Mid North Coast Pioneers - Newcastle to Lismore and beyond

Email from Christine White 27 March, 2007.

Edited.

Until I check what's on Ancestry etc, here's some info re Edward Albert Elphick's grandmother - Bathsheba Friend.

FRIEND, Bathsheba B. 1815c; D. 3 August, 1887 Born Hawkhurst, Kent UK, died North Waratah, NSW.

Arrived aboard the 'Eleanor' on 21 August, 1841. Her immigration record noted that she was born in Hawkhurst; her parents were Thomas FRIEND and Phillis WOOLYER & were still alive; she was sponsored by Thomas Gore & Co; was in good health, but had been in quarantine during the voyage; could read and write her 'calling' was cook and her religion was Protestant.

She was accompanied by her 2 sons, Charles 5 years & William 1½ . Her first husband Richard ELPHICK died at sea during the voyage.

Also aboard the 'Eleanor' were Bathsheba's sister Rebecca, born 23 November, 1817, Hawkhurst, Kent and her husband, Henry Francis WOODGATE. Rebecca & Henry married at Hawkhurst. They are believed to have had one child, born approx 1840, Hawkhurst.

Children of Bathsheba Friend & Richard ELPHICK: 1.Charles ELPHICK, b abt 1836 Hawkhurst, UK; d 1903 Newcastle NSW. 2.William ELPHICK, b abt 1840 Hawkhurst, UK

More about William ELPHICK. Little is known about William's early life. It is known that he had a relationship with Mary Ann Gribble. A record of their marriage has not been located. They had 3 children: 1.Charles born about 1862 at Lachlan Diggings, NSW. 2.Richard Thomas (named for his 2 grandfathers) born at Cashmere Station, Qld 1868 and died the same year. 3.Bathsheba Jane (named for her 2 grandmothers) born 1869 at Cashmere Station, Qld.

William was a butcher by trade.

Mary Ann Gribble was born in 1844 at Wilberforce NSW. Her parents were convicts, Thomas Gribble and Jane Irwin.

Charles (eldest son of William Elphick & Mary Ann Gribble) married Sarah McNanley, 1884 in Brisbane. (The Qld BDM record 1884/B009319 records her name as Silby McNanley.) Sarah was born in Manchester UK 1863. Her parents were Felix McNanley and Sarah Watson who may have arrived in Australia via Moreton Bay.

Charles and Sarah eventually moved to Victoria where Charles worked in Melbourne for some time before moving to Gippsland where he worked in a coal mine before settling on a dairy farm outside Foster in South Gippsland where they remained for the rest of their lives. They had a total of 9 children, including Alice Bathsheba Elphick, born 1898.

Bathsheba Jane married James Thomas Rogers in 1889 at Mormanton, Qld. James was a Customs officer. They had one unnamed child in 1892, who died shortly after birth. It is not known if they had any other children.

More about Charles ELPHICK (son of Bathsheba FRIEND & Richard ELPHICK, b abt 1856). Charles died in 1903 aged about 47 years, in Newcastle and it is stated on his birth certificate that it was unknown whether he was married or had children. He was a butcher by trade. (Jan - I have a copy of Charles's death certificate on file - happy to send a copy if you'd like it. cw)

Bathsheba formed a relationship with Thomas Mead WELLER. No record of a marriage has been located.

Children of Thomas Mead WELLER and Bathsheba FRIEND: 1.Sarah L WELLER b 1843, Sydney; d 1843 Sydney. Baptised 22 November, 1843, St Matthews CoE, Windsor. 2.Henry WELLER, b 12 July 1844; Stoke Hill, NSW d 18 December, 1908, Sydney 3.Rebecca WELLER, b 1848; m Captain Henry BASTIANS (BDM Ref V18481174 33A/1848). 4.Thomas WELLER, b 1851, St Matthews Windsor NSW (BDM Ref V18511837 37A/1851)

NB: Another descendant has suggested that Bathsheba & Richard Elphick also had a 3rd son who did not accompany them to Australia. I cannot confirm this & I don't know their sources.

Bye for now, Chris

Hello Stuart,

Many thanks for replying so quickly.

I am that Judith Knox.

Rebecca was 54 when she died.

Rebecca and Henry Bastian did not have any children. Sophie was not Henry Bastian’s daughter, my grandmother did not know this until she was an adult.

Rebecca's daughter Sophie (b.20.2.1870/71 – have not found the Birth Certificate* died 14.8.1954 Vaucluse Sydney) married Francis Letters, born in Alloa Scotland 6.6.1858 and died at Annandale Sydney 27.7.1931.

Sophie and Francis were married on 26.1.1897.

They had 4 sons all born in Gympie, Queensland. Francis Joseph Henry Letters 6.12.1897 - 23.9.1964 Louis Gilbert Letters 15.2.1899 - 24.10.1973 Napoleon (Leon) Ignatius Letters 9.6.1901 – 12.7.1979 Charles Stanislaus Letters 30.1.1905 – 24.1.1952 (died unmarried)

Leon Letters was my father, I am his eldest. I was born Judith Elizabeth Letters on 4.4.1943 in Coonamble NSW and married David Wykeham Knox (b.27.12.1935 in Bowral NSW) on 23.4.1970 in Sydney. We have 5 children and 2 grandchildren – so far. 1 sister and 1 brother.

Henry Bastian has been very difficult to find. I have spent about 30 years trying to find him. The Marriage Certificate had his name as “Henry Paztian” and he was supposed to be from Germany. No parents’ names were given for either Henry or Sophie although he was described as a “Mariner”. Henry’s Death Certificate said that his father was a Mariner, so perhaps there was some truth in the story that he was “born at sea and died at sea” as we had been told. One branch of the family say that he was a member of the “Plymouth Brethren” and was “drummed out of his church for marrying outside the faith”. I don’t know how true that is. I note from his Death Certificate that no Clergy was present. He was 52 when he died – he was the Master of the Steamer “Little Nell” which capsized. His cargo was a tug. I am still looking for his birth. I am trying to find the exact date of Thomas Weller's birth although I understand he was born in 1820.

At the present time I am collating BDM’S and other information for my children, siblings and cousins - it is a bigger job that I thought as I keep on finding more and more stuff.

• I think I may have found a fictitious Birth Registration for her at Brisbane Waters District at “Blue Gum Flat”. We were told she was born in Melbourne but my brother said that he thinks that he has something somewhere which says that she was born somewhere near that area.

  When I have myself organized I will send your information on our families.

  Best wishes Judith Knox Sydney

PDF file provided by Chris White.

Hi Stuart,

This email ended up a lot longer than I planned, but I found I had more info on my work PC than I realised.

Re Bathsheba's death.

They didn't make life easy for those following after. Through the generations there are a number of Bathsheba's. I've listed each (that I know of so far) below.

The first one - wife of Richard Elphick, then Thomas Mead Weller, who was born in Hawkhurst, UK.

The 2nd was the daughter of William Elphick & Mary Ann Gribble (son of Bathsheba & Richard Elphick), who was born in Queensland in 1869. I found a copies of her birth & marriage certificates on my work pc that I've attached. They were sent to me by one of her descendants from Victoria.

The 3rd was the daughter of Thomas Weller jnr. & Eliza Jane Ashby (son of Bathsheba Elphick & Thomas Mead Weller) who was born in Newcastle NSW in 1884 and died 1885. This is the one mentioned in your email.

Re the 'Patzian' listing.

Correct - this is a transcription error. I have located a descendant of Rebecca Weller (daughter of the original Bathsheba & Thomas Mead Weller) named Judith Knox who has generously shared research from her uncle - Frank Letters.

From (faulty) memory Judith's grandmother was Sophie Bastians - daughter of Rebecca Weller & Henry Bastians & she in turn married Napoleon Letters.

Trivia: Henry Bastians was Captain Henry Bastians - a mariner.

Edit Copy Delete Hi Stuart,

I thought I had this somewhere - it's from the book I stumbled upon in the State Library that I mentioned in my earlier message. I don't recall having taken a copy from the actual newspaper notice yet.

Bathsheba Friend WELLER, daughter of Thomas WELLER and Eliza Jane ASHBY, was born in July 1884 in Newcastle. She died on 26 February 1885 in Newcastle. She was buried in North Waratah.

In the Hunter Valley Register, 1884-1890, Register 2, Volume 5, W - Y Oddments, the following death notice is recorded:

WELLER, Bethsheba The Friends of Thomas Weller are invited to attend the funeral of his daughter, Bathsheba Weller to leave his residence, Adamstown for North Waratah Cemetery. J Gray NMH 27.2.1885.

Bye for now, Chris

Hi Stuart,

This email ended up a lot longer than I planned, but I found I had more info on my work PC than I realised.

Re Bathsheba's death.

They didn't make life easy for those following after. Through the generations there are a number of Bathsheba's. I've listed each (that I know of so far) below.

The first one - wife of Richard Elphick, then Thomas Mead Weller, who was born in Hawkhurst, UK.

The 2nd was the daughter of William Elphick & Mary Ann Gribble (son of Bathsheba & Richard Elphick), who was born in Queensland in 1869. I found a copies of her birth & marriage certificates on my work pc that I've attached. They were sent to me by one of her descendants from Victoria.

The 3rd was the daughter of Thomas Weller jnr. & Eliza Jane Ashby (son of Bathsheba Elphick & Thomas Mead Weller) who was born in Newcastle NSW in 1884 and died 1885. This is the one mentioned in your email.

Re the 'Patzian' listing.

Correct - this is a transcription error. I have located a descendant of Rebecca Weller (daughter of the original Bathsheba & Thomas Mead Weller) named Judith Knox who has generously shared research from her uncle - Frank Letters.

From (faulty) memory Judith's grandmother was Sophie Bastians - daughter of Rebecca Weller & Henry Bastians & she in turn married Napoleon Letters.

Trivia: Henry Bastians was Captain Henry Bastians - a mariner.

Edit Copy Delete Hi Stuart,

I thought I had this somewhere - it's from the book I stumbled upon in the State Library that I mentioned in my earlier message. I don't recall having taken a copy from the actual newspaper notice yet.

Bathsheba Friend WELLER, daughter of Thomas WELLER and Eliza Jane ASHBY, was born in July 1884 in Newcastle. She died on 26 February 1885 in Newcastle. She was buried in North Waratah.

In the Hunter Valley Register, 1884-1890, Register 2, Volume 5, W - Y Oddments, the following death notice is recorded:

WELLER, Bethsheba The Friends of Thomas Weller are invited to attend the funeral of his daughter, Bathsheba Weller to leave his residence, Adamstown for North Waratah Cemetery. J Gray NMH 27.2.1885.

Bye for now, Chris

Edit Copy Delete Hi Stuart,

I thought I had this somewhere - it's from the book I stumbled upon in the State Library that I mentioned in my earlier message. I don't recall having taken a copy from the actual newspaper notice yet.

Bathsheba Friend WELLER, daughter of Thomas WELLER and Eliza Jane ASHBY, was born in July 1884 in Newcastle. She died on 26 February 1885 in Newcastle. She was buried in North Waratah.

In the Hunter Valley Register, 1884-1890, Register 2, Volume 5, W - Y Oddments, the following death notice is recorded:

WELLER, Bethsheba The Friends of Thomas Weller are invited to attend the funeral of his daughter, Bathsheba Weller to leave his residence, Adamstown for North Waratah Cemetery. J Gray NMH 27.2.1885.

Bye for now, Chris

Email from Christine White 27 March, 2007.

Edited.

Until I check what's on Ancestry etc, here's some info re Edward Albert Elphick's grandmother - Bathsheba Friend.

FRIEND, Bathsheba B. 1815c; D. 3 August, 1887 Born Hawkhurst, Kent UK, died North Waratah, NSW.

Arrived aboard the 'Eleanor' on 21 August, 1841. Her immigration record noted that she was born in Hawkhurst; her parents were Thomas FRIEND and Phillis WOOLYER & were still alive; she was sponsored by Thomas Gore & Co; was in good health, but had been in quarantine during the voyage; could read and write her 'calling' was cook and her religion was Protestant.

She was accompanied by her 2 sons, Charles 5 years & William 1½ . Her first husband Richard ELPHICK died at sea during the voyage.

Also aboard the 'Eleanor' were Bathsheba's sister Rebecca, born 23 November, 1817, Hawkhurst, Kent and her husband, Henry Francis WOODGATE. Rebecca & Henry married at Hawkhurst. They are believed to have had one child, born approx 1840, Hawkhurst.

Children of Bathsheba Friend & Richard ELPHICK: 1.Charles ELPHICK, b abt 1836 Hawkhurst, UK; d 1903 Newcastle NSW. 2.William ELPHICK, b abt 1840 Hawkhurst, UK

More about William ELPHICK. Little is known about William's early life. It is known that he had a relationship with Mary Ann Gribble. A record of their marriage has not been located. They had 3 children: 1.Charles born about 1862 at Lachlan Diggings, NSW. 2.Richard Thomas (named for his 2 grandfathers) born at Cashmere Station, Qld 1868 and died the same year. 3.Bathsheba Jane (named for her 2 grandmothers) born 1869 at Cashmere Station, Qld.

William was a butcher by trade.

Mary Ann Gribble was born in 1844 at Wilberforce NSW. Her parents were convicts, Thomas Gribble and Jane Irwin.

Charles (eldest son of William Elphick & Mary Ann Gribble) married Sarah McNanley, 1884 in Brisbane. (The Qld BDM record 1884/B009319 records her name as Silby McNanley.) Sarah was born in Manchester UK 1863. Her parents were Felix McNanley and Sarah Watson who may have arrived in Australia via Moreton Bay.

Charles and Sarah eventually moved to Victoria where Charles worked in Melbourne for some time before moving to Gippsland where he worked in a coal mine before settling on a dairy farm outside Foster in South Gippsland where they remained for the rest of their lives. They had a total of 9 children, including Alice Bathsheba Elphick, born 1898.

Bathsheba Jane married James Thomas Rogers in 1889 at Mormanton, Qld. James was a Customs officer. They had one unnamed child in 1892, who died shortly after birth. It is not known if they had any other children.

More about Charles ELPHICK (son of Bathsheba FRIEND & Richard ELPHICK, b abt 1856). Charles died in 1903 aged about 47 years, in Newcastle and it is stated on his birth certificate that it was unknown whether he was married or had children. He was a butcher by trade. (Jan - I have a copy of Charles's death certificate on file - happy to send a copy if you'd like it. cw)

Bathsheba formed a relationship with Thomas Mead WELLER. No record of a marriage has been located.

Children of Thomas Mead WELLER and Bathsheba FRIEND: 1.Sarah L WELLER b 1843, Sydney; d 1843 Sydney. Baptised 22 November, 1843, St Matthews CoE, Windsor. 2.Henry WELLER, b 12 July 1844; Stoke Hill, NSW d 18 December, 1908, Sydney 3.Rebecca WELLER, b 1848; m Captain Henry BASTIANS (BDM Ref V18481174 33A/1848). 4.Thomas WELLER, b 1851, St Matthews Windsor NSW (BDM Ref V18511837 37A/1851)

NB: Another descendant has suggested that Bathsheba & Richard Elphick also had a 3rd son who did not accompany them to Australia. I cannot confirm this & I don't know their sources.

Bye for now, Chris

The following message has been sent to your PhpGedView user account from Judith Knox

Your Name: Judith Knox Email Address: knoxletters@hotmail.com

Which of Bathsheba's children are you decended from? I am one of Rebecca's great grandchildren. I have just completed a list of Rebecca's decendants. Rebecca died 6.1.1903 in Gympie and her husband Henry Bastian died 16.12.1898.

Email from Christine White 27 March, 2007.

Edited.

Until I check what's on Ancestry etc, here's some info re Edward Albert Elphick's grandmother - Bathsheba Friend.

FRIEND, Bathsheba B. 1815c; D. 3 August, 1887 Born Hawkhurst, Kent UK, died North Waratah, NSW.

Arrived aboard the 'Eleanor' on 21 August, 1841. Her immigration record noted that she was born in Hawkhurst; her parents were Thomas FRIEND and Phillis WOOLYER & were still alive; she was sponsored by Thomas Gore & Co; was in good health, but had been in quarantine during the voyage; could read and write her 'calling' was cook and her religion was Protestant.

She was accompanied by her 2 sons, Charles 5 years & William 1½ . Her first husband Richard ELPHICK died at sea during the voyage.

Also aboard the 'Eleanor' were Bathsheba's sister Rebecca, born 23 November, 1817, Hawkhurst, Kent and her husband, Henry Francis WOODGATE. Rebecca & Henry married at Hawkhurst. They are believed to have had one child, born approx 1840, Hawkhurst.

Children of Bathsheba Friend & Richard ELPHICK: 1.Charles ELPHICK, b abt 1836 Hawkhurst, UK; d 1903 Newcastle NSW. 2.William ELPHICK, b abt 1840 Hawkhurst, UK

More about William ELPHICK. Little is known about William's early life. It is known that he had a relationship with Mary Ann Gribble. A record of their marriage has not been located. They had 3 children: 1.Charles born about 1862 at Lachlan Diggings, NSW. 2.Richard Thomas (named for his 2 grandfathers) born at Cashmere Station, Qld 1868 and died the same year. 3.Bathsheba Jane (named for her 2 grandmothers) born 1869 at Cashmere Station, Qld.

William was a butcher by trade.

Mary Ann Gribble was born in 1844 at Wilberforce NSW. Her parents were convicts, Thomas Gribble and Jane Irwin.

Charles (eldest son of William Elphick & Mary Ann Gribble) married Sarah McNanley, 1884 in Brisbane. (The Qld BDM record 1884/B009319 records her name as Silby McNanley.) Sarah was born in Manchester UK 1863. Her parents were Felix McNanley and Sarah Watson who may have arrived in Australia via Moreton Bay.

Charles and Sarah eventually moved to Victoria where Charles worked in Melbourne for some time before moving to Gippsland where he worked in a coal mine before settling on a dairy farm outside Foster in South Gippsland where they remained for the rest of their lives. They had a total of 9 children, including Alice Bathsheba Elphick, born 1898.

Bathsheba Jane married James Thomas Rogers in 1889 at Mormanton, Qld. James was a Customs officer. They had one unnamed child in 1892, who died shortly after birth. It is not known if they had any other children.

More about Charles ELPHICK (son of Bathsheba FRIEND & Richard ELPHICK, b abt 1856). Charles died in 1903 aged about 47 years, in Newcastle and it is stated on his birth certificate that it was unknown whether he was married or had children. He was a butcher by trade. (Jan - I have a copy of Charles's death certificate on file - happy to send a copy if you'd like it. cw)

Bathsheba formed a relationship with Thomas Mead WELLER. No record of a marriage has been located.

Children of Thomas Mead WELLER and Bathsheba FRIEND: 1.Sarah L WELLER b 1843, Sydney; d 1843 Sydney. Baptised 22 November, 1843, St Matthews CoE, Windsor. 2.Henry WELLER, b 12 July 1844; Stoke Hill, NSW d 18 December, 1908, Sydney 3.Rebecca WELLER, b 1848; m Captain Henry BASTIANS (BDM Ref V18481174 33A/1848). 4.Thomas WELLER, b 1851, St Matthews Windsor NSW (BDM Ref V18511837 37A/1851)

NB: Another descendant has suggested that Bathsheba & Richard Elphick also had a 3rd son who did not accompany them to Australia. I cannot confirm this & I don't know their sources.

Bye for now, Chris

Service Record NameWELLER, THOMAS JOHN ServiceAustralian Army Service NumberN109878 Date of Birth25 May 1907 Place of BirthISLINGTON, NSW Date of Enlistment2 May 1941 Locality on EnlistmentSANDGATE, NSW Place of EnlistmentRECRUITING DEPOT EC, NSW Next of KinWELLER, ELLEN Date of Discharge5 Aug 1942 RankGunner Posting at DischargeHEAVY ARTILLERY FIXED DEFENCE WW2 Honours and GallantryNone for display Prisoner of WarNo

Email from Christine White 27 March, 2007.

Edited.

Until I check what's on Ancestry etc, here's some info re Edward Albert Elphick's grandmother - Bathsheba Friend.

FRIEND, Bathsheba B. 1815c; D. 3 August, 1887 Born Hawkhurst, Kent UK, died North Waratah, NSW.

Arrived aboard the 'Eleanor' on 21 August, 1841. Her immigration record noted that she was born in Hawkhurst; her parents were Thomas FRIEND and Phillis WOOLYER & were still alive; she was sponsored by Thomas Gore & Co; was in good health, but had been in quarantine during the voyage; could read and write her 'calling' was cook and her religion was Protestant.

She was accompanied by her 2 sons, Charles 5 years & William 1½ . Her first husband Richard ELPHICK died at sea during the voyage.

Also aboard the 'Eleanor' were Bathsheba's sister Rebecca, born 23 November, 1817, Hawkhurst, Kent and her husband, Henry Francis WOODGATE. Rebecca & Henry married at Hawkhurst. They are believed to have had one child, born approx 1840, Hawkhurst.

Children of Bathsheba Friend & Richard ELPHICK: 1.Charles ELPHICK, b abt 1836 Hawkhurst, UK; d 1903 Newcastle NSW. 2.William ELPHICK, b abt 1840 Hawkhurst, UK

More about William ELPHICK. Little is known about William's early life. It is known that he had a relationship with Mary Ann Gribble. A record of their marriage has not been located. They had 3 children: 1.Charles born about 1862 at Lachlan Diggings, NSW. 2.Richard Thomas (named for his 2 grandfathers) born at Cashmere Station, Qld 1868 and died the same year. 3.Bathsheba Jane (named for her 2 grandmothers) born 1869 at Cashmere Station, Qld.

William was a butcher by trade.

Mary Ann Gribble was born in 1844 at Wilberforce NSW. Her parents were convicts, Thomas Gribble and Jane Irwin.

Charles (eldest son of William Elphick & Mary Ann Gribble) married Sarah McNanley, 1884 in Brisbane. (The Qld BDM record 1884/B009319 records her name as Silby McNanley.) Sarah was born in Manchester UK 1863. Her parents were Felix McNanley and Sarah Watson who may have arrived in Australia via Moreton Bay.

Charles and Sarah eventually moved to Victoria where Charles worked in Melbourne for some time before moving to Gippsland where he worked in a coal mine before settling on a dairy farm outside Foster in South Gippsland where they remained for the rest of their lives. They had a total of 9 children, including Alice Bathsheba Elphick, born 1898.

Bathsheba Jane married James Thomas Rogers in 1889 at Mormanton, Qld. James was a Customs officer. They had one unnamed child in 1892, who died shortly after birth. It is not known if they had any other children.

More about Charles ELPHICK (son of Bathsheba FRIEND & Richard ELPHICK, b abt 1856). Charles died in 1903 aged about 47 years, in Newcastle and it is stated on his birth certificate that it was unknown whether he was married or had children. He was a butcher by trade. (Jan - I have a copy of Charles's death certificate on file - happy to send a copy if you'd like it. cw)

Bathsheba formed a relationship with Thomas Mead WELLER. No record of a marriage has been located.

Children of Thomas Mead WELLER and Bathsheba FRIEND: 1.Sarah L WELLER b 1843, Sydney; d 1843 Sydney. Baptised 22 November, 1843, St Matthews CoE, Windsor. 2.Henry WELLER, b 12 July 1844; Stoke Hill, NSW d 18 December, 1908, Sydney 3.Rebecca WELLER, b 1848; m Captain Henry BASTIANS (BDM Ref V18481174 33A/1848). 4.Thomas WELLER, b 1851, St Matthews Windsor NSW (BDM Ref V18511837 37A/1851)

NB: Another descendant has suggested that Bathsheba & Richard Elphick also had a 3rd son who did not accompany them to Australia. I cannot confirm this & I don't know their sources.

Bye for now, Chris

Weller Eliza Jane 1929-05-03 ANGLICAN_2 140 46 151.707229904 -32.867009285

Weller Thomas Meade 1931-07-12 PRESBYTERIAN 12NW 89 151.707053957 -32.868667085