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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Kent => Topic started by: ottawayfamily on Wednesday 01 February 12 09:36 GMT (UK)
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According to the family story, my great-grandfather Frederick Ottaway was born in Maidstone Kent around 1848 and emmigrated to New Zealand in the 1860's, travelling with his brother.
Having looked into this for over 2 years, I am not convinced he did travel with his brother. The only records I can find of him in NZ start in 1872 where he sustained an injury and was admitted to Wellington Hospital. At that time he was living in the Hutt Valley. He married in 1875 and died in Gisborne Hospital in 1928. I cannot find him on any immigration/passenger records or proof of his parents names (his death certificate is sadly lacking in this respect).
I would be delighted if anyone has suggestions/ideas/information that would allow me to positively identify his ancestry.
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There's this from 1861?
Reference RG09, Piece 516, Folio 14, Page 21
Church Street, Wye, Kent
Ottaway, John Head M 50 Postmaster and Saddler b Challock
Ottaway, Betsy Wife F 50 b Egerton
Ottaway, Olivia Daughter F 24 b Sittingbourne
Ottaway, Thomas W Son M 17 Pupil Teacher b Wye
Ottaway, Walter E Son M 15 Apprentice b Wye
Ottaway, Frederick Son M 13 Scholar b Wye
Ottaway, Henry Son M 11 Scholar b Wye
Ottaway, Ellen Daughter F 8 Scholar b Wye
Ottaway, Evaline Daughter F 5 Scholar b Wye
Hoare, Ann Servant F 17 House Servant
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They may have gone to NZ via Australia as my G/Grandfather did.
Remember it was Gold Rush time 1860's.
The Wye one may have died 1866;
Death Reg;
Frederick OTTWAY, March 1866, East Ashford, 2a 415, Age 18 (Birth c 1848)
E Ashford is the Reg District on the 1861 Census posted.
1861 Census has a Frederic OTTAWAY c 1848, Headcorn, Kent with Parents CHARLES/MARTHA also.
What did Frederick name his Children?
Trish :)
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Had a quick look on NZ BMD;
Possible Children;
MARTHA ELIZABETH 1878
ELIZABETH LOUISA 1880
CHARLES FREDERICK 1882
THOMAS GEORGE 1884
ALBERT EARNEST 1886
ALFRED ZION 1888
MAY 1891
GEORGE 1893
FREDERICK JOHN
Parents as ELIZABETH and FREDERICK or FREDERICK CHARLES Ottaway
Looks like the Headcorn Frederic may be yours as Parents are Charles/Martha.
Trish :)
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I have to do a bit more researching but I noticed a HENRY WILGRISS Ottaway and Wife ANNIE (Nee Scott) having Children at the same time as Frederick/Elizabeth in NZ.
I found a couple of Birth Reg on FreeBMD for Ottaways with Wilgress as a second name.
(Including a Henry Wigress OTTAWAY, 1852, Maidstone Reg District)
I'll have a scout around tomorrow and see what I can find as its late here now.
Henry may be a Cousin, not Brother of Frederick as he seems to have been born c 1852, Kent and is not with Charles/Martha in 1861 Census).
Fred with Parents Charles/Martha has a Brother Zion/Sion or simliar also.
Trish :)
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Thanks Trish
I also believe that his parents are Charles and Martha, but have no proof from the NZ records. (My grandfather is Alfred Zion).
If he came to NZ during the gold rush era do you have any idea if there will be any immigration/shipping records in the UK? I have searched all of the NZ arrival passenger lists online in the 1860's to no avail. I did however find a Frederick Ottaway sailing from Brisbane to Sydney on 6 January 1871 - which may or may not be my relative.
Many thanks for your help. :)
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I can't see a marriage for Charles & Martha on the Mid Kent Marriages Index
http://www.woodchurchancestry.org.uk/midkentmarriages/
Perhaps they were non-conformists ???
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My records show that Charles and Martha were married in Tonbridge on 14 November 1846 - hopefully you can track this down.
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Familysearch has the marriage:
Charles OTTAWAY to Martha ROFE 14th November 1846 at Staplehurst. Groom's father Thomas OTTAWAY, bride's father Sion ROFE.
Found it the transcription of marriages at All Saints, Staplehurst.
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~staplehurst/Mar_Groom_1837.htm#Top
Martha's surname is transcribed as ROSE and her father's name Lion
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Excellent info Bearcat :)
Hi again ottawayfamily,
Now I am convinced we have the correct Family for Frederick.
There are too many names that reoccur.
I have looked at all my resources also to find him arriving Australia and New Zealand with no luck, except the Brisbane/Sydney trip which is on the Mariners Site.
Now if he was an Unassisted Immigrant he would possibly not be found on Shipping Lists.
You mention you have the D/C but do you have the M/C?
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You probably have traced Sion/Ann on Census;
Sion ROFE was Christened 26 July 1795, Presbyterian, Tenderden, Kent To THOMAS/ELIZABETH (Birth 05 June 1795)
(Source F/S.Org)
Married Ann GRIST 29 Dec 1814, St Mildred Tr, Tenterden, Kent
(Source FreeREG)
Thomas ROFE Married Elizabeth DENCE, same Church, 24 May 1791
(Source FreeREG)
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Yes I have the marriage certificate, but in 1875 there was no requirement to state parent's names.
I also have the intent to marry, but still without parent's names :(
I have traced Sion/Ann on the census, but still have that small niggling doubt that perhaps there is another Frederick Ottaway I have missed - particularly as the family story about travelling with his brother doesn't appear to be true, perhaps he also isn't from Kent.....
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What info do you have that suggests he came from Kent?
The name Sion certainly fits with this family.
Have you looked for a newspaper obituary for Frederick?
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One of my uncles wrote his memoirs as follows:
"My father's father was born in Maidstone, Kent and came to NZ in the 1860s. He arrived in Wellington with his brother but owing to a difference of opinion they parted company. One went to the South Island and my grandfather Frederick Charles Ottaway went to Taranaki. He was a flour miller and baker by trade. After a time with the troops in Taranaki, where he served in the Armed Constabulary against the Marois at the time of the Land Wars, Grandad and his brother were the only Ottaways to come to NZ in the 1800s and those two families held that position until the end of the Second World War when some came to NZ as assisted immigrants."
After two years of searching I have not been able to find any passenger/shipping records of his arrival, it doesn't appear that the NZ Ottaways I have traced are brothers, there were more than 2 Ottaways in NZ, and I have checked the NZ Armed Constabulary records and cannot locate him there. I have searched as many of the online records I can think of, including using alternate spellings of his surname. I am traveling to Wellington next week to spend a day in the National Archives, but it has been a very frustrating search for information to back up this family story. By elimination I believe I have traced the correct ancestor, but a little more proof would be reassuring. Any suggestions on where else to search would be gratefully received.
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What are the names of the Ottways that you have traced that you have discounted as Brothers of Frederick ?
Archway has 2 Bankrupcy Files of Otaways in the right time frame so there were at least 3 in NZ during the 1880's;
GEORGE Ottaway- Romahapa-Contactor 1887 (Dunedin)
HENRY WILLGRESS Ottaway 25/4/1884 (Christchurch)
(GEORGE/MARTHA Ottaway seem to have Children born NZ 1877/1879/1881)
There is also this held in Wellington;
9 August 1887 - Major Messenger, Wellington - Forwards crime report against No.217 3rd Class Gunner A. Ottaway
Anc Passenger Lists has;
THOS Ottaway arriving in Melbourne from Greymouth Hutt NZ , Ship OWEN, 30 Dec 1868, Nationality English
(another Record has him age 19, Birth c 1849)
There is also a JAMES Ottaway on the 1890 Electrol Roll, Te Aroha/Waikato
Trish :)
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Aside from these the other Ottaways I have traced as in NZ during the 1800's include Alfred Ottaway who married Agnes Mullens in NZ in 1889, and James Mager Ottaway who married Alice Eleanor Healy in NZ in 1900.
Arthur Wilgress Ottaway died in NZ aged 18 month in 1881 - with that name he may well be the son of Henry Wilgress Ottaway who married Annie Scott in NZ in 1876.
So there were certainly a lot more Ottaway's in NZ in the 1800's than our family story would suggest.
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This website mentions banns for Horace OTTAWAY to Martha ROFE 6th October 1844
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~gillon/ethelyn/pafn38.htm#6386
Did they actually marry?
Horace died in February 1846
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Arthur Wilgress Ottaway was the Son of Henry/Annie,
Henry under Hy Wilgress OTTAWAY died in Melbourne, Victoria, in 1905, Birth c 1852, Father EDWD
He is on the 1861 Census age 9, under Attaway, with Parents Edward/Mary and then disappears so must have left England before 1871 Census.
I was hoping to find a relationship bewteen Charles/Edward Ottaway but cant ::)
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It might be worth looking for wills for Charles and Martha to see if Frederick and his wherabouts are mentioned.
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Not quite what you are asking, but have you gone backwards with your Ottaways?
I am also interested in this family as I am descended from Dorcas Ottaway of Bethersden, b. about 1697, who married Daniel Bourne in 1720.
The family used the name Ottaway/Attaway as a middle name for several male descendants.
I have been concentrating on the Bournes up till recently (some emigrated to Australia and met a sad end as you can see here: http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,574177.0.html ) But I would be interested to know if there is a link between your Ottaways and mine.
Best wishes
Bev
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Thanks bearkat. I have tried to find the wills for Charles and Martha online, but without success. Have you any idea where I could get this information from?
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Hi Bev
I am still trying to ascertain that the ancestors I have traced are the correct family. At this stage I am a little stuck on my great-great-grandparents, who lived in the early to mid-1800s, but once I get past that small stumbling block I will see if I come up with any family matches with Dorcas Ottaway.
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Ancestry has The National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Adminisrations) 1861 -1941
If there are wills you will need to apply to the York Probate Registry
http://www.justice.gov.uk/guidance/courts-and-tribunals/courts/probate/copies-of-grants-wills.htm
PCC wills up to 1858 can be downloaded from The National Archives documentsonline
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/wills.asp
CCC and ACC wills are indexed on Maureen Rawson's site:
http://www.kentarchaeology.ac/ekwills_a/series/ekp2_intro.html
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I have Ottaway family records going back to mid 1600s. This is my husband's family history and the records are the combined efforts of several distant cousins. I have had a quick trawl through and will need to spend more time but my first findings may be of interest.
I have details of Martha Roffe's marriage to Horace Ottaway on 6th October 1844 in Headcorn, Kent. They had two daughters born in Headcorn in 1844 who were named Susan Ottaway Roffe and Jane Ottaway Roffe. Perhaps twins (?) Their surname was Roffe not Ottaway which seems strange if Horace was married to Martha.
Was the Martha Roffe who married Charles Ottaway the same Martha who was the widow of Horace? If Horace died in 1846 she could have married Charles later that year. I have not found them as a married couple yet but will have a closer look.
Horace had an older brother, Leonard Sion Ottaway, born Jan 13 1816, Headcorn, Kent.
Martha and Charles called their son Sion/Zion. There are several appearences of the name Sion.
The various generations seem to slip between Ottaway and Attaway and back again. In some families the children were registered as either!
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I wonder if Horace did marry Martha. ???
Jane marries with the surname ROFE (to Alfred CROUCH), father Horace OTTAWAY 12th April 1862 at Headcorn. Martha was a witness.
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Just to add that I can't see a marriage for Horace to Martha in either Headcorn or Staplehurst.
Martha is listed as a spinster when she married Charles.
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On Jane's marriage record does it say if Horace was deceased?
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The transcription says daughter of Horace OTTAWAY (shoemaker).
There are baptisms for Susan ROFE 26th April 1848 and Jane Ottaway ROFE 3rd December 1848, mother Martha, single woman. So I'm not sure they were twins. Odd that they were baptised on different dates, 2 years after Horace's death.
This doesn't add up. :-\
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I have found Charles Ottaway married Martha Ross (sic) Nov 14 1846
Children:
Jane 1845 Staplehurst
Frederick Nov 28 1847 Headcorn
Sion Sept 30 1849
Horace 1851
Charles was a Shoemaker.
Sion married Emma Dyke April 24 1880 Headcorn. Worth checking following census returns to see if they were still in England.
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In 1851 Susan Rofe, age 6, born Staplehurst is listed as neice of Frederick & Jane Wakefield, blacksmith of Old Forge, Headcorn. They have no children of their own living with them.
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The 1841 census shows 2 Martha ROFEs. One in Headcorn (daughter of Thomas) and one in Staplehurst (daughter of Sion ROFE)
living Churchyard, Headcorn
Thomas ROFE age 53 schoolmaster
Mary age 53
Thomas age 27
Martha age 23
Elizabeth age 21
Augusta age 20
Lavinia age 18
William age 16
Ann age 15
all born in county except Mary
living Chickenden Farm, Staplehurst
Sion ROFE age 45
Ann age 50
Susan age 20
Mary age 19
Martha age 17
Chalotte age 16
Robert age 10
Jane age 7
all born in county
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I came across this stream by accident, but I wish to add my little bit (you will find my Tree at www.ottaway.tribalpages.com - remember that I live at Scarness) In one of my branches there is a family at Maidstone (Edward Steele Ottaway) and one of his sons Henry Willgress went to NZ married Annie Scott and then went to Melbourne where he got into a bit of strife and committed suicide rather than face the courts. You will find info to this family in the NZ records. Now our family story is that he went to NZ with a brother, but we have never been able to find the brother, and from his record he may not have always been truthful. But this sounds like your story. Over the years I have done a fairly extensive search into all the Ottaways in Kent and I can find no record of your Frederick at Maidstone.
Have you sighted his Death Certificate (but then this would only contain info that he had given) I must tell you that a lot of these young men worked their passages so it may be unlikely that you will find his passage in the Records,
Edward Steele did have a brother Frederick, but he died in England.
If I can help you further contact me direct at (*) - I have lots of Ottaway Bits and Pieces.
Judy
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I am back again after checking my website and have found a Frederic Ottaway who married Elizabeth Tuke and died at Gisborne Hospital in 1928 - so if this is who you are looking for, he is in my Tree so go to that website he was born at Headcorn - is still there for the 1861 Census. Parent - Charles Ottaway and Martha Rose; Grandparents - Thomas Ottaway and Mary Turk.
Contact me if you require any more.
Judy