Walter Thomas Rodwell (abt. 1852 - 1875)

Born about 1852 in Melbourne Victoria Australia

Ancestors

Died 21 Jun 1875 at about age 23 in Percydale Victoria Australia

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Warren Rodwell [send private message]

Biography

Walter was born in 1852 in Melbourne, Victoria. ^[1]He was the son of David Rodwell and Rosina Hammond. He passed away on 21 June, 1875 at the age of 23 years.^[2]

The death of Walter Thomas was a tragedy and surrounded in controversy. ^[3] He had an argument with a Chinaman the day prior and threw him into a dam. The next day he was in good spirits and looking forward to attending a concert that night. He did not return home after work. The following day his body was found hanging from a tree at Rowdy Gully near the Percydale diggings in such a style that ruled out suicide. It was reported that the evening before, many chinese were seen carrying a large bundle to Rowdy Gully and behaving excitedly.

An inquiry recorded an open finding on his death. ^{[4] [5]} Walter was buried at the Avoca Cemetery on 23 June 1875.<^[2][6]

Notes

1.The matter was well reported in the local newspapers and the tree from which he was found hanging was known thereafter as the Rodwell tree.

2.Transcribed from Avoca cemetery records Walter Thomas Rodwell Register #: 824 Age: 23 Page: 54 Rank/Profession: Miner Denomination: Church of England Last Place of Residence: Percydale Cause of Death: Asphyxia Interment date: 23 Jun 1875

Sources

1. ↑ Victorian BDM Online Search Birth Cerificate 17704/1852 Walter Thomas Rodwell [1]
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} BDM Victoria Online Search Death Record No: 8137/1875 Walter Thomas Rodwell; Mother Rosanna Hammon; Father: David Rodwell; Age: 23; Accessed 26 August 2026 by WR
3. ↑ NLA; Trove; , AvocaMail Tue 29 Jun 1875 Page 2 ONLINE Accessed 26 August 2023 by WR.
4. ↑ Coroners Report, Public Records Office, Victoria ONLINE Accessed 26 August 2023 by WR.
5. ↑ NLA; Trove; "Avoca Mail" 25 Jun 1875 Page 3 ONLINE Accessed 26 August 2023 by WR.
6. ↑ Find A Grave; ONLINE Accessed 26 August 2023 by WR. For cemertery record transcription, refer Note 2.

Source abbreviations:
BDM Victoria: Births Deaths and Marriages Victoria, Department of Justice and Regulation, State Government of Victoria.
NAA: National Archives of Australia.
NLA: National Library of Australia
PROV: Public Record Office, State Government of Victoria.