English Town

Ann DIXON

Miss W. Biography, Davey, Dixon , , , , ,

Ann Dixon was the second child born to free settlers David Dixon and Mayday (Mary) Pickering. Ann’s parents and her older sister Elizabeth had arrived in Launceston on 30 August 1841. They arrived as bounty immigrants on the ship Andromeda from London. David and Mary were working for their master, Henry Stephenson on the property at Curraghmore (Curramore) near Launceston, Tasmania when Ann was born on 31 December 1841. It was Henry who registered her birth on 27 January 1842.

On 1 April 1843, Mary and her two young children were robbed at their home at Spring Plains by three runaway convicts from a road gang at Ross. David would have been out working as a shepherd on the Curraghmore property.

Ann and her new baby sister Rachel, born in October, were baptised together on 10 December 1843 at Evandale. The surname is often written as Dickson in government records.

Siblings:

  • 1838 – Elizabeth – born in England
  • 1843 – Rachel – informant was Henry Stephenson
  • 1846 – Hannah
  • 1850 – Thomas
  • 1852 – Sarah – born and died from influenza in same year in Evandale

In 1852, a D Dixon departed Launceston on the ship William, bound for Melbourne. He had arrived on the Andromeda so this was probably Ann’s father. Maybe he decided to try his luck on the goldfields. He took two horses and a dray with him.

By September 1852, David must have returned as he was signing a letter to James Cox re the evils of transportation and his praising of immigration.

In 1855, David, Elizabeth, Rachel, Hannah and Thomas were mentioned as giving money to the Patriotic Fund. I wonder where Mary and Ann were at this time? But this might have been another Thomas Dixon who gave 5 shillings compared to only 1 shilling from the three girls.

In 1858, Hannah is listed as a subscriber at Snake Banks which was a property near the town now called Powranna. Maybe she was employed as a servant by Captain Wood.

Marriage and children

Davey home at English Town

At age 18, Anne married John Davey on 18 July 1859 at the manse at Evandale. One of the witnesses was her sister Hannah.

  • 1860 – William John – grandmother Mary was the informant from Evandale
  • 1861 – Mary Elizabeth – father John, labourer from Nile was informant
  • 1863 – Hannah Selina – father John, labourer
  • 1865 – George – father John, farmer
  • 1867 – Emma Louisa – father John, labourer
  • 1869 – Adam – father John, farmer from Camperdown
  • 1872 – Charles Wesley –
  • 1873 – Frank Thomas aka “Thomas” –
  • 1876 – Samuel Percy aka “Frank” – John Griffin, constable from Deddington was informant
  • 1878 – Harry – father John, farmer from Blessington
  • 1880 – Eliza Amy – Adam Burston, constable Deddington
  • 1885 – William – George Wills, constable Deddington
  • 1885 – Ellen Anne –

Searching through the Tasmanian Names Index, the births of Charles, Frank and Ellen Anne are not found.

But there is a Charles Davey marrying Lilian Ada Colgrave in 1895 aged 24.

Annie’s sister Rachel married Richard Burton in 1862 and John Davey was one of the witnesses.

Raising thirteen children in that small house in the photo must have been very tough on Annie especially after her husband died when the youngest child was only 3 years old. Annie is not mentioned in any newspaper articles that I have searched for.

Nothing more is known about Annie’s father since his mention in the papers in 1855, but her mother re-married at the age of 55 to George Histead in 1869. Annie’s sister Hannah married Jesse Lloyd on the same date as her mother in 1869. Her sister Rachel’s husband Richard Burton was one of the witnesses for both marriages.

Mary Elizabeth married Adam Brown at the home of John Davey in January 1879 according to Presbyterian religion.

Annie’s mother died in December 1883 from inflammation of the lungs. She was living in Longford area at the time and was registered under Istead for the death record.

Selina Anna married Alladean Maru in Ulverstone in 1887 by Church of England license. This family later moved to New Zealand.

Annie’s husband died in December 1888 and she had letters of administration given to her in June 1891. There was nearly 700 pounds.

Emma Louisa married Daniel Sullivan in Latrobe in 1889 under license of the Catholic Church.

George married Martha Jane Colgrave at the home of her parents also in English Town in 1890. Annie was present and it was under license of the Presbyterian church ceremonies.

When Annie died in October 1892, letters of administration were granted to her eldest son William. There was 95 pounds.

Sudden death of Mrs Davey 1892

Annie was very well liked in the district as shown at her funeral.

Funeral description

 

Francis COLGRAVE junior

Miss W. Biography, Boyd, Colgrave, Watkins , , , , , , , ,

Francis John COLGRAVE junior was the second child born to Francis COLGRAVE senior and Isabella WATKINS(ON). He was born 11 November 1843 and baptised a a month later in the parish of Evandale.  Francis’s parents had both been convicts – Francis senior received his conditional pardon on 28 October 1841, Isabella was approved for a conditional pardon on 21 September 1847.

The surname COLGRAVE is also spelled as Coldgrave, Colegrave, Coalgrave, Colgreave in various records.

Francis’s siblings:

The family lived in the Blessington, Deddington and English Town area near Ben Lomond in northeastern Tasmania.  In some books, the area was also known as Anamana.

Between 1850 and 1853, Francis senior had a total of 21 convicts working on his property.

In 1861, when Francis junior was 18 years old, a murder occurred at a boarding house which his parents ran in Evandale. Much of this was written up in the local newspaper.

Married life and children

On 19 May 1865, Susan BOYD, aged 20, married Francis John COLEGRAVE, aged 21. They were married at the Manse at Evandale by the rites of the church of Scotland by banns. Witnesses were Catherine Boyd and Samuel Colegrave.  Francis John was noted as a labourer in Evandale.

Over the next 20 years, ten children were born to Francis and Susan.

In 1873, Francis is mentioned in the local newspaper or is this Francis senior?

In 1876, Francis junior purchased 69 acres, 2 roods, 27 perches  in the area of Blessington. Neighbouring landowners were William Owen, Francis Colgrave senior, Samuel Colgrave, George Robotham and William Kirkwood.

On 13 March 1890, the marriage of Martha Jane to George Davey was held at Francis and Susan’s house. This was according to the Presbyterian church by license.

Francis senior died in October 1890 then his wife Isabella died early in November 1890.

Francis and his son as well as many other Colgrave males were mentioned as supporting Eustace Cameron Esq as their nominated representative for the House of Assembly in 1891.

In December 1892, Francis was one of three nominated as a candidate for the position of trustee for the Evandale Road District.

On 14 May 1895 marriage of Lilian Ada to Charles Davey was held at Francis and Susan’s house. This was according to the Presbyterian church by license. This was the second marriage between the Davey and Colgrave families.

Francis’s wife Susan died on 27 February 1900 at their son Samuel’s residence and registered as living in English Town, Deddington. She was buried at the old English burial ground in Evandale.

In 1903, Francis was again a candidate for trustee of the Evandale Road District.

Francis was mentioned in the Tasmanian Post Office Directories (Wise) in 1913, 1914, 1915 and 1921.  He was in these books as Francis Colgrave and his son, also called Francis John, was mentioned as Francis J. They were noted as farmers at Anamana.

In 1913, Francis or his son Francis J, farmer at Blessington, was charged with offering sheep for sale that were carrying ticks.

In 1914, there were 14 people mentioned owning property at Anamana. They were:

  • Brown – Adam and Harry – farmers
  • Colgrave – Ernest C – grazier
  • Colgrave – Francis and Francis J – farmers
  • Davey – Charles, George, Harry and William – farmers
  • Ede – Charles P – teacher
  • Frederick – G – farmer – could be Frederick George Colgrave
  • Redburn – Mark – blacksmith
  • Loane – Jno – grazier
  • Tuck – Jos – farmer

Many Colgrave adults married into the Davey, Brown and Redburn families.

In the 1914 and 1919 electoral rolls Francis and Francis J were noted as farmers in the Blessington area.

In the last 5 years of his life, Francis (Frank) or his son often wrote letters to the Evandale Council asking for improvements to the roads in the area around English Town.

On 26 June 1920, Francis junior passed away at one of his daughters’ residence in Evandale. In his will, he left all his freehold property and buildings to his two youngest sons, Ernest and Frederick. His remains were interred at the Anglican Cemetery, Evandale.

Readers: If any members of the family have any photos I could use in my biographies, it would be much appreciated.

Susan BOYD

Miss W. Biography, Boyd , , , , , , , , , ,

Susan Boyd was the second child born to John Holliday (Henry) BOYD and Martha HEARN also known as Martha VICO or VIRCO. She was born 29 May 1844 and her birth was registered in Launceston by Thomas Jones who worked at a place called Falls (possibly Logan Falls near Evandale). Susan’s parents had both been convicts – John received his free certificate on 26 September 1842, Martha got hers on 2 February 1849.

Life as a child

Susan’s siblings:

  • 1842 – Anne
  • 1846 – Catherine
  • 1848 – Robert John
  • 1850 – Martha (Caroline)
  • 1852 – Sarah Jane
  • 1855 – Frederick but died 1859 of croup
  • 1858 – Harriett
  • 1859 – Harriett – baptised in 1860 but could be Harriett born in 1858
  • 1861 – unnamed male but is probably Frederick baptised in 1862

All the births of Susan’s siblings were registered at Evandale (Morven) which is south of Launceston, Tasmania. Her father John was a carpenter in the district.

On Catherine’s baptism in 1846, it says her father was a labourer at Logan Falls.

Robert’s birth record now has John working as a carpenter at a place called Mary Vale.

Sarah Jane‘s birth was recorded at Evandale by her mother Mary (Martha?)

Susan’s father died from pneumonia in October 1862 aged 47. His wife Martha was left to bring up  4 children 12 years and younger.

Anne, Susan’s older sister, had married in 1859 so Susan would have been helping her mother look after the younger children.

Married life and children

On 19 May 1865, Susan, aged 20, married Francis John COLEGRAVE, aged 21. They were married at the Manse at Evandale by the rites of the church of Scotland by banns. Witnesses were Catherine Boyd and Samuel Colegrave. Francis was the eldest son of two more convicts Francis Colegrave and Isabella Watkins.

Francis John was a labourer in Evandale.

Over the next 20 years, Susan gave birth to 10 children.

All children lived to adulthood and many died in their 70’s.

On the birth record for Frances in 1869, the family are now living at Blessington with Francis as a farmer.

In 1876, there is a Francis Colgrave purchasing a property in English Town area. This may have been Susan’s husband or her father-in-law also called Francis. But there are many properties owned by Colgrave men in the Blessington, Deddington or English Town (white marker on map) areas.

Adam Burston, constable for Deddington, was the informant of John’s birth in 1878 and Ernest’s in 1881.

Susan’s mother Martha died in 1880 from pneumonia at the age of 68.

In 1881, a letter in the local paper was asking why there was no public vaccinator allocated to the area around Deddington, English Town especially as measles was prevalent at that time.

Letter in local paper

Two months later, there was another report in the paper about the vaccinations held at Deddington by Dr Oldmeadow from Evandale.

In March 1882, there were terrible thunderstorms and flooding of the Nile River and the ford and road to English Town was impassable for a while.

There was no public school at English Town, but a private teacher had 19 students on his books. Wonder if Susan taught her own children or if they went with the private teacher?

Ethel’s birth record shows her older brother Francis John, of English Town, was the informant of her birth.

In 1890, the Public Works Scheme decided to improve the road from English Town to Deddington for the cost of 300 pounds. Tenders were taken again in 1893 to further improve the road.

On 13 March 1890, the marriage of Martha Jane to George Davey was held at Francis and Susan’s house. This was according to the Presbyterian church by license.

1892 marriage of Francis John to Laura Maud Wynwood was according to Baptist rites.

On 14 May 1895 marriage of Lilian Ada to Charles Davey was held at Francis and Susan’s house. This was according to the Presbyterian church by license. This was the second marriage between the Davey and Colgrave families.

In April 1896 at the Evandale Agricultural Society Autumn Exhibition, a Mrs S Colgrave won second prize for her Swiss Roll. This might be Susan or the wife of Samuel Colgrave.

1897 marriage of William to Lillian May Brown according to Baptist rites.

1898 marriage of Samuel to Jeannie Duncanson according to Baptist rites. Susan was a witness to the wedding.

Before her death in 1900, Susan had seen 5 of her children get married

Susan died on 27 February 1900 at her son Samuel’s residence and registered as living in English Town, Deddington. She was buried at the old English burial ground in Evandale.