|
On the 1841 census of Thrybergh the Bisby family are
listed as :-
John Bisby born in Yorkshire age 39 working as a Farm Bayliffe
Betty Bisby born in Yorkshire age 37
Charlotte Bisby born in Yorkshire age 13
Martha Bisby born in Yorkshire age 6
Mary Bisby born in Yorkshire age 4
William Bisby born in Yorkshire age 2
At the age of 23 in 1851 Charlotte Bisby and a John Wheatcroft were married
in Thrybergh on the 1st December , presumably in St Leonard's Church.
Though we have so far established the origin of Charlotte the origin of her
husband John is as yet unknown. John Wheatcroft may have lived in one of the
local villages or possibly moved to Thrybergh to work for the Fullerton
family around 1850. The Fullerton's who were the landholders in Thrybergh
often brought workers to Thrybergh from the south of England where they also
had property.
John and Charlotte emigrated to South Australia in 1856 to start a new life,
this proved to be a successful gamble, John was skilled as a “hand sower” of
wheat.
From the archives of the Maritime museum here in Port Adelaide.South
Australia
According to their records John and Charlotte left Southampton aboard the
ship “Blundell” on June 16th 1856, and arrived at Port Adelaide on October
12th 1856. The Blundell was a 573 ton ship that made many journeys from
England to Australia and New Zealand in this period. The cost for each adult
was approx. 12 pounds from England to South Australia, and children under
14 years the cost was 6 pounds each,.
John was listed as an agricultural labourer and was aged 32, Charlotte
was aged 29. They also brought with them a daughter, Martha, aged less than
one year. To the best of my knowledge, (according to information from one of
John’s granddaughters in the 1970’s) they had a child before they left
England, but it died in infancy.
John spent the first few years leasing land, and hand sowing for others,
before buying his own property around 1877. This land was to be handed down
through five generations.
Moving forward in time to 1881we find that Charlottes younger brother
William was now married and living at Nether Hallem Sheffield and is listed
as follows:-
Wm. Bisby Head M Male 41 Thrybergh, York, England Gardener ;
Elizabeth Bisby Wife M Female 41 (British Subject), East Indies Household
Duties
Martha Bisby Niece Female 12 Rawmarsh, York, England Scholar [ see below ]
Dwelling 2 Bower Rd Nether Hallam, York, England
Public Records Office Reference RG11 Piece / Folio 4627 / 26 Page Number 1
Martha Bisby above was born in Rawmarsh, so following that piece of
information we found members of the Bisby family there in 1881.
Elizabeth Bisby Head U Female 36 Thryburgh, York, England Dressmaker
John Bisby Son Male 6 Rawmarsh, York, England Scholar
John Bisby Nephew U Male 26 Rawmarsh, York, England Coal Miner
Fred Bisby Nephew U Male 19 Rawmarsh, York, England Coal Miner
Dwelling 17 Craven Yd Rawmarsh, York, England
Public Records Office Reference RG11 Piece / Folio 4679 / 57 Page Number 13
William Bisby Head M Male 32 Mexbro, York, England Carter
Thomas Bisby Son U Male 19 Kilnhirst, York, England
Martha Bisby Daughter U Female 8 Park Gate, York, England
Eliza Bisby Daughter U Female 6 Park Gate, York, England
Elizabeth Bisby Daughter U Female 4 Kilnhirst, York, England
Mary Bisby Daughter U Female 1 Greasbro, York, England
Mary Bisby Wife M Female 31 Worksop, Nottingham, England
Dwelling 23 Green Lane Rawmarsh, York, England
Public Records Office Reference RG11 Piece / Folio 4679 / 82 Page Number
15
Charles Bisby Head W Male 76 High Melton, York, England Farm Labourer Ag Lab
Frances Bisby Daur U Female 39 Dalton, York, England House Keeper Dom
John William Bisby Grandson Male 4 Thrybergh, York, England
Dwelling Cottage
Census Place Thrybergh, York, England
Public Records Office Reference RG11 Piece / Folio 4684 / 54 Page Number 19
It is uncertain as yet as to the exact relationship of these families,
however we can assume that Martha Bisby age 12 above was the daughter of
Elizabeth Bisby, and it seems by the U for unmarried on the census that
Elizabeth had two illegitimate children. If she had been a widow then it
would be recorded with a W. The other question is, whose children were John
and Fred the nephews of Elizabeth. Was there an elder brother missing from
the 1841 census, perhaps working away from home age around 17 in 1841.
2006 Dave Wheatcroft was the fifth generation on that original parcel of
land in South Australia obtained by John and Charlotte, until the sale of
the family farm in the early 1990s. Dave and his wife Joy still hold some
original items that belonged to John, including receipts and furniture.
Text other than census records © Joy Wheatcroft |
