Holden Retirees Club

James Alexander Holden – a corrected history.

by Neil Pogson (Copyright)

 In 1979, (Dame) Nancy Buttfield wrote her book ”So Great a Change”a history of the Holden family. As she was the daughter of E. W. Holden, the book is regarded by many as a “bible” of the Holden family story. However, documented research shows (at least, for her account of the arrival and business life of James Alexander Holden) much of it cannot be verified, or is incorrect.

 All the following precise dates and associated text are based on and supported by documentary evidence from contemporary newspaper reports, articles and advertising (much of it by James himself), some of which is shown below but all referenced in the endnotes of the full version. Much related family data is derived from online genealogy databases, particularly familysearch.org.  Some incidental information is drawn from the Buttfield book. 

The following is a shorter summary of this Corrected History, the full version with all references may be downloaded here.

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James Alexander Holden was born at Walsall in Staffordshire, England, on 1^st April, 1835, the younger son of Edward Holden, saddler and hardware merchant, and his wife Elizabeth Mason, and was educated in Walsall. James' mother died on 11^th November, 1836 when he was only nineteen months old and his father remarried on 24^th May, 1838, to another Walsall-born woman, Eliza Huskinson. But over time, an enmity developed between James and his stepmother.

James’ father died in 1851, leaving all his personal possessions plus £1,000 to wife Eliza, and £130 to each of his nine surviving children on their attaining 21 years of age.

The death of his father and the rising enmity with his stepmother caused James to want to leave home and try his luck elsewhere. Although only 16 years old, he sailed to Canada, then New York, where he was hospitably received by his mother's sister, Jane Baptiste, who lived in Brooklyn.

After living with Aunt Jane for some little time, James returned to London; then, aged 19, he decided to travel to South Australia and join his cousin Edwin Smith who had travelled out to Australia two years earlier..

James A. Holden arrived in Adelaide on 14^th February, 1855, almost 20 years old, having departed London on 4^th November 1854. On the 22^nd February he advertised his thanks to Captain Todd of the barque “Tiberias” for his good care on the voyage from London.

Here James fell in love with the landlord’s daughter, Mary Phillips, and married her on 24^th September, 1857 at her father’s residence.  He was Thomas Phillips, late of Kingston, Canada West.

He had found his first employment with Francis Harding Faulding, Chemist, as a book-keeper but the work bored him and he determined to start out on his own as soon as he had saved enough capital. Faulding suggested that he should look for other employment.

 In August 1856, he applied for and took employment in a produce mill in Halifax St, owned by Mr W. H. Clark. William Henry Clark was a successful business man, who owned the City Mill in Halifax Street, but James’ job at Clark’s mill proved to be almost non-existent with Clark rarely appearing and giving only few instructions. 

James became increasingly bored and frustrated and took refuge in his deep religious conviction, getting even more heavily involved with the Baptist Church.

At his coming of age in April 1856, James had expected to receive his legacy from his father’s estate in England but it was delayed until a payment of £130 arrived in the last quarter of 1856.

The 12^th May, 1858, was an occasion of great joy for Mary and James, with the birth of the first of their ten children, Edward Thomas Holden. But the child passed away on 15^th August from bronchitis, only three months old.

On 18^th July, 1859, their second son, Henry James Holden was born at their home, Cambrian Cottage, Kensington.

James did eventually set up in business - in 1859, at 34 King William Street. The first advertisements for the firm of “James A. Holden” appeared on 7^th September, 1859, and were of a simple, three line name-and-address style. These continued until around 22^nd September, when the advertisements expanded to list items which had arrived on the Alma. They further expanded through October with the inclusion of items “..ex-Ocean Eagle, Alma and Irene, and to arrive on the Nile, Chili, Arabella, &c-“ .

Buttfield claimed James opened at 46 King William Street, although it was actually at 34 King William Street. Buttfield possibly  confused the Acre number with the street number, as the property at 34 King William Street is in Acre 46 of Adelaide.

While at 34 King William Street, James took a partner, Joseph Charles Genders, around September 1863. Joseph Genders had been the owner of the Burra Burra Wholesale Wine and Spirit store at Kooringa, sold his business and moved to Adelaide in May 1861.

The premises at 34 King William Street was one of a collection of buildings on a large plot of land, divided into small shops, built around 1840s and known as Beehive Corner, after the name of a tailor’s shop on the corner. They were all replaced in the 1890s by the current well-known Beehive Building.

On 19^th July 1860, James bought two plots of land in Beulah Park adjacent to the Clayton Congregational Church, where they had been living. A four room stone house had been erected, which was the first marital home with Mary, and where his first two children were born.

Mary and James’ third child and first daughter, Katherine Mary, was born on 13^th July 1861 at Magill. In another tragedy for them, Katherine died of croup at just under three years of age, on 17^th April, 1864.

Their fourth child, Ellen Elizabeth was born on 4^th January, 1863.

James’ first voyage back to England was in May, 1863, to try to sort out the details of his inheritance from his father’s estate. Buttfield says James travelled on the “Wonga Wonga” to England - but the “Wonga Wonga” only went as far as King George Sound (Albany WA), necessiatating a ship transfer to a fast mail schoonerto complete the journey.

James traveled on the “Wonga Wonga” arriving on 1^st June 1863 at King George Sound, and transhipped almost certainly to the P&O Steamer “Madras” which met the “Wonga Wonga” at the Sound. There is an existing  letter (in SASL collection) James wrote from Hotel Eglinton, Galle, Ceylon, dated 16^th June 1863 while en-route to England.

There is no information as yet about which vessel/s he used to return to Adelaide.

On 1^st January, 1864, two portions of the premises at 34 King William Street were leased to James Alexander Holden and Joseph Charles Genders for 21 years.

But on 8^th June 1864, James dissolved the co-partnership with Joseph Charles Genders by mutual consent [although a notice to this effect was not placed until 23^rd March 1865] and took over the lease himself.  Subsequently he on-leased it to others.

James then leased a larger property at 106 Gawler Place for seven years on 9^th September 1864, at a rental of £350 per annum, payable quarterly. There was also a covenant to purchase the building for £3,850. On 26th September he advertised for an architect to design a warehouse in Apollo Place, at the back of the new National Bank building.

Advertising for the 34 King William St business continued until 18^th January, 1865; the first advertisement for the new Gawler Place store appeared the following day, on 19^th January, 1865. The new business still traded as James A Holden.

Their fifth child, Winifred Mary, was born on 28^th April, 1865, at Magill.

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The firm of Mahood and Grey, Saddlers, had been operated in Auburn (Clare Valley) until William Grey passed away in April 1866 at the age of 32, just two months after his marriage. James announced on the 8^th September 1866, that he had sold to Mr George Mahood all the stock in trade and book debts lately purchased by him from Mr Joseph Grey of Auburn (William’s brother). He signed the notice, “James A. Holden, Auburn” and continued to operate this Auburn business until 1871 as James A. Holden.

On 25^th October, 1866, James bought a three-quarters of an acre lot in Eden Valley, in the Barossa Ranges.  In December 1866, he advertised for sale “A new and substantial stone store, with dwelling room on an acre of ground – the best position in the township”. He eventually sold it on 16^th March, 1868.

Hubert William Holden, their third son, was born on 3rd June, 1867, at Kensington.

On 28^th December, 1867, James placed an advertisement to the effect that he had accepted a partnership with his brother, E.T. Holden, and was returning to England. All his stock was for sale at reduced prices, as well as the Gawler Place property. This advertisement ran almost daily until 30^th March, 1868, when the notice changed to say that James had been unable to sell off his stock in bulk or the premises, and this meant he had to remain in business for now.  He further said that he would persevere for a further two months, and if not successful in the sell off by then, he would feel free to continue to trade in Adelaide. The two months period was fixed as it “was simply impossible for me to have engagements in England and yet remain in Adelaide – either one or the other must be chosen”.

James subsequently remained in Adelaide, and advertising for his business at Gawler Place resumed on 27^th July, 1868.

He was concerned to advance the cause of manufacturing in the new colony, and together with the owner of his neighbour, plumber W.F. Gray, conceived the idea of forming a Chamber of Manufactures. A meeting was held on 19^th April, 1869 in Messrs George Baynton and Co.’s offices in the Waterhouse Building.  After some discussion, James moved a motion that a Chamber should be formed to support manufacturers in a similar way to how the Chamber of Commerce supported the mercantile sector. The motion was carried and an 18 member sub-committee (including Messrs Holden and Gray) appointed to “make preliminary arrangements”, including formalising the objectives and rules.

On the 4^th May, 1867, another son, Alexander Phillips was born at North Kensington, but passed away on 20^th April 1870, almost one year old.

A levee was held on 2^nd September, 1870, to celebrate the completion of a large order to supply the harnesses and other horse equipment to the Port Augusta and Port Darwin Telegraph Expedition. James entertained his 21 employees at the Hamburg Hotel, where many mutual good feelings were expressed between management and staff.

On 28^th January 1871, James announced that he had sold his business in Auburn (Clare Valley) to saddle-maker Robert S. Wylie..

Their fourth daughter and eight child, Mabel Janet was born on 11^th February, 1871.

On 2^nd June 1871, James also announced that he had taken a new partner, Mr Alfred James Birks, late of the Bank of South Australia, and that a new company had been formed, named J. A. Holden and Co.

In December, 1871, a further announcement advised that the new company had decided to split the Wholesale and Retail sides of the business, so a new store would be opened at 59 Rundle Street on the corner of Gawler Place, trading as Holden and Birks. This would be the retail outlet while the wholesale remained at Gawler Place.

The Gawler Place lease was renewed for a further 2 years on 9^th September, 1871, on the same terms, except that Alfred James Birks was included as a partner. James then purchased the building on 14^th March, 1873.

In August 1872, James was one of 15 men appointed as Commissioners for South Australia “for the purpose of taking all such measures as may be necessary to ensure the effectual representation of the products of South Australia at the International Exhibition to be held in London in 1873.”

Possibly filled with zeal at his new posting, James decided to attend the Melbourne International Exhibition which was to be held from 6^th November 1872 to 8th January 1873.

James and Mary cleared Adelaide for Melbourne on Friday 22^nd November, 1872, on the “Alexandra”.  They returned to Adelaide on the “Omeo”, arriving back on Sunday, 8^th December 1872.

The London Exhibition was scheduled to run from 1^st May 1873 to 31^st October 1873 and preparations were well under way, with Gold, Copper, Photographs and all manner of produce being obtained in readiness for shipment to England. The Chamber of Commerce expressed concern about the amount of work to be done by the Agent-General in London, and the Government approved their request to send three additional Commissioners (of which James was one, representing the Manufacturers) to England to assist in setting up the proper display of the South Australian goods.

At the same timing as the London Exhibition, there was a World Fair being held in Vienna, and some in South Australia thought it important that they also be represented there.  So, similar items were being procured for Vienna as well as for England.

James left Adelaide on 1^st March 1873 on the mail ship, “City Of Melbourne”, bound for King George Sound to meet the “S.S. Mooltan”. The weather was very rough and one report states the “City of Melbourne” was so delayed that fears were held for her safety, however she arrived at King George Sound WA at 3:15 a.m. on 6^th March.

The “S.S. Mooltan” arrived at daylight the next morning, and duly left again with little delay at 5:00pm on 8^th March.

However, there is some confusion over James’ intended destination. The passenger list for the “City of Melbourne” shows him bound for Venice via Brindisi, as does a notice to passengers. This would place him handily to travel on to Vienna.  There is also a newspaper report that James was travelling to attend the Vienna World Fair.

 James had timed his trip carefully to arrive in London a week or so before the opening of the International Exhibition on 1^st May, 1873.  To his dismay, he heard in Brindisi the news that the London International Exhibition opening had been brought forward by two weeks and despite his best efforts he would miss the opening. Whether James had intended to go to Vienna on the way to London, but changed his mind in Brindisi to go directly to London, is open to conjecture.

He managed to arrive in London by 1^st May, having missed the opening ceremonies, and found that the South Australian exhibit was a debacle with most goods not yet arrived and those that had, not set out for display. In fact, it would be two months before the exhibit was complete, but even then, James and others did not think it showed South Australia at its best. He wrote a lengthy letter home about the deficiencies which was published in the South Australian newspapers.

James received a Letter of Commendation and a medal from Queen Victoria in December 1873 for “your assistance rendered them in this year’s exhibition….”

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Turning now to Buttfield’s assertions about the voyage of Mary and the children.  It is said that James decided not to take Mary with him as she was pregnant, but to leave her to follow on a later ship.

It was not that Mary was pregnant. It was just decided that Mary should follow on a later ship via the Cape of Good Hope, rather than go with James on the faster but more difficult Overland Route. Travelling by the Cape of Good Hope route with no ship changes all the way to London would be easier for her to manage with small children. So, Mary and the five children plus a servant (unnamed) embarked on the “Collingrove” in Adelaide on 12^th March, 1873, and arrived in London on 28^th June 1873.

Buttfield also writes that on the return voyage, soon after leaving England, Mary gave birth to a son whom they named Collingrove after the ship on which they were travelling home.

There are many reasons why this was not possible, including:

- They did not travel on the Collingrove for the return from England! The Shipping Records show Mr James Alexander and Mrs Holden and family actually returned on the “Benledi”, leaving London on 28^th August 1873 and arriving Adelaide on 18^th November, 1873, again via the Cape of Good Hope route.

- Given normal gestation periods, it would seem that they had an amorous reunion in late June 1873 on Mary’s arrival in England, as Collingrove was born 9 months later on 16^th March 1874.

- As noted above, “Collingrove” was the name of the ship on which Mary and the children had travelled to England, not homeward! 

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Although successful, the new Holden and Birks company did not last long due to the untimely death of Alfred Birks at just 33 years of age on 7^th December, 1873.  This meant that the partnership was dissolved, and James advertised on 28^th January 1874 that the books on Holden and Birks would be closed on 31^st January, 1874, although advertisements to sell off their stock continued through until 23^rd May. The Rundle Street business name reverted to J. A. Holden and Co.

On 23^rd January, 1874, James purchased 8 lots of land in Park St, Kensington Park, each of about 2½ acres, from Francis Botting.  He created two streets to access the land, the western side one he called Holden Street, and the eastern side, Walsall Street. On a lot having a frontage of 385 feet to Holden Street and depth of 274 feet, he erected a two story, twenty room mansion, which he named “Arowie House”.

On 12^th March, 1874, James was appointed a Magistrate and Justice of the Peace by the South Australian parliament. He subsequently sat on a number of court cases.

A notice appeared on 28^th May 1874 to the effect that Mr Henry Adolph Frost (late of Port Wakefield) was admitted to the business as a Partner from 1^st May, 1874. He had carried on business in Yorketown, where he was elected as a councillor and Mayor. He was apparently a wealthy man when he came to Adelaide and then joined the firm of J. A. Holden and Co.

Routinely appointed as an Exhibition Commissioner for South Australia, James seems to have developed a taste for attending International Exhibitions wherever they were held around the world.

In February, 1875, James travelled to Melbourne and Sydney (arriving in Melbourne on the 4^th February on the “Aldinga”) to interview those State’s Commissioners for the Great Philadelphia Exhibition, which was to open on 10^th May 1876 and close on 11^th November 1876.

 A report published on 6th February in The Age says “... He yesterday had an interview with the Secretary of the Victorian Commission, and obtained every information relative to the measures taken to secure the co-operation of intending exhibitors. Mr Holden next proceeds to Sydney.” He did so, clearing for Sydney on 8th February, travelling on the “City of Adelaide”.

James arrived in Sydney on the 11^th February for similar discussions with the NSW Commissioners. He departed around 20th February and arrived back in Adelaide on 25^th February 1875 again on board the “Aldinga”.

There had been a recent revolution in travel to England with the introduction of the Pacific Overland Route on 20^th December, 1874. A Victorian Government initiative eventuated in the formation of a new company to sail to California via Auckland, New Zealand, Fiji and Hawaii.  From there, a co-ordinated rail journey took passengers across the USA to the East Coast, where ship could be taken to England.  These ships often terminated in Plymouth or a Welsh port to avoid the congestion and unreliable weather of the English Channel.

Four purpose-designed fast ships were built, and provided a regular 43 days service with London; 25 of those days occupied in the service to San Francisco, 7 days to New York on rail, and the rest on crossing the Atlantic to (say) Liverpool.

It is clear that James travelled via the Pacific Overland route to attend the Philadelphia Exhibition, but his shipping arrangements remain obscure.  That he was there is attested by a letter he wrote to Mary from St Johns, New Brunswick, Canada on 9^th June, 1876, with mention of a previous stopover in New York, probably to again visit his Aunt, Jane Baptiste.

The last of their ten children, a daughter Charlotte Alice Lynette, was born on 24^th January, 1877.

On 28^th January, 1878, James advertised that his Gawler Place premises were for sale, then on 1^st February, 1878, leased new premises in Grenfell Street, for 99 years. The Gawler Place premises were eventually sold on 16^th July, 1878, to Thomas Elder and Robert Barr Smith who advertised them To Let on 28^th April, 1879, and leased them to the YMCA.  

The Architect, D. Garlick, called for tenders on 28^th May, 1878 to erect a new Warehouse and offices at Grenfell Street.

An on-site auction of building materials was held on 2^nd July, as the existing building of W Christen and Co was pulled down to clear the site.

James announced a clearance sale at the Rundle Street store on 5^th April, 1879, on account of the forthcoming relocation to Grenfell Street.

The new building attracted glowing mentions in the press and was widely praised as an asset to Adelaide.

By early 1878, young Henry James Holden had completed schooling and thrown himself into learning the family business from the bottom up, anxious to learn every part of the leather trade by doing it! Although Henry was only 18 years old, James decided that it would be advantageous to send him to England to gain a broader knowledge of business practises and the leather trade, and to work in the old Walsall family business with Uncle Edward.

In June 1877, James had again been appointed a Commissioner for South Australia, so was travelling once more, this time to Paris to view the Paris Exhibition which was to run from 1^st May until 15^th November, 1878.

James cleared out of Adelaide for Melbourne and Sydney on 16^th March 1878, aboard the steamer “South Australian”. In Sydney he transhipped to the Pacific Mail Steamship Company’s steamer, “City of Sydney” to San Francisco via Auckland, departing on 29th March.

James wrote home from Auckland New Zealand on 2^nd April 1878, and again from Aunt Jane Baptiste’s home in Brooklyn, New York, on 26^th May, wherein he mentions stopovers in Chicago and Salt Lake City.

After visiting the Paris Exhibition, James returned to Adelaide from Plymouth on the “S.S. Hankow”, departing 16^th September. However, a case of smallpox was detected on board when they reached Adelaide. The Chief Medical Officer ordered that goods bound for Adelaide would be taken on to Melbourne and passengers had to quarantine in Adelaide for a further five days. No other passengers showed any evidence of smallpox. Goods were returned from Melbourne on the S.S. Atjeh, arriving back on the 9^th November.

James and two others published a letter to the authorities protesting that the quarantine regulations had been “severely administered”.

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It seems that whilst in USA region, James took advantage to do some business on his own account.  He chartered a ship, the “Carrie Humphries” and filled it with sawn timber. A barque of 1059 tons, the “Carrie Humphries” sailed from New Brunswick in Canada on 7^th August, 1878 and tied up at Glanville Wharf in Port Adelaide on 22^nd November, 1878.

Immediately an advertisement appeared in all the local papers every day until the 4^th December, when there was to be an auction sale of the timber:

“At the Glanville Wharf, Port, on arrival of the 10:15 o’clock train from Adelaide.

By order of Messrs J. A. Holden & Co of Adelaide.

Just arrived.

The entire cargo of the Carrie Humphries from St. Johns, New Brunswick.

To Timber Merchants, Builders, Contractors and others.

21,349 Splendid Deals,

50,000 Laths,

17,325 Palings.

A market report on 28^th December says the cargo was “placed privately” and no sale price is quoted, although it noted in general that “at the reduced price for deals the trade have purchased freely and are now fully stocked”.

The ship remained at the wharf until 30^th December, then was moved on 27^th January 1879 to the Commercial Wharf for loading with wool and wheat for London.  It cleared for London on 22^nd March, 1879, but ran aground on Martin’s Point briefly, but was got off without damage and proceeded to London, where it arrived on 5^th August, 1879.

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With the move to the new premises in Grenfell Street, the name of the business reverted to J. A. Holden & Co. An advertisement on 3^rd May, 1879 proudly announced J. A. Holden & Co “have removed from Rundle Street and Gawler Place to Grenfell Street, next to the Sturt Hotel”.

But trading conditions in Australia generally and Adelaide in particular were declining. South Australia’s rate of population growth, once the highest in Australia, also lagged. Prolonged drought adversely affected the crops on which Adelaide so heavily depended.

Many banks failed, others called in loans and some of James’ customers were bankrupted. James’ health was failing and as business conditions got worse, he turned to heavy drinking. His tuberculosis flared up.

A call was made to Henry to return immediately to Adelaide to assist in the running of J. A. Holden and Co, which he did in early 1879.

It is said that James was so grateful that he renamed the business J. A. Holden & Son.  However, this name seems to only ever appear in one short series of advertisements for sale of an English Dogcart in May 1884, and three small news items recounting the presentation of prizes for minor sporting events in July 1885.  All other advertising throughout the whole time was still in the name of J. A. Holden & Co.

On 24^th March 1879, James was once again appointed a Commissioner for South Australia, this time for the International Exhibition in Sydney in 1879, and in Victoria in 1880. James and son Henry both shipped out for Sydney via Melbourne on the 30^th August, 1879, firstly on the “Victorian” to Melbourne, then on the “Leura” departing 5^th September, to Sydney.  A lengthy report of the Exhibition opening ceremony appeared in the Adelaide Register of 19^th September 1879 mentioning the presence of both James Alexander Holden and Henry Holden at the function. J. A. Holden & Co were also exhibitors at the Exhibition.

However, the display presented in the South Australian annex was roundly criticised by some as having only a few “natural products” on show to depict South Australia, and none of the advanced manufactures that other states and countries were showing.

James and Henry arrived back in Adelaide via Melbourne on 6^th October, 1879, firstly from Sydney to Melbourne on-board the “Leura” (departed 27 September) and from Melbourne to Adelaide again aboard the “Victorian”.  The Melbourne passenger lists in both directions also show separately “Misses Holden, 2” but the list for the “Leura” mentions Miss W. Holden and Miss M. Holden, so it seems James took his daughters along for the trip. Also Miss Mary Ann Dixon (Polly) Wheewall was on board, whom Henry was to marry on 7^th April, 1881.

In May and June 1880, James offered for sale his newly built “well-known mansion of 18 to 20 rooms, besides  extensive out buildings, together with“6 or 7-1/2 or 20 acres of land”, the proprietor being anxious to leave the Colony for a few years in search of health”. It did not sell.

At the same time, he also advertised for sale 12-1/2 acres of land at Kensington Park, in one or more blocks, close to the tram sheds with water laid on, as well as 20 acres at Riverton, adjoining the township.

A major family event occurred on 22^nd July 1880, when son Henry turned twenty one years old. The employees were invited to a celebration and dinner, after which they presented Henry with “a beautiful illuminated address surrounded by their photographs”. In his remarks, apart from thanking them for their good wishes, Henry mentioned that he had been “taken into the firm of J. A. Holden & Co”.

James had a survey completed of the land surrounding his residence in Kensington Park, and subdivided it into 47 lots.

An Auction sale was conducted on Saturday, 16^th October 1880, “the prices realised were satisfactory, although competition was limited”. Prices achieved ranged from 30 shillings per foot to 50 shillings per foot. The auction realised £2,368/12/-.  James retained 13 lots.

James and Mary are recorded on board the Pacific mail ship, “R.M.S. Australia”, bound for Auckland, New Zealand and cleared Adelaide on 27^th January 1881. The purpose of the trip is not known, but was possibly just a holiday for James who was not in good health. Also possible is that it was to try the therapeutic effects of the Hot Springs which were becoming widely advertised at the time. Details of their visit or return from New Zealand have not been determined, except that they cleared Melbourne for Adelaide on 29^th March on the “S.S. Victorian”, arriving home on 31^st March.

This voyage appears to be the last undertaken by James, or at least, no records are currently known of any further travels.

In November 1883, the Arowie House property was again offered for sale, together with adjoining extra land if so desired by the purchaser. Again, it did not sell.

On 3^rd January, 1884, James was granted 623 acres of farm land at Maitland, some 164 kms South of Adelaide on the Yorke Peninsular, for £623!

Although a man of strong Baptist values, it seems James was not above taking advantage when it presented himself.  As a Justice of the Peace, he sometimes was called on to act as the assigned person for insolvency by other traders, especially saddlers. This meant that the assets were signed over to him to dispose of and distribute the proceeds amongst the creditors.

In 1885, James was acting as trustee in the insolvency of John Wake Fox, a saddler of Quorn. In the case, J. A. Holden & Co were also creditors in the sum of £42. When the Insolvency came to Court for the final hearing, the Judge was scathing when he found that James had paid out the debt to J. A. Holden & Co in full, which left only 5 Shillings in the pound for the other creditors! He ruled that some action should be taken against James as distinct breach of trust had occurred.

The Judge adjourned the hearing for a month to allow James (who was ill) to appear before him, and to ask the other creditors to contribute to a fund to bring a breach of trust case against James. In the event, only three creditors bothered to offer any funds, and they were insufficient, so the Judge dismissed the case on 22^nd May due to the lack of interest of the creditors. Fox was granted his insolvency certificate.

James was now a broken and sick man, not capable of managing the business any further. On 1^st September, 1885, he sold his share of the retail business to his partners Henry Frost and son, Henry Holden.  The new company was named “Holden and Frost”.

On the same day, James advertised his Wholesale business for sale, plus the Grenfell St premises for sale or to let. There were fifty buggies of different styles available to buy as well. He advertised on almost a daily basis that he also had for sale various land plots, “Bertha Cottage” in Thornton St, Kensington, the farm land at Maitland, his sewing machines, and of course, the Kensington Park premises, which still did not sell.

Through November and December, he called for tenders to buy his remaining stock.

A meeting of his creditors was called for 10^th March, 1886, at which it was disclosed that James had debts of £31,195, of which £10,196 was unsecured. His assets amounted to £39,454, leaving a surplus of £8,198. Control of his assets was placed in the hands of James Turnbull and Walter Gooch, Accountants, as Trustees.

However, on 15^th March 1886, James A Holden went into voluntary liquidation.

As their mansion had to be sold along with his other assets, James and Mary leased a small property, part of Lot 79 Rochester St, Knightsbridge (now Leabrook), for 3 years on 1^st April 1886.

The 623 acre land grant at Maitland was sold by the Trustees on 25^th April, 1886, to Robert Elliot, farmer of Maitland.

An auction sale of James’ remaining assets was held by the Trustees on 11^th May, 1886. The catalogue included the Grenfell Street store, the residence at Kensington Park, the eleven properties adjoining the residence, two cottages in Kensington, a section in Riverton, a cottage in Redhill and another in Mallala, a “good brick house and shop” in Greenock and three allotments in Leura with a dwelling house and saddler’s shop.

By 30^th May, the Trustees advertised that they had paid a second and last dividend of 10 pence in the pound to the creditors, and had by 12^th August 1886 completed the necessary actions to finalise the Insolvency action.

James made his will on 26^th May, 1886, leaving virtually everything in trust for the education of his three youngest children;  only if they died before they had attained twenty one years of age would his wife, Mary, receive an income derivable from the balance of money not spent on education of the children.

The House at Kensington Park was again advertised for sale, but yet again, did not sell.

However, James had mortgaged the Arowie House property to Sir William Milne and Samuel Tomkinson on 23^rd February, 1881. With the Letters of Assignment, the ownership passed to the trustees, Turnbull and Gooch. They did not pay out the mortgage, so the property was foreclosed in favour of Sir William Milne and Samuel Tomkinson on 19^th January, 1887. They in turn, transferred the property to John Charles Marshall Taylor on 4^th April 1887. It stayed in his possession until 6^th September, 1917, when it was sold to Mark Edward Ridgeway who sold it in 1926 to Girton Girl’s school.  Arowie House (since renamed Angrove House) still exists on the Pembroke school grounds in Holden Street, Kensington Park.

James died in Semaphore Hospital on 1^st June, 1887, of tuberculosis complicated by alcohol abuse. He was fifty two years old. His body was moved to the house of his son, Henry James Holden in North Terrace, College Town (now College Park) on 2^nd June, where he remained until taken at 3:00 p.m. on the 3^rd June 1887 to be interred in the Clayton Church Cemetery.

Probate of the will was granted on 29^th June, 1887.

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