Lydia Winter Boyton (1843 - 1885)

Born 7 Jul 1843 in Lake Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia

Ancestors

Wife of Joseph Watt — married 1858 in Goulburn, New South Wales, Australia

Descendants

Died 4 May 1885 at age 41 in Goulburn, New South Wales, Australia

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Peter Jones [send private message]

Biography

Lydia was born around 1843^[1]

When she was around 10 years old her father (former convict Richard) was 'Accidentally Killed' on 14 June 1853. Later the same year her mother remarried William Law.

In 1858 she married Joseph Watkins at Goulburn.^[2] However, they appear to have been separated when Joseph was convicted to ten years hard labour in 1859,^[3] as Lydia testified in 1865 when her then partner came before the courts (see below).

Her alleged marriage to Alexander Hamilton, and the registrations of several of her children's births, was the subject of some controversy in 1865:^[4]

LOCAL AND PROVINCIAL

GOULBURN QUARTER SESSIONS.

The sittings of this court were continued on Wednesday before Judge Meymott.

MAKING A FALSE REGISTRY.

Alexander Hamilton (on bail) was charged with having, on the 21st June last, at Goulburn, unlawfully and wilfully made a certain false statement to the registrar of births, deaths, and marriages respecting the birth of a child, namely that he had on the 12th March, 1863, been married to Lydia Boyton, whereas he was not so married.

The prisoner pleaded not guilty, and was undefended.

The crown-prosecutor having stated the case, called Selwyn John Pembroke who deposed: I am clerk to Mr. Alexander the registrar of births, deaths, and marriages; the document produced was drawn up by me on the 21st June last from instructions given by defendant; he said the child was born at Spring Valley, on the 27th May, 1865; he said he was married on the 12th March, 1863, at Tarago; he said he had two female children before this; he said his wife's name was Lydia, that her maiden surname was Boyton; he signed his name to the paper.

C. S. Alexander deposed: I am district registrar of birth, deaths, and marriages for the district of Goulburn; when I cam from dinner on the 21st June I saw prisoner in the office with other men; Pembrooke handed me a statement referring to a birth; I said it was all right; prisoner was standing there and heard me say this; the document was furnished for the purpose of informing me of the necessary particulars; I registered the birth in accordance with the document handed me by Pembrooke; the parents marriage is stated to have been at Tarago, on the 12th March, 1863; had such a marriage taken place at Tarago it would in the ordinary course be registered ; there is no entry in the books of any such marriage.

Lydia Watt deposed: I am a married woman; my maiden name was Lydia Winter Boyton; I have been living four years with prisoner; I was confined of a male child on the 27th May; it was afterwards named Alexander; prisoner was its father; prisoner left home on the 21st June for the purpose of having the birth registered; I have not been married to prisoner.

This was the case for the crown.

His Honor referred to the Registry Act, and pointed out that it had not been proved that the form used had been supplied by the registrar general.

Mr. Alexander, recalled, deposed: I received the book produced from the registrar-general; the form produced corresponds with the form in the book supplied by the registrar-general.

The prisoner was found guilty.

Lydia Watt being questioned by his Honor said that she had been married about seven years; her husband had received a sentence of ten years on the roads. His Honor asked both parties if they were willing to marry if they could lawfully do so; and both replied that they were. His Honor said that they had best inquire whether Watt were dead, and if so get married. The prisoner was then sentenced to one month's imprisonment in Goulburn jail.

As at 1866, her partner Alexander is recorded as being a freehold owner at Spring Valley^[5] and it is presumed that Lydia and their children are also at that location. (Spring Valley is a locality south-west of Goulburn, approximately half-way between Tarago Lagoon near the Federal Highway and Springfield to the east.)

Lydia died in 1885, less than 6 months after the birth of her youngest daughter, Elizabeth. Both she and Alexander are buried at Komungla (Bangalore) General Cemetery^[6] although the precise plot is unknown.

Research Notes

It is understood that Lydia may have had at least 2 half-siblings, presumed to be children of her mother and step-father. A search of NSW BDM records indicates that these may be the two children baptised in 1854:

• LAW, ALEXANDER, Reg. No. 1196/1854 V18541196 40, to parents WILLIAM and ANN
• LAW, MARGARET, Reg. No. 1197/1854 V18541197 40, to parents WILLIAM and ANN

Without reference to the original documents, their consecutive registration suggests that either:

1. They were twins; or
2. They were simply baptised on the same day or close together

If the latter, it does seem possible that they could have been born or conceived before Richard died. This is suggested as Anne remarried very soon after Richard’s death. Does this also suggest that Ann and Richard may have already been estranged at the time of his death?

If the Alexander Law who was baptised in 1854 is a half-sibling then he may also be the man who died in 1930 per:

• NSW BDM death registration of LAW, ALEXANDER, Reg. No. 9652/1930, showing parents WILLIAM and ANN, registered at LISMORE
• Obituary: Northern Star (Lismore, NSW : 1876 - 1954) Tue 13 May 1930 Page 6

While a death at Lismore nearly 80 years after birth initially seems unlikely, it is noted that the age at death (76 years) is correct. Also, the Obituary notes that he was formerly of Eden on the New South Wales far south coast, which is certainly possible from a baptism in Goulburn.

A possible press mention for him may be in The Bega Gazette and Eden District or Southern Coast Advertiser (NSW : 1865 - 1899) Thu 5 Nov 1868 Page 2 COURT OF PETTY SESSIONS. If this is him then it suggests that the family was probably then dairy farming inland of Pambula, north-west of Eden.

Sources

1. ↑ NSW BDM baptism registration of BOYTON, LYDIA, reg. no. 2013/1843 V18432013 28, to parents RICHARD and ANN, registered at 'MC' [Church of England: Bungonia; Goulburn; St Saviour's (Co. Argyle); Goulburn Plains; Lake Bathurst; Marulan]
2. ↑ NSW BDM marriage reg. no. 1776/1858, of WATKINS, JOSEPH, and BOYTON, LYDIA W, registered at GOULBURN
3. ↑ The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954) Wed 6 Apr 1859 Page 3 Goulburn Circuit Court
4. ↑ The Goulburn Herald and Chronicle (NSW : 1864 - 1881) Sat 23 Sep 1865 p.4
5. ↑ The Goulburn Herald and Chronicle (NSW : 1864 - 1881) Sat 10 Feb 1866 Page 6 List Of Persons
6. ↑ Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 18 January 2020), memorial page for Lydia Winter Boyton (1843–4 May 1885), Find A Grave Memorial no. 199653015, citing Komungla General Cemetery, Komungla, Goulburn Mulwaree Council, New South Wales, Australia ; Maintained by Peter Jones (contributor 49245532) Find A Grave: Memorial #199653015

• NSW BDM death 6888/1885 at Goulburn recorded in her maiden name of Boyton
• Funeral: Goulburn Herald (NSW : 1881 - 1907) Tue 5 May 1885 Page 3 Family Notice
• Bangalore Cemetery: bangalorecemetery.org Burial Data
• ECCLESIASTICAL JURISDICTION. (1885, June 19). New South Wales Government Gazette (Sydney, NSW : 1832 - 1900), p. 3838. Retrieved February 8, 2022, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article221694884
• Advertising (1911, October 28). Goulburn Evening Penny Post (NSW : 1881 - 1940), p. 3 (EVENING). Retrieved February 8, 2022, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article98812681

See also:

• The Family Tree of the Hamilton & McCall Families :Lydia Winter Boyton
• Monaro Pioneers profile: Boyton, Lydia Winters (1843 - 1885)
• Family Search (https://familysearch.org/tree/#view=ancestor&section=details&person=2D6L-7N8)