Website Link


FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FAMILY NAME PLEASE VISIT OUR FAMILY HISTORY WEBSITE - https://titheradgefamilyhistory.wordpress.com/

JOIN OUR FAMILY HISTORY FACEBOOK GROUP, (A GROUP FOR ANYONE INTERESTED IN THE FAMILY NAMES) - https://www.facebook.com/groups/titheradgegenealogy/

ARE YOU RELATED TO ANYONE WITH THE FAMILY NAMES? IF SO PLEASE EMAIL ANN AT titheradgegenealogy@gmail.com

Wednesday 19 October 2016

Daniel Titheridge’s journey from Winchester to Australia

Alms Houses in Winchester
In 1870 Daniel Titheridge set sail from England to Australia.  The reason for his departure must surely have been the letters from his three brothers already settled there telling him what a great life it was in Australia.  However life didn’t turn out so great for Daniel.

Daniel was born in 1850 in Winchester, the youngest child of Daniel Titheridge and Charlotte Duffer or Duffin.  His brothers were 17, 14, 11 and 7 when Daniel was born.  His 9 year old brother Arthur died when Daniel was two years old.  His eldest brother, Alfred, emigrated when Daniel was 4 and the remaining two brothers, Henry and Robert, emigrated when Daniel was six.  The brothers’ stories have been told in earlier blogs. 

Daniel grew up like an only child.  In the 1851 census he was living with his brothers and parents in Middle Brook Street, Winchester and by the 1861 census he was living with his parents at 7 Sussex Street, Winchester.  In 1864 when Daniel was 14 his mother Charlotte died.  Two years later his father remarried to Ann Davey, a widow. 

Daniel was 19 when in 1869 he decided to join his brothers in Australia.  He set sail from London on 18 November 1869 and arrived in Hobson's Bay on the “Sea Chief” on 23 February 1870. 

I have been unable to find any mention of Daniel in the newspapers, so his story has been pieced together from the birth, marriage and death records.

Daniel married Sarah Ann Greenwood in Australia in 1875.  In an eight year period after the marriage they had six children.  They were all born in varying districts in north Melbourne, Victoria

Mabel Louisa Titheridge born 1877 in Hotham
Eveline Titheridge born 1878 in Richmond
Albert Ernest Titheridge born 1880 in Collingwood
Ethel Titheridge born 1881 in Brunswick
Lillian May Titheridge born 1883 in Collingwood
Alice Ann Titheridge born 1885 in Richmond

Sadly infant mortality was high in this family with only one of the six children reaching adult hood.  In 1880 nine month old Albert died, in 1882 seven month old Ethel died, in 1886 nine month old Alice died, in 1889 six year old Lillian died and in 1893 fifteen year old Eveline died.  This left Mabel as the only surviving child.  Mabel married Hector Lambard Emery in 1902 and lived to the good age of 75. 

Daniel is recorded as having an occupation of a furnace man in 1876 and an iron founder in 1879.  We have several addresses for him in Collingwood, Melbourne: in 1876 he was at Mason Street, in 1879 he was in Rupert Street and in 1881 he was at 24 Rupert Street.

Tragedy hit the family in 1887 when Daniel died aged just 37 years, leaving his widow Sarah with three children to bring up alone, Mabel aged 10, Eveline aged 9 and Lillian aged 4.  Sarah was to lose two more of her children in the next 7 years.  Sarah eventually remarried in 1900 to Adam Marr and lived until 1933.  Daniel’s death record has been transcribed as Daniel Pitt Titheridge, this is the only time that I have found a reference to the middle name Pitt.

On reflection perhaps Daniel’s search for a great life in Australia did not work out so well - life for immigrants was not always easy.

Wednesday 12 October 2016

Henry and Robert Titheridge's journey - from Winchester to Ballarat in 1856

Winchester Cathedral
where Henry and Robert's father, Daniel, was a verger
In 1856 21 year Henry Titheridge and 18 year old Robert Titheridge took the decision to leave Winchester in Hampshire and sail to Australia to join elder brother Alfred who had emigrated two years earlier.  Alfred’s story has been told in the previous blog. 

Henry and Robert left their parents, Daniel and Charlotte Titheridge, and their six year old brother Daniel in Winchester.  On 5 September 1856 at 3 o’clock they sailed off from Liverpool aboard the Marco Polo to their new life 10,500 miles away in Australia. They arrived in Melbourne after 3 months at sea, arriving on 6 December 1856.  We do not know if they stayed in Melbourne, where brother Alfred was living, but by 1860 there is record of Robert in Ballarat, Victoria and by 1863 records show that Henry was in Ballarat too.

Ballarat was a town in Victoria, Australia situated 60 miles from Melbourne on the Yarrowee River.  The area was first settled by sheep herders in 1838 but the area developed rapidly after rich alluvial gold was discovered in 1851, within days of the announcement of gold the gold rush began. As news of the gold reached the world Ballarat experienced a huge influx of immigrants, as the gold ran dry many settlers moved on to other fields.  The city earnt the nickname the golden city in the 1880s. Ballarat grew from its founding in 1852 to a city by 1870 and it is the largest inland city in Australia.  Although the alluvial gold was soon exhausted underground mining continued until 1918. This was city where both Henry and Robert settled.


Henry’s Story

On the 1851 census in Winchester Henry’s trade was an apprentice tailor, an occupation he pursued in Ballarat.  On 29 June 1863 Henry married Louisa Bush in Ballarat.  They went on to have seven children, 5 boys and two girls between the years 1864 and 1874.  One boy and one girl died in childhood.  The children were:

Rhoda Maria Titheridge born 1864 died 1893
Walter Titheridge born 1865 died 1934
Daniel Carey Titheridge born 1867 died 1944
Frederick Titheridge born 1869 died 1903
Edward Titheridge born 1871 died 1878
William Titheridge born 1872 died 1952
Ann Titheridge born 1874 died 1875

Of the surviving five children all married.  Rhoda married John Patrick Tierney; Walter married Agnes Smyth and had two daughters and one son; Daniel married Jessie Mill and had one daughter and two sons; Frederick married Rachel Homewood and had one son and two daughters; William married Lavinia Luke Hammer and had two sons and one daughter.
 
From newspaper records we have been able to follow the tragedy that hit Henry’s family in 1875 and the subsequent consequences.

On 18 January 1875 Henry and Louisa’s youngest daughter, 6 month old Ann, died.  A week later Henry’s wife Louisa died leaving Henry with six children aged 11 to 3 to look after.  The death of Louisa was reported in the local newspaper.

27 January 1875 Ballarat Courier
Funeral Notice: - The Friends of Mr Henry Titheridge are respectfully invited to follow the remains of his late wife to the place of interment, the Ballarat New Cemetery. The funeral procession to move from his residence. No. 3 Kipon Street South, this Day (Wednesday, the 27th instant), at half-past four o'clock.  W. B. KING, Undertaker, Start Street, near the Hospital.

Five months later Henry was in financial trouble and appeared in the list of insolvents in the newspaper.

19 June 1875  The Australasian Melbourne
Henry Titheridge, tailor, Ballarat.  Causes of insolvency—Sickness and death in family, and pressure of creditors. Liabilities, £82 8 shillings assets £27 deficiency £55 8s.

Obviously the deaths in the family, money problems and six young children to look after took its toll on Henry and in 1877 he was in trouble for drinking to excess.

13 January  1877 The Ballarat Star
Neglected Children — Five boys named Titheridge were charged, by Senior-Constable Crowley with being neglected.  It appeared that for some considerable time the father, a tailor, able to earn £3 a week, had been drinking heavily.  No one looked after the boys, who were allowed to run wild about the streets and get what meals they could from the people of Ascot Street, where their father lived.  Mr Gaunt asked Titheridge, who was in court, if he would amend his ways, and upon his promising to do so discharged the boys.

In 1878 a further tragedy hit the family when the youngest child Edward, aged 7 died.

Two years later Henry met an untimely death as reported in the papers of the time

7 January 1880 The Age Melbourne
Our Ballarat correspondent writes under yesterday's date Henry Tetheridge, who was locked up at the City police station on Monday, on a charge of drunkenness, died of epilepsy in the cells during the evening.  The police paid every possible attention to the unfortunate man, and his death was as sudden as unexpected.

7 January 1880  Geelong Advetiser
A tailor named Henry Titheridge, 43 years of age, died in the Ballarat City lock up on Monday in a fit, shortly after having been locked up for drunkenness

7 January 1880 Melbourne
A magisterial inquiry was held to day before Mr Budden into the cause of death of a man named Henry Tetheridge, a tailor, who died rather suddenly last evening in the lock up, where he had been incarcerated on a charge of drunkenness.  He had been attacked while there with epileptic convulsions, and was ordered to be removed to the gaol hospital, but before this could be done he expired.  A verdict of died from epilepsy was returned.

This left the five remaining children orphans Rhoda 16, Walter 15, Daniel 13, Frederick 11 and William 8.  We do not know what happened to the children were they taken into care? were the children looked after by 16 year old Rhoda? or were they looked after by their uncle Robert who  also resided in Ballarat but had 5 children of his own?


Robert’s Story

Robert travelled to Australia with his brother Henry and his trade was a carpenter.  On 24 September 1868 he married Alice Middleton in Ballarat. Between 1869 and 1884 Robert and Alice had nine children, three boys and six girls. The children were

Alfred born 1869 died 1941
Charlotte Ann born 1871 died 1909
Sarah Jane born 1874 died 1946
Agnes born 1875 died 1915
Robert born 1877 died 1946
Alice born 1879 died 1879
Albert born 1880 died 1886
Alice born 1883 died 1885
Ettie Edith born 1884 died 1885

Between 1879 and 1886 the four youngest children died,  Baby Alice died in 1879, the second child called Alice died in 1885 aged 2 and in the same year Ettie died aged under 1, then Albert died in 1886 aged 6.   Of the remaining children the two boys never married while the three girls married Charlotte married David Woodhead, Sarah married Richard Davenport and Agnes married William Pryor.   Hence there are no Titheridge offspring from the marriage of Robert and Alice.

Robert managed to get his name in the local papers on several occasions

4 June 1860 The Star Ballarat
Dray Offence.- Robt. Tetheridge, for being away from his horse and cart, was fined 5s.

August 1863 The Star Ballarat
Damaging Property - Robert Tetheridge was charged with having broken a square of glass in the shop-window of Mr Blair, valued at 20s. Fined ls and 20s damages.

Leader in Melbourne on 10, 17 and 24 December 1864 and 7 January  1865
Advertisement section     Robert Titheridge — Please write to your brother Alfred, at Williamstown, immediately.  Important news from home

This advert would have been in response to the boys’ mother Charlotte dying in Winchester on 13 June 1864.  The interesting thing is that the advert is only for Robert and not for Henry who as was also living in Ballarat.

 28 January 1873 The Ballarat Star
Deserting his Wife— Robert Tetheridge was charged with deserting his wife and two children, and
leaving them without any support on the 17th instant.  On the application of his wife the prisoner was discharged.  The court then adjourned.

Obviously relations improved as Robert and Alice went on to have 7 more children

Robert died in 1899 in Musk Vale in Ballarat aged 61, while his wife, Alice,  went on to live until 1926 when she died in Ballarat.


If you are related to Henry or Robert please get in touch, especially if you can tell us more about the new life in Australia for these two immigrants.  Today there is still quite a few Titheridges in Ballarat – if that is you we would love to hear from you.

Sunday 2 October 2016

Alfred Titheridge's Journey - From Winchester to Melbourne in 1854

Old House in Winchester
Family Life in Winchester, Hampshire

Daniel Titheridge was born in 1807 and was one of six children born in New Alresford, Hampshire to Ann Pett and James Titheridge.  Daniel married Charlotte Duffer (also written as Duffen or Duffin) on 3 February 1831 at Winchester St Thomas.  Daniel and Charlotte had 5 children
Alfred Titheridge born 1833 Winchester
Henry Titheridge born 1836 in Winchester
Robert Titheridge born 1839 in Winchester
Arthur Titheridge born 1843 in Romsey
Daniel Pitt Titheridge born 1850 in Winchester

The 1841 census showed Daniel and Charlotte living in Middle Brook Street Winchester with Alfred, Henry and Robert. The 1851 census showed Daniel and Charlotte still living at Middle Brook Street now with all five children.  On the 1851 census Daniel is a brewer, Alfred an apprentice coach trimmer and Henry an apprentice tailor.  Tragedy struck the family in 1852 when 9 year old Arthur died.

Charlotte died of epilepsy on 13 June 1864 in Snow Hill, Winchester.  Four years later Daniel remarried Ann Davey, a widow 9 years his junior, at Pimlico St Peters Church in London.  In later life Daniel’s occupation is given a Verger in Winchester Cathedral.  From the 1861 census onward Daniel lived at 7 Sussex Street in Winchester. Daniel died in Winchester on 27 March 1872 and Ann died in 1885.

Life in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

It is Daniel’s 4 children that emigrated to Australia.  The first to leave England was the eldest child Alfred Titheridge. At the age of 21 Alfred sailed from England to Melbourne, Victoria Australia aboard the ship “Champion of the Seas”.  Alfred settled in Melbourne and on 21 April 1857 he married Alicia Hughes at St Peters Eastern Hill, Melbourne.  During his life he resided at Nicholson Street Carlton, Abbotsford Street Hotham and 18 Wellington Street Newmarket, all places around the Melbourne area.

In September 1875 Alfred had a brush with the law when he was accused of abetting and assisting in an illegal marriage at Hotham between Thomas Downard and Lucy Murray.  Lucy was just 15 years old and she married without her mother’s consent.  Alfred had been a witness at the marriage and was therefore prosecuted. The defence said the marriage was perfectly legal: that no case had been made out against the defendant, Alfred, and the case was eventually dismissed.

Alfred’s wife Alicia died in 1875, aged 42, and was buried in Kew Cemetery also known as Boroondara General Cemetery.
Her death was announced in the local newspaper.
The Argus Melbourne 11 December 1875
The friends of Mr Alfred Titheridge are most respectfully informed the remains of his late beloved wife will leave the Kew Asylum for the place of internment in the Kew Cemetery this day Saturday 10 December at three o’clock.  Thomas Jennings Undertaker 128 Queens Street.

Two years later in 1877 Alfred remarried to Jane Gardiner Metcalf. On the 1851 census in Winchester Alfred was an apprentice coach trimmer and by 1857 his occupation was coach maker.  By 1863 he was working for the Victorian Railways.  The following article was found in the Australian Newspapers. presumably celebrating his retirement
North Melbourne Advertiser 5 May 1893
Mr A Titheridge late of the Carriage Shops Spencer Street and upwards of thirty years in the Department was made the recipient of a silver mounted umbrella the gift of his fellow workmen.


Ten months later, on 7 July 1894, Alfred died at Newmarket, Victoria.  The cause of death was heart disease.  He is buried at Melbourne General Cemetery.  His death was announced in the local newspaper.
The Argus Melbourne on the 9 July 1894
Death announcements
Titheridge – On the 7 inst. at 18 Wellington Street, Newmarket Alfred Titheridge late of the Victorian railways aged 61 years.


Alfred's widow, Jane, lived for another 23 years dying in 1917.  I have a copy of Alfred’s will showing that he left his money to his widow.  The will says he “left real estate in the colony of Victoria not exceeding the value of one thousand and sixty six pounds and personal property not exceeding the value of two hundred and twenty pounds”.  

As far as I am aware there were no children from either marriage.

Champion of the Seas

While writing this article I wondered about Alfred's voyage on, Champion of the Seas and found that both the ship had a claim to fame. 

In a local Hampshire paper I found the following advert for the ship's voyage, Alfred probably read some similar advert
Liverpool “Black Ball” Line of Australia packets
“Champion of the Seas”
The largest and finest merchant ship now in England.  For Melbourne forwarding passengers to all parts of Australia and Van Diemans’s land at ships’ expense the splendid new Clipper ship “Champion of the Seas”.  She beats every other ship on her passage from New York to Liverpool.  Her passenger accommodation is unequalled. The promenade on deck is more extensive that any ship in England.  Her cabins are superior to any ship in the trade.  Plunge and shower baths are fitted up for all classes of passengers and a milch  cow will be provided .  James Baines and Co 6 Cork Street Liverpool

The Champion of the Seas was a sailing ship, Clipper, built in  America in 1854 for the Black Ball Line.  It was to sail the route Liverpool to Melbourne.  Alfred was on her maiden voyage leaving Liverpool on 11 October 1854 and arriving in Melbourne 75 days later.  She was a big, fast ship Captained by Alexander Newlands. She set the record for the most distance travelled in one day under sail, covering 465 nautical mile on 10- 11 December 1854.  On this 1854 voyage the ship carried 780 passenger 45 in cabins and the rest in intermediate and steerage, (“steerage” was the cheapest way to travel, on the lowest deck beneath the water line).  Even on this new ship life at sea was far from comfortable and often hazardous.  Stormy seas and treacherous oceans were common on route and the Champion of the Seas' maiden voyage was no exception.  In the Bay of Biscay the ship met a severe gale which caused damage to the ship and the loss of life of one of the sailors.  Hygiene on board any ship was poor leading to disease and even death.  The maiden voyage of Champion of the Seas was better than most trips  - only four people died during the journey.  However, they did have a case of small pox on board and when the boat arrived in Melbourne it was put in quarantine for a week.  They finally embared on 29 December having spent Christmas Day on board.  The newspapers reported the way they dealt with the small pox “It was thought advisable to do away with any chance of infection by fumigating the mail and having the passenger’s clothes passed through boiling water before proceeding to destinations.”  From reading the newspaper articles it was interesting to realise that the “Champion of the Seas” brought news from England (shipping was their means of communication).  The Champion of the Seas brought news of the Crimean War and the Battle of Alma. 

So Alfred was lucky to arrive in Melbourne, a journey of nearly 12,000 miles, alive and healthy  and ready to settle in to a new and better life.

If you can give more details of Alfred's life please contact us.