter in THE BIDEFORD UNION; Volume 10 Page 65. https://www.gro.gov.uk/
2. ↑ England and Wales Census, 1851. Name: Jephunah Bird; Event Type: Census; Event Date: 1851; Event Place: Coldridge, Devon, England; Registration District: Crediton; Residence Note: Village; Sex: Male; Age: 9; Occupation: Scholar; Birth Year (Estimated): 1842; Birthplace: Buckland B, Devonshire; Relationship to Head of Household: Nephew; Page Number: 16; Registration Number: HO107; Piece/Folio: 1886 / 226; Affiliate Record Type: Household; Affiliate Image Identifier: http://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=GBC/1851/4355415/00428&parentid=GBC/1851/0009141302.

   Household Role Sex Age Birthplace

   John Simmons Head Male 31 Wembworthy, Devonshire

   Elisabeth Simmons Wife Female 31 Lapford, Devonshire

   John Simmons Son Male 6 Wembworthy, Devonshire

   William Simmons Son Male 4 Coldridge, Devonshire

   Jephunah Bird Nephew Male 9 Buckland B, Devonshire

   Jesse Bird Nephew Male 6 Buckland B, Devonshire

   "England and Wales Census, 1851," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:SGJC-WY1 : 9 November 2019), Jephunah Bird in household of John Simmons, Coldridge, Devon, England; citing Coldridge, Devon, England, p. 16, from "1851 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO HO 107, The National Archives of the UK, Kew, Surrey.
3. ↑ Queensland Government: Assisted immigration 1848 to 1912. Ship: Beejapore; Departed: Gravesend, England, 5 Mar 1863; Arrived: Brisbane, Colony of Queensland, 17 Jul 1863. https://www.data.qld.gov.au/dataset/assisted-immigration-1848-to-1912/resource/d62c9618-18df-4a2a-8cf0-d14da3d6db0f?filters=Ship%3ABeejapore%7CYear%3A1863%7CLast%20name%3ABIRD

   Bird, John Jephunnah 20

   Bird, Jesse Theodore 17

   Bird, Robert 15

4. ↑ Voyage Details: ROCKHAMPTON. (1863, July 2). The Courier (Brisbane, Qld. : 1861 - 1864), p. 3. Retrieved September 19, 2022, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3164210
5. ↑ Ship Arrival: SHIPPING (1863, July 18). The Courier (Brisbane, Qld. : 1861 - 1864), p. 4. Retrieved September 19, 2022, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3164534
6. ↑ Queensland Government: Family history research service: Marriage. John Theophilus Symour Bird; Event date: 03/04/1868; Event type: Marriage registration; Registration details: 1868/C/293; Spouse: Kezia Seymour. https://www.familyhistory.bdm.qld.gov.au/
7. ↑ Family Notices (1868, April 13). Northern Argus (Rockhampton, Qld. : 1865 - 1874), p. 3. Retrieved September 19, 2022, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article214370810
8. ↑ Queensland Government: Family history research service: Death. John Theophilus Symons Bird; Event date: 07/05/1932; Event type: Death registration; Date of birth: 1843; Registration details: 1932/B/17222; Mother: Sarah Bird; Father/parent: Robert Bird. https://www.familyhistory.bdm.qld.gov.au/
9. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/193075039/john-theophilus_symons-bird: accessed 19 September 2022), memorial page for John Theophilus Symons Bird (1843–1932), Find a Grave Memorial ID 193075039, citing Toowong Cemetery, Brisbane, Brisbane City, Queensland, Australia; Maintained by Katrina (contributor 48075129).
10. ↑ VETERAN PRESSMAN (1932, May 9). The Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld. : 1872 - 1947), p. 9 (FINAL). Retrieved September 19, 2022, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article180712459

• Wikipedia contributors. (2020, September 15). J. T. S. Bird. In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 18:21, September 18, 2022, from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=J._T._S._Bird&oldid=978522162

• CQ Family History Association Inc. BIOGRAPHY OF J.T.S.BIRD https://sites.rootsweb.com/~auscqfha/bird_bio.htm