Ellen PITTARD 5,159
- Born: 30 May 1839, Leopard Lane, St Augustine, Bristol 160
- Marriage: John SMALLWOOD on 14 Nov 1857 in Pitt Street, South Sydney, New South Wales
- Died: 19 Aug 1909, College Road, Brisbane at age 70 159
- Buried: 19 Aug 1909, Lutwyche Cemetery, Brisbane 161
Events
• Ellen and her older sister Jane (17 and 19 years respectively) are recorded as travelling to Australia in the vessel "Beejapore", which departed Southampton, England, on Tuesday 2 December 1856, arriving in Sydney on Saturday 14 March, 1857, a total voyage duration of three months and twelve days!!!
Ellen (17) and Jane (19) are listed on the Shipping Records as both General Servants, from Bristol, with mother and father James and Annie, living in Bristol. Both girls were Church of England, and both could read and write (a not so common occurrence in those days!) They each paid 10 shillings passage.
They had no relations in the colony. Their health was good, and they had no complaints about the journey.
Their "Native Place" is listed as "Gloucestershire".
• Coincidentally, the Beejapore was the ship that brought Neil Leveritt's sister's husband's family - the Thurect's, (Paul BALFE's ancestors) to Australia.
The Beejapore was built in 1851, a wooden-frame ship of 1347 tons. It is said to have been a ship to carry migrants from Cork, Ireland, to Queensland. Many died on the voyage.
• Elizabeth Graves, who is Ellen's (and presumably Jane's) Guardian, is listed as 22, a Nursemaid, Church of England, can both read and write, and also has "no relations in the Colony". Her address is Homerton, London, father unknown, mother Sarah Graves.
• This list of the crew of the Beejapore, and summary of the passengers, has the Master's signature - Edward M. Drenning - at the bottom right hand of the page.
Beejapore of Liverpool
Edward M. Drenning, Master, Burthen 1676 tons
from the Port of Southampton to Sydney, New South Wales, 17th March 1857
Surname Given name Station Age Of what Nation Status Comments
Fidler Michael 1st Mate 26 British Crew Denper John 2nd Mate 23 British Crew Driscoll John 3rd Mate 18 British Crew Willmore S. Purser 25 British Crew Thompson August Carpenter 23 British Crew Barrett Henry Carpenters Mate 22 British Crew Holmes William Boatswain 26 British Crew Bryan James Sailmaker 30 British Crew Simpson Albert Steward 28 British Crew Rillen Jipe Cuddy Servant 21 British Crew Scott William Cook 31 British Crew Clark Henry Able Seaman 25 British Crew Summer Robert A. B. 28 Foreign Crew Mann Frederick A. B. 28 British Crew Miller August A. B. 33 British Crew Conny John A. B. 22 British Crew Kearney John A. B. 28 Foreign Crew Green James A. B. 20 British Crew Plunt Joseph A. B. 21 British Crew Griffiths Thomas A. B. 26 British Crew Brown William A. B. 51 Foreign Crew Elford Thomas A. B. 22 Foreign Crew Prammer James A. B. 23 Foreign Crew Baker George A. B. 44 British Crew Bunner Gelige A. B. 19 British Crew McDonald Alexander A. B. 32 Foreign Crew Johnston Henry A. B. 42 British Crew Andrews William A. B. 21 British Crew Waterhouse Richard A. B. 25 British Crew Dunlop David A. B. 26 British Crew Curtin James A. B. 23 British Crew Wall Richard A. B. 18 British Crew White Thomas A. B. 32 British Crew Clark John A. B. 28 British Crew Strinder John Able Seaman 20 British Crew Datton Daniely AAB 21 British Crew Botham Nicholas A. B. 20 British Crew Antonio Frank A. B. 25 Foreign Crew Callam John A. B. 30 British Crew Burgess William O. S. 20 British Crew Ellis George O. S. 20 British Crew Nolan Joseph O. S. 25 British Crew Gore Silvester O. S. 29 British Crew Clark James O. S. 22 British Crew Murnlly Anthony O. S. 21 Foreign Crew Melisun Henry Emigrants Cook 30 British Crew Jones Chas. Emigrants Cook 22 British Crew Blawood William O. S. 32 British Crew Mara William O. S. 20 Foreign Crew Spence John A. B. 29 British Crew Paines Frederick O. S. 17 British Crew Santhwood Henry Emigrants Cook 24 British Crew Smith Frederick Boy 16 British Crew
Drenning Mrs Passenger Cabin
Farrer W. Revd. Passenger Cabin Farrer Mrs Passenger Cabin Farrer John Master Passenger Cabin Farrer A. R. Master Passenger Cabin Farrer Annie Passenger Cabin Farrer Herbert Master Passenger Cabin
193 Male Adults Passengers Immigrants 167 Female Adults Passengers Immigrants 39 Male Children Passengers Immigrants 53 Female Children Passengers Immigrants 9 Male Infants Passengers Immigrants 8 Female Infants Passengers Immigrants
• It is believed that some of Ellen's family also went to Sale, in Victoria, as well as the families who settled in Ballarat.
• At the time of her marriage to John, Ellen is a 19 years of age Spinster, a Dressmaker, and usual place of residence as Sydney, NSW.
• Ellen and John settled in Rockhampton. This house, believed to have been in Bolsover Street, is one of the Smallwood residences.
A lady, possibly Ellen, can be seen in the photograph, and a dog is to be seen on the front verge.
• John Smallwood died at the fairly young age of 57 years in 1890, leaving Ellen to finish rearing the youngest children. Ellen eventually went to Brisbane, to either live with or be her oldest son John James.
Ellen died in Brisbane, and is buried in the Toowong Cemetery alongside John James Smallwood.
• In 1903, Ellen was recorded as living at Gladstone Road, polling at Brisbane South.
Also at this address were her daughters, Elizabeth Mary and Florence Caroline Smallwood.
• In 1903, Ellen's occupation was listed as "domestic duties".
• Ellen's son John James (aka Jack) was buried next to his mother. Brisbane City Council records show that more than one individual is buried in this grave.
• Ellen was living at Maryvale Street, Townsville, on 4 June 1909.
• In the Rockhampton Cemetery, John Smallwood's tombstone reads: Erected by ELLEN to the memory of her beloved husband JOHN SMALLWOOD was born Feb 14TH 1833 died Aug 3RD 1890
also of their children
Alice Ann born June 23RD 1867 died July 22ND 1889
Henry James born May 9TH 1858 died July 11TH 1858
Ellen born December 1ST 1869 died December 10TH 1864
Emily born October 29TH 1872 died November 1ST 1872
Ellen born April 28TH 1875 died August 20TH 1876
Weary of earth and laden with sin, I look at heaven and long to enter in But there no evil thing may find a home, and yet I hear a voice that bids me come.
• A notice appeared in The Queenslander, the Townsville Newspaper, regarding Ellen's passing. It detailed Ellen quaintly as "relict of the late John Smallwood".
The notice appeared on the 28th August 1909.
Ellen died just to days after her young grandson, Victor George Walton Smallwood. He was only eleven. Ellen was seventy.
• A granddaughter of the late Theo Stoodley, recalled visiting him at his home in 1925, when he was writing his article on the voyage of the Beejapore, for publication in the Bulletin on 18th July 1925.
Ellen married John SMALLWOOD, son of Joseph SMALLWOOD and Elizabeth (m Smallwood), on 14 Nov 1857 in Pitt Street, South Sydney, New South Wales. (John SMALLWOOD was born on 14 Feb 1833 in Kensington, Middlesex,167 died on 2 Aug 1890 in Rockhampton, Queensland 168 and was buried on 3 Aug 1890 in Rockhampton (South) Cemetery, Queensland 136.)
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