John Panam
| First name | John |
|---|---|
| Last name | Panam |
| Country of Origin | Ionian Islands |
| Date of Birth | c1830 |
| Year of Arrival in Australia | c1855 |
| Submitted by | Charles Anthony Stephens |
Story
John Panam came to Australia as a seaman on the Ship Sea King and while the Ship was in port at Sydney he deserted. He was described as being an Islander and of dark complexion and a reward of three pounds was offered for his return. John, however, escaped capture and made his way to the Gold Fields of Victoria where he took up a mining lease at Tarilta, near Castlemaine.
At this same time an Irishman, Arthur Laverty was mining at nearby Butchers Gully. Arthur came to Australia as a widower bringing with him two daughters, Mary Ann and Sarah Jane. Disaster struck this family when Arthur was killed. He was working at the bottom of a mine shaft hauling ore to the surface in a bucket when the rope broke and the bucket fell hitting him on the head killing him instantly and leaving Mary and Sarah orphaned.
In 1862 according to the records of St Mary\’s Catholic Church in Castlemaine Sarah Laverty married a Greek, Manuel Milthropia. As she was only 18 at that time she needed the permission of her sister Mary. In that same year Sarah gave birth to a son called John and then in 1863 another son called Nicholas was born. Both these boys were registered as Laverty\’s and both died soon after.
With the birth of a daughter, Roisin, in 1865 Sarah claimed that it was John Panam that she married in 1862 then four more children were born, George in 1868, Mary Catherine 1871, Sarah Jane 1874 and Elizabeth 1876. Sarah did not survive this birth and the baby was taken to a children\’s institution in Melbourne where she died soon after.
John Panam died of Black Lung a miners disease in 1878 leaving behind his four surviving children who were taken in by a Mrs Thomas however young George was soon found to be wandering the Gold Fields in a neglected condition and, together with Roisin and Sarah, was committed to an institution for neglected children. After 2 years they were released back into the care of Mrs Thomas.
It has been passed down in family history that George spent some time with a Stephens Family and took their name as his own, in any case. He next appeared in Moulamein NSW. where in 1892 and using the name John George Stephens he married Sarah Lock the daughter of Robert Lock who migrated to S.A. from England in 1849.
George and Sarah had 5 children, they were, Sarah Rose born in Moulamein in 1893 died there in 1894, Irene Panam born in Mossgeil NSW in 1896 died there in 1900, Victoria born in Mossgiel in 1899 died in Geelong Victoria in 1904, George Pentram born at Dunlop Station, Louth NSW in 1901 and Robert Charles born and died in Geelong in 1904.
George Panam alias John George Stephens lived to see the birth of his first Grandson, George Penham Stephens in 1928 before he died in 1930 he is buried in a lonely grave in Kyneton, Victoria not far from his birthplace at Tarilta. His grave has a small marker that bears the inscription John George Stephens real name George Panam.