Family background
James Ekin was possibly Irish, arriving in Sydney 1885. In 1896 he and his wife lived at ‘Clythe’, Lucas Street, Burwood, and in 1903, they lived at ‘St Albans’, Burwood Road, Burwood. Ekin was married to Josephine Alice Montrose. They had five children, four of whom were born in Sydney. They left Sydney in May 1903 and lived at 5 Redcliffe Square, South Kensington, London. Two of their sons died on 1 July 1916 in World War 1, at the Battle of the Somme.
Occupation & interests
Ekin & Co Estate agents were located at 16 Enmore Road, Enmore, and prior to this at 316 King Street.
Local government service
James Ekin was an alderman on Newtown Council in 1895-97, representing Enmore Ward. He was elected September 1896 for new ward of Camden when Enmore Ward was split. In January 1896 he telegrammed from South Australia asking for an extension of leave of absence, which was denied as he had attended so few meetings in his first year on the council. He retired from the council in January 1898.
References
‘Advertising’, The Sydney Morning Herald, 30 January 1895, p. 3 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article139964
‘Newtown’, The Sydney Morning Herald, 10 January 1896, p. 6 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article14032756
‘Shipping’, The Sydney Mail and NSW Advertiser, 27 May 1903 p. 1334 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article165191946
‘Married in London’, The Sydney Morning Herald, 15 December 1938, p. 27 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article17554207
https://sites.google.com/site/claphamwarmemorials/home/old-manorians/leslie-montrose-ekin
http://www.ancestry.com.au/genealogy/records/james-ekin_61340065