NOTES | matthews-family-tree

NOTES COLLECTED ALONG THE WAY BY ANGELA MATTHEWS

Joseph Matthews’s rank/profession was #1892 Private HM 105th Regt. Light Infantry – 21 years of service.
Joseph was 28 years old and in the 89th Light Infantry of the British Imperial Army.
Joseph was married prior to Ellen Cox. Joseph was a window. (no record of his 1st marriage can be found).
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 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.
Ellen was a daughter of William Cox, a soldier in the British Army in India. Her mother (Mary) was assumed to be an Indian.
Ellen was only 14 years old when she got married on 12 October 1864 in Trichinopoly, Bangalore, India.
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).
She is buried in the Wonthaggi Cemetary (Salvation Army section), next to Charles Kitchener Matthews.

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

Abraham William Matthews (Percy’s father) sung in Calcutta’s Church of England Choir as a boy.
Percy’s grandfather‘s (Joseph) family in England had a piano firm “Matthews Piano’s”.
Percy’s grandfather (Joseph) was a professional soldier in India. After he retired he went to Inglewood, Victoria.
Percy’s father (Abraham William) worked in goldfields. After gold ran out went to Wonthaggi was an engineer in Wonthaggi Coal Mine.