Thomas Newton (abt. 1813 - 1886)

Born about 1813 in Carlow, Ireland

Husband of Johanna (Kennedy) Newton — married 13 Feb 1837 in Campbell Town, Van Diemen's Land, Australia

Husband of Ellen (Foyle) Newton — married 1 Apr 1862 in Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia

Descendants

Died 25 Mar 1886 at about age 73 in St Peters, New South Wales, Australia

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Biography

Thomas came to Australia from Ireland in 1833 on the "Edward Coulson"

His death notices appeared as follows:^[1]

THE FRIENDS of the late Mr. THOMAS NEWTON, late of Cook's River, are respectfully invited to attend his Funeral ; to move from his late residence, Arncliffe, THIS (Saturday) AFTERNOON, at a quarter to 3 o'clock, for Catholic Cemetery, Kogarah CHAS. BOOTS and CO.. Undertakers. 168, King-street, Newtown, and Norton-street, Leichhardt,

THE FRIENDS of Messrs. WILLIAM, THOMAS, and EDWARD NEWTON are respectfully invited to attend the Funeral of their late beloved FATHER, Thomas ; to move from his late residence, Arncliffe, THIS (Saturday) AFTERNOON, at a quarter to 3 o'clock , for Catholic Cemetery, Kogarah. CHARLES BOOTS and CO., Undertakers, 168, King-street, Newtown.

The following is taken from "Eaton of Darton" p219:

THOMAS NEWTON of Carlow Ireland was born in 1813. Carlow is the smallest county of Ireland and the County town is Carlow. It has the Roman Catholic Cathedral of the Assumption and a Theological College.

Thomas Newton's birthplace and age are established from the registration on 12th June 1858 of the birth of his daughter Alice at Mosquitoe Island N.S.W. on 17th May, 1858 which gives the former as Carlow, Ireland and the latter as 45 years at his daughter's birth. Rev. Father John O'Leary, Administrator of the Cathedral of the Assumption, Carlow, wrote to the author that the cathedral records of baptisms 1785-1820 no longer survive so that he was unable to say whether Thomas Newton was baptised at the Cathedral or not. As there are only twelve parishes other than the Cathedral parish in Carlow. The author arranged with Father O'Leary to have a search of their registers made by the parish priests which revealed that only five parishes had registers for 1813 or earlier none of which contained the entry sought. It is interesting to note that the Parish Priest of Leighlinbridge replied "We have a register purporting to go back to 1703 for baptisms and marriages. However, it is most unreliable, with many gaps and insertions out of order up to 1826. From this latter date, apart from occasional omissions, the Baptismal Register is reliable".

The poor condition of Catholic registers and the fact that on 13th April 1922 Four Courts Dublin, the Central Repository of Irelands Public Records was completely destroyed present immense problems to those seeking to draw up an Irish pedigree.

Thomas Newton, who was the ancestor of the Australian Branch of the family, was a single man who came to Tasmania via Liverpool in Lancashire England by the barque "Edward Coulson" of 340 tons commanded by Captain Joseph Hammond arriving in Hobart on 15th June, 1833. He has been listed as a botanist.

Marriage

Date: 13 FEB 1837

Place: Campbelltown, Tas, Australia

Thomas Newton and Johanna Kennedy were married at Campbelltown about thirty seven miles from Launceston and now on the main highway to Hobart on 13th February, 1837, as evidenced by certified copy of marriage certificate from the Registrar-General Tasmania, dated 17th January, 1977.

The marriage was celebrated in the schoolhouse after Banns by Rev. Willis Bedford Jnr. Chaplain. Thomas Newton is described as "of this Parish, Bachelor" and Johan (the spelling given in the certificate) Kennedy "of this Parish, Spinster". Beneath the name Willis Bedford Jnr. the name "William" appears in brackets.

Rev. William Bedford who was Chaplain at Campbelltown in 1837 was the son of Rev. William Bedford D.D. Senior Chaplain of Van Diemen's Land and it seems likely that "Willis" was either a nickname or an error.

Sources

1. ↑ The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954) Sat 27 Mar 1886 Page 26 Family Notices

• Libraries Tasmania, Names Index:

Name: Kennedy, Johan

Record Type: Marriages

Gender: Female

Spouse: Newton, Thomas

Gender: Male

Date of marriage: 13 Feb 1837

Registered: Campbell Town

Registration year: 1837

Record ID: NAME_INDEXES:824034

• NSW BDM marriage reg. no. 2532/1862, of NEWTON, THOMAS, STANLEY, and ELLEN, registered at NEWCASTLE
• NSW BDM death registration of NEWTON, THOMAS, reg. no. 3560/1886, showing father UNKNOWN and mother UNKNOWN, registered at ST PETERS

See also:

• Eaton, Kelvin James, Eaton of Darton, ISBN 0-7316-0951-4