Isaac Mayes, the son of James (a labourer) and Ann Mayes, was born in Wetheringsett, in the civil parish of Thwaite, Suffolk. His birth was registered in the December quarter of 1843. He was working as a journeyman tanner when he married Jane Botwright, the daughter of Benjamin (a farmer) and Hannah (or Mary?) Botwright, ‘according to the Rites and Ceremonies of the Established Church’ in the Parish Church of St Mary, Bury St Edmund’s, Suffolk on 1 July 1867. The service was conducted by the Reverend Henry Venn Kibert (?) and the witnesses were Thomas and Emma Nightingale. At the time of her marriage Jane was living in Whepstead.

We know something of Jane’s family from the records for the civil parish of Battisford in Suffolk in the 1841 English census. They are listed as follows: Benjamin (50), Hannah (40), Sarah (12), George (11), Elizabeth (8), John (6) and Jane (1).

Jane and Isaac travelled to Australia in steerage on the 1612-ton Black Ball ship Royal Dane (Captain L Davies). After a good run the vessel, which left London on 26 June and Plymouth on 2 July 1869, reached Moreton Bay on Saturday, 25 September 1869. Their ship having been admitted to pratique, the 409 passengers were brought up the river on the steamer Kate on the following Tuesday.

Jane, who was pregnant throughout the voyage, gave birth to Edith Jane Mayes on 8 November 1869. Sadly, the baby died a few weeks later on 27 November 1869. Two other children were added to the family: Henry Edmund (b. 8 March 1873; d. 1 July 1924) and Octavius (b. 30 March 1879; d. 6 February 1949.

Jane died at her residence, Oxley Road, Rocklea, on 7 September 1911 at the age of 71 and was laid to rest in the Cooper’s Plains Cemetery two days later. Those present in an official capacity were: William Cannon (undertaker), the Reverend John Stewart Pollock of the Presbyterian Church, and JH Cripps and George Aldborough Prittie Hirst (witnesses).

Isaac, a tanner, passed away in the Brisbane General Hospital at the age of 87 on 4 December 1931 and was buried beside his wife three days later. The presiding clergyman was George McKechnie of the United Protestant Church, the undertaker was JH Cripps and the witnesses to the burial were J and G Dibble. Isaac was a member of the school committee of the Park Ridge School (opened 1895).

Isaac’s funeral notice reads as follows:

Mayes.¾The Interment of the late Mr. Isaac Mayes will take place in the Cooper’s Plains Cemetery, This (Monday) at 12 noon.