My immediate past post was providing some information on the third of three wives of Thomas Trevithick. Over ten years ago I wrote a post identifying where Margaret PIGRAM, Thomas' second wife, came from. Thanks to some recent emails with a fellow descendant I've decided to update that original post with new information, particularly regarding Richard HOSIER.
Thomas Trevithick, born Truro, Cornwall, migrated to Victoria then travelled to and finally settled in Hill End, NSW. He had three wives as described previously (http://thehistoryofmatt.blogspot.com/2008/12/wives-of-thomas-trevithick.html).
While I knew fairly comprehensively about Thomas' first wife Elizabeth Randal CANDY (my ancestor, died 1871) and his third wife Mary Ann GREEN (married 1900, died 1949), I knew very little of his second wife, Margaret Hosier.
What I did know came from the Hill End Family History Register. It records their marriage as:
10 Sep 1881
St Andrews Hill End
Spouse Margaret Hosier (widow nee Pigram)B Bishop Stortord ENG (THIS IS INCORRECT)
D 12 Apr 1892 Hill End
Parents: Joseph Pigram*
Bur Tambaroora
I do not know where the in information in the Hill End Family History Register came from, but assume it was from her death certificate (which I do not have). Their marriage certificate of 1881 revealed little useful information, other than that Thomas' son Thomas (Jr.) and daughter-in-law were witnesses. Apart from Margaret HOSIER being a widow (which will be important later), no other biographical information was recorded on her. Her occupation was listed as 'lady' suggesting that rather than working she may have been of independent means.
Transcript:
NSW Marriage certificate
Date and place of marriage: 10 September 1881, Hill End
Husband
Name and surnames of parties: Thomas Trevithick
Conjugal status: Widower
Birthplace: -
Usual occupation: Blacksmith
Age: -
Usual place of residence: Hill End
Wife
Name and surnames of parties: Margaret Hosier
Conjugal status: Widow
Birthplace: -
Usual occupation: Lady
Age: -
Usual place of residence: Hill End
Married in Hill End, according to the rites of the Church of England
This marriage was solemnized between us:
Thomas Trevithick
Margaret Hosier, her X mark
In the presence of us
Thomas Trevithick
Sarah Trevithick
By me Josiah ?, Officiating minister
While I could not read the name on the certificate, Josiah is Reverend Josiah Kimberley, who was stationed there from 1881-1883.
------------
Using marriage records in London and immigration records in Australia I have now traced Margaret back to England. I will present her information in chronological order (rather than in the reverse chronology that I uncovered this information in). To summarize, Margaret was born about 1822 - her birthplace seems to be conflicted, however I believe it was in London Middlesex (Holloway district) based on Margaret's own records shown below. Note that Bishop Stortford was probably erroneously put forward because a Margaret, daughter of Joseph was baptised there in 1825 - but there were two Joseph's of that name (at least homophonic to PEGRAM) in England.
I've now found Margaret's baptism in 1821 at St Mary, Islington.
Margaret, Daughter of Joseph and Charlotte Perrigam
Residence: Back Road
The first definitive record is Margaret's marriage in 1840 to George WRIGHT, that reveals Margaret's father as Joseph, that she was young when she married (under 21), and that her father and (probably) step-mother were witnesses.
Transcript
1840 Marriage solemnized at the Parish Church in the Parish of St Leonard Shoreditch in the County of Middlesex
No. 172
When married: 22 March 1840
Groom:
George Wright, of full age, bachelor, labourer
Residence Holloway, Father Jas Wright deceased, card maker
Bride:
Margaret Pegram, minor, spinster, laundress
Residence Holloway, Father Joseph Pegram, labourer
Married in the parish church according to the rites and ceremonies of the Established Church after Banns by me John B Williams Curate
Solemnized between us: George Wright and Margaret Pegram (both signed)
In the presence of us: Joseph Pegram X his mark and Susan Pegram X her mark
WRIGHT is a common name, and I haven't found George and Margaret in the 1841 census, but the 'other' Margaret PEGRAM in Bishop Stortford appears with her family, unmarried, reinforcing that that person should be excluded as the candidate. Many George WRIGHTs died in London over the next ten or so years, so it isn't possible to tell when he died, but Margaret's next record was again a marriage in London in 1849 as a widow, to Richard HOSIER.
Transcript
1849 Marriage solemnized at the Parish Church in the Parish of St Leonard Shoreditch in the County of Middlesex
No. 104
When married: July 15
Groom:
Richard Hosier, of full age, bachelor, labourer
Residence Brand Street, Father John Hosier, labourer
Bride:
Margaret Wright, full, widow, laundress
Residence Brand Street, Father Joseph Pegram, labourer
Married in the parish church according to the rites and ceremonies of the Established Church after Banns by me
Solemnized between us: Richard Hosier and Margaret Wright (both signed)
In the presence of us: Joseph Pegram X the mark and Ann Carter X her mark
In the 1851 census, Richard and Margaret were living on George's Place in the village of Holloway, Parish of Islington, District of St James Holloway, City/Borough of Finsbury in London. Richard was 28, a brickmaker, born in Camberwell Surrey, and Margaret was 29, a Laundress born Islington, Middlesex. It appears that neither marriage produced issue.
Margaret's father can be found in the 1841 and 1851 census (where he has re-married). In 1851 they live in Brand Street, Holloway. Holloway is where both Margaret's marriages in London occurred and her stated address in her 1849 marriage. Parents Joseph (48, a ground digger) and step-mother Susan (40, charwoman) PEGGRAM, both born in Holloway, Middlesex. With them are children Maria (8), Mary A (6) and Frederick (18).
In 1856 the ship 'James Fernie' brought passengers to Moreton Bay (in what is now Queensland), having left Gravesend, London in October 1855. On that ship were Richard and Margaret HOSIER as assisted immigrants. Two separate immigration indents exist, this one conveniently has them at the top of the page and supports the information above:
Transcript:
List of Immigrants per Ship James Fernie as inspected by the Immigration Board on 6th January 1856
Married
Hosier Richd, Age 32, Occupation Brickmaker, Native place Surrey, Parents John and Sarah (no address given so presumed deceased), Religion C of E, Read or write: little.
Hosier Margt, Age 33, Native place Islington, Parents Joseph and Charlotte Pegram, father living Islington, Religion C of E, Read or write: little.
After this, I've found very little trace of them the Australian colonies till Margaret's marriage to Thomas Trevithick in 1881. In a way this makes sense - law abiding people without children don't have many opportunities to create 'records'. But there are two items where we find Richard HOSIER.
After their arrival, they must have moved towards Sydney fairly quickly, as New South Wales Gaol Entry Records for mid-1859 show a Richard OSIER , along with Henry OSIER (birth records in London suggest it's his younger brother). They were arrested for 'stealing oranges' and spent two weeks in gaol. I cannot find a newspaper record related to this. The two separate entries confirm it is "our" Richard HOSIER as he states he arrived on the 'James Furney', was born in Surry, and is a brickmaker by occupation.
A collage of a wide piece of paper showing gaol descriptions for Richard Hosier and his putative younger brother Henry.
The next entry for Richard is AFTER Margaret's marriage as a widow to Thomas Trevithick in 1881....
In 1884, Richard entered the Macquarie Street Asylum, Parramatta.
Macquarie Street Asylum in Parramatta, circa 1880. Local Studies Photograph Collection LSOP 114 (from https://historyandheritage.cityofparramatta.nsw.gov.au/blog/2014/06/27/macquarie-street-asylum-parramatta-part-one)
The 'Register of Inmates, Government Asylums for the Inform and Destitute' has an entry for Richard Hosier entering the asylum. Under 'history' the entry states "Came to the colonies 30 years ago from Islington near London. By trade a brickmaker. Has worked at his trade and on the railways for a living. Has been unable to work for the last 5 years owing to rheumatism. Widower for the last 16 years."
So this is clearly the correct Richard HOSIER, three years after his wife married Thomas TREVITHICK. No other death records have been identified at an earlier date for Richard.
The only death certificate for a Richard HOSIER is consistent with the Macquaire Street Asylum (Parramatta) information, and was recorded in 1891, ten years' after Margaret's marriage to Thomas TREVITHICK:
Death Certificate
Date and place of death: 1891 12th March, Macquarie St Asylum
I've never seen a death certificate noting that the body is directed to anatomical research. As a side-note, fellow researcher Garrie Ellice has pointed out that the burial record for Rookwood Cemetery in Sydney where Richard was buried lists a burial date of 23 May 1891 - about two months after death (and use in medical school) before internment. This was a paupers grave with no headstone, and three others were buried in the same grave: Manfred Bulsham (bur 19 Apr 1890), James Wardrop (bur 25 Sep 1906) and Uranie Wilson (buried the same day as Richard - 23 May 1891).
Why are there no other records, no newspaper notes for either of Hosiers in Australia? They didn't have children, were mainly law abiding, and didn't own property - so there aren't many opportunities to see them in records. There are probably a few things that aren't transcribed that will emerge.... time will tell.
Richard's death certificate for 1891 would suggest Margaret was - knowingly or unknowingly - a bigamist when she married in 1881. I have not shown or found any documentary evidence of Margaret's movements in Australia, and whether or not she was with Richard Hosier for long after they arrived in Australia. Both Richard and Margaret state their spouse is deceased at different points.
Clearly Margaret and Richard had gone their separate ways. Hill End is a long way from Sydney, and I don't think there was much risk of being 'found out' as a bigamist. Given that Margaret and her three husbands never produced issue, this is likely the only work that's been undertaken tracking the life of Margaret PEGRAM, and her first two husbands.
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