Edward Smith & Amelia Gwilliam 1843 (General)

by joyford, Sunday, October 24, 2010, 13:16 (5223 days ago) @ vcatkinson

Yes,Benjamin arrived in Australia in November 1899 on the Omrah; he had travelled with his 25 year old half-brother Frank Smith (sometimes called himself Frank Brown). Amos arrived in 1901 on the Oruba. They all lived in Stockton (near Newcastle), NSW to begin with but Amos later moved to Sydney where he died in 1942; he had 3 sons but none appeared to have married (one died in infancy)and 1 daughter. Frank died in 1960, he had 4 daughters who called themselves Smith-Brown but I don't think any had children. Ben (my great grandfather) married Annie Matilda (Tillie)Hammond in 1902 and they had one child, my grandmother, Annie Amelia, in 1903. Tillie left Ben soon after; my grandmother was raised by her mother's mother and although she was raised just a few miles from where Ben lived she apparently never saw him. My own mother was shocked to learn that he had lived nearby. Ben applied for and was granted a divorce from Tillie in 1910; he never married again. Since I discovered all of this I have felt very sad for poor Ben, to have come so far and had so much hope for the future with a wife and baby and then to lose it all. His death certificate stated that he was divorced and had one child, Amelia; so very sad. That was why I went to see his birthplace; I hope it helps him rest in peace.
Joyford