John Matthew & Emma
Trengrouse
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Surname:
MATTHEW Birth Details Death Details Immigration Details |
Surname:
TRENGROUSE Birth Details
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Family Stories Life in Australia: At the baptism of his daughter, Mary Jane in 1828, John's place of abode was given as Torleven and his occupation, "farmer". According to the "Biographical Index of South Australians", the Matthews family emigrated to South Australia on the "Bussorah Merchant", arriving 10 Nov 1848 from London and Plymouth, viz: John Matthews and family - Ag. Lab.; Ann Matthews - Domestic Servant; James Matthews - Ag. Lab.; Emma Matthews - Domestic Servant; John Matthews - Ag. Lab. The decision to emigrate was usually made because people thought life in one of the Australasian colonies could offer them and their families a better life and a better standard of living than they had any hope of achieving in Europe. Quite often they would have received reports of life in the colonies from friends or family who had already arrived there, or perhaps they saw advertisements for emigrants, or reports and news items about Australia and New Zealand in the local newspaper. The decision to emigrate must have been a very difficult one, because although emigrants expected their standard of living to improve, they also knew it was a long, long way to travel to the new country and that there was a likelihood that they or some family member would not survive the long and difficult voyage, and that once they had left Europe there was very little chance that they would have the opportunity to return and so were probably seeing their friends and family for the last time. It took many months for letters to come to and from their families. A very important consideration for many emigrants was whether or not they were eligible for help with their expenses. In 1851, government assisted emigration was available only to New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia, to Cape Colony and Natal in South Africa and to some New Zealand settlements. The Emigrants' Almanack for 1850 listed the types of people needed in Australia: "The class of emigrants wanted in Australia and whom the colony will abundantly reward for their work are the industrious, the sober and the healthy of the following classes: shepherds, ploughmen, carters, labourers, gardeners, cooks, grooms, butchers, bakers, printers, millers, sawyers, brick-makers, stone-cutters, masons, saddle and harness makers, carpenters, cabinet makers, plasterers, painters and glaziers, blacksmiths, wheelwrights, tailors, shoemakers, tanners and curriers, female house servants, nurses, farmers, retired officers, and other gentlemen with either small or large capital". Once they had decided on becoming assisted emigrants to Australia, applicants had to meet certain conditions. In 1851 an agricultural labourer would have been expected to pay £4 towards the passage for himself and his wife and £1 for each child under 14. If they had more than two or three children they would not have been accepted. They were all expected to be of good character and in good health, and since they were having most of their fares paid by the government, only people who were considered to be those of use to the colony were usually accepted. Government emigrants were provided with free eating utensils, mattress and bedding for their use on board ship and they were allowed to keep these items on arrival in Australia in an attempt to prevent the spread of fever and other illnesses. There were many preparations to be made for the long voyage, and many necessities which the emigrants had to provide for themselves. William Kingston's Emigrant Manual for 1851 advised that the following were needed. Men's outfit: 2 jackets, 2 waistcoats, 2 pairs of trousers, 1 duck frock, 12 shirts, 12 pairs of stockings or socks, 8 handkerchiefs, 6 towels, 2 pairs of braces, 1 cap and bad weather hat, 2 pairs of shoes, 1 pair of hob-nailed half boots, 1 hair brush and comb, 1 razor, strop, box and glass; 6 lbs of soap needles and thread, 1 Bible and Prayer Book and 1 chest. For women: 2 dresses, 6 chemises 2 sleeping jackets, 1 flannel petticoat, 2 cotton petticoats, 1 pair of stays, 6 pairs of stockings, 1 cloak, 1 bonnet, 1 shawl, 6 handkerchiefs, 6 caps, 6 towels; 2 pairs of shoes, 6 lbs of soap, needles and thread, 1 hair brush and comb, 1 Bible and Prayer Book, 1 chest. He also suggested they should take with them books and work to keep themselves busy on the long voyage, and an iron "emigrants' kettle", the outside of which could be used as a big pot for soup and the top as a large dish or saucepan. Inside it fitted a saucepan, gridiron, 2 plates and cups, knives, forks and a teapot. Everything had to be packed carefully into a large sea chest, but as this was stored in the hold of the ship, emigrants were advised to take a separate small waterproof bag to carry everything they would need for the first month of the journey, until they were allowed to access the boxes in the hold. Early registration records in South Australia give very little familial information. There is no evidence of children born to John Matthews and Emma Trengrouse in South Australia. The "Observer" Newspaper report July 16 1861 Page 4 (Supp.) Column E details inquest on a Mr John Matthews, who died from congestion, brought on by drink and exposure to weather in July, 1861. Margaret Cooper, daughter of deceased, gave evidence. Henry Whitford found the body and said he had known deceased for 8 years. This John Matthews is buried at Little Para churchyard, aged 65 on 17th July, 1861 and was aged 65. Also buried at Primitive Methodist Cemetery at Salisbury are: Thomas Mathews, 57 of Salisbury, bd Jan 1875; and Eliza Mathews, aged 53 bd January 1878. Probate Indices have been searched and no record of any grant of probate or administration has been issued in the estate of John Matthews who died on 17 July 1861. Life Before Australia: John was the son of a yeoman,
John Matthew who married Charity (nee Williams) in 1795 at Breage,
Cornwall. He was the grandson of James and Phillis Mathew. |
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| Family Contacts Surname: DODD |
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| Descendants Grandchildren Great Grandchildren Great Great Grandchildren Great Great Great Grandchildren Great Great Great Great
Grandchildren NB: Superscript
behind each descendant name represents the lineage number of that
descendant. |
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Date : March 1999
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