Anstey Family of Devon, England

Anstey was the middle name of my maternal great-grandmother, Caroline Anstey Garrett. As the family were Scots, I knew this must have been the family name of an earlier ancestor and eventually, traced the family to West Anstey in Devon, England where my 5xgreat grandparents were married. The family moved from Devon to Somerset where my 3xgreat grandmother, Caroline Anstey was born. She married in London, and later settled in Scotland. Her descendants ultimately migrated to Australia. Recent research has revealed that Caroline’s father and brother migrated to Australia in 1860.

My direct line is indicated in bold typeface.

First Generation

1. James ANSTEY.

He married Honour LOCK, 23 Nov 1786 in West Anstey, Devon, ENGLAND ⁸.

They had the following children:

            2          i.          John ANSTEY 

Second Generation

2. John ANSTEY. Son of James ANSTEY & Honour LOCK. Christen 21 Jun 1787 in West Anstey, Devon, ENGLAND ⁸. Died 1 Aug 1860 in Goonoo Goonoo Creek, NSW, AUSTRALIA ². Buried 3 Aug 1860 in Tamworth, NSW, AUSTRALIA ². Occupation Publican ⁵, Porter ¹³, Gas Fitter ².

 

John is the only known child of James Anstey and his wife, Honour Lock. ⁸

 

He married Barbara PALMER, daughter of William PALMER & Jane BUCKNELL, Circa 1810 in Exeter, Devon, ENGLAND ². Christen 1790 in Knowstone, Devon, ENGLAND ⁶². Died Before 1856.  They had the following children:

 

            3          i.          James ANSTEY

            4          ii.         Jane Honour ANSTEY

            5          iii.       William ANSTEY

            6          iv.        Jane ANSTEY

            7          v.         Caroline ANSTEY

            8          vi.        Elizabeth ANSTEY

            9          vii.      Mary Ann ANSTEY

 

His marriage to Barbara has not been located at this time, and their first known child, James was baptised in 1810 at Molland in Devon.  Their next known child, Jane, was also baptised at Molland, and died there in infancy. ⁷

 

Their daughter, Caroline, was baptised in Shepton Beauchamp, although it is not known how long the family resided here.  Certainly this is the only Anstey entry found in the Parish Registers for that time.  Birthplaces for the other children have not yet been confirmed.  ⁵

 

In 1856 John Anstey was listed as living at Castlenewton, and came to Australia with Thomas Maunder and family on the Hannah More in 1860.

 

John died suddenly when he fell from a tree at Goonoo Goonoo Creek near Tamworth. The informant was his son, James. His parents were confirmed as James Anstey and Honour Lock. His wife's maiden surname was Palmer and they were married c1810 at Exeter. ²

 

Third Generation

 

3. James ANSTEY. Son of John ANSTEY & Barbara PALMER. Christen 25 Mar 1810 in Molland, Devon, ENGLAND ²⁹. Died 18 Jun 1869 in Currabubula, NSW, AUSTRALIA ². Buried 19 Jun 1869 in Tamworth, NSW, AUSTRALIA ². Occupation Policeman ¹⁶⁶, Shepherd, ¹⁶⁶ Farmer ².

 

James was the eldest of John and Barbara's known children. Although it is known the family were living in Shepton Beauchamp in the 1820's, it would seem James returned to Dorset as he married Sarah Maunder there in 1831.

 

He married Sarah MAUNDER, daughter of John MAUNDER & Sarah JORDAN, 12 May 1831 in Molland, Devon, ENGLAND ²⁹. Born Circa 1811 in Soodleigh, Devon, ENGLAND ⁶³. Died 26 Nov 1889 in Carrabubula, NSW, AUSTRALIA ². Buried 17 Nov 1889 in Carrabubula, NSW, AUSTRALIA ².

 

It would seem that James and his wife, Sarah left Devon and settled for a while in Paddington, London as at least one of their daughters was baptised at St. Mary’s Church in 1837. Two of Sarah's brothers were also married at St. Mary's, Paddington.

 

They had the following children:

 

            10        i.          Eliza ANSTEY

            11        ii.         Female Infant ANSTEY

            12        iii.       Female Infant ANSTEY

            13        iv.        George MAUNDER

 

The baptism of their daughter, Eliza at St Mary's Paddington and a reference in an index to a burial there in the same year confirm the Anstey’s were living in Paddington in early 1837. James's occupation was shown as 'policeman' - he was, in fact, one of the earliest 'bobbies' or 'peelers'. The Maunders were also in Paddington at about the same time - Thomas and John were both married at St Mary's church, in 1840 and 1843 respectively. ¹⁶⁶

 

James Anstey and Sarah migrated to Australia in 1856 on the “Lloyds” with their nephew George Maunder, and were responsible for bringing the Maunder families to Australia. George's mother Sarah Jane had died in 1854, leaving her husband John with three infant children (Martha Ann, b 1844, George, b 1846 and William John, b 1851). The family story tells that the Ansteys raised George as their own, and brought him to Australia with them. ¹⁶⁶

 

After spending a short time on the goldfields at Nundle, the Ansteys and George secured employment as shepherds with the Peel River Company at Goonoo Goonoo. Their names appear in the company records from 1858. James then recommended the company bring out his brother-in-law Thomas and his family (wife Harriet, children: Thomas John, b 1842, Harriet, b 1844, Ann, b 1846, William, b 1849, Charles, b 1852, John, b 1854, Rosetta, b 1856 and Sarah Eliza, b 1860) and although they had to pay their own way, they arrived in 1860. Thomas and several of his sons were also employed as shepherds for some years. Two years later John came out with his second wife Ann and family (Martha and William John and three more sons: Robert Thomas, b 1856, James Anstey, b 1858 and Henry Prior, b 1860). ¹⁶⁶

 

George Maunder was one of the first to take up land under the Robertson Land Act, selecting a farm which he called Surrey Farm (he had been born in Clapham, Surrey) near Currabubula. The Ansteys also settled at Currabubula, while other members of the family selected farms in the Gowrie and Duri areas, all in an area south of Tamworth. There is an Anstey's Creek near Currabubula, obviously named for James. ¹⁶⁶

 

Unfortunately, James died as a result of a fall from his horse, on 18 June 1869 (his parents were given as John and Barbara on his death cert). His will left his property to his wife Sarah for life, and then to George Maunder. The will was written on the day he died by the wife of the innkeeper at Currabubula, Sarah Davis, and James signed with a shaky cross. ¹⁶⁶

 

Sarah his wife lived on to die on 26 November 1889 when she died of acute gastritis. Her father was listed on her death certificate as John Maunder, farmer. The informant was George Maunder, her nephew.  Her birthplace on her death certificate was given as Stoodley, Devonshire, she had been in the colonies 33 years. She had 3 children, all daughters, who were deceased. ²

 

The various properties then passed to George.

 

The following information was provided by David Patrick, a descendant of George Maunder:

 

“I once met an old cousin of my grandmother's, daughter of William John Maunder, Jane Fulwood, who remembered attending Sarah Anstey's burial at Currabubula in 1889. The Ansteys were well remembered in our family - my grandmother (Alice, daughter of George and Ann Maunder) often spoke in affectionate terms, of Uncle Anstey, as he was known. A favourite family story tells of how, when the Ansteys and George were at Nundle, a bushranger, later identified as Thunderbolt, arrived at their house demanding money. Uncle Anstey had gold, but fortunately he had hidden it in the saddlebags of his horse, and Thunderbolt didn't find it. All he managed to take were 'ties and handkerchiefs' apparently.”

 

4. Jane Honour ANSTEY. Daughter of John ANSTEY & Barbara PALMER. Christen 5 Jul 1812 in Molland, Devon, ENGLAND ²⁹. Died 13 Feb 1814 in Molland, Devon, ENGLAND ⁶³.

 

5. William ANSTEY. Son of John ANSTEY & Barbara PALMER. Born Circa 1815.

 

6. Jane ANSTEY. Daughter of John ANSTEY & Barbara PALMER. Born Circa 1817.

7. Caroline ANSTEY. Daughter of John ANSTEY & Barbara. Christen 8 Feb 1820 in Shepton Beauchamp, Somerset, ENGLAND ⁵. Died 14 Jul 1883 in Perth, Perthshire, SCOTLAND ². Buried 16 Jul 1883 in Wellshill Cemetery, Perth, SCOTLAND ⁴.

Caroline is the fifth child of John Anstey and his wife Barbara. She was the only one of their children to be baptised at Shepton Beauchamp in Somerset. At the time of her baptism, her father was described as a Publican. There is however, no further record of this family at Shepton Beauchamp.

She first married Benjamin GARRETT, son of Jonah GARRETT & Priscilla ALLEN, 24 Nov 1845 in St. Mary's Church, Paddington, London, ENGLAND ³. Christen 17 Mar 1815 in Shepton Beauchamp, Somerset, ENGLAND ⁵. Died 10 Jan 1855 in Scutari, TURKEY ⁴. Occupation Private, Coldstream Guards ³.

Whilst Caroline married Benjamin Garrett, who was also a native of Shepton Beauchamp at St. Marys Church in London in 1845 it is not known whether they knew each other prior to this. Both were residing at Hermitage St. It is possible that Caroline had followed Benjamin to London after he has joined the Coldstream Guards. If her family were still residing at Shepton Beauchamp, it seems unlikely that no further record of any family members appear in the Parish Registers during this period. Elizabeth Anstey and John Fletcher were the witnesses at their marriage. ³

Caroline and Benjamin had the following children:

14        i.          Benjamin GARRETT

            15        ii.         William George GARRETT

            16        iii.       George GARRETT

            17        iv.        Barbara GARRETT

            18        v.         Albert GARRETT

            19        vi.        Thomas William GARRETT

Of Benjamin and Caroline's children it is understood that George and Barbara both died in March of 1854 of fever, however this has not been confirmed on the St. Catherine's House Indexes at this time. It is known that in addition to Albert, their eldest son, Benjamin married and lived in Glasgow. It is possible that William George is the one who died in 1854. It is not known what happened to the child, Thomas who was born in 1856.

Family papers indicate that Benjamin died of dysentery at Scutari Hospital in Turkey in 1855, two months after the Battle of Inkerman. Unfortunately, there is no record of his death on the St. Catherine's House indexes, nor is there any record at the Public Record Office.

Following her husband's death in 1855, it appears that Caroline has had another, child, Thomas William who was baptised in May, 1856 ⁷. It is possible that he is infact the son of William John Trotter whom she married later that year. ²²

Caroline second married William John TROTTER, 1856 in Rotherhithe, London, ENGLAND ²². Died 15 Apr 1878 in Perth, Perthshire, SCOTLAND. Occupation Shoemaker ² Painter ²⁰.

They had the following children:

20        i.          Thomas TROTTER

Caroline and her second husband, William left London and settled in Perth, Scotland. They had another child, also named Thomas however he died in 1867 at 8 years of age of convulsive fits. ⁴

Very little is known of William John Trotter, except that he was a painter and that he died suddenly in 1878. ⁴

Caroline is listed on the 1881 Census at 39 Watergate, Perth as Caroline Trotter aged 63 years, and she is described as a Painter's widow and was born in Somerset, England. ²⁰

Caroline died two years later in 1883 at the same address of heart disease. Her son, Albert, who was living in Glasgow at the time was the informant. He gave Caroline's husband's occupation as shoemaker, and her father's as InnKeeper. ² She is buried as a pauper along with at least six others at Wellshill Cemetery in Perth. ⁴²

8. Elizabeth ANSTEY. Daughter of John ANSTEY & Barbara PALMER. Born Circa 1821.

 

Elizabeth was a witness at her sister Caroline's marriage to Benjamin Garrett.

 

A marriage has been noted on the Free BDM website for an Elizabeth Anstey in Jun Qtr 1846 to a James Heywood. A Heywood family has been identified on the 1881 Census at 16 Chapel Terrace, Surrey Lane, Battersea  ... and living with them was 72 year old Elizabeth Heywood, a widow who was born in Coldridge Devon ... however it has not yet been confirmed if this the same Elizabeth.

9. Mary Ann ANSTEY. Daughter of John ANSTEY & Barbara PALMER. Died Before 1860.

Fourth Generation

10. Eliza ANSTEY. Daughter of James ANSTEY & Sarah MAUNDER. Born 29 Jan 1837. Christen 19 Feb 1837 in Paddington, London, ENGLAND ⁶³. Buried 1837 ¹⁶⁶.

 

Eliza's birth and baptism have been noted on the Family Search website at St. James in Paddington. David Patrick indicated he found this same information at St. Marys, Paddington, which was also the church where Caroline Anstey married Benjamin Garrett and two of Sarah Maunder's brothers were also married there.

 

11. Female Infant ANSTEY. Daughter of James ANSTEY & Sarah MAUNDER.

 

12. Female Infant ANSTEY. Daughter of James ANSTEY & Sarah MAUNDER.

 

13. George MAUNDER. Son of John MAUNDER & Sarah Jane PICKETT (raised by James ANSTEY and Sarah MAUNDER). Born Circa 1846 in Clapham, Surrey, ENGLAND ¹⁶⁶. Died 1929 in Moree, NSW, AUSTRALIA ⁴⁰.

 

He married Ann MAUNDER, daughter of Thomas MAUNDER & Harriet PARR, 1870 in Tamworth, NSW, AUSTRALIA ⁴⁰. Born 1847 in Islington, London, ENGLAND ⁹². Died 1927 in Tamworth, NSW, AUSTRALIA ⁴⁰.

 

They had the following children:

 

            21        i.          George A. MAUNDER

            22        ii.         Anne MAUNDER

            23        iii.       Sarah MAUNDER

            24        iv.        Eliza MAUNDER

            25        v.         James MAUNDER

            26        vi.        John T. MAUNDER

            27        vii.      Grace MAUNDER

            28        viii.     Ethel MAUNDER

            29        ix.        Alice MAUNDER

 

14. Benjamin GARRETT. Son of Benjamin GARRETT & Caroline ANSTEY. Born Circa 1846 ²⁰. Christen 29 Jul 1849 in St. Martin In The Field, Westminster, London, ENGLAND ⁷. Occupation Cabinet Maker ²⁰. Known As Ben.

Benjamin's birth is likely to be the one on the FreeBDM index at Marylebone in Sep 1845, Vol 1 Page 187.

 

He married Margaret McPHERSON, 5 Oct 1866 in Perth, Perthshire, SCOTLAND ⁷. Born Circa 1842 in Scone, Perthshire, SCOTLAND ²⁰. Died 27 Aug 1887 in Barnhill Poorhouse ⁴.

Benjamin and his wife Margaret have been identified on the 1881 Census at 130 Parliamentary Rd, Glasgow. He was described as the head, married, aged 35 years and his occupation given as Cabinet Maker. He was born in England. His wife, Margaret, was 39 years old and born in Scone, Perthshire.

15. William George GARRETT. Son of Benjamin GARRETT & Caroline ANSTEY. Christen 29 Jul 1849 in St. Martin In The Field, Westminster, London, ENGLAND ⁸.

16. George GARRETT. Son of Benjamin GARRETT & Caroline ANSTEY. Died Mar 1854 in Westminster, London, ENGLAND ⁴.

17. Barbara GARRETT. Daughter of Benjamin GARRETT & Caroline ANSTEY. Died Mar 1854 in London, ENGLAND ⁴.

There is a possible birth for a Barbara Garrett on the FreeBDM site at Marylebone in the June Qtr 1850 ref. 1/215.

Barbara died of fever in Berkley St, London. ⁴

18. Albert GARRETT. Son of Benjamin GARRETT & Caroline ANSTEY. Born 30 Jul 1854 in Westminster, London, ENGLAND ¹. Died Jul 1939 in Glasgow, Lanarkshire, SCOTLAND ⁴. Buried 27 Jul 1939 in Riddrie Park Cemetery Glasgow, Lanarkshire, SCOTLAND ⁴. Occupation Printer-Compositor (Journeyman) ³.

Albert was born at 26 Little Chapel Street in London, the fifth child of Benjamin and Caroline Garrett. His mother was the informant and gave her address at the time as Cavendish Square, St. Marylebone. ¹

12. Thomas William GARRETT. Son of Benjamin GARRETT & Caroline ANSTEY. Christen 17 May 1856 in St. Bartholomew, Moor Lane, London, ENGLAND ⁸.

13. Thomas TROTTER. Son of William John TROTTER & Caroline ANSTEY. Born 27 Sep 1859 in Perth,  SCOTLAND ⁷. Died Jul 1867 in Perth, SCOTLAND ⁴.

Thomas died of convulsive fits at Hechney School, Perth.⁴

References

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