James Blyth was born in 1811 in the Parish of Mains, Forfar,( now known
as Angus), Scotland, to William & Ann; nee Graham, He was an apprentice
wheelwright to a Mr Kirkdon from 15th June, 1827 - 28th June, 1831.He then
enlisted in the 21st Regiment of the Royal Scotts Fusiliers on the 9th
July, 1831. His regiment sailed on the Jane in 1833, to VDL to relieve the
63rd Regiment. He is listed on the payroll dated Sept-Oct1833. The
regiments arrival was noted in the Perth Gazette. He served as a soldier,
holding the rank of private, for 9 years and 22 days, 6 of those years
were spent in the Swan River area. He requested an early discharge from
the regiment on the 31st July 1840, as they were due to sail to Calcutta.
James took a land grant in the Perth area and was a Constable for a time,
before taking up farming.
He married Comfort Stanton on the 19th March 1843. She was born in
Claybrook, Leicestershire, England, in 1826; so she was a 17 year old
bride, and he a 32 year old groom.
They went on to raise a family of 8 children, Mary Elizabeth 1843-
1844; Albert Ogilvy 1844- 1928; Charlotte Matilda 1846- 1926; Roland
1848- 1934; Joseph 1850- 1919; Comfort 1854-?; Esther 1856- 1896:
James died in 1857. Comfort remarried to a James Hayes, who was a
fellow passenger on the Diadem in 1841/42; when her Father, sister and
herself had sailed to Australia.
She had 4 children from this marriage, Jane 1859; William 1861;
James 1864; and Andrew Mark 1867.
Comfort died in 1895.
Twelve of James grandsons enlisted in WW1, seven were killed in
action.One of his descendents was a Member of the Australian Parliament,
and one a Mayor of Bunbury.