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From Chris Rayson on Sat, 11 Aug 2001, email to him bounced 10 Dec 2004 now with christopher dot rayson at ntlworld dot com Derby UK, Researching Rayson's worldwide Hello Elizabeth I have just found your most interesting site and was surprised to find the name of RAYSON included in the Pioneers listing. I am interested in Charles Rayson born about 1826, son of James and Margaret Rayson. Would you happen to have any other details on this family? I have a record of a Charles Rayson christened 26 April 1826 in Stoke sub Hamdon, Somerset, England, father James, mother Margaret, and am hoping that they are one in the same. Any information would be of use, thanks in anticipation

From on Mon, 15 Sep 2003 Your site says you are interested in what ship the early pioneers arrived in. The following may be of use to you for your site. The shipping records for South Australia show that the Raysons first landed in Australia at Adelaide on October 25th 1853, having travelled on the Neptune, which had sailed from Plymouth. The shipping records give minimal information only and record Charles Rayson as being 26 years old and Charlotte Rayson (nee Abbott) as being 21 years old. William Rayson, presumably their son, who is listed as a male under one year old, accompanied them. The Raysons stayed in South Australia for a little over two years before heading for Victoria aboard the Mary Smith on December 7th 1855. They arrived at Hobsons Bay Victoria on December 13th. The shipping record lists them simply as Mr and Mrs Rayson and family. During their time in South Australia their family had increased in size. The South Australian records record a girl, Emma, being born in Adelaide on July 21st 1854 to Charles Rayson and Charlotte Abbott. Charles Rayson and Charlotte Abbott were married in Milborne Port Somerset on 24th November 1851. Hope this is of some use to you. Keep up your excellent work. Phil Tyler Donnybrook WA. Your site lists their other children, but not the first William. I do not know what happened to him.

Charles Rayson 1826 - 1906 died at Dunolly, son of James and Margaret Rayson
Charlotte Rayson 1832 - 1926, aged 94, when her parents were remembered as Samuel and Charlotte Abbott, died at Dunolly. They came on the Neptune to Adelaide on October 25th 1853

Charles Rayson 1826 - 1906 and Charlotte Abbott 1832 - 1926 appear to have wed then travelled to Victoria about 1855, see the above letter from Phil