Theophilus Trewhella (abt. 1825 - 1912)

Born about 1825 in Cornwall, England

Ancestors

Husband of Elspeth Jane (Hill) Trewhella — married 1858 in Victoria, Australia

Descendants

Died 25 Jan 1912 at about age 87 in Buninyong, Victoria, Australia

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Christine Pike [send private message]

Biography

Theophilus Trewhella was born in Cornwall, England.

Theophilus Trewhella migrated from England to Australia.

Theophilus was born about 1825 (based on his age at death) in Cornwall, England. Although no record of his birth/baptism has been located, it is most likely that he was one of the illegitimate children of Anne (Berryman) Trewhella, born after the death of her husband, Edward Trewhella.

Theophilus (age 27, miner) arrived in Victoria in Feb 1855, on the ship Shalimar from Liverpool. ^[1]

Public records show that Theophilus married Elizabeth HILL in 1858, in Victoria, Australia (contradicting the family account passed down, which suggested he was married before he arrived in Australia). ^{[2] [3]} They had 7 children:

1. Ann Berryman (Trewhella) McAllister (1860-)
2. Agnes Morrison (Trewhella) Morris (1861-1952)
3. Elizabeth Hill Trewhella (1864-)
4. Sarah Jane Trewhella (1865-1866)
5. Theophilus Trewhella (1867-1935)
6. Elizabeth Jane Trewhella (1870-)
7. Alice Hannah Trewhella (1874-1942)

In 1886, at the time of his daughter, Agnes's marriage, Theophilus was living at Simpson-street, Buninyong. ^[4]

Theophilus passed away in 1912, aged 87, in Buninyong, Victoria. According to his death certificate, his father was Trewhella Simon, his mother Nanney (Berryman) (but record searches for such a union has proven unsuccessful). ^{[5] [6]}

Theophilus was buried in the Buninyong Cemetery (plot 361, Presbyterian) on 26 Jan 1912, along with other members of his immediate family. Note that this double plot (361/362) is just marked "TREWHELLA" with "SWEET MEMORIES" but has no names or dates. His occupation was recorded as "Carrier". ^{[7] [8]}

A death notice was placed in the local paper, The Ballarat Star (Vic. : 1865 - 1924) Fri 26 Jan 1912 Page 1 BUNINYONG. ^[9]

BUNINYONG.

DEATH OF A PIONEER.

The many friends of Mr Theophilus Trewhella, senior, will regret to hear of his demise, which took place on Wednesday evening. The deceased, who was 82 years of age, followed the occupation of a contractor and carter. In the early days he used to cart goods from Geelong, and later on paid his attention to market gardening, which he carried on with great success. He was a member of the M.U.I.0.0.F., being one of the oldest members. He leaves a grown up family to mourn their loss.

1912 Victoria state Probate register. dod 25 Jan 1912 occ. Carter

Family Legend

Both verbal and written accounts from his grandson, Roy Trewhella, ^[10] state that Theophilus arrived in Australia in 1855, when additional troops were sent out from England to assist following the Eureka stockade in Ballarat - but there is NO evidence of him being part of any English troops dispatched at that time!.

According to Roy, once the troopers were no longer required to keep peace, they were sent home to wives and family, however Theophilus applied to the police force for a discharge, purchased land in Buninyong and sent for his wife to join him in Australia. When she arrived, he met her in Geelong, and had their goods and chattles carted up to Buninyong where he had built a small two room cottage. He purchased four horses and a wagon and started a carrying business between Ballarat and Geelong.

Research Notes

Theophilus' Father: Despite his death certificate listing his father as "Trewhella Simon" no evidence has been located to support this, or identify who this is - the only potential candidate, Simon Tregunna Trewhela, seems pretty unlikely!

Theophilus' Mother: Despite his death certificate listing his mother as "Nanney (Berryman)" no record of his birth/baptism has been located, it is most likely that he was one of the illegitimate children of Anne (Berryman) Trewhella, born after the death of her husband, Edward Trewhella. A presumption is being made that "Nanney" was a nickname for Anne. Although I have not been able to prove a connection to Anne's other (illegitimate also) daughter, Sophia (Trewhella) Berryman, she also immigrated to Victoria, Australia, with her husband, John.

Pike-5935: Initially I thought Theophilus may have been the same person as Theophilus Cornilius Trewella but the fact that he was not released from prison until 1 July 1855 precludes this, as my Theophilus arrived in Victoria, Australia in Feb 1855.

However, I cannot find a birth record for ANY Theophilus Trewhella/Trewella/Trewheeler etc..

This profile is a collaborative work-in-progress. Can you contribute information or sources?

Sources

1. ↑ Public Record Office Victoria, Unassisted passenger lists, (1852-1923) Record Series Number (VPRS): 947, Text: TREWHANA, THEOPHILUS, Ship: SHALIMAR; Arrival Year: 1855; Arrival Month: FEB; Age: 27; Gender: M; Origin: ENG; Master: ROBERTSON AMOS; Origin port code: B; Fiche number: 86; Page of list: 16, https://prov.vic.gov.au/index.php/explore-collection/explore-topic/passenger-records-and-immigration/unassisted-passenger-lists
2. ↑ Victoria Marriages 1836-1942, Civil Marriage & Divorce, Reg No. 4229, 1858, (Theophilus Trewhalla) findmypast, https://www.findmypast.com.au/transcript?id=ANZ/BMD/VICTRIAMARIAG/3863386
3. ↑ Marriage Reg. no: 4229, 1858, Theophilus TREWHALLA and Elizabeth HILL, Births Deaths and Marriages Victoria, https://www.bdm.vic.gov.au/research-and-family-history/search-your-family-history
4. ↑ Trove, National Library of Australia, Leader (Melbourne, Vic. : 1862 - 1918) Sat 13 Feb 1886 Page 42 Family Notices, https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/198049946
5. ↑ Death Reg. no: 788, 1912, Theophilus TREWHELLA, Births Deaths and Marriages Victoria, https://www.bdm.vic.gov.au/research-and-family-history/search-your-family-history
6. ↑ Victoria Wills & Probate, VPRS 28/P3, unit 274, findmypast, https://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=AU/VICTORIA/WILLSPROBATE/000993925
7. ↑ Buninyong Cemetery Trust, PO Box 528, Buninyong Vic 3357.
8. ↑ BillionGraves, https://billiongraves.com/grave/Theophilus-Trewhella/28544904
9. ↑ Trove, National Library of Australia, The Ballarat Star (Vic. : 1865 - 1924) Fri 26 Jan 1912 Page 1 BUNINYONG., https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/218532498
10. ↑ Handwritten notes by grandson Roy, circa 1980

• Original marriage certificate (in my possession, Pike-5935) of his son, Theophilus

• Birth Reg. no: 6860 (son), 1867, Theophilus TREWHALLA, Births Deaths and Marriages Victoria, https://www.bdm.vic.gov.au/research-and-family-history/search-your-family-history