Dear Elizabeth,

I came across your web-page as I was searching for information in relation to Matilda Sealy.

There is no doubt that the Matilda Sealy who married Thomas Renshaw on 9 September 1856 is the same Matilda Sealy who sailed to Tasmania (then Van Dieman's Land) with my great-great-great grandfather, James Broughton Sealy and his wife Frances (nee Jeffereys) and their infant son George Broughton Sealy.

All four arrived on borad The Earl of Chester which sailed from London on 15 September 1854 and arrived in Hobart on 5 January 1855.

The entry in the shipping register reads as folows;

SEALY: James (29) of Middlesex Father Baker C of E R&W [i.e.Reads & Writes]
SEALY: Frances (27) " Wife " "
SEALY: George (1) " Son "
SEALY: Matilda (18) Essex Single Dressmaker " "

Having regard to her age, Matilda was certainly not the child of James or Frances - they were married on 25 December 1851 at St Michael's, Bishops Stortford, Hertfordshire and George was born on 15 November 1853 at Bishops Stortford.

However, I have assumed that Matilda was not the sister of James (she is not described as such in the shipping register).

James' parents were George Abraham Sealy and Mary Ann (nee Waterman). George & Mary had at least 10 children between 1813 and 1830. By the year of Matilda's birth (1835 or 1836), Mary Ann would have been 45 or 46 years old. It is possible that Mary Ann gave birth to Matilda - and your information would appear to suggest that that was indeed the case.

However, against that, Matilda's County of birth is given (as above) as Essex. George & Mary Ann were still living in Stepney, London (ie Middlesex) in 1830 when their last (known to me) child, William Thomas Sealy was born. Of course, it is possible that the family moved from London sometime after 1830 and that Matilda was born in 1835 or 1836.

Matilda's marriage certificate indicates that she married Thomas Cunningham Renshaw (Builder) at the home of a Mr G Miles at Peppermint Bay (now Woodbridge - quite near Kingston) on 9 September 1856. The winesses (who, perhaps curiously did not include James or Frances) were Mr G Miles, Elizabeth Miles and Mary Jane Dobney (or Dobner).

I was aware that Thomas & Matilda had had 4 children (the first 4 you mention) but I was unaware of the later children - presumably because they were all born in Victoria - and I had no idea that the family had left Tasmania.

If you have any other information at all in relation to Matilda (or any Sealy) I should be most pleased to receive it. In particular, if it is the case that Matilda was the daughter of George Abraham and Mary Ann Sealy I would be grateful for any information you have about them. I have so far been unable to get back beyond either George Abraham or Mary Ann. In James & Frances' marriage cerificate, George's occupation is given as "Clerk". George's marriage to Mary Ann also appears to heve been his second. There is a resord of the christening of one Goerge Sealy (the child of George Abraham and Sarah Sealy) on 19 August 1807 at St Sepulchre's, London.

Regards,

Your web site is superb - thankyou.

Re your record of Christian William Roworth who married Martha Louise Wright in Melbourne in 1854 and who came " from Scotland before 1848"

A Christian William Roworth was transported to Hobart 7.10.1835 following his conviction in London in 1833 aged 13 for property valued at 3/3d.

A William and Martha Roworth were recorded as travelling from Hobart to Victoria (probably to Geelong) - a child had been born to them in Tasmania 2.10.1845. See Geelong and Portland Bay list of migrants in 1845 and 1846 were brought over to Victoria by the Geelong and Portland Bay Immigration Society (including Port Fairy). They arrived between 1845 and 1846 per the vessel's David, Scotia, Julia, Platina, and Shamrock.

I have a lot of other information on Roworths in London

Regards, Michael

Next day Michael added

Your ref to Christian William's parents, William & Mary Elizabeth Roworth is most useful - I have records of them and 2 other children, Charles William b1818 & Mary Elizabeth b1830.
I am trying to link William as the son of Henry Roworth b1796. Henry was son to Charles & Ann Roworth (and brother to Charles William b1803, my ancestor) - this Charles Roworth founded a printing business of some note, and was brother to another Henry and to Lizzie, all the children of William and Mary Roworth who are recorded as having a Haberdashers shop in Islington in 1767. If I am correct, then I have convict relatives in Aus - wicked!

Another relative, Howard Morgan Roworth b1838 (son of Charles William b1803 and Sarah) is recorded as dying in Belfast, now Port Fairy, Vic in 1877 - I can find no further information about him - why he was there, when he arrived, or if he had a family

From E - I found the Old Bailey trial of John Holding and Christian William Roworth both aged 13