James Crabb Verco

James Crabb Verco (1814 – 2 February 1891) was an early settler in the colony of South Australia, builder, businessman and parliamentarian. He was the father of Joseph Cooke Verco.

History

Verco left his home town Callington, Cornwall for South Australia, arriving on the Brightman in December, 1840,[1] in company with Philip Santo, Robert Torrens, and George, younger brother of John Morphett.[2]

He joined the gold rush to Victoria with Philip Santo and Thomas Fisher.[3]

He served on the City Council for many years, was appointed Justice of the Peace, was for many years Chairman of the Imperial Building Society, was a Director of the South Australian Insurance Company, and the failed Commercial Bank of South Australia.

He was for many years an active member of the Church of Christ in Kermode Street, North Adelaide.

Politics

He was elected to the seat of West Adelaide for the term 1862–1865, with Emanuel Solomon as his colleague.[4]

Family

James Crabb Verco married Ann Cooke (1811 – 18 June 1881), a mine captain's daughter from Harrowbarrow, Cornwall. They were married in Plymouth, Devon in 1840. Their children include:

  • William James Verco (1842 – 12 December 1891) married (Elizabeth) Margaret Rogers (died 1933) on 21 December 1866. He was a flour miller of Balaklava.[5]
  • Nellie Cosford Verco (1901–1965) married Hew O'Halloran Giles ( –1987) on 27 October 1920. He was a great-grandson of William Giles
  • John Verco (1848–1933) married Caroline Blissett Webb on 29 January 1876; lived Balaklava, then Malvern.
  • Richard Verco (c. 1849 – 7 April 1929) married Rebecca Armour (24 September 1852 Adelaide – 22 December 1924)[7] on 14 January 1875, lived at Hewett Avenue, Rose Park.[8]
  • Sir Joseph Cooke Verco (1 August 1851 – 26 July 1933) was a medical practitioner and conchologist of North Terrace, Adelaide, he married Mary Isabella Mills on 13 April 1911
  • Thomas Benjamin Verco (30 April 1853 – 2 October 1935) married Alice Armour[7] (1 March 1855 Adelaide – 15 November 1935) on 27 May 1875. He was a flour miller then member of the Adelaide Stock Exchange.[9] Hilda Anne Verco (born 18 March 1878), who married Rev. James E. Thomas on 21 November 1906,[10] was a daughter.

References

  1. ^ "Death of Mr. J. C. Verco". South Australian Register. 3 February 1891. p. 5. Retrieved 14 September 2014 – via Trove.
  2. ^ "Concerning People". The Register. 12 May 1902. p. 5. Retrieved 14 September 2014 – via Trove.
  3. ^ "Death of a Pioneer". South Australian Register. 15 July 1897. p. 4. Retrieved 14 September 2014 – via Trove.
  4. ^ "James Crabb Verco". Former members of the Parliament of South Australia. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
  5. ^ "Death of Wm James Verco". The Express and Telegraph. 14 December 1891. p. 3. Retrieved 17 July 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. ^ "William Alfred Verco, M.B., B.S." The Pictorial Australian. 1 December 1890. p. 2. Retrieved 4 April 2018 – via Trove.
  7. ^ a b Rebecca and Alice Armour being the daughters of Amos Armour and Ellison Armour (née Proctor)
  8. ^ "Richard Verco Dead". The News. 8 April 1929. p. 11. Retrieved 27 March 2016 – via Trove.
  9. ^ "Obituary (Thomas Benjamin Verco)". The Chronicle. 31 October 1935. p. 46. Retrieved 27 March 2016 – via Trove.
  10. ^ "Family Notices". The Register (Adelaide). Vol. LXXI, no. 18, 752. South Australia. 19 December 1906. p. 6. Retrieved 25 July 2024 – via National Library of Australia.