1st/2nd Engineer on the waterways

[Sonmor]

Hi, My 3xGreat Grandfather Arthur Nicholls arrived in Australia around 1886 aged 30 and was an Engineer on steamships that used to travel up and down the east coast of Australia. I have no idea as to his arrival here in Australia as I just cant find it. My question is would he have had to have done an apprenticeship in the UK? and if so where would one find such records? His parents are listed on his marriage and death certificates as being Joseph Nicholls - boiler maker and Elizabeth Tonkin. He was born in London,Middlesex around 1861 if I go by his death/marriage certificates. The only family I have located at the time of his birth is in the 1861 census and they are living on the East India Docks, so I am assuming that is where his father worked as a boiler maker.. This is the only Joseph Nicholls i have found as a boiler maker aswell, but I cant be sure this is the family.I cant find anything in 1871 1881 census either and then he arrives in Australia.. Family rumour was that the family spent time in India..but have not found any travel records to suggest this is true..Any help much appreciated on this one..its doing my head in.. Sonya

[keyboard86]

Hi Sonya, is this the family in 1861?

Joseph A Nicholls 48 occ Boiler Maker b Liverpool
Elizabeth 36 b Staffordshire
Joseph R NICHOLL 2 b Bromley, Middx
AUTHER NICHOLL 4 months b Bromley Middx
Ann Braman 18 Single/ Visitor b Smithincott Staffs
Residing at 37, Brunswick Road, Bromley St Leonard, Poplar
Census Ref RG09/300/20/35
Both boys have been transcribed as depicted
Keyboard86

[Sonmor]

Hi, Yes this is the one I have found that closest fits the family

[keyboard86]

Hi, Yes this is the one I have found that closest fits the family

Trouble I'm having is finding the marriage of an Elizabeth Tonkin to a Joseph Nicholls

Keyboard86

[Sonmor]

Yes i had the very same issue..And finding a Tonkin family in Bilston,Staffs.. The Tonkins seem quite prominent in the Devon/Cornwall area, aswell as the Nicholls family but the census says Liverpool as the birth for Joseph..it really has me stumped!

[keyboard86]

Hi again, trying to work out the birthplace of Elizabeth on original 1861 may help, and the visitor not sure of what her pob or possible link to Elizabeth?

Keyboard86

[Sonmor]

Yes, I have gone down that avenue - from what I can see Ann Braman is a visitor from Smithwick,Staffordshire, I have looked for her in Smithwick in the 1851 census and a marriage for her aswell. I guess I was trying to see if Arthur had done an apprenticeship it might lead me to more information regarding his family as I have nothing, also looking at his sibling Joseph William seems to come up trumps.. The names are all there as Arthur when he came to Australia and married named his children Sarah Jane,John, Joseph and Arthur and the names have carried on down the generations.

[keyboard86]

Hi again, ok think I can now figure out just who/where Elizabeth was/born and her relationship to Ann, this could be that we have the wrong Arthur if my findings are sound!

Looking at a higher magnification on the birthplace of Elizabeth in 1861, I think it is Bilston, Staffs, and Ann is Smethwick, if so their is this abridged 1851 for a family:-

Joseph BEAMAN 49
Mary Ann 46
Elizabeth 25 b Bilston
Ann 8 b Smethwick
Residing at Handsworth Staffs
Census Ref HO107/2024/14/21
Keyboard86

[Sonmor]

ok thanks for that! So does that mean I have the wrong family for my Nicholls side?