Edward Davy Wedge (1777 - 1852)

Born 29 Apr 1777 in Shudy Camps, Cambridgeshire, England

Ancestors

Husband of Lucy (King) Wedge — married 27 Feb 1806 in Suffolk, England

Descendants

Died 21 May 1852 at age 75 in Werribee River Flood, Williamstown, Victoria, Australia

Biography

EDWARD DAVY WEDGE (Wedge-114)

PARENTS. Charles Wedge & Elizabeth (Fletcher) Wedge

BIRTH. 29 Apr 1777, Shudy Camps, Cambridgeshire, England

MARRIAGE. 27 Feb 1806, Suffolk, England

MARRIAGE. Name Edward Davy Wedge Spouse's Name Lucy King Event Date 27 Feb 1806 Event Place Suffolk, England

PASTORAL PIONEERS. By R.V.B. and A.S.K. (No. 153) THE WEDGES. EDWARD DAVEY WEDGE arrived in Van Diemerns Land in 1823. His younger brother, John Henry (sic, Helder) Wedge, came out the following year. John became manager of the Port Phillip Association, and impressed by his reports, made in 1835, Edward, with four of his sons, Charles, Richard, Henry, and John, decided to settle in Port Phillip.

They brought over flocks of sheep, and a complete squatting plant. James Simpson had an interest in these flocks and plant. Living in tents at Williamstown, the Wedges were the first to graze the surrounding country. That was early in 1836. But they soon moved on to the Werribee, taking John Wood in with them as a partner.

In 1838, the boys, Charles, Richard, and Henry, in partnership with their uncle John, took up and stocked the Grange, now Hamilton. The Grange was passed on to Captain Lonsdale, and the Wedge firm, uncle and nephews, went to Gippsland, where they occupied the Banyan waterholes, on the Carrum swamp, and Bald Hill, Balnarring.

At different times in the 'forties they held Raen and Banyenong, on the Richardson, Trio near Kyneton, and Glenlyon, Mount Macedon, while Richard had St. Agnes, near Malmsbury.

Edward Wedge remained on the Werribee till he lost his life in the great flood of May, 1852. Edward, his wife, two daughters, Richard, the Misses Friend and Law, and their cook were huddled together on the roof of the house, trying to escape from the flood waters. Mr. and Mrs. Wedge and one daughter were drowned. The Synnots, the Chirnsides, and Mr. Langhorne's shepherds rescued the others.

Soon after the Werribee tragedy, John Helder Wedge sold his Port Phillip interests and returned to Tasmania, where he died in 1872. The boys dispersed over Australia. Richard stayed in Gippsland. Charles was for many years in Western Australia, and John lived in Queensland, and Henry remained in Victoria, and his descendants are here now. (This series of articles was begun in "The Argus" on August 14, 1934, and was trans ferred to "The Australasian" on October 6, 1934.) Ref: The Australasian (Melbourne, Vic. : 1864 - 1946) 21 Nov 1936, p4

Edward Davy Wedge (1777–1852), brother of John Helder Wedge, became a colonist in Van Diemen’s Land and the Port Phillip District of Australia.

The Wedges imported sheep and a saw mill into the Van Diemen’s Land colony. Mr Wedge obtained a 2,000 acre (8 km²) grant, which he called Forton, but at first he tried to establish the saw mill at Oyster Cove, just south of Hobart Town. The mill was not a success financially, and was eventually abandoned at a loss of £2,000. He then turned to agricultural pursuits, and established Forton with the assistance of convict labour.

After the settlement of Port Phillip in 1835, he and his bother John established a squatters run at Werribee, near Melbourne, and in the 1840s Davy and his wife left Forton for the Werribee run.

In May 1852 the Werribee River flooded and the Wedge house was engulfed. The family was forced onto the roof, which collapsed during the night, and the family was washed away. Davy and his wife Lucy both died, as did their eldest daughter, Lucy. Davy, his wife and daughter Lucy were all buried at the Williamstown cemetery. Ref: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Davy_Wedge

THE DISASTER AT THE WEIRABEE. To the Editor of the Argus. May 26th, 1852. Sir-I am requested to furnish you with an authentic account of the lamentable catastrophe at the Weirabee.

I arrived in company with Mr Langhorne at the Weirabee Bridge yesterday morning about 11 o'clock, hoping to cross, but I found that monument of architecture and skill totally washed away. The water had been considerably over it, and all communication effectually stopped.

After fastening a rope to a stump on this side of the river, attached to the other, we proceeded to opposite the scene of the disaster, where shortly we were joined by Mr Charles Wedge, who in consequence of the still swollen state of the river, had been unable to cross. In searching the riverside for the missing bodies, we found the boat, which enabled us to cross, and we then learned the following particulars:-.

At 7 p m. on Friday night, the water had risen so high in Mr Wedge's house, and was continuing to rise, that they deemed it advisable to make preparations to get on the roof of the house. They accordingly took up blankets and carpets, when Mr. Mrs. and Miss Wedge, Mrs King, Miss Lawrence, and Miss Friend, Mr Richard Wedge, and the cook, went up.

After being there two hours, the water still rising, the chimney gave way, and the cook being frightened, drew up the ladder, and crossed on to the roof of the kitchen, which, in the course of half an hour, was washed away; the cook having previously climbed into an adjoining tree was saved.

Half an hour later, Mr Wedge's house was felt to be moving, and was almost immediately carried against a large tree. Mrs King cried out The tree ! the tree ! and succeeded in climbing into it, together with Miss Lawrence and Miss Friend. The house instantly went to pieces from the violence of the shock, and nothing more has since been seen of Mr. Mrs. and Miss Lucy Wedge.

Mr Richard Wedge, after being carried some distance by the current, was caught by the dead limb of a tree by his coat, and was nearly drowned ; he, however, succeeded in disengaging himself from under the water, with some difficulty retaining his hold of the tree, and remained in that position until eleven o'clock on Sunday morning, when, the water having considerably subsided, some men from the Geelong side of the river threw him a rope, which he fastened round his waist and was dragged to shore nearly exhausted. He is now, I am happy to state, almost recovered.

The ladies were brought across in like manner, and are all better than could be expected. They were all very thinly clad, without covering to the head or feet, and during nearly the whole time, a piercingly cold wind was blowing from the south. Every assistance that could be given was willingly and cheerfully afforded by the neighbours, especially Mr. Chirnside, jun, and Mr Langhorne's shepherd.

The ladies were immediately fetched by Mr Synnott to his house, where under Mrs Synnott's kind treatment, they are quite recovered.

The scene of the disaster is most distressing-all around are scattered relics of the house &c. Here the side of the house, there a table, a chair, a coat, crockery, &c. &c. and the beach is literally strewed with the last evidence of this most distressing occurrence. I am, Sir, Your obedient servant, F. T. WEST FORD. P.S.-The bodies are not yet found. Ref: The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957) 24 Jul 1854, p4

THE WERRIBEE CATASTROPHE-The bodies of the lamented Mr. and Mrs. Wedge were found on the beach, near Williams Town, on Sunday. Dr. Campbell, the Coroner for the County of Bourke, proceeded thither yesterday to hold the usual inquest. The body of the daughter still remains undiscovered. Ref: Geelong Advertiser and Intelligencer (Vic. : 1851 - 1856) 2 Jun 1852, p2

DEATH. 21 May 1852, Werribee River Flood, Williamstown, Victoria, Australia

DEATH. VIC BDM Death Reg: #31957: Edward Davy Wedge, age 76 years

DEATH. Drowned on Friday, 21st May, by the overflowing of the River Werribee, Edward Davy Wedge, Esq aged 76 years; Lucy, his wife, aged 64 years : and Lucy, their daughter. Universally respected by all who knew them.

Sources

• Marriage: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NJKX-9LD

• Death Notice: The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957) 2 Jun 1852, p4 http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/4785472