John James Purcell1
M, #1383, b. 8 August 1861, d. 28 June 1942
| Father | John Purcell2 b. 16 Jan 1830, d. 11 Aug 1893 |
| Mother | Ann Farmer2 b. 1834, d. 12 Feb 1919 |
| Relationship | Great-grandfather of Timothy George Sheens |
| Charts | Ancestors of Timothy George Sheens (DNA trail) |
| Last Edited | 22 Jan 2022 |
| Birth* | 8 August 1861 | Nepean, NSW; Name: John James Purcell Sex: Male Date of Birth: 8 Aug 1861 Place of Birth: Nepean, District of Penrith Father: John James Purcell Occupation: Farmer Birthplace: New South Wales Age: 31 Date of Marriage: 1851 Place of Marriage: Penrith Mother: Ann Farmer Birthplace: New South Wales Age: 27 Previous Issue: 1 boy, 3 girls Informant: Ann Purcell, Mother, Nepean Present at Birth: Mrs W M Colless, Mrs Wallis2 |
| Marriage* | 6 October 1886 | Bethel House, Sydney, NSW; Groom: John James Purcell Status: Bachelor Place of Birth: (None recorded) Occupation: Confectioner Age: (None recorded) Usual Residence: Surry Hills, Sydney Father: (None recorded) Occupation: (None recorded) Mother: (None recorded) Bride: Elizabeth Martha Eleanor Annie Alderson Priestly Status: Spinster Place of Birth: (None recorded) Occupation: In private life Age: (None recorded) Usual Residence: Surry Hills, Sydney Father: (None recorded) Occupation: (None recorded) Mother: (None recorded) Date of Marriage: 6 Oct 1886 Place of Marriage: Bethel House, Sydney Religion: Congregational Witnesses: Esther Mahalia Holmes, E M S Wright Minister: William Bradley ;Bride=Elizabeth Martha Eleanor Annie Alderson Priestly3 |
| Birth of Daughter | 26 June 1888 | Sydney, NSW;Principal=Ada Sarah Esther Purcell4 |
| Birth of Daughter | 11 February 1891 | Sydney, NSW;Principal=Linda Madeline Purcell5 |
| Birth of Daughter | 31 December 1892 | Penrith, NSW;Principal=Mary Clarice Purcell6 |
| Death of Father | 11 August 1893 | Castlereagh, NSW; Name: John Purcell Date of Death: 11 Aug 1893 Place of Death: Castlereagh NSW Occupation: Farmer Sex: Male Age: 63 Conjugal Status: Place of Birth: Castlereagh NSW Time in Aust Colonies: Father: Charles Purcell Occupation: Squatter Mother: Phoebe Morris Place of Marriage: Penrith Age at Marriage: 21 Name of Spouse: Annie Farmer Wallis Children of Marriage: Mary Ann 36, Theresa 34, William 32, Amelia 30, John James 28, Rosetta 26, Susanna 23, Annie 21, Austin 15, living; 1 male deceased Informant: J J Purcell, son, Castlereagh Cause of Death: Hepatic Scirrhus, Dropsy Length of Illness: 2 years Medical Attendant: Alex Barber Date last seen: 9 Aug 1893 Date of Burial: 13 Aug 1893 Place of Burial: R C Burial Ground Cranebrook Minister & Religion: J Sheridan, Roman Catholic Undertaker: Arthur Price Witnesses: Andrew Turnbull, Michael Long;Principal=John Purcell7 |
| Birth of Son | 20 April 1895 | Penrith, NSW;Principal=John Austin Harvey Purcell8 |
| Article | 27 February 1897 | "The Nepean Times", Penrith, NSW; Alleged Assault Cases. At the Penrith Police Court on Tuesday, before Messrs. J. K. Cleeve, P.M., J. D. Single, M, Long, and F. D. Woodriff, Js.P., John Beacroft was charged, on the information of John James Purcell, in that he did, on the 17th February, unlawfully assault the said John James Purcell at Castlereagh, Mr. J. A. I. Perry appeared for the prosecution. Defendant pleaded not guilty. Mr. Perry stated that when defendant was served with a summons he took out a cross one against plaintiff, and asked for the two cases to be tried in one. Defendant consented, and it was agreed upon. John James Purcell, sworn, deposed: I am a farmer and reside at Castlereagh, in the district of Penrith; have heard my information read, and it refers to the defendant Beacroft, now before the Court; on the 17th February Beacroft was standing at his rails, my brother (Charles) and his wife (Sarah Purcell) were also present; I was talking to my brother and his wife when Beacroft came up and said "You object to my children going across your paddock?" I said "Just as well for them to go down the road, it is not much further," when he said " You're a. b—— thing, you b——, I'll smash your b—— skull," he was then on the road; I started to walk away, and he followed me, hit me on the back of the head and knocked me down and kicked me whilst on the ground; when I was getting up again he hit me on the face and split my lip, the mark is still there; he hit me twice on the jaw and two or three times about the body; he caught me by the throat and scratched me, he said "I have been waiting for you for a long while;" I never said anything; but tried to get away; he was very excited and had lost his temper, my brother, who was there all the time, pulled him off me; I was going away, when be said "If you're a b—— man come and fight I went away towards my own house; I never gave him any provocation whatever, and what I say is that Beacroft started the proceedings, he hit me first, when I tried to get away, not to defend myself; I did not assault him; after Beacroft was served with the summons he retaliated by serving one against me. By Beacroft: You were not mending the fence when I came up, you came towards me; I did not come up the road past my brother; I never hit you in the eye, did not strike you at all; there was no conversation about anything else only the children going through the paddock. By Mr. Perry: This assault has occasioned me much inconvenience; I suffered much pain for a day or two from the blows on the jaw. Charles William Purcell, duly sworn, deposed: I am a farmer, and reside at Castlereagh; know Beacroft, remember the 17th February, saw him in front of my residence Castlereagh; he came across to where my brother and myself were talking Beacroft first spoke about my brother stopping the children from crossing his paddock and he used bad language; he hit my brother on the back of the head, knocked him down and while my brother was down made a kick at him, and as he was getting up, Beacroft struck him in the face, in point of fact I had to pull him off; my brother did not give Beacroft any provocation whatever; Beacroft was like a mad lion; my brother did not assault Beacroft, he simply shoved him away and tried to defend himself. By Beacroft: I was sober at that time and was also sober at nine or ten that night; my brother was next to you, he had just come up the road to my place, he came up on the side next to you, we were talking together; my brother did not square up to you, I was holding him back; I don't know whether you were mending the fence; I spoke to you when I came out. Some raillery ensued between Mr. Perry and defendant. By Mr. Single It is a grass paddock and my mother did not like them going through the paddock. By the P.M.: They were together about five minutes before any blows were struck; it was only about the children coming or going to school; it was my mother's wish that the children should be stopped I did not hear my mother's name mentioned as being opposed to the children going through. Sarah Purcell, sworn, deposed: I am the wife of Charles Purcell, and live at Castlereagh; I remember the 17th February: was with my husband there; about nine or ten o'clock I saw Mr Beacroft come down, and he used some terrible bad language to Mr. John Purcell, and said he would fight him; my husband went to come away, when Mr. Beacroft hit Mr. John Purcell on the left cheek, and his jaw was covered with blood; Mr. Purcell never gave any provocation; I never heard anything said about some school children; the children used to go across the paddock, and the landlady objected to it, and my children were not even allowed to go across; there may have been something said, but I never heard it; Mr. Purcell tried to push Beacroft off, and he could not get away; my husband went over and pulled Mr. Beacroft off him. By defendant: I heard your voice, which brought me out, and I saw you kick Mr. Purcell; I was outside; I never heard what was said; he was standing alongside my husband—I don't know which side it was; I never heard bad language from you before, and you have been there four years; I will swear that I saw you strike Purcell before. By Mr. Single: Beacroft is a tenant of Mrs. Purcell. By Mr. Long : It was about four panels from Beacroft’s gate where the offence took place. By the P.M.: I heard them talking and came out, and it was hardly a moment before I saw the blow struck, Athol Plunkett, farmer, residing at Castlereagh, in the Penrith district, deposed; I remember talking to defendant Beacroft the evening of the 16th along the river bank; he said he was going to give Jack Purcell a belting or take one himself; he said Jack Purcell only wanted to “nark” him, and was trying to be as nasty as he could to stop Beacroft from sending his children across; Beacroft said he would send his children across, and would go and see whether he turned them back or not. By defendant: It was about six o'clock in the evening of the 16th inst, when this conversation took place; you were down on the banks of the river. This concluded the case for the prosecution. THE DEFENCE. John Beacroft, sworn, deposed: I am a farmer residing at Castlereagh; John James Purcell is the person I charge with assaulting me: I have heard my information read, it refers to defendant; I saw him on the 17th inst., on the Castlereagh road; he came up to the road to where I was mending the fence, and said, "Your children are not to cross that paddock"; and I said, "Well, then you won't get any water out of my well;" he said, "I will get the water, my mother told me I could go when I liked;" I said, "did I not send you a written notice not to go to the well;" he said, "I don't care for that, if you go to take the cattle to the river I'll take them from you and pound them;" I said, "If you're a better man than me you will;" he said, "You can try as soon as you like;" that was all that was said; I went to step towards him and he put up bis hands, and said it would not take him five minutes to do me over; he grabbed hold of me and hit me in the eye; Charles Purcell came and caught me by the shoulders, and put his knees in the middle of my back (the witness here showed the Bench, how it was done), while his brother hit me; John Purcell's wife came between us, and he hit her and shoved her away and asked what business she had there; Mrs. Charles Purcell sang out to her husband to let me go—not to hold me—and when he did let me go John Purcell ran away. By Mr. Perry: I tried to get away from John Purcell; when released he ran down the road, turned round, and putting up his fists, squared up at me, but he had not much chance of hitting me at the time; Mrs John Purcell was there, that I'll swear positively; when I said I made a step towards John Purcell, I meant that I stepped up to hear what he was saying, as I am hard of hearing; the conversation was rather loud; I never kicked John Purcell; I know the schoolmaster, he told the children, not to go through the paddock, and I told him he was done with them after they Were outside his gate; I hit Purcell because he had hold of my beard and pulled some of it out; I never struck at him, he tore at me like a cat and I suppose I clawed at him like another one, neither of us were down; William Charles Purcell was the only one there when the row began, and only him when the blows were struck; William Charles Purcell had hold of me when Mrs. John Purcell came running across the paddock; Mrs. Charles Purcell was standing against the gate, there was nothing to prevent her seeing what took place; I was advised to go to a doctor to show the marks on my body, but did not think it worthwhile. Elizabeth Beacroft, sworn, deposed: I am the wife of John Beacroft, and reside at Castlereagh; on the day mentioned I was in my garden when I heard some high words, I looked down and saw John Purcell squaring up to my husband and William Purcell was catching hold of him; I called my daughter and we went down together; I saw blood on my husband's mouth, and a lot of his beard pulled out; saw William Purcell stoop and pick up metal, but did not know what he was going to do with it; I thought I might have got a clout, I was very much afraid; I took my husband home. By Mr. Perry: My husband was mending a fence when I heard high words; I did not see a blow struck, but when I looked up John Purcell was squaring up to my husband; Mrs. John Purcell arrived there just before I did; I don't know whether Mrs. Charles Purcell was there at the first, she was standing outside her place; I was about fifty yards away when I saw Purcell squaring up; I don't know whether it was fifty yards, it was not three hundred, something under a hundred yards; I saw a scratch on the side of John Purcell’s jaw, and there was some blood there, but not so much as was on my husband's mouth. Annie Beacroft, sworn, deposed; I am a daughter of John Beacroft, and reside at Castlereagh; I saw John Purcell, William Purcell, Mrs. John and Mrs. William Purcell there when my mother called me; they were near my mother's sliprails; this was on the 17th instant; my mother called me, and I saw John Purcell put up his hands to my father, in a threatening manner, and William Purcell caught hold of him while John was going to hit him; I did not see any more; I never saw any blows struck; I was standing eight yards off; they were all excited, and I could not hear any remarks that passed between my father and John Purcell. The Bench dismissed both cases. John Beacroft proceeded against Elizabeth Purcell, and charged' her with using insulting language to him, whereby he might have been incited to commit a breach of the peace. John Beacroft was duly sworn, and stated that Mrs. Purcell used the words to him, but unless she had hit him he would not on any account have touched her, and she would not have incited him to commit a breach of the peace. Mr. Perry contended that plaintiff could not prove his information, and it fell to the ground. The Bench dismissed the case. Mr. Perry applied for costs, but the Bench would not allow any.9 |
| Birth of Son | 13 February 1903 | Penrith, NSW; Name: George Sheens Sex of Child: Male Date of Birth: 13 Feb 1903 Place of Birth: Penrith NSW Father: George Sheens Occupation: Woolwasher Birthplace: Castlereagh NSW Age: 29 Date of Marriage: 2 Jun 1902 (notation adjacent reads “correct”) Place of Marriage: Castlereagh NSW Mother: Emily Mann Birthplace: London England Age: 31 Previous Issue: Informant: Emily Sheens, mother, Penrith Present at Birth: Mrs Jones Registered: 9 Mar 1903 – Penrith;Principal=George Sheens10 |
| Death of Mother | 12 February 1919 | Castlereagh, NSW; Name: Annie Purcell Date of Death: 12 Feb 1919 Place of Death: Castlereagh, Municipality of Castlereagh Occupation: Sex: Female Age: 85 Conjugal Status: Place of Birth: Sydney NSW Time in Aust Colonies: Father: John Farmer Occupation: Not known (altered from independent means) Mother: Annie (surname not stated) Place of Marriage: Penrith NSW Age at Marriage: 17 Name of Spouse: John Purcell Children of Marriage: Theresa J 62, Charles W 60, Amelia A 58, John J 56, Rosetta 54, Annie J 44, Austin C 40, living; 1 male, 2 females deceased Informant: John James Purcell, son, Castlereagh; Witness: James V McCarthy Cause of Death: Exhaustion, Chronic Parenchymatous Nephritis Length of Illness: Medical Attendant: F C Higgins Date last seen: 9 Feb 1919 Date of Burial: 13 Feb 1919 Place of Burial: Roman Catholic Cemetery Cranebrook Minister & Religion: Thos Ryan, Roman Catholic Undertaker: John Price and Son Witnesses: Leo T Price, A E Elkington;Principal=Ann Farmer11 |
| Death of Daughter | 9 June 1932 | Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, NSW;Principal=Linda Madeline Purcell12 |
| Will* | 7 January 1935 | NSW; 271250 PURCELL JOHN JAMES Late of Penrith – Farmer THIS IS THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT of me JOHN JAMES PURCELL of Penrith in the State of New South Wales Farmer I REVOKE all wills and testamentary dispositions heretofore made by me I APPOINT my wife ELIZABETH PURCELL and my son JOHN AUSTIN HARVEY PURCELL hereinafter called my Trustees to be Executors and Trustees of this my Will and I declare that all trusts and powers vested in my Trustees may be exercised by the survivor of them or other the Trustees or Trustee for the time being of this my Will I GIVE AND BEQUEATH to my daughters Ada Sarah Esther Bunyan and Mary Clarice Poole pecuniary legacies of Ten Pounds each to be paid to them within twelve months from the date of the death of my wife or myself whichever event shall last happen I GIVE AND BEQUEATH all the rest of my Personal estate and all my Real Estate to my Trustees Upon Trust to allow my wife and son the said John Austin Harvey Purcell to use occupy and enjoy the same and to receive the rents and profits thereof in equal shares during the life of my wife and from and after the death of my wife all my said Real Estate and the residue of my Personal estate shall be for my said son John Austin Harvey Purcell absolutely I EMPOWER my said Trustees if they shall think it advisable to sell and convert into money such part of my estate as shall not consist of money during the lifetime of my wife and in the event of their so selling my said estate then I direct that one half thereof of the proceeds shall be invested and the income thereof shall be paid to my wife during her life for her maintenance and support and the other half shall be for my said son absolutely and after the death of my wife the other half of any such money shall also be for my son Absolutely I DECLARE that the reason I have given the whole of my Trust estate to my said son subject to the share therein of my wife as aforesaid and the two legacies of Ten Pounds hereinbefore referred to is that my said son has always helped me in the management of my property on the promise from me and understanding the property would some day be his and further because my said daughters have already been provided for IN WITNESS whereof I have hereunto set my hand this Seventh day of January One thousand nine hundred and thirty five J.J. PURCELL SIGNED by the said Testator JOHN JAMES PURCELL as and for his last Will in the presence of us both present at the same time who at his request in his presence and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses: - A.S. LAMROCK Solicitor Penrith --- C.M. FREW Penrith13 |
| Codicil* | 25 June 1942 | NSW; THIS IS A FIRST CODICIL to the last Will and Testament of me JOHN JAMES PURCELL of Penrith in the State of New South Wales Farmer which Will bears the date the Seventh day of January One thousand nine hundred and thirty five WHEREAS by my said will I gave and bequeathed to my daughter Ada Sarah Esther Bunyan a pecuniary legacy of Ten Pounds to be paid to her within twelve months from the date of the death of my wife or of myself whichever event should first happen AND WHEREAS it is my desire the said legacy of Ten Pounds should be increased to the sum of One hundred Pounds NOW THEREFORE I GIVE AND BEQUEATH to my said daughter Ada Sarah Esther Bunyan a pecuniary legacy of One hundred Pounds to be paid to her by my Executors as soon as conveniently may be after my death IN ALL other respects I confirm my said Will IN WITNESS whereof I have hereunto set my hand this Twenty-fifth day of June One thousand nine hundred and forty two J.J. PURCELL SIGNED by the said JOHN JAMES PURCELLL as and for a first Codicil to his said Will in the presence of us both present at the same time who at his request in his presence and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses: BRIAN S. LAMROCK Solicitor Penrith C.M. FREW Penrith13 |
| Death* | 28 June 1942 | Castlereagh, NSW; Name: John James Purcell Date of Death: 28 Jun 1942 Place of Death: Castlereagh, Castlereagh Municipality Occupation: Dairyman Sex: Male Age: 81 Conjugal Status: Place of Birth: Castlereagh NSW Time in Aust Colonies: Father: John Purcell Occupation: Farmer Mother: Ann Palmer Place of Marriage: Sydney NSW Age at Marriage: 26 Name of Spouse: Elizabeth Priestley Children of Marriage: Ada 54, Clarice 49, John A R 47, living; 1 female deceased Informant: J Purcell, son, Castlereagh Cause of Death: Pneumonia Length of Illness: 7 days Medical Attendant: K C Faulder Date last seen: 26 Jun 1942 Date of Burial: 29 Jun 1942 Place of Burial: Roman Catholic Cemetery Cranebrook Minister & Religion: C J Heffernan, Roman Catholic Undertaker: Nelson Price, of the firm of J Price and Son Witnesses: Arthur Wright, A C Howell14 |
| Article* | 2 July 1942 | "The Nepean Times", Penrith, NSW; MR. J. J. PURCELL. Mr. John James Purcell, a very well known identity of the district, died at his residence, Castlereagh Road, on Sunday, In his 81st year. He was the second son of John and Ann Purcell, and was born on August 9, 1861, at Castlereagh, where he lived all his life. Mr. Purcell was educated at St. Joseph's College, Hunter's Hill, and was a member of the College Old Boys' Union at the time of his death. He was keenly interested in sport, and was a good all-round cricketer in his younger days. He was a member of the Castlereagh C.C. which, in 1902, won the shield presented by the late Mr S. E. Lees, then member for the district. He maintained his interest in competition cricket after his retirement as an active member. Mr. Purcell was a member of the old Penrith Rifle Club and Penrith Volunteers. He had many friends in the district, who will deeply regret his passing. On October 6, 1886, Mr. Purcell was married to Elizabeth Priestly, daughter of William and Mary Priestly, of Sydney, who survives him. He leaves two daughters and a son—Ada (Mrs T. Bunyan, Penrith), Maynie (Mrs W. Poole, Deepwater), and John (Castlereagh). Another daughter, Linda (Mrs E. Plunkett), predeceased him, Mrs T. Anderson, of Paddington, and Mrs J. McCarthy, of Parramatta, are sisters of deceased. The funeraj took place on Monday, leaving St. Nicholas' Ohurch, Penrith, for McCarthy's Cemetery, Cranebrook. Father Heffeman and Father Massey performed the last rites. At the meeting of the Penrith branch of the Milk Suppliers' Association on Monday evening it was decided to forward a letter of sympathy to Mrs Purcell in her bereavement, the President (Mr W. Brown) and Mr M. C. D. Lowe, making appreciative reference to deceased.15 |
| Probate* | 7 September 1942 | NSW; ON this date probate of the last Will and Testament of the abovenamed deceased and One Codicil thereto was granted to ELIZABETH PURCELL and JOHN AUSTIN HARVEY PURCELL the Executrix and Executor named in the said Will (Subject to usual enemy conditions) TESTATOR died on the 28th day of JUNE 1942 – ESTATE sworn at the value of £096.11.9 nett13 |
| Article | 11 March 1955 | Sydney, NSW;REAL PROPERTY ACT NOTICE. Applications have been made to bring the undermentioned lands under the Real Property Act. Plans may be, inspected and caveats lodged at the Land Titles Office Sydney until the respective dates mentioned:— 13th May 1955. No. 28684 John James Purcell 43 a. 2 ¼ p. pt. por. 56 Castlereagh Rd. and on Nepean River at Castlereagh. No. 28695 John James Purcell 21 a. 2 r. 16 p. pts. por. 72 Castlereagh Rd. Castlereagh. The applicant claims adversely to the grantees George Fieldhouse and child and their sequels in title.16 |
Family 1 | Elizabeth Martha Eleanor Annie Alderson Priestly d. 20 Dec 1958 | |
| Children |
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Family 2 | Emily Mann b. 25 Jan 1870, d. 27 Jan 1947 | |
| Child |
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Citations
- [S405] Ancestry DNA, online www.ancestry.com.
- [S110] NSW Birth Transcript (Marilyn Rowan), John J Purcell 11728/1861.
- [S109] NSW Marriage Transcript (Marilyn Rowan), John J Purcell & Elizabeth Priestly1824/1886.
- [S13] NSW Birth Index, 2137/1888 Sarah A E Purcell.
- [S13] NSW Birth Index, 568/1891 Linda M Purcell.
- [S13] NSW Birth Index, 29162/1892 Mary C Purcell.
- [S107] NSW Death Transcript (Marilyn Rowan), John Purcell 12219/1893.
- [S13] NSW Birth Index, 15911/1895 John A H Purcell.
- [S154] Australian Newspapers, trove.nla.gov.au, The Nepean Times, Saturday, February 27, 1897.
- [S110] NSW Birth Transcript (Marilyn Rowan), 6179/1903 George Sheens.
- [S107] NSW Death Transcript (Marilyn Rowan), Annie Purcell 2664/1919.
- [S11] NSW Death Index, 8010/1932 Linda A Plunkett.
- [S377] NSW Will Books, 1800-1952, online http://www.findmypast.com, John James Purcell 1942.
- [S107] NSW Death Transcript (Marilyn Rowan), John James Purcell 12318/1942.
- [S154] Australian Newspapers, trove.nla.gov.au, The Nepean Times, Thursday, July 2, 1942.
- [S154] Australian Newspapers, trove.nla.gov.au, New South Wales Government Gazette, Friday, March 11, 1955.
- [S415] Ancestry Public Member Trees, online www.ancestry.com, The Goulburn Herald, Wednesday, May 3, 1893.