Alfred George SUTTON

Biography

In 1851 The Sutton family were at Wellesbourne, Warwickshire. Alfred's name is incorrectly recorded as Halford and the birthplace of his parents has been transcribed on Ancestry as Charlestown instead of Charlecote. His Father's occupation was Labourer. The 1861 UK Census lists the Sutton family at Infant School Road, Wellesbourne, Hastings. Alfred and his siblings are all listed as Students. His Father, Thomas, is listed as a Carrier.

It is not known how or when Alfred (known as George) came to Australia but it is believed he was only fifteen years of age when he left England, perhaps he worked his way out on the ship. He does not appear on the 1871 UK Census so it is fair to assume he was already in Australia by that date.

Unlike their English counterparts, the Australian Government did not see fit to keep Census records so in Australia we have to depend on Electoral Rolls. In the 1800's there were restrictions on who could vote. Voting was not compulsory, and only males over the age of 21 years were eligible if they "satisfied certain qualifications" or (until 1867 in gold field electoral districts) "held a miner's right or licence for six months." However, "Persons in naval or military service or in the police force, as well as Clerks of Petty Sessions and paid police magistrates were ineligible to vote." The right to vote was extended to women over the age of 21 in 1905 and in 1914 it became compulsory for everyone over the age of 21 to vote. Aborigines and Torres Straits Islanders were not elegible to vote until 1965 and in 1973 the voting age was lowered from 21 to 18. (Taken from Queensland State Archives Brief Guide to Queensland Electoral Rolls). Federal Elections commenced in 1901 and voting became compulsory in 1924.

Alfred and Dorothea are listed in the early 1900 electoral rolls as living in the Dalby District of Queensland. Alfred was a Boundary Rider who worked on various Stations, one being St Ruth and another Jondaryan. By 1913 Alfred was listed as an Overseer at Jondaryan. His grandaughter recalled they lived opposite the school at Jondaryan and he would always sit under the tank stand and she would comb his big white beard. Alfred and Dorothea lost their first two sons, Alfred and Thomas, in 1898, they were drowned whilst crossing a flooded tributary of the Condamine River. Their third son, William, died aged seventeen and their eighth child, Amanda, also died aged seventeen. They lost another child, Fredrick who died aged just six days. Unfortunately in the harsh environment they were raising their children it was not unusual for children to die at an early age.

Three sons, John, Walter and Edward enlisted in WW1 and all fought overseas. John was killed in action at Flers, France on 5 November, 1916. His brother, Walter, was next to him in the foxhole. Walter was wounded in action on 28 March, 1917. The Toowoomba Chronicle ran the following article on Saturday December 16, 1916. A Fighting Family - The Suttons of Jondaryan

Mr. G. Sutton, of Jondaryan, who has been on the Downs for 46 years, on Thursday received from the Base Records, Melbourne, the following wire:- "Now reported your son, Private Walter Sutton, wounded. Will promptly advise if anything further received. It was only on Wednesday last that "The Chronicle" contained a telegram from Jondaryan conveying the very sad intelligence that Mr. and Mrs. G. Sutton had been advised of the fact that another son, Private Jack Sutton, had been killed in action in France. In addition to these two casualties in the family, Mr. and Mrs. Sutton's third soldier-son, Private Edward Sutton, 18 years, was recently wounded in action - eight shrapnel fragments passing through both thighs and yet missing the arteries - and has been a patient at the Oxford military hospital. He was wounded on October 15, but was improving at latest information, and might return to the trenches, because of the shortage of recruits. The late Private Jack Sutton, like his father, had been for some time a member of the Manchester Unity Order of Odfellows.

Two of these sons left in April last; the other had gone in December of 1915.

A fourth son - aged only 16 - would enlist if his parents would consent. But, of course, this lad's duty is to stay with his parents. The family is doing more than its share. Of 12 children, six have passed hence. Much sympathy is felt for the parents.

On Tuesday, July 31, 1917 the Toowoomba Chronicle reported Mr. G. Sutton had received word from the military authorities that his son, Walter, is returning to Australia, and when the vessel is nearer these shores more definite information will be given him.

Alfred and five of his children are buried in unmarked graves in the Dalby Pioneer Cemetery.

Spouse

Children

• Alfred George SUTTON (6 Oct 1880 - 12 Apr 1893)
• Amanda Jane SUTTON (22 Sep 1891 - 5 Jul 1908)
• Catherine SUTTON (29 Aug 1885 - 22 Jul 1949)
• Christina SUTTON (25 Dec 1893 - 6 Dec 1937)
• Edward SUTTON (7 Oct 1897 - 8 Aug 1974)
• Elizabeth Dolly SUTTON (25 Aug 1889 - 23 Dec 1946)
• Fredrick SUTTON (5 May 1896 - 11 Sep 1896)
• Henry SUTTON (23 Feb 1900 - 9 Oct 1929)
• John SUTTON (12 Aug 1887 - 5 Nov 1916)
• Thomas SUTTON (27 Jun 1882 - 12 Apr 1893)
• Walter SUTTON (22 Sep 1891 - 27 Apr 1956)
• William SUTTON (24 Feb 1884 - 4 Nov 1901)

Parents