Charles Amos Messenger (1854 - 1905)

Born 1854 in Kingston, Surrey, England, United Kingdom

Husband of Anne Frances (Atkinson) Jones — married 1875 in Victoria, Australia

Descendants

Died 21 Apr 1905 at about age 51 in Double Bay, New South Wales, Australia

Biography

Charles Messenger is Notable.

Charles Amos Messenger was born in 1854 at Kingston, Surrey, England. His father was James Arthur Messenger (26 February 1826 in Twickenham – 21 June 1901 in Teddington) who served as the Queen's Bargemaster from 1862 to 1901.

Charles was a champion rower and boat builder.^[1]

Charles Messenger migrated from England to Victoria.

He migrated to the Colony of Victoria in or about February of 1875.^[2][3]

After marrying Anne Atkinson in 1875 at Victoria^[4] the couple moved north into New South Wales where Charles set-up a boat shed on Sydney Harbour at Double Bay, in Sydney's affluent eastern suburbs. They had seven children:

• William Messenger (1877-1948)
• Charles Messenger (1878-1952)
• Herbert 'Dally' Messenger (1883-1959)
• Annie Messenger (1885-1914) married surname Drummond
• Ivy Messenger (1888-1948) married surname Lees
• Walter Messenger (1891-1961)
• Ernest Messenger (1894-1970)

He passed away in 1905 at Double Bay, New South Wales. ^[5] He was survived by his wife, their seven children, and an infant granddaughter.

Sources

1. ↑ 1905 'PERSONAL.', The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), 24 April, p. 4. , viewed 02 Feb 2022, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article14706210

   By the death of Charles Amos Messenger, who died on Friday at Double Bay, professional rowing has lost a prominent supporter. He came of a great English rowing family, son of a champion, the late James Messenger, who was for many years the Queen's waterman, in charge of the State barge. As a sculler, C. A. Messenger was most popular, and was associated with all our champions since 1878, in which year he rowed Laycock for the championship of this State. He won many races, was a clever sculler, a great man in handicaps, and a reliable trainer. As a builder he was very successful, and turned out many excellent boats of all classes for rowing and sailing. He competed in races in Victoria, New Zealand, and in all parts of this State.

2. ↑ 1875 'SPORTING NOTES.', The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), 23 July, p. 3. , viewed 02 Feb 2022, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article202171805

   Messenger is the son of the ex-champion of England, has only been five months in the colony, and has distinguished himself on the Thames.

3. ↑ 1878 'INTERCOLONIAL SCULLING MATCH.', The Burrowa News (NSW : 1874 - 1951), 20 September, p. 3. , viewed 02 Feb 2022, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article104857948

   Charles Amos Messenger, is the son of J. A. Messenger, of Teddington, who was champion of the Thames in 1854. He is 24 years of age, stands about 6 feet 11 inches in height, and turns the scale at 11 st. 6 lbs. When a member of the Alliance Rowing Club, he won the junior sculls at the Thames National Regatta in 1872 (the prize being presented by Mr. Biffen, the boatbuilder of Hammersmith). He also rowed for the Apprentices' Badge, the gift of the London Rowing Club,' in 1873 and 1874; and was one of a four (two Messengers, Hamilton, and Joseph Sadler} that rowed for the Champion Fours at the Thames Regatta of 1873.

   Since his arrival in Victoria, three years ago, he rowed a match with John Wallace, two miles, on the Lower Yarra, but did not catch the judge's eye first, much dissatisfaction being expressed at the result, two leading men in aquatic circles having very hard comments passed on them for their share in the transaction.

   Within the last six months he has defeated J. M. Christie who held the Amateur Championship of Victoria) twice.
4. ↑ Victoria Marriage Index #4952/1875
5. ↑ New South Wales Death Index #7318/1905; registered at Woollahra

• Wikipedia - Charles A. Messenger