Mr. Thomas DISCOMBE

The decision to emigrate was made after many discussions with Sarah's brother John and they determined to leave together soon after John's marriage in May 1854. None of the correspondence survives but there must have been some with Thomas’ widowed sister in Adelaide and this may well have influenced the project. They sailed on the Standard, 714 tons, from Plymouth, on 10th September 1854, and arrived to their new life, in Adelaide on 18th December 1854. Listed as "Driscomell, wife and two children" in the shipping intelligence of the South Australian Register of 19th December 1854, and also on board were "Northcott and wife". The Standard was described as 714 tons, Blyth, master, with 308 government emigrants in the South Australian Register, 19 December 1854. On arrival the group proceeded to Balhannah where Mr. Discombe commenced brickmaking. After two years of brickmaking he removed to Woodside and entered into partnership with Mr. Northcott. Thomas is recorded as a brickmaker of North Woodside in 1857, and first acquired land there on 2 September 1857 for which conveyance he paid 8 pounds. He lived at Tor Hill Cottage, North Woodside, and established a brick and tile yard in 1858. [The Adelaide Observer, 16 Jan 1903] In 1862 he was a gardener of North Woodside. In 1862, as landlord of the Mill Inn, he provied an excellent, sustantial and abundant spread to celebration of the opening of two new bridges at Mouynt Torrens. [South Australian Weekly Chronicle, 15 Dec 1866] FRom June 1864 to December 1867 he was proprietor of the licensed public house the Mill Inn, Mt Torrens, which he relinquished in 1867 [government gazette][Adelaide Observer, 13 June 1864 and 14 Dec 1867] . He provided a booth at the Mount Torrens Agricultural and Horticultural Society’s Annual Ploughing Match and Show in September 1866 [SA Weekly Chronicle, 29 Sept 1866] In 1870 Thomas Discombe of Mount Torrens was out of business and an insolvency notice was published in the government gazette. [Northern Argus, 18 Feb 1870] On 6 June 1872 his second daughter Susannah Perryman Discombe married Reginald James Sparrow at Mount Torrens. “Torquay papers please copy.” In 1874 Thomas was Messrs Hill and Co’s driver at Mount Torens. [SA Chronicle, 5 Sept 1874] . 1875 –1880 maildriver Mt Torrens. South Australian Register, 7 June 1872] 1882 –1902 brickmaker at Woodside. People’s Warder at St Mark’s Woodside in 1876 and 1880, and minister’s warden 1884 Thomas and Sarah were immediately drawn into the important events at their new place of worship, St. Marks, Woodside. Services at St. Mark's were based rigidly on the Bible and conducted with much simplicity. Denominational division came through Anglican pride with its connection with the Established Church of England 'back home' and the consequent suspicion which such claims engendered in other denominations of British origin. In fact, it was a long time and after much trouble, before St. Mark's would cease to enjoy references to itself in the press as the 'Established Church' at Woodside. Woodside's first parish priest, the Rev. John Fulford, had come to nearby Blakiston as Deacon in Charge on 16 April 1851, to restore peace after a most unedifying row between the Rev. Geo. Newnham and his congregation upon the former's failure "to divest himself of some of his High Church notions". Shortly after St. Mark's was opened, Mr. Fulford was ordained to the priesthood on 27 December 1851 and took up his full incumbency of 'Blakiston with Woodside'. It was to remain a bitter pill for Woodside Anglicans for many years, perhaps for nearly a century in fact, that their church which had been conceived with such promise should be destined to play second fiddle to another centre, in turn Blakiston, Mount Pleasant, Blakiston again and then Balhannah. Manifold problems connected with St. Mark's descended upon the newly ordained Fulford's shoulders... St. Mark's members fell further behind in collecting pew rents from a congregation which refused to expand and had little idea of how to reduce expences. Mr. Fulford's first recorded meeting with his Wardens, on 7 July 1852, maintained that 'Mr. Howard had agreed to pay Mrs. Oak the sum of 1/- per week for cleaning the church to commence as soon as the church is free from debt. In the interum her services are rendered gratuitously' Perhaps all might have muddled through but for a major disaster which befell the church fabric. According to the S.A. Weekly Dispatch of 30 September 1854 : "...during the heavy gale of winter on Tuesday morning, a gabled end of St. Mark's Church, Woodside, fell with a tremendous crash, portions of the fabric being strewn around to the extent of forty yards. The church was built between two and three years ago, but has never been considered safe." The lamentable spectacle of St. Mark's spiritual poverty amid all the evident signs of prosperity in the community attracted much adverse comment. Woodside's Register correspondent wrote on 18 May 1863: “It is much to be regretted that our little church on the hill is falling rapidly into decay, and unless something is done to repair it, it will soon be an object for antiquarian visitation.” The Advertiser quoted unflattering statistics: “Last Sunday week (17 May 1863), the Bishop of Adelaide held a confirmation service in the Woodside church...This confirmation was the second service that has been held in this place of worship since last November twelve months, and there has been only one service per year the previous three years.” Perhaps it was the change of priests at Blakiston in 1864, or more likely the thought that a permanent priest was about to be appointed to the Mount Pleasant district and could be persuaded to 'take a duty every Sunday' at Woodside as well, which at last galvanized St. Mark's parishioners into uncharacteristic action. It is evident that the church was reopened for regular services in late 1864 or early 1865, as a vestry meeting was held on 20 February 1865, the first since 1857. It was agreed that pew rents should be raised to 10s per annum per sitting to provide a more reasonable stipend for the priest and the congregation also decided to permit a collection every quarter during a service, 'of which due notice be given by the minister'. The names of the seatholders in St. Mark's church from June 1st to August 31st were twenty in number and included Mr Northcott, who paid three shillings for three sittings during that period. During next years growing season disaster struck, from which the Adelaide hills wheat growers never really recovered. The spring of 1867 was one of the wettest on record and terrible storms during September and October kept the Onkaparinga River almost continuously in flood. The Advertiser of 12 October 1867 described matters graphically: "The first week of this month the pelting hail and downpour of rain surpassed anything of the kind during the winter, while the tremendous floods have done severe damage to the roads and bridges.... Adjacent to most of the creeks that pass through cultivated lands considerable damage has been done to the potato and other crops." Thomas Discombe of Mount Torrens, out of business, former proprietor of the Mill Inn, Mount Torrens, was insolvent in 1870 and stated that he sold out on 25 September 1867, and was then deficient 100. Till June 1868 he received 87 and rent from Mill Inn 13. From June to November he kept a small store in Adelaide. [Adelaide Observer, 26 March 1870] Before the advent of superphosphate, the wheat crops had no reserves from soil which was quickly exhausting its goodness through overcropping and what grain was not washed away from the hillsides was stricken by virulent attacks of rust which flourished in the humid conditions. A local correspondent for the Advertiser poured out his doleful observations on 6 February 1868: "I have not seen a single load of wheat pass through our township of this year's crop. Last year at this time, one farmer had 2500 bushels in his wheat store; this year, he has only four bags. Some of our farmers who have hitherto earned sufficient by carting wheat from Mount Pleasant to Cox Creek to pay their rent have been in quest of loading and have returned empty. I fear there is little, if any, chance for the farmers earning anything with their teams wheatcarting this year." Within a few months of the harvest failure, tenant farmers were ready to cut their losses and anticipate the bailiff. A mournful Register correspondent commented on 7 April 1868: "Eight wagons passed through here on Thursday last, loaded with furniture etc. en route for Mount Gambier and I hear of several families leaving the district in several days for the North. It is very evident that our population is decreasing fast and many more would leave if they had the means to commence in a new district. " For St. Mark's congregation, the writing was on the wall. A violent spring storm had badly damaged their church and another one was about to destroy their dreams of maintaining a resident priest. Back to the Register of 13 Junr 1868: “Our population is gradually decreasing, one family after another leaving. A very short time since we had two resident ministers, now we have only one, and that one is on the eve of leaving for Mt. Pleasant.” Thomas found other employment necessary during these leaner years. He gave his occupation on the birth certificate of his son, William Thomas in 1862, as gardener, but he was by then driving the mail coach between Mount Torrens and Adelaide, which he continued to do for about twenty years, being respectively employed by Messrs. Rousell, Cobb and Co., and Hill and Co.. For several years afterwards he took the reins again during the busy periods. He was a skilful driver. The ability to get on well with passengers was a valuable quality in any driver, particularly in those days when several operators competed for passenger traffic over the same route. [The Adelaide Observer, 16 Jan 1903] Mr and Mrs Thomas Discombe have trod the path of life together since each was twenty years of age, there being only a few months difference between them, and nowthey have reached seventy they both look hale and hearty.Mr Discombe served an apprenticeship of seven years with Messrs Morgan, the floricultural and horticultural firm, of Torquay, in England, and he exhibits with pardonable pride a watch, which he still uses, which he bought out of the proceeds of work done before and after hours during his apprenticeship. It took Mr Discombe two years to accumulate the necessary six guineas for the purchase. He held the position of gardener on one of the local estates prior to leaving for South Australia. The old lady and gentleman arrived in the colony in 1854 in the Standard of London, one of the family being born during the voyage five weeks before landing. A move as made to Balhannah, where brickmaking was carried on for about two years, before Mr Discombe joined Mr Northcott in the same line at Woodside, remaining in that business for a year. He then left to engage in the driving of a mail coach, and for twenty years he served in that capacity in the employment of Messrs Rounsell, Cobb & Co and Hill & Co., driving the coach betweeen Mount Torrens and Adelaide, and while engaged on the road for about four years with the assistance of Mrs Discombe he kept the hotel at Mount Torrens. For several years after that he took the reins again during the busy periods. While driving Mr Disccombe has been in many tight places , but never had an injury to himself or his passengers. On one occasion when nearing Oakbank, a tree fell right across the road a few yars from his leaders, who were rattling along at a good pace, but by swerving them into the bank and around he prevented a smash and maintained his reputation as a skilful driver. On relinquishing driving he purchased the brickyard at North Woodside, where he has resided since, and has been engaged in dairying, and by a comprehensive system of irrigation he utilised the water that accumulates in the pug hole for a portion of his ground. This is a very welcome sight on a broiling day on account of the beautiful greeness that is ever present, theresult of the irrigation, the water being raised by horsepower from the clay pits. Mr Discombe’s flower garden has likewise not been neglected and in the season is well worth a visit, the great care and attention given to it by Mr Discombe having been repaid by his being a successful competitor at the various shows in the district. The family consisted of eight children, six of whom survive, there being an additional thirteen grandchildren, and seven great grandchildren. Mr Discombe though not occupying any public position, has taken a keen interest in matters relating to the district, and also matters political; and on Saturday last, when so much apathy was generally displayed in connection with the federal electons, he spent most of the day in the vicinity of the polling-booth, urging the claims of his particular fancy. The golden wedding celebration took the form of a garden pasrty at Tor-Hill Cottage, their residence, in the afternoon, and about sixty friends of the couple offerred their congratulations, and spent a pleasant time. Musical selections were interspesed, Mr Discombe contributing his share to the music in vigoroud style. The health of the happy pair was drunk with the usual honours, and congratulations were offrerred from all sides. In the evenig about double the number of guests met in the institute hall , where the younger folk entered into games and dancing, while the more sedate looked on approvingly or had a quiet rubber. The arrangements were carried out by Mr R Sparrow a grandson, who kept the ball rolling, songs and recitations filling up the periods of rest. [The Courier, Adelaide, 13 March 1897][Mount Barker Courier, 12 March 1897] “W and J Rounsevell were the principal coach proprietors in South Australia before Cobb & Co. bought them out on 1 December 1866.” [The Lights of Cobb and Co., KA Austin] It should be remembered that at this time most of the coaches... carried the name of Cobb and Co. Regardless of who might be the legal proprietors. Henry Hill was stated to be the sole remaining partner in South Australia in 1871, but assigned his assets to John Hill & Co in 1871 after which Cobb and Co. ceased to operate as a firm in South Australia. One of these conveyances, the subject of our illustration, is a razeed Cobb and Co.’s coach. The inspiriting rattle and jingle and the flashing-lamps make this contrivance a feature of the night on the road that would have delighted Dickens. The subject of our sketch gives one of these bits of brilliant contrast. [The Illustrated News 16 February 1880] “As the romance of the sea makes one boy a sailor, so the romance of the plain, the love of the bush and great spaces, and the fascination of the horse, commit men to coach-driving. And, of course, the romance is charged for, and so reduces the wages...” [Randolph Bedford, The Ships of Charleville for The Lone Hand Magazine, February 1911] The drivers were pioneers and individuals . They thrived on the delight of movement through their chosen country. They welcomed the stimulation provided by their contacts with travellers and were respected for their ability to mix with the sophisticated and still remain bushmen at heart. Their idiosyncracies were not only forgiven, but also exalted, at least in retrospect, to heroic proportions. The land records of 1866 show Thomas as a victualler of Mt. Torrens and taking a lease of 3/4 acre at 25 pounds rent yearly. For some years he ran the Mount Torens Hotel. He conducted the Mill Inn, Mount Torrens from June 1864 to December 1867. By then he was in trouble over debts and by February 1870 as out of business and in the insolvency court. At Woodside on 14 June 1871 it was reported “On Saturday evening as the bus was proceeding from Woodside to Charleston, Mr Discombe (late driver of Walker’s bus) got onto the step behind, and taking hold of the door it flew open and precipitated him to the ground, breaking his collarbone and otherwise severely shaking him”. [SA Chronicle, 17 June 1871] In February 1875 Thomas Discombe bus driver of Woodside proposed Mr Rounsevell as a fit and proper person to represent the District of Onkaparinga. He and a dozen other men including John Northcott had formed a committee to secure the return of John Rounsevell to the House of Assembly. In 1873 he was recorded as an orchardist and from 1882 to 1902 as a brickmaker in the Adelaide Almanac and Directory and South Australian Directories. He had recommenced at the brickyards at North Woodside which he successfully carried on. He was voted People’s Warden for St Marks in 1879 to 1887. Thomas bought plants from his contacts in England and had some no one else in South Australia had. [Nell Skelly] Conditions gradually improved and by 1880 in such prosperous circumstances as Woodside enjoyed, it was imperative that old St. Mark's “not infrequently overcrowded and in a partly ruinous state”, should be superceded. Following a particularly financially successful afternoon tea meeting, Thomas Discombe, Woodside's brickmaker, moved at a vestry meeting on 7 August 1882 “that a new church should be built...seeing the township is gradually enlarging...” Secure in the acquiescence of the congregation for the project, the Rev. Mr. Gibbs found pleasure in announcing that his 'Uncle' Mayo would donate 100 pounds for it. There followed excited talk about where the new building should be placed, whether part of the glebe should be exchanged for another site in the town or even sold to help raise the necessary finance. Sensibly, a subsequent meeting decided to erect the church on the present site on the glebe and to open a subscription list for funds. Not to be outdone by the Mayo munificence, Mrs. Light announced a benefice of her own. Her late husband's cousin, George Thomas Light, would prepare ground plans for the church gratis and he subsequently came to Vestry meetings to outline his thoughts. Thomas Discombe made a large contribution, although without fanfare; giving all the bricks for the new church in exchange for 5 cemetery blocks. [Ern Discombe] He also became a major subsciber: St. Mark's New Church foundation stone laid by Archdeacon Marryat, New Church dedicated to the service of Rev. G.S.Gibbes, incumbent, Thomas Discombe, R. Garlick Holwell, architect V.Thomas. The subscription list followed with some thirty names including Thomas Discombe for 10 pounds out of a total raised of 239 pounds. Thomas was not always 'in the good books' and in the Mount Barker Courier, Friday November 26th, 1880: Magistrates Court Woodside Friday 19th November before Herman Esau Esq. J.P.. Richard Cornish, labourer charged by trooper Pascoe with disorderly behaviour on the 18th was fined 10s. Thomas Discombe, brickmaker, was fined one pound in default fourteen days imprisonment for hindering the trooper when arresting Cornish. In September 1884 the senior scholars of the Oakbank school were taken on an excursion to see manufacturing in action. On the way home Mr Discombe’s brick-yard at North Woodside was invaded, and a short time profitably spent in watching the operation of brickmaking. [Mount Barker Courier, 12 Sept 1884] In 1886 an apple grown by Mr Thomas Discombe of Woodside which measured 14 ½ inches in circumference and weighed 20 ounces was exhibited. [Port Adelaide News, 26 Feb 1886] Thomas was joined by his son, Thomas jr., in the brickmaking from about 1890. The 1885 land tax shows Thomas held several small allotments and one unimproved allotment of 40 acres, all with himself as occupier. Thomas won prizes for pelargoniums, cacti and vegetables in the 189os at the Onkaparinga Show Thomas and Sarah lived in the street named after Thomas... Discombe Street, Woodside... next to the brickworks until Thomas died. A frequent visitor was Susannah Sparrow, the sister of Sarah, who came up from Adelaide. He was a flower show judge at Woodside in 1903 and served on the Show Committee . He won the old buffers race at the Woodside Picnic in 1903. And a bowling trophy the same year. The Adelaide Observer of Saturday, January 16, 1903 has the following obituary: "Mr. Thomas Discombe, an old and respected colonist, died at his residence at North Woodside, on 31 December, after a brief illness. The deceased gentleman was born in Devonshire, England on July 18,1826. He served an apprenticeship of seven years at Torquay with the firm of Messrs. Morgan horticulturalists, and was gardener on one of the local estates prior to leaving for South Australia, where with his wife and young children, he arrived in 1854. The family proceeded to Balhannah, and they have resided in the district ever since. After two years working at brickmaking Mr. Discombe removed to Woodside, and entered into partnership with Mr. Northcott. Subsequently he drove the mail coach between Mount Torrens and Adelaide for about twenty years being respectivelly employed by Messrs. Roussell, Cobb and Co. and Hill and Co.. For several years afterwards he took the reins again during the busy periods. He was a skilful driver. For some years he conducted the Mount Torrens Hotel. He purchased the brickyards at North Woodside which he successfully carried on. Six children, thirteen grandchildren and seven great grandchildren survive him." Thomas Discombe, brickmaker of Woodside, died there on 31 December 1902 aged 76. [d.cert] In his will dated 6 May 1891 he left the brickmaking business to his wife Sarah Ann during her lifetime as well as all the furniture and household effects. The rest of his property was divided a quarter each to son William Thomas and Emily Jane and a sixth to Susannah Sparrow, Eliza Standard Discombe and Agnes Ann Davis. He appointed his son William Thomas of Woodside brickmaker and William Henry Northcott of Orroroo farmer as executors. In a codicil he appointed Gottard Friedrich Lauterbach storekeeper in Woodside as executor instead of Northcott and left sixty pounds to grandson Alfred Ernest Discombe. Then in The Chronicle of 22 October 1910 : "Woodside, October 15, Mrs. Discombe (nee Northcott) the widow of the late Thomas Discombe, brickmaker, who died in 1903, has died at the age of 84, at Woodside. She arrived in the ship Standard in 1854 with her husband and young family and proceeded to Balhannah. Two years later she removed to Woodside and resided here ever since. Mrs. Discombe retained all her physical and mental facilities to the day of her death. The family consists of four daughters and one son. The married daughters are Mrs. Sparrow of Norwood and Mrs. Davies of West Australia. There are 21 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren. Mrs. Discombe celebrated her golden wedding in 1897. [d.cert] Em and Eliza lived in the house in Discombe Street (last house). Both were nurses and prominent in the church there as deaconesses, and involved in the formation of the hospital [Ern Discombe] Uncle Tom ran the brickyard after Thomas senior died, but was not much of a businessman, and people did not pay. It closed in the mid 1920s. He went to town and married. [Ern Discombe] Mary Elizabeth 6 July 1847 Tormohan, presumably died infant as not on ship in 1854. Unsure who the Lucy born on 17 January 1866 of Elizabeth at Mt.Torrens is. No father named. Died 29 January. Sarah Ann 8 December 1856, died 22 January 1858.