Thomas Dyke Ackland (1810 - 1895)

Born 1810 in Barnstaple, North Devon, England, United Kingdom

Ancestors

Husband of Mary (Richards) Ackland — married 9 Jul 1837 in Church of Tawstock in Barnstable County of Devon

Descendants

Died 5 Jan 1895 at about age 85 in Woorak Via Nhill, Victoria, Australia

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Space: Acland and Ackland Connections

Biography

Thomas Ackland was born in Barnstaple, Devon, England.

based on the original notes of, WILLIAM CHARLES ACKLAND:

1. Hugh ACKLAND (father) was born on 29 Apr 1782 in East Downs, Devon. He died in Apr 1864 in Ashford, Devon, England.

On the copy of his son Thomas's Marriage Cert. Hugh is listed as a labourer.

When James and Thomas (with wives) left London in June 1838 their brother Richard had just married (in April 1838), their young sister Hannah was 19yrs and their youngest brother John was 16yrs. Their parents, Hugh and Catherine, lived on for another 26 and 29 years respectively. It's hard to imagine that the family did not correspond with each other. Edited, Dec 2016. By Sasha O'Sullivan via Family Records.

Other Details

Birth

1810

Barnstaple North Devon

Death

5 JAN 1895

Woorak Via Nhill Vic

Immigration

11 OCT 1838

Holdfast Bay (Glenelg) & Adelaide SA

Arrived on "Surry" from London - 3 mast ship built in 1811 at Hartwich

Burial

Woorak Cemetary (7 Jan 1895) Block105

Occupation

Miller

Note

They were selected migrants with work guaranteed and free passage by the South Australian Government. Free passage was provided by the SA Government to immigrants aged between 15 & 30 years and children under 1, otherwise it was 3 pounds. Wives were free and single women, if with parents or relatives were also granted free passage.

In April 1851 gold was discovered near Bathhurst in NSW and in June reports came from Ballarat and Bendigo also. James and Thomas were naturally attracted by the news of gold. They had the attributes of successful miners : experience in Devon, and experience in Australia after most of the metals, and they had the benefit of 12 years of life in Australia's bush so were well able to cope with almostany situation. It wasn't long before they joined the rush to Victoria's goldfields, among about 10,000 others that arrived there in 1852 and 1853.

It is not known which of the diggings attracted them but they arrived back with enough to buy substantial properties of their own.

2 years after leaving they returned and James bought a property of 680 acres at Flaxman's Valley about 3 miles north west of Eden Valley in the district of Mount Pleasant.

The land chosen by James was rich undulating grazing land, with fertile creek flats for cultivation and dotted with large gum trees.

Sources