Wilmott Huxtable (Tilke) Lawrance (1809 - 1880)

Born 22 Jan 1809 in Harpford, Devon, England, United Kingdom

Descendants

Died 3 Jul 1880 at age 71 in Beachport, South Australia, Australia

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Sam Hancock [send private message]

Biography

• Born: 24 Dec 1808, Devon England
• Christened: 22 Jan 1809, Honiton or Harpford, Devon England ^[1]
• Marriage: Joseph William Lawrance on 9 May 1841 in Wellington, New Zealand
• Died: 3 Jul 1880, South Australia at age 72 ^[2]

Family Story

Author - Robyn Bray

Wilmott Huxtable Tilke was one of the first school teachers sent to Ireland from England when that country first came under English rule. The small desk belonging to the Lawrance family went with her to Ireland and later to New Zealand and finally Australia. It is to be passed on to the eldest son in each Lawrance generation.

It appears that Wilmott & Joseph travelled on board the Adelaide, departing from Gravesend, England, 18th September 1839 & arriving in Port Nicholson 7th March 1840. She was however listed on the passenger manifest as Ann Tilke. Joseph Lawrance (spelt Laurance on the list) was also listed.

Ann is listed as the first school teacher in Wellington. The initial source for the information on Ann's early school is, in the main, from Ward's 'Early Wellington' but this has been confirmed from other sources as well. 'The first school in the Wellington area was opened and conducted by 30 year old Ann Tilke shortly after she arrived on the ship Adelaide. It was held in a long clay-built house with thatched roof, a little to the west of the corner of Mulgrave and Pipitea Streets. Her pupils were some of the children of the early Thorndon settlers. Shorly afterwards Charles Grace ,recently arrived from Sydney on the Lady Lilford (march 16th 1840), announced his intention to open a school which occupied the wooden buildings on Thorndon Flat owned by the New Zealand company.'

The name Ann comes from the original NZ company list and is confirmed by the transcription of the Adelaide list from the same source in 'Early Wellington'. This also points out that during her voyage she was under the care of Mrs Evans, wife of Dr G.S.Evans. Also in 'Early Wellington' is an entry for the marriage of a Lawrance (spelt Laurance on the passenger list in the same publication) to a Miss Tilke 'first schoolmistress at Weslyan Church, Te Aro'. Joseph's age on the original documents is given as 21. Another source -: Miss Tilke, who arrived via the 'Adelaide' under the care of Dr Evans has the honour of being the first to conduct a regular school in the Port Nicholson district. A little to the west of Pipitea & Mulgrave Sts. Thus, Ann Tilke is actually Wilmott Huxtable Tilke who married Joseph Lawrance. Perhaps she was more comfortable with the simpler name. After Joseph's & Wilmott's marriage in Wellington in 1841 they moved to Australia and settled at Parramatta, N.S.W. near Sydney. Joseph was a surveyor and as such was away from the family a great deal. In January 1848 the whole family moved to the Adelaide area. Later in life she conducted a Ladies School as Glen Osmond and attended Zion Christian Church in Pulteney Street, Adelaide, South Australia, where a Mr Playford was the paster (an ancestor of Sir Thomas Playford who was premier of S.A. for many years). Joseph is buried at the Old Cemetery at mount Gambier & his Headstone reads 'JOSEPH LAWRANCE born in Cornwall Sept 1816, died Mount Gambier May 2nd 1869'

Research Notes

Son Benjamin was born in NSW (based on Christening Records).

Sources

1. ↑ Baptism: "Devon Baptisms"
   Archive: South West Heritage Trust; Reference: 1844A/PR/1/4
   FindMyPast Image - FindMyPast Transcription (accessed 1 April 2024)
   Wilmett Tilke baptism on 22 Jan 1809, child of John & Wilmett, in Harpford, Devon, England.
2. ↑ South Australia Death Index. (Genealogy SA, https://www.genealogysa.org.au/index.php : accessed 20 Aug 2023) database entry for Willmett Huxtable LAWRANCE (Death date 3 Jul 1880, Age 72, Marital status W, Place of death Beachport, Residence Beachport, Relative Joseph LAWRANCE [DH]) Reference: District District Grey, Book/Page 104/198

Acknowledgments

• WikiTree profile Tilke-1 created through the import of lawrence.ged on May 25, 2011 by Sam Hancock. See the Changes page for the details of edits by Sam and others.