John Darby1

#11734, (13 May 1854-2 July 1930)
FatherThomas Darby1 (c May 1816-4 Jun 1907)
MotherJessie Nicholson1 (23 Sep 1826-13 Nov 1917)
ChartsAylott Family - descendants
Brett Family - descendants
Darby Family - descendants
Descendents of Richard Darby
Last Edited15 Sep 2022

Short Biography

     John Darby was born on the 13th of May 1854 the son of of an English farmer and a Scotswoman.

He entered government service as a cadet at the age of eighteen, and soon was working in the Marine. He was to remain with the Marine Board for the rest of his working life, retiring as Secretary after 32 lauded years in the post, and a total of 53 years in the Marine Board.

He married Edith Watson at the age of 24 and together they were to have nine children over sixteen years.

Not much is known about his private life; perhaps he was one of those men who is consumed by his working life.

He died four and half years after retiring at the age of 76.
John Darby c1910
     (For a brief history and context on the Darby family see this page)

NOTE: The information on this page is my research to date and is subject to change as I become better informed. I very much welcome any corrections or additional info you might have - my email address is at the bottom of this page. Whilst historical facts are not copyright, my writing about these facts are. If you wish to use any text from this site on Ancestry or on any other website, please ask me first - Tim Hill.
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John lived at Howards Road, in Beverly, South Australia.2 John was born on Saturday, 13 May 1854 at Morphett Vale, South Australia. Perhaps he was named after his uncle of the same name who died in the year before he as born. His father and John had come out together and began as farmers..1 He was the son of Thomas Darby and Jessie Nicholson.1 He was a student at at Morphett Vale, South Australia.3 John Darby entered government service as a cadet in customs office under J. W. Lewis as Collector of Customs. It may be that this posting was in some way connected to his father-in-law, Henry Watson, being the Chief Clerk of Customs several decades earlier. on 11 September 1872.4,5,6 He became a junior clerk in the Office of Treasury on 20 October 1873.7,8 He appointed as clerk to the Superindent of Mercantile Marine on 1 July 1875.5

When the Darby family moved to Minlacowie, South Australia, by travelled by bullock dray and on arrival cultivated the land, which was scrub, with a single furrow plow and one horse.9 John was selected as a 5th class clerk with the Marine Board. This was at a time when his cousin George Speller Wright was Secretary of the Marine Board.10

He may have attended the wedding of his sister in the marriage of John Nancarrow and Alice Darby at her parent's house on Thursday, 3 October 1878 at Minlacowie. John and Alice went on to have some 10 children together.11

He married Edith Watson, daughter of Henry Watson and Charlotte Eliza Float, at the residence of George Wright on Saturday, 12 October 1878 at the Adelaide suburb of Woodville. He was 24 and his wife Edith was 25. Edith was the daughter of a chemist. The wedding certificate was also signed by George Speller Wright J.P. Others who may have attended the wedding include Charlotte Eliza Float as mother of the bride, Henry Watson as father of the bride, Jessie Nicholson as mother of the groom and Thomas Darby as father of the groom. Brothers and sisters who may have attended include Josephine Float Watson, Eliza Maria Watson, George Gray Watson, Henrietta Watson Watson, Edward Baker Darby, Louisa Margaret Darby, Alice Darby, James Alexander Darby, Emily Mary Darby and Jessie Darby. Edith and John went on to have nine known children together.12

John, aged 24 and Edith Watson, aged 25 became the parents of their first child Eustace Wilkie Darby on Wednesday, 5 March 1879 at Lefevre Peninsula, South Australia. They were to have a further eight children over the next sixteen years.13,3 John Darby advertised for let a four room furnished cottage on 11 April 1879 at Exeter, South Australia.14

John Darby was Acting Secretary of the Marine Board on 10 May 1879. He was promoted from clerk, fifth class to clerk, fourth class of the Marine Board on 8 December 1882.15 He was appointed as clerk and paymaster on 26 April 1883.5 He was promoted from clerk, fourth class to clerk, third class on 10 August 1883.16 He was again Acting Secretary of the Marine Board on 16 August 1883.17

In an effort to cut costs, John - who was at that time Chief Clerk and Paymaster - was advised his services were no longer required in late 1888. This must have been a concern for him and his growing family. However, he took advantage of a clause allowing him to stay on but take the salary of a lower ranked man - this continued down the line so that ultimately a number of junior officers were dismissed.18

John and Edith was seeming leaving their property and offering much of their goods for sale on 28 March 1889:
"TO-MORROW (Friday), March 29, at 2 o'clock. AT THE GRANGE. CATTLE, HORSES, FARMING IMPLEMENTS, PIGS, POULTRY. Theo. HACK is Instructed by John Darby, Esq., who is leaving the Grange, to sell without reserve, on the farm DAIRY COWS just calved and springing, Dry Cows, Young Stock, and Bull; Vast Trotting Mare, quiet for a lady to drive Young Horses, Berkshire Sow and young Pigs 120 choice Leghorn Fowls, 40 Ducks, Express Wagon, Harness, Saddle, and Bridle Wagonette. Spring-Dray. Mowing Machines 4 Hives Bees, Plough, Ladder. And lot of Sundries."19

John Darby was elected a member of the South Australian Bookkeepers Association on 16 November 1889.20 He was a member of the Beekeepers Association, and said that the number of his colonies had increased from 2 to 4 in July 1890 at the Adelaide suburb of Woodville.21

He may have attended the wedding of his sister in the marriage of William James Long and Jessie Darby in a baptist ceremony conducted by John Nancarrow at the Baptist Church on Wednesday, 24 September 1890 at Minlacowie, South Australia. William and Jessie went on to have two known children together.22,23

John Darby was again promted from clerk, fourth class to clerk, third class, making up for his reduction of the previous year on 30 January 1891.24 He was again Acting Secretary of the Marine Board on 19 March 1891.25

He may have attended the wedding of his sister in the marriage of George James Denness and Louisa Margaret Darby at her parent's house on Thursday, 16 April 1891 at Minlacowie. George and Louisa went on to have three children together.26 John Darby was appointed Secretary of the Marine Board. He was also appointed accountant. He was "a very painstaking officer" and "they might rely on his performing in a manner satisfactory to himself and the Board the duties entrusted to him" on 11 May 1894.4,27,28,29

John, aged 40 and Edith Watson, aged 40 became the parents of their second-last child Kenneth Watson Darby on Tuesday, 15 May 1894 at Woodville.30 John Darby was also appointed accountant of the Customs Department. on 25 May 1894.31

Tragedy struck the Darby family when John and Edith's son Kenny Darby, not quite two years of age, was shot dead by his seventeen year old brother Eustace on 23 February 1896. There was an inquest, and a verdict brought down of accidental death with no blame being attached to anyone.32,13

He attended the first annual public service half-day picnic along with many other senior public servants on 4 December 1897 at National Park, in Belair, South Australia.33 He was one of the auditors of the Woodville Institute. They had been primarily engaged on expanding their library which now had 1500 volumes on 31 January 1898.34 He relinquised his room at Customs House, in Port Adelaide, South Australia, for the sake of C. C. Kingston, the Federal Minister for Trade and Customs on 29 January 1901 at Port Adelaide, South Australia.35 He was one of a number of officials who entertained the captain and crew of the SMS Cormoran, a German light cruiser (not to be confused with the raider of the same name) on 24 May 1901 at Port Adelaide, South Australia.36 He relinquished his role as paying officer in the South Australian Department of Trade and Customs on 3 September 1902.37

John was involved in an incident at Port Adelaide on 25 March 1904:
"STABBING AFFAIR AT PORT.
A CHIEF OFFICER WOUNDED.
A LASCAR ARRESTED.
On Friday afternoon Mr. James Cawsey, chief officer of the steamer Newton Hall, which arrived on the previous day from Japan, was stabbed on board the vessel by a Lascar seaman. The injured man, who bled freely from a punctured wound in the neck, was conveyed to the Port Adelaide casualty hospital, where he was attended to by Drs. Gething and Formby.
The Lascar had been giving trouble on board for some time, and as he desired to leave the vessel in Australia an extra watch had to be set over him. With a view to preventing his escape at Port Adelaide, Captain Hostler intended having him put under the care of the police, as he did not care to risk prosecution under the Immigration Restriction Act, through his escape from the vessel. Complaints made by the man concerning ill-treatment were enquired into by the shipping master (Mr. L. Smith), who secured from the captain a guarantee that the lascar would receive protection. Without provocation the man turned upon and stabbed the chief officer with a large clasp-knife. As soon as he had committed the act the Lascar ran ashore and entered the office of the secretary to the Marine Board. He handed that official the bloodstained knife, at the same time gesticulating in an excited way. Mr. Darby detained the man, who was subsequently given into the custody of the police. The accused's name'is Mousa Maronan. He is a native of Bombay. He will be brought before the Port Adelaide Police Court this morning. The wounded chief officer, although he lost a large quantity of blood - is progressing as well as can be expected."38



John gave evidence in court on 25 March 1904:
"the accused rushed into his office in a panting state with an open knife in his hand, which he placed on the blotting pad in front of him The knife had blood on it. The accused said something which witness could not understand. A crowd of colored men rushed in after him. Witness locked his office door and telephoned to the police. Subsequently he handed the blood stained knife to a constable, who also took the defendant into custody."39

40
Arthur Searcy and John Darby (right) c.1910
(State Library of South Australia, image PRG 280/1/44/35)
He was honoured when the name 'Point Darby' was given to one of the headlands of Laura Bay in January 1910.41 John and Edith lived in June 1912 at at 'The Gums', Caversham in the Adelaide suburb of Woodville.42 There was a fire at the Darby's property that destroyed a haystack and a shed. It was John's belief that the fire was started by boys who had gone to the haystack to steal eggs.43

John, as the father of the bride, along with Edith attended the wedding of Kathleen and James Henry March at her parent's home on Thursday, 20 April 1916 at Caversham, South Australia.. .44 John Darby was the sectretary of the Marine Board and assistent secretary of the Harbours Board in 1917.2 Had some photographs taken of him 1918.45,46
John Darby at his desk c1918
(State Library of South Australia, Image collection)
John and Edith lived in December 1922 at at Russell Terrace in the Adelaide suburb of Woodville.47 John Darby was due to retire on on 30 June 1925.48

At the end of 1925 the Marine Board ceased to exist; he had been its secretary for about 32 years. He was commended for his services. on 31 December 1925:
"The retiring secretary (Mr. Darby ) is one of the best known and most highly respected personalties in Port Adelaide. During his association, extended over 53 years, with the Marine Department, he has collected a mass of useful information concerning the department, and there we few questions on marine matters that he cannot answer off hand. He was an encyclopaedia to the board, and only at its last meeting a knotty question arose which only the veteran secretary was able to solve."49,5



John was honoured by his friends and colleagues on 6 January 1926:
"... Mr. Darby knew his job thoroughly and was a most reliable authority to appeal to for information and guidance. ... I bid Mr. Darby adieu and may he live long, prosper, and enjoy a happy life in his new home. I have nothing but good to say of John Darby".50,51

John and Edith lived in July 1930 at at 10 Francis Street in the Adelaide suburb of Fullarton.52

John died on 2 July 1930 at at 10 Francis Street in the Adelaide suburb of Fullarton at age 76.53,4 His body was interred at Cheltenham Cemetery on 3 July 1930 at Cheltenham, South Australia.54

John Arthur Searcy wrote on 8 July 1930:
"I would like you to say a word about the death of poor John Darby, late secretary of the Marine Board. He was a worthy successor of a number of remarkable secretaries, including G. S. Wright [George Speller Wright, his uncle], G. De Mole, and T. N. Stephens. He was a splendid officer and very efficient."55

Timeline

DateEventPlace
Family
Family
ResidenceHowards Road, in Beverly, South Australia2
1854BirthMorphett Vale, South Australia1
1
EducationMorphett Vale, South Australia3
1872Note4,5,6
1873Note7,8
1875Note5
1878Note memo only10
1878Marriage at the residence of George Wright in the Adelaide suburb of Woodville12
1879NoteExeter, South Australia14
1879Note CR CR
1882Note15
1883Note5
1883Note16
1883Note17
1888Note memo only18
1889Quotation type 119
1889Note20
1890Notethe Adelaide suburb of Woodville21
1891Note24
1891Note25
1894Note4,27,28,29
1894Note31
1897NoteNational Park, in Belair, South Australia33
1898Note34
1901NoteCustoms House, in Port Adelaide, South Australia35
1901NotePort Adelaide, South Australia36
1902Note37
1904Quotation type 1Port Adelaide, South Australia38
1904Quotation type 1Port Adelaide, South Australia39
1910Note41
1912Residence at 'The Gums', Caversham in the Adelaide suburb of Woodville42
1916Note memo only'The Gums', in Kilkenny, South Australia43
1917Occupation2
1922Residence at Russell Terrace in the Adelaide suburb of Woodville47
1925Note48
1925Quotation type 249,5
1926Quotation type 150,51
1930Residence at 10 Francis Street in the Adelaide suburb of Fullarton52
1930Death at 10 Francis Street in the Adelaide suburb of Fullarton53,4
1930BurialCheltenham Cemetery, in Cheltenham, South Australia54
1930Quotation type 155

Family

Edith Watson (3 Jun 1853-28 Sep 1930)
Children

Citations

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  50. [S458] The Register (Adelaide), Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, 1926 'MR. JOHN DARBY HONOURED.', The Register (Adelaide, SA : 1901 - 1929), 7 January, p. 8, viewed 7 February, 2012, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article64329946 ("MR. JOHN DARBY HONOURED. PRESENTATION FROM FRIENDS. Members of the Harbours Board; representatives of the overseas and interstate shipping companies; officials of the Commonwealth navigation services; and former fellow employees of the Marine Board and also of the Harbours Board, met at the Harbours Board offices at Port Adelaide on Wednesday to do honour to Mr. John Darby, who had retired from the service after many years as secretary of the recently abolished Marine Board and in other branches of the Civil Service. Messrs. E. A. Farquhar (Chairman of the Harbours Board), J. H. Labatt, and W. J.P. Taylor (members of the board), and Mr. R. G. Peake (secretary) were among those present. Mr. Farquhar presided. He said that Mr. Arthur Searcy, formerly Chairman of the Marine Board and of the Harbours Board, had written stating:— 'The secretary (Mr. Peake) has just in formed me of the intention of the officers of the Marine Board, as well as Port Adelaide shipping agents and others to assemble at Port Adelaide to do honour to my old friend Mr. John Darby on his retirement from the Government service. I hasten to put in evidence my keen appreciation of Mr. Darby as a friend and as a brother officer for about 21 years — a long time, and one in which you find out a good man, if be is there, and he was. Mr. Darby knew his job thoroughly and was a most reliable authority to appeal to for information and guidance. After the Commonwealth Department came into being and took constitutional powers affecting marine work, it became a question of time as to when the venerable institution of Trinity House, the Marine Board, would go out. It was a long time dying, but it is all over now, and its functions have been absorbed by two other bodies. Good luck to them in their administration. I bid Mr. Darby adieu and may he live long, prosper, and enjoy a happy life in his new home. I have nothing but good to say of John Darby." Mr. A. Crompton (on behalf of the overseas shipping companies) said Mr. Darby had always been their friend on every occasion while still adhering to his duty. Mr. J. C. Neill (also on behalf of the overseas shipping companies) said that Mr. Darby's retirement would be a loss from shipping and commercial point of view. He bad been an encyclopedia of shipping knowledge. Mr G Simbert (for the interstate shipping companies), Mr. Cheeseman (of the Adelaide Steamship Company and on behalf of the interstate companies), Mr. A. H. Planner (Customs Department). Capt.J. Henry (Commonwealth Navigation Service). Capt. P. Snewin (pilots), Capt. Heir, and Mr. Jackson (the oldest member of the Marine Board) also testified to the qualities of the guest as an officer and a friend. The Chairman, on behalf of the subscribers, handed to Mr. Darby a cheque for a substantial amount. Mr. Darby said it had always been his desire to be courteous. In his experience at Port Adelaide he had never received discourteous treatment so that be had reciprocated. He joined the service on September 11, 1873 in the Adelaide Cus toms House under Mr. R. V. Hale. After that he seized a chance to go to the port. He was later transferred to the Treasury, and then moved back to the Port under Capt. Ferguson and Mr. B. Magraith He had always had the experience of splendid superiors. The gathering ended with cheers for the guest").
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