[Rev. John Ham]

Rev. JOHN HAM

(c1797-1852) ( Baptist )

Born c1797 in England. He married on 30 October 1818 at Madron, Cornwall, England to Ann Job Tonkin. Spent time at Teignmouth, Devon and Bilston, Staffordshire. Was minister at Birmingham, England ( probably at the Cannon Street Meeting House and/or the Zion Particular Baptist Chapel in New Hall Street ). Suffered from asthma which led him to seek a more suitable climate. Sailed for Australia, arriving at Melbourne on 13 December 1842 per "Dublin" from Liverpool, England via Dublin, Ireland. Though en route to Sydney, he was persuaded to stay in Melbourne for a month. Conducted services in the Mechanics Institute. As he was about to leave Melbourne he was again persuaded to change his plans and stay. A church was formed on 20 July 1843 and the foundation stone of the first Baptist Church was laid on 21 May 1845. Ministered there till the end of 1847 when he resigned for health reasons and went to Sydney. On 2 January 1848 he was inducted to the Bathurst Street Baptist Church, Sydney. Died on 14 March 1852 at his residence, Burton Street, Old South Head Road, Sydney, N.S.W., and was buried on 15 March 1852 at Sydney, N.S.W.

[marriage record; death/burial record; Garryowen Chronicles of Early Melbourne; Australian Dictionary of Biography (Vol. 4 - entry for son Thomas Ham)]

Image Source (Top): The First Hundred Years 1843-1943 (Collins Street Baptist Church);
State Library of Victoria (Both)

Was Rev. John Ham Melbourne's First Baptist Minister?

Ordination of the Rev. John Ham - 1824

The Public Breakfast - 1845

Laying of Foundation Stone of Melbourne Baptist Chapel - 1845

Rev. John Ham's Sermon for the Aborigines - 1845

Aboriginal School on the Merri Creek - 1846

Rev. John Ham's Funeral Sermon for the Rev. William Pascoe Crook - 1846

Rev. Ham's Appeal on Behalf of the Aborigines - 1846

The Baptists - Early Records - 1911

[Bathurst Street Baptist Chapel Sydney]

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