Elizabeth CONNER in VDL

[Rochdalian]

Hi

According to the Hobart Gazette this lady, Elizabeth Conner, married John Eddington on 17 Oct 1821 in Hobart Town.  I have plenty on John but nothing on Elizabeth. 

Any help gratefully appreciated

Bob

[LzzieG]

Hi Bob,

The www.familysearch.org website has a record of a John Eddington marrying an Elizabeth Cannon on 17/10/1821.

The Tasmanian Archives website www.archives.tas.gov.au in the Colonial Tasmanian Family Links database, there is also a record of John Eddington married Elizabeth Cannon in Hobart, Tasmania in 1821. John's birth year is recorded as 1797 and Elizabeth's birth year is recorded as 1802. Their children are recorded as Margaret b. 1830; john thomas born 1832; thomas henry born 1840; f eddington & eliza maria eddington both born 1843. You can access further info on the children on that website such as their spouse & children. Could this be your Elizabeth Conner.

Lizzie

[Rochdalian]

Hi Lizzie

Yes that is indeed my Elizabeth.  What I am trying to do is first of all clarify the surname and maybe find out more about her.

I suppose it's possible that the journo on the paper mis-spelled the name.

Thanks very much for your reply

Cheers

Bob

[trish251]

Hi Bob

Spelling doesn't seem to be an issue on parish records 

On the AVRI the record is John Eddington aged 24 Elizabeth Cannon aged 19 married 17 Oct 1821 ref 492 - the AVRI doesn't have locations for Tasmania


There are a couple of births to John Eddington & Elizabeth U in the 1830s - would these be of interest?

Trish

[Rochdalian]

Hi Trish

Think you are right with spelling and so on and yes I do have plenty of info on their offspring and also John's 'pedigree'.  It's just Elizabeth that I can't quite get a handle on.  If she was born 1802 ish then a good option would be Norfolk Island but I have not been able to find a Conner (O'Conner) or Cannon that fits.  Although I'm sure I have missed some records.  If not NI then it's unlikely to be VDL so it could be NSW or England.   Questions questions.  What do you think?

Cheers

Bob

[trish251]

NI early records are included in the NSW indexes. My husband comes from a first fleeter & 2nd fleeter partner who ended up there. The marriage (if it happened) is not in the indexes, but the births for most of their children are given. AVRI gives the parish as C of E Norfolk Is. At least one son is missing, so the records are probably sketchy. I believe at one stage 200 couples were married on the one day - there is no confirmation of this in the NSW records (and if my two took part, the marriage was probably bigamous as they both had partners before coming to Australia).  As you mention, the folks from NI at this time all ended up in VDL.  There is a book (or books) around with full lists of all the NI folks who went to Tasmania. I have in the past borrowed them from the library. Will check if I kept the references. I think the original records are at the Mitchell in Sydney.

Trish

[Rochdalian]

When I started this line of research, for a friend who is descended from John Eddington & Elizabeth, I borrowed every book I could find about NI with lists etc. and could not find what I was looking for.  Just as a matter of interest John's parents were in that group marriage supposedly performed by Rev Richard Johnson, they were Thomas Headington & Elizabeth Thompson.  Didn't realise they were included in NSW indexes, I will have a look.

Thanks

Bob

[trish251]

Hi Bob

We seem to have followed the same route for early Tasmanians

If she was born 1802 - that is very early for Tasmania - assuming she is not from NI. My history is not too good but was there a settlement earlier than Gov Collins (actually, I think there was) - he came via Port Phillip and arrived 1804. Is your lass on any of the early musters for VDL?

With Collins came Robert Knopwood who was the first Rev in Tasmania. Have you looked at his diary - it has been well interpreted and indexed.  I guess I was spoilt as he had an "adopted" son in law relationship with the son of our convict & thus the family was mentioned many times.  My couple on NI were James Morrisby and Ann Brooks/Lavender. The children from NI did tend to marry each other - often when very young, so I would agree you could expect to find Elizabeth Conner among them. I see your Thomas Headington in Molly Gillen's book - little about John, but was his sister the lady who had a child by Gov Collins? Knopwood was exceedingly fond of Gov Collins & the Eddingtons are probably mentioned in the diary

Trish

[Rochdalian]

Hi Trish

I shall have to revisit the early VDL musters just to satisfy myself that I didn't miss anything.  From my recollections I think there may have been a small settlement just prior to Collins but I guess his was the first real one.  I have even checked the lists of the failed Sorrento settlement but without luck.

Yes, John's sister Margaret Eddington was indeed Collins' mistress and had a child Eliza.  She gets a number of mentions in the good Rev's diary including her funeral in the 1820's (can't remember the year - I'm at the wrong computer).

Cheers

Bob