Alternate surname spelling: PAVY/PAVEY/PAVIE
James Pavy was baptised on 30 January 1825, the eldest child of Benjamin and Rosanna Pavy (nee Wyld/Wild) at Pewsey, Wiltshire, England. His father was a miller and farmer at nearby Shercott. He was recorded in the 1841 Census, aged 16, as living with his parents and siblings.
James arrived at Port Adelaide with his father and siblings on the Francis Ridley in August 1850, moving to McLaren Vale where he and two of his brothers (William and Benjamin) were recorded as farmers in 1853 at Hornsey Farm, Long Gulley, McLaren Vale. In December of that year he advertised the loss of a steer from his property signing as the Pavy Brothers. Again in 1854 the three brothers were listed as farmers at MacLaren Vale (sic). [Land Memorials 402/55; 47/77]. The Pavy’s built a brewery on what is now the Coles carpark on Field Street, McLaren Vale.
In September 1857 he was elected to the Willunga District Council. December of that year he advertised for tenders ‘for FORMING and METALLING a SPOON-DRAIN at Pavy’s Bog’ by January 1857. He was also a steward at the Milang Regatta with it reported the ‘Messrs Pavy’ owned The Enterprise, a ketch. By December 1857 there was a split between the Pavy Brothers with James and William retaining the brewery at McLaren Vale and known as the Pavy Brothers, while his brothers Benjamin and Philip together with an Edward Rowlands operating as Pavy, Rowlands and Pavy had the steam-mill at Milang. Flour was made at the Milang mill.
James Pavy married Ellen Inglis at the residence of Samuel Inglis, Inman Valley on 28 October 1858. She was about ten years his junior. He remained in McLaren Vale, and in 1865 was again elected to the Willunga Council this time appointed Chairman. The couple had the following children:
- George Benjamin born 13 October 1860 at McLaren Vale
- James Albert Samuel born 5 May 1862 at McLaren Vale
- Frederick born 1 May 1864 at McLaren Vale
- Edgar Brace born 5 March 1866 at McLaren Vale
On 29 April 1867 James Pavy died at McLaren Vale of typhoid fever. It is also believed the brewery closed due to poor water quality. William took over the site (Part section 146, Hundred of Willunga). Ellen re-married to Edward Cast, son of Henry on 10 September 1874 at Port Adelaide. She died in 1905 in Broken Hill, New South Wales registered as Hellen.
