Australia. So a new life in South Australia began for the family with Nathan being employed as a stone mason. Throughout his life he continued as a stone mason building bridges, houses and roads but more of that in another article. The following account of the family in Australia has been checked and verified as far as possible against actual source material. Of the children of Nathan and Anne Wells who came to South Australia in 1894 on the Dirigo. The eldest, MaryAnn Horner married John Simmons, a widower, and a man seventeen years her senior, on 1st January 1873 at the residence of the Reverend C. Manthorpe, in Glenelg, South Australia. It was John s second marriage. His first wife also called Mary, died in 1872 John Simmons, a blacksmith and son of Henry Simmons, came from Liverpool in 1839 aged twenty two. John died in 1894 aged 77 years at Blackwood, South Australia. His occupations include storekeeper, quarry worker, blacksmith, and Publican. * In 1851 he built and became the Licensee of the Blythewood Inn at Torrens Park. Mitcham. The Blythewood Inn was de-licensed in 1912, and demolished in 1958. In 1853 John built Blythewood cottage at Anderson creek. Next he worked for Samuel Saunders in his quarry whilst it seems that Sam then became licensee of the Blythewood Inn. By 1857 John was again licensee of the Blythewood Inn. In 1862 he subdivided his 10 acres by Anderson creek into 24 allotments and named the suburb Blythe Woodville. Two streets bear the names John and Mary the latter after his first wife. Blythewood is now part of Torrens Park. It seems that John met Mary Ann Horner through his associations with Sam Saunders and Nathan Horner. Mary Ann Horner/Simmons died on 21st November 1910, also at Blackwood South Australia. Both she and John are buried in the Mitcham Cemetery. Henry Horner the next child of Nathan and Ann I think died in Victoria in 1855 aged eighteen. Little is known of him, but being the eldest son, he may have joined many who went to the goldfields in Victoria. (1854-5) Maybe Henry thought to strike gold and make his fortune further a-field. Unfortunately this was not to be. I found this record in Victoria many years ago. It is more than a coincidence. Australia Vital records, Reg. No 2887 Victoria Henry Horner d. 1855 Age 18 Born, 1837 in England. Note : 1837 is Henry s birth year in England. 1
The second son Nathan Isaac Horner married MaryAnn Saunders on 26th February 1866. Nathan s younger sister Eliza Horner and her husband William Wooding were witnesses at the wedding. Eliza and William had married two years earlier in 1864. MaryAnn Saunders was born in Horsley, Gloucestershire on the 28th January 1848. Her parents were Samuel Saunders and Harriot Harvey.. Samuel Saunders was born on 25th April 1824 in Horsley, Gloucestershire. The 1841 census lists the following family for him: James Saunders age 50 years, Agricultural Labourer; Susan Saunders age 49 years, Samuel Saunders age 16, Daniel Saunders age 14 years, James age 11 years and Elizabeth age 8 years The 1841 census of Horsley, Gloucestershire. 2
Harriot Harvey, Mary Anne s mother was born on the 28 th August, 1825 also in Horsley, Gloucestershire. She and Samuel were married in Horsley on the 7 th December 1845. Information from their marriage certificate shows that both Harriot and Samuel made their mark with a cross, with Samuel s father given as James Saunders, and Harriot s father as Thomas Harvey. Samuel s parents were Susannah Brinkworth (Bunkworth) and James Saunders. They married on 3rd October 1816 in Horsley, Gloucestershire, England. Samuel was the eldest at 16yrs and his siblings were Daniel 14yrs, James 11yrs and Elizabeth 8yrs in the 1841 census. Harriot s parents were Maria Webb and Thomas Harvey and they married in Horsley on the 16 th September 1807. Harriot was their eighth child. The Harvey children were James was born about 1808 and baptised in St Martins Church on 11 th of April 1814. He died in 1828 and was buried in the grounds of St Martins Church Horsley on May 18 th 1828. Samuel was born about 1810 and baptised on the same day as James. He married twice in England before going to Australia in 1851on the Oregon. Son Jesse was also on board. He died at Yacka in South Australia. Elizabeth born in 1812 was baptised on April 14 th the same day as her two elder brothers. She married Thomas Brinkworth of Nailsworth. They arrived in South Australia aboard the Somersetshire in 1839 with three of their four children, one having died at sea. They had a total of ten children. Elizabeth died in 1881 and Thomas in 1892. Peter was born in 1816 and died in 1821. He is buried in Horsley. Jane was born about 1818 but nothing more is known of her. Ann was born in 1820 and died in Freeling South Australia in 1891. Peter the 2 nd was born in 1822 and died at Walkerville South Australia in 1875 Harriet was born in 1825 and died at Lower Mitcham South Australia in 1873 Thomas jr was born in 1827 and died at Crystal Brook South Australia in 1890 James the 2 nd was born about 1830 and died at Nailsworth South Australia in 1888. The wife of Thomas Harvey, Maria Webb was born on June 8 th 1788. She had many siblings one of whom was a younger sister Harriot, spelt with an O. Her parents, John Webb and Sarah Manning were married on the 9 th September 1787. The other siblings of Maria found when searching this family were Mercy, Peter, Jesse, and Sarah. Visiting St Martins church, Horsley in Gloucestershire we found inside the church the following plaque: Entrance to Dan l Saunders Vault Also in the church itself are three early memorials for the Webb family. 3
In the church yard are adjacent headstones which read: In Memory of Thomas and Maria Harvey also of their son James Thomas departed this life Feb 7 th 1866 These stones were erected at the expense of their family in South Australia The second memorial is for another Harvey family. It is possible that John is a brother of Thomas, with relatives in Australia. In the memory of JOHN HARVEY of this parish who departed this life January 11 th 1854 Aged 53 years Also of SARAH youngest daughter of JOHN and ELIZABETH HARVEY Who died December the 17 th 1870 Aged 17 years Also of the above ELIZABETH HARVEY who died October 7, 1877, aged 66 years On the June 11 th 1850 Harriot and Samuel Saunders with MaryAnne aged two, arrived in South Australia on the sailing ship The Stag. Samuel is listed as a Cornish miner. This is possibly so that he could get a passage on a ship that left from Plymouth, which is quite a journey from Horsley. Three more children were born to Harriot and Samuel Saunders in Australia. Harriot Saunders b: 11 th January 1855? Henry James Saunders b: 17 th February 1858 d: 19 th November 1944. He went to Victoria. Elizabeth Saunders** b: 7 th February 1863 d: 9 th March 1941; married Edward Holly and they head an extensive family in South Australia of Hollies, McMillans, and Kings. Samuel Saunders b: 31 st March 1867 d: 7 th August 1950. He also went to Victoria where he married twice. Firstly to Catherine Everitt in 1891 having one daughter Elsie and then to Dorothea Anderson in June 1913. There were five children by this marriage. Harriot senior died in 1873 of cancer and is buried in North Road cemetery, whilst her husband Samuel re-married the much younger Ellen Baker in 1874. She was born in 1841 and her Parents were Job Baker and Ellen Halliday who married in1838 and had a large family. Samuel died on the 1 st March 1885 and is buried in Mitcham cemetery. Ellen died in 1920 at the Grange. 4
Nathan Isaac Horner and Mary Ann Saunders had 9 children: Henry Samuel born on the 2 nd July 1866 at Mitcham; Christened 11 th Nov 1866, and died on the 22 nd May 1944; married 1 st Emily Steer, born 28.3.1860; died 27.6.1913; married 19 June 1886. 2 nd. Francis Lloyd, born 1868, died 26 th June 1956 they married on the 18 th April, 1914. Henry s brother, C L Horner a cycle builder, was a witness at the wedding. An advertisement in the SA Sands and McDougall Almanack for 1921 gives his place of work as Horner s Motor House 104-106 Pirie Street. Nathan Isaac born on the 19 th March 1868 at Blythewood (Mitcham), South Australia. At 19, and working as a bricklayer he went to Victoria where he married May Constable a farmers daughter in February 1892. He died on 6 th December 1892 ten months later at Kyneton Victoria aged 24 of cerebro spinal meningitis. Clara Anne born on the 3 rd March 1870 at West Mitcham. Clara married Thomas Osborne on the 12 th March 1890. Thomas was born in 1860 at Angaston. His parents were Thomas Osborne and Mary Savage. They came to Australia aboard the William Prowse from Somerset in August 1854. Thomas died in April 1915 at Norwood age 55yrs. I have his Bible. Clara died 13 th June 1932 at Unley and is buried in Mitcham cemetery. Ellen (Nellie) born 15 th February 1872 at Mitcham, died in childbirth on the 14th May 1904; married Thomas Charles Samuel Clayton on the 17th July 1894 at St Lukes Church, Adelaide. He was born about 1860 died 13 th July 1938 Adelaide South Australia. Frederick born at Yacka 10 th October 1875, died 13 th February 1940, in South Australia and is buried in Payneham cemetery. Married 1 st Mary Catherine Dixon 2 nd Constance Olive Bowering, widow on 21 st May 1927, at the Residence of John Hicks, Fullarton Estate, South Australia. She was born 22 nd May 1885, Glen Osmond S.A. and died 3 rd January 1954, Adelaide, South Australia. Arthur born 23 rd September 1877 at Crystal Brook; died Ackland Hill 23 rd July 1951, Married Fanny Maria Baldwin, on the 23 rd May 1900 at the residence of Mrs Horner, Parkside, South Australia. She was born 22 nd February 1869, Echunga, South Australia; died 15th November 1952, Eastwood, South Australia. Elizabeth Mai born 27 th March 1880 at Crystal Brook, died in NSW 26 th May 1968; married 1 st Frank Roland Harvey on the 10 th August 1905. He was born 20 th February 1880 Leicester, UK. He died in N.S.W on the 21 st Sept 1910, of Meningitis, but family records suggest he was buried in South Australia. His parents were William Harvey and Jane Brocklesby, born in Derby, married in Leicester England; died in South Australia. 5
2 nd Thomas (Tom) James Falvey, on the 3 rd April 1926, Bondi, NSW. Tom was born in Sydney N.S.W. about 1888 and died on the 2 nd July 1970, at Bondi. Tom is listed as a correspondence clerk and Mai as a costumier on their marriage certificate. Tom s parents were John Falvey, a storeman and his wife was Marie Josephine Foley. Alice Beatrice born 27 th February 1883, West Mitcham, died 24 th July 1977 Adelaide; and is buried in Mitcham cemetery. married Charles Edward Sutton on the 8 th June 1910. He was born about 1881 at Rotheram near Sheffield, and died 12 th February 1958, Colonel Light Gardens, Adelaide South Australia; He is also buried in Mitcham cemetery. Charles Lindsay was born April 6 th 1885 at West Mitcham, and died, 19 th June, 1947. He married Catherine Olive Mary Crundwell on the 15 th August 1904 at St Mary Magdalene Church, Adelaide South Australia. She was born 28 th October, 1884, Angle Grove South Australia and died 19 th August 1946, Magill, South Australia. Both are buried together in Paynham cemetery South Australia. Nathan Isaac Horner died in May 1909 at Brighton. Mary Anne Horner (Saunders) his wife died at the home in Colonel Light Gardens of her youngest daughter Alice Beatrice Sutton on 13 th November 1929. I have her Bible. Eliza Horner the fourth child of Nathan and Ann Wells married William Wooding on the 31 st January 1864 in North Adelaide. William was born in born Q4 1840 in Yardley Hastings, Northhamptonshire, England, and was the son of Joseph Wooding and Elizabeth Eyre. He was a carter and died on the16 th September, 1919 at Victor Harbour in South Australia. Joseph an agriculture labourer, his wife Elizabeth Eyre and son William a ten year old at the time had arrived on the vessel Oregon on the 2 nd November 1851 along with Joseph eight, Eli four, and Roseanna an infant. They had three more daughters in South Australia: Elizabeth 2.7.53; Mary Ann 12. 11. 1855; and Sarah Jane 1.10.1859. On board the Oregon were another Wooding family. William also an agriculture labourer and his wife Mary Ann (Lack) with children Elizabeth 10 and James 9 being listed as niece and nephew, and then Jonathon 4 and William 1 as their own. William and Mary Lack went on to have six more children in South Australia Mary Ann, b 14.9.1852, Josiah b 17.3.1856, Charles Henry b 23. 3. 1859, Charles Alfred b 18.11.1860, Elizabeth Ann b 22.11.1861, Joseph Spencer b 11.8.1863 6
Also on board the Oregon travelling as a single woman was Hessy/Epsebah Wooding, twenty two, a servant, seemingly sister to William and William s aunt. She went on to marry Isaac Gould on the 14 th August 1854 at Macclesfield, South Australia and they had seven children together. Sarah Ann 15. 3 1855: Elizabeth 6.4.1857: Mary Ann 10. 12. 1859: Emma 17.9.1862: Isaac William 16. 2.1865: Martha Elder 25.12.1867: Hepzibah 28.7.1871 Eliza Horner and William Wooding had 3 children: William Nathan Wooding b: 4 th August 1865 at Prospect Village; d: 17 th March 1868 at Prospect, aged 3yrs old Ruth Elizabeth Wooding b: 23 rd March 1869 at Prospect Village; d: Bowden on the Hill 13 th December 1883 aged 14 years old. Florence May Wooding b 30 th August 1874 at North Adelaide. She married Hubert Coultas on 7 th March 1900 in the Baptist church North Adelaide. Born in 1873, Hubert was the son of Catherine Fredrickson and Thomas Coultas. Florence and Hubert Coultas had two boys: Hubert Palmer Coultas born 29 th July 1901 and Gordon William Coultas born 18 th March 1904. Sarah Elizabeth Horner the last surviving child of Nathan and Ann married James Muir in Adelaide on the 5 th December1866. James was born in Scotland in 1844. They had 4 children: Sarah Elizabeth Muir b: 3 rd September 1867 in O Halloran Hill, South Australia. James Muir b: 19 th December 1868 Nathan William Muir b: 1870, Ballarat Victoria, died 1943 Ballarat Victoria. Walter Muir b: 9 th May 1872/3 Unley Park / Ballarat, Victoria, died 30.3.1949 at Smiths Gully, Victoria. Sarah Elizabeth Muir nee Horner died on March 1 st 1876 at the RAH Royal Adelaide Hospital. Cause of death was diseased Enteric Glands. Two years earlier, also recorded at RAH, she had a still born baby. I think James then took the children back to Victoria after Sarah died. Certainly they had family in Victoria. Their daughter Sarah Elizabeth Muir married William Thomas in Richmond, Melbourne on 12 th November 1888. He was a Mining Expert from Broken Hill at this time. They had three children. Ethel Morton Thomas was born in 1889 at Northcote, in Victoria on 20 th October 1889. She did not marry and died in Glenhuntly in September 1954. After the birth of Ethel the family returned to South Australia where Andrew William Thomas was born at Blackwood in May, 1891. He married Josephine Richie ( Ina) Dobson from Glasgow. They had two sons. Andrew died in Victoria in 1956. 7
Cyril Percy Thomas was born at Blumberg (now Birdwood) on 21 st December 1894. He married Margaret Pond in 1921 and they had one son. The family stayed in South Australia till about 1903 when they moved to Western Australia. William died on 6 th August 1911 at Southern Cross, west of Coolgardie aged 59 yrs. Sarah Elizabeth Thomas and the three children mentioned above are named as beneficiary in the will of Mary Ann Simmons, nee Horner, wife of John Simmons, and eldest sister of Sarah Elizabeth, nee Horner. The IGI records for Ethel Morton Thomas and Andrew William Thomas show William Thomas as there father, with Sarah Elizabeth or Lizzie Muir as the mother. Sarah Elizabeth s death at 93 is recorded on the IGI as Lizzie Muir. She outlived all her children and her husband, the latter by 50 years. Second son, James Muir? No details so many James! Their third son Nathan William Muir married twice: 1 st to Emily Naden 26 th.12.1866, b 22.5.1881 d.1948. They had four children: Nathan 1904; William Thomas, born 1906, and died Condoblin in 1931; Elizabeth Mabel born Condoblin, September1909, died there 22 nd November 1910. Josephine Mary, born 1909 Errebenderry NSW, died in Condoblin 1934; she married Bertram Gordon Dixon b 1905. They have two daughters 2 nd to Sarah Jane Wilstencroft in Sydney in 1930. She was born in 1870 in Ballarat, Victoria and died Hornsby NSW 1943. no issue. Lastly Walter Muir married Jessie Charlotte Knevitt in Adelaide, 1893 or 1895. They had: George Maurice, born in Carlton in 1896 Ethel Rose, born in Fitzroy South in 1901 Anecdote **There are families of Woodings (s) in South Australia coming from a different area of England than our William Wooding. Fanny Woodings who married Edward King is distantly related. I have worked out that there is a distant connection between these two families through MaryAnne s sister Elizabeth Saunders** who married Edward Holly and Nathan s sister Eliza who married William Wooding. August, 2010 Liz Jackson Hemel Hempstead Hertfordshire. 8