JAMES James Francis John Charles Horsey (General)

by Don Cameron , Tuesday, December 02, 2008, 00:44 (5907 days ago)

Extract from the West Australian, Saturday 4 February 1899

DEATH OF MR. J. C. H JAMES.

It is with profound regret that we record the death of Mr. J. C. H. Jamas, Commissioner of Titles, which took place at his residence, " Romansleigh," Goderich Street, at nine o'clock yesterday morning. The deceased gentlemen, as will be remem- bered, was attacked with illness last Wed- nesday fortnight. He had been ailing for some time previously, and complained to his friends of increasing indisposition. Last Wednesday fortnight Mr. James became alarmingly ill, and was ordered perfect rest by his physicians, who pronounced him to be suffering from nervous exhaus-

tion. Mr. James followed the advice of the doctors, and, after a few days, the report that he was 'improving in health led

his many friends to hope that he would soon be perfectly restored. The heat of the past few days would seam to have been too much for him, however, and yesterday morning he was seized with a fit of apoplexy, which proved fatal. One of the saddest circumstances connected with his death was that his wife and family were not present. They left the colony on a visit to the mother country last year, and were among the passengers on board the R.M.S. China upon the eventful homeward voyage of that vessel.

James Francis John Charles Horsey James for these were the full names of the subject of our notice, though he preferred to use only the latter three of his Christian names was a son of the late

Rev. J. H. James, of Highfield, near Lydney on Severn, Gloucester, and of Kilcott Barton, Romansleigh, North Devon, England. He was born in Rome in 1841 (?), and was educated at Rugby, and later at St. John's College, Oxford, where he took his B.A. degree in 1864.The present Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Temple was his master at Rugby. After finishing his university career, he chose the law as his profession, and, becoming a member of the Inner Temple, was called to the Bar in 1866. He practised in the Oxford circuit, where he soon became known as one of the rising juniors.

As Commissioner of Titles.

In 1874, the Transfer of Land Act became law in this colony, and the office of Commissioner of Titles being created by that statute, Mr. James was offered the position by his friend, the Earl of Carnarvon, who was then Secretary of State for the Colonies. Lord Carnarvon, in acquainting the Western Australian Government of the selection, spoke highly of the qualifications possessed by Mr. James, and the latter upon his arrival in this colony in July, 1875, received the appointment under the hands of the late Sir W. C. F. Robinson, the Governor of the day. The task before Mr. James was no small one...

This obituary goes on quite a bit, so I won't post the rest unless someone requests it.

Cheers,

Don Cameron.

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Don Cameron