Edward Bufton (1851 - 1879)

Born 1851 in Portsea Island, Hampshire, England, United Kingdom

Died Dec 1879 at about age 28 in Cossack, Western Australia, Australia

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Biography

Edward Bufton was born in Hampshire, England.

Edward’s father William Bufton (42) Soap Boiler had been charged with Larceny by Servant (for stealing Tallow and soap) along with Edward Masters for Receiving. They were both sentenced to 10 years on 28 October 1850 at Southampton Borough Quarter Sessions, Hampshire. ^[1]

His mother Hannah was pregnant with four small children.

Edward was born in 1851 at the Portsea Island Union Workhouse, Hampshire. ^[2] He was the son of William Bufton and Hannah Wilshire.

On 30 March 1851 Hannah Bufton (30) born in Portsea, Hampshire with children William Bufton (9) Pauper Scholar; Rachel Bufton (8), Mary Ann Bufton (5), Elize Bufton (3) all Scholars In Workhouse School & Edward Bufton (3 Months) born at Portsmouth, Hampshire, lived at the Portsea Island Union Workhouse, Hampshire, England. ^[3]

Edward was Baptised on 25 April 1851 at Saint Marys, Portsea, Hampshire, England.^[4]

On 30 October 1851 William was transported from London having been in Pentonville Prison (transferred from Portsmouth) to the penal colony of Western Australia on the ship 'Marion' with 280 passengers. ^[5] He arrived on the 'Marion' as a transported convict, Convict No 1032, on 30 January 1852.

Leaving his wife and family of five children in England.

Western Australia

Edward’s mother Hannah and her children emigrated from England to Western Australia in 1853 to be reunited with William. ^[6] Edward was 2 years old.

The ship ”Clara” arrived in the Colony of Western Australia on 3rd September 1853. The Clara carried a human cargo of 48 married couples with their children numbering 101 and 124 single females. ^[7][8] Mothers travelling alone with children were counted with the single females.

The Express News Article 25 Jan 1870 ^[9]

W. Moorhouse, blacksmith, charged his apprentice, Bufton, with using abusive and insulting language towards him. He had been frequently forgiven for similar conduct; was on the whole a good working boy, with a very bad temper; did not wish him to be punished. On Friday evening, Bufton had shod a horse; but the nails in the shoe projected, and were not properly fixed : would not listen to any remonstrance complainant asked Bufton to look how he did the work and learn ; refused to do so. Examined by Mr. Parker. I am bound to pay Bufton two shillings a week, and find him in clothes, Moorhouse further complained that Bufton refused to collect amounts for him. The Bench decided that Bufton was bound to obey his master; was cautioned to behave better for the future; and was ordered to pay the costs of the present case out of his wages

Edward was a Blacksmith and operated a business in King Street, Perth in 1872. By 1874 he was in partnership with Thomas Green working in Murray Street, Perth.

In January 1879 Edward Bufton was one of a six men who mounted a rescue of the crew and passengers from the stranded barque "Mariano" in Port Walcott, Western Australia. ^[10]

. . . . Undaunted by the gale that was blowing, and by the terrible sea that was raging they determined to pull a boat to the ship, and bring off as many as they could. An open boat was obtained, and in spite of the peril in which they were placing their lives, Chapman and his three volunteers together with two natives entered it and started for the ship, counting their own lives as nothing when compared with those that were perishing before their sight. After much labour and peril, they at length managed to reach the ship, a distance of some three miles. They took more than half of us in the boat, thus enabling the ship's boat to take the remainder, and after giving full directions as regards the course we were to steer we left the ship, and under the protection of Providence we reached the shore in safety. The names of the brave men that followed the lead of E. Chapman were G. Linton, I. Nelson and E. Bufton, and they deserve the greatest praise for their conduct. We think they deserve some recognition for the assistance so readily given to strangers in distress."

Edward passed away in 1879 off the coast of Western Australia near Cossack ^[11] and he was buried on the Mangrove Islands, east of Cossack, on 25 December 1879.

News of death of Mr E. Bufton ^[12]

Mr. E. Bufton, a blacksmith, and well known in Perth, who has been working at his trade at Cossack for some time past, is dead. Mr. Bufton had been unwell for some time, and took a trip to the pearling grounds for the benefit of his health, and died there. The sad intelligence was brought in by some pearlers who had returned to Cossack.

Stray Notes from Roebourne ^[13]

I am sorry to have to relate the death of Edward Bufton ; he was buried on Mangrove Island on Christmas day ; fourteen dingeys followed the corpse to its last resting place

Sources

1. ↑ England & Wales, Criminal Registers, Date of Trial: 28 Oct 1850; Trial Year: 1850; Location of Trial: Hampshire, England; Sentence: Transportation
2. ↑ England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, Registration Year: 1851; Registration Quarter: Jan-Feb-Mar; Registration district: Portsea Island; Inferred County: Hampshire; Volume: 7; Page: 192
3. ↑ 1851 England Census
4. ↑ England, Select Births and Christenings, FHL Film Numbers 919741, 919742
5. ↑ Marion voyage to Western Australia
6. ↑ East Perth Cemeteries - Hannah Brufton Arrival date per Clara https://eastperthcemeteries.com.au/explore/burial-search/burialsite/127686.html
7. ↑ TROVE List of Immigrants arrived per Clara https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/65742126?searchTerm=List%20of%20immigrants
8. ↑ TROVE https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/3174670?searchTerm=Clara%20Passengers
9. ↑ The Express (Fremantle) Tue 25 Jan 1870 Page 3 PERTH
10. ↑ The Herald (Fremantle) Sat 15 Feb 1879 Page 3 CORRESPONDENCE.
11. ↑ Australia, Death Index, Registration Number 10416/1880
12. ↑ The Inquirer and Commercial News (Perth) Wed 18 Feb 1880 Page 3 ROEBOURNE, January 9.
13. ↑ Victorian Express (Geraldton) Wed 31 Mar 1880 Page 3 Stray Notes from Roebourne

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