Henry Evans (1822 - 1893)

Born 1822 in Clyro, Radnorshire, Wales, United Kingdom

Husband of Mary (David) Evans — married Jun 1853 in Llangynllo, Knighton, Radnorshire, Wales

Descendants

Died 9 Jun 1893 at about age 71 in Abbotsford, New South Wales (Australia)

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Kenneth Evans [send private message]

Biography

Henry Evans was born in Radnorshire, Wales.

Henry Evans was born in either 1822 or very early 1823 in Clyro, a village and rural community in Radnorshire, Wales. He was the younger son of Thomas Evans, a farmer, and Mary unknown. He was christened in St Michael & All Angels Parish Church, Clyro on 2nd February 1823. ^[1] When Henry was five years of age, his father was convicted of stealing horses and transported to New South Wales.

old central Wales

Clyro is a small village (less than 750 people) that sits along the River Wye. A Roman fort has been excavated within the village.^[2] All that remains of Clyro Castle, first mentioned in 1397, is a large motte.^[3] Clyro's other 'claim' to fame is that John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, and his supporter John William Fletcher often stayed in town at Pentwyn House. ^[4]

Henry was a farmer

Henry became a farm labourer both in Wales and in New South Wales.

Henry married Mary David in St Cynllo's Church of Wales, Llangynllo, Radnorshire (now in Powyss), on 18th May 1853. Henry listed his father as a farmer, without mentioning that he was a convict in New South Wales. Mary's father, John Davies, was listed as a labourer. They both made their mark. ^[5]

St Cynllo Parish Church

Henry Evans migrated from Wales to New South Wales.

Henry migrated to New South Wales with his brother and their wives in search of their father, aboard the David McIver; departing Liverpool on 22nd November 1855 and arriving at Sydney on 22nd February 1856. The shipping transcript states that the boys' mother, Mary, had passed away and that their father was living in Picton, New South Wales. The boys were therefore free to migrate and search for their father, who they had not seen since their early childhood. Henry was, at that time, 33 years of age. The shipping transcript states that Henry could read and write, and that Mary could read. The boys' sister, Priscilla, appears to have remained in Wales.

David McIver

New South Wales

Henry and Mary appear to have made their way immediately upon arrival in February 1856 to Picton, as their first 'colonial' child was born there in the April. John and Caroline made their way to Picton some seven or more years later after spending time on the NSW South Coast. Henry and Mary had nine children however, sadly, only four of whom attained adulthood and only one of those reached forty-five years of age:

1. John George (1854-54)
2. Lucy Mary (1856-58)
3. Rosanna (1857-86); married Christopher Hall and had three children all of whom predeceased Henry
4. Thomas Henry (1859-1900); married Elizabeth Cunningham and had four children in Henry's lifetime and two more afterward
5. Frances Mary(1861-1944); married Robert Cooper and had seven children in Henry's lifetime (one of whom predeceased him) and one more afterward
6. John James (1863-63)
7. Caroline Mary (1864-1909); married Orpwood Young but had no children
8. John George (1866-76)
9. Henry William (1869-76)

Henry is shown on various children's birth records as living at Jarvisfield. It was commonplace for farm labourers to be accommodated with their families on the larger properties. Jarvisfield was the 2,000ac property on Stonequarry Creek west of Picton that had been granted to Major Henry Antill in 1822. The present township of Picton stands on the property with the house and stone barn now being the Antill Park Country Golf Course's clubhouse and Pro-Shop, Picton. ^[6][7]

Henry is recorded as dying at Abbotsford. Abbotsford was the 400-acre property granted in 1822 to George Harper, and added to by 1841 to comprise 3,200 acres extending from Stonequarry Bridge along the road leading to The Oaks. In 1865, George Harper Jnr sold Abbotsford to William Redfern Antill, the late Major's third son. The Harpers were known and well-respected for horse breeding and farming. Since Henry's Dad, Thomas Evans, was a noted horseman, it stands to reason that the Evans' settled at Jarvisfield and Abbotsford. Father and son together again for some seven years after the enforced gap of 28 years. Ken Evans

About the time that the Evans' arrived in Picton, the town began to develop. A new line of the Great South Road (later re-named the Hume Highway) was cut over the Razorback Range from Camden. The railway, eventually the main line from Sydney and Melbourne, arrived in Picton in 1863. Picton is home to many historic buildings, including two types of bridges not found easily anymore elsewhere in New South Wales – the Picton Railway Viaduct, a stone viaduct opened in 1863, and the Victoria Bridge, a timber trestle bridge opened in 1897, that both cross Stonequarry Creek. The George IV Inn, reputedly constructed in 1839, is considered to be one of the oldest hotel buildings in Australia. The cellar contains remnants of convict shackles as prisoners being transported from Sydney to Berrima prison would often be held in Picton overnight. The barn behind the hotel may date back to 1810. Picton became the administrative centre of Wollondilly Shire, with mining and quarrying mixing with the district's agricultural base.

Aged 70 years, Henry passed away on 9th June 1893. He is buried in St Mark's churchyard, Picton. ^[8] Henry's brother, John, with whom he maintained close ties all their lives, passed away at Picton three years earlier and is also buried in St Mark's churchyard. He was survived by Mary, who passed five years later, one son and two daughters, children-in-law, and ten grandchildren.

St Mark's Church, Picton

Sources

1. ↑ UK BDM Christenings Mar qtr 1823 C057631/0291
2. ↑ Roman Britain
3. ↑ Castles in Wales
4. ↑ Morgan, W.E.T. "Hay and Neighbourhood". H.R. Grant & Son, 1932
5. ↑ UK FreeBMD Marriage Index Jun qtr 1853 vol 11b page 303
6. ↑ "Historic Picton", Liz Vincent, 1994
7. ↑ www.antillpark.com.au
8. ↑ New South Wales Death Index #12390/1893