Samuel Ashworth (1830 - 1906)

Born 10 Apr 1830 in Oldham, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom

Husband of Maria Elizabeth (Willet) Ashworth — married 1857 in Victoria

Husband of Catherine (Gahagan) Ashworth — married 1868 in Victoria

Descendants

Died 9 Sep 1906 at age 76 in Wangaratta, Victoria, Australia

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Kaye Mansfield [send private message]

Biography

Samuel Ashworth was born on 10 April 1830 in Oldham, Lancashire.^{[citation needed]}

Samuel emigrated to Australia in 1854 on the "Indian Queen".^[1]

He married Maria Elizabeth Willet in 1857 in Victoria, Australia.^[2] Their children were:

• Hannah Lucretia Ashworth (1858–1865)^[3]
• John James Ashworth (1860–?)^[4]
• Samuel Henry Ashworth (1862–?)^[5]
• Isabella Maria Ashworth (1865–1936)^[6]

Samuel married Catherine Gahagan in 1868 in Victoria.^[7] Their children were:

• Robert Thomas Ashworth (1869–1956)^[8]
• William Ernest Ashworth (1871–1936)^[9]
• Harriet Victoria Ashworth (1874–1958)^[10]
• Charles Alfred Ashworth (1876–1888)^[11]
• Ada Elizabeth Ashworth (1878–1962)^[12]
• Ethel Maud Ashworth (1880–1962)^[13]
• Walter Edgar Ashworth (1881–1881)^[14]

Samuel died on 9 September 1906 in Wangaratta, Victoria, aged 76 years.^[15]

Research notes

'Death of an old resident':^[15]

A very old identity of Wangaratta, in the person of Mr. Samuel Ashworth, died at Wangaratta on Sunday morning, and the deceased was probably the last survivor of the tradesmen who settled in the town shortly after its foundation in the early fifties. Mr. Ashworth, who was a native of Oldham, near Manchester, (England), where he learnt the trade of carpenter, came to Victoria in 1854 in company with a fellow-tradesman, the late Mr. James Ellis, and reached Melbourne when the Ovens goldfields were the main attraction for the crowds of emigrants who were then arriving every few weeks. The two young Lancashiremen struck off for the goldfields shortly after landing at Sandridge, and were on their way when they saw a waggon load of building material being travelled on the same road. Being carpenters, the two men took more than passing notice of the waggon as indicating that work for them was probably available at its destination, and they kept the vehicle in view until it reached Wangaratta. The timber proved to be material for the present Commercial Hotel, then in course of construction for the late Mr. William Clark, but Messrs. Ashworth and Ellis's first contract was at the Royal Victoria hotel, which was being built by George Ellwood for the late Mr. Thomas Millard. When the Commerial hotel was sufficiently advanced for the carpenters, Messrs Ashworth and Ellis secured the contract for the whole of the woodwork, of which there was £800 worth in the building. Redgum in those days was £5 per 100 feet. It may be interesting in connection with the erection of this hotel to recall the fact that the site first chosen for it was where Mr. T. Laidler's residence now stands, opposite the old " punt," and excavations were even made for the cellars. An hotelkeeper in opposition to Mr. Clark (who was then the owner of the Sydney Hotel) promoted an agitation, however, to have the Ovens bridged higher up, and he was successful, the street leading to it being named after the Minister who was in office when the site was chosen. The licence of the old Sydney Hotel, or Hope Inn, as it was then called, was transferred to the Commercial Hotel when it left the hands of the contractors in 1855, and the old hotel became a private residence for several years. The late Mr. Ashworth and his fellow-tradesman found plenty of work when they had finished the Commercial Hotel, and being good carpenters were hardly ever idle. Wangaratta gradually expanded, and for very many years Mr. Ashworth was the leading carpenter in the town, his partner of earlier days deciding to take up a farm on Docker's Plains, where he died some years since. He had a hand in practically all the large buildings in the town ; was a partner with Messrs. Ellis and Brigden in roofing the Church of England ; was the contractor, with Mr. Ellis, for the Presbyterian Church : worked on the Roman Catholic Church, the Hospital, Courthouse, and various other buildings where good tradesmen were required. A treasured possession was a Bible presented to him by Ven. Archdeacon Tucker on completion of the Church of England vicarage in 1870. He commanded good wages at all times, but being of a reckless disposition he did not amass the competency which was at his hands if he so desired. Besides being a thorough and honest workman, and throughout his long residence in the town it was never said of him that he was guilty of any dishonorable act. Public affairs never had an attraction for him, but he took a lively interest in many local movements, and was an active participator in many social and public functions that took place in the town from time to time. He saw Wangaratta rise from almost its beginning, and in his declining years it was his pleasure to point to practical evidences of his handiwork with the same pride that a public man speaks of his actions on behalf of the community. Two years ago deceased was seized with paralysis, and he never fully recovered, the death of his only sister in England about the same time proving a severe blow to him. A second attack followed, and a few days since he had a third seizure. Dr. Boyes, his medical attendant, held out no hope of his recovery; and this opinion was verified about 9 a.m. on Sunday.

The late Mr. Ashworth, who was 76 years of age on 10th April last, was twice married, but he was a widower for many years. He leaves six children, Mr. William A. Ashworth (draper), and Robert Ashworth (Sydney) being sons, and Mrs. J. Hinchley (Wangaratta), Mrs. A. W. Pearson, (Dandenong) ' and Misses Isabella and Maud Ashworth, daughters of the deceased. The remains of this old pioneer of Wangaratta were interred in the Wangaratta cemetery on Monday afternoon, the Rev. A. Law, of the Church of England (of which deceased was a staunch member all his life) officiating at the grave, while Mr. T. Irving conducted the funeral.

Sources

1. ↑ PROV - Unassisted passenger lists (1852-1923)

   Family name: ASHWORTH

   Given name: SAML

   Age: 27

   Year arrived: 1854

   Month arrived: APR

   Ship: INDIAN QUEEN

   Captain: MILL CHS

2. ↑ Marriage record: 1651 / 1857. BDM Victoria. https://www.bdm.vic.gov.au/research-and-family-history/search-your-family-history.
   (Samuel ASHWORTH and Maria WILLET)
3. ↑ Birth record: 14712 / 1858. BDM Victoria. https://www.bdm.vic.gov.au/research-and-family-history/search-your-family-history. (Name: Hannah Lucretia ASHWORTH); (Place: WANGARATTA); (Mother: Maria Elizabeth WILLETT); (Father: Samuel)
4. ↑ Birth record: 22610 / 1860. BDM Victoria. https://www.bdm.vic.gov.au/research-and-family-history/search-your-family-history. (Name: John James ASHWORTH); (Place: WA NG); (Mother: Maria Eli WILLETT); (Father: Samuel)
5. ↑ Birth record: 18036 / 1862. BDM Victoria. https://www.bdm.vic.gov.au/research-and-family-history/search-your-family-history. (Name: Samuel Henry ASHWORTH); (Place: WANG); (Mother: Maria WILLETT); (Father: Samuel)
6. ↑ Birth record: 5639 / 1865. BDM Victoria. https://www.bdm.vic.gov.au/research-and-family-history/search-your-family-history. (Name: Isabella Maria ASHWORTH); (Place: WANG); (Mother: Maria WILLETT); (Father: Samuel)
7. ↑ Marriage record: 50 / 1868. BDM Victoria. https://www.bdm.vic.gov.au/research-and-family-history/search-your-family-history.
   (Samuel ASHWORTH and Catherine GAHAGAN)
8. ↑ Birth record: 25648 / 1869. BDM Victoria. https://www.bdm.vic.gov.au/research-and-family-history/search-your-family-history. (Name: Robert Thomas ASHWORTH); (Place: W'ATTA); (Mother: Kate GAHAGAN); (Father: Saml)
9. ↑ Birth record: 26971 / 1871. BDM Victoria. https://www.bdm.vic.gov.au/research-and-family-history/search-your-family-history. (Name: William Ernest ASHWORTH); (Place: WANG); (Mother: Catherine GAHAGAN); (Father: Samuel)
10. ↑ Birth record: 12788 / 1874. BDM Victoria. https://www.bdm.vic.gov.au/research-and-family-history/search-your-family-history. (Name: Harriet Victoria ASHWORTH); (Place: WANG'TTA); (Mother: Catherine GEOHEGAN); (Father: Samuel)
11. ↑ Birth record: 12814 / 1876. BDM Victoria. https://www.bdm.vic.gov.au/research-and-family-history/search-your-family-history. (Name: Charles Alfred ASHWORTH); (Place: WANG); (Mother: Catherine GEOGHEGAN); (Father: Samuel)
12. ↑ Birth record: 19770 / 1878. BDM Victoria. https://www.bdm.vic.gov.au/research-and-family-history/search-your-family-history. (Name: Ada Elizabeth ASHWORTH); (Place: WA NG); (Mother: Catherine GAHAGAN); (Father: Samuel)
13. ↑ Birth record: 12344 / 1880. BDM Victoria. https://www.bdm.vic.gov.au/research-and-family-history/search-your-family-history. (Name: Ethel Maude ASHWORTH); (Place: WANGARATTA); (Mother: Catherine GAHAGAN); (Father: Saml)
14. ↑ Birth record: 20235 / 1881. BDM Victoria. https://www.bdm.vic.gov.au/research-and-family-history/search-your-family-history. (Name: Walter Edgar ASHWORTH); (Place: WANG); (Mother: Catherine GATEGAN); (Father: Samuel)
15. ↑ ^{15.0 15.1} "Death of an old resident." Ovens and Murray Advertiser Sat 15 Sep 1906.

• Victorian Pioneer Index 1836-1888
• Victorian Edwardian Index 1902-1913