Hi Philip,
Sorry that I have taken so long to get back to you. I have the following information:
Benjamin (Joseph?) Rossiter was born c1785-1786 to James Rossiter and Ann Rossiter nee Hoddinott and baptised on the 4th June, 1786 at St. Mary’s, Witham Friary in Somerset, England and died at “Ravenhurst”, (Gladys Park) on the Berwick Road, Garem Gam (near Cranbourne) at 6.00am on the 29th January 1858*. Buried at Dandenong Cemetery, Kirkham Road, Dandenong, Victoria. Cause of death: “successive attacks of Apoplexy” Hand written note as death certificate written by Benjamin’s physician and friend Dr. James Bathe of Garem Gam. *Note: Cemetery records lists Benjamin’s death as 28 January 1858.
Zillah Baynton was born c1789 to Thomas and Sarah Baynton (nee Wrentmore?) and was baptised on the 18th October, 1789 at Leigh-on-Mendip, Somerset. Zillah died on the 29th December, 1871 and is buried at Dandenong Cemetery, Kirkham Road, Dandenong, Victoria.
Benjamin Rossiter of Frome Selwood, Somerset at the time married Zillah Baynton on the 30th April, 1818 at the Parish of Kilmersdon by Daniel Drape, Curate. Witnessed by Thomas Baynton and Sally Baynton.
Benjamin (occupation recorded as Yeoman at the time) and Zillah listed their abode as Leigh-on-Mendip when christening their children at Kilmersdon on the following dates:
Charles 19/11/1820 (born 11/81820 at Leigh-on-Mendip)
Mercy Baynton 14/7/1825 (born 26/8/1822 at Leigh-on-Mendip)
Ann 14/7/1825 (born 7/3/1825 at Leigh-on-Mendip)
Thomas James there is no mention of his christening at Kilmersdon
(he was born 20/4/1831 at Radstock)
Benjamin, Zillah and family emmigrated to Australia in 1841 on the Strathfieldsaye arriving at Port Phillip, Victoria in August. They travelled with Zillah’s brother who was Dr. Thomas Baynton (1792), the Surgeon in Charge of the Strathfieldsaye. There is no record of Benjamin and Zillah's names as they must have been paying passengers and these names as far as I can ascertain were not recorded however I think Charles and Mercy (recorded as Mary) travelled as assisted immgirants.
Charles Rossiter married Ellen Teressa O'Shea (1836-1909) at St. Peter's Church in Melbourne in 1854. Thomas James Rossiter married Ellen's sister Mary-Ann Josephine O'Shea.
Please correct any information that you think is incorrect and if you can help me with any additional information that you may have discovered I would really appreciate it!
Kind regards,
Gayle