Introduction

John worked as a railway labourer in Somerset and Dorset for about twenty years before emigrating with his family to Australia in 1865. He and his family lived at Hardington in 1858.

Childhood

John Edwards was born at Taunton in about 1820, possibly in Wilment Square. His father, James, was a sawyer and later a lime burner.

The 1841 recorded John living in St James Street, Taunton, with his mother and younger brother, James. Both John and James were painters’ apprentices.

Marriage

On 19 August 1843, John married Hannah Glass by banns at Wellington. Both signed the register with a cross.

Hannah was the daughter of Benjamin and Ann Glass of Wellington. Her parents were both weavers.

Occupation

John worked as a railway labourer in Somerset and Dorset for about twenty years. His primary work was as a navvy, constructing new lines.

At the time of his marriage, he was an “excavator” living at Wellington. By August 1848, he was a “navigator” at Stockwood, Dorset. Other locations where he lived include:

30 March 1851-Labourer at Bedminster (address: Page’s Court)

10 April 1854-Railway Labourer at Yetminster

24 August 1856-Railroad labourer at Gillingham

18 December 1858-Labourer on Railway at Hardington

9 January 1859-Railway labourer at Winsham.

During the night of the 1861 census, Hannah and her six children lived with her parents, Benjamin and Ann, at Westford, Wellington, while John was away. Ann died later that year, followed by Benjamin, in 1864.

Emigration

Benjamin’s death probably prompted the family’s emigration plans. In 1865, John and his family set sail for Australia. [1]

Death

John died at Rockhampton, Queensland, on 6 February 1871 from albuminuria, at the age of about 51.[2] Hannah died there on 27 August 1888 from colic and weak action of the heart, at the age of about 67.[3]

Children

John and Hannah had seven children, including twins Thomas and William Henry, the latter of whom died in childhood.

References

[1] Information from John Edward’s death certificate included in Dianne Butler’s family tree on ancestry.com

[2] Information from John Edward’s death certificate included in Dianne Butler’s family tree on ancestry.com

[3] Information from Hannah Edward’s death certificate included in Dianne Butler’s family tree on ancestry.com