Log of the Ship Dauntless

Log of the Ship Dauntless · Electric Scotland

For “Died” 1867 of James Boyle Falconer

NSW BDM's death: 4877/1867 FALCONER JAMES of ROBERT and MARGURITE

The descendant family note's own affirmative identification of this NSW BDM registration as James Boyle Falconer's death - the direct link this proposal relies on between reg 4877/1867 and this tree's James, given the primary registration row alone (cited above) carries no independent proof it is THIS James rather than a namesake. [Added by SKEPTIC review: this quote existed on the page but was not captured as its own citation in the draft.]

Log of the Ship Dauntless · Electric Scotland

For “Died” 1867 of James Boyle Falconer

FATAL ACCIDENT to Mr James Falconer In 1867, a terrible railway accident occurred at Newtown when Mr James Falconer was instantly killed and a number of other person were more or less seriously injured. Up to that time this was the worst railway accident that had occurred in NSW. Mr Falconer was on a business trip to Sydney and was staying with his brother at Newtown. He was Railway Station Master there. This train took business people to the city and was crowded. Bankers, merchants and lawyers and other well known citizens among the injured. Mr Falconer, who had a station property at Laheys Creek, 2 miles this side of Cobbora, was a well respected resident of the district and in those days was a constant visitor to Mudgee where he did his banking and other business. The govt of the day offered a paltry sum to his widow for the compensation owing to her husband's death but the executors of the estate refused the amount offered. A Supreme Court case was set down for hearing in Sydney with the result that the jury awarded a substantial verdict amounting to many thousands of dollars. The beautiful monument erected at Laheys Creek and situated in the spot near the road was placed there by Mrs Falconer and her family out of the respect of their deceased husband and father. There are many of the Falconer family living in Mudgee and outside districts who are respected and well known. The following is taken from the Sydney Empire printed in 1867:

Descendant family narrative (source #2090) introducing the newspaper transcript below; already establishes James's occupation/residence at Laheys Creek near Mudgee and his monument there.

Log of the Ship Dauntless · Electric Scotland

For “Died” 1867 of James Boyle Falconer

"the most serious railway collision that has lately happened on our railways yesterday morning at 9 o'clock at the Newtown railway stn...the passenger train due in Sydney at 8.49 was just leaving the Newtown station when a through-goods train, which followed, came up before the first train had acquired much speed ran into it causing a violent concussion. One passenger, Mr Falconer, brother to the station master at Newtown, was killed on the spot. A considerable number of ladies and gentlemen were seriously hurt . Most of the passengers were hurled by the violence of the concussion from one end of the carriage to the other. Many kept jumping out of the carriages panic stricken. The utmost consternation prevailed for the concussion was so sudden and unexpected that many attempted to extricate themselves before the carriages had acquired full speed. More persons were injured by jumping out of the carriages and, considering the nature of the place, it is providential that many more were not killed.

Sydney Empire, 1867: names the deceased passenger 'Mr Falconer' as 'brother to the station master at Newtown' - McVey Napier Falconer, per the citation on McVey's own record.

Log of the Ship Dauntless · Electric Scotland

For “Died” 1867 of James Boyle Falconer

The carriage was crashed to atoms--the one in which Mr Falconer (deceased) was riding, and others being injured, while hundreds of others were crowding on the lines, some to ascertain the extent of the accident, others to lend assistance to remove the killed and maimed--here was a prospect of another greater and most appalling accident, had not a man with much presence of mind, ran on the line towards Sydney, and apprised the engine driver of the 9 o'clock train what had occurred, and the crowded state of the line near the Newtown station. The body of James Falconer, aged 49, much mutilated was removed to the station house. Whether he jumped or was forced out of the carriage was not clear. He appears to have become entangled for his head came in contact with the basement of the landing jetty and his body was dragged for nearly 30 yards, blood flowing freely. His body was much mutilated. Deceased was a married man residing at Lahey's Creek about 40 miles beyond Mudgee. He leaves a widow and 6 children. He was we believe, a brother of the station master at Newtown.

Continuation of the Sydney Empire, 1867 account. Age 49 in 1867 matches James Boyle Falconer's existing tree birth date (13 MAY 1818) almost exactly; this and the named sibling relationship in part 1 are the hard discriminator establishing that this newspaper's 'James Falconer' - and reg 4877/1867 above - are this tree's James Boyle Falconer.