James Samuel Manfield
and
Jane Robinson Simpson
James Samuel Manfield was born on 2 October 1829 the son of George Manfield and Sarah Ray of Nailsea, Somerset, England. George and Sarah had married at Easton-in-Gordano in Somerset on 28 July 1828 (http://freespace.virgin.net/paul.mansfield1/famtree.txt). John was christened in Holy Trinity, Nailsea on 15 November 1829.
With his brother, John Robert Manfield, he sailed to Australia on the ship Sultana in 1855. The brothers arrived in Australia when the gold rush was at its height. They went first to the Turon Valley, north of Bathurst, NSW which had been very rich in gold finds in the early 1850s but was quickly exhausted. The brothers went to the Buckland Valley area in Victoria. They were among the first white men to climb to the top of Mt Buffalo making their ascent via what later became known as Goldie Spur. Their ascent took them close to the foot of the Horn. Locating a huge rock as suitable for camping purposes they made camp. Next day they climbed the Horn, and spent three days exploring the mountain top. In 1856 James and John conducted a party of thirty miners to the top and in the years that followed took many parties up this track and thus began the long years of guiding by this family on Mt Buffalo.
Some information about his bride and the story of James eloping with Jane Robinson Simpson and being chased by the girl's irate father is told elsewhere see under William Simpson. James and Jane married on 17 November 1860 in Cooma, NSW. James and Jane lived in Buckland, Victoria and later spent some time in the New Zealand goldfields (their second child was born in New Zealand) Before returning to the Buckland/Mt Buffalo district. Later they built and operated the first chalet on Mount Buffalo in Victoria. see www.mtbuffaloresort.com.au/environment_chalet_history.php and www.australianalps.deh.gov.au/parks/buffalo.html.
The children of the marriage were:
- Sarah Jane Manfield (1862-1863)
- Ephraim William Manfield (1862-1946)
- Lavinia Jessie Manfield (1865-1949)
- James Samuel Manfield (1867-1928)
- Jessica Manfield (1869-1932)
- George William Manfield (1869-1872)
- Lilian Sarah Manfield (1871-unknown)
- Samuel George Manfield (1876-1946)
- Alice Maude Manfield (1878-1960)
- Mabel Maude Manfield (1880-1965)
- William Robert Manfield (1881-1953)
James Manfield died in a horse and cart accident on 8 September 1910 while visiting his son Ephraim and family at Prentice North, near Rutherglen, in Victoria, and was buried in Bright Cemetery, Victoria. A picture of his grave is in the Alice Manfield photo collection in the State Library of Victoria (http://www.slv.vic.gov.au/miscpics/0/1/4/doc/mp014920.shtml). Jane Manfield (nee Simpson) died in Preston, Victoria on 17 April 1931.
Thanks to Alan Swift, descendent of James and Jane, for some of the above information. Some other information was provided by Kathy Jackson. Anyone who can add to this information about the James Manfield or Jane Simpson and their family is invited to contact FamilyOrigins network.
