Biographical notes:
Occupation: apprentice carpenter (1881), journeyman, upholsterer (1891), Captain Salvation Army (1898), steam carpet works foreman (1901), builder (1924-26).
Addresses (ENG): At 1871 census - Silver St, Bruton, SOM; At 1881 census - St James St, South Petherton, SOM; At birth of daughter Maria (1889) & 1891 - Bradley Street, Wotton under Edge, GLS; At 1891 census & 1892 - Church Street, Wotton under Edge, GLS; 1893-1896 - Market Street, Wotton under Edge, GLS; At birth of daughter Freda (1898) - 5 Raeburn St, West Brixton, LND; At birth of son James (1901) & 1901 census - 71 Victoria Rd., Charlton, LND; At 1911 census - 30 Halstow Rd, Westcombe Park, LND.
Addresses (AUS): 27 Albert St, Goodwood, SA; 1915 - South Tce (now 354 Cross Rd), Clarence Park, SA; 215 Melbourne St, North Adelaide, SA; "Wotton under Edge", Bulls Creek Rd (later known as Aboyne Rd & Price Ave), Torrens Park, SA.
No father is given on his birth certificate & his mother was unmarried at the time of his birth. We now have DNA evidence that his father was James Hale. James was brought up by his grandmother Betty Deacon (Dibble) in Bruton, SOM, ENG when his mother married Henry Smithwick & moved to Trevethin, MON, WLS.
He was known by the names James Thomas in later life & on his death certificate, but his birth certificate & baptism gives Silas James and his marriage certificate gives James Thomas Silas.
Migrated to Adelaide, SA, AUS on the Ballarat ex Tilbury 2 Sep 1912, arriving 16 Oct 1912.
Buried Micham General Cemetery, Section E, Block 442, no headstone.
Reference documents:
1862 birth certificate transcript.
1862 birth registration index record.
1862 baptism record.
1871 census return.
1881 census return (William Saunders).
1889 marriage certificate.
1881 marriage notice (Western Daily Press).
ca 1890 - photograph.
1891 electoral roll entry.
1891 census return.
1892, 1893, 1894, 1895 & 1896 electoral roll entries.
1901 census return.
1911 census return.
1912 passenger list London-Port Adelaide.
1946 death certificate.