Was your ancestor a member of the Sons of Australia Benefit Society (1837-1897)?

The Members of the Sons of Australia Benefit Society 1837 – 1897

Complete membership lists exist for only two out of the sixty years this weird little Western Australian institution existed, and they only record the members on the books for that particular year. Twenty-six names are listed on the inaugural member list sent to the government in 1837, and eighty-four different names are recorded on the return sent to the Western Australian government in August 1895 listing those entitled to a share of assets of their society at it’s impending dissolution.

That’s 110 authenticated names. There are 171 names on the list below. The difference has been made up by mentions in the local newspapers for those who joined, resigned, or died, between the two years mentioned above. These additions also includes some names who have confirmed associations with the society, who could (in theory) be members, but probably never were. These include members of the Stone family and some of the caters for the anniversary dinners over the years.

I’m sure there are between 40-100 actual paid up members that are now missing from the historical record. If you know your ancestor was a member of the Sons of Australia Benefit Society please let me know so I can add them to the list

Family NamePersonal
Name
Birth YearBirth PlaceDeath YearDeath PlaceJoin
Year
Leave YearLeave cause
AbbettWalter William1847Hampton, Middlesex, England1913Perth, Western Australia18851897dissolution
AllpikeStephen18181885Fremantle, Western Australia18401885death
AyresJohn1860Swansea, Wales1932Leederville, Western Australia18861897dissolution
BackshallRuben1821England1860Greenough, Western Australia18451860death
Backshall (Beckshell)Frederick William1823England1881East Perth, Western Australia18441881death SOA funeral
Backshall (Beckshell)John1835England1917Highgate Hill, Western Australia18551870dropped out.
BakerHenry (Harry)1864Perth, Western Australia1948Maylands, Western Australia18851897dissolution
BellHenry Thomas1848Fremantle, Western Australia1924Cottesloe, Western Australiacaterer
BellRobert18371853left colony or died
BicknellWilliam Henry (Henry)1856Perth, Western Australia1924Subiaco, Western Australia18841897dissolution
BinghamWilliam1819Huntingdon, England1899Williams, Western Australia18511874dropped out
BobinJoseph1805Deptford, England1869Fremantle, Western Australia18371869death
BondHenry Rice1795Bridgwater, Somerset, England1863Perth, Western Australia18371863death
BrittainBenjamin1849Newton, Cambridgeshire, England1927Highgate, Western Australia18821897dissolution
BrittainFrederick William1846Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, England1917North Perth, Western Australia18751897dissolution
BryantJames1824England1867Perth, Western Australia18481867death SOA funeral
BuckinghamJohn18481922North Perth, Western Australia18681897dissolution
BurgessHenry1804England1859Perth, Western Australia18481859death
CampbellThomas1846Gibraltar1926Perth, Western Australia18681897dissolution
CapornFrederick1827Perth, Scotland1915Claremont, Western Australia18481860dropped out
ChipperGeorge Frederick Whidby1843Perth, Western Australia1878Western Australia18641878death, SOA funeral
ChipperHenry Charles1859Albany, Western Australia1894Katanning, Western Australia18801895death
ChipperHenry Richard1866189218851892death, SOA funeral
ChipperJohn Charles1847Perth, Western Australia190618681897dissolution
ClintonHenry18481921Perth, Western Australia18861897dissolution
ColeHenry Laroche1809England1866Albany, Western Australia18401866death
ColeJoshua1850Perth, Western Australia1908Perth, Western Australia18841897dissolution
CookBenjamin1807Lympne, Kent, England1870Western Australia18371870death
CookLauncelot Taylor1810Highgate, London, England1878Mount Eliza, Perth, Western Australia18371878death
CousinsIsaac1825England1905Western Australia18451858dropped out before dissolution
CousinsWilliam Australis1830Clarence, Western Australia1914Prahan, Victoria, Australia1848left colony
CraneJohn (Joshua)1795England1881Perth, Western Australia18371881death, SOA funeral
DobbinsJames1802England18371845left colony
DownesWilliam18011874Fremantle, Western Australia18371874death
DudleyJohn18081862Toodyay, Western Australia18371862death
DuffyBernard James (Barney)1851Ireland191818721897dissolution
DysonJames1810Saddleworth, Yorkshire, England1888Perth, Western Australia18481888death, SOA funeral
DysonJoseph1845Perth, Western Australia1912North Perth, Western Australia18661897dissolution
ElsegoodFrederick Austin1863Perth, Western Australia1933West Perth, Western Australia18831897dissolution
EversdenEdward1824Hinxton, Cambridgeshire, England1860Greenough, Western Australia18531860death
EvesHenry18301881Greenough, Western Australia18511881death SOA Funeral
FarmanerJoseph Charles1820Catford Hill, Lewisham, Kent, England1899London, England18481866left colony
FarmerCharles1799England1845Perth, Western Australia18371845death
FarmerThomas1827Dover, Kent, England1891Perth, Western Australia18481891death
Ferres (Ferris)Robert18081881Kadina, South Australia18371863left colony
FinlayJohn Robert1844Ireland1903Leederville, Western Australia18751897dissolution
FishwickFrancis Edward18611912Johannesburg, South Africa18821897dissolution
FlahertyEdward John1791Cork, Ireland1862Vasse district, Western Australia18371862death
FlahertyJohn1815Chatham, Kent, England1897Bunbury, Western Australia1837dropped out before 1894
FlindellJames George1835Edgbaston, Warwickshire, England1892Pier Hotel, Cliff-street, Fremantle, Western Australia18581892death
FosterWilliam Henry18021874Narrogin Inn, Armadale, Western Australia18421875death (murdered)
FosterWilliam Henry1839Perth, Western Australia1923Subiaco, Western Australia18691897dissolution
FoulkesCharles1796England1857Moorabool street, Geelong, Victoria18371845left colony
GalbraithNeil1853Hobart, Tasmania1899Fremantle, Western Australia1875dropped out
GeeThomas1828Cambridgeshire, England1872Guildford, Western Australia18491872death
GeeWilliam Thomas1866Perth, Western Australia1919Wooroloo, Western Australia18861897dissolution
GibbsWilliam John18081895Darkan, Western Australia18421895death
GilbertWilliam Henry18301884Perth, Western Australia18511884death, SOA funeral
GlaskinFrederick Litchfield1847England1920West Leederville, Western Australia18681897dissolution
GlaskinJohn Joseph1855Perth, Western Australia1925Perth, Western Australia18751897dissolution
GloverRichard Alfred1849Perth, Western Australia1930Perth, Western Australia18841897dissolution
GloverWilliam1798Barnes, Surrey, England1880Perth, Western Australia18371880death, SOA funeral
GoldingWilliam1866Perth, Western Australia1910Perth, Western Australia18871897dissolution
GravesWilliam1825England1903Perth, Western Australia18481897dissolution
GreavesFrederick1839London, England1918Sydney, New South Wales18721878left colony
GreggNesbit1848Perth, Western Australia1915Perth, Western Australia18681897dissoluton
GrigsonThomas1819England1890Perth, Western Australia18501890death, SOA funeral
GuthrieDavid1858Perth, Western Australia1942Perth, Western Australia18831897before dissolution
HallJohn18241910Claremont, Western Australia18631897dissolution
HarrisJoseph1810England1896Maddington, Western Australia18481896dissolution, death
HarrisJoseph1832Chester, Cheshire, England1912Binley, Cannington, Western Australia18501897dissolution
HaynesRichard Septimus1857Picton, New South Wales1922Mt Lawley, Western Australiaguest
HaysomGeorge1822Swanage, Dorset, England1868Perth, Western Australia18431868death SOA funeral
HealeyDennis1865Perth, Western Australia1890Perth, Western Australia18861890death, SOA funeral
HealyDaniel Matthew1861Cork, Ireland1951West Perth, Western Australia18751897dissolution
HeardWilliam179318371849left colony ?
HokinThomas1821Plymouth, Devon, England1903Maldon, Victoria, Australia18421948left colony
HolmesWilliam1795Ireland1850Perth, Western Australia18371845prob dropped out before death
HoskinGeorge18111867Western Australia18421867death
HowardFrederick James1859Perth, Western Australia1937Wooroloo, Western Australia18851897dissolution
IlesRobert18311915Guildford, Western Australia18621897dissolution
InkpenJames18291878Perth, Western Australia18501878death
InkpenWilliam1824London, England1889Perth, Western Australia18391889death, SOA funeral
JacobyFrederick William1870Adelaide, South Australia1954Subiaco, Western Australiacaterer
JamesFrank Barrett Carl1861Perth, Western Australia1929Kenwick, Western Australia18821897dissolution
JamesWalter Hobden1856Walworth, Surrey, England1929Unley, South Australia18891897dissolution
JonesJohn1838Llanvihangeloreth, Carmarthenshire, Wales1900Perth, Western Australia18751897dissolution
JonesWilliam1870Wales1929Perth, Western Australia18881897dissolution
JoyceJames William1852Perth, Western Australia1916Perth, Western Australia18601897dissolution
JoyceJoseph1820Essex, England1869Digby, Victoria, Australia18371848left colony
JoyceWilliam Jolley1856Perth, Western Australia1908Fremantle, Western Australia18861897dissolution
KingCharles1818England1871Perth, Western Australia18601874death
KingRuben1825Lewknoe, Oxfordshire, England1887Port Adelaide, South Australia18451852left colony
LakerWilliam Alford1860Burmiston, Yorkshire, England1944Mt Lawley, Western Australia18861897dissolution
LangridgeWilliam John1861Guildford, Western Australia1903Perth, Western Australia18801897dissolution
LawrenceSamuel1853Perth, Western Australia1943Subiaco, Western Australia18731897dissolution
LawrenceWalter18661926Fremantle, Western Australia18861997dissolution
Leonard (Lennard)Richard1812England1853Perth, Western Australia18421853death
LiddelowFrederick John1853Perth, Western Australia1892Perth, Western Australia, Australia18751892death, SOA funeral
LiddelowJohn1826Norfolk, England1893Perth, Western Australia18501893death, SOA funeral
LiddelowJohn Augustus1837Marlyebone, London, England1917West Perth, Western Australia18681897dissolution
LousadaHarry Burningham1844Brighton, England1901Fremantle, Western Australia1865left colony
MartinWilliam1806England1895Northam, Western Australia18381895death, SOA funeral
MasonJohn1855Western Australia1894Honey’s Mills, Canning, Western Australia18721894death, SOA funeral
MawhinneyDavid Edward1857Ballarat East, Victoria1923Warwick, Queensland18861897dissolution
MellowsJohn Alexander1866Gillingham, Kent, England1928Subiaco, Western Australia18881897dissolution
MewsJames Robert1833Perth, Western Australia1918Perth, Western Australia18541897sold shares before dissolution
MinsonRobert Michael1796Yorkshire, England1868Perth, Western Australia18371868death
MooreJames1820Kent, England1901Perth, Western Australia18501897dissolution
MooreRobert Patten1809Ireland1837left colony?
MooreThomas1863Greenough flats, Western Australia1932Perth, Western Australia18891897dissolution
MorrisRichard1806England18371855left colony for SA
MorrisThomas1805England18371855left colony for SA
NairnJames1817London, Middlesex, England1897Dongara, Western Australia18381897dissolution
NairnWilliam1790Stepney, England1855Perth, Western Australia18371855death
OgbourneJames Harry1856Guildford, Western Australia1932Perth, Western Australia18771897dissolution
ParkerEdward1845Perth, Western Australia1917Subiaco, Western Australia18751890dropped out
ParkerRichard1857Perth, Western Australia1931Mt Lawley, Western Australia18751897dissolution
PassmoreHenry1840England1920Fremantle, Western Australia18661897dissolution
PegdenHarry1860England1914Broome, Western Australia18781897dissolution
PolandThomas1854Perth, Western Australia1912Perth, Western Australia18751897dissolution
PolandThomas Henry Strang1821Devon, England1896Mt Eliza, Perth, Western Australia18421896death, SOA funeral
RannGeorge William1857England1923Perth, Western Australia18891897dissolution
ReeveCharles Jeffery1862Perth, Western Australia1937Claremont, Western Australia18861897dissolution
RoachThomas1823Horsleydown, Southwark, England1909Midland, Western Australia18491853dropped out
RogersWilliam1810England18371867death
Roper (Ropper)John James1807Rattery, Devon, England1875Perth, Western Australia18401876death
RoweSamuel John1860England1924Claremont, Western Australia18801897dissolution
RoweThomas John1838Tiverton, Devon, England1904Perth, Western Australia18701897dissolution
SalkilldJohn1819England1905Perth, Western Australia18421897dissolution
SalkilldThomas1805England1880Perth, Western Australia18481880death
SalkilldThomas William1840Perth, Western Australia1929Perth, Western Australia18651897dissolution
SchryverSylvester Francis (Frank)1862New York, USA1916Mt Lawley, Western Australia18801897dissolution
SherwoodFrederick1841Dorset, England1919Maylands, Western Australia18651897dissolution
SimpsonJohn1856Perth, Western Australia1933Bayswater, Western Australia18721897dissolution
SmithJohn Thomas1849Western Australia1934Perth, Western Australia18691897dissolution
SmithRobert1856Scotland1902Swan River, Western Australia18821897dissolution
SpencerJohn1819Bilper, Derbyshire, England1851Maitland, New South Wales18381841left colony
StirlingBaldwin Knight1859Perth, Western Australia1910England?18751897dissolution
StirlingFrederick Robert1847Perth, Western Australia1907Perth, Western Australia18831897dissolution
StirlingHorace George1855Perth, Western Australia1927South Australia18751894dissolution
StokesJohn1818Somerset, England1877Greenough, Western Australia18381877death
StokesMoses1815Somerset, England1910Perth, Western Australia18371897dissolution
StokesWilliam1827Somerset, England1915Western Australia18381897dissolution
StoneFrank Mends1857Perth, Western Australia1942Quairading, Western Australiaguest
StoneGeorge Frederick1812Kent, England1875Perth, Western Australiadrafted constitution
StricklandHenry Robert1819London, England1907Perth, Western Australia18501857dropped out
SwanHenry Curtis1855Mutford, Suffolk, England1934Perth, Western Australia18881897dissolution
TapperFrederick1826Childe Okeford, Dorset, England1907Hindmarsh, South Australia18491868dropped out
TappingWilliam1846Perth, Western Australia1935Perth, Western Australia18811897dissolution
TichbonHenry1826Cranbrook, Kent, England1921East Perth, Western Australia18491897dissolution
TichbonHenry1850Perth, Western Australia1930Geraldton, Western Australia18721897dissolution
TichbonJohn1792England1874Perth, Western Australia18371874death
TompsonHenry James1864Perth, Western Australia1941Gainsborough, Victoria, Australia18781897dissolution
TompsonJohn Robert1804Bramford, Middlesex, England1877Perth, Western Australia18371877death
TowtonHenry Alexander1826Bitterne, Hampshire, England1870Perth, Western Australia18481877death
TredreaJohn Trevithick1861Redruth, Cornwall, England1942Bassendean, Western Australia18811897dissolution
TriggHenry Stirling1860Perth, Western Australia1919Springton, South Australia18841894dropped out before dissolution
TrusloveCharles Thomas1858Guildford, Western Australia1938Midland, Western Australia18721897dissolution
TrusloveJohn Gibbs1827Ashtow, Wiltshire, England1908Midland, Western Australia18481897dissolution
VeryardJohn Besley1820Wiveliscombe, Somerset, England1898Perth, Western Australia18401897dissolution
WalkerThomas1859Yorkshire, England1930Leederville, Western Australia18791897dissolution
WardWilliam1784England1851Perth, Western Australia, Australia18371851death
WatsonJohn1810Portsmouth, England1899Perth, Western Australia18481897dissolution
WatsonJohn James1846Western Australia1838Claremont, Western Australia18671897dissolution
WebbWilliam1826London, England1877Beechworth, Victoria, Australia18471858left colony
WellsEdward1863Perth, Western Australia1886Perth, Western Australia18841886death, SOA funeral
WellsWalter1854Western Australia1925Leederville, Western Australia18771897dissolution
WimbridgeWilliam Thomas1845Manchester, Lancashire, England1888Perth, Western Australia18661888death, SOA funeral
WoodbridgeAlbert James1863Marlyebone, London, England1942Cottesloe, Western Australia18861897dissolution
WoodsSamuel1865Victoria Plains, Western Australia1923Palmyra, Western Australia18861897dissolution
Known members of SOA as of 28 October 2023