Thomas Christopher Mathews (abt. 1841 - 1919)

Born about 1841 in Lancashire, England, United Kingdom [uncertain]

Husband of Elizabeth (Pretty) Mathews — married 9 Feb 1862 in Salisbury, South Australia

Descendants

Died 17 Aug 1919 at about age 78 in Westbourne Park, South Australia, Australia

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Terry Bidgood [send private message] and Roger Macgowan [send private message]

Biography

Early Life

Thomas Christopher Mathews was born around 1841, possible in Lancashire, England, United Kingdom or in Ireland. He was the son of Thomas and Eliza Mathews.^[1]

Thomas migrated from Australia aboard the Dirigo, 1,282 tons, under Captain Joseph Trevellick. The Dirigo departed Liverpool on 8th August 1854 and arrived at Port Adelaide, South Australia on 22nd November 1854. Thomas was 13 years old, and travelled with:

• Thomas Mathews, a labourer from Lancashire (father, aged 30);
• Eliza Mathews (mother, aged 27);
• George (brother, aged 10);
• William (brother, aged 6); and
• Eliza (sister, < 1 year old). ^[2][3]

Marriage and Children

On 9 February 1862, Thomas married Elizabeth Pretty at the residence of the bride's parents in Salisbury, South Australia. Thomas was 20 and Elizabeth 17 years old.^[4]

The following notice appeared in the South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900) on 24 February 1862:

MATTHEWS—PRETTY.—On the 9th February, by special licence, at the residence of the bride's mother, by the Rev. Joseph Warner, of Adelaide, Mr. Thomas Christopher Matthews, eldest son of Mr. Thomas Matthews, bootmaker, Salisbury, to Elizabeth, second daughter of Mrs. Robert Pretty, storekeeper, Salisbury.^[5]

Thomas and Elizabeth had 14 children:

1. Thomas Henry Matthews (b. 1862);
2. George Matthews (b. 1865);
3. John Matthews (b. 1866);
4. Martha Elizabeth (Mathews) Hutton (b. 1868);
5. William Francis Mathews (b. 1870);
6. Ada Victoria (Mathews) Elson (b. 1872);
7. Robert Spencer Mathews (b. 1874);
8. Bertha Mathews (b. 1876);
9. Charles Christopher Matthews (b, 1878);
10. Albert Edward Matthews (b. 1880);
11. Ethel Maude Matthews (b. 1882);
12. Lillian Charlotte Mathews (b. 1884);
13. Emily Matthews (b. 1886); and
14. Irene Ruby Mathews (b. 1888).

The first eight children were born in Salisbury, and the last six at Koolywurtie, north of Minlaton on the Yorke Peninsula, South Australia.

Death and Obituary

Thomas died on 17 August 1919, at Westbourne Park, South Australia. He was 78 years old.^[6]

The following notice appeared in The Journal (Adelaide, SA : 1912 - 1923) on 18 August 1919:

MATHEWS.—On the 17th August, at bis residence, Pretoria, Carlisle road, Westbourne Park (late of Minlaton, Yorke's Peninsula, Thomas Christopher, beloved husband of Elizabeth Mathews, aged 78 years. A patient sufferer at rest.^[7]

An obituary was published in the West Coast Sentinel (Streaky Bay, SA : 1912 - 1954) on 6 September 1919:

Obituary.—The death of Mr Thomas Christopher Mathews has removed another of the old colonists (writes "The Register"). Mr Mathews was born 79 years ago in Ireland, and at the age of 11 he left with his parents for South Australia in the Derigo. On arrival here he settled at Salisbury, and there 58 years ago he was married to Miss Elizabeth Pretty, who survives him. Forty-three years .ago he went as a pioneer settler to Yorke's Peninsula, where for a number of years he carried on a farm, and afterwards the well-known Jubilee Store at Minlaton. In that town and district he was prominent in all public matters. Six years ago he removed to Westbourne Park, where he died. Mr and Mrs Mathews had a family of 14 children, 12 of whom survive, and there are 28 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Mr W. F. Mathews, of Streaky Bay, is a son of the late Mr T. C. Mathews.^[8]

Sources

1. ↑ Birth year of 1841 is consistent with age at immigration and age at death. Immigration records provide the names and ages of parents and siblings and give the family's place of residence as Lancashire. The obituary quoted later in this profile gives Ireland as the place of birth.
2. ↑ http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/dirigo1854.shtml
3. ↑ https://archives.sa.gov.au/sites/default/files/documentstore/passengerlists/1854/GRG35_48_1_54-26_Dirigo.pdf
4. ↑ South Australia 'Marriage Registrations' Database: entry for MATTHEWS Thomas Christopher and PRETTY Elizabeth married 09-Feb-1862. Marriage Place: Res of Robert Pretty Salisbury. Groom Age: 20. Groom Marital Status: N. Groom Father: Thomas MATTHEWS. Bride Age: 17. Bride Marital Status: N. Bride Father: Robert PRETTY. District: Adelaide. Book/Page: 49/78. Notes: Symbol=AV (at www.genealogysa.org.au accessed 1 August 2021)
5. ↑ Family Notices (1862, February 24). South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), p. 7. Retrieved August 20, 2021, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article40469393
6. ↑ South Australia 'Death Registrations' Database: entry for MATHEWS Thomas Christopher died 17-Aug-1919. Age: 78. Gender: M. Marital Status: M. Place of Death: Westbourne Park. Residence: Westbourne Park. Relative: Not Recorded. District: Adelaide. Book/Page: 431/203 (at www.genealogysa.org.au accessed 19 August 2021)
7. ↑ Family Notices (1919, August 18). The Journal (Adelaide, SA : 1912 - 1923), p. 1 (THE JOURNAL SPORTING EDITION). Retrieved August 19, 2021, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article204720067
8. ↑ 1919 'STREAKY BAY: SEPTEMBER 6, 1919.', West Coast Sentinel (Streaky Bay, SA : 1912 - 1954), 6 September, p. 2. , viewed 20 Aug 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article168191545

See also:

• Information as recorded in Bidgood-Watson Tribal Pages by Terry Bidgood, Sunday, December 21, 2014.
• First-hand information as remembered by Roger Macgowan, Wednesday, February 26, 2014.