Life in Adelaide

Shortly after his arrival in Adelaide David came under the influence of Rev. Thomas Quinton Stow, the pioneer Congregational Minister in Adelaide. Along with two other young men, John Roberts and W. Ayling, David applied in September 1850 to the Congregational Home Mission Society for acceptance as a student for the ministry under Mr. Stow. It was arranged that the three students would reside together in a house at Kensington provided by Mr. Ayling. They were requested to leave their secular duties and enter upon full- time study in the first week of November. (Notes and References 6.)
David's stay in the house at Kensington must have been very brief as he married shortly after commencing his theological studies. On 13 December, 1850 he was married to Ann Gibson by Mr. Stow in the private residence of Mr. E. Gates at Tynte Street, North Adelaide. Ann was the daughter of James Gibson, a brickmaker, who had arrived in Adelaide with his wife, Prudence, and two children on the Indus, which sailed from Leith, Scotland on 26 February, 1840. Ann's parents were married at Ithem, Staffordshire on 25th September, 1824 and Ann was christened at Burslem on 27th August, 1826. On arrival in South Australia the Gibson family went to live at Encounter Bay, where James may initially have followed his occupation as a brickmaker, but later became a farmer. David and Ann presumably set up their home at Stepney as it was there that their elder son, William Clarence, was born on 23rd September, 1851.

The theological training of the three students was interrupted in 1852 by financial problems encountered by the Home Mission Society. From the end of 1851, owing to shortage of funds, the Society had to suspend operations and it is assumed that the students were asked to resume their secular occupations. There is evidence that David resumed his occupation as a baker in order to support his wife and child. The Society's position must have improved by September 1852 as its minute book records a motion on 10th September that the students be requested to return to their studies at their earliest convenience. On 1st October it is recorded that the students had expressed their willingness to do so and on 29th October it was further resolved 'that the students be invited to recommence their studies at a weekly salary of thirty shillings, Mr. Badger to receive twenty pounds per year additional according to previous arrangements with this Society'. During this period as a student David assisted with services at Shipley (now Athelstone).
The Society apparently encountered further financial problems in 1853 as David's retention as a student and agent of the Society was reconsidered each month after August 1853. It was, however, finally on health grounds that his association with the Society terminated. On 13th January, 1854 it was recorded that a letter of resignation had been received from Mr. Badger, 'he having fallen victim to a disease which renders him incapable of performing his duties as agent, having ruptured a blood vessel of the right lung at three different times'. This tends to corroborate the suggestion that David, like his sister Anne may have been showing symptoms of TB. The fact that, as recorded below, his wife Ann died three years later from consumption confirms that there was a history of the disease in the family.
Following his resignation from the Home Mission Society, David presumably returned again to his occupation as a baker. By this time his family included a second son, Gibson, born on 24th October, 1853. Little is known of the next few years but he apparently continued to work as a baker at Stepney for some years. A press report of a public meeting held during this period to form the Stepn'ey and Norwood Institute illustrates that David retained his interest in educational matters. The report refers only to a 'Mr. Badger' but it is almost certain that David was the person concerned. The account reads: 'Mr. Badger moved the adoption of the report and rules. He thought little could be said against the latter, particularly as they contained a provision for any future necessary revision. He was not sanguine of immediate success, but he believed they might form the basis of a very useful institution, comprising lectures and evening classes, which would be very beneficial to the neighbourhood and particularly to the working man. On this subject and on the advantages of education generally the speaker dilated at some length and was listened to with much interest. He concluded by offering his services to conduct classes in English Grammar, English Composition and Logic'.(Notes and References. 7)
David was still working as a baker at Stepney when his wife died from consumption on 3rd February, 1857. This tragedy left him a widower with two young sons. However, he did not remain a widower for long, being remarried on 24th June, 1858 to Emily Jane Hamlyn, a young girl not yet nineteen.