History - James Henry Ashton

Convict

Over its rich 200+ year history, Entally has played host to a range of interesting figures. One of the most interesting would have to be James Henry “Golden” Ashton.

Ashton was born in 1819 at Baddow, in Essex. At the age of 14 – the same age as Mary Reibey – he was convicted of stealing a donkey. Before being caught and arrested, James also stole a broach. This caused him to be sentenced to 14 years transportation, as a repeat offender. At the time of sentencing, he had had many jobs, including as a sweep (cleaning chimneys), tinman, and brazier. His gaol report describes him as “bad”.

James travelled to Van Diemen’s Land on the ship Barque Francis Charlotte in 1836 with 150 other convicts, all aged 6 – 16. The journey took 134 days, landing in 1837. He initially was imprisoned at Point Puer near Port Arthur until 1839, when he was then assigned as a servant to Thomas Reibey II at Entally. In 1842, he was moved on to various other properties. In 1846, he sought permission to marry another convict, Mary Bryan.

After eleven years of good behaviour, James was given his ticket of leave. As an active but short man, at only 5’3”, he got a position as a trick rider in 1848 at a circus in Launceston. Two years later, he founded the Ashton Circus, having purchased the circus from Thomas Mollar in Hobart.

Shortly after this, Mary Bryan passed away at 27 from tuberculosis in 1852. Ashton quickly married Elizabeth Critchley shortly after in 1853, at Hanging Rock, Tamworth. James & Elizabeth went on to have 14 children, who they raised to work in the family circus.

Ashton passed away in 1889, and his eldest son Fred, aged 22, inherited the circus. Today, Ashton’s Circus is still performing (currently operating as Circus Joseph Ashton), and is the longest surviving circus in Australia, pre-dating most other circuses in the English-speaking world. It has been handed down through the generations, as is currently run by the six generation, Michelle & Joseph Ashton.