Charles James Bullivant (1798 - 1879)

Born 25 Feb 1798 in Pentonville, London, England

Ancestors

Husband of Maria Ann (Ikin) Bullivant — married 10 Jul 1823 in Sydney, Colony of New South Wales

Husband of Rebecca (Lucock) Bullivant — married 18 Dec 1870 in St. Leonards, Colony of New South Wales

Descendants

Died 25 Jan 1879 at age 80 in St Leonards, Colony of New South Wales

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Biography

Charles James BULLIVANT, son of James BULLIVANT and Elizabeth PHILLIPS, was born on 25 February 1798 in Pentonville, Middlesex, England, was christened on 25 March 1799, died on 25 January 1879 in St. Leonards, Colony of New South Wales at age 80, and was buried on 27 January 1879 in St. Thomas Cemetery, North Sydney, Colony of New South Wales.

Charles married Maria IKIN, daughter of Obediah IKIN and Sarah BUTTS, on 10 July 1823 in St. Philip's Church of England, Sydney, Colony of New South Wales. ^[1]

Maria was born on 30 December 1792 in Sydney, Colony of New South Wales, was christened in Colony of Norfolk Island, died on 7 November 1869 in St. Leonards, Colony of New South Wales at age 76, and was buried on 9 November 1869 in St. Thomas' Cemetery, North Sydney, Colony of New South Wales.

Charles next married Rebecca LUCOCK on 18 December 1870 in St. Thomas' Church, St. Leonards, Colony of New South Wales.

Rebecca was born in 1817 in London, Middlesex, England, United Kingdom, died on 21 September 1896 in Willoughby, Colony of New South Wales at age 79, and was buried on 23 September 1896 in St. Thomas' Cemetery, North Sydney, Colony of New South Wales.

• Emigration ~ 1815 ~ Charles emigrated from United Kingdom aboard the "Ocean" as an Ensign in the 46th Foot Regiment.

• Immigration ~ 30 January 1816 ~ Charles immigrated to Colony of New South Wales aboard the "Ocean" as an Ensign in the 46th Foot Regiment.

From his death certificate 3660/1879, Charles James Bullivant, retired publican, died on 25 January 1879, at Merlin Street, St Leonards, aged 80 years and 11 months, of decay of nature, and was buried on 26 January in his own vault in his garden, Merlin Street, witnesses N A Avery and Edward Hunt, certified by Henry Hunt, undertaker.

Notes

Evening News (Sydney, NSW) Mon, 3 Feb 1879, Page 2
Disgusting Burial at St Leonards
One of the most deplorable sights that we should imagine was ever witnessed in a civilised country occurred on Monday last at the burial of one Charles James Bullivant, who, at St Leonards, on the 25 January, shuffled off this mortal coil at the age of eighty-four. During his lifetime Bullivant gave evidence of a most eccentric disposition, and appeared quite callous as to any future reward or punishment, apparently by his entire outward acts, disclaiming the existence of a Maker. Some twenty years ago the wretched man had a coffin constructed for him, as also a stone tomb in his garden, and according to his last request, was encased in both. In his life he expressed a wish to die after a full meal, which gratification was granted him. Bullivant also desired that a plentiful supply of grog, pipes, and tobacco should be placed in the coffin with him, but owing to the strong liquors indulged in by some of the hangers-on at the last moment, this extraordinary request was forgotten. Bullivant was known to have died wealthy, and as he had died suddenly it was thought a coroner’s inquest would be held, but as the doctor gave a certificate that he had died of natural causes, no inquiry was held as to the cause of death. The burial then took place, and those in charge prepared to open the stone receptacle intended for the coffin, but found it was too small. The bystanders immediately set to work, and by chiselling and hammering managed to pull down some of the structure. No clergyman was present to read the service, but a grey-headed old man, said to be Bullivant’s son-in-law, undertook to read the service, and as the St, Leonard’s Recorder says :- “It seemed awful to hear these grand, impressive words read - ‘I am the resurrection and the life,’ over the corpse of one on whose tomb was the following superscription "The first dark day of nothingness; The last of danger and distress”.
Added to the chaos of chiselling and hammering and talking, to make the orgies more dismal a solitary frog commenced croaking in a horrible manner, which, together with the dogs barking, goats bahing, completed a scene painful in the extreme to witness. After the service had been completed the coffin was attempted to be placed in the hole of the tomb, but it was found still to be too small. A tipsy sailor then came to the rescue, and seated on the ground, commenced pushing with his feet, accompanying the act with a series of “Yoey-hos” and “Now, my beauties, he’s bound to go.” succeeded, assisted by a young woman, in pushing the coffin into the cavernous receptacle prepared for it. The scene at this time was revolting, swearing and cursing being freely indulged in, and more than one of the party was considerably intoxicated. The burial of Charles James Bullivant will long be remembered at St Leonards; and we sincerely trust that, for the sake of the community at large, such another disgusting occurrence will never take place." ^{[2] [3]}

Sources

1. ↑ Australia Marriages, 1810-1980, database, FamilySearch
   Charles James Bullivant and Maria Ikin, 10 Jul 1823; citing St. Philips Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, reference ; FHL microfilm 993,949.
2. ↑ by Margaret Miller, published in the book Some Ikin Reminiscences - Ikin Family Gathering - Sydney June 1990, pages 29 to 31.
3. ↑ Evening News (Sydney, NSW) Wed, 5 Feb 1879, Page 3
   DISGUSTING BURIAL AT ST. LEONARDS.
   To the Editor.
   Sir,— In your notice of the death and burial of the late C. J. Bullivant, you state that no inquest was held, as the doctor gave a certificate "that be had died of natural causes." Allow me to contradict this. I was the medical man called to see him after his death, but I refused to give any certificate whatever. The coroner, influenced , I suppose, by information given him by other parties, did not consider an inquest necessary, and gave an order for the burial.
   I remain, &c.,
   St. Leonards, February 3, 1879. R. D. WARD.

See also:

• Some Colourful Stories Relating to the Family of Maria Ikin (http : / / grthom . info / colourful . html)
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