Elizabeth Clemens
Elizabeth Clemens was the daughter of William Clemmens (note variation in spelling) and Mary Grose. Elizabeth's date of birth is reported as May 1796 (apparently based on Elizabeth's account of her own age). She was born in the town of St Just in Penwith in Cornwall, England. If the date is correct, she was already eight years of age when she was christened on 4 November 1804 in the town of her birth. Alternatively, if she may have been born closer to the date of christening. The information noted below about Elizabeth's age at the time of emigration to South Australia, would support her birth year as being approximately 1804. (Christening also reported at http://mysite.freeserve.com/cornish_ancestors).
Elizabeth's mother's family has been traced back to approximately 600 in the town of St Just in Penwith (see http://www.alphalink.com.au/~tomluke/GROSE.wbg/wga5.html). On Elizabeth's death certificate, her father's occupation is described as "soldier".
According to the International Genealogical Index (http://www.familysearch.org/) Elizabeth Clemens married John Eddy on 26 May 1822 in Saint Just in Penwith, Cornwall, England.
It is believed that Elizabeth and her husband were parents of five sons:
- Jakeh Eddy (born 1824 and died 1825 in Churchtown, St Just in Penwith).
- John Clements Eddy (1826-1907). Detailed information provided elsewhere.
- James Eddy (1829-1893). Detailed information provided elsewhere.
- William Eddy (born 4 March 1833 in St Just in Penwith in Cornwall; died at age 17 on 22 March 1850 in Burra, South Australia. In the death record, William is described as a "miner", the cause of death was "typhus fever" and his death is no. 119 recorded in the "District of the Murray" in South Australia.)
- Richard Eddy (born 1837 in Cornwall; died at age 12 on 18 May 1849 in Burra, South Australia. In the death record, the cause of death is described as "fever" and his death is recorded as no. 40 in the "District of the Murray").
With her husband, Elizabeth emigrated to South Australia with her four surviving sons, at least one of whom was married with a child. Elizabeth aged 44 years, accompanied by her husband aged 45 years and two youngest sons, then aged 15 and 11 years respectively, travelled to South Australia on a ship called Marion, arriving in South Australia on 13 February 1849. As noted elsewhere, John Kimber's web-site, http://homepages.picknowl.com.au/sixtiesdj/, reports that a number of Cornish families, mostly inter-related, and including Elizabeth's other sons emigrated on ship William Money, departing Plymouth in September 1848 and arriving in South Australia on 3 January 1849.
The families participated in the copper mining industry in Burra until the discovery of gold in Victoria. Elizabeth was already a grandmother and it is probable that she lived with family members helping with domestic duties. Within just over one year of arrival in South Australia, Elizabeth's 12 year old son, Richard, and 17 year old son, William, died of infectious diseases.
Elizabeth lived in Maldon from approximately 1855 and would have experienced the great years of the gold rush. Elizabeth's death certificate states that she and her son, James Eddy, were both residing in Eaglehawk in Maldon at the time of Elizabeth's death. It is recorded elsewhere that James Eddy occupied a weatherboard house in Eaglehawk.
Elizabeth Eddy died in Eaglehawk, Maldon, Victoria on 25 September 1890. The death certificate states she was 94 years of age, although this would not be correct if she was not born until 1804 (see above). Elizabeth was buried in Maldon Cemetery and the officiating minister of religion was from the "Bible Christian" church. A brochure titled Historic Details About Early Churches in Maldon, published by the Maldon Visitor Information Centre, states that the Bible Christian chapel was located in Harker Street, Maldon and was demolished in 1902 when the church amalgamated with the Wesleyans.
Another of the old identities of the Maldon district has passed away from our
midst to join the "great majority". The deceased, Mrs Eddy, who was born at St. Just, in Cornwall, in 1796, completed her 94th
birthday in May last. She came out to the colonies - to South Australia - over 40 years ago, and shortly afterwards came to Victoria. Mrs
Eddy has been a resident of Maldon for some 35 years, during which time she has seen many changes. Some twelve years ago the old lady
was deprived from her eye-sight and became totally helpless. but she was. however, well taken care of by her son James. Not withstanding
the loss of sight she retained a wonderfully retentive memory, and conversed to the last of the wonderful times and changes she had witnessed
in the old country. The old lady died of senility (old age), passing away peacefully in her sleep. Mrs Eddy was the first of the denomination
of "Bible Christians" who came out to the colonies. she having joined the body in 1814, when 18 years old. The remains of
the venerable old colonist will be consigned to their last resting place, the Maldon cemetery, at 3 o'clock this day. |
Extract from local newspaper, Tarrengower Times, Saturday, September 27, 1890:
thanks to Maldon Museum and Archives Association
Burial records for Maldon Cemetery (information provided by Maldon Museum and Archives Association) show that Elizabeth Eddy (record number 2467) was buried in a grave (reference co. 19, sec 41, pos 136) owned by the Sangster family, which was the family of her daughter-in-law, Elizabeth Sangster, second wife of James Eddy.
Thanks to Maldon Museum and Archives Association especially Ms Sam Palmer, for providing some of the above information.
