Source
Source for: James Stanbury, 25 FEB 1868 - 11 DEC 1945
Index
Name source: S137Page: Database online.
Page: Sharpe/ Ingold Family Tree
Text: Record for James Stanbury - 2014-06-12 http://search.ancestry.com.au/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=pubmembertrees&h=18930043364&indiv=try
Page: Sharpe/ Ingold Family Tree
Text: Record for Eliza Jane "Dolly" Jordan - 2014-06-12 http://search.ancestry.com.au/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=pubmembertrees&h=19529169109&indiv=try
Occupation source: S137Page: Database online.
Occupation source: S411Page: Grafton Rowing Club History: Professional Sculling - Jim Stanbury
Text: James (Jim) Stanbury started rowing at a young age and, though recognised as having a rough style in his early racing career, went on to become World Professional Champion during an era when professional sculling was still at its peak.
Stanbury became champion when he defeated John McLean on the Parramatta River on April 28, 1891. He successfully defended his championship both in Australia and England on several occasions in the five years up to his loss to Canadian Jake Gaudaur on the Thames on September 7, 1896.
Following a nine year break from professional sculling, Stanbury returned to defeat George Towns for the title on the Parramatta River on July 22, 1905. Stanbury then retired from professional sculling again not long after losing the title again to George Towns on the Parramatta River on July 28, 1906.
Jim Stanbury was a big, powerful man, hence the nickname "Big Jim". Legend has it that he could single handedly load telegraph poles onto a dray, snap saplings off at the roots, and easily lump wheat and corn bags that usually took two men to carry. In later life one of his tricks was to stretch out an arm and from it suspend 3 of his 8 stone (50kgs) daughters for minutes on end
Follow the links at the top of this frame for additional information about the life of Jim Stanbury.*
* Many thanks to Bruce Stanbury Ramsay who supplied much of the information displayed here about Jim Stanbury.@M1050@@M1051@@M1052@ http://www.graftonrowing.asn.au/history/stanbury_home.htm
Residence source: S137Page: Database online.
Birth source: S137Page: Sharpe/ Ingold Family Tree
Text: Record for James Stanbury - 2014-06-12 http://search.ancestry.com.au/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=pubmembertrees&h=18930043364&indiv=try
Page: Database online.
Birth source: S262Page: Birth - 7529/1868 - STANBURY, JAMES - JAMES - CATHERINE - BRISBANE
WATER
Birth source: S411Page: Grafton Rowing Club History: Professional Sculling - Jim Stanbury -
Early Days
Text: James Stanbury was the first white child born on Dangar Island (then known as Mullet Island) in the Hawkesbury River near the present day township of Brooklyn. The date was February 25, 1868.
The island was originally called Mullet Island by Captain Phillip's exploration party who visited there on March 7, 1788 and caught a quantity of mullet to supplement their provisions. The name was later changed to Dangar Island when Henry Dangar acquired the island in 1864.
James was the first son, and third child born to James Stanbury (Snr) and his wife Catherine (nee Riley). They had a total of 10 children - 5 girls and 5 boys, born between 1864 and 1885.
James Snr, had migrated to Australia from Bratton Flemming near Barnstaple, North Devon, arriving in Sydney on the steamship Fitzjames on April 7, 1857, at the age of 21 years.
He met Catherine Riley in Camden, and subsequently married her on February 2, 1863, at the Scots Church in Sydney. Catherine was born at "The Rocks", Sydney, on February 19, 1846, her parents having migrated to Sydney from Scotland, arriving only 2 weeks prior to her birth.
In 1867, James Snr took up the position of farm superintendent on Mullet Island which had been a land grant to Henry Dangar. There they farmed until 1874, when it was decided to move to Terara on the banks of the Shoalhaven River to take up a tenant farm owned by the de Mestre family. Terara is slightly downriver from present-day Nowra and was the first settlement on the south bank of the Shoalhaven. In fact Terara was actually the original site for Nowra.
James Snr. set up a market garden and a shop on the rich alluvial flats. He also purchased a trading boat for selling and buying goods up and down the river. Whilst James Snr. tended his shop and trading boat, the young James looked after the market garden and farm animals.
The family continued to live in Terara until after the birth of their final child in 1885. Sometime after (about 1886) they left Terara and moved further up the Shoalhaven River to a farm on the southern bank where Saltwater Creek enters the river. This property is in the western lee of Pulpit Rock, and opposite the old Boyd property of Bundanon. The property acquired by James Stanbury Snr is currently called "Calymia". James Snr planted an orchard on the new farm and carried on with general farming.
It was during their time at Terara that young James, as early as 6 years old took to rowing on the river. His life was a very physical one, and as such, school was not a high priority.
At the age of 11 years, it was finally decided that young Jim (as he was known) should have some schooling. By then he was 5 foot 10 inches (178 cms) tall and weighed 12 stone 71bs (80kgs). He would have seemed like a giant among those in the infants class to which he was assigned. Jim stayed for a day or two and then marched out of school, never to return.
Instead, he worked hard on the family farm, and taught himself to read and write by the light of an oil lamp. All the time his great frame grew taller, wider and stronger, until, when he finally stopped growing, he stood 6 foot 2 inches (189cms) tall and carried 18 stone (115kgs) of tough muscle.
Among other accomplishments, Stanbury learned in his teen years to grab a couple of oars and send a skiff skimming over the water like an aquaplane.@M1047@@M1048@@M1049@ http://www.graftonrowing.asn.au/history/stanbury_early_days.htm
Event source: S411Page: Grafton Rowing Club History: Professional Sculling - Jim Stanbury
Text: Stanbury now felt he was ready to challenge for the world title. A challenge was accepted by John McLean for 200 pounds a side and was rowed over the Parramatta course on April 28, 1891.
Stanbury won by 8 lengths in a time of 22 minutes 15.5 seconds and became world champion.
A rematch was organised for July 7, 1891 on the Parramatta course, with the same result, but in the faster time of 18 minutes 25 seconds on the shortened course.
Due to the proximity of the Parramatta Rowing Course, Stanbury had located himself at Ryde where he made his headquarters The Royal Hotel which was owned by Samuel Jordan.
The Royal was a favourite for the rowers as it overlooked the start of the course, and its host Sam Jordan, was a very keen supporter of sport, besides being the local Mayor of Ryde.
It was here, that Stanbury, met his future bride, Sam's daughter Eliza Jane (Dolly) Jordan.
They were married on January 4, 1892, at Scots Church, Sydney (where Stanbury's parents were married 29 years earlier).
Stanbury's next title defence was against the New Zealand champion, Tom Sullivan. The race was held on May 2, 1892 over the Parramatta River course. Stanbury won, in a new race record time of 17 minutes 26 seconds.
After the race, Stanbury said "It was the hardest race I ever had."
As the 1890's drew on, there were no further challenges, as economic depression had set in and no potential challengers were prepared to risk the stake money in such trying times. So in 1893, Stanbury sailed for America, to try and organise a defence against a potential challenger, the French Canadian Jake Gaudaur. Unfortunately, terms could not be agreed and so no challenge ensued.
However, Stanbury was asked to give an exhibition race on Lake Austin Texas, against the fastest 8 oar crew that Texas could boast. Incredibly, Stanbury won, and was hailed by the Americans as the greatest sculler of all times.
He returned home to Shoalhaven on October 8, 1893 to await further challenges. Then in January, 1896, a challenge was issued by the British champion, Charles (Wag) Harding for 500 pounds a side plus The Diamond Sculls and Sportsman's Challenge Cup to be rowed on the Thames course between Putney and Mortlake - a distance of 4 miles and 2 furlongs (6844 metres), to be rowed on July 13, 1896 at 3 pm.
Terms were finally agreed and on March 21, 1896, Stanbury departed on the Orient Company's RMS Austral with another young Shoalhaven sculler James Wray to assist him in his training.
On arrival in London Stanbury commenced his 9 week preparation and training on the Thames. Then on Tuesday, June 9, at 10.47 a.m., a telegram was received by the Shoalhaven Telegraph (newspaper) announcing - "James Stanbury the Australian Sculler was drowned while training on the Thames."
Then at 12.17 pm another telegram was received - "There is some doubt about the correctness of Stanbury's death, the cables are conflicting."
At 1.20 pm a third telegram was received - "News confirmed. Boat capsized. Stanbury unable to extricate feet from stretcher." The news having been received with great regret everywhere.
Finally at 4.45 pm a further telegram was received from the editor of the Evening News in London, it read - "We have just received a cablegram that Stanbury capsized but got ashore safely." This cablegram had been sent to Stanbury's parents and was received with great relief all round. The facts of the matter were, that whilst on a training run, his oar struck a passing barge near the Putney Bridge, causing him to lose balance and the outrigger immediately rolled over, tipping the big Australian into the swift flowing water. He sank down, seemingly to the muddy bottom of the Thames, then rose towards the top kicking out strongly, only to drift way downstream and having to chase his outrigger to bring it to shore. Stanbury returned to the boatshed and was on his final training run for the evening when he saw the newspaper posters. In banner headlines one said:
"World Champion Sculler James Stanbury Drowned."
Furiously, he contacted the newspaper. There was stunned silence when he told the editor he was James Stanbury, "and I am certainly not drowned."
On race day the excited English crowds were unanimously on the side of "Wag" Harding. Four huge river steamers crowded almost to sinking point and hundreds of small craft crowded the Thames course to see the World Championship race.
Compact, 9 stone 8 pound (61kg) Harding got to the starting point first. He was soon followed by Stanbury, who was at his racing weight of 13 stone (83kg)
Then the gun cracked. Both men dipped together, Stanbury immediately hit 28 strokes to the minute and Harding 26.
In three mighty strokes Stanbury's bow forged ahead. In six he was drawing away. By 20 his boat was clear.
Passing London Rowing Club there was daylight between the boats, but the partisan crowd still shouted for Harding, yelling that things would be different at Hammersmith.
But at Hammersmith, the cries were: "There's only one man in it." Someone in the crowd offered 20 to 1 about the Australian, but no one accepted.
The race developed into a procession with Stanbury winning by 20 lengths in a record time of 21 minutes 51 seconds (an average speed of 18.8 kph). Stanbury had successfully defended his title on the Thames.
In August Stanbury was then challenged by former British champion George Bubear on the Thames - Stanbury also won this race with ease.@M1053@@M1054@@M1055@@M1056@@M1057@@M1058@@M1059@@M1060@@M1061@@M1062@@M1063@ http://www.graftonrowing.asn.au/history/stanbury_world_champ.htm
Death source: S137Page: Database online.
Page: Sharpe/ Ingold Family Tree
Text: Record for James Stanbury - 2014-06-12 http://search.ancestry.com.au/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=pubmembertrees&h=18930043364&indiv=try
Event source: S411Page: Grafton Rowing Club History: Professional Sculling - Jim Stanbury -
Early Racing
Text: In 1885, at the age of 17, Jim Stanbury entered his first regatta at Greenwell Point where he rowed in 3 events, including the Double Sculls with G. Haiser. Stanbury went on to win his first single scull race at a Nowra regatta in the same year. He continued to dominate local regattas on the Shoalhaven over the next two years, resulting in the suggestion that he should try himself out against the top professionals of the time in a regatta on Lake Bathurst, on January 14, 1887.
At the Lake Bathurst regatta, Stanbury qualified for the final against Peter Kemp (who became World Champion in 1888) and Neil Matterson (Matterson had by now "discovered" and started training Henry Searle). Due to his youth and inexperience, Stanbury was given a 40 second start - he went on to win easily. Peter Kemp was so impressed with the strength of young Stanbury that he offered to train him with the view to correcting his ungainly self taught style.
Shortly afterwards, Stanbury was beaten by Chris Nielsen on the Shoalhaven in a regatta. On the Hunter River, he defeated Robert Campbell easily, and on June 16, 1887 he was beaten again by Chris Nielsen by 4 lengths on the Parramatta River, the winning time being 22 minutes and 40 seconds.
On January 26, 1888 at the Anniversary Day regatta on the Shoalhaven, Stanbury won both the Centennial Handicap Wager Race and also the South Coast Championship Race.
Stanbury was living in Sydney at this time and learning more about rowing, and on June 2, 1888 he rowed Julius Wulf, who at the time was considered a promising sculler, although very rough. Stanbury won easily in 20 minutes 46 and a half seconds. He was soon matched against Henry Searle, who had recently set a new Parramatta Championship Course record when he defeated Wulf in June 1888.
The race between these two powerful young men, caused great interest. Stanbury, although only 20 years of age, was a well developed man and was made favourite for the race, which was rowed on July 13, 1888.
The first mile was rowed in 5 minutes 35 seconds, which was the new Parramatta River record for the mile. Searle went on to win the race by 1.5 boat lengths in the new Parramatta Championship Course record time of 19 minutes 53 seconds for the 3 miles and 2 furlongs, (5234 metres) distance. Searle went on to later become World Champion in October 1888.
Stanbury's rowing was full of power, but he was far from being a skilful sculler - undefeated World Professional Sculling Champion Bill Beach commented at the time, that he "never saw a man get such good pace with such bad rowing."
Peter Kemp, who had by now won the World Championship (following William Beach's retirement and subsequent forfeit to Kemp's challenge), took Stanbury in hand and coached him in the finer skills of sculling, Chris Nielsen (who was also a boat builder) was his trainer on land, and put him through a rigorous physical preparation.
During this period, John McLean from the Shoalhaven (born September 17, 1859) had been winning many races on the northern rivers of New South Wales, mainly on the Richmond and Clarence Rivers.
By now, Stanbury's reputation as a future champion had travelled overseas to countries like America, Canada, and England, where professional sculling attracted millions of fans. Among the challenges he received, was one from the Canadian champion William J. O'Connor, who suggested a race in America for a huge stake.
However, Stanbury's backers decided that their boy was not yet ready for the technical gamesmanship of the overseas sculling circuit and suggested that O'Connor should come to Australia instead. O'Connor finally came to Australia in 1890 and staged what many saw as one of the worst displays of bad sportsmanship ever seen on the Parramatta River.
Stanbury and the Canadian tossed for positions. At the starter's signal the racing shells shot off over the choppy water. Near Uhr's Point, when the two shells came together briefly the huge crowd of more than 50,000 were horrified to see O'Connor stop rowing and raise an arm to the umpires to indicate a protest. After that, O'Connor made a mere pretence of covering the course. He kept just behind Stanbury, who also dropped his rating.
Stanbury crossed the finishing line first, but as soon as O'Connor left his shell, he claimed the race on a foul, saying he had been crowded. When his protest was disallowed by the stewards, he told them furiously he would see Stanbury was never paid the money. Stanbury offered to race him again. The offer was accepted grudgingly. However, at the start, O'Connor refused to toss for positions. He told the officials bluntly he won the best position last time and was going to keep it. Determined to win right from the start, O'Connor put on a paralysing spurt to take the lead. Stanbury, however, had his measure. With long powerful strokes he drove his light craft through the water. The whole shell lifted and fell at each gigantic pull from his great muscles. Foot by foot, he drew the Canadian back until there was nothing between them. Then O'Connor snapped. The will went out of his rowing. Stanbury won easily. O'Connor hardly spoke afterwards and refused to race in Australia again.
O'Connor had raced Searle for the world title on the Thames in England in September, 1889, but Searle died of typhoid in Melbourne in December, 1889 on his way home following the win. O'Connor continued racing and, despite defeating Ned Hanlan and Jake Gaudaur, never held a singles championship. He turned to double scull racing with Ned Hanlan and won the world championship in that event but lost it again to Gaudaur and Hosmer in 1892. O'Connor too then suffered an untimely death shortly after this race at the young age of 29.
Following Henry Searle's death, the World Championship reverted to previous holder Peter Kemp. Kemp successfully defended the title when he raced and defeated Neil Matterson and John McLean in the space of a few weeks in the first half of 1890.
On November 17, 1890, John McLean met Stanbury on the Parramatta River and won.
Less than a month later, McLean went on to defeat Peter Kemp on December 15, 1890 to claim the world title.@M1064@@M1065@@M1066@@M1067@@M1068@@M1069@ http://www.graftonrowing.asn.au/history/stanbury_early_racing.htm
Page: Grafton Rowing Club History: Professional Sculling - Jim Stanbury -
Losing the Championship
Text: Stanbury then accepted the challenge of the Canadian Jake Gaudaur (Champion of North America). The race would be held on the Thames on September 7, 1896, for the World Championship and a wager of one thousand pounds.
Gaudaur, born in 1858, was a 38 year old veteran of over 100 professional races when he challenged for the world title.
The race report was as follows:
"The race commenced at 2:30 pm. The weather was fine but there was a slight cold breeze.
Stanbury won the toss for choice of position.
Gaudaur took Stanbury's water at Harrod's wharf amid great excitement from the crowd.
At the Lead Mills Stanbury claimed a foul but the umpire disallowed it. Stanbury made no further effort and Gaudaur won by twenty lengths."
As a result of Stanbury losing a race that he was favoured to win, the public displayed a lot of cynicism towards the result.
Stanbury was of the opinion that the foul caused by Gaudaur would be upheld and the race would be awarded to him, hence his reason for not contesting the remaining part of the course.
The foul was not upheld, however, with the resulting loss of the championship and the one thousand pound prize. Stanbury received a cool reception on his return to Australia where there was public perception that he had not tried, but his only comment was that he was beaten but not defeated.
Stanbury then retired from professional rowing for a period of 8 years.
Gaudaur was to hold the title for the next four years.
In the meantime, George Towns, an up and coming sculler from the Hunter River, was winning many local races.
@M1070@ http://www.graftonrowing.asn.au/history/stanbury_loss.htm
Page: Grafton Rowing Club History: Professional Sculling - Jim Stanbury -
World Champ Again
Text: George Towns was keen to challenge Jake Gaudaur for the World Championship. Eventually a challenge was agreed and was held on "Lake of the Woods", in Ontario Canada on September 7, 1901.
Professional sculling was still a major sport at this stage, with the top scullers enjoying a high profile, as evidenced by the Lord Mayor of Sydney's reception at Sydney Town Hall in 1903 as shown below: (refer photo "Lord Mayors Reception for leading Professional Scullers")
Towns defended his title on July 30, 1904 on the Parramatta River against Richard Tressider of Australia. Towns won the race, retaining the title in the time of 21 minutes 49 seconds.
Late in November 1904, Bill Beach approached Towns and said he had found an unknown who would give him a run for his money, if he put his world title on the line. Towns jumped at the chance, confident that he could beat any sculler.
The unknown proved to be Jim Stanbury, who had been talked back into his racing shell by Bill Beach.
The people of Shoalhaven got behind Jim Stanbury and raised the necessary money to allow him to commence training on the Shoalhaven. A large proportion of the 1000 pound stake money was also subscribed by his Shoalhaven supporters.
The race was scheduled for July 22, 1905 on the Parramatta River Course.
The big day arrived and over 80,000 spectators lined the shores and the river was a sea of spectator boats and ferries.
Towns won the toss for choice of positions. The start was by mutual consent, and they dipped their oars just on 4 pm. The wind was behind them and the water was smooth, with a fast ebb tide.
For the first dozen strokes they raced level, each stroking about 40 to the minute, then Stanbury appeared to take a slight lead which he rapidly increased to a boat length. At Uhr's Point, he was two lengths ahead after rowing for three minutes. Stanbury increased his lead to three lengths after the mile mark had been reached. His lead then increased to four lengths, which Stanbury held to the finish, winning in the time of 19 minutes 4 seconds.
A year later on July 28, 1906, the pair met again. Stanbury now 38 years old trained hard for the race - at least he did until muscular rheumatism developed in one arm and despite constant treatment it was still troubling him when the two shot off the mark.
Stanbury raced ahead to a 40 yard (12 metre) lead and then at about the half way mark he found he could put little weight into his afflicted arm, breaking down completely and Towns paddled home an easy winner.
Stanbury retired once again from World Championship rowing and settled back into a domestic life of rearing a growing family of six daughters and a son.@M1071@ http://www.graftonrowing.asn.au/history/stanbury_champ_again.htm
Page: Grafton Rowing Club History: Professional Sculling - Jim Stanbury -
Later Life
Text: Jim Stanbury had his last professional race in Wanganui, New Zealand in 1906.
The race was on December 26 against New Zealander William Webb as a precursor to Webb's challenge of Towns for the world title in 1907.
Stanbury then took a position as the Head Ranger of the Royal National Park south of Sydney, which came with a house and small farm at the entrance to the park at Waterfall.
In 1917, he moved the family back to Ryde where he established an orchard on 10 acres of land growing peaches plums and nectarines.
In March 1926, Stanbury was invited by the Shoalhaven Rowing Club, together with two other rowing champions, Bill Beach, and George Towns and two other great scullers of their times Chris Nielsen, and Charles Messenger to attend a regatta on the Shoalhaven River, at Numba to celebrate the "Back to Shoalhaven Week", on October 23, 1926.
An exhibition race in rowing skiffs was held between these famous scullers, and was reported as follows:
"The appearance of four ex-champions in an exhibition race of skiffs was a unique sight. The veterans, Beach with a weight of 76 years on his shoulders, Stanbury, pulling the scales at close to 20 stone (127 kgs); George Towns, still alert though long past his heyday of youth; and Chris Nielsen white haired but active - carried the minds back to the days when rowing was at the height of its popularity and when their was a galaxy of aquatic talent, who made history and won renown for themselves on the historic championship course over the Parramatta River and equally historic course on the Thames.
The old warriors rowed leisurely over the course, showing that they had not forgotten the game at which they had each become famous, they came up to the finishing line abreast.
It was a sight that will never be forgotten."
Stanbury continued to farm his orchard in Twin Road, North Ryde, up until his passing on December 11, 1945 at Ryde Hospital, aged 77 years.
Jim Stanbury is buried in the Presbyterian section of the Field of Mars Cemetery North Ryde .
----------
Many thanks to Bruce Stanbury Ramsay who supplied much of this information through his involvement with Shoalhaven Historical Society (August 22, 2005) and contact which he initiated with Grafton Rowing Club
.
Much of this chronology has been compiled from:
Newspaper reports of the time;
The book "Shoalhaven River Regattas 150 years, 1885 - 2005";
Stanbury Family recollections;
Special thanks go to the Shoalhaven Historical Society, Robyn Florance (President) and Alan Clark (Secretary).
----------@M1072@@M1073@@M1074@ http://www.graftonrowing.asn.au/history/stanbury_later_life.htm
Birth source: S137Page: Sharpe/ Ingold Family Tree
Text: Record for Eliza Jane "Dolly" Jordan - 2014-06-12 http://search.ancestry.com.au/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=pubmembertrees&h=19529169109&indiv=try
Death source: S137Page: Sharpe/ Ingold Family Tree
Text: Record for Eliza Jane "Dolly" Jordan - 2014-06-12 http://search.ancestry.com.au/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=pubmembertrees&h=19529169109&indiv=try