James Diggins
| First name | James |
|---|---|
| Last name | Diggins |
| Country of Origin | London, England |
| Date of Birth | c.1815 |
| Year of Arrival in Australia | 1832 |
| Submitted by | Judith Laws |
Story
James Diggins was Baptised on 13.02.1815, in St. Leonards, Shoreditch, London . He was the son of Richard Diggins and Rose Murphy, who married at Christchurch Spittalfields. It is believed that his ancestors may have come to London from Spain, or as Hugenots fleeing religious persecution in France. James worked with his father as a weaver in Spittalfields.
James was charged with a felony, and as this was his second offence, he was transported to Australia, for 14 years. He arrived, aged 20 years, on the Lady Harewood in 1832 and was sent to work in the Maitland district of NSW.
Having worked as a farm hand, and as a miner, James obtained a ticket of leave in 1841, in the Scone district of NSW. James married 17 year old Mary Keefe, in 1852, and they moved to Kangiara Creek in the Boorowa district of NSW. Mary died in 1869. There were eleven children born to Mary and James, seven of whom were still living when James died in 1879. There are still descendants of James and Mary living in the area, although most have dispersed throughout Australia.
[