George Pyke (abt. 1819 - 1855)

Born about 1819 in Wootton Rivers, Wiltshire, England, United Kingdom

Ancestors

Died 15 Jul 1855 at about age 36 in Melton, Victoria, Australia

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Biography

George Pyke was born in Wiltshire, England.

This profile is part of the Pike Name Study.

George Pyke migrated from England to Australia.

George was baptised on 17 Sep 1819 at Wootton Rivers, Wiltshire, England. His parents were listed as Thomas Pyke and Catherine Anne (?). ^[1]

George died 15 Jul 1855 in Victoria, Australia. ^[2] He was buried at what is now the Melton Golf Club. ^[3] His gravestone reads:

Sacred to the Memory of George Pyke who departed this life July 15th 1855 aged 35 years

After his death, there was some dispute over his will between his brother, Thomas Henry, and his sister-in-law, Eliza (nee Abrahams, formerly Pyke) Gray (the former wife of his late brother, William), according to The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957) Fri 14 Dec 1860 Page 6 LAW REPORT. ^[4]

LAW REPORT.

SUPREME COURT.

NEW COURT-HOUSE THURSDAY, DEC. 13

ITTINGS IN BANCO AND IN EQUITY ON A THURSDAY OUT OF TERM.

(Before his Honour Mr. Justice Barry.)

IN THE MATTER OF THE ALLEGED WILL OF GEORGE PYKE, DECEASED

Mr. J. W. Stephen, on behalf of Thomas Henry Pyke, of the Werribee, had applied on Thursday, December 6, to the court to call on Mrs Eliza Gray, formerly wife of the late William Pyke, and on her proctors, to show cause why probate of an alleged will of George Pyke, late of Bacchus Marsh, granted by this court to Mrs. Gray, as executrix named in such will, should not be revoked, or Mrs. Gray compelled to prove the alleged will per testes. He had brought the following facts before the court:-

The present applicant, Thomas Henry Pyke, is the eldest brother of the late George Pyke, the maker of the will in question. William Pyke was another brother, whose first wife was the present Mrs. Gray. At the death of William, he left several children, who are still living. His widow married Mr. Gray in the lifetime of George. The will in question was in the following words and form :-

"The last will and testament of George Pyke I hereby give and bequeath all I possess to my sister-in law, Eliza Gray, and her children, Henry Pyke, Katherine Pyke, and Elizabeth Pyke, each to share in equal portions ; leaving George Houston and Eliza Gray my executor and executrix.

"GEORGE PYKE.

" Witness my signature,-

WILLIAM NIMMO.

MORITZ EDWARD SYMONDS

Dated Melbourne, May 6,1853.

Mr. Houston renounced probate, and Mrs. Gray alone, as executrix, obtained probate in this court on the 9th of August, 1855. Mr. Gray, Mrs. Gray, and the children of William Pyke left Victoria in 1858, and they are now residing together at Boulogne, in France. Mr. William Nimmo is now in Scotland. Mr. Moritz Edward Symonds is now at Kyneton, and it is on information derived from him only lately that the present application has been made. The late wife of Mr. Symonds was another sister of the late George Pyke. There were also yet other brothers and sisters of George, some of whom are alive, and others of whom have left children, residing here or in England.

...

Sources

1. ↑ "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N69N-M7H : 10 February 2018, George Pyke, ); citing - 2:2RLT5BV, index based upon data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City; FHL microfilm 1,279,365.
2. ↑ VIC BDM, Deaths, Family name: PYKE, Given name(s): George, Mother's name: Catherine, Mother's family name at birth: GOODMAN, Father's name: Thomas, Place of birth: WILT, Age at Death: 36, Reg. year: 1855, Reg. number: 4609/1855, https://my.rio.bdm.vic.gov.au/efamily-history/
3. ↑ BillionGraves, Grave site information of George Pyke (Died: 15 Jul 1855) at Pyke's Graves Melton Golf Club in Melton, Victoria, Australia from BillionGraves, https://billiongraves.com/grave/George-Pyke/2390540
4. ↑ TROVE, LAW REPORT. (1860, December 14). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), p. 6. Retrieved January 26, 2021, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article5694986