The Descendants of William Pursey

Originally listed as born Dec 1838

# Source: Bill Pursey rootsweb.com
# Event: Emigration Fact 2 1856 Travelled to Aus on Phoebe Dunbar
# Event: Emigration Fact 3 1856 Landed at Moreton Bay
# Fact 6: Went to New Calodonia to grow coffee unsuccesffully
# Fact 8: Story 2 is mix with French in New calidonia at birth of son meant change
# Fact 9: to Percy from the French de Percy
# Fact 10: Open Notes for full Story
# Emigration: 1856 Migrated to Australia
# Burial: Buried at Coraki with Wife
# Event: Emigration Fact 5 This is line that went to Percy
# Event: Relocated Story 1 is that wife snobby and wanted northern spelling of Pursey to Percy
# Note:

Extracted from Death notice Richmond River herald. from Scrapbook supplied by Mrs Bella Mckinnon Mitchell. (Original unparagraphed)

After several weeks illness Mr Theodore Percy of Union St, Coraki, passed to his rest on Thursday night at the advanced age of 88 years. The deceased gentleman came from fine old English stock, being a native of Walton in Somersetshire.
When at 17 years of age he left the family roof, and, in the company with his brother, the late Joseph Pursey, of "Frampton Park" Bungawalbyn,set sail on the "Phoebe Dunbar" for Australia. This was the beginning of what was to prove an adventurous and at times thrilling pioneering life. The "Phoebe Dunbar" was wrecked in Moreton Bay and those aboard clambered ashore by means of the jib boom.
Mr Percy went to work at Helidon Spa and Gatton Stations, then he took aturn at the Mookerawa diggings, but failing to strike payable gold went to William Boyd's station at Stonehenge, near Glen Innes.
In the year 1863, he moved to Sydney and was married in the old Wesleyan Chapel in York Street (Note until this time he used his birth spelling of PURSEY WGP). With his young wife he left for New Caledonia, followed coffee growing at Mont D'or, and then managed a cattle station at StVincent.
The natives there were treacherous, but he was able to overcome their hostility, and live in peace amongst them. Finally, however, they broke out in insurrection, revolted against French rule, and massacred a largenumber of the whites. Fortunately, Mr Percy's family were able to escape, and he sent them to Sydney.
Mr Percy himself helped quell the rebellion, but the experience he wentthrough determined him to leave the country, especially as the whiole of his savings had been lost in a nickel mine floated in London with a capital of 220,000 pounds, but which never paid a dividend.
About the year 1878 Mr Percy returned to Sydney, and in March 1880 brought his family to the Richmond by the original "Richmond" which was skippered by the late Captain Ben Alley.
Settling at Bungawalbyn he entered into sugar growing for five or six years, and then went to Coraki, and conducted a delivery business for many years.
For close on 20 years past he had lived a retired life on his property near the Hospital, retaining to the last the respect and esteem of all who knew him.
Mrs Percy died six years ago, and the surviving soms and daughters are -Frank (Postmaster at Adelong), George (Malanganee), Alfred (LIsmore), Walter (Postmasterat Bourke), Mrs G C Burgess (Molong) and Miss Netta Percy who lived with her father.
There are 24 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren.

Northern Star, Lismore, NSW

Monday 22 November 1926

OBITUARY: MR. THEODORE PERCY

There died at Coraki on Thursday night last another of the old band of pioneers in the person of Mr. Theodore Percy, at the age of 88 years, after a residence of 47 years on the Mid-Richmond. Born at Somerset, England, of the yeomanry of England, deceased spent the early years of his life on his father’s farm, but at the age of 17, being imbued with the spirit of adventure, he, together with his elder brother, left the old home and started for Australia. There being no steamboats in those days, they took passage by the sailing vessel Phoebe Dunbar, a sister ship to the ill-fated Dunbar which met with so tragic an end at the Gap, South Head. After an adventurous voyage lasting for five or six months, they reached Moreton Bay, Queens land, at that time but little known, and set about finding some means of livelihood. For a time the brothers followed gold mining at several of the mining centres of this State, but failing to strike it rich deceased enter ed the employ of Mr. William Boyd, of Stonehenge, Glen limes, where he remained for some years. The spirit of adventure again being upon him, Mr. Percy left this State and journeyed to New Caledonia where he took up a tract of land at Mont D’Or, and engaged in coffee culture. In the meantime he married Miss Anne Norster, a daughter of the late Captain Harry Norster, of Portland, England, and the young couple settled upon their estate, far from civilisation and surrounded by natives whose friendliness was of a doubtful character. However, by honesty and friendliness, they eventually overcame the hostility of the natives and were able to live in peace and safety with their family of six children. The next move was to St. Vincent, also in New Caledonia, where deceased became manager of a large cattle station, and the family resided there until the insurrection of the natives in 1876-77 when the white population of several districts were cruelly massacred. Mr. Percy was in Nouema when the news reached him that the savages had massacred the whole family on an estate adjoining his home and immediately started off on horseback on a 30 mile ride to try and save his family. He reached home in the early hours of the morning, and was overjoyed to find that the savages had not reached that far. Rousing the family and packing a few necessaries, a start was made before daybreak on their long trek to safety. Having seen his family out of danger the father return ed to the scene of hostilities, and joining a band of English volunteers, helped the French to, quell the insurrection. Leaving his troublous country, the family returned to Sydney and after a short residence there came to the Richmond where deceased engaged in sugar-growing at Bungawalbyn. A succession of bad seasons eventually drove deceased off the land, and in 1885 he re moved to Coraki where he carried on a delivery business for some time. After some years he acquired a small property near the Campbell Hospital, Coraki. where he spent the remaining years of his life growing fruit and vegetables. Deceased lost his wife about six years ago, and his aged brother (Mr. Joseph Pursey, of Bungawalbyn) about six months ago. A family of six are left. : Messrs. F. H. Percy (post master, Adelong), G. T. (Mallangee), A. N. …ore;, W.C. (postmaster, Bourke), Mrs. G. C. Burgess (Molong), and Miss Percy, who resided with her father and tended him in his final illness. There are also, 14 grandchildren and two great grandchildren. One daughter (Mrs. G. Sykes, of Broken Hill) died seven years ago. The funeral on Friday last was attended by a large number of friends and well-wishers, and bore token to the esteem in which deceased was held. Deceased was a staunch member of the Methodist Church, and was buried in the Methodist portion of the Coraki cemetery, the Rev. Davis conducting the service at the graveside. Mr. J. McMullen had charge of the funeral arrangements.
Source: http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/93575618#pstart8861487