Fitzwilliam Wentworth (1833 - 1915)

Born 31 Jul 1833 in Vaucluse, New South Wales, Australia

Ancestors

Husband of Mary Jane (Hill) Wentworth — married 18 Mar 1868 in Surry Hills, New South Wales, Australia

Descendants

Died 8 Aug 1915 at age 82 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

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Biography

Fitzwilliam 'Fitz' Wentworth was born on 31st July 1833 at Vaucluse House, Colony of New South Wales (Australia). He was the second son of William Charles Wentworth and Sarah Cox. He attended the Normal Institution near Hyde Park until it closed in 1843, and then Elfred House, started by William Cape in Paddington. The family removed to England in 1853.^[1][2]

In England, Fitz was enrolled in St John's College, Cambridge. In 1857, ill-health forced him to postpone entering Middle Temple. In 1859, Fitz sailed to New Zealand to take up a sheep station. Rather than manage the Wentworth New Zealand properties as he had agreed with his father in 1861, Fitz installed his cousin, Henry Hill, as manager. His father had also arranged a £10,000 mortgage and arranged loans amounting to £21,000 to aid Fitz. Instead, Fitz toured the United States with another cousin, James Hill as the Civil War was concluding.^[2]

He married Mary Hill in 1868 at Sydney, New South Wales, before returning to New Zealand.^[3] D'Arcy and Mary were shipwrecked en route to England, near Cape Town, in 1871. Their daughter died during the voyage. Upon arrival in England, Fitz learned of his father's death just weeks beforehand. William was born whilst they were in England and Dorothy in New South Wales, after their arrival there in 1873. Now being the elder son, Fitz and Mary made their home in Sydney, where three more children were born to them.^[2]

He passed away on 8th August 1915 in a private hospital in Sydney and is buried on the Vaucluse House estate.^[4][5] His obituary read, "The death is announced of Mr. Fitzwilliam Wentworth, who passed away on Sunday evening in a private hospital in Sydney, at the advanced age of 81 years. Mr. Wentworth was the second son of the late Mr. W. C. Wentworth, whose name is identified with the early history of Australia. He was born in Sydney, and was one of the first bunch of graduates of the Sydney University. In 1876 Mr. Wentworth gave £2000 to the University authorities to found two bursaries in his father's honour. This was felt to have a peculiar fitness, as his father was chairman of the committee which reported in favour of constituting the University of Sydney, and was one of first members of the Senate. Mr. Fitzwilliam Wentworth always took a warm interest in the institution, and at the jubilee celebrations in 1902 was a most active worker and liberal entertainer. Mr. Wentworth at one time was largely engaged in pastoral pursuits in Australia. He leaves a widow and a family of four sons and one daughter. Mr. W. C. Wentworth, the oldest son, is a barrister-at-law, Mr. Darcy Wentworth is a mining engineer, and Messrs. George and Fitzwilliam Wentworth are graziers."^[6]

Sources

1. ↑ New South Wales Birth Index #273/1833 V1833273 17
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} Liston, Carol. Sarah Wentworth: Mistress of Vaucluse. Historic Houses Trust of New South Wales, Glebe, New South Wales, 1988. ISBN 0 949753 34 3
3. ↑ New South Wales Marriage Index #243/1868
4. ↑ New South Wales Death Index #9138/1915
5. ↑ Death notice, Sydney Morning Herald, Previous issue Tuesday 10 August 1915
6. ↑ Obituary, The Maitland Daily Mercury, Wednesday 11 August 1915