NOTES COLLECTED ALONG THE WAY BY ANGELA MATTHEWS
Joseph Matthews
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Joseph Matthews’s rank/profession was #1892 Private HM 105th Regt. Light Infantry – 21 years of service.
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Joseph was 28 years old and in the 89th Light Infantry of the British Imperial Army.
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Joseph was married prior to Ellen Cox. Joseph was a window. (no record of his 1st marriage can be found).
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Joseph and Ellen left Galle, Ceylon on the passenger ship "Hydaspes" listed as Private and Mrs Matthews and 6 children (4 male, 2 female) at the Port of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia and arrived on 26 June 1881.
Ellen Cox
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Ellen Cox was born 16 February 1851 in Madras, Bangalore, India. Baptised on 31 May 1851 by her parents William and Mary Cox. Her father was a Private in the 16th Regiment of Infantry.
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Ellen was a daughter of William Cox, a soldier in the British Army in India. Her mother (Mary) was assumed to be an Indian.
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Ellen was only 14 years old when she got married on 12 October 1864 in Trichinopoly, Bangalore, India.
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Ellen Cox immigrated to Australia on 26 June 1881 at 30 years of age and had 16 children - 13 children lived. (3 girls died at birth – all 3 girls were born as twins to brothers).
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She is buried in the Wonthaggi Cemetary (Salvation Army section), next to Charles Kitchener Matthews.
Charles Kitchener Matthews (from Raymond Tong)
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Charles and Jane Maud Tong had a fling, thus Albert Pad (Paddy) Tong was born (birth was not registered). Jane then left the district and had 2 more children, William Pow Tong, Born 14/6/1906 and Vincent Edward Tong died 1910 aged 4 years old. (it is possible they are one of the same child?). Charles then married Rosina Mary or Mary Loisa Tong (sisters) and they had 3 daughters. Jane Tong then came back to town and he married Jane and they had a further 9 children.
Notes written by Miranda Matthews speaking to
Percy Matthews in 1985
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Abraham William Matthews (Percy’s father) sung in Calcutta’s Church of England Choir as a boy.
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Percy’s grandfather‘s (Joseph) family in England had a piano firm “Matthews Piano’s”.
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Percy’s grandfather (Joseph) was a professional soldier in India. After he retired he went to Inglewood, Victoria.
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Percy’s father (Abraham William) worked in goldfields. After gold ran out went to Wonthaggi was an engineer in Wonthaggi Coal Mine.