Jane (Schofield) Melrose (1830 - 1885)

Born 14 Mar 1830 in Astley Green, Lancashire, England

Wife of George Melrose — married 7 Jan 1849 in Eccles, Lancashire, England

Descendants

Died 1 Apr 1885 at age 55 in Ashfield, New South Wales, Australia

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Biography

Jane (Schofield) Melrose migrated from England to Australia.

Jane Schofield appears to be a child of William Schofield and Elizabeth ‘Betty’ Wilkinson born 14th March 1830^[1] at Astley Green, Lancashire, England and baptised in the Parish of Leigh at Astley Chapel, Lancaster on 2nd May 1830^[2]. Note: Based on the supporting documentation of Jane’s marriage and children’s births even though the registration is under Scholfield, we believe this to be correct.

Jane's father died in 1837. It's not clear what became of her mother, but by June 6th 1841, Jane and many of her brothers and sisters were still living together in Astley Green, and her mother was not in the household.

On 7th January 1849^[3] Jane Schofield and George Melrose married in the Parish Church of Eccles, in the County of Lancaster, England. They were both minors. Harry Schofield and Alice Schofield were witnesses to the marriage. Jane's father William Schofield was listed as a weaver and George and Jane were both residing at Pendleton at the time. ^[4]

Their first child, John Wilkinson Melrose, was born at Salford, Lancashire, England, and baptized shortly afterwards in the Cathedral, Manchester on 12 May 1850. Their second child, Hannah, died in infancy in late 1852 at Yorkshire. Neither Jane, George or John can be found in the 1851 census.

In August 1851 Governor Denison of Tasmania requested a party of Royal Sappers and Miners, under command of a Royal Engineering Officer be provided to carry out trigonometrical surveys. As a result Captain John Hawkins RE and a party of fifteen Royal Sappers and Miners (including George Melrose with his family) boarded the Convict Ship, Lady Montagu at Plymouth on the 9th August 1852. The Master of the ship was M.C. Looney and the Surgeon was Alex Cross. It set sail with 294 aboard, of whom 106 were convicts. The ship reached Hobart in Van Diemen's Land on 9th December 1852 with 290 aboard.

Elizabeth Melrose, their third child, was born at New Town near Hobart on 9th August, 1853. George Henry Irvine Melrose, their fourth child was born on 17th July 1855 at Port Sorell, Tasmania. The service of George’s Detachment of Royal Sappers and Miners were offered to and accepted by the Colony of NSW. From their arrival in Sydney in February 1856 they were based in Parramatta and he was employed on railway surveys. Thomas Adam Melrose, their fifth child, was born at Parramatta in 1857 and their sixth child, Mary Jane Melrose was born at Barrack Square, Parramatta on 22 April 1860. In March 1861 eleven of the Detachment was discharged, including George Melrose,. George is not shown on the pension list from that date, however he is described in the NSW Blue Book for 1862 as being appointed a Licenced Surveyor on 6th March 1861^[5]. He was later appointed a surveyor in the Internal Communications, Railways Branch (Works in Progress) on 31 May 1861.

In 1862 another son, William Josiah Melrose, their seventh child, was born in Parramatta, and their last child, Ruth Fanny Melrose, was born on 25th June 1865 at Macquarie Street Parramatta, sadness was again to strike the family as, William Josiah was to die at Lithgow Valley, District of Hartley, NSW on 9th January 1865 and is buried in the Bowenfells Cemetery.

Jane, died on 1st April 1885^[6] at their family home "Truroville", Albert Parade, Ashfield after a short but painful death attributed to cervical carbuncles and was buried on Friday, 3rd April 1885 in St John's Church of England Cemetery, Ashfield.

Her death and funeral notice appeared in ‘The Sydney Morning Herald’, April 3, 1885

Death Notice^[7]

MELROSE.-April 1, 1885. at Truroville, Albert Parade, Ashfield, Jane, the dearly loved wife of George Melrose, licenced surveyor, after a short but painful illness. Aged 55 years.

Funeral Notice^[8]:

THE FRIENDS of Mr. GEORGE MELROSE, Licenced Surveyor, are respectfully invited to attend the Funeral of his beloved WIFE, Jane; to move from her late residence, Truroville, Albert Parade, Ashfield, THIS AFTERNOON, at 4 o’clock, to St. John’s Cemetery.

Following Jane’s death George went on to marry his housekeeper, Susannah Brown on 25th December 1886 at St Saviour's Church, Goulburn, NSW according to the Rites of the Church of England. E.B. Barber and C. E. Melrose (the wife of John Wilkinson, George's eldest son) were the witnesses to this marriage. George and Susannah established a new family home at Princes Street, Ashfield. The only child to this marriage, Reginald, was born in 1888. George Melrose died of gall stones and heart failure in the family home on 18th August, 1903^[9] and is George is buried in Plot E 32 at St John’s Church of England Cemetery alongside his 1st wife Jane.

Susannah, sold George’s estate by Auction^[10] and returned with their son, Reginald, to England.

Research Notes

1841 census - Astley Green, Astley

  John Scholfield 25(-29) silk weaver born Lancashire

  Joseph do 15(-19) cotton weaver born Lancashire

  Henry do 15(-19) cotton weaver born Lancashire

  Alice do 14 cotton carder born Lancashire

  Jane do 12 cotton carder born Lancashire

  Elizabeth do 10 born Lancashire

  Thomas do 7 born Lancashire /

  William Speakman 18 plumber's ap. born Lancashire

  William Crook 2 born Lancashire //

Sources

1. ↑ Headstone states ‘Native of Astley, Lancashire, England, Born 14th March 1830'
2. ↑ Manchester, England, Births and Baptisms, 1813-1915 | GB127.L50/1/2/ view record
3. ↑ Manchester, England, Marriages and Banns, 1754-1930 | #L49/1/6/25, Item 5, Archive 531 view record
4. ↑ "England and Wales Marriage Registration Index, 1837-2005," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:264X-NDL : 13 December 2014), Jane Schofield, 1849; from "England & Wales Marriages, 1837-2005," database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing 1849, quarter 1, vol. 20, p. 56, Chorlton, Lancashire, England, General Register Office, Southport, England.
5. ↑ NSW Blue Book - 1862
6. ↑ NSW BDM, Death Certificate, 1885/3365
7. ↑ Death Notice - Family Notices. (1885, April 3). The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), p. 1. Retrieved January 4, 2014, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article13574728
8. ↑ Funeral Notice - Family Notices. (1885, April 3). The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), p. 10. Retrieved January 4, 2014, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article13574772
9. ↑ NSW BDM, Death Certificate, 1903/9184
10. ↑ Advertising. (1903, December 7). The Sydney Morning Herald(NSW : 1842 - 1954), p. 11. Retrieved January 4, 2014, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article14584675

• "England and Wales Census, 1841," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MQG4-YD8 : 22 May 2019), Jane Scholfield in household of John Scholfield, Leigh, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom; from "1841 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO HO 107, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey. Piece 513-01 folio 15 page 22.