Joseph Blake

Joseph Blake was born 27^th May 1823 in Hawick, Roxburgh, Scotland. His parents were Walter Blake and Isabella (Scott).    

Joseph married Margaret Oliver (b.26.9.1826) in Hawick on the 8^th June 1849. Their firstborn child Walter was born on the 19^th March 1850.  The family arrived in Melbourne on the 2^nd December aboard the ‘Albatross’, from where they boarded the ‘Rattler’, arriving in Adelaide one week later.

Joseph, a Wheelwright/Machinist by trade established himself in business in Smithfield. His house and workshop were on the Main North Road next to the Smithfield hotel.

Six more children were born in the years that followed.

John          1852-1924     Married Teresa Frances Day
Margaret  1855-1953        Married William Smith (son of John Smith of Smithfield)
Isabella   1860-1864
Joseph 1863-1955       Married Martha Coker
Isabella  1866-1937        Married Alexander McDonald
James Turnbull  1868-1944         Married Clara Emily Roberts

Walter, the eldest of Joseph’s son's married Marion Smith in 1880. Marion was the daughter of John Smith of Smithfield.

Joseph immersed himself in the local community. He was an Elder of the Presbyterian Church and Superintendent of the Sunday School and President of the Smithfield Institute and President of Eclectic Society.

He died on the 2^nd of February 1886 and is buried in Uley cemetery.  His obituary described Joseph as a genial and true friend, honest and straightforward in his business dealings.  He will be missed by the poor, to whom his heart was always open.

Joseph junior was born in 1863 at Smithfield.  He eventually took over his father’s business and built wagons and trollies.  Joseph worked as the local undertaker and blacksmith and lived and worked next to the Smithfield Hotel.  He was also Auditor for the District Council of Munno Para and Registrar of Birth Marriages and Deaths for Port Gawler. Like his father Joseph junior was an active member of the Presbyterian Church and was organist for 20 years.

He married Margaret Coker on 3^rd April 1890 in Salisbury. Her parents were William and Hannah nee Martin and Hannah were born in 1867 in Gawler Plains.  Joseph junior and Margaret had six children;

1. Joseph William (Bill) b. 18 March 1891at Smithfield
2. Gertrude Evelyn b. 9 February 1893 at Smithfield
3. Margaret Vera   b. 16 February 1895 at Smithfield
4. Kenneth Colin     b. 17 February 1897 at Smithfield
5. Linda May b. 24 December 1899 at Smithfield
6. Milton Audley b. 5 May 1903 at Smithfield

They lived at Smithfield and at Hyde Park. Margaret died in 1952 at Hyde Park and Joseph junior on 27^th May 1955.  They are buried at Centennial Park.

Joseph William (Bill) completed his education at Prince Alfred College and then began his apprenticeship to the wheelwright trade. In 1908 he passed examinations in Fitting & Turning at the School of Mines.  At the time he enlisted in the army, 29^th February 1916, he was working in a bank. Five months later his engagement was announced to Ivy Moss of Smithfield.

All in the Family!

Other relatives travelled to Australia with the Blake family. They were William Scott, his wife Isabella (Miller), their three children, Joseph, Helen and Margaret. William Scott was Joseph Blake’s Uncle (his Mother’s brother).   Also on board were Joseph’s brother-in-law John Adams and his son Alexander.

Another sister of Joseph Blake, Isabel had married James Turnbull. The couple arrived in Adelaide in 1848 aboard the ‘Bussorah Merchant’.  They farmed at ‘Whytebanks’, Smithfield.  This property was later inherited by their nephew Alexander Adams.

Joseph Blake’s younger brother George came to Adelaide in 1848 also on board the ‘Bussorah Merchant’.  His travelling companions were his sister Isabel and her husband James Turnbull.  In 1851 George married Christine McFeat, in Gawler. George lived and farmed at Saddleworth.