Death of Thomas PETERS

[Ding]

Have hit a brickwall in finding out about the death of Thomas Peters (!823- ? ).Arrived in South Australia in 1847 and married Elizabeth Harris in Adelaide in 1848. Known to be in the Mt. Barker and Mt. Gambier area until about 1872. His widow Elizabeth arr. in Parkes NSW in 1899 and died there in 1906. He was described as a miner, carpenter and lay preacher (Methodist).

[deeiluka]

Do you know the parents of Thomas, as that could help with the search for his death.

I cannot see any likely candidates in South Australia or Victoria.

.......dee

[sparrett]

Hi Ding,

Just wondering how you know your interesting details about the wife, Elizabeth....her moves and death and such.

Do you have a death certificate for her that says she was a widow at time of death?

Sue

[Ding]

Hi, thank you for your interest. The parents of Thomas Peters were James Peters & Fanny Murton of Stithians in Cornwall. Thomas' siblings were:
James   Born 1815 maybe emigrated on Rajah with Thomas in 1847
Samual, 1813 m. Susanna Phillips, emig. on Sanipore 1848
Catherine, 1819 m. Edmund Martin, emig. on Sibella in 1848
Robert, 1825 m. Ann Oatey, emig. on Sibella in 1848
William, 1828-
Fanny 1821, m Joseph Mitchell emig on Poicters in 1848
Thomas was born in c 1823 and may have arrived in SA with his brother James on Rajah, or else arrived on Theresa with a wife and 2 children ( the wife either died on board or shortly after. I have not seen any mention of the 2 children.

They were all born in Stithians Cornwall.
Thomas & Elizabeth had two sons William (1848) and Thomas (1850) both born at Montacute S.A. A daughter Elizabeth Francis was born in 1852. Her birth cert. (difficult to read) says District of Adelaide, her death Cert. says Mt. Barker. her son's birth cert says Carrington. Elizabeth Francis married Charles Bell in Mt. Gambia Jan 1872, her address at that time was Drop Drop Mt Gambier.
Thomas and Elizabeth had another daughter Catherine who is listed on Elizabeth Francis' marriage cert. as living at Dartmoore Vic. and is listed as deceased on the death Cert. of Elizabeth Peters.
The death Cert. of Thomas' wife Elizabeth (Harris) in 10 Oct 1906 at Parkes NSW says that she was 82 and was in S.A. for 53 years and 7 years in NSW. She died at her Daughter Elizabeth Francis and Son in Law Charles Bell's farm. There is no mention of her being a widow on her death cert.
Her 2 sons had come up to the Parkes/ Forbes district at around 1890 with Elizabeth Francis & Charles.
Hope this is all clear and of some help.

[deeiluka]

That's excellent, Ding.....I shall search again for Thomas's death....

......dee

[cando]

Hi

I noted on the marriage index that Thomas PETERS status was noted a W [Widower] and also the following death

PETERS  Eliza Harris 4 Apr 1848  Age 8 yrs 
Relative Thomas PETERS [F]
Residence Adelaide   Place of death not recorded
Ref Ade 1/114

Thomas stated he was 25 at time of his 2nd marriage in Feb 1848 - he must have married quite young to have a dau aged 8 in 1848.  Of course, there is a possibility that this isn't your Thomas PETERS.

Have you seen the shipping records?

Cheers
cando

[deeiluka]

I've rechecked South Australia and Victoria, and I've searched the NSW Online Indexes and WA....

No sign of Thomas's death though......

.......dee

[cando]

Hi

Here is the Rajah shipping record  in 1847 with both a James and a Thomas PETERS but no wife or chn mentioned.
http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/fh/passengerlists/1847Rajah.htm

Cheers
cando

[Ding]

Hi,

Re the death of Elizabeth Harris Peters, in the UK 1841 census Thomas is listed with his Mother Fanny, sister Fanny and brother Robert. His age is 18 and no mention of a wife.
Maybe he could have had a daughter with Elizabeth Harris out of wedlock back in UK. The plot thickens!!!