WESSEX-PLUS-L Archives

From: Kaye Purnell <>
Subject: [WSX] Railway workers to NSW 1853; BARNES, CAINS, NIBLETT, PAYNE, JEWELL
Date: Fri, 09 Nov 2001 18:02:14 +1100

G'day
I am in correspondence with a Sydney researcher who is trying to trace the
lives of some 530 railway workers who were contracted to the Sydney Railway
Company to work in NSW for 2 years in exchange for a free passage. The men
left Liverpool per "David McIver" May 1853, Plymouth per "Maidstone" Aug
1853 and Southampton per "Heredfordshire" Aug 1853. One of my ancestors
(not a GLS man) was part of the "David McIver" and as I have several GLS
born men on both the "Maidstone" and "Herefordshire" as part of GLS
Immigrants to Australia pre 1888 Index, I thought I would try and find the
men on the 1851 census of GLS, as the researcher is interested in their
lives before emigration.

For the "Maidstone" the more informative Board's Shipping List survives
which gives a deal of information about the immigrants.


Joseph BARNES aged 39 a carpenter for the Railway Company said he was from
Tewkesbury; his parents were William and Elizabeth BARNES, both dead. From
the IGI he was bapt Tewkesbury 13 Dec 1812. His wife Catherine was from
Upavon WIL; her parents were William BURTON (dead) and Mary, living at
Salisbury. Joseph and Catherine appeared to live their lives in the
Parramatta area, Jsoeph dying there 1867 and Catherine in 1881.

Charles CAINS aged 25 a mason to the Railway Company said he was born
Hanham; parents William CAINS living at Hanham and Tamar (dead).
This seems to be Charles' father 1851 census

1944 1851 CENSUS HO107/1944 FF.0441 - 0463 ED.2G OLDLAND 2


Piece: 1944 Folio: 0450 Schedule: 050

Address: Hanham

CAINS William HD M 45 Quarryman
GLS Bitton (c1806)
CAINS Sarah WI M 42 -
GLS Bitton (c1809)
CAINS Emma DA - 14 -
GLS Bitton (c1837)
CAINS Lucy DA - 12 Scholar
GLS Bitton (c1839)
CAINS Thomas SO - 10 Scholar
GLS Bitton (c1841)
CAINS John SO - 7 Scholar
GLS Bitton (c1844)
CAINS Lorry DA - 5 Scholar
GLS Bitton (c1846)
CAINS Lydia DA - 2 -
GLS Bitton (c1849)
CAINS Issabella DA - 3M -
GLS Bitton (c1850)

Presumably this is a second marriage, as the death certificates of both
Charles and his sister Lucy (see above) give their mother's name as Tamar.
His wife Amelia aged 28 was from Sturmer ESS; parents Frederick (dead) and
Mary (living at Sturmer). They brought with them children William (7), Mary
A (5) born London, and Frederick C aged 7 months, born at Lambeth. Charles
and Amelia had a daughter born and died at Chippendale 1859; and probably
remained in the inner city area. Amelia died at Waterloo 1894 and Amelia in
1897. Charles' brother William CAINS (22) and his wife Mary J (21) arrived
as assisted immigrants several months after Charles per "Athenian" Dec
1853. They went to Maitland where they had 6 chn. They were joined by
sister Lucy who arrived as an assisted immigrant per 1858 "Golconda"
(Sydney NSW); she married there in 1861 and died in 1867. William and Mary
J returned to Sydney; William died at Woollahra 1881 and Mary J in 1903.

James William NIBLETT aged 27 said he was from Painswick; parents Samuel
NIBLETT (at Painswick) and Esther (nee CHANDLER?) (dead).

I guess this is Samuel 1851 census

1964 1851 CENSUS HO107/1964 FF.0192 - 0205 ED.2C PAINSWICK


Piece: 1964 Folio: 0196 Schedule: 008

Address: St.Mary Street

NIBLET Samuel HD W 63 Chelsea Pensioner Ag Lab
GLS Painswick (c1788)
NIBLET Samuel SO U 22 Wheelwright
GLS Painswick (c1829)

James' wife was Hannah aged 33 born Lea, ESS; parents William and Catherine
JOHNSON (both dead). They brought with them daughters Jane (4) and Harriet
Emma (1) both born Lambeth. Their lives in NSW were rather tragic. They
were living at Argyle St Parramatta when daughter Harriet died aged 2, a
year after their arrival. A daughter Adelaide died as an infant in 1857,
and a son Samuel James died aged 4 years and 9 months in 1863. Hannah died
in 1875 and the next year James remarried at Parramatta; he had a dau born
there in 1878. However as a business James had obviously prospered. He
wrote his will 21 Mar 1884 and described himself as a freeholder of
Granville. He listed among his assets land at Granville & Randwick, life
assurance, shares in the Masonic Provident Society and Granville Building
Society, and the '"Granville Hotel". He left his assets divided between his
daughter Jane now OVERALL, married to Jeremiah of Redfern, his wife Frances
Emily NIBLETT and daughter Esther Harriet NIBLETT (then aged 6).
Interestingly he wrote he intended to make a trip to England to deliver a
bank draft for £300 to his brother Samuel NIBLETT of Painswick. I think
this is Samuel 1881 census

Dwelling:Lower Barton St
Census Place:Gloucester Barton St Mary, Gloucester, England
Source:FHL Film 1341612 PRO Ref RG11 Piece 2537 Folio 137
Page 2
MarrAgeSexBirthplace
Jesse DAVISM39 MGloucester, England
Rel:Head
Occ:((Scholar))
Sarah DAVISM37 FGloucester, England
Rel:Wife
Occ:((Scholar))
George DAVIS 14 MGloucester, England
Rel:Son
Occ:Scholar
William DAVIS 12 MGloucester, England
Rel:Son
Occ:Scholar
Ann DAVIS 10 FGloucester, England
Rel:Daur
Occ:Scholar
Charles DAVIS 9 MGloucester, England
Rel:Son
Occ:Scholar
Harry DAVIS 7 MGloucester, England
Occ:Scholar
Mary DAVIS 5 FGloucester, England
Occ:Scholar
John W. DAVIS 2 MGloucester, England

Samuel NIBLETTM50 MPainswick, Gloucester, England
Rel:Boarder
Occ:Carpenter & Joiner

I imagine this is Samuel's family:

Dwelling:New Street
Census Place:Painswick, Gloucester, England
Source:FHL Film 1341613 PRO Ref RG11 Piece 2542 Folio 56
Page 15
MarrAgeSexBirthplace
Elizabeth NIBLETTM50 FPainswick, Gloucester, England
Rel:Wife Head
Occ:Dressmaker
Edith NIBLETTU23 FPainswick, Gloucester, England
Rel:Dau
Francis NIBLETTU18 MPainswick, Gloucester, England
Rel:Son
Occ:Carpenter & Joiner
Ernest BROWNU9 MPainswick, Gloucester, England
Rel:Nephew
Occ:Scholar
Auther WEBBU23 MThrupp, Gloucester, England
Rel:Lodger
Occ:Printer & Compositor

James William NIBLETT died "suddenly" at Granville 13 May 1885; I wonder if
he made his trip to England? His estate was valued at £15,355. His family
has a headstone in St John's C of E Parramatta.

John PAYNE aged 25 a railway labourer said he was from Cirencester; parents
William PAYNE (at Birmingham) and Amelia (dead). I imagine this is father
William PAYNE 1851 census

Head: MACE, Susannah Neighbors 241420
NameRelationshipMarAge SexOccupation Birthplace
Susannah MACEHeadW52FCure of Chappel & Unitarian SchoolMushon-Wor
John MACESonU19MLabKempsey-Wor
Elizabeth MACEDaurU17FMillinerKempsey-Wor
Thomas MACESon-14MErrand BoyKempsey-Wor
James MACESon-11M---Kempsey-Wor
William PAYNELodgW62MPlastererCivericester-Gls
Charles F. HOLTLodgU27MCarpenterRhuabon-Dbg
Anthoney MORRISLodgU21MCarpenterRhuabon-Dbg
Address:New Hall Hill 46, Birmingham
Census Place:Birmingham Birmingham, Warwickshire
PRO Reference:HO/107/2051Folio:636Page:40FHL Film:0087307

His wife Mary Anne aged 28 was from Cheltenham; parents William JEWELL and
Elizabeth living at Cheltenham. Here they are 1851 census

1973 1851 CENSUS HO107/1973 FF.0127 - 0154 ED.1E CHELTENHAM 2


Piece: 1973 Folio: 0147 Schedule: 131

Address: York Street,17

JEWELL William HD M 57 Gardner
GLS Cheltenham (c1794)
JEWELL Elizabeth WI M 51 -
GLS Cheltenham (c1800)
JEWELL Emily DA - 16 At Home
GLS Cheltenham (c1835)
JEWELL George SO - 11 Scholar
GLS Cheltenham (c1840)
JEWELL Joseph SO - 5 -
GLS Cheltenham (c1846)

They brought with them son William Frederick PAYNE (5) born Islington. The
family was living at Parramatta in 1855 when John's sister Eliza EYLES (42)
and husband William (45 of Cirencester) arrived with 7 chn per 1855
"Asiatic" (Sydney NSW); they appeared to have been living most recently in
London. Eliza EYLES gave her parents as William and Mary so perhaps father
William PAYNE had been married twice. John and Mary Anne PAYNE probably
lived their lives in the Granville area; John died there in 1892.

It is interesting that none of these men were visible on the 1851 GLS
census. The contractor who employed the workers on behalf of the Sydney
Railway Company was one RANDLE, described as "an experienced railway
contractor north and east of London". The shipping lists suggests that many
of them had been living in London, so perhaps these recruits were already
working for railway contractors outside GLS.

If there is any interest in these families I would be happy to pass on
information to the researcher or to scan the interesting article he wrote
for "Descent" (Journal SAG) Jun 2001 which describes how the railway
workers were recruited.

Regards

Kaye
Kaye Purnell <>
Ancestors from GLS who came to Oz? Database kept on GLS arrivals to AUS pre
1888. Entries happily accepted; searches done. Visit my site at
<http://www.ozemail.com.au/~kayepur>;. Snail mail to 15 Balla Machree Way,
Gymea Bay NSW 2227 AUS, including SSAE or 1 IRC.

This thread:

• [WSX] Railway workers to NSW 1853; BARNES, CAINS, NIBLETT, PAYNE, JEWELL by Kaye Purnell <>

  • [WSX] Railway workers to NSW 1853; CROAD (?), GODWIN, KIMBREY (CAMBRY), TRULL, TERRY, WHITMORE by Kaye Purnell <>