James William Filleul was of French descent. His mother's tongue was French. He started his career in Jersey  as a carpenter but later went to sea and became second mate on a ship which called at Launceston in Tasmania during the Australian gold rush of the 1850s. The lure of gold was too much for him and two other ship's officers and, hoping to make their fortunes on the gold fields on the mainland,  they deserted their ship as did thousands of seamen in those days. His two fellow deserters were captured and he, in hiding, saw them handcuffed by the police and taken back to the ship. After the ship had left James gave himself up to police. What penalty, if any, he had to pay is not on record. But Tasmania attracted him so much that, instead of going off to look for gold, he took up farming, growing potatoes as some farmers did in Jersey. He spent most of the rest of his life on "Benacre" farm at Kondred, near Forth. Eventually he moved to another farm at Forth which he called "Verclut" after his birthplace in Jersey. 

James married Jane Firier Howison in 1860 at Forth, in northwest Tasmania. Jane had arrived with her family from Scotland on the 'Forest Monarch' in 1857 at the age of 13.

James and Jane first lived at 'Corn Brook Farm', part of the first parcel of land later to be included in 'Ben Acre', Kindred Road, which he farmed successfully for many years, including growing potatoes as farmers had in Jersey. The land at ‘Ben Acre’ was exceptionally good and was known to produce 75 bushells of grain to the acre. He imported the first Reaper and Binder ever to be used on the North West Coast which created great interest as people came from miles around to see it.

They had 15 children of whom 14 survived and their descendants are scattered over a wide area of northern Tasmania and beyond.

In the late 1860s his carpentry skills were put to good use on The Sailors Return Inn at Turners Beach where he added a top storey and a bay window. At this time the Inn was renamed Leith House and later The Gables, and is now National Trust classified.

James assisted in surveying the Main Coast Road from Don to Forth and for many years held a seat on the Road Trust. He was a Grand Master, Trustee and Charter Member of the Forth Lodge, and took a keen interest in politics. He was also a deacon of the Congregational church at Forth for 47 years and through his active involvement in community affairs was highly regarded and respected as a pioneer of Forth’s early history.

Eventually James moved to a farm at Forth which he called ‘Verclut’ after his birthplace in Jersey. ‘Verclut’ cottage was a distinctive Gothic house and stood on the western side of Forth township.

James passed away in his sleep at ‘Verclut’, Forth, on 26th May 1913 aged 79 years.

Jane, his wife, survived for another 22 years and was 91 when she died.

(Much of the above is taken from the information submitted by Margaret Roshier (Filleul) to this site.)

Click here for more details of  the ancient FILLEUL  family.

Her mother, Agnes, had two marriages with Jane being from the second:-

Agnes Wilson b.1811 d.Ulverstone 1895 

# m.13 Apr 1833 Peter Gardner
  at Parish of Borthwick, Midlothian
  Children - William   b. c.1834
           - Alexander b. c.1835
           - David     b. c.1837
           - Isabella  b. c.1838
  (Names and ages from the Register of
   Passengers of the ship "Forest Monarch") 

# m.17 Oct 1841 James Howieson (See note on name)
  (b.1818 d.at Ulverstone  1887) 
  at Parish of Borthwick, Midlothian
  Children - Margaret b. 21 Jun 1842
           - Margaret b. 22 Apr 1843
           - Jane     b. 22 Jul 1844
           - Agnes    b. 23 Oct 1846
           - John     b. 10 Jan 1849
  (1st child born at Borthwick. Others at
   Newbattle which is the parish next to
   Borthwick near Edinburgh)

* The name "Howieson" is recorded with this spelling on the marriage certificate of Alphonso and Isabella and is used on some photos. The name is shown as "Howison" on the Register of Passengers of the ship "Forest Monarch" on which she came to Tasmania. The former spelling is therefore the most likely.