The first Postmaster in Campbelltown (Warburton, 1986, p. 257), he also operated the Wiltshire Store, and local Royal Mail Coach, between 1849 and his death in 1866.

John Hancock and his wife Elizabeth (nee Cornish) emigrated to South Australia from Devon in Cornwall (Statton, 1986, p. 661), or possibly Wiltshire given the name of their store, onboard the sailing ship "John Munn", arriving 16th September 1849. (1898, p. 5 col. 6)  The five month journey was an eventful one, the shipboard diary of fellow passenger the Reverend William Trollop recounts continual friction over poor provisions, dissention over religious services, drunken riotous behaviour, and an attempted mutiny. (John Munn, 1849)

The life of John Hancock prior to his emigrating to South Australia appears to have been very cosmopolitan, in 1862 he says in a letter to the Editor that he has lived in London and Paris, and has travelled for 20 years through the cities of Europe. (1862, p. 3 col. 1) Their marriage certificate for  17 April 1848, in Kennington, Surrey, gives his profession as Butler, which may account for some of the travel. (1848, p. 205)

The Hancock family moved to Campbelltown in 1851 (Warburton, 1986, p. 78), possibly earlier, as their first child, Blanche Cornish Hancock, was born in the District of Norwood, which included Campbelltown, on the 8th October 1849. (Australia, birth index, 1788-1922) By the time their second daughter, Elizabeth Ann Hancock, was born in 1853 their address was Wiltshire Store, Campbell Town. (1853, p. 5 col. 3)

In all, they had seven daughters and one son. (Statton, 1986, p. 661)

The post office and Wiltshire Store occupied blocks 11 and 12 on the corner of Lower North East Road and Ann Street, in the newly established Village of Campbelltown (Section 310), across the road from the present day post office. (Warburton, 1986, p. 78) As these blocks were located on the boundary of what later became the Township of Sydenham, the Sydenham Grocery and Provision Store may have been the same building with a new facade.

Figure 1 Mr and Mrs Beasley with their children in front of the Sydenham Grocery & Provision Store, about 1888.

The Wiltshire Store was a bakery and mixed business, which delivered goods as far as Hope Valley and Dry Creek. (1857, p. 1 col.4)

In 1855, the Wiltshire Store was held-up by escaped prisoners from the Dry Creek Stockade (now Yatala Labour Prison). (1855, p. 3 col. 1)

As part of the Mail Contract, John Hancock ran the Royal Mail Coach, which also took up passengers, between Adelaide and Athelstone. (Boothby, 1863, p. 486)

This service was later expanded to include public omnibuses and carriages for hire. (1865, p. 1 col. 5)

John Hancock died at Newcastle, New South Wales, on the 15th October 1866. (1866, p. 5 col. 6)

According to their funeral notices, both John Hancock and his wife Elizabeth, are buried in the Campbelltown Cemetery,  St. Martin's Anglican Church, however,  there is no surviving headstone.

After his death, John Hancock's nephew, Charles Hancock, continued the omnibus service (1934, p. 20 col. 8), as his only son, John James Hancock, was too young at the time and subsequently died of illness before reaching his majority.  (1878, p. 2 col. 1) While the running of the post office and general store was taken over by his eldest daughter, Blanche Cornish Hancock (Warburton, 1986, p. 78), who married Robert Emery of Campbelltown, in 1873. (1873, p. 2 col. 2)

An interesting side note is that Sir Sidney Kidman, pastoralist, and arguably Athelstone's most famous citizen, born in 1857, stated that he was educated at Miss Hancock's School, Campbelltown (1908, p. 2 col. 4), which was most likely taught by Blanche Cornish Hancock, before her marriage.

Researched and compiled by Helen Thiselton, Local History Officer.

If you have any comments or questions regarding the information in this local history article, please contact Helen on 8366 9357 or hthiselton@campbelltown.sa.gov.au

References

1. Adelaide Observer. (1853, August 20). Retrieved November 26, 2015, from Trove: http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/158094692?
2. Adelaide Observer. (1866, October 20). Retrieved November 27, 2015, from Trove: http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/159506098?
3. Advertiser (Adelaide, SA). (1934, July 18). Retrieved November 27, 2015, from Trove: http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/35121016?
4. Australia, birth index, 1788-1922. (n.d.). Retrieved November 26, 2015, from Ancestry Library Edition: http://search.ancestrylibrary.com/
5. Boothby, J. (1863). The Adelaide almanac town and country directory and guide to South Australia for 1864. Adelaide (S. Aust.): W. K. Thomas.
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13. South Australian Register. (1855, September 18). Retrieved November 27, 2015, from Trove: http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/49294930?
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