Frederick James Sivyer (James the Brickie)

FREDERICK JAMES SIVYER was born 29 April 1856 in Newcastle, New South Wales, and died 3 February 1926 in Innisfail, Queensland, Australia.  

He married:

(1) Jane Driscoll in Bathurst in 1877

(2) Mary Josephine Shanley 1881 in Goulbourn, New South Wales, Australia.  She died 28 July 1906, aged 44 years in Mareeba, Queensland.  

(3) SARAH ADAMS 1 November 1906.

Frederick James and Jane Driscoll had a daughter Harriett Catherine born 1879 in Concord

Children of Frederick James and Mary Shanley are:

Minnie Adelaide Sivyer, b:1883, Goulburn, New South Wales

Maud b:1886

Frederick Victor Sivyer, b: 26 December 1889.

Andrew Roy Sivyer, b: 1891, Goulburn, New South Wales; d. 22 October 1942, Herberton, Queensland.

Leon Wentworth Sivyer, b: 1895.

Gladys Dorothea Sivyer, b: 2 December 1896; d. 4 October 1963.

Neta Melba Sivyer, b: 1898.

The highs and lows of Frederick Jame's life can be summed up in these two newspaper articles.

1. The tragic and early loss of his wife Jane Driscoll

Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1871 - 1912), Saturday 20 November 1880, page 965

SIVYER.—November 9, at her residence, corner of Frederick and John streets, Ashfield, Jane, the beloved wife of James Sivyer, aged 24 years, leaving a loving husband to mourn his loss. Bathurst papers please copy.

2. Frederick James or (James the Brickie) made a name for himself with his prowess as a brickmaker before the days of machine power and mass production.

Goulburn Evening Penny Post (NSW : 1881 - 1940), Thursday 9 June 1881, page 3

CHALLENGE. 

I WILL BACK JAMES SIVYER to MOULD BRICKS against any man in the colony, for quantity and quality, from one hour to ten, for any sum. J. W. MACGRAW, North Goulburn. 

This newspaper article from 1878 puts the prowess of Frederick James into perspective.

Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), Saturday 16 February 1878, page 10

THE BRICKMAKING MATCH betwixt JAMES SIVYER and NATHANIEL LUCAS, of Ashfield, commenced, as arranged, on Tuesday, 5th February, Sivyer having to go first to the stool to make as many as he could in 10 hours, Lucas to make 10 hours the following day, the man making the greatest number of salable bricks to pick up twenty pounds (£20). Sivyer commenced at half-past 6, and made until eighteen minutes to 8, at which time it began to rain, and stopped operations for that day, having made 780 good bricks in 1 hour and 12 minutes. He commenced to make again on Tuesday, the 12th, at 8 o'clock, working until 12 o'clock, at which time he had made 3400. Stopping one hour and a quarter for refreshment, he then made 2¼ hours. At this period 5000 bricks were put to his credit. He had now 2 hours and 33 minutes to make, in which time he made 1614, completing the last 60 bricks in the unprecedented short time of 4 minutes, having made 6614 in the 10 hours, comparing favourably with English time. Lucas, being satisfied, paid over the money without trial.

In his later years Frederick James was called upon or recognised for his brick making knowledge, skill and experience when appointed foreman of the National Brickworks in Canberra in preparation for the building of Australia's new capital city.

Townsville Daily Bulletin (Qld. : 1907 - 1954), Saturday 18 January 1913, page 4

Mr F. J. Sivyer, of Stannary Hills, was a passenger by the Wadonga on Monday last for south. According to the "Cairns Times" Mr Sivyer is to take charge of the National Brick-works that are being established by the New South Wales Government for the purpose of supplying bricks for the building to be erected at the Federal capital. Mr Sivyer stated that the orders in hand were so large that the works would kept going for the next five years executing them.