By Canungra and Districts Historical Association
After a lengthy passage and unusually rough weather, the ‘Light of the Age’ arrived in Brisbane in January 1864.
Among the passengers were the Lawton family hailing from Staffordshire in the UK.
When Ann Lawton stepped ashore with her three children James Thomas, Martha Elizabeth and John Harry, all under 10 years old, her heart must have been heavy with the weight of her grief, her husband John having been buried at sea after succumbing to consumption on the voyage.
As was common in the era, Ann soon got remarried to George Richardson who had been a fellow passenger on the ‘Light of the Age’.
Tragedy again struck the family when Martha passed away in 1876 at a mere 18 years of age.
John married Minnie Colvin in 1891 but sadly passed away at only 33 years in 1893.
James Thomas Lawton was the first name on the enrolment register at the Waterford State School.
He became widely known as he pursued various occupations throughout Queensland.
In 1882 he married Ruth Hall of South Brisbane and began work at the sawmill of McGee, Luya and Co before he started his own sawmilling enterprise at Jimboomba.
Ruth and James had at least seven children.
Members of the Lawton family had been employees of the Lahey family for many years having previously worked at their Tygum sawmill.
James Thomas and his son, David Lawton both served as Managers of Laheys’ Canungra Sawmill.
Another son Jack worked at the Canungra Mill and yet another son William, who was disabled, made his way each day on crutches to work in the office.
James Thomas’ nephews were also employed by Laheys.
James and Ruth’s youngest son Thomas, born in 1899, was educated at Canungra School and Brisbane Grammar School where he excelled at sports.
He joined the AIF and served in France returning to study at the Universities of Queensland and Sydney and later in Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar. He represented Australia in Rugby Union on several tours abroad where he was once presented to the then Duke and Duchess of York and their daughter, the future Queen Elizabeth. Apparently, he abandoned protocol, kneeled down and held out his arms to the young Elizabeth who ran to embrace him
Following the closure of the Canungra Mill, Jack, Will and their cousin Charley followed David Lahey to Corinda Mill where in 1943 a tragedy occurred when Jack was sadly killed in an industrial accident.
James Thomas Lawton retired to Sandgate and passed away in 1931 and is buried at Bald Hills Cemetery.
Ann Lawton passed away in 1902 and is buried in Dutton Park Cemetery.
Little could Ann have known how her offspring would flourish in the new colony and Lawton Lane in Canungra is a testament to a family who gave so much to the development of the town.
