Hi Elizabeth,

My name is Joanna and I found your family history webpage a few days ago… and it certainly grabbed my attention. I am related to the Hipwell family that you have listed on your site. Harriet Hipwell (b 27/7/1870) was my Great Great Grandmother!

I have quiet a lot of information on the Hipwell and Pickering family and after going through the details on your site, I noticed that I could probably add to it! In some cases there are even more children than you have listed! For example George and Sarah had a daughter first – who’s name was Elizabeth, and then went on to have George and Sarah Jane. The Infant Child you mentioned was William Hipwell!

George Hipwell was born in 1809 to a farmer and his wife, Solden and Elizabeth Hipwell (nee Palmer) at Gosbit Town (Gosbiton) Lincolnshire England. George when at the age of 25 married Sarah Anderson in Leverington, Cambridgeshire, England on the 17th January 1834. Sarah, who was then 20 years of age, (She was was born in Leverington Cambridgeshire in 1814 to Edward and Mary Anderson (nee Speckly)

During the next fifteen years, seven children were born to George and Sarah. Elizabeth 1835, George 1836, Sarah Jane 1838, Eliza 1841, Mary Ann 1843, Elizabeth 1846, David 1849. The eldest child, Elizabeth must have died at an early age (most likely before 1846, because it was then they named one of their other children Elizabeth, it would seem after their first born.) It was in 1852 that George and Sarah decided to make the long move to the colony of Australia. So with six children and Sarah expecting her eighth child, they left Liverpool on the ship, Confiance on 8th December 1853. It was only 21 days later and tragedy struck the Hipwell Family when their youngest child David died of Dysentery and was buried at sea. Dysentery was a commoners sickness in those days on such voyages, with no fresh vegetables and mostly flour products to eat. This must have been a savage blow to George and Sarah.

They came to Australia upon their own undertaking, with the intention of growing wheat. It has been passed down through the family, that they bought their own horses with them. George's occupation was Agricultural Labourer. Yes tragedy fell upon them on the way out, but blessing came when Sarah gave birth to their eighth child. It was a son. William. William was born 12/4/1853, while the ship was waiting in Coroi Bay, only hours before they set foot on the shore, at Geelong. George and Sarah Hipwell and family leased land at Kyneton where another daughter was born in 1856. This ninth child they named Harriot. With the draught getting worse and their lease due for renewal at Kyneton, they decided to try another area. So on the 10th July 1873, George and Sarah purchased land at Pannoobamawm ( 20 miles west of Echuca) near Lockington. The land consisted of 83 acres. Then the next day, 11th July 1873, they moved to their newly purchased land.

By this time all their children except William and Harriot were married. things must have went reasonably well for them at Pannoobamawm, as they purchased another 152 acres on the 14th August 1877. Then just over a year later on the 30th September 1878, George and Sarah gave land to their son William and Son in law William Pickering. Then the very next day George and Sarah purchased land at Pinegrove/ Warnup this being 160 acres for 48 pounds ($96)(lot 179). This land was next to George' s brother David and George and Sarah's son in law Joseph Sims.

As seen above, George had at least one brother, David who came to Australia. David married Miss Hirst. Near where George and David had land, there was also land owned by a R Hipwell. One wonders whether this was another brother or perhaps a son of David. After spending 35 years in Australia, George Hipwell passed away on the 8th July 1888 at the age of 78. He had been ill one day prior to death, the cause of death was recorded as old age. His son William was the informant, while the registrar was EJ Sims. George was buried in the Pinegrove Cemetery on the 11th July 1888 in the church of England section, by the Rev. W. Moseby, the undertaker was F. Reiget. George's wife lived until the 26th of March 1906, when she died at the age of 92, and buried with her husband at the Pinegrove cemtery. (Sarah had at least one brother named Edward who lived in Geelong) Sarah lived to see 41 grandchildren and at least 36 Great- grandchildren.

I noticed that you have listed a John Hipwell (Son of Elizabeth and William) – however I am not sure how this fits into the family. Are you able to explain this to me?

Anyway I look forward to hearing from you and perhaps being able to share some other information with you.

Kind regards

Joanna Grayson