St Francis Church 1861 One interesting story I've uncovered quite accidentally is of Edwin Bird (1829 - 1870), a grandson of William Bird of Newnham (week 43). He was baptised in Lambeth on 26th April 1829 and was living at 8 Elizabeth Place as a 12 year old child on the 1841 census. This was a house his grandfather had built.
At some point after this, he emigrated to Oz and married an Irish lady, Mary Ann Roche, in 1859 in St Francis' Cathedral, Melbourne. This is the oldest Catholic church in Victoria and predates the Gold Rush of 1851. John 'Red' Kelly, Ned Kelly's father, who had been transported from Ireland in 1841 for stealing a couple of pigs was married there in 1850. Perhaps he was a neighbour ?
They had 6 children including two who died as infants.
At some point after this, he emigrated to Oz and married an Irish lady, Mary Ann Roche, in 1859 in St Francis' Cathedral, Melbourne. This is the oldest Catholic church in Victoria and predates the Gold Rush of 1851. John 'Red' Kelly, Ned Kelly's father, who had been transported from Ireland in 1841 for stealing a couple of pigs was married there in 1850. Perhaps he was a neighbour ?
They had 6 children including two who died as infants.
The last of their six children was born in April 1869 and in March 1870 Edwin brought his wife and the 4 children - Marianne Jane, Louisa Helen, Fanny Rose and Edwin Frederick William - back to England, together with their servant.
The decision to return to Blighty may well have been connected with the death of his father in January 1870.
The decision to return to Blighty may well have been connected with the death of his father in January 1870.
Probate mentions the Nags Head, 205 York Road, Battersea On 2nd November 1870 Edwin became licensee of a pub "The Nags Head" in Battersea and aged just 41 he died 22 days later of an obstructed hernia. I have no medical knowledge whatsoever but I guess he must have already been in some pain before he left Australia and lifting beer barrels can't have helped his condition.
On 14th January 1871 the pub licence was transferred into the name of his wife and she and the family were still living at the pub on the 1871 census with the Australian servant who they brought back with them.
On 14th January 1871 the pub licence was transferred into the name of his wife and she and the family were still living at the pub on the 1871 census with the Australian servant who they brought back with them.
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