NameBassett-DarleyDescriptionBenjamin Darley was born 1811, Dublin, Ireland to Benjamin and Mary Darley (nee Deey).
He arrived in Sydney as captain of the trade ship ‘Eweretta’ in 1840. He made several trade trips to and from Australia over the next few years, and worked closely with his future brother-in-law, Robert Towns.
In 1847, Benjamin married Katharine Wentworth, daughter of Peterborough Estate (Shellharbour) owner, D’Arcy Wentworth. On D'Arcy Wentworth's death in 1821, Katherine inherited 1/5 of Wentworth's Peterborough estate, at Shellharbour.
Benjamin and Katherine couple had six children –
Katherine b.1848 (married Alexander West and Francis Ashburner, died 1896 Kensington, England)
Emily Sophia b.1849 (married Arthur Savage, died Kensington, England)
Benjamin Wentworth b.1854 (died 1892, Kensington, England))
Edith Mary b.1856 (died 1885, Kensington, England))
Arthur Sidney b.1858 (died 1861, Randwick)
Ada Grace b.1862 (died 1864, Randwick)
Captain Benjamin Darley died of scarlet fever and subsequent stroke at Sydney in 1864. Katherine Darley and one of their children were being treated for the illness at the time. Benjamin had suffered a severe bout of Diphtheria a few moths prior to his death, and was planning to return to England for his health.
Just a few weeks after his death, the Darley’s youngest daughter Ada died, aged 22 months.
Katherine did take her surviving children back to England.
In 1867, at Middlesex, Katherine married William Thomas Bassett, and they had one daughter, Isabella Augusta b.1869.