John James Russell (abt. 1804 - 1849)

Born about 1804 in County Dublin, Ireland

Husband of Mary (Drew) Russell — married 5 Sep 1843 in Limerick, County Limerick, Ireland

Died 27 Jul 1849 at about age 45 in Killarney, County Kerry, Ireland

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Biography

John James Russell, age: 21 born 1804, birth place Dublin, was in a military record from 28 July 1825. He served from December 1825 to September 1826 in Jamaica with the forces (no regiment specified). He was assistant surgeon with the 77th Regiment from 25 April 1826 to 19 October 1826 when he was apointed to the 63rd Regiment. He was in Portugal from December 1826 to April 1828. He was in Van Diemen's Land from October 1828 to December 1833. He served in India from January 1834 to April 1835. He was in the 73rd Foot from 22 January 1836. He was promoted to the 36th Foot.^[1][2]

1825: From the London Gazette"

Hospital Staff. To be Hospital-Assistants to the Forces:

John James Russell, Gent. vice Williams, appointed to the 27th Foot. Dated 28th July 1825.^[3]

Assistant Surgeon Dr Russell of the 63rd Regiment arrived aboard the Fergusson on 26th March 1829 in Sydney from Dublin with a detachment of the 63rd Regiment.

From the Australian (Sydney, NSW), Tuesday 31 March 1829, page 3:

SHIPPING NEWS.

Arrived

On Thursday last, from Dublin, whence she sailed the 16th of November, the ship Ferguson, Captain Groves, with 214 male prisoners, Surgeon Superintendent, C. Cameron, Esq., R. N. The guard consists of a detachment of the 63rd regiment, under the orders of Captain Wentworth. Passengers, Thomas Stafford, Esq , D. A. C. G., Dr. Russel, Assistant Surgeon of the 63d regiment, Ensign Dunbar, of the 39th regiment, and Master James.^[4]

In 1830 Russell was in Launceston and when he departed the local paper was sorry to see him go. From the Launceston Advertiser (Tas.), Monday 23 August 1830, page 2:

"Render unto Ceasar the things that are Ceasar's."

We have lost a man whose place in Launceston will not be easily filled up, one who has been justly designated the ' Friend of JUSTICE AND HUMANITY.' While we render the tribute of praise to Dr. John RUSSELL of the 63rd Regiment, which is merely his due, we are convinced that we speak not only our own sentiments, but those of the public also. That gentleman has endeared himself to high and low in our community, and it is upon good authority we state, that the poor and the miserable have blessed him as he passed them by— we ourselves well know that many have reason so to do.

We wish Dr. Russell every success in that part of the Island to which he has been called; or wherever else it may please Providence to place him— it will always give us great pleasure to hear of his well-doing and well-being.^[5]

Assistant Surgeon John James Russell was the first Commandant of the penal settlement at Port Arthur. A minute dated from the Settlement October 2nd, and giving details of his landing there on September 22nd, 1830.^[6] Assistant Surgeon Russell had been appointed Superintendent with the powers of a Magistrate for the new Settlement.

Assistant Surgeon Russell was appointed by Governor Arthur to establish a “sawing station” in Birch’s Bay. Upon arrival on the Derwent in September 1830 he chose a site and prepared a plan which he submitted to Governor Arthur for his approval. Arthur approved the plan and appointed Surgeon John Russell as the Commandant. Fifty Prisoners were selected and a detachment of an officer and 15 rank and file from the 63rd Regiment were sent to establish the new penal settlement which was to become known as Port Arthur.

Under Surgeon John Russell’s management, huts were built and the timber cutting operations established and, after considerable early difficulties with the availability of supplies, the settlement was judged to be both a convenient and easily secure location offering a sound alternative to the Maria Island settlement. Surgeon Russell acquired a reputation as a humane Commandant and a competent manager of convicts. As the operation grew, it was decided to replace Assistant Surgeon John Russell with Captain John Mahon in July 1831^[7]

From the Edinburgh Gazette, Tuesday 26 January 1836:

War Office January 22, 1836:

73d - Assistant-Surgeon John James Russell, from the 63d Regiment of Foot, to be Assistant-Surgeon vice Christopher Maxwell Vowell, who retires upon half-pay.^[8]

John James Russell was promoted to surgeon with the 36th Regiment on 11 June 1841.^[9]

From the Freeman's Journal 14 June 1841:

36th Foot - Assistant-Surgeon John James Russell, M.D., from the 73d Foot, to be Surgeon, vice William Lloyd, who retires upon half-pay.^[10]

John James Russell married Mary Baldwin Drew on 9 September 1843 in Saint Michael, Limerick, Limerick, Ireland.^[11] There was one child of the marriage, Hugh Percy Russell, born 14 June 1846.^[12][13]

From the Freeman’s Journal, 12 September 1843:

Married on the 5th inst. John James Russell. M. D. Surgeon of the 36th Regt. to Mary, only daughter of the Rev. Browning Drew of Victoria Terrace.^[14]

From the Freeman’s Journal, 21 May 1849:

Died on the 24th April, at sea, off Cape de Gaet, on board the Apollo troopship, Mary, the wife of John James Russell, Surgeon of the 30th Regt. and only daughter of the Rev Browning Drew, Rector of Kiltallagh, Co. Kerry.^[14]

John James Russell as an officer on full pay with the 36th regiment when he died on 27 July 1849.^[12] It seems at the time of his death he had been appointed to Superintendant of the Lunatic Asylum at Yarmouth.^[15]

From the Clare Journal, and Ennis Advertiser 6 August 1849:

At Cherry Lodge, near Killarney, John J. Russell, Esq., M. D., Surgeon of H.M.'s 36th Regt. - but a few weeks surviving his beloved wife.^[10]

Research notes

Born Dublin 1804:

The Canada, British Regimental Registers of Service, 1756-1900 lists Assistant Surgeon John James Russell of the 73rd Regiment of Foot, born in Dublin in 1804 as having served as an Assistant Surgeon in America from 29 July 1839 to 6 July 1841. The record includes the undated note “Promoted to the 36th Regiment”. ^[7]

Possible baptism: John, child of Francis Russell & Mary Creagh, was born in 1804 and baptised on 9 February 1804 in St Mary's, Limerick city, Limerick, Ireland.^[16] Perhaps born Dublin and baprised Limerick.

Another possible baptism: John, child of George Russel & Mary Russel, was born in 1803 and baptised on 5 December 1803 in St Catherine's, Dublin city, Dublin, Ireland.^[17]

Surgeon Russell was a cousin of Daniel Michael Paul Cudmore (1811-1891) presumably through Daniel's mother, Jane Sarah Russell (1791-1879).^[18]

Sources

1. ↑ Military: "UK, Regimental Registers of Service, 1756-1900"
   The National Archives; Kew, Surrey, England; Class Number: WO 25; Class Title: 73 Foot; Piece Number: 465; Piece Title: 73 Foot
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 3253 #244621 (accessed 8 February 2023)
   Name: John James Russell; Age: 21; Birth Date: 1804; Birth Place: Dublin; Military Date: 28 Jul 1825; Unit: 73rd Foot Soldiers.
2. ↑ Military: "UK, Regimental Registers of Service, 1756-1900"
   The National Archives; Kew, Surrey, England; Class Number: WO 25; Class Title: 73 Foot Reserve and Depot; Piece Number: 464; Piece Title: 73 Foot Reserve and Depot
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 3253 #243947 (accessed 8 February 2023)
   Name: Jno Jas Russell; Age: 21; Birth Date: 1804; Birth Place: Dublin; Military Date: 28 Jul 1825; Unit: 73rd Foot Soldiers, Reserve and Depot.
3. ↑ London Gazette https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/18162/page/1374/data.pdf
4. ↑ SHIPPING NEWS. (1829, March 31). The Australian (Sydney, NSW : 1824 - 1848), p. 3. Retrieved February 8, 2023, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article36867786
5. ↑ LAUNCESTON ADVERTISER, MONDAY, AUGUST 23. 1830. (1830, August 23). Launceston Advertiser (Tas. : 1829 - 1846), p. 3. Retrieved February 9, 2023, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article84775288
6. ↑ Moore-Robinson, J. "Papers and proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania." Open Access Repository, republished University of Tasmania, 8 Aug. 1921, https://eprints.utas.edu.au/15747/1/robinson-tas-state-records-1921.pdf
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1} Flack, Edmund D. "The 63rd Regiment of Foot (West Suffolk) In Australia 1829 – 1833 (2nd Edition)." My Family History – Flack, Cockshutt, Hayward and Chambers Family History, June 2020, https://wheredoyouthinkyoucomefrom.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/The-63rd-Regiment-of-Foot-Final-Draft.pdf Flack is in turn citing Weidenhofer, M. (1981). Port Arthur: A place of misery. Oxford University Press.
8. ↑ 1836 Newspaper: "Scotland, Edinburgh Gazette 1797-2018"
   FindMyPast Image - FindMyPast Transcription (accessed 8 February 2023)
   First name(s): John James; Last name: Russell; Publication year: 1836; Issue date: 26 Jan 1836; Issue number: 04454; Periodical: Edinburgh Gazette; Country: Scotland.
9. ↑ Hart's Army List 1841 page 87 retrieved from archive.org
10. ↑ ^{10.0 10.1} Newspaper article retrieved through FindMyPast
11. ↑ Marriage: "Ireland, Select Marriages, 1619-1898"
    Ireland, Marriages, 1619-1898. Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.: FamilySearch, 2013; FHL Film Number: 897422
    Ancestry Record 9904 #503390 (accessed 8 February 2023)
    John James Russell marriage to Mary Baldwin Drew on 9 Sep 1843 in Saint Michael, Limerick, Limerick, Ireland.
12. ↑ ^{12.0 12.1} Marriage: "UK, British Army and Navy Birth, Marriage and Death Records, 1730-1960"
    The National Archives of the UK; Kew, Surrey, England; War Office: Officers' Birth Certificates, Wills and Personal Papers. BRITISH OFFICERS AND THEIR FAMILIES; Class: WO 42; Piece: 040; Piece Description: Piece 040: R. 167-335 (1776-1881)
    Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 60931 #357328 (accessed 8 February 2023)
    John James Russell MD marriage to undefined on 9 Sep 1843 in Limerick.
13. ↑ Marriage: "Ireland, Casey Collection Indexes, 1545-1960"
    Casey Collection, published 1952-71; Author:: Albert E. Casey: O'Kief, Coshe Mang, Slieve Lougher, and Upper Blackwater in Ireland
    Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 62062 #130771 (accessed 8 February 2023)
    John Russell Esq marriage to Mary Drew on 9 Sep 1843 in Ireland.
14. ↑ ^{14.0 14.1} Murphy, Noel. "Russell of Limerick." Limerick Archives' Genealogical Resources Limerick.ie, http://www.limerickcity.ie/media/Russell.pdf . Accessed 8 Feb. 2023.
15. ↑ UK, British Army and Navy Birth, Marriage and Death Records, 1730-1960 Piece WO 42: Officers Birth Certificates, Wills and Personal Papers Description: Piece 040: R 167-335 (1776-1881) retrieved from https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/357328:60931
16. ↑ Baptism: "Ireland, Catholic Parish Registers, 1655-1915"
    National Library of Ireland; Dublin, Ireland; Irish Catholic Parish Registers; Microfilm Number: Microfilm 02412 / 02
    Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 61039 #2495598 (accessed 8 February 2023)
    John Russell baptism on 9 Feb 1804 (born 1804), child of Francis Russell & Mary Creagh, in St Mary's, Limerick city, Limerick, Ireland.
17. ↑ Baptism: "Ireland, Catholic Parish Registers, 1655-1915"
    National Library of Ireland; Dublin, Ireland; Irish Catholic Parish Registers; Microfilm Number: Microfilm 07138 / 08
    Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 61039 #7501599 (accessed 8 February 2023)
    John Russel baptism on 5 Dec 1803 (born 1803), child of George Russel & Mary Russel, in St Catherine's, Dublin city, Dublin, Ireland.
18. ↑ ‘Cudmore, Daniel Michael (1811–1891)’, Obituaries Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, http://oa.anu.edu.au/obituary/cudmore-daniel-michael-6335/text28381.