Notes for Job Joseph BAILEY


?Job became a pensioner in the Imperial Army and saw active service in three
wars, one of which was the Indian Mutiny. He was also a member of the Palace
Guards and he brought his uniform with him to Australia. When he married Sarah
Ann he was a member of the Royal Marines. His daughter Sarah Alice (known as
Alice), who moved to Sydney after her marriage, has kept his uniform over the
years.
He was employed as an Enrolled Pensioner Guard when he arrived in Western
Australia in August 1853 on board the Robert Small. The Enrolled Pensioner
Force was made up of former military men brought to Western Australia to
oversee convicts who had begun arriving in 1850. Upon arrival in WA the
Pensioners stayed for a time at the Barracks in St Georges Terrace, Perth. The
convicts as they disembarked were taken to the Fremantle Prison, where they
were taken care of until it was determined where they were to work. Job took
his group of convicts to York where he continued his guardianship of them and
directed their work. At York he was granted a 10 acre block of land by Queen
Victoria for services rendered to the Crown and upon his death this land was
equally shared by each member of his family. They later moved to Williams
where they ran a farm of 40 acres in 1868. Job died on 13 February 1886 in
York aged 75. I have not managed to locate a grave in the York Cemetery. His
death certificate does not have interment details. Sarah died 23 January 1900
in Port Street York aged 78 and is buried in the York Cemetery. I have not
been able to locate a grave.
Sarah Ann was 31 when she came to WA. One of her sons, George, was born at
Fremantle on 18/1/1854, shortly after their arrival here. Unfortunately they
were to lose 2 sons in 1853 and 1854.
As soon as possible after the birth of George, Sarah Ann and her family of
little ones set off to join her husband in York. They left Perth travelling by
horse drawn coach early one afternoon and travelling all through the night,
arrived at York at 7am the next morning. There were several stopping places on
the way where passengers could have refreshments and the horses could rest
awhile and be fed and watered. Fortunately at this time the roads were in
fairly good condition. At 19 mile peg passengers received luscious grapes and
other fruit. Poisonous snakes were bothersome on the roads, especially near
the 19 mile peg, where they were most numerous.
In 1834 men had been speared on this road by hostile natives; in fact up till
1870 there were many unfriendly natives en route. So, the journey was quite a
hazardous one at the time the Bailey family embarked upon it. But they arrived
safely at York which was to be their home for many years.
Sarah Ann was a very clean, capable and careful housewife. The whole house was
cleaned through and dusted every weekend in preparation for the Sabbath. The
floors in her home were made of stone and she would get on her knees herself
and scrub every stone till it fairly shone. She was most particular about her
personal attire and would not go out unless appropriately dressed; neither
would she permit her daughters to accompany her if she did not consider they
were dressed nicely or neatly enough. She was very strict and quite religious
also, and saw that the whole family went to Church with her or without if she
was unable to go. Job would not permit his daughters to wear a new dress to
church until it had been worn elsewhere, lest it distracted their or others
thoughts from the words of the Preacher. After Church Job would question his
children on the service to see if they had listened to the Preacher.
Both Job and Sarah Ann were very civic minded folk and took an active part in
the development of the township of York. Sarah Ann for many years was
frequently in demand both day and night to act as midwife. Many folk depended
upon her assistance which she willingly gave. (The majority of this
information was taken from an article in the Geraldton Historical Society
Quarterly Review Feb 1992 found in the Battye Library)
 
(Source:
http://www.bradyfamilytree.org/genealogy/getperson.php?personID=I20888&tree=BRADY2008)

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