LAMONT & PURDY

William George (Bill) Lamont was born William Purdy on 3-9-1880 at Forest Creek, Bendigo. His aunt, Eliza Knox, registered his birth. He was one of seven children born to James Alexander & Sarah Ann Purdy (nee Knox).

Bill grew up in Bendigo where he started work as a miner. On 11-11-1908 he applied for his own claim at Golden Gully.

He married Bessie Hibberd on 15-4-1903 at Calvin Street Methodist, Bendigo. William was 21 and lived at Golden Square. Sarah was 19 and lived at Diamond Hill.

Bessie Hibberd was born in 1883 in Sandhurst, Victoria.  She was one of 13 children born to George & Jane Maria Hibberd (nee Sidebottom).

For more information go to the HIBBERD and SIDEBOTTOM pages.

Bill was married under the name William Lamont with his father as James Lamont. It is interesting to note however that on the birth certificates of his first two children he still lists his name as William George Purdy. On all subsequent birth certificates he lists his name as William George Lamont. On his death certificate he is listed as William George Purdy Lamont. Like his father he changes his name as it suits him. It is known that later in his life he was always William (or Bill) Lamont, but was receiving his pension cheques in the name of Purdy, his official surname.

Bill & Bessie had ten children:

1)William George Purdy Lamont.   *Born 1904 in Bendigo.

                                                         *Died 1904 in Bendigo. (Aged 6 months).

2)James Alexander (Pud) Lamont.   *Born 24-11-1904 in Bendigo.

                                                             *Died on 14-8-1974 in Broken Hill. Aged 69.

                                                             *Married 20-12-1930 to Janet (Jenny) Isabel Bates in Broken Hill.

         Issue:

         a)Franklin John Lamont. b.1933-Broken Hill.

                                                    d.30-7-2003-Adelaide.

                                                    m.24-3-1956-Beverly Walker.

                                                    Issue:

                                                    i)Suzanne Valerie Lamont.b.1959-Broken Hill.

                                                                                                  m.Jeffrey Peter Candy.

                                                    ii)Christopher John Lamont.b.1962-Broken Hill.

                                                                                                   m.Jennifer Anne Sweetman.

                                                                                                   a)Kylie Anne Lamont.b.1986.

                                                    iii)Meredith Anne Lamont.b.1972-Adelaide.

3)William Claud (Jack) Lamont.   *Born 24-6-1906 in Kangaroo Flat.

                                                        *Died on 24-5-1975 in Broken Hill. Aged 68.

                                                        *Married 25-2-1939 to Laura Maude Pettitt in Broken Hill. Laura died 1998 (buried 27th Oct.)

         Issue:

         a)William Paul Lamont. b.13-7-1940-Broken Hill.

                                                   m.27-2-1965-Mavis E. Beard.

                                                   Issue:

                                                   i)Adrian Paul Lamont.b.1969-Broken Hill.

                                                                                        m.Donna Jayne Gregson.

                                                                                        Issue:

                                                                                        a)Shae Courtney Lamont.b.1997.

                                                                                        b)Zachary Kane Lamont.b.1999.

                                                   ii)Jason William Lamont.b.1970-Broken Hill.

                                                   iii)Clayton Richard Lamont.b.1976.

                                                                                                m.3-1-2004-Lydie Thevenot.

         b)Lester John Lamont. b.26-3-1944.

                                                 d.21-5-1962.

4)Frank Purdy Lamont.   *Born 1908 in Kangaroo Flat.

                                           *Died 1912. Buried 24-9-1912 in Bendigo cemetery.

5)George Edward Lamont.   *Born 22-5-1911 in Bendigo.

                                                 *Died 24-12-1982 in Kyabram.

                                                 *Married  12-11-1935 to Kathleen Dorothy Yates in Mildura.

         Issue:

         a)Ronald James Lamont. b.1936.

                                                  m.Shirley Eisenhauer.

                                                  Issue:

                                                  i)Jason Percival George Lamont.b.1971-Kyabram.

                                                                                                      m.Michelle (?) Stebbings.

                                                                                                      Issue:

                                                                                                      i)Benjamin Lamont.b.1985.

                                                                                                      ii)William Lamont.b.1987.

                                                                                                      m.Judy Gowell.

                                                                                                      i)Kyle Lamont.b.1997.

                                                                                                      ii)Sean Lamont.b.1999.

                                                                                                      iii)Joel Lamont.b.2000.

         b)Margaret Joan Lamont. b.1937.

                                                  m.1-4-1961-Michael Frederick Penny-with issue.

         c)Peter William George Lamont. b.1943.

6)Leslie Thomas (Pat) Lamont.   *Born 3-3-1914 in Broken Hill.

                                                       *Died 24-7-1984 in Broken Hill.

                                                       *Married 14-3-1942 to Elsie Iris Kremmer in Broken Hill.

         Issue:

         a)Bruce William Lamont. b.1944-Brokem Hill.

                                                     m.Maureen Ruth Gorman-Kyabram with issue. See below.

         b)Shirley Anne Lamont. b.1947-Broken Hill.

                                                   m.8-10-1966-Graeme Charles Nilsen-Broken Hill with issue. See NILSEN.

7)Norman Lamont.   *Born 17-4-1916 in Broken Hill.

                                    *Died 10-10-1997 in Queensland. Buried in West Geelong cemetery.

                                    *Married 16-4-1938 to Jesse Margaret Kemp in Geelong West.

         Issue:

         a)Lindsay Norman Lamont. b.1938.

                                                       m.9-4-1960-June Burgess.

                                                       Issue:

                                                       i)Darren Lindsay Lamont.b.1961.

                                                                                                 m.30-4-1983-Natasha Senkinc.

                                                                                                 Issue:

                                                                                                 a)Kristy Louise Lamont. b.1985.

                                                                                                                                                       m. Michael Penfold.

                                                                                                 b)Nicole Kate Lamont. b.1988.

                                                                                                 b)Samantha Elise Lamont. b.1992.

                                                       ii)Brett Alan Lamont.b.1964.

         b)Irene Dawn Lamont. b.1944.

                                                m.Tony Weresay.

                                                Issue:

                                                i)Michelle Lee Weresay.b.1968.

                                                ii)Melissa Anne Weresay.b.1970.

8)Nellie Lamont.   *Born 1917 in Broken Hill.

                                *Died in 1917 in Broken Hill.

9)Harold John (Dick) Lamont.   *Born 26-8-1921 in Broken Hill.

                                                    *Died 2-7-1983 in Picola. Buried in Nathalia cemetery.

                                                    *Married  6-12-1947 to Shirley Margaret Saw in Flemington.

         Issue:

         a)John Wayne Lamont. b.1948.

         b)Margaret Dorothy Lamont. b.1950.

         c)Paul Charles. Lamont. b.1960.

10)Edna Lillian Lamont.   *Born 19-1-1924 in Broken Hill.

                                            *Died 3-8-1974 in Melbourne.

                                            *Married 6-11-1943 to Roy William Ryan in Kew.

         Issue:

         a)Fay Winnifred Ryan. b.1945.

         b)John William Ryan. b.1946.

                                            d.30-5-2004 in Melbourne.

                                             m.Ann Unknown.

                                             Issue:

                                             i)Rachael Ryan.

                                             ii)Robert Ryan.

         c)Phillip Gregory Ryan. b.1963.

                                               m.Tracey Unknown.

                                               Issue:

                                               i)Leigh Ryan.

                                               ii)Jessica Ryan.

After Frank was killed in 1912 Bill decided he wanted to leave Bendigo and move to Broken Hill. They had very little money due to a miner’s strike in Bendigo. Bill went to Broken Hill first of all with Bessie’s brother, Ned. Apparently Bill & Bessie then moved to Broken Hill on a wagon, with three children, taking roughly a month to get there. Whilst in Broken Hill, Bill worked as a miner.

Bill & Bessie moved to Melbourne around 1937 where Bill worked as a dairy farm manager for Mr. Tires who owned a furniture factory at Selby near Belgrave. They lived at 185 Brougham St. Kew. They were lovely old-fashioned people.

William George Lamont died on the 10-6-1943 in Melbourne of ‘Bronchi-pneumonia, Myocardial failure (29 days).’ He was buried in Preston cemetery on 11-6-1943.

Bessie Lamont died of a stroke on the 22-5-1956 in Melbourne.

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James Alexander Purdy was born at 128 Queen Street, Melbourne on 4-7-1853. Baptised at St. James Cathedral, Melbourne on 2nd November 1853 by Theodore Budd. The baptism record states the fathers’ occupation as a shoemaker, but makes no mention of him being deceased. His parent’s were James Purdy, a convict from Van Diemen’s Land and Sarah Jane Miller, who it seems were never married.

When James was about six years old, his mother, Sarah Jane Miller, marries John Lamont, and at times James goes by this surname. John and Sarah Lamont moved to the Bendigo area.  As an adult James worked in the Bendigo mines.

James Alexander Purdy marries Sarah Ann Knox on the 11-8-1879 in the Registrar’s Office in Castlemaine.

Sarah Ann Knox was born in 1854 in Collingwood. She was one of 5 children born to George & Alice Knox (nee Blanchfield). George Knox married Alice Blanchfield at St. Francis Roman Catholic Church in Melbourne in 1849.

James & Sarah had seven children, and also raised one of their daughter’s sons:

1)William George (Bill) Purdy.   *Born 3-9-1880 in Castlemaine.

                                                     *Died 10-6-1943 in Melbourne.

                                                     *Married 15-4-1903 to Bessie Hibberd in Bendigo.

         Issue:

         See Above.

2)Alice Purdy.   *Born 25-6-1882 in Sandhurst.

                             *Died 22-6-1954.

                             *Married 1908 to William Joseph Bateman in Bendigo.

         Issue:

         a)Cyril Bateman. b.22-11-1905. This Cyril Bateman had contact with Joseph Lamont, as a cousin. It provides a link between the Lamont/Purdy lines.

                                      d.15-5-1969.

                                      m.1-3-1929-Ira Hilda McKinnon-with issue, pedigree available.

         b)Sylvia Marjorie Bateman. b.29-10-1908.

                                                     d.28-9-1982-Geelong. Age 72.

                                                     m.1934-Alan Francis Jenkins-with issue, pedigree available.

3)Mary Ann Purdy.   *Born 1885 in Sandhurst.

         Issue:

         a)James Butler Purdy. b.1904. Born out of wedlock. Raised by James & Sarah Purdy as their son.

                                                Issue:

                                                i)Ronald Purdy.

                                                ii)Kevin Purdy.

                                    *Married 1907 (as Mary Ann Lamont) to John Schadendorff in Bendigo.

         Issue:

         a)Ethel May Schadendorff. b.1909.

                                                     m.William (Bill) Bigelo.

         b)John James Schadendorff. b.1911.

                                                        d.1912.

         c)John Abraham Clarence Schadendorff. b.1913.

                                                                           d.1913.

         d)Thelma Schadendorff. m.James (Jim) Albrecht.

         e)Irene Schadendorff. m.Wally Knight.

         f)Lillian Schadendorff.

4)Sarah Purdy.   *Born 1887 in Sandhurst.

                               *Died 1954.

                               *Married 1907 (as Sarah Lamont) to Alexander William Millar.

         Issue:

         a)William (Bill) Millar. b.1907.

                                             m.Beatrice Unknown.

                                             Issue:

                                             i)Colin Millar.

                                             ii)Audrey Millar.

5)Emma Purdy.   *Born in 1891 in Bendigo.

                               *Died 1950.

                               *Married 1911 to Peter Millar in Bendigo.

         Issue:

         a)George Alexander Millar. b.1912.

                                                     d.1935.

         b)Alexander William Millar. b.1915.

                                                      d.1937.

6)James Alexander Purdy.   *Born in 1893 in Bendigo.

                                                *Died in Bendigo and buried on 11-4-1970.

                                                *Married 1923 to Bridget Agnes Gleeson in Victoria.

         Issue:

         a)James (Jim) Purdy. m.Nell Unknown.

         b)William George (Bill) Purdy. b.21-2-1929-Bendigo.

                                                             m.Dorothy Unknown.

7)John Purdy.   *Born in 1895 in Bendigo.

                             *Died 30-7-1930 in Bendigo and buried on 1-7-1930. Age 35 years. Died of heart failure.

                             *Married 1917 to Elsie Muriel Knight in Bendigo.

         Issue:

         a)Elsie May Purdy. b.1918-Bendigo.

8)James Butler Purdy.   *Born 1904 to Mary Ann Purdy. Raised by James & Sarah Purdy.

James & Sarah lived at Belle Vue Rd, Golden Square, Bendigo.

From the Bendigo Advertiser:

LOST: Flea bitten grey mare, branded 9 over DW near shoulder. 10/ reward. James Lamont. Bellevue Road.

And on 14th Febraury 1895:

‘A BROTHER’S QUARREL.’

William Lamont is charged with assault after beating his brother James.

The brothers had just cleaned off a crushing from a tribute they were working together, and had a few drinks at the Red, White and Blue Hotel. They had words over various matters, including an argument over some amalgam that William had taken from the battery, for which he had no right to take. A  fight  broke out between them. During the evening James had 3 glasses of beer and a ginger ale whereas William reportedly had ten glasses of beer. James then left him and went home but William followed some time later. On arriving at James’ house the quarrel continued and Sarah tried without success to pacify the situation. The fighting started again and James received ‘a most unmerciful thrashing from his brother, who not content with using his hands, kicked him severely on various parts of his body, and ended up by striking him on the chest with a large stone weighing over 28lb’. James’clothes were ‘torn to shreds’ in the fight. On his way home William was overcome by his drunkeness and fell down, later to be found by the Constable, who had already heard of the incident. James was sent to Hospital and had received cuts on the face, and over the eye, and was suffering considerably from the injury to his chest, a bruise over 9 inches long. William’s defence was that he had sustained an injury to his head some time ago, and when he drank, he was not responsible for his actions. William was fined £5 20s or 14 days imprisonment.

We know James was employed at New Red, White & Blue mine from 20-1-1909 to 24-4-1909 as a tributor.

Some time after Sarah lived at Honeysuckle Street, Golden Square, Bendigo. This is where she was  living when she died.

James Alexander Purdy (senior) died on the 27-7-1911 of Phthisis (3 years), aged 56. He was buried in the Bendigo cemetery on the 1-8-1911 by the Church of England.

Sarah Ann Purdy died in Bendigo of myocarditis and was buried on the 11-12-1931. Age 77 years.

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James Purdy was born c1829 in Lambeth, London. He was one of six children born to Joseph & Margaret Purdy. As a boy he worked as a “Tubman’. This is a person who filled coal tubs. He possibly worked with his father and brothers who were coal porters. James grew up in Lambeth.

At the age of 13 James gets in trouble with the law. Though this is not the first time. Apparently he had already spent 2 months in gaol for theft of some boots. But on this occasion, going by the alias of William Jones, he is caught stealing 17 silk handkerchiefs and 11/7 pence in money from a shop in Hertford. He is tried at Hertford on the 17-10-1842 and sentenced to 7 years.

The newspaper printed a report of the trial:

   ‘Robert Johnson, (13), James Carter, (14), William Brown, (12), and William Jones, (13), were indicted for stealing 17 silk handkerchiefs, the property of James Neobard, at Braughing.

   The prosecutor deposed to losing the handkerchiefs from a shelf in his shop, on the 14th September.

   William Pood, deposed-that he lived within two doors of Mr. Neobard; on Wednesday, the 14th September, saw three boys cross from the opposite side, and go into Mr. Neobard's shop.

   James Bush, constable-apprehended the prisoners, and found three of the handkerchiefs produced round the necks of Johnson, Jones and Brown; William Jones told him that if would come with him he would shew him where the handkerchiefs were hid. I went, and found 17 in a rabbit's hole, in a plantation, about a mile from Braughing.

   Verdict, Guilty, with a recommendation to mercy.

   The prisoners were again arraigned, on an indictment charging them with stealing a drawer, and eleven shillings and seven pence farthing, the property of John Anthony, of Aspeden.

   The evidence was quite conclusive, and the Jury returned a verdict of Guilty.

   The CHAIRMAN then called the relatives of the prisoners into Court, and questioned them respecting the motives of their children for leaving their homes, and committing crimes, which had been proved against them. From the answers to these questions, it appeared that the prisoners all resided in the neighbourhood of Vauxhall, London, but nothing could be elicited which threw any light on the motives which led to the singular predatory excursion in which the youthful prisoners had engaged.

   The mothers of two of the prisoners were painfully affected. Johnson's mother went on her knees to the Court, and begged that her son might not be transported. Op Jones's mother entering the Court, her son became almost frantic, appearing as if he would spring over the bar, as he exclaimed passionately, "Mother, dear mother." The poor woman never uttered a word, but dropped, with an infant in her arms, upon the floor of the Court, apparently lifeless, and was in that state removed from the Court.

   the Prisoners (of whom it is but justice to say, that they exhibited no appearance of contrition until found guilty,) were so loud in their laments, that they were removed from the Court while the Magistrates consulted relative to the sentences. On being called back. The DEPUTY-CHAIRMAN said-The Court could not avoid the conviction that this was not the first offence of which the prisoners had been guilty; and the sentence of the Court was, that Johnson and Carter be transported for 7 years; and that Brown and Jones be transported for a like term, but with a recommendation to the Secretary of State, that they be sent to the Parker's School in the Isle of Wight.’

James was initially received at Hertford Gaol as part of the standard holding arrangements, and then on 8-11-1842, transferred to Parkhurst Prison on the Isle of Wight. His Gaoler’s Report commented that his character was regarded as “Bad”. He was single but there was no indication as to whether or not he could read and write. He was discharged from Parkhurst Prison on 13-4-1844 and sent to Millbank Prison in London, presumably categorised as “incorrigible” (that is, incapable of reform), and therefore to be transported as an adult convict to Van Diemen’s Land.

James travelled to Van Diemen’s land aboard the ‘Barossa’ along with 321 other convicts, 2 of whom die on the way. The Barossa received prisoners from Millbank Prison on the 3rd & 4th of May 1844 and sailed from Woolwich on the 14th May and finally departing from Downs, Kent on the 17th May 1844. The Barossa arrived in Hobart on the 6th September 1844 after an 111-day journey via Tenerife.

James is a protestant who can read. At age 14 he is 4’11 ½ ’’ tall but grew to 5’1 ¼ by age 16. He worked as a carpenter and boot maker.

As a convict he is called William Jones. In all the records he is listed as ‘William Jones alias James Purdy’, with his proper name recorded as James Purdy.

The surgeons report for James on his arrival in Hobart has him classified as ‘indifferent’. This meant that James was sent straight to Point Puer at Pt. Arthur where he was to serve a probationary period of twelve months.

Point Puer was a facility built in 1833 for housing boy convicts. There they were taught religion(C of E) as well as a trade. Boys usually started in the labouring gangs as spaces in the trade classes were limited. Every new arrival was introduced to the spade, the hoe and the grubbing axe. The labour gangs also did the cleaning and scrubbing, the fetching and carrying. They worked hard.

Trades included baking, shoe making, carpentry, tailoring, gardening, nail-making or blacksmithery. They also sewed the convicts ‘canary’ uniforms, painted the fences, forged the axe heads and shaped the sledgehammer handles with drawknives.

Life at Point Puer was very regimented. Up at 5am, fold hammocks, assembly, Bible reading and prayer. Breakfast at 7am, hygiene inspection, muster and classes in practical trades like joinery and boot making from 8am to 12pm. At midday, ablutions and another inspection. At 12:30pm, dinner. From 1:30 to 5pm, more apprentice work then wash and inspection again before supper at 5:30. Muster for school at 6:15pm, then school lessons for an hour, followed by evening prayers and scripture readings. Then bed at 7:30pm.

James spent four years at Point Puer, learning carpentry and boot making. On the 7-9-1848 he became a Probationary Pass Holder and was eligible to be assigned as convict labour. He arrived at the Prisoners’ Barracks in Hobart on 12-9-1848.

After leaving Point Puer we know he spends time in Hobart, Launceston and Longford. He seems to have some difficulty as a convict, getting into trouble twice for ‘neglect of duty’ and ‘misconduct’. He receives 2 and 3 months ‘imprisonment and hard labour’ respectively for these offences.

These are all the details of James’ movements in Van Diemen’s Land: