Tree HV.

Hingston family from Stoke Gabriel(?) Devon to Warrnambool, Victoria, Australia

Ray Hingston <houseofh@internode.on.net> and Vivienne Melville <kennyviv@optusnet.com.au> are investigating the link between an Edwin Hingston in Australia, born Stoke, Devon, in 1833.  The most likely candidate for the parents is the family shown in Stoke Gabriel in 1851.  Edwin is absent from that census but is present in 1841.  Edwin drowned in a flood.  Intriguingly, there seems to have been another Edwin Hingston at the same place of work.  The following summarises what we know at the moment. - CJB

I have assumed here that the William and Mary Ann who were recorded in Australia as the parents of Edwin Hingston at the time of his marriage were the William Hingston and Mary Ann Janes who married at Abbotskerswell in 1821 and lived at Stoke Fleming; the naming of the children with Janes as a middle name is probably persuasive.  However, there was another William Hingston who married Mary Ann Skilton at Stoke Damerel in 1811.  I know nothing more about this family.

Other Hingston entries in Stoke Gabriel that are not yet connected to this family:-

7 Sep1852    Mary Anne Hingston buried 24 yrs (~1828)
20 Jan 1856   William Launder Hingston of Totnes Union buried, Infant

1841 Census entries at Stike Gabriel not yet tied in

Hingston Richard, Watton 10 m

Hingstone Jane, ?? Farm 20  f

Generation No. 1

14.  RICHARD HINKSON would have been born in about 1734 (he was 83 when he was buried on 2 Feb 1817).  He married CHRISTIAN PUTTIFEN (when and where - there is no suitable marriage in the DFHS marriage index from 1754 but they could have been married just before that index starts).  This Christian was probably buried 17 Jul 1791 at Stoke Gabriel.

One of their children was

Generation No. 2

15.  WILLIAM HINGSTON would have been born about 1771 (he was descrbed as age 77 when he was buried on 25 Jun 1848 (or 9?).  He married MARY FABIS on Christmas Day 1793 at Kingsbridge (DFHS index).  William shown as 70 in 1841, Mary as 74.  Living with them in 1841 was Mary H, aged 46 (a duaghter?), Rebekah aged 20 (an unrecorded granddaughter?) and Lantena (?) aged 7, presumably their graddaughter Luttna.

Ray believes they has at least three children

Generation No. 3

1.  WILLIAM HINGSTON, born about 1797 in Stoke Gabriel, Devon, a labourer, living in the village, who married, on 27 Apr 1821 at Abbotskerswell, MARY ANNE JANES, born about 1801 in Abbots Kerswell.  (DFHS index where his name is spelt Hinkson).  Some, but not all, of their children were recored in the Stoke Gabriel parish records.  She appears to have died in the Union Workhouse at Totnes and was buried at Stoke Fleming 1 Jun 1856 aged 55 years, which would imply the family had fallen on hard times.

Generation No. 4

2.  EDWIN HINGSTON was born 7 Nov 1833 and christened 24 Nov 1833 at Stoke Gabriel, Devon, to William Hingston Labourer/Farmer and Mary Ann Hingston.  Supposedly emigrated to Australia in about 1853, but not living with his parents in Devon in the 1851 census and not recorded in Australia until his marriage, in 1855, to MARGARET BYRNES (da. of  Edmund Byrnes and Ellen Byrnes, born abt 1833 in Cashell, Co. Tipperary, Ireland.).  They married on 18 Feb 1855 at R C Church Warrnambool Vic Aust.  Edwin was an engine driver at a saw mills.

They had 11 children, all born at Warrnambool, Victoria, Australia, unless otherwise stated.  Edwin died 9 Sep 1870 in a flood at the Black`s River, Panmure while trying to save equipment at the sawmill of his employer, Williams and Co.

The report of his death in the Warrnambool Examiner Tuesday September 13 1870

"A fatal accident occured on Friday morning at the Panmure Saw Mills, to Mr Edwin Hingston, who was employed there as engine-driver.  Mr Peter Duff, the manager of the works, states that at 10.40 a.m. Hingston went to him and said that the tressels were being shifted with the floating timber, and in order to save the pump he suggested that the rod should be thrown out of gear.  Hingston asked that Thomas Trust should go with him.  They went in a flat-bottomed boat, and as they were steadily going out into the main stream, Mr Duff asked them to throw ashore the end of a rope which was coiled in the bottom of the boat.  Trust attempted to do so, but unfortunately the boat capsized and they were thrown into the river (Emu Creek)(also known as Black`s River).  Trust, who is a good swimmer, managed to save himself with great difficulty, and Hingston, who could not swim, was carried right into the current and went down.  No possible aid could be rendered, and the unfortunate occurence took place within sight of Mrs Hingston, who saw her husband sink; she gave a heart-rending shriek and fell down as if dead.  Prompt aid was speedily obtained from neighbours and she shortly afterwards recovered, though her grief was almost inconsolable.  In a note from Mr Duff dated 4 p.m. on Saturday, addressed to Williams and Co, he remarks "To give you an idea of the height of Black`s River I may state, that it`s upwards of twenty feet above the summer level, and a strong current going through our waggon track; it is roaring like the sea, indeed as far as the eye can reach it is nothing but water everywhere.  The Panmure Bridge was washed away at 7.40 am to-day.  The tressels, spout, pump-rod, &c., are all washed away".  A carpenter named James Milne, employed in erecting Mr Anderson`s new store came off at once, along with Patrick McCann, to bring the news of Hingston`s death to Warrnambool, and not being able to cross the Cudgee Creek they went round Craigie Burn and Framlingham.  On the following morning they returned, taking Mrs Hingston`s eldest son with them. They arrived on the other side of Panmure but the bridge being down were unable to get access to the Saw Mills, and returned to Warrnambool.  They left again yesterday morning.  The deceased had been many years in the employ of Williams and Co., and was well known as Charlie Hingston this designation being given him in the timber yard as another of the same name worked for the firm.  He has left six children, with the widow to mourn his untimely end.  When the body is recovered his remains will be followed to the grave by the members of the order of Odd Fellows, amongst whom Hingston was much esteemed."

The intriguing thing here is the reference to another Edwin Hingston working at the saw mills, but this may have referred to one of his sons.

Viviene Melville writes:- "Life does not appear to have been kind to Edwin's widow Margaret.  Most of the information comes from articles in the "Warrnambool Examiner" of the time. After the death of Edwin in 1870, the local Order of Oddfellows, of which he had been a much respected member, opened a Trust Fund for Margaret and the children.  Over 100 pounds was raised...enough to buy some land and a cottage for them. Three years later in 1873, Margaret remarried, to a Jacob Wormald (1836-1892) at Warrnambool. She would have been about 40 and he was about 3 years younger. (From "Pioneer Register" at Warrnambool FHS).  However on the Certificate for that marriage both of their ages are given as 37. They were married at Margaret's residence in Raglan St, Warrnambool. Jacob had 3 living children from his first marriage and Margaret had 7 from hers. Margaret's parents were named as Edmund Burns and Ellen Burns, the same names as on her first Marriage Certificate to Edwin Hingston, but different to the names listed on her Death Cert 3 years later. This second marriage was conducted by a Congregational Minister not a Catholic priest.

The marriage may not have been a great success as she died three years after that, in 1876 of a "serious (??) apoplexy caused by drunkeness" There was an inquest held into her death.  On her Death Cert it says that she'd been in the colony for 28 years which would put her arrival at about 1848 when she would have been approx 15.  I haven't yet found out what happened to the land and the cottage in Raglan St, Warrnambool, but I'm pretty sure it didn't go  to any of her boys because there has been a story in my family for ages about the boys being split up and sent to orphanages.

The children listed as surviving her were : Edward 20 or 21(the numbers are very blurred), Charles 18 (he would have turned 18 the month after she died), Margaret 17, William 15, David 13, George 11, Ernest 7 and Benjamin 5. (Margaret was supposed to have died aged 2??)

At the Inquest, the husband Jacob Wormald denied that there had been any violence or foul play between himself and his wife. The doctor's report suggested that Margaret had been a habitual drunkard. Also in the Inquest there is a statement by her son David, saying that over the weekend of her death he had been sent out to fetch more alcohol. It seems that Jacob, Margaret and a friend had had a fairly debauched weekend, and on the Monday morning young David had found her dead in the back room of the house. He also refers to sharing a room in the house with his 3 brothers, whom I'm assuming would be the  youngest ones, George, Ernest and Benjamin. This suggests that maybe the older children had already left home.

On her Death Cert. Margaret's parent's names are given as James and Mary Byrne, but on her Marriage Cert they are Edmund and Ellen, which is more likely to be correct since she herself would have been the informant.  Interestingly, on her Death Cert, her first husband's name is recorded as Charles, not Edwin. This ties in with the comment about him being called "Charlie" at the Panmure sawmill, too. Perhaps his name was actually Charles Edwin."

Generation No. 5

3.  CHARLES EDWIN HINGSTON.  Born on 6 Sep 1858 in Warrnambool, Victoria. Charles Edwin died in Prahran, Victoria, on 11 Mar 1930; he was 71. Buried on 12 Mar 1930 in Cheltenham Memorial Park. Occupation: Carrier/Driver (On Death Cert.). Religion: R.C.  On 29 Mar 1880 when Charles Edwin was 21, he married Sarah Ann BELLAIRS, daughter of William BELLARS & Bridget MELICAN, in St Patrick’s Cathedral, Melbourne. Born on 24 Sep 1858 in Woodford, Victoria. Sarah Ann died in North Caulfield, in 1947; she was 88.

They had the following children:

4.  WILLIAM ALEXANDER HINGSTON. Born in 1864 in Warrnambool, Victoria. In 1884 when William was 20, he married JESSIE BLYTH HARRINGTON, daughter of Richard Harrington & Elizabeth Barley. Jessie Blyth died in 1933. William Alexander died in Penshurst, Victoria, in 1909; he was 45.

They had the following children:

5.  DAVID HENRY HINGSTON. Born in 1866 in Warrnambool, Victoria. David married MAT STARR, daughter of Thomas Starr & Jane. May died in 1914 in Urana, NSW.  David Henry died in Lockhart, NSW, ? 1932; he was 66.

They had the following children:

6.  GEORGE FREDERICK HINGSTON. Born in 1867 in Warrnambool, Victoria.  On 31 Jan 1893 when George was 26, he married CATHERINE OSBOURNE, daughter of Edward Osbourne & Ellen Considine, in Warrnambool, Victoria. Born in 1874.  Catherine died in Elwood, Victoria, in 1937; she was 63.  George Frederick died in Elwood, Victoria, in 1937; he was 70. Occupation: Painter (On Marr.Cert)Bookmaker?

They had the following children:

7.  ERNEST JONES HINGSTON. Born in 1869 in Panmure, Victoria. On 24 Aug 1892 when Ernest Jones was 23, he married EMILY MASON, daughter of George T Masin & Sarah McCormack, in "Merton" High St, Armadale, Victoria. Born on 21 Jul 1867 in Hobart, Tasmania. Emily died in Malvern, Australia, in 1957; she was 89.   Ernest Jones died in Malvern, Australia, in 1927; he was 58. Buried on 10 Aug 1927 in Cheltenham Memorial Park. Occupation: Coachman (Marr.Cert). Religion: C Of E ( At Time Of Death).

They had the following children:

8.  BENJAMIN ALBERT HINGSTON. Born on 5 Mar 1871 in Warrnambool, Victoria.  In May 1891 when Benjamin Albert was 20, he married CATHERINE FRANCES EUPHEMIA KELLY, daughter of James Kelly & Catherine Hyland, in Warrnambool, Victoria. Born on 13 Jul 1872 in Melbourne, Australia. Catherine Frances Euphemia died in 1943; she was 70.

They had the following children:

Generation No. 6

9.  CHARLES WILLIAM (Chas) HINGSTON. Born on 21 Nov 1892 in 173 Park St East, South Melbourne, Victoria.  On 26 Dec 1918 when Charles was 26, he married MARY AGNES (Claire) KEAYS, daughter of Catherine Euphemia Keays, in Sacred Heart Church, Kew, Melbourne. She was born on 27 Jun 1896 in 87 Highett St, Richmond. Mary Agnes (Claire) died in 2/113 Middlehead Rd, Mosman, Sydney, on 21 Apr 1955; she was 58.  Charles died in 12 Kuppa Rd, Ryde, Sydney, Australia, on 27 Aug 1954; he was 61. Buried on 28 Aug 1954 in RC Section, Field of Mars Cemetery, Ryde. Occupation: Accountant. Education: Local Catholic School To Grade 6?? Religion: Roman Catholic.

They had the following children:

10.  GORDON HINGSTON. Born in 1894 in Warrnambool, Victoria.  In 1920 when Gordon was 26, he married VERONICA MARY COYLE, daughter of James Coyle & Elizabeth Ryan. She was born in 1896 in Northcote, Victoria. Veronica Mary died in McKinnon, Victoria, in 1963; she was 67.  Gordon died in McKinnon, Victoria, in 1968; he was 74. Buried on 17 Jul 1968 in Cheltenham Memorial Park. Occupation: Licensed Grocer.

They had the following children:

11.  ROY CHARLES HINGSTON. Born in 1898. In 1920 when Roy was 22, he married firstly JESSIE MATILDA HEALEY.  In 1932 when Roy was 34, he married secondly GERTRUDE ANNIE SCOTT. She was born in 1907. Gertrude Annie died in Dandenong, Victoria, in 1994; she was 87.  Roy Charles died in East Brighton, Victoria, in 1969; he was 71. Buried on 5 Apr 1969 in Cheltenham Memorial Park. Occupation: Public Servant.

Roy and Jessie had one child:

Roy and Gertrude had one child: 12.  CHARLES ERNEST HINGSTON. Born in 1897. In 1921 when Charles Ernest was 24, he married DORIS ELLEN SHUTE, daughter of Henry Shute & Mercy Berriman. Doris Ellen died in 1973.  Charles Ernest died in 1980; he was 83.

They had the following children:

13.  FRANCIS BENJAMIN HINGSTON. Born on 7 Jun 1910 in Warrnambool, Victoria. On 16 Apr 1938 when Francis was 27, he married firstly ANN ROSE DUGGAN, daughter of Thomas Duggan & Rose Gorman, in St John's, Clifton Hill, Melbourne. She was born in 1911 in Fitzroy North. Ann Rose died on 14 Oct 1975; she was 64.  Francis Benjamin married secondly EILEEN.  Francis Benjamin died in Victoria, Australia, on 24 Dec 1993; he was 83. Buried on 30 Dec 1993 in Springvale Cemetery.

Francis and Ann had the following children:

Francis and Eileen had the following children:

Page updated 12 Jan 2008, Chris Burgoyne