George Janes was born in 1829 in Dunstable , England.

He left Southampton, England on 17.3.1857 and arrived in Sydney on 23.6.1857. He was a brick maker.

He married Mary Ann Dunton/Dunstan on 4.5.1854 in the Parish Church, Houghton Regis, London. The witnesses were John Gates and Eliza Taylor.

Mary Ann Dunton/Dunstan was born in 1832 in Bedford, England.

George and Mary Ann had a large family and lived at 2 Orchard Road, Chatswood most of their lives. George had a brick kiln on his land and made bricks. Part of the land was reclaimed by the railways department for the construction of the northern line to Hornsby.

George and Mary Ann had a family of 7 children:

William Joseph Janes born 23.6.1853 Dunstable, England. He married Catherine Jackson on 24.5.1874 at St. Stephen’s Church, North Willoughby. They had a family of 10 children from 1875 to 1899.

A male infant was born in 1854 Dunstable, England but died in 1854/1855.

Reuben James Janes was born 31.10.1856 Bedfordshire, England. He married Sarah Alice Palmer in 1881. They had a family of 5 children from 1882 to 1889.

Elizabeth Janes born 11.12 1858 St. Leonards, NSW (North Sydney). She was baptised privately on 16.4.1862 at St. Thomas’ Church, North Sydney but unfortunately died 25.4.1862 aged 3 years 4 months. She was buried at St. Thomas’ Cemetery, North Sydney.

Julia E. Janes born 1861 St. Leonards, NSW (North Sydney). She was baptised in 1861 at St. Thomas’ Church, North Sydney, but died a few days later.

Lydia Sophia Janes born 28.2.1863 St. Leonards, NSW (North Sydney). She married Edward Terence Donnelly in 1877 when she was 14 years of age. They had a family of 3 children from 1879 to 1889.

Jane Hannah Janes born 15.1.1865 St. Leonards, NSW (North Sydney). She married Charles Loader Strong in 1882 in Sydney when she was 17 years of age, but gave her age as 21. He was a merchant seaman. They had one daughter, Emily Tapley Strong, born at St Leonards in 1883, then moved to Melbourne and had more children.

George Janes Jnr. born 4.4.1867 St. Leonards, NSW (North Sydney). He married Elizabeth Smith 29.12.1888 at Bethel House, Sydney, divorced, then married Charlotte Victoria Lovell 12.10.1898 at Wesleyan Church, Pitt Street, Redfern. George was a carter and a member of the local Fire Brigade in Chatswood. George and Elizabeth had 2 children, George and Jane. Jane Janes was raised by her mother.

George Janes Snr. died on 12.6.1901 aged 72 at Johnson Street, Willoughby. Mary Ann died on 20.5.1898 aged 66. They are buried together at the Wesleyan Church Cemetery, Pacific Highway and Mowbray Road Chatswood, where they had been loyal members of the congregation.

The book, published in 2007, is A4 sized, wire spiral bound and has 112 pages. There are 47 photographs (sepia, black & white and colour), with maps, newspaper articles and a “Thanksgiving Service” for the district pioneers at Chatswood South Uniting Church held on 1.5.1988 (A Bicentennial Project).

Cost – on application
Available from author, cheque and details to:
Mrs. Catherine Williams, PO Box 4, CAIRNS, QLD. 4870
Enquiries: Email the author