From Swanmore to Australia and Titheridge to Titheradge

St Mary and All Saints Church in Droxford

It was 1989 when we were contacted by an Australian interested in her family history.  Her request was simple – “could we help her find out more about her great grandfather Frederick Titheradge”.  The reply was not so simple - there was no Frederick Titheradge born anywhere around the right time or in the county she thought.  There was however a Frederick Titheridge who fitted the bill.  The research gradually built up the evidence until there was no doubt and indeed her ancestor was an …idge not an  …adge.  Our Australian friend was quite devastated at the news that her ancestor’s surname was not what she thought.  Frederick had been born, christened and joined the navy as  …idge but when he disembarked in Australian it became  .adge.  We cannot tell whether this error was because his accent made the name unclear, his writing made the surname unclear or whether he just couldn’t spell.  Whatever the cause our Titheridge emigrant produced a whole large family of Titheradges who still reside in Australia today.

This is the story of Frederick Titheridge alias Frederick Titheradge who settled in Australia in 1880.  Frederick was the four times Great grandson of John Titheridge and Ann Quallat who started the Titheridge family tree in Cheriton nearly 180 years before he was born.  Frederick was born on 29 July 1842 the fifth child of nine born to Richard Titheridge and Mary Ann Lasham in the Droxford area of Hampshire.  He was baptised on 25 September 1842 at Droxford.  The 1851 census showed Frederick at home with his parents and 6 siblings living at Swanmore near Droxford.  By the 1861 census Frederick was an Ordinary Seaman 2nd class recorded as aboard HMS Britannia in Portsmouth Harbour on the census

Frederick’s naval career is well documented and he rose to the rank of Stoker.  His naval record is summarised below

•          HMS Agamemnon April 1860 to October 1862
•          HMS Hawker October 1862 to February 1865
•          HMS Narcissus March 1865 to July 1869
•          HMS Asia July 1869 to November 1869
•          HMS Rinaldo December 1869 to July 1872
•          HMS Duke of Wellington July 1872 to December 1872
•          HMS Asia January 1873 to May 1873
•          HMS Pearl May 1873 to January 1877
•          HMS Nymph January 1877 to January 1879
•          HMS Wolverine January 1879 to January 1880

He was discharged from the navy on shore in Sydney on 16 January 1880 nearly 20 years after joining the navy.  He was described in navy records as 5 foot 7 inches tall, brown hair, blue eyes, a dark complexion with a scar on right hand.  His character was overall very good although there was one incident in 1865 in Cork noted as “Gaol for breaking leave”

After his arrival in Australia Frederick worked as an engine driver in the Australian railways.  In his obituary it says he was in charge of the locomotive water and pumps between Molong and Meranburn,

Just over a year after arriving in Australia Frederick married Martha Hannah Pritchard on 4 June 1881 at Narrandera, New South Wales Australia.  They had ten children, 7 boys and 3 girls, although Margaret may be a step child, or we may have the wrong year of birth. The children were

•  Margaret born 1879in New South Wales; died 1964; married Samuel Coker in 1905
• John Albert born 1882 in Narrandera, New South Wales; died 1892;  aged 10
•  Frederick born 1884 in Narrandera, New South Wales; died 1938; married Phyllis Susannah Stewart in 1938; they had one girl and five boys
•  Daniel born 1885 in Narrandera, New South Wales; died 1961; married Elsie May Eggington in  1912; they had one boy.
•  Richard Joseph born 1888 in Narrandera, New South Wales; died 1969; married Mary Ann Kennerson 1917; They had one boy and two girls.
•  Leonard Arthur born 1890 in Narrandera, New South Wales; died 1968; Rosina Devine 1912; they had five girls and three boys
• George William born 1892 in Dubbo, New South Wales; died 1960; married Anastasia Florence Malcom in 1920; no known children
• Henry David Alexandra born 1894 in Dubbo, New South Wales; died 1967; married Margaret Marr or Maher in 1920; they had two girls
• Elsie Beatrice born 1895 in Dubbo, New South Wales; died 1972; married Gilbert Emmanuel Parkes in 1920
• Rita Muriel born 1897 in Dubbo, New South Wales; died 1988; married Andrew Herman Baker in 1915

Frederick died 17 February 1914 in Molong, Orange New South Wales aged 71, his wife Martha, who was 18 years younger than him, lived another 29 years and died 16 September 1943 aged 82.  Frederick’s obituary appeared in the Molong Argus on 20 February 1914 and this tells us a lot about his life in Australia.

Obituary Mr. Frederick Titheradge

Once again it becomes our sad duty to record the passing of an old and highly respected resident of Molong.  We refer to Mr. Frederick Titheradge, who passed to the “great beyond" at the residence of his daughter, Mrs. Coker, Orange, at 1.15 on Tuesday last, the immediate cause of death being senile decay.  Deceased was in his 72 year, having been born in 1842. He was a native of England.  Early in life he took to the sea, and served in the Royal Navy until he was about 35 years of age, then retiring.  (He was in receipt of an Imperial pension up to the time of his death.)  He landed in Australia 36 years ago, and immediately entered the New South Wales railway service, in which he remained until he was retired about a year ago.  Some 34 years ago, when stationed at Narrandera, he married Miss Martha Hannah Pritchard, who survives him.  The outcome of the union was ten children, nine of whom (six boys and three girls) are living.  They are, Frederick (Wellington), Daniel (East Maitland), Richard and George (Orange), Leonard and Harry (Molong), Mrs Coker and Misses Elsie andRita (Orange).  The deceased had been a resident of Molong for 18 years and up to some five weeks ago had enjoyed good health.  At the time mentioned Mrs Titheradge was in bad health, and the deceased was taking her to Sydney for treatment when he was taken ill.  On arrival in Sydney he grew steadily worse, and about a fortnight ago he was brought to Orange to his daughter's (Mrs Coker) residence.  All that could possibly be done to save the old gentleman's life was done, but without avail, and he gradually sank and passed peacefully away at the time stated, surrounded by all the members of his family.  The deceased was of a genial disposition, fond of his joke, and he was one who if he could not do a person a good turn, would never do a bad one, so that by his kindly and straight forward character he made hosts of staunch friends.  His one great hobby was vegetable gardening, and for many years, when living at the old pump house "Old Fred Titheradge's" (as he was familiarly called) garden was a sight worth seeing.  The funeral took place in Orange on Wednesday afternoon, the remains being interred in the Anglican portion of the general cemetery.  The service at the graveside was performed by the Rev. Canon Alldis, who went to Orange for that purpose.  The members of the M U. Oddfellows and Protestant Alliance marched in the funeral cortege, and the Oddfellows' burial service was read.  The Argus tenders its sympathy to the sorrowing widow and family in their great bereavement.

Obituary for Frederick’s wife Martha in 1943

Mrs. Martha H. Titheridge

One of the best known and most respected residents of the eastern portion of Orange, Mrs. Martha Hannah Titheradge, relict of the late Mr. Frederick Titheradge, passed peacefully away early on Thursday evening of last week at the home of her daughter, Mrs. A. H. Baker, of Edwards Street, Orange.  Mrs. Titheradge was a native of Sofala, an old mining field, and had reached the great age of 84 years.  For over 30 years Mrs. Titheradge had resided in Orange, having gone there from Molong, and for some years was highly regarded for the excellence of her catering for wedding parties and other big functions.  She was a devout member of Holy Trinity Church, regularly attending service until failing health confined her to her home.  Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Titheradge were married in St. Thomas' Church of England, Narandera, in 1878, the latter's parents being residents of the town at that time. Her husband predeceased her 30 years ago, and she is survived by the following family: Daniel (Fleming-ton), Richard (Orange), Len (Peak Hill), George (Narandera), Harry (Orange), Mrs. Coker (Burwood), Mrs. G. Parkes (Orange), and Mrs. A. H. Baker (Orange). There are 23 grandchildren and 20 great grand-children. Mrs. Titheradge is also survived by one sister (Mrs. Malone, Tottenham) and two brothers (Messrs, George and Albert Pritchard, of Tottenham and Queensland respectively).  After a service in Holy Trinity Church, the funeral moved to the Orange cemetery, where the interment was made in the Church of England section.