John Argent

The barque Susannah, left London on the 20^th January 1849. Included in the list of passengers were 216 government emigrants in steerage. John Argent was one of the single males listed. During the voyage he met Fanny Laxton who was to become his wife. The vessel arrived in Port Adelaide on the 16^th May 1849 and the couple married soon after. Their marriage is recorded on the 12^th September of that year. It took place at the Primitive Methodist chapel, Pine Forest, (now Enfield) Nr. Adelaide.  John was aged 23 and Fanny 20.

John Argent was born on the 29^th December 1826 to parents James and Margaret, of Isleworth, London, England.  Fanny Laxton was the daughter of James Laxton and Mary (Radwell) of Old Weston, Huntingtonshire.

The census for 1841 shows the family living at Wallpole Gate, Isleworth, Brentford, Middlesex. James Argent, born c.1797 was a Waterman. (River workers transporting people by small boats along the river) His wife Mary was born c.1802.  John had several siblings, Mary, Thomas, Joseph, William, Ellen, and Alfred.  The census for 1851 lists additional siblings, Eliza, Edward and Robert.

John and Fanny had eleven children over the years following their marriage.

Rosina Ellen  b. 18 March 1850 at Dry Creek
William James b. 29 March 1852 at Dry Creek
John George b.16 February 1854 at Peachey Belt
Frederick Thomas b. 21 December 1855 at Peachey Belt
Robert Edwin  b. 15May 1859 at Peachey Belt
Sarah Priscilla  b. 10 October 1861 at Peachey Belt
Mary Anna Caroline b.  10 April 1864 at Peachey Belt
Annie Louisa Anne b. 22 May 1866 at Peachey Belt
Fanny Louisa Ann  b.  5 October 1867 at Peachey Belt
Rosina Sophia Radwell b. 25 October 1869 at Peachey Belt
Samuel Albert  b. 25 December 1872 at Peachey Belt

Marriages of the surviving children:

Rosina Ellen       married Thomas BROSTER, 22 April 1875
William James   married Margaret ADAIR, 9 July 1873
John George      married Mary Ann CHIVELL, 17 May 1876
Frederick Thomas married and Elizabeth CHIVELL, 29 January 1873
Robert Edwin    married Lillias Eliza TAPLIN, 23 March 1887
Sarah Priscilla    married John George Ede SUTTON, 9 August 1888
Annie Louisa Ann married Fred S. STEPHENS      4 July 1888 (Recorded as Fanny Louisa Ann)
Rosina Sophia Radwell married Isaac John FATCHEN, 1 April 1892

John Argent first occupied section 3075 in 1854, in 1861 he occupied section 3074, 80 acres of arable land and house. In 1867 section 3078 was occupied again 80 acres of arable land and section 3056, 77 acres of arable land and house.  The owner of the property was Wentowrth Cavenagh.  This remained unchanged until 1875 when our Assessment records stop.

The property was located on Heaslip Road near Huxtable Road and the railway line.  Now most of the property is part of Edinburgh airport. The house is believed to have been located on the corner of Womma and Stebonheath roads.  The house is demolished but a pepper tree is still visible. (2018)

John died on 2^nd July 1892 at the age of 67, his wife Fanny lived to the age of 89, dying on the 28^th March 1918.  Both John and Fanny Argent are buried in Zoar cemetery, Penfield.

John George Argent married Mary Anne Chivell on the 17 May 1876 at the Bible Christian Capel, Penfield and had the following children:-

              Mary Ann                         b. 17 July 1877 at Peachey Belt
              Hurbert George               b. 29 January 1880 at Wards Belt
              William Edward              b. 17 Feb1883 at Penfield
              Hurtle Stanley                  b. 15 August 1885 at Wards Belt
              Albert Harold                   b. 2 February 1888 at Wards Belt
              Sydney Clarence             b. 26 July 1891 at Gawler River
              Wilfred Leslie                   b. 26 March 1894 at Port Gawler

John and Mary Ann lived at Ward’s Belt for thirteen years and later moved to Lewiston and Smithfield, where they lived for 40 years.

John George died on the 13 March 1918 aged 64 years old and his wife Mary Ann died on the 12 November 1939 aged 86 years old.  They are both buried at Zoar Cemetery, Plot ‘R’.

Hurtle Stanley Argent married Florence Maud Norris on the 14 October 1908 at the residence of William Norris of Smithfield.  Hurtle and Florence had the following children:-

              Elliot Victor        b. 10 August 1910 at Gawler
              Florence Jean    b. 10 August 1910 at Gawler
              Hazel May          b. 21 July 1913 at Gawler North
              Milton Stanley   b. 13 June 1914 at Penfield
              Leslie Maxwell b. 18 January 1919 at Gawler

Hurtle Stanley died on the 22 October 1966 aged 80 years old of Smithfield at Gawler and his wife Florence Maud died on the 11 July 1963 aged 80 years old of Smithfield and Gawler.  They are both buried at Willaston Cemetery, Lot 08, Row LL, Block 2.

Leslie Maxwell was born on the 18 January 1919 at Gawler. He enlisted and was given the service number S9442 and assigned the 18th Light Horse Machine Gun Regiment as a Trooper.  His next of kin was his father and his occupation was farmer.

Leslie Maxwell died on the 24 October 2000 aged 81 years old of and at Victor Harbor, South Australia and is buried in Victor Harbor Cemetery.

Samuel George Argent born 1 March 1875 at Penfield.

Emily Jane Argent nee Mendaue was born at Burton on December 22^nd 1874.  She was the eldest child of a very large family of 17 children.  One died as a baby, but the others lived into adulthood.  She worked at a Mr Griffs during the day and came home at night to do another days work after the evening meal.

Her father died at the early age of 47 and it fell to her and her brothers Earnest and Jack to help their mother to raising the family.

Church was always a prominent place for the family and she taught Sunday school at Burton until she was married.  On March 26^th, 1901 she married Samuel George Argent and went to live at Zoar for a number of years. Samuel was the son of William James Argent and Margaret Adair They had five children, Harold, Mavis, Cyril and twins Alfred John and Frank Herbert.  She also fostered a child  Mavis Jean Archer (Madie). 

While living at Lower Light the farm was hit by the 1914 drought forcing them to leave their farm without a penny.  Her husband then worked in the mill at Wasleys and later on the railway line at Penfield. Around 1925 the family moved to Commercial Road, Salisbury for thirteen years when she moved to Ann street.  She remained here until she could no longer look after herself.

Emily continued to serve in the church and was very involved in the Women’s Auxiliary of Overseas Missions.

She died on 20^th August 1971 aged 96 years.

Samuel and Emily had four children;

Harold George                born 11 August 1902 Penfield
Mavis Constance            born 31 March 1904, Penfield
Cyril William                    born 7 June 1905, Penfield
Herbert Frank                  born March 1909
Alfred John                      born March 1909

Frank and Alfred both drive the Baker’s cart in the Salisbury – Smithfield, One Tree Hill area.  They later worked for the Department of Defence.

Robert Edwin Argent was born 15 May 1859. Married Lillies Eliza Taplin at Zoar Bible Christian Church at Penfield on 23 March 1887.  Died 19 May 1933 at Prospect and was buried at North Road Anglican cemetery.

Robert Edwin Argent was the third born. He remained on the family farm at Penfield.

Robert Edwin Argent and Lillies Eliza Taplin on their wedding in 23 March 1887. Wedding was at Zoar Bible Christian Methodist Church Penfield.

The children of this marriage were: Effie Argent born 13/8/1888. Died 10/2/1959 and buried at Salisbury.

Leticia Retinia Argent , born 1889 and married to Leslie Taylor about 1912. She died in 1963.

Lillies Eliza Taplin was born 29 June 1866 at She Oak Log. She died on 5 Feb 1956 at Enfield. Her parents were Charles James Blatch Taplin who was born in England in 1810 and Eliza Rixson who was born in 1813 in England.  Charles Taplin arrived on the Elizabeth on 27 July 1849 with his parents and brother. Charles Taplin and his wife Elizabeth were the first teachers in Salisbury. They are both buried in the Anglican cemetery in Salisbury. Charles died in 1866 and Elizabeth died in 1891.