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Thursday, May 2, 2013

HANNELL, James (Walton) - 200 years old.




Mr. James (Walton) Hannell, was free-born on Dec.1st, 1813, and to mark his 200th birthday, later this year, I write this small dedication to his family life, his beloved wife, Mary Ann Sophia (née Priest) (1819-1884), his dedicated career in both Local, and State politics, as well as his love for community service, which has ear-marked James, and his family, particularly his son, Clarence (1836-1909), and laud them as pioneers and, undoubtedly, Founding Fathers of Newcastle.



James Hannell (1813-1876), along with his brothers, John (1815-1891), and Jesse (1818-1895), was born in Parramatta, to Elizabeth Hannell (1792-1874) and James Walton (1763-?). Having been transported to Parramatta in 1812, for 7 years, it was in 1820, that Elizabeth was further transported to Newcastle (for Life), for her part in a further crime, leaving the three boys in the care of Ticket of Leave man, and Scourger, Walton, an ex-Coldstream Guard. It is believed that the boys did not like being associated with Walton, so followed their mother, to Newcastle, in the early 1830s. By that time, Elizabeth had already mothered a daughter, Mary Ann (1820), with a fellow convict, John White (c.1800-1826), and, following that tryst, had finally, on May 28 1828, married (her first and only), by reading of Marriage Banns, to John Butler Hewson (1800-1874), also a convict. The family was, by all accounts, a happy one. James, and his siblings, finished their schooling at the Christ Church school.

James, who, at 6' 6" and 133 kgs, was an imposing fellow, entered the Police force in 1833, and resigned in 1836, to take up the mantle of Newcastle's first licenced Auctioneer. His career blossomed, and he became the licensee of the 'Ship Inn', a well-known, and frequented, establishment for Newcastle businessmen, as well as the venue for Oddfellows Lodge, and many, many sporting meetings. Naturally, this assisted in James becoming a very popular person in the budding township. Newcastle's population was growing (#1377 in 1842), due to an increase in immigration of men seeking employment in the coal industry (A.A.Company). The industry was in dire need of improvement to the port facilities, and due to his increasing popularity, James was asked to head a deputation to the then Gov. Denison. That was in 1855, and it was around the same time, that thoughts of incorporation of Newcastle, as a city, were being nurtured.

James was, again, foremost in the advocacy for the incorporation, and so it was, in June,1859, as a result of the first Council of aldermen meeting, James was elected as the first Newcastle Mayor - unopposed. He served in that capacity for four consecutive terms - 1859-60-61-62 and again, in 1868-69 and 71.

James was also elected representative for Parliament, for the City of Newcastle electorate, in 1960. Re-elected in 1864, retaining his seat until 1869. This was the government of his good friend, Sir Henry Parkes. In 1872, he contested the seat for Northumberland, and was elected, virtually, un-opposed, with an over-whelming show of support.

His family life was no less a highlight, sharing 11 children, with Mary. His eldest son, Clarence Hewson Hannell, was to assist his father in the fund-raising efforts for the Newcastle hospital, the foundation stone of which was laid by James, on Nov. 9th, 1865. Many years later, section of the hospital would be called 'The Hannell Wing'. Clarence continued efforts, following his father's death, in 1877, and was, himself, President of the Board of Newcastle Hospital from 1892 to 1909.

James also became the first Mayor of Wickham, when it's Municipal Council was formed.

Always interested in sporting events, James was, amongst other things, the inaugural President of Newcastle Cricket Club, founding member, Judge, and first President of the Regatta Committee, and the first President of the Newcastle Jockey Club. He really was a 'first' of his kind.
James was a member of the parochial council of the Christ Church, and, together with Cn. John Fetcher, had many heated arguments with Bishop Tyrrell, who was the target of Hannell's vitriol in a fruitless action in the Supreme Court. Apparently, James raised the objections of the parishioners to Tyrrell, in the Legislative Assembly.

His interest, and support of, the community was as varied as the Mechanics Institute, the School of Arts.

James was also a bench Magistrate.

He lived on what was to become Hannell St., in Wickham (formerly known as Smedmore), now the site of a Mobil petrol outlet, in a home he built for his wife, Mary Ann Sophia, the daughter of Edward Priest, a Port Stephens lighthouse keeper.
His brothers, John and Jesse, were also pioneers, with John, this writer's 3 x great grandfather, a hotelier and river pilot, at Hexham, and Jesse, being a hero of many harbour rescues, was also the first lighthouse keeper at what was to be called, Nobbys, and also the first Signal Master for the port.


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