Charles Beasley

   Cause of his death was Bursting a Blood Vessel.

   Another name for Charles was Charles Basely.

  General Notes:

At the time of the 1851 Census Charles was a scholar aged 7 living with his parents James and Harriet (the surname is spelled BASLEY) in Canal Cottage, Hillfarrance, Somerset, England. his father, James was 34, an agricultural labourer, born Somerset, Wiveliscombe, Harriet was aged 32, born Staffordshire. Also living here was Charles' older brother John, aged 9 and a scholar and a lodger (apparently unrelated), Lewis Basely aged 18, an Agricultural labourer.

According to one author Charles came to Harrietville, aged 17, in 1861.[Lloyd p 54]] His Death Certificate records that he had been 31 years in Victoria when he died in 1883, suggesting an arrival in about 1852. In fact he had arrived with his parents and brother John on the Omega on the 24th August 1852 into Port Adelaide, South Australia. The family was living in Melbourne by 1853 as Charles' mother died there in 1859, having been in Victoria for 6 years.

Charles was a Miner and living in Harrietville when all of his children were born (excepting James William Jones Beasley). He was working at the Royal Arthur Mine quite near the Hit or Miss, and had 20 acres of land at Stoney Creek, in the vicinity of the present-day trout farm at Harrietville.

James William Jones Beasley was born 3 months after his death. On son James Albert's birth certificate he recorded his own Birthplace as Taunton, Somerset, and on others the birthplace appears to be variations of "Alli...." or (Alliot?). It is likely that this was "Allerford" which was just a mile or so from Hillfarrance. Allerford was not so much a town as a Manor house or farm.

His death was the subject of a Magisterial Inquiry held on the 14th March, 1883 which found that he died from "bursting a blood vessel". The informant on his death certificate was George Jones, his brother-in-law.

His memorial stone at Harrietville Cemetery reads:
Erected / by / ELIZABETH BEASLEY / In Loving Memory of her Husband / CHARLES BEASLEY / born Somerset England 4th Feb 1844 / Died 13th March 1883 / also their son / JAMES ALBERT / born 26th August 1875 / died 11th September 1875 / Be ye also ready for in such an hour as ye think / not the Son of Man cometh

  Noted events in his life were:

• He was baptised on 3 Mar 1844 in Hillfarrance, Somersetshire, England, UK..

• He appeared on the census in 1851 in Canal Cottage, Hillfarrance, Somersetshire, England, UK..

• He emigrated on 29 May 1852.

• He worked as a Miner at the time of his marriage on 5 May 1874.

• He worked as a Miner at the time of son James' death on 11 Sep 1875 in Harrietville, Victoria, Australia.

• He worked as a Miner at the time of his death on 13 Mar 1883 in Harrietville, Victoria, Australia.

• He worked as an Engine Driver according to son George's Death Certificate in 1924.

• He worked as a Miner according to son James' Death Certificate in 1951.

• He worked as a Miner according to daughter Margaret's Death certificate in 1958.

• He resided at the time of his marriage on 5 May 1874 in Harrietville, Victoria, Australia.

• He worked as a Miner in 1903 in Harrietville, Victoria, Australia.

Charles married Elizabeth Jones, daughter of George Jones ** and Margaret Hardie **, on 5 May 1874 in Beechworth, Victoria, Australia. (Elizabeth Jones was born on 23 Jul 1852 in Newarthill, Lanark, Scotland, died on 14 Dec 1927 in Koo Wee Rup, Victoria, Australia and was buried on 15 Dec 1927 in Pakenham Cemetery, Pakenham, Victoria, Australia.). The cause of her death was Carcinoma of Pancreas, 3 years / Collapse, 1 week.

  Marriage Notes:

it was a Baptist Ceremony. Witnesses were Annie ???? and Pat McGuire.