David Whitby of Cambridgeshire UK
KerrieM
I am interested in researching the background of David Whitby who migrated to Australia in 1855 on board the "Ramillies" from Cambridgeshire, UK. On the ship records he stated "sister on board". He would have been c. 31 years of age.
The ship arrived in Moreton Bay (Brisbane, Qld) on Nov. 24, 1855 and he married my gr,gr,gr,grandmother Rebecca Curtis (Widow nee Rawlinson)the next day 25 December 1855 at St. John's C of E, Brisbane. Rebecca was travelling on the same ship with 5 of her 6 children as Assisted Migrants. Rebecca's husband had died in 1849 however her youngest child was 3 yo in 1855? Rebecca had lived in Westley-Waterless, Cambridgeshire and surrounded by both her family and her in laws. As it would have been a big step for a woman on her own with children to leave family and friends and sail for the other side of the world - I am wondering whether she knew David Whitby in Cambridgeshire and her youngest child Elizabeth was his child? Perhaps social pressure forced her out of the village. Rebecca's age was listed as 39 yo but birth records indicate that she was actually 42 years of age (considerebly older than David. However, she died in 1890 and is buried in Gympie Cemetery. I have found records that David Whitby had a mining licence but he died several years before Rebecca.
Any information that can be added would be appreciated.
Kerrie
Sydney, NSW
Comments
allycat on 2006-11-14 23:33:14Dear Kerrie, Hi there. Your 3g grandfather David WHITBY should be able to be found on the 1841 and 1851 Census. Try joining up as a free member of RootsChat. Tip: use your same username that you have on familytreecircles in case someone wants to find you.
Then, goto this link RootsChat.com - England - Cambridgeshire Lookup Requests and post an 1841-1851 Census Lookup Request WHITBY family as your subject heading, and include all known information on your WHITBYs. Usually other rootschatters reply fairly quickly. Hopefully you will be able to find his parents and any siblings, abode of address, occupation of father, etc.
Make sure you also have a look at the Cambridgeshire Resources on the page prior to the link I have provided.
Q.Do you have Death Certificates in QLD? Death certificates usually contain a wealth of information.
Kind regards,
Alison QLD Australia.
allycat on 2006-11-14 23:39:01Also, it's possible that your two ancestors knew each other previously in England due to the fact that they married the next day upon arrival in Australia. I believe that ships took at least 3 months to travel downunder. I suppose that's long enough for a shipboard romance too.
What4 on 2008-03-22 06:23:54Dear Kerrie
My Whitby research shows that 2 year old David was baptised 31 Oct 1824 in Harlton, Cambs and that he died in 1886 in Queensland. I do not have a copy of the death certificate.
Yours truly
Ross St Georges Basin NSW
allycat on 2008-03-22 06:50:23Dear Ross, Username 'KerrieM' may not be a current member of this website if she does not respond.
However as you seem to be interested, a bit more info for you:-
Click on the following link, then goto 'click here to access the historical search index'...
Dept of Justice & Attorney General, Queensland, Australia
Click on DEATHS and type in WHITBY DAVID years to search from 1885 to 1887 you will see:-
Reg # 1886/C1579 Family name WHITBY Given name DAVID Fathers given names DAVID WHITBY Mothers names CHARLOTTE - ** born England aged 63 years.
This would make him born abt 1823.
If you wish to purchase the Death Certificate for your records, Certificates.
What4 on 2008-05-27 18:30:16
What4 on 2008-05-27 18:37:07Dear Kerrie
David only had 4 sisters. Their names and ships on which they came are -
Sarah [Maidstone], Alice [Cremona], Elizabeth [Constitution], Jane [Maidstone].
David came to Moreton Bay on the Ramillies, so who was the sister with him - could it have been his mother Charlotte? - because I have been unable to find her arrival in Australia.
I would like to make further contact with you.
What4