census, birth, marriages, death and military records. Genes Reunited.co.uk
Volume 1
Volume 2
Volume 3
Volume 4
Volume 5
Volume 6
Wills & Probate
Cencus
Alchin BMD
Individuals Index
Message Board
Sources
Contibrutors
Author's Family Tree
Family Photos
Sponsored Links:
Volume 5 – Kent and Beyond by Steve Green
Part 5 - Sawyers of the East India Docks – The Descendants of William Alchin and Ann Knock of Meopham ... continued...
1.5.1.10.2 ~~ Alfred Francis Witcombe
Alfred was born at Sydenham on 7th June 1896 (NSW 1896/25609). After leaving Fort Street High School in Sydney, Alfred became a clerk. On 12th July 1915 he enlisted in the First A.I.F. but as he was under 21 years of age his father would only agree to his serving in a non-combat unit. As a result he was assigned to the Medical Corps with service # 8870 and the rank of Private. Alfred’s Attestation Sheet gives the following physical description of him – height 5 feet 2 inches; weight 122 lbs; fair complexion, blue eyes and fair hair.
|
|
Alfred departed Australia with the 13th reinforcements for the 2nd Australian General Hospital on 17th December 1915 on the transport HMAT A35 “Berrima” arriving in Egypt on the 23rd January 1916. He was taken onto the strength of 2nd General Hospital on 27th January 1916. From 15th to 25th March 1916 he was posted for duty with the 1st Dermatological Hospital at Abbassia. For the next year he seems to have spent much of his time at, or escorting patients to and from, # 25 British Hospital at Wimmereux. On the 15th April 1917 he transferred as a stretcher bearer to the 3rd Field Ambulance (John Simpson Kirkpatrick’s unit). During the winter of 1917/18, like many other soldiers, he spent a number of periods in hospital with illnesses brought on by the harsh conditions of the battlefield of the Western Front. |
Alfred left England for home on 27th May 1919 as part of the nursing staff on the “Rio Padre”. He was discharged from the army on 19th September 1919. Alf had served in the army with Henry Barnes who introduced him to his sister Doris whilst they were on leave in England.
Doris worked in Barclays Bank in London and she was born on 12th July 1898, the daughter of Charles Lanning Barnes of Dorset and his wife Matilda Ann. Alfred married Doris at Sydney on 26th December 1921 (NSW 1922/00072). Alf and Doris had two sons – Barry (1924) and Ross (1928 - 2001).
|
|
|
Left: Eric & Grace with her brother Alf shortly before he died of cancer; Right: Grace with her baby daughter Patty in 1927 |
|
Alfred founded an accountancy practice in the NSW country town of Grenfell where he lived at 29 Dagmar Street. For a number of years he was the District Governor of Rotary for the western slopes and plains area of NSW.
Doris died in 1975 (NSW 1975/7023) aged 75 years. Alfred died of cancer at Orange Hospital on 19th November 1980 and he was cremated at Orange. The family accountancy practice was continued by Alf’s son, Ross, until his own death in January 2001.
1.5.1.10.3 ~~ Ronald Arthur John Witcombe
Ronald (Ron) was born in Marrickville on 7th August 1900 (NSW 1900/23759) and like his elder brother he attended Fort Street School in Sydney. Ron enlisted in the army just before the war ended and so he was not called up into his unit.
Ron married Gertrude Mary Constance (Connie) Mumford at St Paul’s church, Murrumburrah on 10th August 1927 (NSW 1927/14489); she was born in Sydney in 1905 the daughter of Rudolph Sheridan Mumford, a builder, and his wife Gertrude Ann McDonald. The wedding ceremony was performed by Rev’d Charles E. Burgess and the witnesses were M. Simpson and E.F. Burgess.
At the time of their marriage both Ron and Connie were living at Young where he was a reporter (probably for the local paper). Soon after their marriage, Ron moved his family to Nowra where they were living by 1929. Ron and Connie had only one child – Reginald (1928).
Ron enlisted in the Army at Paddington on 5th January 1942 (N388204) and he served as a Staff Sergeant in the 7th Battalion Volunteer Defence Corps. At the time of his son’s death in 1957 Ron was a public servant.
Ron was living at Faulconbridge in the Blue Mountains prior to his death in hospital on 27th June 1982 aged 81 years. He was survived by his wife Connie. She died at Springwood on 22nd August 1991.
1.5.1.10.3.1 ~~ Reginald Brian Witcombe
Reginald (Reg) was born at Sydney in 1928. After leaving school (Fort Street in Sydney) he worked for an oil company as a representative. Reg married Frances Clune at Sydney in about 1950. Reg and Frances had two children – Peter and Jan. In 1957 Reg and his family were living at 15 Chester Street, Inverell in northern NSW.
Reg was killed when his car overturned (it is believed he fell asleep at the wheel) on Ashford Road, Inverell on 18th July 1957. He was only 29 years of age. An inquest was held at Inverell by the Coroner, B.A. Wood, on 1st August 1957. Reg was cremated at Northern Suburbs Crematorium on 22nd July 1957.
1.5.1.10.4 ~~ Grace Flowerdew Witcombe
Grace was born on Christmas Day 1906 at Tunnyfall Terrace, 750 Illawarra Road, Marrickville (NSW 1907/5120). Remarkably her father was born on Christmas Eve 1867 and his mother in turn was born on Christmas Day 1831. Grace’s mother was attended by Dr Trindall (after the birth) and the midwife was Nurse O’Reilly. Charlotte Laing, her mother’s sister, witnessed the birth certificate. After leaving Marrickville School, Grace became a stenographer.
 |
 |
 |
Top left: Baby photo of Grace; Above: Grace and Vida; Left: Grace’s daughters playing on their property at Darke’s Forest in the late 1930s. |
|
|
|
(Left: Charlie & Grace on their wedding day; Above: The Turner clan at Darke’s Forest |
|
Grace married Charles (Charlie) Alfred Frederick Turner, a 23 year old mechanic of Summer Hill, against the wishes of her family on the 6th November 1926 at St Stephen’s church, Hurlstone Park (NSW 1926/14951). The wedding ceremony was performed by Rev’d G.A. Chambers and the witnesses were Grace’s father and uncle, Arthur Witcombe and Alexander Fenning. Charlie was from an old Nepean district pioneer family – he was the eldest surviving son of Charles Alfred Turner and Mary Ann Hyslop (both were from railway families). He was born on 26th April 1903 at Penrith and his birth was witnessed by Mrs Buckham.
|
The Turner Family of Mayfield, Sussex and Penrith, NSW Frederick (later known as Jesse Frederick) and Thomas Turner and their families were brought to Australia as bounty migrants by John Marshall. They departed England from the port of Plymouth on 26th March 1838 aboard the vessel “Amelia Thompson”. The vessel was commanded by Captain Dawson and contained 270 emigrants. Incidentally the Turner brothers were originally from the village of Mayfield in the Weald of Sussex. Mayfield is only a mile or so from the town of Rotherfield – the ancestral family of the Alchin / Alchornes. Also travelling with the brothers were their sister Philadelphia Saunders and her husband Francis who were also from Mayfield. The passage from England thankfully took only 96 days, which for the period was very quick. However it did not take long for illness to break out in the cramped and fetid conditions in which the emigrants travelled. The vessel was ravaged by typhus fever and small pox with at least 36 passengers dying, including Philadelphia Saunders and both the children of (Jesse) Frederick and Martha Turner. In all 168 passengers went down with typhus and 7 with small pox. Conditions became so bad on board the vessel that John Hoadley, a 28 year old labourer from Sussex, jumped overboard in a fit of delirium and was lost at midnight on 23rd May. He left a wife and two small children. The vessel arrived in Sydney on 1st July 1838 and it was immediately placed in quarantine at South Head where it remained until 23rd July. Jesse Turner and his wife moved to South Creek (modern St Marys) where they restarted their family. They had 13 children born in New South Wales including their daughter Hannah who married her first cousin John Frederick Turner. John Frederick (Fred) Turner was born at Pitt Street, Sydney on 6 July 1841, the son of Thomas Turner and Elizabeth Wells (she was from Horsley in Gloucestershire). Fred was baptised in the Church of England Parish of Saint Lawrence, Sydney on 15th August 1841 by Rev’d W.H.Walsh. In the 1860’s Fred was a farmer on land he held under lease at Mount Garrett but he later became an engine driver on the NSW Railways from about 1870. On the 8th September 1862 he married his first cousin Hannah Turner at the Church of St Mary Magdalene’s, South Creek (present St Marys). Hannah was born at Dunheved on 9th October 1844 and she was the daughter of Jesse Frederick Turner (the elder brother of Thomas Turner) and Martha Hall. The minister marrying them was the Rev’d Elijah Smith and the witnesses were Hannah’s brother George Turner and his wife Christiana Turner nee Neale. Fred and Hannah had six children – Philadelphia Ann (1863), Martha Hannah, (1865), Minnie Kezia, (1867), George Frederick, (1869), Ennie Caroline (1871) and Charles Alfred (1873). The family moved for a time from the Penrith district to Brown’s Creek, Carcoar where Fred worked with the Railways. Hannah Turner died of typhoid fever at St Marys on 2nd June 1877 and Fred was left with a large young family to look after. He wasted little time marrying again to another St Mary’s girl. His second marriage was to Martha Cook on 23rd September 1878 at the residence of a Presbyterian minister, Rev’d R. Paterson at Hereford Street, Glebe. Martha was born on 15th August 1860 at St Marys, the daughter of Emmanuel Cook, a farmer, and Harriet Luxford. The Cook family were very numerous in the St Marys area – Martha was one of thirteen children. The witnesses to the wedding were George Mallard and Ellen Smart. Martha gave a false age of 21 at the wedding. She was in fact only 18 and she may not have had permission from her parents to marry. Fred and Martha had ten children – Thomas Emanuel (1880), Elsie (1882), Ida May (1884), Lottie Harriet (1886), Martha Elizabeth (1890), Emily Florence (1892), John Frederick (1894), James William (1896), Joseph Thomas Emanuel (1901) and Robert Henry (1903). Most of these children were born at Penrith where Fred appears to have again taken up farming in the early 1880s, at Castle Road, Orchard Hills on blocks cut from the old Frogmore Estate. Fred died at Orchard Hills of heart disease and nephritis on 15th May 1914 aged 72 years. He was buried at St Mary Magdalene’s cemetery the next day with the Rev’d Bowers officiating. Witnesses to his burial were C. Edwards and W. Frazer. His grave is not marked. Fred left no will but the administration of his estate was granted to his widow Martha Turner on 23rd October 1914. Charles Alfred Turner was born at Brown’s Creek (near Carcoar), NSW on 4th March 1874. His birth was witnessed by Mrs Turner senior and it remains unclear whether this was Fred’s’s mother or Hannah’s. By this time Charles father had left the land and begun work with the NSW Government Railways. In the 1870’s the railway network was greatly expanded particularly west of the Great Dividing Range. The family returned to the St Marys area sometime before 1877 when Charles’ mother Hannah died. Charles joined the NSW Railways at Penrith as a locomotive cleaner on 5th August 1889 at a rate of 4 shillings per day. He moved to the main locomotive sheds at Eveleigh but he was retrenched on 27th October 1892 (Australia was going through a major recession at the time). He married Mary Ann Hyslop at Penrith on 21st January 1893. The Hyslops were a railways family with just about every member having some connection or employment with the NSW Railways. On 24th March 1893 Charles was re-employed by the NSW Tramways at Newcastle where he remained until 1897. On 21st February 1899 he returned to the Railways at Eveleigh but had to drop his salary by two shillings per day which must have caused considerable hardship to his growing family. Charles and Mary Ann had twelve children – Minnie Maude (1893), Frank (1895), Amelia Annie (1896), Irene May (1897), Alberta (1899), Ethel Grace (1901), Charles Alfred Frederick (1903), Edna Alice (1905), George Edward (1906), Mavis Brenda (1909), Albert James (1910) and Neva Sylvia (1912). In addition Charles had another son Clarence William (1909) who was born outside the marriage. Charles had served in the Militia with the 7th Light Horse at Penrith prior to World War One. He enlisted in the 1st A.I.F. with the rank of Driver in the 2nd Remount Unit with the regimental number of 2473. The Remount units were created to look after the horses of the Light Horsemen who were sent to Gallipoli to fight as infantry. The maximum age for enlistment in these units was 50 and they contained a high proportion of Boer War veterans and expert horsemen. The commanding officer of the 2nd Remount Unit was the famed bush poet A.B. “Banjo” Patterson. At the time of his enlistment Charles was 5 ft 4 & ˝ inches, weighed 140 lbs, had a fair complexion, blue eyes and had receding brown hair.
On the 8th November 1915 at Leichhardt, Charles completed a will, leaving everything to his wife, when he was obviously very ill with cerebro-spinal meningitis. The will contains numerous errors and its handwriting is very shaky. Charles died, leaving behind a very large family, at the Garrison Hospital, Victoria Barracks, Paddington on 11th November 1915, the day his unit sailed for Egypt on HMAT “Orsova”. He is buried in the Church of England section of Rookwood Necropolis in Grave EE. 512. On 13th December 1915 administration of his estate “was granted to Mary Ann Turner the widow of the deceased and sole beneficiary named under the will” (NSW Probate # 71763 Series 4).Fortunately Charles wife, Mary Ann, received a pension of 52 pounds per annum from 12th December 1915. She also received a war service pension for each dependant child of 13 pounds per annum. As she had 8 dependant children at that time her total pension was 156 pounds per annum or 3 pounds per week. At this time the family were living at 168 Balmain Rd, Leichhardt. Mary Ann died of uterine cancer on 29th July 1936 at the home of her daughter Minnie Halling at 9 Bellevue Avenue, Lakemba. She had been ill for 12 months and she was seen by Dr Alan Feldham on the day of her death. Mary Ann was buried in the Methodist section of Rookwood necropolis by Rev’d G. Wiley witnessed by Les Walsh and Alick Loveridge. |
At the age of 14 years Charlie enlisted in the Royal Australian Navy on 30th October 1917. Like other boy seamen he was sent to the training vessel HMAS Tingira at Sydney. This was a 2000 ton former clipper ship (Sobroan) which was built in Scotland in 1868 and which was acquired by the RAN in 1911 for use as a boys training ship. Her entire naval career was spent moored in Rose Bay or at Garden Island in Sydney. The vessel was disposed of in 1927 and broken up for scrap in 1940.
|
|
| HMAS Tingira |
 |
| Boys training aboard HMAS Tingira during World War One |
At the time he enlisted Charles was 5’3” tall with brown hair, hazel eyes and a fresh complexion. He had scars on his left knee, left ankle and left hand (perhaps from a fall from a horse?). His next of kin was his mother who lived at “Prospect”, Sproule Street, Lakemba. He served on board the light cruiser HMAS Brisbane from August 1918 until September 1919.
Charlie had enlisted for 7 years but it is not clear when he left the navy. The last mention on his file is on his 18th birthday in 1921 which was noted as his date of commencement (did this have something to do with reaching his majority). There is a further note on his file which needs further clarification – “not to be claimed for further service in the RAN”.
Charlie was a rider at bike races at the Sydney Showground where he met Grace Witcombe. After his marriage he was a boot maker and then a market gardener. Charlie and Grace lived at a number of places south of Sydney around the Royal National Park such as Coledale and Darke’s Forest.
At Coledale, Grace gave birth to one of her daughters in a home built by her husband from ironbark, which had been lined with hessian sacks, to which newspaper had been pasted, to keep out the weather. Charlie Turner by then was a market gardener but it was in the depths of the Depression and the family was doing it tough.
Charlie and Grace had eight children – Patricia, Eadith, Shirley, Judith, Margaret, Trevor, Keith and Warwick. Grace was deserted by her husband in 1943 and most of her children were fostered out. Grace never saw her eldest daughter Pattie again and it is believed that her father took her away.
Grace managed to have a housing commission house (at Brussels Street, Granville) allocated to her in 1947 and she was able to be re-united with her seven youngest children. She later worked in Roma, Queensland before returning with her partner Eric Thornton to live at the house in Granville with her daughter Margaret and her family.
Grace died at a nursing home at Parramatta on 5th February 1998 aged 91years. She was cremated at Rookwood and her ashes were placed in the Rose Garden near the sundial with the inscription “Our Amazing Grace”. Grace was the author’s grandmother.
1.5.1.10.5 ~~ Vida Alice Ann Witcombe
Vida was born at Stanmore on 16th March 1913 (NSW 1913/17226). After leaving school she worked as a stenographer. Vida married Mervyn Keith Barnes at St Michael’s church, Rose Bay on 21st May 1938 (NSW 1938/11818); he was born at Williamstown, Victoria in 1908 the son of William David Barnes, a clerk, and his wife, the late Jessie Kenn.
The wedding ceremony was performed by Rev’d H.W Barder and the witnesses were A.F. Witcombe and M. Myers. At the time of their marriage Mervyn was a motor driver of Coogee and Vida was a stenographer of North Bondi.
Mervyn and Vida had three children – Ian, Colin and a daughter who died as a baby. Vida died of cancer on 16th August 1997 aged 84 years.
|
|
|
|
Left: Patty Turner who has not been seen since she disappeared with her father in 1943; Right Vida Witcombe on the day of her marriage to Mervyn Barnes |
|
1.5.2 ~~ Ann Alchin
Ann was born at Poplar in April 1832. She was buried at Poplar at the age of 16 months on 22nd August 1833. Her address was given as Millwall (On the Wall).
1.5.3 ~~ Sarah Alchin
Sarah was born at Poplar in about 1833. At the time of the 1841 census she was living with her parents at Burchfield Rope Walk in Poplar. Sarah was not recorded with the rest of her family in the 1851 census.
1.5.4 ~~ Charlotte Alchin
Charlotte was born at Poplar in about 1837. She was baptised at St Dunstan’s church, Stepney on 11th June 1837. She was still alive at the time of the 1841 census when she was living with her parents at Burchfield Rope Walk, Poplar. The 1851 census records that Charlotte was living with her family at Bromley St Leonards.
1.5.5 ~~ George Alchin
George was born at his parent’s home at Burchfield Rope Walk, Poplar on 4th January 1839 (Poplar 1839 March qtr Volume 2 page 300). George’s birth certificate gives his father’s occupation as a sawyer. He was baptised at St Dunstan’s church, Stepney on 24th February 1839 and he was still alive and living with his family at Poplar in June 1841.
The 1851 census records that George was living with his family at Bromley St Leonards. George married Jane (possibly Neal); she was born at Croydon in 1833. George and Jane had at least one child – Ellen (1861).
The 1871 census records that George was a sawyer and he and his wife and their daughter were living at 36 Matcham Road, Croydon. There is no further record of this family in England.
1.5.5.1 ~~ Ellen Alchin
Ellen was born at Croydon in 1861. The 1871 census records that the school girl was living with her family at 36 Matcham Road, Croydon.
1.5.6 ~~ Emma Church Alchin
Emma was born in about 1842, probably at Poplar. The 1851 census records that the school girl was living with her family at Bromley St Leonards. She married John James Harris at the church of St John the Baptist, Croydon on 28th October 1867 (Croydon 1867 December qtr Volume 2a Page 311). John Harris was born at Poplar in about 1837 and he was the son of James Harris. He appears to have had a child from a previous marriage – Herbert (1864).
John and Emma had at least seven children – George (1867), Alfred (1869), Elizabeth (1871), Edith (1875), William (1878), William (1880) and Ernest (1883). The 1871 census records that John was a carpenter and he and his wife and three of his children were living at Church Road, Tottenham.
The 1881 census records that John was a house carpenter and he and his growing family including seven children were living at 6 Church Road, Tottenham. The 1901 census records that John was a joiner and he and his wife, their youngest son and a grandchild were living at 21 Park Lane, Tottenham.
1.5.6.1 ~~ George H. Harris
George was born at Poplar in 1864. The 1871 census records that the school boy was living with his family at Church Road, Tottenham. The 1881 census records that George was a nursery labourer (gardener) and he was living with his parents at 6 Church Road, Tottenham.
1.5.6.2 ~~ Alfred J. Harris
Alfred was born at Tottenham in 1868. He is not recorded with the rest of his family in the 1871 census and he was probably staying with relatives. The 1881 census records that Alfred was a school boy and he was living with his family at 6 Church Road, Tottenham. Alfred married Mary A.; she was born in Essex in 1866.
The 1901 census records that Alfred was a greengrocer and he and his wife were living at 8 Garnham Street, Hackney.
1.5.6.3 ~~ Elizabeth Harris
Elizabeth was born at Tottenham in 1871. The 1881 census records that the school girl was living with her family at 6 Church Road, Tottenham.
1.5.6.4 ~~ Edith S. Harris
Edith was born at Tottenham in 1874. The 1881 census records that the school girl was living with her family at 6 Church Road, Tottenham. The 1891 census records that Edith worked as a servant for Edward and Mary Liddell at 103 Highbury New Park, Islington.
1.5.6.5 ~~ William Harris
William was born at Tottenham in 1878. The 1881 census records that the young boy was living with his family at 6 Church Road, Tottenham. William married Frances; she was born at Clerkenwell in 1879. William and Frances had at least one child – Ernest (1900). The 1901 census records that William worked as a tinned meat processor and he and his wife and their son were living at 60 Coverton Road, Tooting Graveney.
1.5.6.5.1 ~~ Ernest Harris
Ernest was born at Lambeth in 1900. The 1901 census records that the young boy was living with his family at 60 Coverton Road, Tooting Graveney.
1.5.6.6 ~~ Florence E. Harris
Florence was born at Tottenham in 1880. The 1881 census records that the young girl was living with her family 6 Church Road, Tottenham.
1.5.6.7 ~~ Ernest Harris
Ernest was born at Tottenham in 1883. The 1901 census records that Ernest was a salesman and he was living with his parents at 21 Park Lane, Tottenham.
1.5.7 ~~ Elizabeth Alchin
Elizabeth was born at Bromley in 1850 (Poplar 1850 March qtr Volume 2 Page 347). The 1851 census records that the 12 month old infant was living with her family at Bromley St Leonards.
1.6 ~~ Francis Alchin
Francis was baptised at the church of St John the Baptist, Meopham on 14th August 1808. Francis married Elizabeth Kirby at the church of St George in the East, Stepney in 1833; she was baptised at the church of St John the Baptist, Croydon on 11th December 1803, the daughter of John and Mary Ann Kirby.
Francis and Elizabeth had at least four children – Mary (1835), Francis (1837), Frank (1838) and Elizabeth (1842). The 1841 census records that Francis was employed as a labourer. He and his wife and their eldest daughter were living at Stone Makers Yard, North End, Croydon.
The children are all believed to have died young and they were buried at Croydon, Surrey. Francis and his family subsequently disappear from the English records after 1842.
1.6.1 ~~ Mary Ann Alchin
Mary was baptised at the church of St John the Baptist, Croydon on 16th August 1835. The 1841 census records that Mary was living with her family at North End, Croydon.
1.6.2 ~~ Francis Alchin
Francis was born in late 1837 (Croydon 1837 December qtr Volume 4 Page 38). He was baptised at the church of St John the Baptist, Croydon on 14th October 1837. Francis died before the end of the year (Croydon 1837 December qtr Volume 4 Page 39).
1.6.3 ~~ Frank Alchin
Frank was born in mid 1838 (Croydon 1838 September qtr Volume 4 Page 54). He was baptised at the church of St John the Baptist, Croydon on 24th October 1838. Frank died aged about 18 months in 1840 (Croydon 1840 June qtr Volume 4 Page 64).
1.6.4 ~~ Elizabeth Alchin
Elizabeth was born at Croydon in late 1841 (Croydon 1841 December qtr Volume 4 Page 72) and she was baptised at the church of St John the Baptist, Croydon on 2nd January 1842. She died aged almost 4 years in late 1845 (Croydon 1845 December qtr Volume 4 Page 66).
1.7 ~~ Thomas Alchin
Thomas was born at Camer where his father William was a carpenter. He was baptised at the church of St John the Baptist, Meopham on 26th July 1829. There must have been something terribly wrong with Thomas. When his family moved to London in the early 1820’s he was abandoned in the Meopham Poorhouse – in those less enlightened days he was probably regarded, and treated, as an ‘imbecile’.
Thomas died in the Poorhouse at Meopham at the age of 15 years. He was buried at Meopham on 15th January 1835.
|| Previous Page Viewed || Next Page ||