On the 13th August 1842, Ellen’s husband, John Meggett, died at Lumley. Records reveal that John and Ellen were then residing at Lumley (known as Lumley Park which was located near Bungonia and the landholders were Robert and Margaret Futter). The death certificate of 1842 officially shows John as age 30, but the age of 30 conflicts with his age 29 when he married 5 years previous in 1837. His birth year is probably c1808.
On 12 August 1843 at Bungonia, John’s widow (recorded as Ellen Maggitt), had a second marriage to a William Orme and he became stepfather of Ellen’s children (Jane and Charles). William Orme was also an ex convict and had been transported to Australia on the ship “Lady Nugent” arriving Sydney 9thApril 1835. He was born in Derby England circa 1805 and sentenced at Derby Petty Sessions on 1st November 1832 for stealing meat. Sentence was 7 years transportation as a convict to Australia.
The convict ship’s 1835 list of male convicts, has William Orme recorded as a shoemaker, could read and write and was married. He was a protestant, age 30, height 5’ 4” of ruddy complexion, brown eyes and chestnut hair. Cast outwards on right eye, scar over left eyebrow and back of left thumb. Four moles on right arm near the elbow. His wife did not accompany him to Australia. He was granted his Certificate of Freedom at Bungonia on 22nd May 1840.
William and Ellen had 8 children born from 1845 to 1861. All those children were probably born at Jacqua and their residence is on record as being Gayley Flat, Yarralaw. (The parish of Yarralaw is close to Jacqua and Bungonia). William Orme was recorded as a labourer and a shepherd and died at Yarralaw on 14th April 1863 at the age of 58. He was buried at Bungonia on 17th April 1863. After his death, Ellen suffered extreme poverty and destitution. Neighbours supported her in one way or another. Reverend Procter (of Bungonia) and his wife Margaret, took in one of the children and a neighbour took in another. Ellen’s first child, Charles Meggitt (who was a cripple) was admitted to the benevolent asylum at Randwick and her youngest son, Richard Orme (age
, was admitted to The Orphans School at Parramatta. Those instances were all during 1864.
Details of Ellen’s 2 known children of the 1st marriage, plus the 8 children from 2nd marriage, are:-
Charles Meggett – born at Gunnary – 19 July 1838
Jane Meggett - born at Goulburn – 13 December 1840
William Orme - born at Bungonia (probably Jacqua) in 1845
Mary Ann Orme - born at Bungonia (probably Jacqua) in 1847
Hannah Orme - born at Jacqua in June 1849
Martha Orme - born at Jacqua – 18 October 1850
Agnes Orme - born at Jacqua – 12 June 1854
Richard Orme - registered Goulburn (probably born at Jacqua) 12 July 1856
Emma Orme - born at Jacqua – 13 January 1859
Frances Orme - born at Jacqua – 2 August 1861
There are other references relating to Ellen Orme. In 1877 at Willeroo, a Mrs. Ellen Homes was a witness at the birth of Martha Helena Davis. Martha Helena’s mother was Martha Davis nee Orme who was commonly known as Martha Holmes as early as 1866). Also in 1877, two other children of Ellen (Richard and Frances) were also recorded at Willeroo. It is highly certain that Mrs. Ellen Homes was our Ellen Orme. Ellen’s 2nd husband (William Orme) had died in 1863. Ellen had most likely remarried again or assumed the Holmes surname of a de-facto husband. When some of Ellen Orme’s children married, they were using the surname of Holmes. (In 1841, a Robert Holmes was recorded as the owner and resident of Jerrara, a large property along the northern bank of the Bungonia Creek). After 1864, Ellen Orme and her children were possibly looked after by Robert Holmes and this could explain the reason why Ellen and some of her children adopted the Holmes surname). Ellen’s daughter (Martha Davis nee Orme) had a 2nd marriage in 1899 and the marriage record shows her mother’s name as Helen Walker and deceased. Cannot locate any records showing a marriage of Ellen Orme, Meggett (or similar) to a Holmes or Walker .
