Have been coming back to this one on and off during the day (whilst looking after a 4 year old), mainly because I looked at the online trees for this family and they simply didn't add up! Two different dates given for Charles' death - 1878 and 1882 although would seem to be 1878. People then in Australia shown on the 1851 UK Census - it just goes on and on!
The major cause of this, it seems, is that The Bound for South Australia website states that Charles' wife was an Elizabeth who died en route. Records for Charles' married to Elizabeth's seem to have been consulted and in the end the marriage of a William Chandler who married Elizabeth Haberfield 1826 Bristol seems to have been accepted as 'the one'.
However, I firmly believe that 'wife Elizabeth' should actually be Ann! We know that Charles and family are shown as from East Acton and, as been mentioned on other threads, his children were indeed born at Acton but mother clearly shown as an Ann:
Elizabeth b.28/6/1826, bp.30/7/1826
James b.7/10/1827, bp.11/11/1827, bur.7/8/1831
William b.19/6/1830, bp.11/7/1830
Sarah Elenor b.27/7/1833, bp.18/8/1833
Harriet b.14/4/1835, bp.3/5/1835
The online trees show most of the children as born in Bristol (with no definite dates - clearly, they weren't). Would seem everyone is looking for baptisms for these children to a Charles and Elizabeth when it is in fact Charles and Ann. One of the trees even shows Charles himself as being born in 2 places i.e. Bristol, Glos. and Brighton, Sussex!!!
I have had my purely logical head on today and have, aside from the name given for Charles' wife, gone purely from the known facts. From Charles' 3rd. marriage we have the name of his father i.e. James Chandler. Also, the trees show, in some cases, 2 or 3 christian names when according to birth/marriages/deaths in Australia they only (with the exception of Sarah Elenor) had one. Whilst I cannot categorically prove my findings this is my interpretation of things.
I believe that Charles Chandler married an Ann Newell 21/2/1825 Shinfield, Berkshire - after the marriage they are no longer in the parish - no children baptised, no burials. I believe they moved to Acton where their children were born/baptised. Equally so, there is no trace of Charles, Ann and children in Acton after the baptism of their youngest in 1835. This again fits in with the family going to Australia on 1/3/1836 (arriving 16/8/1836).
Although Charles' headstone states a birthdate of 13/10/1804 I think it may well be a year late.
A Charles Chandler was bp.30/10/1803 Shinfield, Berkshire (which could tie in if his actual birthdate was 13/10/1803 rather than 1804. He was the son of a James Chandler and wife Harriet (both these names given to his own children). He appears to be their only child - however, a James Chandler was bur.13/7/1807 (no age given but doesn't indicate it was a child) which could be him but cannot find a remarriage or death for wife Harriet (not at Shinfield anyway).
James Chandler married Harriet Willia (? think this should read Willis) 10/7/1802 Shinfield, Berks. (Shinfield baptisms show a Harriet Willis bp.11/8/1782, dau. of William and Lydia and although there was a William Chandler and wife Mary having children baptised at Shinfield from 1764 to 1782, which included a Charles in 1773, I cannot see a son James in the baptisms on familysearch so don't know if they were his parents).
Anyway, something for you to give some serious thought to. I think the above makes far more sense than what the online trees suggest (with no kind of proof).
Good luck.
Annette
