JOHN BLOW

John BLOW is my maternal 4^th Great Grandfather.

His wife, my 4^th Great Grandmother, was Jane BOYD, but she died in Ireland.

Their son, William Thomas BLOW, is my 3^rd Great Grandfather.

BLOW: a patronymic of Blower, which is of Anglo-Saxon origin, and is from an occupational name for someone who operated a bellows, either as a blacksmith's assistant or to provide wind for a church organ, or for someone who blew a horn, such as a huntsman or a player of the musical instrument. The name is derived from the Middle English (1200-1500) "blowere", from the Olde English pre 7th Century "blawere", a derivative of "blawan", to blow.

John BLOW

John BLOW was born on 25^th July 1796 at County Monaghan, Ireland.

John BLOW remarried Ann M ELLIOTT on 18^th May 1838 at Irvinestown, Fermanagh, Ireland.

John & Ann BLOW came out to Sydney, Australia aboard the ship "Susan" arriving on the 10^th March 1839. The ship left Plymouth, England on the 8^th December 1838. They were Bounty passengers subsidized by the British Government. John BLOW is described in the ship's log as being very good in "health, strength, and probably usefulness" with no complaints of the voyage. He was 42 years of age when he arrived. His occupation- a Farm Labourer. The notes on his immigration were that he was the son of Thomas Blow & Jane Goff. Husband of Anne. (source: Reel: 1307 - Bounty Immigration NSW 1828 to 1842)

John & Ann BLOW moved to the New South Wales south coast after arriving in Australia. They moved to Garden Hill near Wollongong (site of the present Wollongong Hospital) by 1841. In late 1841 the BLOW's moved to Avondale which is near Dapto.

Then in 1850, the BLOWs made their last move to Foxground Valley (apparently the first person to take up land in Foxground Valley).

They moved to Avondale near Dapto in late 1841. In 1850 John Blow made his final move and established forever his status as a successful pioneer by becoming the first person to take up land in the Foxground Valley, adjoining the Berry estate.

Extracts from the "Blow By Blow Family Reunion book"

Foxground, originally known as "The Flying Foxes' Camping Ground", is a most scenic narrow valley 6 square miles in area, 14km north of Berry, surrounded by mountain; Currie's Mountain on the west. The main stream is Broughton Creek, which rises in the Barren Grounds near Robertson and flows out by the southern end of the valley to join the Shoalhaven River. Their 330 acre farm consisted of dense standing scrub on the floor of the valley on both sides of Broughton Creek. They travelled in to their new property by the way of the only bullock track, through Willow Vale from Gerringong and around the southern end of Currie's Hill. The first homestead was built of split timber slabs and bark roof, on the western side of the creek. John and Ann built a new and better house on the eastern side of the creek and called it Willow Glen. The house was still standing with alterations and improvements in 1982. On 15 Apr 1874, John Blow signed over 100 acres of the Foxground property to his son Alfred, who sold it on 3 Feb 1890 when he moved to Brooklet on the NSW Far North Coast.

Grave of John Blow at Gerringong NSW

John BLOW died on the 29^th January 1878 at Foxground. He is buried at the Gerringong Cemetery.

Obituary of John Blow - from "Kiama Independent" newspaper - February 1878:

"Events that touch us individually, and cause individual trouble or sorrow, are common enough; but the event to which I now refer, namely, the death of Mr. John BLOW, which took place on Wednesday morning last, has conveyed mourning to many households, and cast a temporary gloom over the residents of the whole of this Valley. He was the pioneer of this place, and by all who subsequently became settlers was looked up to as father or patriarch; and his sound, liberal, and useful advice was sought on all occasions where domestic, social, or political struggles were at variance with the general or individual welfare. Mr Blow was a native of the county Fermanagh, Ireland, whence he emigrated to this country and settled in this district, in 1839. The first ten years was prosperously spent in the Wollongong district, when the estate at Foxground was purchased, and where, during the last 24 years, he has, with his family, peacefully, and as prosperously, resided. Mr Blow was twice married, and leaves a widow and a numerous family to mourn their loss. Of his children, 3 sons and one daughter have died. The survivors are 4 sons and 6 daughters, some of whom are very respectably connected in marriage, residing in the district, and the others are left in independent positions. At the time of his death Mr Blow was 84 years of age, and till within the last few months enjoyed much more than the average of good health allotted to humanity; for the last few months decay of nature and approaching dissolution was perceptible; but up to his last moment, he was untouched by pain, and could, when visited by his Minister even on the evening previous his death, profess a strong attachment and faith in his Saviour. Not saddened by separations, but meekly and resignedly saying "Father not my will, but thine be done". His remains were conveyed and followed by a large circle of relatives and friends to the Gerringong Cemetery, where the body was interred, the Rev. Mr Kelly, Church of England minister, officiating. After the beautiful service of the church, he took a second opportunity of addressing all present on the solemnity of the grave, commending them to God and the word of His grace, which is able to build up, and give an inheritance among them that are sanctified"

WILL of John Blow:

This is the last will and testament of John Blow. I leave to my son Thomas Henry all my property at Gerringong and 100 acres at Foxground next to Berry's land. I leave to Ann Blow all money in the bank also the acres of T.H Blow's 100 known as Honch's paddock. All cattle to my 3 sons Thomas Henry; Alfred and Dawson Blow (on 15 Apr 1874 John had transferred 100 across at Foxground to Alfred Blow). Signed: John (his X mark) Blow. Witness: Thomas Brown, farmer of Broughton Village; James Blow.

John BLOW's wife, Ann BLOW (nee ELLIOTT), died on 26^th June 1903 in Sydney.

John & Jane BLOW had 11 children:

- Thomas born County Monaghan, Ireland. He died 1856 at Wollongong NSW Australia.

- William Thomas born 1^st November 1817 at Milltown, County Monaghan, Ireland. He married Catherine MILLER on 21^st October 1840 at Dapto. He died 28^th September 1856 at Avondale NSW Australia.

- James born 17^th May 1821 at County Monaghan, Ireland. He married Jane BOVARD on 26^th June 1856 at Dapto. James died on 11^th Jun 1890 at Foxground NSW Australia.

- Anne born 1^st May 1823 at Glencorick, County Monaghan, Ireland. She married William ELLIOTT on 10^th April 1846 at Dapto. Ann died on 7^th February 1905 at Glebe, Sydney NSW Australia.

- Joseph born 12^th December 1827 at Glencorick, County Monaghan, Ireland. Joseph died 15^th November 1873 at Sydney NSW Australia. He never married.

Ann ELLIOTT (nee Blow)	Joseph BLOW

John & Ann BLOW had 11 children:

- John born 30^th May 1840 at Garden Hill, Wollongong NSW Australia. He married Ellen KELSEY in 1865 Sydney NSW Australia. Joseph died 28^th May 1873 at Sydney NSW Australia.

- Mary Jane born 5^th October 1841 at Garden Hill, Wollongong NSW Australia. She died 17^th July 1861 at Kiama NSW Australia. Mary Jane never married.

- Thomas Henry born 25^th December 1842 at Herne Farm, Illawarra NSW Australia. He died 16^th December 1904 at Sydney NSW Australia. Thomas Henry never married.

- Jemima born 25^th October 1844 at Wollongong NSW Australia. She married Thomas BROWN in 1874 at Kiama NSW Australia. Jemima died on 1^st July 1926 at Kiama NSW Australia.

- Emily born 12^th July 1846 at Yallo NSW Australia. She married Robert GRAHAM in 1868 at Foxground NSW Australia. Emily died 7^th February 1881 at Burrawang NSW Australia.

- Rebecca born 1^st November 1847 at Dapto NSW Australia. She married William GRAHAM on 18^th February 1879 at Kiama NSW Australia. Rebecca died 30^th July 1884 at Darlington NSW Australia.

- Elizabeth born 1^st April 1849 at Dapto NSW Australia. She married James GRAHAM on 28^th January 1873 at Foxground NSW Australia. Elizabeth died 17^th June 1885 at Jamberoo NSW Australia.

- Alfred born 7^th January 1851 at Dapto NSW Australia. He married Frances JARMAN on 4^th December 1878 at Foxground NSW Australia. Alfred died 25^th September 1937 at Murwillumbah NSW Australia.

- Dawson born 6^th November 1852 at Foxground NSW Australia. Dawson married Jane JARMAN on 28^th January 1879 at Foxground NSW Australia. Dawson died 9^th September 1926 at Kiama NSW Australia.

- Emma born 25^th September 1857 at Foxground NSW Australia. She married George TATE on 16^th January 1879 at Foxground NSW Australia. Emma died 11^th September 1919 at Linfield, Sydney NSW Australia.

John Blow Jnr	Thomas Henry BLOW	Jemima BLOW	Rebecca BLOW
James & Elizabeth GRAHAM	Alfred BLOW & Jane JARMAN	Dawson BLOW

Contributors to the information on John BLOW & his descendents:

Lesa Harris	Lyn Kirkland	Helen Shepherd
Christine McGregor	Margaret Childs	Ross McGregor
" Blow by Blow" family reunion books	Warren Backhouse	Del Swain

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Last Updated: 23^rd February 2011