Thomas Forrester Bedingfeld (bef. 1818 - 1897)

Born before 19 Nov 1818 in Catsfield, Sussex, England, United Kingdom

Ancestors

Husband of Elizabeth (Boys) Bedingfeld — married 8 Nov 1843 in Perth, Western Australia, Australia

Descendants

Died 15 Apr 1897 after age 78 in North Cork, County Cork, Ireland

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This profile is part of the Benefiel Name Study.

Biography

Thomas came to Western Australia on the Simon Taylor, arriving on 20 August 1842.^[1]

Inquirer (Perth, WA : 1840 - 1855), Wednesday 22 November 1843, page 2
Married, At Perth, on the 8th instant, by the Rev. J. B. Wittenoom, Thomas Forester Bedingfeld, Esq., of Australind, to Elizabeth, only daughter of William Boys, Esq., of Deal, in Kent.^[2] They had five children in Western Australia.

Thomas was initially a small farmer at Australind, and also the medical officer, from where he bought town lots at Bunbury in the 1850s. He was a chemist at Fremantle in 1863.^[1]

They left for England on 3 March 1853 where they had two more children before returning to Western Australia on 27 December 1859 per Crystal Palace.^[1]

Dr Thomas Forrester Bedingfeld was appointed Magistrate and Medical Officer to the Murray District in March 1864. Bedingfeld initially resided at Creaton Estate, though purchased lots 85-89, located between George Street and the river, the area containing the future Exchange Hotel, in December 1865. Here he constructed a residence which later became the core of the Exchange.

He retired to Victoria in ill health in 1876.^[1]

He passed away from old age on the 15th April 1897 at North Cork. Tristam Curry, son-in-law, was the informant for the death.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3} The Bicentennial dictionary of Western Australians, pre-1829-1888. [compiled by Rica Erickson], https://www.friendsofbattyelibrary.org.au/bicentennial-dictionary
2. ↑ https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/65583229

• A distant relative has kindly shared portions of her research with me. English Baptism record, Australian Marriage record, and data entries from English Census and Irish Probate record.

• "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NDC1-ZVG : 19 September 2020), Thomas Forrester Bedingfeld, 1818.
• "British Newspaper Archive, Family Notices," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QPCK-S7LG : 17 April 2019), T F Bedingfeld, Esq, Lewes, Sussex, England, United Kingdom; records extracted FamilySearch and images digitized by FindMyPast; citing Lewes, Sussex, England, United Kingdom, 2 Apr 1844, The British Newspaper Archive, Ireland; FHL microfilm .
• BDM - Ireland, https://www.irishgenealogy.ie/en/, 1897/4181123. "Death of THOMAS BEDINGFIELD in 1897, Group Registration ID 4181123, SR District/Reg Area Cork, Deceased Age at Death 79."
• "England and Wales, National Index of Wills and Administrations, 1858-1957," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QPL7-9MS8 : 17 September 2018), Thomas Forrester Bedingfeld, 18 May 1900; citing Probate, United Kingdom, Her Majesty's Stationery Office, Great Britain.; FHL microfilm 251,378.

• "Local and Domestic Intelligence." The Inquirer and Commercial News (Perth, WA : 1855 - 1901) 23 March 1864: 2. Web. 18 Feb 2022 <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article66014314>.
• "MURRAY, February 24." The Inquirer and Commercial News (Perth, WA : 1855 - 1901) 1 March 1876: 2. Web. 18 Feb 2022 <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article66302452>.