Obituary of Edwin 'Ted' BANFIELD (1909-1998) of Lake Cargelligo

Ted BANFIELD was a mysterious legend in my childhood, a bachelor farmer living in far-flung Lake Cargelligo in rural NSW. Ted was the cousin of my great-grandmother Mary Ellen HALL nee BANFIELD, and so was related to my paternal grandfather Jack HALL. From time to time, Ted visited my grandparents, or they visited him. I have one strong recollection of Ted visiting - deeply sun-tanned, thin, sinewy arms and working hands, with a thin face.

Ted emigrated to Australia with his parents (see my post on the Banfield 'Coffin House' in Kent, England: https://thehistoryofmatt.blogspot.com/2008/09/coffin-house-west-peckham.html ). As an only child, his only blood relatives in later life was my  grandfather's family. From Frank Hall's notes:

"John (1876-1948) was born at West Peckham Kent. He worked on the railways in Britain and married Elizabeth Harrison at Stoke on Trent. They had two children, the second a daughter dying in infancy. Their son Edwin John was born at Bagworth, Leics in 1909 and because of his asthma the family migrated to Australia in 1912. After five years in Hay (no doubt with brother Thomas Uriah) and nine years at Goolgowi near Narrandera the family settled on a 1450 acre property "One Oak" in 1927. This property, later extended to some 3000 acres was situated at Bootoowa some 30 km south west of Lake Cargelligo and 500km west of Sydney. The property was a wheat-sheep affair of good standard. Both John and Elizabeth are buried in Lake Cargelligo cemetery alongside the grave of my grandfather Thomas Uriah. Thomas died in 1942, John and Elizabeth in 1948. Their son "Ted" never married but was a very competent sober responsible Christian (not Catholic). In 1987 Ted's only relations in Australia were my family."

Ted and his parents actually appear in the UK 1911 census in Bagworth, Leicester,  Ted aged 1.

Ted is buried with his uncle (Thomas Uriah BANFIELD - my great great grandfather) and aside his parents in Lake Cargelligo Cemetery. Two of these photos come from my second cousin Juliette HALL (daughter of Edward 'Ted' HALL, my grandfather's brother).

Lake Cargelligo Cemetery, Methodist Section

In loving memory of

THOMAS URIAH BANFIELD

Departed this life 17th March 1942

Aged 75 Years

Edward (Ted) John Banfield

Departed this life 19th April 1998

Aged 88 years

PEACE PERFECT PEACH

Ted's parents also at Lake Cargelligo Cemetery, Methodist section

Lake Cargelligo Cemetery, Methodist Section

In  Loving Memory Of

My Dear Mother 

ELIZABETH BANFIELD

Laid to Rest 10th Jan 1948

Aged 64 Years

She looked well the the ways of her household and ate not the bread of idleness

My Dear Father 

JOHN FREDERICK BANFIELD

Laid to Rest 1st Nov 1948

Aged 73 Years

Now the labourers task is over

My aunt Elizabeth HALL provided my with a copy of the eulogy read out at Ted's funeral. I have placed a scan here, and a transcript. There are some handwritten cursive notes on the copy, written by my paternal grandmother Jean HALL nee STANILAND (1917-2003) - who was not a blood relation but knew him being married to my grandfather Jack HALL (1920-1996). My grandmother Jean was a Methodist, like Ted, and as such they had a religious connection that wasn't present elsewhere in the family. I have added my grandmothers small notes in parentheses. There are quite a few terms used in this country NSW eulogy that already (22 years later) require a searching to clarify (e.g. tin Lizzie, copper, auger, etc.).

Eulogy for Ted Banfield ('Uncle Ted'), read at his funeral.

Compiled by Gwen Brown.

This is just a small tribute to Ted by some of his friends and neighbours who knew him well. Amongst other things it touches on his generosity, his ingenuity and his sense of humour.

Ted was a great church man who was extremely generous to his church. Mrs. Hazel Cannard recalls the old days of the Methodist church ; money of course was scarce and if anything was needed and there wasn't quite enough money Ted always dipped into own pocket to help.

For many years he was treasurer of the parish and kept the books in perfect order.

Every year at showtime he supplied the wood for the copper and made sure the ladies always had boiling water for the catering. In those days the luncheon pavilion was down near the horse stables, there weren't any electric stoves or hot water laid on. Ted used to transport the crockery from the church to the showground and back again every year.

Ted had the most incredible memory, he could remember in detail anything that happened many years ago. He also knew the Bible from cover to cover and could have lengthy discussions on it. He had a very deep faith and trust. 

If you had forgotten something he told you, Ted soon reminded you where you were, what you had been talking about and on what day he had told you.

Ula Fair remembers as a young girl the family drove to Banfields in the horse and sulky and then went with them to church in their old tin Lizzie at either Fairfield or Bootawa. Mrs. Fair also said that a few years ago while on holiday in the South Coast she met some people there who knew Ted. They said that Ted had bought a car for their parish and they showed her the plaque they had engraved with Ted's name on it thanking him for his generosity.

When the Methodist church bought the present residence in Grace St. Ted donated $3,000 towards the purchase of it. Only two or three years ago the refrigerator in the residence broke down. Ted said, "I think it is time for a new one" and so donated a new refrigerator.

These are only some of the generous donations Ted has given. He also gave a generous donation each year to the local hospital. I'm sure there are many more we will never know about.

At the farm Ted was very proud of 'the big dam', as he called it, which when sunk was one of the biggest if not the biggest in the district. He had ingenious ideas on how to manage to do things alone on the farm.

Neil Golding remembers a few occasions on the humorous side. Ted could always have a laugh at himself and see the funny side of things. Once he asked Neil would he come and help him pull an engine out of the dam which had gone under water. Perhaps he thought Neil was a little long in arriving because when Neil arrived Ted was already at the dam with one end of a rope around his waist and the other end around a post. He told Neil "That's just in case I slipped and went under".

Another time he called for Neil's help to come and auger some oats into a silo to 'top it up'. When Neil arrived Ted was already on the top of the silo with quite a long rope tied to himself and the ladder, "Just in case" he told Neil. If Ted had slipped he would have been dangling half way down the side of the silo.

Another day Ted fell off a ladder which was on top of a drum while he was putting a new bearing in an auger. He told me, at a later date, that when he got himself up off the ground and looked at his broken arm with the bone protruding through the skin he though, "Hmm, I think I'm going to need a doctor". Well on this occasion Ted's phone wasn't working and the two-way radio was out of order. He didn't know what he would do, in desperation Ted tried the two-way and it worked! "Someone" was surely looking after Ted ! Neil came to Ted's rescue and drove him to the hospital in Griffith.

One of the most frightening times Ted endured was when he fell into the sheep dip. It was one of those rotary dips with a deep tank. Ted was in the tank for nine hours, eight of these hours he tried to haul himself out but couldn't. I'm sure a lesser person would have given up with exhaustion long before, but not Ted. He decided to rest for an hour and build up some strength then he gave one last haul and was out. Ted was very ill for a long time after that. {Jean HALL notes: I remember this incident & I think Jack thought was would die.}

Ted's faith and determination brought him through many adverse times during his life. Ted was unique. He will be missed by many in this community. Over the last ten years he spent most Christmas' with our family. With the large crowd we have at Christmas we may have been a little overwhelming at times, but I think Ted enjoyed himself. I know our family loved to sit and listen to Ted tell of his past life in 'the old days'.

Yesterday I had a phone call from an old friend of Teds, Mrs. Phyllis Fox, formerly Chapman. She told me of the times when they lived at "Merrilands" Brewer. The Chapmans were very good friends of the Banfields. Mrs. Banfield was known as 'Banny' by them; Ted was "Teddo" and Mr. Banfield as "Pop". Phyllis has kept in touch over the years as has the rest of the Chapman family. She asked me to read this little poem she wrote for Ted on hearing of his passing.

First though I want to read you a message from Val Drummond who is Phyllis' sister. In Val's own words:-

"Ted has always been an important part of my life. When I was little he and his mother and father (Banny and Pop) and Uncle Tom managed to make me feel special and cherished. When both his parents died within a year my family tried to be his family. We admired his scientific mind, and his tenacity and enjoyed his quiet humour. Though we all moved out of the district, we still kept ties with Ted and it was sad we were not with him at the end of his life. I am sorry I can't be with you all today to celebrate Ted's life. I am sure that right now he is welcoming new life with enthusiasm and will make a great go of it". Val Drummond.

Phyllis' Poem

(Jean notes: I think really he would have liked to marry Phyllis)

Dear Teddo, sadly I heard you died today

Quietly alone, early in the day

Because of the past you've already trod

I know that now you've met your God

Dear Teddo, down my childhood memory lane

Sometime joy, sometime pain

Always in friend ship tried & true

There's been Banny & Pop, Uncle Tom, & you

Dear Teddo 'tis said, later rather than never is better

 So please accept this letter 

Alone you lived, lonely at the end

But in my mind & heart you'll ever be my friend

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Norman Hall marriage certificate 1955

Norman HALL, my great grandfather, features regularly in my blog, but doesn't have a dedicated biographical entry. One reason is that Norman wrote letters about his family history that featured on the blog - for example: https://thehistoryofmatt.blogspot.com/2013/07/norman-hall-1965-letter.html (this also has links to other papers), and I also have a set of letters he wrote about coal shale  - his career was as a coal chemist but its history was his clearly one of his passions. Norman was also an avid amateur photographer.

Norman was born in Dubbo in 1896, son of Alfred Ernest HALL, a teacher & headmaster (1870 Yass NSW - 1954 Ashfield NSW) and Bridget Ann MOLONEY (1875 Redfern NSW - 1942 Ashfield NSW). Norman married Mary Ellen BANFIELD (1889 Hay NSW - 1940 Lewisham NSW) at St Francis, Paddington, NSW in January 1918. He trained as a chemist (a coal chemist), and he and Mary had seven children including my grandfather John (1920 - 1996). After Mary Ellen died of stomach cancer in 1940, Norman looked after the children alone, and after later moving to Wollongong he met and married Averil Agnes SAXON-JONES nee SAYER in 1951. They moved to Melbourne, where Norman lived the rest of his life - but I should say that I am not clear on the order of when Norman met Averil - did he move to Melbourne first? Or move to Melbourne for her? Not clear to me.

Norman's marriage to Averil caused some consternation among his adult children, though it is not clear why. Averil was younger, drew Norman to Melbourne, and they ultimately had a child (born around the same time Norman's grandchildren were born) - and any of these, or their combination, may have contributed.

Averil was born Averil Agnes SAYER, to parents Aubrey and Clara SAYER - registered in Petersham in Sydney. In 1932, Averil married William SAXON-JONES, registered in Ashfield Sydney NSW.

As an aside: Willam was a divorcee who was born in Timaru, New Zealand abt 1894. William SAXON-JONES was an optician, and a 1932 Melbourne advertisement listed him as "formerly of England and American", and trained in London. While the marriage was in Sydney, they appear to have lived in Melbourne and had at least two children (Greta Mary SAXON-Jones, and Norman SAXON-JONES). William SAXON-JONES died in 1954 (buried at Melbourne General Cemetery).

The following year, Averil married Norman HALL, and their marriage certificate is below. They had one daughter, Yvonne Fabian HALL, around 1956 (Norman would have been about 60 when she was born), and they lived in Malvern, a suburb of Melbourne. Norman died in 1972 , and Averil in 1993, both buried at Cheltenham New Cemetery, Melbourne.

I wish I had contact with Norman's family in Melbourne, to share stories and learn, but sadly I don't. 

State of Victoria
Certificate of Marriage

Year 1955 Parish or Church District Caulfield, Denomination Catholic
No. in Register: 685

When & Where Married: 14 May 1955, St Aloysius Church, Caulfield 

Husband:

Name and Surname: Norman Hall

Conjugal condition, date of death of former spouse: Widower, 17 Sep 194-

Children by former marriage: 6 living, 1 dead

Birthplace: Dubbo NSW

Occupation: Industrial chemist

Age: 64

Residence - present: 58 Sutherland St, East Malvern

Residence - usual: 58 Sutherland St, East Malvern

Father (also occupation): Alfred Hall, Teacher

Mother (full maiden name): Bridget Moloney

Wife:

Name and Surname: Averil Agnes Saxon-Jones

Conjugal condition, date of death of former spouse: Widow, 30 Nov 1954

Children by former marriage: 2 living

Birthplace: Sydney

Occupation: Home ?

Age: 44

Residence - present: 58 Sutherland St, East Malvern

Residence - usual: 58 Sutherland St, East Malvern

Father (also occupation): Aubrey Sayer, Hairdresser

Mother (full maiden name): Clara Murphy

Witnesses: John Kendall and Greta Mary Saxon-Jones

Death Certificate of Samuel Arthur BORDER 1963

 

My last post was the Death Certificate of Eileen Helen BORDER nee HODGE (1900-1947, my great grandmother - http://thehistoryofmatt.blogspot.com/2020/11/death-certificate-of-eileen-helen.html). As Eileen's ashes were 'taken away' after cremation, I wanted to find where her husband Samuel BORDER was buried to trace their final resting place.

NSW Death Certificate

Number in register: 236
Christian name and surname: Samuel Arthur BORDER
Occupation: Handyman

Sex and age: Male, 70 years

When and where died: 24th May 1963, Repatriation General Hospital, Concord

Usual residence: 126 The Avenue, Granville

Where born: Bangaroo NSW

Christian name and surname of father: Samuel Liston BORDER

Christian name and maiden name of mother: Amy Castles

Where married: Sydney NSW

Age: 29 years

To whom: Eileen Helen Hodges

Conjugal condition of deceased at time of death: Widower

Issue in order of birth: Norma 37, Margaret E 32, Aileen H 29, John E (deceased)

Name and residence of informant: Certified by: A.E. Mansingh,  No relation, Repatriation General Hospital, Concord

Cause of death: a) pneumonia, b) pulmonary oedema, c) myocardial infarction

By whom certified: J.B. Campbell, Registered

When and where buried or cremated: 27th May 1963, Cremated at Rookwood Crematorium, J.T. Field superindendent

Name and religion of Minister: N.B. Minty, Church of England

Well, it's interesting that there are numberous family errors: Hodges should be Hodge, Liston should be Litson, Castles should Castle, etc.

Sam was also cremated, and I have not been able to find a place their ashes were interred.

Finally I'd note that Sam Border spent the latter years of his life living with his daughter Norma (married BURGESS) and their family - that is the 'usual residence' in Granville given. More to learn.

Death Certificate of Eileen Helen BORDER nee HODGE 1947

I had cause to order the death certificate of my great-grandmother Eileen Helen BORDER nee HODGE (1900-1947, there are a few photos of her here: https://thehistoryofmatt.blogspot.com/2008/04/border-family-photos.html). The death certificate information matches that in my family tree. I would note that her husband and father survived her. Eileen was cremated, and the Eastern Suburbs Crematorium lists their location as "ashes taken". Perhaps they were interred when her husband Samuel BORDER when he died in 1963. That's probably the next certificate to check as I can't find his burial.

NSW Death Certificate

77/1947

Date and place of death: 1947 15th January, Sacred Heart Hospice Darlinghurst, late of 3 Moore Street Vaucluse

Name and occupation: Eileen Helen Border

Sex and age: Female 46 years

Cause of Death: Carcinoma of the bladder

Medical attendant: ? Bull, Registered

When he last saw deceased: 15th January, 1947

Name and occupation of father: Walter Herbert Hodge, auctioneer

Name and maiden name of mother: Grace Smith

Informant: Certified by S. A. Border, Widower, 3 Moore St Vaucluse

Particulars of Registration: J Wells, 16th January 1947, Sydney

When and where buried: 17th January 1947 Delivered to the Eastern Suburbs Crematorium of the Hanson Center of Walter Certer

Name of undertaker: 17th January Cremated at the Eastern Suburbs Crematorium, D. Speechley Superintendent

Name and religion of Minster: Robert F C Bradley, Church of England

Where born: Sydney NSW

Place of marriage, age, and to whom: Sydney NSW, 22 years, Samuel Arthur Border (married)

Children of marriage: John W 24, Norma 22, Margaret G 16, Aileen H 12 living, none deceased

What happened to Maureen D HALL? Born 1930, Young/Koorawatha NSW

Among my HALL ancestors, William HALL (1843-1912) and Eliza BLISS (1852-1925) had 15 children from 1868-1896 all registered in Yass NSW. They later relocated to Koorawatha NSW, and from time to time I update this post series on the fate of each HALL child: https://thehistoryofmatt.blogspot.com/2018/03/the-children-of-william-and-eliza-hall.html (on that page my ancestor is Alfred Ernest HALL),

One of those 15 was Walter Henry HALL (1893-1950). In WW1 he served in B Company of the 45th Battalion AIF and was wounded in France. Afterwards he returned to Koorawatha and became a postman, dying in Concord Hospital (a suburb of Sydney, and a hospital for returned servicemen) in 1950 after finally losing his leg, and is buried in Rookwood Cemetery nearby. 

Walter married Marjorie A DONGES (1902 Young - 1930 Young) in 1928. Frank Hall (my grandfather;'s brother and a chemist at Wollongong University) dived into both the records and drove around NSW finding relatives to compile a HALL family history. Of Walter he wrote the following (name of wife not correct, as noted above). Keep in mind this was written by in the 1980s by someone born in the 1920s, so the word choice is not up to 2020 standards:

"Walter H. He married Madge Dawson of Young quite late in life. He lived much of his life in Koorawatha of course operating at one time as a postman. His wife died at childbirth having a sub-normal daughter Maureen. To my knowledge she was still in a mental home at Stockton Newcastle in 1987."

Ever since reading this 15 years ago, I've wondered what happened to Maureen. It appears that almost immediately after birth, Maureen was placed in care. This is a complex set of institutions at a time in Australia when 'mental hospitals' and institutionalization was standard practice, when the Indigenous stolen generation mechanism was well underway, as was the forced emigration of English orphans into Australia.

In 1987, aged 57, Maureen was still alive. Today she would be 90 and is unlikely to be alive. But what was her fate? Who visited this only child after her father died in 1950? What was Maureen like? If she is no longer alive, where is she buried? I have a lot of questions.

Maureen's birth certificate isn't available, as she was born in 1930 (and there's a 100 year restriction in NSW). But I could confirm her name from her mother's death certificate:

NSW Death Registration 1930/17029
Name: Marjorie Alma Hall
Date of death: 7 Oct 1930

Place: Sacred Heart Hospital, Campbell St, Young ; late of Koorawatha

Sex: Female
Age: 27

Place of birth: Monteagle NSW

Father's name: John Christopher Donges, Farmer

Mother's name: Emma Simmons

Place of Marriage: Cowra NSW

Age at Marriage: 25

Name of Spouse: Walter Henry Hall

Children of Marriage: Maureen D, 9 days, living ; None deceased

Informant: W H Hall, Widower, Koorawatha

Cause of Death, length of illness: Chronic nephritis, myocarditis (12 days)

Medical attendant: A J Maurice Purchas
Date last seen: 6 Jan 1930 (I suspect this is mis-transcribed)

Date of Burial: 8 Oct 1930

Place of Burial: Church of England Cemetery Young

Minister and Religion: K L McKeown, Church of England

Undertaker: Patterson Bros

Witnesses: Frank Leach, Cecil T

Registered: 8 Oct, 1930 - Young

So Maureen was 9 days old when her mother died, and if the narrative is correct, she was placed in state (or religious) care. Possibly this was initially in the Young area, but the 'Stockton Mental Hospital for Children' was well established by 1941. My heart breaks thinking of Maureen, alone, and fare from the HALL family base in Koorawatha (there were none in the Sydney or Newcastle areas), but clearly some extended family awareness of her location in 1987.

Newcastle Sun, 6 May 1941

My goal is to learn of Maureen's fate and life. I'll be starting here: https://www.findandconnect.gov.au/ref/nsw/biogs/NE01696b.htm

Edit 11 Jan 2020: Property Officer - Cemeteries at City of Newcastle kindly checked the burial records for Stockton Cemetery, Wallsend Cemetery, Minmi Cemetery, and Sandgate Cemetery but no record of a burial for Maureen Hall could be found.

Update (6) on Ewer's in Colonial NSW

I posted a list of EWER people in Australia prior to 1901, the Colonial period (http://thehistoryofmatt.blogspot.com/2008/05/ewers-in-colonial-nsw.html). This has now been expanded and updated again. I would like to thank those who have written to contribute information, particularly Michael EWER who has shared his research. In this 2019 version (the previous was in 2013) I've searched for any extra information on individuals listed here. As people contact me and provide information, I'll edit the post to add it.



Colonial Ewer’s in Australia:
Thomas EWER, Private, NSW Corps, SAG pay list 1798, recorded receiving land in 1800. ‘Australia’s free coat settlers’ (http://freepages.history.rootsweb.com/~garter1/) notes that he was in the 102nd Regiment (Rum Corps), and returned to England. The 102nd (NSW Corps) was raised in 1789 for service in Australia, and returned in 1810.

Thomas Ewer’s regimental discharge papers reveal a great deal:

THOMAS EWER
HERTFORD, Hertfordshire
Served in New South Wales Corps
Discharged aged 40 after 13 years of service

“His Majesty’s New South Wales Corps whereof Francis Grose Esq. Is Colonel. These are to certify, that the Bearer hereof, Thomas Ewer Private in the Regiment aforesaid, aged forty years, five feet three inches high, fair complexion, fair hair, grey eyes, ? visage, born in the Parish of St Stephen’s in or near the Market Town of Hereford in the county of Hereford Kingdom of England and by Trade a Laborer hath served honestly and faithfully for the Space of thirteen years, but on the reduction of the Corps to the Peace Establishment was discharged therefrom at Sydney on the 24th May 1803 and is hereby discharged, and humbly recommended as a proper object of His Majesty’s Royal Bounty of CHELSEA HOSPITAL. He having first received all just Demands of Pay, Cloathing, &. from his Entry into the said Regiment, to the Date of his Discharge; as appears by receipt on the back hereof.

Given under my Hand and Seal at Parkhurst Barracks, this fourteenth Day of September 1804.”

So Thomas was born in approximately 1763, and enlisted aged 27 in 1890, served 13 years in the NSW Corps and was discharged aged 40 in 1803/4. It appears that after serving in Sydney, Thomas was discharged in Sydney in 1803 prior to sailing for England, receiving his discharge papers at Parkhurst Barracks on the Isle of Wight. 

Thomas’ home county is mis-written as ‘Hereford’ on his discharge papers - the covering leaf states it correctly as Hertford. The St Stephen’s Parish in Hertford covers the Presbyterian and Unitarian Chapel, Dagnall Lane, St Albans (in Hertford), and parish transcripts reveal that Thomas Ewer, son of Thomas and Elizabeth Ewer, was baptised ‘near Tenements’, on 18 June 1762 by the minister Jabez Hirons.

Thomas was the eldest child of Thomas EWER and Elizabeth nee WRIGHT (who were married at St Stephens on 6 Nov 1761, both of parish of St Stephens). Their other children, also baptized under the same church, were George (baptized at Searches Farm, 21 March 1765), Elizabeth (baptized at Searches Farm, 30 Sept 1767), John (baptized at Searches Farm, 27 March 1771), James (baptized at Searches Farm, 1 Jun 1773), Joseph (baptized at Whitehouse Farm, St Stephens, 20 Dec 1775) and Rose (baptized at Whitehouse Farm, St Stephens, 10 Feb 1777).

I have not yet determined whether Thomas had a family in England – there are not births of Ewer’s in Australia during the period of the NSW Corps in NSW. As a side-note, given that Thomas was in NSW during the period in which my ancestor Edward and his siblings were born, he cannot be the Thomas Ewer, soldier, living at Clewer, Berkshire during that period.


William EWER, Private, 73rd Regiment of Foot, 1st Battalion. Recorded in 1812 Pay List. The 73rd was sent under Leiut. Gen. Lachlan Macquarie to relieve the NSW Corps, arriving in 1810, and departing in 1814. The Sydney Gazette of 10 Oct 1812 states that a ship arrived from 'Otaheite' (Tahiti) delivered letters to the General Post Office, for William Ewer.

The NSW Criminal Court records show that William Ewer, along with Joseph Accroid (Akroyd?) and William Grimes were charged with ‘riot and rescue’ on 30 Aug 1813. 

The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales 
Saturday 2 October 1813
SYDNEY
Sitting Magistrate – A. RILEY, Esq.
John Grimes, Joseph Akroyd, and John Eure were indicted, the two latter for having upon the 7th day of June last rescued from the custody of several Peace Officers, the first mentioned defendant, Grimes, who had been taken into custody at Howell’s Mill, near Parramatta, for riotous and disorderly conduct.
A number of witnesses were examined for the prosecution ; from whose evidence it appeared that a large assemblage of persons had been drawn together for the purpose of passing the day in cock-fighting, and such other amusements ; that the Resident Magistrate of Parramatta, attracted by the noise and tumult generally attendant on such meetings, had been induced to repair thither, at about four, or later, in the afternoon ; at which time some of the persons appeared much intoxicated and rather riotously disposed ; that the Reverend and Worshipful Gentleman, fearing lest towards the close of day some serious disturbances might arise from their irregularities, admonished them to depart peaceably to their own homes, as the evening was drawing on, and it was a fit time for them to separate ; against the propriety of which very salutary and appropriate advice no one attempted to remonstrate or object, but in general a disposition to compliance was manifested ; that upon the Reverend Gentleman’s return to his own house, he directed Mr. Oakes, Chief Constable of the Town and District, to repair to the place of meeting, attended by some of his insubordinates, for the purpose of seeing that the people should separate as he had directed them to do ; that Mr. Oakes, as soon as he arrived there, informed the people of his errand ; but found immediate opposition from the prisoner Grimes ; who, with accompanying imprecations, vehemently declared a determination to resist the order, and not to quit the place for any authority whatsoever ; and thus by his own example, stimulating others to a spirit of opposition and resistance ; to check which, the Chief Constable ordered him to be taken into custody for a breach of the peace ; that the defendant Grimes was accordingly attached by two constables, between whom and the prisoner many of the by-standers immediately interposed themselves, some of whom forcibly dragged the constables away from him, and among the latter number the defendant Ackroyd was positively sworn to, but the evidence against Eure was doubtful ; that the Chief Constable considering it prudent for the instant to suffer Grimes to go at large, the latter was conveyed with disorderly exultation into the house of Howell ; the well-disposed persons gradually dispersed, and rimes remained at large until a warrant was afterwards issued for his apprehension, and informations given in against the other two defendants, for aiding and abetting in his rescue.
The defendants, in reply to the evidence produced in support of the charge, rested upon an exculpatory plea, implying that the meeting which had taken place was merely for the purposes of revel and amusement, and that no breach of the peace had taken place previous to the apprehension and rescue of Grimes. After a deliberation that occupied an hour and a half, the Court returned a verdict, Grimes and Akroyd guilty ; Eure not guilty.
The JUDGE ADVOCATE, before he passed sentence on the defendants, wished to have it clearly understood, that the object for which the concourse of persons had assembled at or near Parramatta on the day charged on the indictment, had made no part whatever of the question upon which the court had decided. The act of resisting the authority, or of disobeying the commands of a Magistrate, who in the just discharge of his duty had admonished and directed a mob of persons to disperse was in itself an offence against the law – for where twelve persons are assembled under any pretext whatever, the power of dispersing them is vested in the Magistrate, whose commands are to be treated with submission, and will be enforced by Law. The defendant Grimes, as from the whole of the evidence it had appeared, had in the first instance been taken into custody for daringly standing forward in an avowed determination to resist that legal authority. He was rescued from the peace officers, went at large, and so continued to do until afterwards re-apprehended. The other defendant (Akroyd), had been found guilty of aiding and abetting in the rescue, and by force and violence assisting to disengage the defendant Grimes from the custody of the police officers.
That offences of so dangerous a tendency required to be restrained every rational being certainly must feel ; and the Court, after the most serious deliberation had therefore ordered, that they John Grimes and Joseph Akroyd should be imprisoned in His Majesty’s gaol at Parramatta for the space of one kalendar month ; and afterwards find bail for their gaol behaviour for the space of sex months themselves in 100l. each, and two sufficient securities in 50l. each.

The 73rd left in 1814. 

Held by The National Archives, Kew
WILLIAM EWER
Born: WINDSOR, Berkshire
Served in: 73rd Foot Regiment
Discharged: aged 26
Covering dates: 1809-1817
Availability: Open Document, Open Description, Normal Closure before 

After returning to England out of the 73rd, William Ewer married Mary Ann Rudd on 11 Dec 1818 at Clewer, Berkshire, and appears to have probably died before 1825 in Slough, where a daughter Caroline was baptized in 1821 (by 1825 his wife was entered in the parish register as a widow).

A William EWER appears on the 1828 census having arrived on the Florentia (arrived NSW 1828) and employed in the No. 6 Iron Gang – no sentence is entered, nor is a year of arrival making it unclear as to whether this person arrived as a convict. This is actually "William URE", sentenced in Glasgow, who arrived on the Florentia in 1828, and likely was phonetically spelt and an error in the census entry.



Joseph EWER, Private, 73rd Regiment of Foot, 1st Battalion, just like his brother William EWER. Recorded in 1812 Pay List. 73rd sent under Leiut. Gen. Lachlan Macquarie to relieve the NSW Corps, arriving in 1810, and departing in 1814. No indication that he remained in Australia.

Held by The National Archives, Kew
JOSEPH EWER
Born: WINDSOR, Berkshire
Served in: 73rd Foot Regiment
Discharged: aged 24
Covering dates: 1809-1817

The births of William and Joseph Ewer can be found in Clewer (the parish adjacent to Windsor) in Berkshire, the two eldest sons of Thomas and Jane EWER. William was baptized on 27 Jun 1790 and Joseph on 26 Feb 1792 (in keeping with their ages on leaving the 73rd Regiment). After they had returned to England, their younger brother Edward (my ancestor) was found guilty of theft and sentenced to transportation to New South Wales. As such, Edward would have had some first hand information on the colony when he departed for the other side of the world.

Joseph Ewer, bachelor, of New Windsor, is recorded marrying Jane Stone, spinster, of Pulborough (in Sussex) at Storrington in Sussex on 8 May 1819. He was buried at New Windsor on 25 Sep 1837 aged 46 years, entered as being 'of George St'. His wife Jane was buried on 15 Jan 1854, aged 62, 'of Clewer Lane'.

Nathaniel EWER, christened 23 Nov 1783 at Chatham, son of Clement EWER. Nathaniel married Sarah PARKER in Islington, Middlesex in 1810 and had a son Clement in 1812. Nathaniel appeared at the Old Bailey charged for simple grand larceny (theft) on 21st June 1815. Prior to his conviction, he was an articulator, employed to put skeletons together at St. Thomas and the London Hospitals. In the trial, the co-defendant John SILVESTER attested that he was guilty but that he had never met Nathaniel Ewer before, and that he was not guilty. Nathaniel was nevertheless found guilty and sentenced to be transported for seven years. Nathaniel was transported in July 1816 on the ‘Mary Anne’. 

Whether or not it was due to his innocence, Nathaniel made several attempts to escape from the penal colony to which he’d been banished. The first escape was on the ‘Harriet’, which departed NSW in 1817, and he made it as far as the Cape of Good Hope before detection and his return in 1918. This was reported in 1818, here reprinted in the Hobart Gazette:

“The following important extracts we copy from the Sydney Gazette to the 30th ultimo:

From Captain Carns, commander of the ship Neptune, we learn, that he left the ship Harriet, in which Mr Alexander Riley left the colony, at the Cape; from whom he has brought 15 male prisoners who had secreted themselves on board the Harriet. Five women were also concealed on board, who are not returned.

The male prisoners who had effected their escape from hence in the Harriet, and returned by the Neptune from the Cape, were this day brought before a Bench of Magistrates, and sentenced one hundred lashes each, and worked in the gaol gang for 12 calendar months. The following is a list of the prisoners names:

Chambers, Henry
Chapman, William
Cochrane, John
Druet, John
Edwards, Thomas
Ewer, Nathaniel
Holliday, William
Latham, John
Little, Benjamin
Lowry, Patrick
Moore, Henry
Oliver, Benjamin
Plummer, Robert
Quinn, James
Skelton, John
Solomon, Moses a boy

It appears from a written statement transmitted from the Cape of Good Hope, that the delinquents have not made their appearance for considerable time after the vessel's departure from hence, although it was known by some of the crew they were on board; and, but for timely information being given to the commander, the consequence might have been very serious, as it was then represented to have been their intention to take the vessel, after the cargo had been received on board at the Cape, and carry her to South America; in which design they would very probably have been aided by seamen and other persons on board; with which assistance they could scarcely have failed in accomplishing their purpose. The result of this discovery was, that the troops, in concern with the passengers, were compelled constantly to keep the deck till they reached the Cape.”

In 1820, he escaped again on the ‘General Gates’ with four other convicts including Francis EWER on a boat which made its way to New Zealand before being returned (see NZ Historical Records Vol 1). This shows Nathaniel and Francis knew one another. 

In spite of these escape attempts, in December 1820 he was recommended for a pardon, by 1822 had been granted a ticket of leave that allowed him to work for himself and he was listed in the 1822 muster as a ‘whitesmith’ (a tin and pewter worker) in Sydney. Nathaniel must have thrived in Sydney from here on, as from 1822 the Colonial Secretary Index shows he testified at a Board of Enquiry into the Engineer Department, was assigned convicts, and had offered his services to the government as a tin and copper smith. 

The 1825 muster shows that Nathaniel was a blacksmith, and a Certificate of Freedom (119/3347) was awarded to him on 17 Mar 1825. 

No subsequent records have yet been unearthed for Nathaniel, and he does not appear on the 1828 NSW census. It is possible he departed NSW after receiving his Certificate of Freedom.

An infant, Thomas R EWER, died in 1817. I do not have the certificate for this child. Any info welcome.


Francis EWER, born 25 Sep 1797, son of Thomas and Jane Ewer, St Sepulchre, London, and a plumber prior to his conviction. Convicted at the Old Bailey (First Middlesex Jury) for breaking and entering a house in St Luke’s, 19th Feb 1817, aged 19 and sentenced to death. Departed for Australia on the ‘Ocean’ in Aug 1818. In 1820, he escaped on the ‘General Gates’ with four other convicts including Nathaniel EWER and made their way to New Zealand before being returned (see NZ Historical Records Vol 1). This shows Nathaniel and Francis knew one another. 

On 13th January 1821, the Sydney Gazette reported that Francis Ewer had been sentenced to 25 lashes and transportation for ‘purloining a quantity of lead:

The Sydney Gazette
13 January 1821
‘At a Bench of Magistrates convened this day at Sydney, Francis Ewer and Robert Ward, prisoners of the Crown, were found guilty of purloining a quantity of lead, the property of the government, and were sentenced to receive 25 lashes each and be transported to Newcastle for two years. Peter Jackson, and Mary Jackson is wife, each possessing the indulgence of a ticket of leave, were convicted of receiving the said lead, knowing to be stolen and sentenced two years to Newcastle’.

He was transported to Newcastle on the 27th of that month. A year later, on the 15th February 1822 the Sydney Gazette reported that Francis had absconded from the Newcastle settlement and he was still considered outstanding on the 29th March when that edition described him as ‘26 yrs old; native of London; 5 ft 8 inches; grey eyes; dark sandy hair; fair ruddy complexion’. However, the Colonial Secretary index indicates that Francis gave himself up under a proclamation of Governor Sir Thomas Brisbane, and he was on a list of convict runaways removed to Port Macquarie per "Newcastle" (and he appears in the 1822 muster as under ‘Govt employ Port Macq’), though he was returned to Sydney to act as witness in a murder trial in December 1822 and may still have been there as there is also correspondence regarding his confinement to the Convict Barracks. 

The 1825 general muster again shows Francis to be at the penal colony in Port Macquarie. No subsequent records of Francis have been found, and he does not appear in the 1828 census of NSW. The Port Macquarie settlement was closed in 1834 and convicts were transferred to Norfolk Island.


Edward EWER. Born Clewer, Berkshire, England 1796, died Howick St, Bathurst NSW 20 Sep 1859. Edward was convicted of stealing at the Berkshire Assizes on 28 Feb 1820 and sentenced to hang, but was transported to NSW on the ‘Mary’ (2), departing 28 Aug 1821 and arriving in Jan 1822 and assigned work – in 1822 his muster indicate was working at the Benevolent Asylum. Married Ann EDWARDS in 1825 at Parramatta NSW. The NSW census of 1828 indicates that Edward was a shopkeep in Parramatta, and he appeared in court in relation to a number of matters, including when Alexander Stuart was charged with ‘shooting at Edward Ewer with intent at Parramatta’ in 1829 – Alexander was a servant to Edward Ewer in the 1828 census. Edward was awarded a pardon in Jul 1834, and an absolute pardon in 1841 (after which Edward may have moved to Bathurst). They had 9 children in Parramatta (1827-1839) and the Bathurst district (1843-1848). His wife died in 1854, and Edward died in 1859. His death was noted in the "Bathurst Free Press and Mining Journal" on 21st September 1859. 


Ann EWER nee EDWARDS, born in colony. Daughter of convicts Rowland EDWARDS and Jan FLETCHER. Married Edward Ewer in Parramatta, 1825. d. Bathurst, 1854. 


Edward (Jr) EWER, b. 1827, Parramatta, first of nine children to Edward EWER and Ann nee EDWARDS. Married Catharine HARAN/AHERN in Carcoar, NSW, 1851 and they had nine children, all born in Bathurst. Confectioner, declared insolvent in 1863, and present in the 1871 and 1878 electoral rolls living in Bathurst. Died 1884 in Bathurst NSW.


James Garnet EWER. A 'James Garner EWER' was born 23 Jul 1799, the son of James Ewer and Mary nee GRAHAME at Holywell, Flintshire (Wales), a relatively wealthy family. James appears in the 1832 Poll Book for Liverpool, England as: EWER, James Garnet, Occupation: Broker, Address: Rodney St, District: Liverpool.

Shipping intelligence in the Sydney Gazette of 10 Oct 1835 lists James G Ewer arriving on the barque 'William', from London. The Colonial Secretary letters relating to land reveal correspondence from James Garnett EWER from 1838-1845.The purpose of James' move to Australia seems to be revealed in the report of a civil case heard in the Supreme Court of 1842 (The Australian, 26 April 1842) - James Garnet EWER appeared as a witness and stated that James had come to NSW as an agent for Richard Aspinall to deal with his business and personal estates.

Several papers in July 1847 contain reports from Mr Ewer “a gentleman who has recently taken up a station on the Condamine” that he encountered the explorer Dr. Leichardt near his property, and in 1848 his sheep were attacked by a local tribe. The Maitland Mercury of Wednesday 29 August 1849 lists two claims for leases of land outside the ‘settled districts’. His were in the Darling Downs district in Queensland:

“53. EWER JAMES GARRETT. Name of run, 'WOMBO FOREST. Estimated area, 40,000 acres. Estimated grazing capabilities, 12,000 sheep. Bounded on the north by ten miles of the Lower Condamine River, commencing at a marked tree adjacent to the westerly boundary mark of Mr. G. Goggs's run; on the south by a scrub south of Dooduggan Creek ; on the east and north-east by a scrub ; and on the west by a marked tree E on the Werinbilla Creek to its junction with the Condamine.

54. EWER JAMES GABNETT. Name of run, YAMO (Condamine.) Estimated area, 12,000 acres. Estimated grazing capabilities, 500 cattle. On the north side of the Lower Condamine River, bounded on the south by ten miles of the river, commencing at a marked tree E, about two miles below the junction of Charley's Creek ; on the north by a scrub one mile from the river ; on the east by a scrub ; and on the west by a marked tree on a creek unnamed, to its junction with the Condamine”

A Mr. Ewer is shown as an unassisted arrival in Sydney on four dates between 1847 and 1852, in each case from Moreton Bay (Qld), and this is likely to be James Garnett EWER. 

James Garnett again featured in the Sydney Morning Herald in July 1849 when one of his farm labourers was murdered:

“MORETON BAY. JULY 3.-MURDER.-This place has been the scene of another of those diabolical murders which disgrace humanity. The facts elicited at the Coroner's inquest, on the 21st ultimo, are these:-The deceased, John Leonard, lately in the employ ol Mr. J. G Ewer, of the Condamine River, came to Brisbane with his master on Friday, the 15th
ultimo, and there obtained his discharge from that gentleman's service; but signified his intention of returning to the country again, and agreed to meet Mr. Ewer on the Ipswich road on Sunday. His not keeping his appointment, and a man named Owen Molloy being seen in South Brisbane, on Sunday evening, with a portion of Leonard's clothes about him, and other property known to have been previously in the deceased's possession, suspicion was excited that he had murdered the man; and the following Monday, upon the police being made acquainted with the matter, he was apprehended, and, after an
examination, remanded, whilst search was made for the body. District constable Murphy, in company with Mr. Ewer, and two native black«, proceeded on Wednesday to Cowper's Plains, tracing the road along for marks; at Canoe Creek the deceased's dog showed evident signs of unwillingness to cross the creek, but run on one side of the road into the bed of the creek. Upon Murphy following the direction the dog had taken, he came upon the body of poor Leonard lying in the creek horribly disfigured, and the skull fractured, evidently from the blow of a tomahawk ; several witnesses proved at the inquest that Molloy had been in company with the deceased on the Sunday morning, and that he knew Leonard had money about him, and which was subsequently found on the person of Molloy ; the jury brought in a verdict of wilful murder against Molloy, who stands committed to take his trial. Since his commitment the prisoner has accused two other persons, named M'Carthy and Stevens, as being the murderers; in consequence warrants were issued for their apprehension, and the chief constable (Moore), of Ipswich, lost no time in following their route up the country, whither they bad gone with their teams; be overtook them on the Main Range, and returned with them yesterday to Brisbane, where they will undergo an examination this day. -Herald Correspondent.”

A Government Gazette in the Maitland Mercury on Wednesday 8 August 1849 proclaimed that “James Garnett Ewer, Esq., of Wombo Forest, Drayton” had been appointed a magistrate of the territory by the Governor. The Sydney Morning Herald of 13 Aug 1853 notes the “sale to-day, at auction, of J.G. Ewer, Esq’s, station of Womba Forest at Darling Downs, with about 9100 sheep, at 17s.a, 9d. per head, terms cash.”

He married Louisa HAWKINS (born abt 1816) at Trinity Church, Kelso, NSW (essentially a suburb of Bathurst NSW) in 1859, and appears not to have had any children with her. Marriage announcements describe Louisa as 'fourth daughter of the late Thomas Fitzherbert Hawkins, Esq., of Blackdown, Bathurst' (SMH, 23 Jul 1855). The 1867 NSW Post Office Directory lists James Garnet EWER as secretary, Church society, 256 Crown St in Sydney. It is tempting to suggest there was a connection to Edward EWER (convict, above) and his family given that both were living in Bathurst at the same time, but this is not the case based on their separate origins. However, given the rarity of their name, they may have sought each other out to meet in spite of their class distinction.

James died in Sydney NSW on 12 Aug 1886, aged 87. His funeral announcement (SMH 13 Aug 1886) indicates his residence was at 197 Albion St, Surry Hills NSW and he was buried at the Necropolis (Rookwood Cemetery). His wife Louisa died on 14 Aug 1902 at ‘Wirrulda’, Redmyre Rd, Strathfield NSW, aged 86. She too was buried at the Necropolis. The NSW State Library appears to own a number of items belonging to J.G. and Louisa Ewer, including a photograph of Louisa taken ca. 1871-1879 (call number P1/543), a card case belonging to J.G. Ewer (call number R 347), and call number MLMSS 678 contains correspondence among the Hawkins family including letters by Louisa and a copy of J.G. Ewer’s probate.

Mary Anne EWER, born abt 1856. Arrived in Sydney the ‘Earl Dalhousie’ in 1877, aged 21. Married William Fyfe, engineer, on 25 Mar 1880 at Balmain NSW. She is listed in the Sydney Morning Herald (4 May 1880) as the second daughter of 'the late J.H. Ewer, of Fulham, England'. She was probably daughter of Joseph Ewer and Mary Ann nee HITCH, birth registered in the December quarter of 1855 at the Chelsea district GRO. Mary Anne and William had at least five children in the Balmain area, including Emily (Balmain 1881), Alice (Sydney 1885), William (Balmain 1886), and Nellie (Balmain North 1891).

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Van Diemen’s Land


Matilda EWER, born abt 1813. She is probably Matilda BRIGGS, the wife of Jeremy Lagden EWER – they married at Ipswich on 8 Aug 1828. Jeremy was born 27 Aug 1803 and baptized 5 Jun 1807 at Horseheath, Cambridge, the son of Thomas and Katherine Ann EWER.

The following is from Michael Ewer: In 1839 Jeremy was landlord of the George & Dragon on Wellington St, Newmarket (Cambridgeshire). It is believe they had three children; Harry Lagdon born 1833 at Horseheath, Cambs, Katherine b. 1838 and Emma b. 1839 both at Newmarket, Cambs. In the 1841 census Jeremy is an agricultural labourer living near Newmarket, and son Harry is listed beneath him (Matilda by this time had been transported). 

Matilda was convicted in Cambridge on 24 Jul 1840 to be transported for life. She was transported on the ‘Rajah’ which set sail from Woolwich England on 5 Apr 1841 and arrived in Hobart Tasmania (Van Diemen’s Land) on 19 Jul 1841, aged 27. On this trip, the 180 female convicts produced the ‘Rajah quilt’ (www.nga.gov.au/RajahQuilt). The 1841 muster describes her employment as ‘Mr Turnbull, New Norfolk’ – there was a James Turnbull, Farmer at New Norfolk, west of Hobart at that time. 

Back in England, Jeremy (her husband) married Eleanor Toon at Stamford, Lincs on 11 May 1843. In the 1851 census Catherine & Emma are living with their step-mother Eleanor Ewer, a labourer’s wife.

In VDL Matilda applied for marriage with Giles TIMMS (a free person) and this was approved as she married him in Hobart in 1843. In 1842 she is recorded traveling from Launceston to Melbourne, however given her marriage in 1843 she must have returned. In 1846 the muster notes she had earmed a ticket of leave and in 1847/8 she was granted a pardon in VDL, with the comment that ‘There is only one offence, and that of a trifling character recorded against her since she has been in the Colony’. 

Nothing further is known of Matilda’s fate at this stage. However, the birth of a Harry EWER, mother Matilda EWER (no father recorded) is registered in 1858 in Victoria, and Matilda’s daughter ‘Katherine’ married Thomas COTTLE in 1861 also in Victoria. As such, her children may or may not have followed her to Australia.

There are still many questions here (as Michael points out): 
Was the Matilda who was convicted at Cambridge and subsequently transported actually Jeremy’s wife? 
Was he allowed a divorce since she was transported ‘for life’?
When did Matilda’s daughter emigrate, and did she join her mother?


Richard EWER was born Stoke Poges, Bucks, 26 Oct 1806, the son of William and Sarah. He had 3 children before he was transported and another, Jabez, when he returned. He was convicted at Bucks on 29 Jun 1841, and is on the 1841 England census, residing at the Buckinghamshire County Gaol and House of Correction as a prisoner, with occupation listed as ‘sawyer’. He was charged, aged 34, reading and writing imperfect, ‘on the oath of Francis Agar and others, with having on the 13th of April last, at the Parish of Burnham, feloniously stolen two sheep of the value of four pounds, the property of the said Francis Agar’. He was tried alongside Henry Martin.

He arrived in Tasmania on ‘Marquis of Hastings’ in 1842. The 1846 muster reveals that Richard had a 3rd Class pass (the lowest of three classes) assigned to Mr Walker of Longford. He departed Tasmania, free of servitude, on ‘City of Melbourne’, 2 Dec 1851. Richard appears in the 1861 England census living in Denham, Bucks with his wife Elizabeth (born Sathall, Middlesex abt 1814) and son Jabez, and again in the 1871 and 1881 censuses. The UK BDM indexes show a Richard Ewer registered as dying in 1889, in Uxbridge, Middlesex.


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South Australia


Edward EWER Edward Ewer christened 18 Mar 1824 in Belchamp St Paul's, Suffolk. Edward is living with his father, 2 siblings and nephew at Melford (close by) on the 1851 census. He gives his occupation as a machine maker. Edward's father (Edward 1786-1857) made his sons Edward and John B executors of his will in 1849. When the will was proved in 1857, John B was the executor present and was charged with overseeing a legacy to Edward, which fits with Edward being abroad at that time. 

He married Emma STRUTT in 1853, registered in nearby Sudbury (Suffolk) England. They arrived in Port Adelaide on the barque Lismore on 23 Aug 1855. The ship had left England from Southampton on 6 May 1855 with government immigrants. Edward, 30 (born abt 1825), stated he was a carpenter previously residing in ‘Suffolk’. With him came his wife Emma, aged 22 (born abt 1833) and an infant son also named Edward. Their son Edward must have died shortly after arrival as the first of three births registered to Edward EWER and Emma Elizabeth STRUTT was another Edward (30 Apr 1857 Adelaide). Harry EWER followed (13 Oct 1859 Adelaide) and he too must have died as a third son of the same name, Harry, was registered (19 May 1863 Adelaide). Edward Ewer (sen.) died in April 1911 at his residence, Park St, Hyde Park (Adelaide) and interred in the West Terrace Cemetery. 

Information on their two sons according to the Biographical Index of South Australians:

Edward EWER, son of above Edward, born 30 Apr 1857 SA, died 3 Oct 1915 buried West Terrace Cemetery. Occupation Clerk, residence Parkside, religion Church of England. Married 9 Aug 1882 in South Australia to Emma (born abt 1863, died 7 Jun 1928). Children Laura Elizabeth 1887, Frederick Charles 1889, Elsie May 1891, Walter John 1894, Dorothy Myra BURROW 1896.

Harry EWER, son of above Edward, born 19 May 1863 SA, died 14 Jun 1914 buried West Terrace Cemetery. Married Leila Maude (born abt 1870, died 7 Aug 1957).

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Victoria

Eliza Lydia EWER. Married Joseph William TORREY in Victoria in 1854. According to Michael Ewer she was christened 21 Nov 1831 at Deptford St Paul, the daughter of William Ewer (butcher) and Tabitha nee PLAISTED. Eliza and her parents are not present in the 1841 or 1851 census in England so it is assumed they left England prior to that time (needs to be clarified).

Information on Joseph William Torrey:
"TORREY, Joseph William, rajah of Amboy and Mavoodu, Borneo, born in Bath, Maine, 22 April, 1828; died near Boston, Massachusetts, in March, 1884. He was educated in Roxbury, became a reporter on the Boston "Times," and was subsequently connected with Benjamin P. Shillaber in the publication of the "Carpet-Bag." He became a clerk in a commercial house in Melbourne, Australia, in 1853, and went to Hong Kong in 1857, where he was a partner in the firm of Montgomery, Parker and Co., and editor and manager of the "Hong Kong Times" and the "China Mail." He was subsequently appointed vice-consul in Siam, and practised law with success in that country. He founded the American trading company of Borneo in 1864. At that time the whole of Borneo was under the absolute sway of the sultan, but the Trading company settled upon about 20,000 square miles in the provinces of Amboy and Mavoodu. In 1865, the sultan's power being threatened by the encroachment of foreign nations, he made an ally of the company by recognizing Mr. Torrey as rajah or governor of all the territory that it occupied, the company paying him a small yearly tribute. As chief executive of the provinces, Torrey exercised the rights of an absolute sovereign, with power of retaining his office for life and of naming his successor. He occupied that post for fourteen years, and then became secretary to the United States legation in Siam. He returned to this country in 1883, and few weeks before his death was appointed by the king of Siam his chief adviser, but died before deciding whether to accept or decline that office."

'The Torrey families and their children in America' by Frederic Crosby Torrey (1924) states that "He married first Eliza Lydia Ewer and second Mrs. Charlotte Ann Lemon
and had one son and three daughters".

Joseph and Eliza had two children, Emiline Eliza Torrey in 1856 and Cordelia Grace Torrey in 1858, both born in Melbourne.

Eliza died in 1859 in Victoria:
The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848-1954), Wednesday 16 March 1859, p4"DEATHS. On the 4th inst., at her residence, Sandridge, in her 27th year, after an illness of 5 days, Eliza Lydia, the beloved wife of Joseph William Torrey, Esq., of Roxbury Mass. USA. American papers please copy."

In the 1865 Massachussets, USA census (available on IGI Pilot Search) Emmaline and Cordelia are living with their grandparents in Roxbury, Mass. In the 1900 census Emeline (aged 42) and Cordelia (aged 40) were born in Australia, still unmarried, living in the City of Boston, both were school teachers, and stated that they immigrated to America in 1860. Emeline appears in the 1920 US census in Boston, but nothing further is known of either daughter and it is believed they had no issue.

Robert Horatio EWER. Lived in Victoria. Married Anastasia MURPHY on 17 Mar 1868 at Tarrawingee, Victoria. At this time he was 28, and so born abt 1840. His marriage certificate stated that he was born in Scotland and that his parents were Daniel EWER and Hannah CHURCHILL - they were married in London in 1828 and had numerous children. Michael EWER informs me that Daniel and Hannah had nine children in Acton (Middlesex, London), none named Robert Horatio. A family story states that he arrived with a brother and that his name was changed, and this appears to be the case based on the absence of a registration/baptism under this name. In the 1851 census, Hannah was a widow living with three children, Thomas, Eliza and Hannah - suggesting that Robert Horatio was Thomas. Robert Horatio died 31 May 1891 at Yarrawonga aged 53, and was buried at Bundalong, Victoria cemetery (it is likely no headstone remains if there was one). His death certificate stated that he had been in Victoria 40 years.

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I will add to the biographies of these individuals as information comes to hand. Please contact me if you have any information on any of these EWER lines. I have not found any EWER people in the 1800's in Western Australia or New Zealand.