Mr James BYRNES (1806 - 1886)**

Date of Birth: 15/01/1806 Place of Birth: Edgeworthstown, County Longford, Ireland Date of Death: 17/09/1886 Place of Death: Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia

Parliamentary Service

Position Start End Period Notes Member of the NSW Legislative Council 1 Mar 1850 30 Jun 1851 1yr(s) 3mth(s) 30day(s) An Elective Member of the first Legislative Council 1843 - 1856 for the County of Cumberland Member of the NSW Legislative Assembly 16 Jun 1857 26 Mar 1861 3yr(s) 9mth(s) 11day(s) Member of the NSW Legislative Council 13 May 1861 13 May 1861 1day(s) Did not take his seat. First (Quinquennial) Appointments under the Constitution Act. Date of Writ of Summons 10 May 1861. Member of the NSW Legislative Assembly 24 Nov 1864 3 Feb 1872 7yr(s) 2mth(s) 11day(s) Member for Cumberland (South Riding) 16 Jun 1857 19 Dec 1857 6mth(s) 4day(s) 1st (1856 - 1857) Member for Parramatta 19 Jan 1858 11 Apr 1859 1yr(s) 2mth(s) 24day(s) 2nd (1858 - 1859) Member for Parramatta 18 Jun 1859 10 Nov 1860 1yr(s) 4mth(s) 24day(s) 3rd (1859 - 1860) Member for Parramatta 8 Dec 1860 26 Mar 1861 3mth(s) 19day(s) 4th (1860 - 1864) Member for Parramatta 24 Nov 1864 22 Jan 1866 1yr(s) 1mth(s) 30day(s) 5th (1865 - 1869) Member for Parramatta 31 Jan 1866 15 Nov 1869 3yr(s) 9mth(s) 16day(s) 5th (1865 - 1869) Member for Parramatta 17 Dec 1869 20 Dec 1870 1yr(s) 4day(s) 6th (1870 - 1872) Member for Parramatta 2 Jan 1871 3 Feb 1872 1yr(s) 1mth(s) 2day(s) 6th (1870 - 1872) Secretary for Public Works 22 Jan 1866 26 Oct 1868 2yr(s) 9mth(s) 5day(s) Secretary for Public Works 16 Dec 1870 13 May 1872 1yr(s) 4mth(s) 28day(s) Kiama Steam Navigation Company’s Bill Committee No.27 13 Jul 1858 26 Nov 1858 4mths 14days 2nd (1858 - 1859) Governor General’s Opening Speech Committee No.1 9 Dec 1858 9 Dec 1858 1day 2nd (1858 - 1859) Retrenchment in the Public Expenditure Committee No.7 14 Sep 1859 4 Jul 1860 9mths 21days 3rd (1859 - 1860) Condition of the Working Classes of the Metropolis Committee No.19 30 Sep 1859 4 Jul 1860 9mths 5days 3rd (1859 - 1860) Mount Keira Tramroad Bill Committee No.22 12 Oct 1859 4 Jul 1860 8mths 23days 3rd (1859 - 1860) Wesley College Bill Committee No.21 12 Oct 1859 4 Jul 1860 8mths 23days 3rd (1859 - 1860) Chairman St Andrew’s College Bill Committee No.24 14 Oct 1859 4 Jul 1860 8mths 21days 3rd (1859 - 1860) Petition of Mrs Frances Dr Courcy Committee No.25 18 Oct 1859 9 Nov 1860 1yr 23days 3rd (1859 - 1860) Petition of Alexander Berry, Esquire, Committee No.30 3 Feb 1860 4 Jul 1860 5mths 2days 3rd (1859 - 1860) Tanners and Curriers’ Bill Committee No.37 29 Feb 1860 4 Jul 1860 4mths 6days 3rd (1859 - 1860) Chairman Petition of Mr Alexander Berry Committee No.9 12 Oct 1860 9 Nov 1860 29days 3rd (1859 - 1860) Business of Tanners and Curriers Committee No.12 19 Oct 1860 9 Nov 1860 22days 3rd (1859 - 1860) Church of England Synod Bill Committee No.12 25 Apr 1865 9 May 1865 15days 5th (1865 - 1869) Sydney Sewerage Committee No.17 16 May 1865 21 Jun 1865 1mth 6days 5th (1865 - 1869) Disease in Fruit Trees Committee No.6 31 Oct 1865 7 Apr 1866 5mths 8days 5th (1865 - 1869) William Goodin Committee No.11 21 Nov 1865 22 Dec 1865 1mth 2days 5th (1865 - 1869) Disease in Fruit Trees Committee No.5 31 Jul 1866 13 Sep 1866 1mth 14days 5th (1865 - 1869) Railway from Echuca to Deniliquin Committee No.10 21 Sep 1866 20 Dec 1866 2mths 30days 5th (1865 - 1869) City of Newcastle Gas and Coke Company’s Incorporation Bill Committee No.21 22 Nov 1866 29 Nov 1866 8days 5th (1865 - 1869) Railway from Echuca to Deniliquin Committee No.6 2 Jul 1867 27 Apr 1868 9mths 26days 5th (1865 - 1869) Hartley Vale Colliery Railway Bill Committee No.12 25 Sep 1867 8 Oct 1867 14days 5th (1865 - 1869) Petition of Thomas Larkin Committee No.13 27 Sep 1867 21 Apr 1868 6mths 26days 5th (1865 - 1869) Claims of Mr Bartholomew Rush Committee No.17 22 Nov 1867 1 Apr 1868 4mths 11days 5th (1865 - 1869) Removal of Mr Samuel Charles from the Commission of the Peace Committee No.12 27 Jan 1869 23 Mar 1869 1mth 25days 5th (1865 - 1869) Robert’s Trust Bill Committee No.7 5 Oct 1869 13 Nov 1869 1mth 9days 5th (1865 - 1869) Claims of Mr Bartholomew Rush Committee No.8 8 Oct 1869 13 Nov 1869 1mth 6days 5th (1865 - 1869) The Bank of New South Wales Bill of 1870 Committee No.15 2 Mar 1870 15 Mar 1870 14days 6th (1870 - 1872) Tolls on Government Bridges Committee No.19 22 Mar 1870 7 May 1870 1mth 16days 6th (1870 - 1872) Claims of Mr Bartholomew Rush Committee No.7 25 Aug 1870 23 Sep 1870 30days 6th (1870 - 1872) Coal Staithes at Newcastle Committee No.14 25 Jan 1871 13 Jun 1871 4mths 20days 6th (1870 - 1872) Parramatta Gas Company’s Incorporation Bill Committee No.8 7 Dec 1871 14 Dec 1871 8days 6th (1870 - 1872) Chairman Circular Quay Committee No.10 23 Jan 1872 1 Feb 1872 10days 6th (1870 - 1872)

Community Activity

Commissioned as a Justice of the Peace. A leading Methodist layman. Played a role in the erection of the first Methodist Church in Parramatta. Sunday school teacher and circuit steward in Parramatta. President of Parramatta Hospital Board from 1869 to 1873 and was associated with the Parramatta Benevolent Society.

Qualifications, occupations and interests

First employment was as an apprentice carpenter. At a later time became a successful builder. In the 1830's was a pioneer of steam ferry transport on the Parramatta River with his brother William (member of the Legislative Council from 1858-1861 and 1861-1891). They built a steam flour mill in 1840-1841 and later wool and cloth mills. In 1862, they employed around 50 people. Also jointly owned the largest store in Parramatta. Manufacturer; storekeeper; company director. Director of the Illawarra Steam Navigation Company and of Colonial Mutual Life Assurance Company. Trustee of the Parramatta Savings Bank and a Valuer with the Public Works Department in 1875 to 1886.

Local Government Activity

Alderman of Parramatta and its Mayor between 1862-1866.

Personal

Son of James Byrnes and his wife Frances Morehouse. Arrived in New South Wales with his family in July 1808. Volunteered for garrison duty and was attached to the New South Wales Corps and later the 73rd Regiment. James (Jr) had little education. Married (1) Ruth Barber in 1826 at Parramatta and had issue, 5 sons and 1 daughter. Married (2) Ann Harris at Mudgee on 30 September 1852 and had issue, 1 daughter. Wesleyan Methodist.

Additional Information

Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 3 Personal papers in the Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales: James Byrnes - papers, 1866 - 1870 (MLMSS 1366)

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