John ADAMS
I have not been able to find records as to when our John ADAMS came to Australia, what ship he came on, or where he landed, as there were several men by the same name who came to Australia in that time period. It is possible that he landed in Victoria before making his way into South Australia. A note in a family bible that says John was born at Keith Street, Stornoway, Scotland on 14 Jul 1832. Stornoway, is on Lewis Island of the Outer Hebrides, Scotland, but I haven't been able to confirm it yet.

Priscilla GRAHAM was 11yrs old when her family emigrated on 'Carleton' from Liverpool, arriving at Geelong, Victoria, on 9th July 1857. According to family lore, there was a strike on in Melbourne, so the GRAHAM family went to Mount Talbot Station in Western Victoria, where Thomas was employed by Mr. Charles OFFICER to help build the new homestead. John ADAM was also a carpenter working at Mount Talbot Station.

John ADAMS married Priscilla GRAHAM at Mt. Talbot homestead on 2nd December 1862. She would have been 16 years old, and he would have been around 30 years old. Their first child, Priscilla Annie was born in Ballarat in 1867. In 1869, John Roderick (called Roderick) was born in Naracoorte, and they had six more children in either Naracoorte or Penola between 1869 and 1878.



Roderick, John, Priscilla ADAMS, Thomas & Ann GRAHAM, Priscilla Ann ADAMS at Naracoorte.


Trouble with the Law
On Sat 7 Apr 1877, the Mount Gambier Border Watch reported:
that a man named John ADAMS was bound over to keep the peace for 12 months, and not being able to find sureties, was consigned to Mount Gambier Goal. Having been there about a fortnight and arrived at his sober senses, two parties became surety for him, so that the man (who is a capital tradesman) might go to his work. However, he again visited Penola a day or two since, and his behavior was such that his sureties have felt bound to again hand him over to the police to protect themselves. In all propability the foolish man will have to go to gaol to finish his term.

On Tue 3 Jun 1879, the Narracoorte Herald reported:
John Adams was charged with assaulting his wife on the 30th May, and threatening to take her life. As there was another charge against Adams the case was adjourned till Monday.
He was charged with setting fire to Priscilla's house as well the same day as he threatened to kill her, but despite the fact everyone believed he had done it, the charge was not proven.

Monday, June 2.
This was an adjourned information, charging John Adams with having violently and maliciously threatened to put an end to the life of his wife, Priscilla Adams, on the 30th May. Priscilla Adams wife of John Adams said on the 30th May her husband accused her of hiding a bottle of whisky from him and told her if he did not get it he would "rip her liver open". He had a pocket knife in his hand at the time. Seeing she was in danger, witness sent for Mrs. Marshall, a neighbour. When the latter came her husband seized her by the throat. Mrs. Marshall caught him by the arm and pulled him away. He went after her a second time to do her bodily harm, and she took up a flat iron and threw it at him. He then found the bottle of whisky. " She sent for Sergeant Besley, and when he arrived he pretended to be asleep on the sofa; but when the Sergeant went away he was as bad as ever, and she had to go out.

After dinner he began breaking the things in the house. She had to go into the house to sign a paper for Mr. Kay and she had to run out, he following her to Mrs. Marshall's residence. She had tea at Mrs. Marshall's, and immediately after she heard the house was on fire. She looked out and saw it in flames. A number of neighbours and herself put the fire out. While they were putting it out, her husband entered the house and asked her why she set fire to the house and she (witness) replied that he did it himself. She sent for Sergeant Besley and gave him in charge.

By Accused - Fire took place on Friday. The row did not take place on Thursday. Her not giving him money to pay his fare to Kingston was not the cause of it. He seized her by the throat. Did not throw the kettle or coffee pot at him. Susan Marshall, wife of William Marshall, carpenter, deposed that on Friday last at 11 a.m. she was at Adams's house by complainant's request. When she arrived the accused was kicking up a row about some whiskey in bottle, and she begged of him to be quiet. The accused charged his wife with having planted it, and said he would kill her if he did not find it. She saw him strike her, and grasp her by the throat; and believed he would never have let her go if it had not been for her. Her little girl ran for the police. When they arrived, Adams pretended to be asleep. He used very bad language towards his wife. By accused - Saw him chasing his wife. P. C. Thompson, accompanied by Sergeant Besley, said he went to the accused's house on Friday between 12 and I0 o'clock. Mrs. Adams complained that her husband was ill-using her, and he saw the marks on her neck were he attempted to strangle her. He arrested the accused in the evening. He made use of very bad language when arrested.

By accused - Was arrested between 8 and 9 o'clock. Was lying down. On being asked if he had any statement to make, the accused said that on Thursday last he had a bottle of whisky. He went to sleep and when he woke up, he accused her of taking the whisky. She said she hid it and her temper being as hot as his, a quarrel ensued. His wife then took up the coffeepot and struck him with it; and afterwards she threw a flat-iron weighing 9 lbs. at him, but it just missed him. She also said she would rip him open. His Worship believed accused was the cause of the quarrel, and ordered him to find Sureties to keep the peace - himself in £40, and two sureties of £20 each; the-sureties not forthcoming, to go to goal for six months.

In October 1880, John was charged with using abusive language to a Mrs. Williams, who was looking after, and teaching his and Priscilla's children. He also did serious gaol time (12 months) for failing to keep the peace (drunk and disorderly) and later, another month for not supporting his family contrary to a court directive.

I have not found a death record or newspaper entry for the death of John ADAMS. The last newspaper reference Family notes suggest that John died when Jessie Ann was two years old. That would put his death at late 1877 or soon after.

Priscilla lived in Penola for most of the remainder of her life. Family notes say that After John died, Priscilla was a housekeeper for a time for Rev. SELLS, the first C. of E. priest at Naracoorte and that his sister in England sent out a blue velvet dress for the little Jessie Ann ADAM. Later Priscilla did dressmaking, and Jessie remembered her mother sewing, often late at night, clothes for a funeral. At the age of 90, Priscilla moved to Balhannah to live on the farm with Ted (Edward) and Lorna MATTNER for the last two or three years of her life. Lorna May was her grand-daughter. Barbara MATTNER (her great granddaughter) remembers that all she brought with her was a case for her clothes and a rocking chair. She died on 18 Aug 1938, aged 92 years. She is buried at the West Terrace Cemetery with her grand-daughter Edna GRIFFITHS (nee. BEAVIS) in Section Barker, Path 2, Plot 25 East. Edna GRIFFITHS (nee. BEAVIS) was from New Zealand, but died in Adelaide while on her honeymoon, 2 May 1929.

Children of John ADAMS and Priscilla GRAHAM

1. Priscilla Anne ADAMS b. 1867 at Ballarat m. James BEAVIS
2. John Roderick (Roderick) ADAMS b. 13 Feb 1869 at Penola m. Lilliam Maria LIEBENICHT
3. John ADAMS b. 19 May 1871 at Penola
4. Rachel ADAMS b. 9 Sep 1877 at Naracoorte
5. Robert ADAMS b. 5 Dec 1879 at Naracoorte
6. Thomas ADAMS b. 25 Apr 1873 at Penola m. Anna Elizabeth Mary HAHN
7. Georgina ADAMS m. James GEMMELL
8. Jessie Ann ADAMS (Ann) b. 14 Jul 1875 at Penola m. Percy PRINCE