STEPHEN BAX
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Ginger Beer stamp c1830
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Stephen Bax led a full life. Despite his twelve years as a convict he took life by the horns and made the most of his skills and the opportunities in the new Colony. He had many setbacks but sheer grit, tenacity and hopefulness kept him going. Lucky for his descendants there is a lot of information about him mainly through his business activities. As usual less is known about his wife Mary, who it can be deduced, was equally tenacious and courageous. She made the long journey without her her young son to be with her husband and must have found a way to survive and care for her growing family. She would have also been heavily involved in helping her husband to run his businesses.
Stephen was the third son born to Wiliam Bax (1753 - 1827) and Sarah Coleman (1756-1826). His brothers were Richard (1776-1830), William (1778-1844) and Benjamin (1786-1842). In 1801 he is listed as an apprentice to John Hawke, a baker. He would have been 19 years old then so it is likely he began this at a much earlier age, possibly even from twelve years old. He was required to serve seven full years as an apprentice and would receive full board and lodgings with his employer. His family were required to pay a fee (a premium) to his employer. He would have worked then as a baker in Ramsgate. On February 20th, 1806 he married Mary Tutty (1786-1840) in Hythe Kent. In 1811 their son Stephen Jr was born. There were four more children born in Sydney. In the 1828 Census there are five children listed; Stephen John, 19, (1811-1907), Thomas, 13, (1815), Jane Elisabeth, 11 (1817-1850), George, 9, (1819 - 1867), John Wyatt , 5, (1823 -1909) and Rebecca,1, (1827-1915). There was another son William Hobbs listed in the 1822 Census and on the St Phillips baptism register. Sadly he must have passed away.
In July 1812 he was convicted of burglary in the Essex Assize (there are no details readily available) and sentenced to death. This was commuted to Capital Respite , (life with transportation). Stephen was held on a prison hulk awaiting transport (either the Retribution or the Perseus). Prison hulks were unseaworthy ships moored in rivers close enough to land for convicts to work. They were assigned to a mess and allocated to a work gang, spending 10 to 12 hours a day working on river cleaning projects, stone collecting, timber cutting, embankment and dockyard work while they waited for a convict transport to become available. He would have been on the hulk for some four months before being transported with 199 other prisoners and a few free settlers to Sydney, NSW aboard the Fortune (2) In December 1812. The ship stopped in Rio de Janeiro for a month, (either to deliver goods or due to bad weather) and took 6 months to arrive in Port Jackson, sailing in on June 11th, 1813. Four convicts died and one soldier perished on this long arduous journey.
Stephen was the third son born to Wiliam Bax (1753 - 1827) and Sarah Coleman (1756-1826). His brothers were Richard (1776-1830), William (1778-1844) and Benjamin (1786-1842). In 1801 he is listed as an apprentice to John Hawke, a baker. He would have been 19 years old then so it is likely he began this at a much earlier age, possibly even from twelve years old. He was required to serve seven full years as an apprentice and would receive full board and lodgings with his employer. His family were required to pay a fee (a premium) to his employer. He would have worked then as a baker in Ramsgate. On February 20th, 1806 he married Mary Tutty (1786-1840) in Hythe Kent. In 1811 their son Stephen Jr was born. There were four more children born in Sydney. In the 1828 Census there are five children listed; Stephen John, 19, (1811-1907), Thomas, 13, (1815), Jane Elisabeth, 11 (1817-1850), George, 9, (1819 - 1867), John Wyatt , 5, (1823 -1909) and Rebecca,1, (1827-1915). There was another son William Hobbs listed in the 1822 Census and on the St Phillips baptism register. Sadly he must have passed away.
In July 1812 he was convicted of burglary in the Essex Assize (there are no details readily available) and sentenced to death. This was commuted to Capital Respite , (life with transportation). Stephen was held on a prison hulk awaiting transport (either the Retribution or the Perseus). Prison hulks were unseaworthy ships moored in rivers close enough to land for convicts to work. They were assigned to a mess and allocated to a work gang, spending 10 to 12 hours a day working on river cleaning projects, stone collecting, timber cutting, embankment and dockyard work while they waited for a convict transport to become available. He would have been on the hulk for some four months before being transported with 199 other prisoners and a few free settlers to Sydney, NSW aboard the Fortune (2) In December 1812. The ship stopped in Rio de Janeiro for a month, (either to deliver goods or due to bad weather) and took 6 months to arrive in Port Jackson, sailing in on June 11th, 1813. Four convicts died and one soldier perished on this long arduous journey.
In the convict records Stephen is described as black haired, dark skinned and brown eyed. I haven't worked out yet where Stephen Bax was assigned but possibly at Parramatta. In 1814 his wife Mary came out on the ship the Kangaroo, leaving four year old Stephen behind. He eventually made his way to Sydney on the Speke in 1827. He had only recently arrived in Sydney when he is assaulted, collecting a debt for his father. 'Stephen
Bax, a boy aged 15, appeared before thhe bench to refer a complaint against another lad named Faircloth, for a violent assault. It appeared that the complainant proceeded by the directions of his father, a pastry cook in George Street , to demand payment of a small sum due to him by some of the defendant's family. Where, meeting the defendant, some altercation arose, and he struck the complainant a blow on the head with a stone which inflicted a severe incision and felled him to the ground....warrant was issued against the lad. Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser, Saturday 20 January 1827, page 3
How Mary managed financially is unknown but pretty quickly she petitioned the governor asking for some land to build a home for her and her four children. She received a response essentially saying that it should have been her husband requesting land and that she is not a 'resident settler' and therefore not eligible for land. In 1823 she petitions the governor again for a piece of land. 'This time she specifies the lot she wants. 'The humble petition ' requested 'a small piece of unallocated ground between John Palfrey's tenement and Argyle St, in Prince Street, sufficient for the erection of a small dwelling being about 30 feet in width, which she is anxious to obtain for that purpose, having now a family of five young children .' I haven't found a response to the second request.
By 1923 Mary had given birth to Thomas, Jane, William, George, and John. Another child Rebecca would be born in 1827. Prior to the convict barracks being developed at Hyde Park, men were required to find their own lodgings and often resided to the place they were assigned. So it was easy for convicts and their wives to spend time together.
Stephen was given a Ticket of Leave in 1822 and began to work as a baker. Interestingly in 1817 a notice was placed in the Sydney Gazette giving 14 days notice for Stephen Bax to collect the goods Stephen he left at 78 George St for security of rent be collected or they would be sold by auction to liquidate the rent. (Saturday 11 October 1817, page 4) Perhaps he was jumping the gun, eager to set up his business. It would be another eight years when he received a conditional pardon in 1825 and could finally establish his business as a cook and confectioner at 8 George St. He placed many advertisements and was well known for his 'ordinarys' and his mutton pies. The advertisements make interesting reading in relation to food history. I find them intriguing . Especially the turtle soup on Fridays! I have put four of the variations below from different years. There is also a review of his restaurant/shop. It seems he also did catering. The Colonial Secretary gave a grand dinner to the' principal officers, civil and military, resident in Sydney, on Friday last. A fine turtle was dressed on the occasion by Mr. Bax. The Monitor Friday 27 April 1827
Bax, a boy aged 15, appeared before thhe bench to refer a complaint against another lad named Faircloth, for a violent assault. It appeared that the complainant proceeded by the directions of his father, a pastry cook in George Street , to demand payment of a small sum due to him by some of the defendant's family. Where, meeting the defendant, some altercation arose, and he struck the complainant a blow on the head with a stone which inflicted a severe incision and felled him to the ground....warrant was issued against the lad. Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser, Saturday 20 January 1827, page 3
How Mary managed financially is unknown but pretty quickly she petitioned the governor asking for some land to build a home for her and her four children. She received a response essentially saying that it should have been her husband requesting land and that she is not a 'resident settler' and therefore not eligible for land. In 1823 she petitions the governor again for a piece of land. 'This time she specifies the lot she wants. 'The humble petition ' requested 'a small piece of unallocated ground between John Palfrey's tenement and Argyle St, in Prince Street, sufficient for the erection of a small dwelling being about 30 feet in width, which she is anxious to obtain for that purpose, having now a family of five young children .' I haven't found a response to the second request.
By 1923 Mary had given birth to Thomas, Jane, William, George, and John. Another child Rebecca would be born in 1827. Prior to the convict barracks being developed at Hyde Park, men were required to find their own lodgings and often resided to the place they were assigned. So it was easy for convicts and their wives to spend time together.
Stephen was given a Ticket of Leave in 1822 and began to work as a baker. Interestingly in 1817 a notice was placed in the Sydney Gazette giving 14 days notice for Stephen Bax to collect the goods Stephen he left at 78 George St for security of rent be collected or they would be sold by auction to liquidate the rent. (Saturday 11 October 1817, page 4) Perhaps he was jumping the gun, eager to set up his business. It would be another eight years when he received a conditional pardon in 1825 and could finally establish his business as a cook and confectioner at 8 George St. He placed many advertisements and was well known for his 'ordinarys' and his mutton pies. The advertisements make interesting reading in relation to food history. I find them intriguing . Especially the turtle soup on Fridays! I have put four of the variations below from different years. There is also a review of his restaurant/shop. It seems he also did catering. The Colonial Secretary gave a grand dinner to the' principal officers, civil and military, resident in Sydney, on Friday last. A fine turtle was dressed on the occasion by Mr. Bax. The Monitor Friday 27 April 1827
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Australian Hotel first double storey building at left in picture.
Bax took out the publican license on the Australian Hotel also on George St. He held this license from April 1830 to December 1831. Of note during his tenure was a Coronial inquest held in 1831 into the 'bones of a woman' found on nearby Goat Island. The verdict was returned 'that the bones were those of a female which had been interred in a secret manner about two years ago but how or by whom to them unknown.'
Sydney Herald , Monday 13 June 1831, page 4
Also during this time he cooked dinner for guests on the very first Steamer, Sophia Jane, on it's trial voyage through Sydney Harbour, the Sophia Jane. (by the 1840s steamers were traversing through the water system of NSW up to the northern rivers and South to Morpeth).
Stephen's next adventure was the St Andrew's Coffee House also on George St. He took over this license in January 1832. One event is reported here, ' A whaler's ball and supper was got up, in fine style at Mr Bax's St. Andrew's Coffee House, George-street, on Monday evening.' Sydney Herald, Thursday 24 May 1832, page 3
In 1832 Bax reported Samuel Webb for the theft of two silver spoons. On March 1st Samuel was indicted to stand trial and found guilty. He was however shown mercy and given one month's imprisonment. Sydney Herald (NSW : 1831 - 1842), Monday 23 April 1832, page 2
The Coffee House failed and in June 1832 there was a Sherif's sale on the premises to try and recover some of the debt Bax owed. In addition Stephen Bax lost all of his household possessions which were auctioned off in November 1832 at his premises in Barrack Lane, Clarence Street.
He was not to be defeated though and by August 1832 he was back in his pastry/confectionary business. He advertised hat he had returned to the trade by taking over the Business of Mr Moses, in William Place, George Street opposite the Colonial . In April 1833 Stephen is recorded as having been assigned a convict as a 'carter.' In November of that year, Moses has Bax in the Equity Division of the Supreme Court and Bax is declared insolvent and ordered to sell all of his property to pay off his creditors. In April of the following year Stephen Bax applied to the Supreme Court to have his insolvency reversed. This is denied and Stephen could not have started a business for ten years. In 1834 Mary Bax is named as a Confectioner in George St, Parramatta. In June 1834 it is reported in the Sydney Herald, 'On Monday night last, as Mrs Bax was sitting in her back parlour at supper, one of the light-footed gentry ran into the shop, seized a large plumb cake and carried it off. Mrs B. could not leave the door, and the fellow escaped with his prize.' Stephen does not wait ten years to be in business for only a year later in June 1835 Bax catered for the Governor's dinner The recent Government House Supper was, we understand got up in a style beyond anything hitherto produced in the 'Colony, by Mr. Bax, the confectioner, George street ; it composed altogether~800 dishes, 650 of eatables, including all the delicacies of the season, and 150 ornamental. Mr. Bax received the well merited praise of most of the Elite that were present at the occasion.' Australian (Sydney, NSW ), Tuesday 2 June 1835, page 2
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Mary passed away on 1 April, 1840. In January of 1841 Bax received a full pardon. That must have been bittersweet news without his beloved wife by his side and so late in his life. Stephen Bax passed away in 1843. The couple are both buried in the St John's Church cemetery in Parramatta.
Hopefully their children reaped some benefit from the pardon. At least the convict stain might have been lifted from their lives. What happened to the children? The eldest son Stephen is not known of after 1833. George moved to South Australia and was involved in the cattle industry, becoming an auctioneer. He was married with eight children but unfortunately he passed away quite young (in his 40s) from throat cancer. Interestingly this is also what his nephew William Bax would later suffer from. Thomas Bax went to see on a whaling expedition with William Barkus , former manager of the Australian Hotel. The ship 'John Bull' never returned to port and, after 18 months, was presumed lost at sea. However on September 29, 1837 the Monitor ran a story about two seaman living on Pleasant Island (Nauru), one of them a lad of 17 years old. The physical description fitted Thomas' look but it said the boy had lost his mother tongue and so couldn't ascertain from where he'd come or who he was. Stephen requested that the Government send the Man-of War be sent to find Thomas. This in fact did occur but no trace of either seaman was found. In 1834 Jane Elizabeth married Captain Milne of the Columbine and lived in Balmain. They had two children, Robert Forbes and Mary Jane who died in infancy. Her husband committed suicide in 1848 at forty years old. He left multiple debts and died without making a will. Jane is likely to have found his body. Her sister Rebecca went to care for her widowed sister and unfortunately had to commit her to an asylum for being of 'unsound mind'. She was only there four months when she died intestate at 33 years old. Following a Supreme Court hearing, John Bax was appointed as executer of her estate and he took Jane's son Robert Forbes to live with him in Mudgee. Rebecca married James Boswell in Mudgee where she remained, having five children together. JOHN BAX was a very well known character in Mudgee. A lot is written about John. See his page for more information.
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