Family stories suggested Frederick William's family was from Somerset, but born on an english channel crossing. In fact Frederick William GRIFFIN[1] was born on board the AMAZON on the way to Australia with his family and his birth is noted in a South Australian newspaper article. His birth registered upon arrival in Adelaide.[2] It is also noted on his death certificate that he had been in the Commonwealth for 69 years, this is consistent with the timing of his birth in abt 1852 sometime between when the AMAZON left Plymouth in London on the 26th November 1851, and before it arrived at Port Adelaide, South Australia on the 20th February 1852.
The South Australian Register Saturday 21 February 1852:- Passengers by the the Amazon (Arrival reported yesterday) Mr. and Mrs. Joyner and three children, and Dr. Edward Gregory Surg. Sup. In the cabin. Birth on the passage: Mrs. Griffin and Mrs. Chisholm of sons , Mrs Weller who died, Mrs. Henderson and Mrs. Miller of Daughters. The child of Mrs. Weller, lives, Having been kindly cared for by one of the females. Death on the passage: John and Rebecca Albins, Janet Laidlaw, James Patterson, Susan Place, Emma and Esther Weller, William Thomas Wright, John O'Loughlin, James Anderson, Fanny Dodds, John Harris, Mary Richards, Mary and Ann Williams, James Ballantyne and William Phillips, also Mrs. Elizabeth Weller died shortly after confined.
Frederick grew up in Adelaide and later became a brickmaker. He married Margaret ELLARD on 11 Septemeber 1873 at Christ Church in North Adelaide. Witnesses to the marriage were Edward Ellard (probably Margaret's father), a bootmaker from Brompton; and Eliza Harris (??) of Plympton. It is believed he practiced the methodist religion. Frederick and Margaret had seven children, Clara Emily, William Ernest, Edward James, Frank Milton, Henry Frederick, Ada Ann and Edith Elizabeth.
Further information about Frederick and his family was found in an article in SA REGISTER Saturday 31 August 1895, entitled THE RELATIVES OF THE DECEASED. The article relates to the death of his cousin Sarah Jane WILLIS:-
Our Hindmarsh correspondent writes:- Some relatives of the late Mrs.Willis are living at Coglin-street, Brompton Park. The maiden name of tbe unfortunate woman was Sarah Jane Coates, and Mr. John Thomas Coates. brickmaker, of Coglin-street, is her brother, and for nearly three years he did not know where she was. He last saw her at the residence of Mrs. G. J. Griffin, who was a cousin of hers. Mrs. Griffin, wife of Mr. A. Griffin, of Frost-street, Brompton, states that the deceased with her brother, Mr. J. T. Coates, lived with her husband's mother, the late Mrs. Ann Griffin, at East-street, Brompton. until the death of her parents. When Mrs. Griffin's death took place, about thirteen years ago, they made their home chiefly at Mr. G. J. Griffins. John, the brother, following the brickmaking trade, and she going to service. The last time tbey saw her was at her brother's house, and Mrs. Coates, the sister-in-law of deceased, who was ill, could not accompany her to the station, although she wished to see her off. Tbe deceased said she was going to Alma. Mrs. Griffin, wife of Mr. Frederick Griffin, also of Coglin-street, and another cousin to the deceased, when speaking of the affair said there were five in the Coates family, and they were unfortunate in being left orphans previous to coming to Adelaide. Their father was killed by a horse and cart running over him. At that time tbey lived near Wallaroo, and it was after their father's death that the children came to Adelaide and became dispersed among various relatives. The eldest married soon after, and later on the second of tho family married a Mr. Marriott. John and Sarah Jane lived with Mrs. Ann Griffin until she died, when the former went to Mr. G. J. Griffin's and the latter to Norwood, where she entered service. The youngest of the family was a boy, and be lived for years with another relative named Mrs. King, who resided at Plympton. He was married, and lived in the North. Mrs. Griffin did not know the whereabouts of any of them except John, who was new married and lived near her. She had not the least doubt that tbe deceased was Sarah Ann Coates, because she left to go in the direction of Hamley Bridge. Mrs. Griffin was not surprised at not hearing from Mrs. Willis, as she could neither read nor write. The late Mrs. Willis was rather short and thick-built.
Frederick died at his residence at Coglin Street, Brompton Park, aged 70, after being sick for 2 days on 17 September 1922. The cause of death noted as asthma, chronic bronchitis, arteriosclerosis, cerebral haemorrahage. He was buried in the Hindmarsh cemetery, M50 on 19 September 1922.
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G > Griffin > Frederick William Griffin
Categories: Amazon, Arrived 20 Feb 1852 | Unassisted Immigrants from Cambridgeshire to Australia | Brompton, South Australia | Immigrants to Australia Born at Sea | Coat-12 - My Direct Line DNA Confirmations - Confirmed