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NOTES COLLECTED ALONG THE WAY BY ANGELA MATTHEWS

Joseph 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

  • 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 Kitchener Matthews (from Raymond Tong)

  • 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.

 

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