John Towt (abt. 1819 - 1891)

Born about 1819 in St Giles, Devon, England

Husband of Elizabeth (Ford) Towt — married 1842 in Port Philip District, New South Wales (Victoria, Australia)

Descendants

Died 30 Oct 1891 at about age 72 in Balwyn, Victoria (Australia)

Biography

John Towt was born about 1819 at St Giles, Devon, England. He was a son of John Towt (1797-1842) and Joanna Welch (1799-1879). ^[1]

John Towt migrated from Devon, England to Port Philip District, New South Wales (Victoria).

John was an early settler

In 1941, He migrated to the newly-settled Port Philip District of New South Wales (later Victoria, Australia) aboard the Plymouth as a bounty immigrant, aged 22 years. ^[2]

John married Elizabeth Ford in 1842 at Campbellfield, Port Philip District. ^[3] Settling in New Street, Brighton, they had twelve children, three of whom died in infancy or early childhood.

John was a farmer

In 1856, John and Elizabeth purchased 279 acres fronting Ewart’s (Belmore) Road and extending along the western side of Greythorn Road to Doncaster Road. They named the property Whitethorn and, after being called Towt’s Road for some time the road leading to his estate was called Whitethorn Road. This caused confusion with Whitehorse Road so the name was changed again to Greythorn Road as it is today. Their house, constructed about 1868, was named Rose Hill and despite many alterations, still stands at 51 Kenny Street today. ^[2]

Widowered for some twelve months, John passed away at home, aged 72 years, on 30th October 1891 and is buried with his wife in Boroondara Cemetery. ^[4] He was survived by four sons and three daughters, and some 46 grandchildren.

Sources

1. ↑ unsubstantiated family records
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} Boroondara Public notice - Notice of proposed naming of laneway; 4 Nov 2019; accessed 5 Nov 2020
3. ↑ Victoria Marriage Index #706/1842
4. ↑ Victoria Death Index #13371/1891; registered at Balwyn