George (Peckham) Packham (1846 - 1934)

Born 6 Aug 1846 in Toongabbie, New South Wales, Australia

Ancestors

Husband of Harriet Unicomb (Bennett) Packham — married 29 Apr 1873 in Redfern, New South Wales, Australia

Husband of Lizbeth (Saunders) Packham — married 30 Jun 1896 in Redfern, New South Wales, Australia

Descendants

Died 17 Jul 1934 at age 87 in Molong, New South Wales, Australia

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Biography

Note: There are three records of birth for a George Peckham (sic) son of a couple Henry and Ann. There were at least two couples named Henry and Ann Packham who had a son George born in 1846 so It is unclear if they are duplicates or three different children, so one is, or all are, possibly that of this George Packham. See Sources below.

George Packham was born on 6 Aug 1846 at Toongabbie, New South Wales, Australia ^[1][2][3], the son of Henry Packham and Ann Unicomb and the brother of Sarah Ann (Peckham) Chandler, Charles Henry Packham, Hannah Packham, Harriet (Peckham) Downs, Mary Ellen (Packham) Bradley, Samuel Packham and Elizabeth Jane (Packham) Stevens.

He married Harriet Winscombe on 29 April 1873 at Redfern, New South Wales, Australia ^[4] and their children were Ada Elizabeth Packham, George Allen Packham, Minnie Mary Ann Packham, Caroline Amelia Packham and Harriet Emily Packham. Harriet died on 19 NOV 1891 leaving George with 5 children.

George then married Lizbeth Saunders on 30 June 1896 at Redfern, New South Wales, Australia ^[5].

George died on 17 July 1934 at Molong, New South Wales, Australia ^[6][7]. George was buried with his first wife in the Molong General Cemetery, Molong, New South Wales, Australia.
Obituary: ^[8] MR. GEORGE PACKHAM The flag at the Town Hall was at half mast on Wednesday as a tribute to the memory of one who for 20 years was an alderman of the municipality, and who for several years was Mayor of Molong.
Mr. George Packham passed away on Tuesday afternoon at the residence of his daughter, Mrs. E. L. M. Parslow, Barnalea. He was 88 years of age. The tribute paid by the town was in recognition of years of service on behalf of the town and its institutions. He came here 85 years ago, and, in these days when centenary ideas are in the bud, the town was not far advanced, then, nor for many years after. Bullock teams were the prevailing mode of locomation, and there was neither postal, telegraph, telephone, wireless, aircraft, nor any of the great services we enjoy to-day. He had seen the progress of some of the greatest inventions of the age, and now he lies calmly sleeping in the local cemetery.
He was born at Prospect, near Parramatta, on August 6, 1846. He arrived at Larras Lee with his parents in 1849. Later on his father settled at the property which he called "Quickbourne", and which Mr. Packham afterwards inherited to pass on to his son, Allen, the present occupant of the property.
On reaching manhood he set out to win success in life, and when the gold fever broke out he visited Gulgong, Alectown, and Peak Hill. He sought fortune by prospecting new country, and on more than one occasion he thought he had "struck it rich." However, Dame Fortune in this respect failed to smile upon him, so he returned, to Molong and devoted his en- ergies to agriculture and fruit-growing. He was a wonderful authority on bees, and from these money spinners he was successful.
As he progressed in years so his desire to serve the public progressed. He entered the Municipal Council later and gave years of valuable thought and enterprise to civic affairs. In the Pastoral and Agricultural Society he exhibited the greatest interest. In fact, he was at the first show, and attended every succeeding exhibition until this year. He was a life member of the association, which sent one of many beautiful wreaths placed on his coffin.
Mr. Packham also took an interest in the hospital and other public institutions. After a long and trying illness he died at the residence of his youngest child (Mrs. Parslow, "Barnalea"). The body was taken to his old home at Quickbourne, where a short service was conducted by Rev. G. Gray, who remarked that Quickbourne was the earliest home of Methodist ministers, for whom a room ("the Parson's room") was always provided. Mr. Packham twice married.
His first wife was Miss Harriett Bennett, also a member of a district pioneer family. There were five children, four of whom survive, viz., Mrs. Evans (Wauchope), Allen (Quickbourne), Miss Minnie Packham, and Mrs. Parslow (Molong).
Mr. Packham was the last of a family of seven, one of his brothers being Charles Packham, the originator of Packham's Triumph pears, also of two other of the same species of fruit, "Packham's Late," and "Autumn Nellis."
The interment took place in the Methodist portion of the cemetery, beside the body of deceased's first wife and daughter, and not far from the graves of his father, and mother. Mr. P. A. Quinn conducted the funeral arrangements.

Sources

1. ↑ (Record 1) Birth: New South Wales Australia Births: Name: PECKHAM GEORGE Registration number: 409/1846 V1846409 55 Father's Given name(s): HENRY Mother's Given name(s): ANN
2. ↑ (Record 2) Birth: New South Wales Australia Births: Name: PECKHAM GEORGE Registration number: 463/1846 V1846463 158 Father's Given name(s): HENRY Mother's Given name(s): ANN
3. ↑ (Record 3) Birth: New South Wales Australia Births: Name: PECKHAM GEORGE Registration number: 1346/1846 V18461346 31A Father's Given name(s): HENRY Mother's Given name(s): ANN
4. ↑ Marriage: New South Wales Australia Marriages: Registration number 1477/1873 Groom's Family Name PACKHAM Groom's Given Name(s) GEORGE Bride's Family Name(s) BENNETT Bride's Given Name(s) HARRIET WINSCOMBE District REDFERN
5. ↑ Marriage: New South Wales Australia Marriages: Registration number 5943/1896 Groom's Family Name PACKHAM Groom's Given Name(s) GEORGE Bride's Family Name(s) SAUNDERS Bride's Given Name(s) LIZBETH District REDFERN
6. ↑ Death: New South Wales Australia Deaths: Name: PACKHAM GEORGE Registration number 15653/1934 Father's Given Name(s) HENRY Mother's Given Name(s) ANN District MOLONG
7. ↑ Death Notice: The Dubbo Liberal and Macquarie Advocate (NSW: 1894 - 1954) Thu 19 Jul 1934 Page 1 OLD MOLONG RESIDENT: Dies at Eighty-six Molong, Thursday. Mr. George Packham, aged 86, one of the oldest and best-known residents of the Molong district, died yesterday. He was a successful apiarist and orchardist, and was a brother of Charles Packham, of Packham pear fame. For several terms he was Mayor of Molong
8. ↑ Molong Express and Western District Advertiser (NSW : 1887 - 1954) Sat 21 Jul 1934 Page 9 OBITUARY:

Research Notes

Children

• Birth: New South Wales Australia Births: Name: PACKHAM ADA ELIZABETH Registration number 14407/1875 Father's Given name(s) GEORGE Mother's Given name(s) HARRIET U District MOLONG

• Birth: New South Wales Australia Births: Name: PACKHAM GEORGE ALLEN Registration number 16289/1878 Father's Given name(s) GEORGE Mother's Given name(s) HARRIET UNICOMB District MOLONG

• Birth: New South Wales Australia Births: Name: PACKHAM MINNIE M A Registration number 21008/1882 Father's Given name(s) GEORGE Mother's Given name(s) HARRIET UNICOMBE District MOLONG

• Birth: New South Wales Australia Births: Name: PACKHAM HARRIET E Registration number 27068/1887 Father's Given name(s) GEORGE Mother's Given name(s) HARRIET District MOLONG

• Birth: New South Wales Australia Births: Name: PACKHAM CAROLINE A Registration number 24479/1884 Father's Given name(s) GEORGE Mother's Given name(s) HARRIET W District MOLONG