Augustus Courts Yandell

1. Augustus Courts Yandell A true story of GOING BACK 5 GENERATIONS

2. General Information • Augustus was born on 29th November 1831 in Launceston, Cornwall, England. • He was the son of John Yandell and Elizabeth Wenmouth. • Augustus was one of 8 children, however his sister and his brother, Elizabeth Yandell and Edmund George, died a few weeks after birth. Robert Edwin, his brother, passed away when he was 24. • In his lifetime, it was said that he found the amount of gold equivalent to his weight. • He passed away on 20th May 1899.

3. Family Augustus married Rebecca Cooke on 16th August 1854 in Collingwood. They had 7 children, however Rebecca and 6 of their children died from dysentery. Dysentery is an infection of the intestines which was common because the water that they drunk was the water they used to wash the gold. Augustus married again on 1st January, 1868. He married Margery Hokin. They had 16 children, however 4 died in infancy. Augustus and his second wife, Margery Augustus’ first wife, Rebecca

4. A new country… Augustus travelled to Australia with his mother, father and his two brothers, Edward Usher and George Henry. He came because jobs were available in Australia, however he wouldn’t have wanted to travel back to England as his family was living in Australia. He was also very successful in the country giving him many more opportunities here than back in England. They travelled on the ‘Bolivar’ which left Plymouth, England on 12th October 1849. It arrived in Port Adelaide, South Australia on 29th January, 1850. The ‘Bolivar’ carried 142 recorded passengers. Life on board the ship was unpleasant, with most people suffering from sickness. Most passengers lived in the steerage in the bottom of the boat. There were three deaths while the ship was sailing. They travelled for 108 days from England to Australia. John’s wife was very unwell on the journey, so a woman that lost her husband offered his bed to Elizabeth. John Yandell, Augustus’ father, wrote a journal on the voyage describing the weather and what happened on board. He wrote the latitude and longitude co-ordinates for each day. This journal is now being displayed in the Maritime Museum in Sydney. The first two-storey house in Castlemaine John Yandell, Augustus’ father, was a glassmaker and he made houses of 5 acres. A law was created that the houses could only be 1 acre. John didn’t agree with these laws and wanted to move countries. An advertisement in the paper was also made that a captain of a mine was needed in South Australia. John sent a letter saying that he had experience, which lead him to coming to Australia.

5. Travelling Australia • When Augustus arrived in Australia with his family, they travelled to Burra Burra Copper Mines, north of Adelaide. • When gold was discovered in Victoria, Augustus boarded a ship heading from Adelaide to Melbourne. Rumours in Victoria were spreading that gold was being found at Mt. Alexander, so Augustus bought a wheelbarrow and put his belongings in it and walked through the bush to Mt. Alexander which is now known as Castlemaine. • Augustus travelled in Victoria looking for a good place to find gold before he settled in Castlemaine. He walked through the bush with several other men to a place which is now called Digger’s Rest. He then reached a place about a mile from Gisborne. Augustus ran into many people along the way, saying that there was plenty of gold. • Augustus said in his speech “At the time of my appearance on the diggings (December, 1851) there were about 5000 diggers at work surfacing, principally about the rich Red Hill, Chewton, sinking having first commenced at Golden Point.” He also said “We had to pay a gold license fee of 30 shillings per month, and I have seen new arrivals without licenses taken by the police.” Augustus came from Cornwall, England, however there is little information on where he travelled in England. Castlemaine, 1890

6. Work • When Augustus arrived in Australia, he worked in the Copper mines in Burra Burra, South Australia. After he moved to Mt. Alexander, (Castlemaine) he spent four years looking for gold when he finally ‘struck it lucky’. • Augustus found 3 pounds of gold in one day, which is approximately 1.5 kilograms. In those times, it was valued at around $19,000. • Augustus later became the mayor of Castlemaine after he was elected for being a ‘good person in the community.’ • Augustus opened up a pharmacy and created potions from herbs to help the sick and injured. He was given recipes from his grandmother in England. Augustus wasn’t a trained pharmacist. • Augustus also helped build the first stone house in Castlemaine which was a huge achievement for the community. Augustus as mayor of Castlemaine

7. Life on the Goldfields When Augustus worked on the goldfields and in the mines, he would have lived in a tent. When he travelled from Adelaide to Victoria, the food was very expensive and water was dirty. In his speech, Augustus said that the Germans dug into the ground for bore water and sold it at a price that was hard to afford. On the goldfields, Augustus would have worn an old shirt and trousers, whereas when he became the mayor he wore a suit with a top hat. The type of hat they wore determined their status. The highest was a top hat, then a bolar hat and then a gold digger's cap . The first stone house in the background, with Augustus 3rd to the left in the middle row. Augustus is second to the left at the opening of the Castlemaine Market.

8. Living conditions When Augustus worked at the mines and on the goldfields, he would have lived in a tent along with others. His tent was cut into several times because thefts and robberies were common. When Augustus struck gold, he became wealthy and was able to afford houses for his family. Augustus bought the first two-story house in Castlemaine. Likely Attitudes Family was important to Augustus as he had many children. He provided a house for every one of his children when they grew up. He taught others about God and provided to the community through becoming the mayor of Castlemaine. He helped the sick through creating a pharmacy using herbs to treat patients. Education Augustus knew how to read and write before he came to Australia. His father, John Yandell, was a preacher in the Parish Church in Cornwall, England. John was also a preacher on the goldfields in Australia. • Advantages • He was wealthy from discovering gold. • Was able to provide money for his family. • Disadvantages • He lost his first wife and 6 of his children on the goldfields. • Lost 4 children with his second wife. Friends Augustus would have made many friends through his herbal potion business. Many of his friends were other counsellors and church members.

9. John Yandell married Elizabeth Wenmouth William Henry Born 16/5/1823 Married Mary Ann Ballard Died 26/12/1886 Augustus Courts Born 29/11/1831 Married Rebecca Cooke Married Margery Hokin Died 16/8/1854 John Thomas Born 18/11/1825 Married Mary Perkins Dangar Died 6/7/1867 Edmund George Born 21/1/1837 Died 1/2/1837 Robert Edwin Born 8/2/1828 Died 9/3/1844 George Henry Born 8/7/1841 Married Elizabeth Emma Kemp Died 19/6/1896 Edward Usher Born 28/5/1835 Married Mary Jane Waterhouse Died 25/12/1868 Elizabeth Born 3/12/1824 Died 20/12/1824 Augustus’ children Margery Yandell (Hokin) John Yandell

10. Bibliography I also interviewed my great uncle, Ron. He supplied many photos and the journal that I found out about on the internet. I also asked my Mum many questions as she knew who Augustus was.