James, Jemima

DESCRIPTION

NameJames, JemimaBiographyThe James and Arnold families have a strong link with each other and with Shellharbour’s history.

William and Maria James came to the district from St Ives, Cornwall in the 1850s. William was engaged as a builder by Evan Evans of Dapto and built the Evans house 'Penrose'. In 1854. William began farming at Dunmore and named the family home 'Bravella' which in Cornish means hills and vales. 'Bravella' was built in the same style as 'Penrose'.

George Cubitt and Mary Ann Arnold came to the area in 1872 and George worked as a baker.

Thomas James (son of William and Maria) and Rachel Arnold (daughter of George Cubitt and Mary Ann) married 4 June 1890. They lived at the James family farm 'Bravella' until 1909 when they purchased a neighbouring property and they named it 'Rosemont'.

In the 1920s Rachel James’ sisters, Polly and Ellen Arnold ran a two story guesthouse adjacent to 'Aronda' and opposite Shellharbour Public School in Mary Street, Shellharbour Village.

Jemima May James was born 11 May 1911, the youngest child of Rachel and Thomas. Jemima attended Shellharbour Public School with her sister Grace and afterwards would spend time with her Aunts Polly and Ellen at their guesthouse while waiting for her older sisters (Miriam, Beatrice or Eva) to pick her and her sister up in the horse and sulky and take them home to the farm at Dunmore. Jemima and Grace would wait at their Aunts two storey guesthouse and swing on the hammock on the balcony, watching the ships passing by the harbour.

Jemima assisted with the farm chores at 'Rosemont' milking the cows and general farm work. Every year on Boxing Day the James family along with another branch, the Thomas family, would gather at Lake Illawarra for a picnic.

When the young James girls were older they would catch the train from Shellharbour station to Wollongong Domestic Science School, a long day from 7.20am to 6.30pm back home to 'Rosemont'. In 1965 Rachel and Thomas’ son, John (Tom) Thomas James inherited 'Aronda' from his Aunt Ellen.

Information - 'My Name is Jemima', by Lorna and Arnold Spackman 1991.

Mary Street, Shellharbour from Wentworth Street, c.1920.

The Arnold Guesthouse in the two story building on the right.

CONNECTIONS

CollectionPeopleFamilyJamesThomasArnoldLocalityDunmorePersonArnold, EllenJames, ThomasPlaceArondaRosemont Jemima Reserve Rosemont Park

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James, Jemima