Elizabeth (Bilton) Cunningham (1820 - 1875)

Born 19 Mar 1820 in Kirklington, Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom

Wife of Peter Cunningham — married 14 Jun 1847 in Westminster, Middlesex, England

Died 4 Feb 1875 at age 54 in Canterbury, New Zealand

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Tracy Hope [send private message]

Biography

Elizabeth was born in 1820. She is the daughter of John Bilton and Margaret Robson.

She married Peter Cunningham in St Martin in the Fields, Westminster on 14 June 1847, their fathers were recorded as George Cunningham, a mason, and John Bilton, a farmer ^[1]

Peter and Elizabeth emigrated to Australia with three children on board The Hydaspes, which arrived in Sydney on 17 December 1852. Peter was a stone mason, aged 38, and had been born in Dundee, Forfarshire. Elizabeth was aged 33, and her place of birth was Kirklington, Yorkshire ^[2]

Elizabeth died in a boating accident on the Rangatata River, near Canterbury, New Zealand on 4 February 1875, as reported in The Melbourne Argus ^[3]

CUNNINGHAM - HUNT. On the 4th inst., drowned through the capsizing of a buggy in the Rangatata River near Canterbury, New Zealand, Elizabeth, the beloved wife of Peter Cunningham, builder, Mel- bourne, aged 55 years. At the same time and place, Catherine, their beloved daughter, wife of J. F. L. Hunt, aged 23 years. Also, at the same time, J. F. L. Hunt, Head Master of Timaru School, aged 33 years, leaving two orphan children to lament their loss. They were making their way to Lyttel- ton, for Mrs. Cunningham to embark on board the steamer Otago, for Melbourne.

Census

Sources

1. ↑ Marriage: "Westminster, London, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1754-1935"
   City of Westminster Archives Centre; London, England; Westminster Church of England Parish Registers; Reference: STM/PR/6/43
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 61867 #91742301 (accessed 29 December 2022)
   Elizabeth Bilton (full age) marriage to Peter Cunningham on 14 Jun 1847 in St Martin-In-The-Fields, London, Westminster, England.
2. ↑ Passenger List: "New South Wales, Australia, Assisted Immigrant Passenger Lists, 1828-1896"
   State Records Authority of New South Wales; Kingswood New South Wales, Australia; Persons on bounty ships (Agent's Immigrant Lists); Series: 5316; Reel: 2136; Item: [4/4790]
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 1204 #113900 (accessed 29 December 2022)
   Name: Peter Cunningham; Birth Year: abt 1814; Age: 38; Gender: Male; Arrival Date: 17 Dec 1852; Vessel Name: Hydaspes; Origin Location: Hennsington, Common, London, England.
3. ↑ Trove Newspaper Archives
4. ↑ 1851 Census: "1851 England Census"
   Class: HO107; Piece: 1479; Page: 30; GSU roll: 87802-87803; ED, institution, or vessel: 27; Household Schedule Number: 143
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 8860 #1814906 (accessed 29 December 2022)
   Elizabeth Cunningham (31), wife, in household of Peter Cunningham (35) in Westminster St John the Evangelist in Westminster registration district in Middlesex, England. Born in Yorkshire, England.

• Ancestry.com. England, Select Births and Christenings, 1538-1975 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014. Original data: England, Births and Christenings, 1538-1975. Salt Lake City, Utah: FamilySearch, 2013. FHL Film Number: 207552.