The WEST FAMILY
in Australia
Thomas West married Martha Goodwin on the 8th July 1793 in the Parish of St Nicholas, New Romney, Kent. They had a son Thomas Spencer born 3 February, 1796. Thomas was charged and convicted of burglary and imprisoned at Horsham, Sussex on 17 March, 1800.
Brede Village, Sussex |
Cackle Street, Brede |
On Tuesday, 18 November 1800 Her Majesty's ship the Earl Cornwallis left Portsmouth, England for the new colony at Port Jackson, Sydney Town. The ships complement included 195 male convicts, 95 female convicts, 28 guards, wives and children, 7 free men, 9 free women and 17 children and the ship's crew of 67, a total of 416. Thomas West was one of the convicts being transported to a new life in New South Wales for his crime of stealing.
Thomas was now separated from his wife Martha and his child of 7 years, Thomas Spencer.
On 10 June 1801 the Earl Cornwallis arrived, after 204 days at sea. Of the 230 prisoners 35 had died at sea.
Sydney Town in 1801 was mostly a settlement of huts with there associated vegetable gardens. The population had reached 2,000.
Thomas West 1773-1858
Thomas West in old age. |
Thomas Spencer West 1796-1856
Thomas West's wife, Martha, remarried after Thomas had been in the colonies for seven years as a convict. Thomas Spencer was raised by Martha and his stepfather Henry Oliver, a fisherman.
On the 10th July 1819 aged 23, Thomas Spencer West married Lucy Jennings in the Church of St Mary, Teddington, Middlesex.
Thomas Spencer and his wife booked passage on the ship, the Duchess of York on 28 September, 1820 heading for Sydney Town. They arrived at Port Jackson on 5 April 1821 after a four week stopover in Hobart.
Thomas Spencer met his father soon after arrival and discovered at some point in time that his father was living with another woman, Mary Rugg, by which he had two more children - Obed now aged 14 years and Naomi aged 16. Father and son had some difference of opinion whether it was because of this new relationship, it is not known, but both refused further contact.
Thomas Spencer found work with influential and wealthy importers and in October 1825 applied for a grant of 300 acres of land from the then Governor, Sir Thomas Brisbane. Over the next 26 years he prospered but did not join the list of prominant personages of the time. He received another grant of land in Kent Street, Sydney and had a liquor licence for the Woodlark Inn in Upper Kent Street. He also leased a store in Pitt Street of what merchandising is unknown. In 1843 he bought 20 acres of land at Kingsgrove, south of Sydney and built a stone cottage - Pembroke Cottage which still stands today.
The family resided at Pembroke Cottage where their three children were born - Margaret born 26 January 1823 and Spencer born 15 June 1825.
Thomas Spencer died at Pembroke Cottage on 24 February 1856 aged 59 years and predeceased his father Thomas by 2 years. He has been laid to rest in the graveyard of St Peter's, at Cook's River.
Thomas Spencer West family tree in Australia
Spencer West 1825-1902
Spencer West married Susan Dubois at the Pitt Street Presbyterian Church on 7 December, 1846. She died on 26 March 1860 at Pembrok Cottage aged 32 years leaving Spencer to raise six children. He remarried on 8 April 1861.
Arthur James West 1853-1926.
Arthur James was born on 17 May 1853.
The only mention of my great grandfather's life in the book, "Thomas West of Barcom Glen" are two paragraphs as follows;
Arthur James married Mary Jane Sabien at Grafton, engaged in sawmilling on the Richmond River and produced by far the largest branch of the whole family, most of whom live on the far North Coast.
The children of the first family were thriving. Arthur James, sawmilling on the Richmond River, alone provided Spencer with eight grandchildren during his lifetime and in the next four generations added so many to the family as to defy enumeration. The family tree was growing into a forest!
The "first family" in this quote from the book refers to the children of Spencer West's first marriage to Susan Dubois who died 1860.
Artur James had a sawmill at Nimbin at the turn of the century before taking up a selection at Whian Whian and starting the mill at Rocky Creek. Dad has shown us where the original shack was built down in the gully. He built the nice Whian Whian house up on the high ground beside the road and opposite the school.
Land for the Whian Whian public school was donated to the then government by great grandfather.
Arthur James died 24 May 1926 aged 75 years.
Arthur Spencer Obediah West 1879-1931.
Built the Duroughby house about 1922.
They were living in the Doroughby house in 1929 as mum mentions in her biography, that her family moved to Doroughby and lived near the big house.
The mill was taken over by Sharpe when Arthur died, the company West & Sharpe Sawmills created prior to great grandfathers passing.
Arthur Spencer Obediah died 23 June 1931 aged 52 years. He is buried in the cemetry at Dunoon with first wife Stella.
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