Family Tree Maker's Genealogy Site: Genealogy Report: Descendants of John Welsh

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Descendants of John Welsh

Generation No. 5

10. JOHN⁵ WILSON (ISABEL⁴ WELSH, JOHN³, THOMAS², JOHN¹) was born 30 Aug 1840 in St. Monance, Fife, Scotland. He married BARBARA LESLIE 04 Dec 1863 in St. Monance, Fife, Scotland. She was born 17 Jan 1841 in St. Monance, Fife, Scotland.

Notes for JOHN WILSON:
1841c - 11 months
1851c - 10
1881c - 37
dead by 1891

Notes for BARBARA LESLIE:
d/o Alexander Leslie & Barbara Innes & descendant of William Marr

1871c - 30
1881c - 39
1891c - 49 (Widowed & living beside her parents- Alex 75& Barb 70)

Children of JOHN WILSON and BARBARA LESLIE are:

19.	i.		BARBARA⁶ WILSON, b. 09 Nov 1866.
	ii.		MARGARET WILSON, b. 18 Nov 1868.

Notes for MARGARET WILSON:
1871c - 2
1881c - 12

iii.

JANE WILSON, b. 1873.

Notes for JANE WILSON:
1881c - 7
1891c - 17

iv.

ALEXANDER WILSON, b. 1881.

Notes for ALEXANDER WILSON:
1891c - 9

11. THOMAS⁵ WELSH (THOMAS⁴, JOHN³, THOMAS², JOHN¹) was born 15 Aug 1832 in EarlsFerry, Kilconquhar, Fife, Scotland, and died 08 Feb 1923 in Violet Town, Victoria, Australia. He married CATHERINE PHOENIX 16 Apr 1857 in St John's Church of England, North Melbourne, Australia, daughter of JOHN PHOENIX and ELIZABETH CRILLY. She was born May 1838 in Strabane, Ireland, and died 17 Sep 1926 in Violet Town, Victoria, Australia.

Notes for THOMAS WELSH:
From the 1851 Census entry 95:
South Side of the Street of Earlsferry:
William Reid, Head, age 30, Weaver or Baker b. Earlsferry.
Janet Reid, Wife, age 38, b. Earlsferry.
Thomas Welch, son, age 17, Weaver, b. Earlsferry.

From Jim Welsh:
. Up until recently I went no further back than my late aunt's verbally-acquired story of my her grandfather's trip out to gold-rush Melbourne from Elie/Earlsferry via (presumably) Glasgow on the "James" in 1853. He had been baptised in 1832.

Thomas left Scotland at the age of 21 and sailed for Australia in search of gold. The ship he saild on was the "James" from Glasgow, 150 tons, after six month he arrived in Port Phillip Bay in 1854, and landed in a small town which grew to become Melbourne.

In the 1800's
Thomas Welsh Early Pioneer of Victoria.

The traveller in Scotland visits the historical centre of Edinburgh then travels up the Eastern coastline, over the Firth of Forth bridge and into the county of Fife. There the main road leads through the famous Saint Andrews Golf Links, but the minor coast road leads through the village of Earlsferry. (population approx. 500). In the medieval times this coastline experienced the ravishing intrusions and raids of the Danes, also wars and struggles of violences of McBeth and McDuff. It was in this environment that the hardy Scot developed his tenacious character. It was in this village of Earlsferry in fifeshre that Thomas Welsh was born and in 1854 at the age of 21 having heard of the new land and goldfields of Australia, set out on a long six month voyage aboard the sailing ship "James of Glasgow" with a register of 150 tons, Melbourne at that time was but 20 years old and was already growing rapidly with the big influx of gold from the goldfields of Ballarat and Bendigo. He soon caught the gold fever but with little success and finance being limited he changed his occupation from a miner to a carrier of merchandise to the goldfields. His team consisted of 8 bullocks and with a four wheeled wagon he travelled them to Bendigo and the "Ovens" as Beechworth was then known. The Goulburn River was accessible by punt but the other numerous creeks were not bridged and during floods he had to camp on the banks waiting for the lowering of water levels. Often the merchandise was unloaded, the empty wagon driven into the creek and acted as a bridge over which the he would manhandle the goods across, draw out the wagon and reload the goods. Often when the water was too deep the load was wrapped in tarpaulins, tied and harnessed to a bullock to take across the stream then loaded onto the empty wagon. During this time before Railways, with Bullock teams as the only means of transport freight, charges ranged from 50 pounds a ton to Euroa, 100 pounds to Bendigo and 140 pounds to Beechworth, and one can well realise the difficulties and hardships of the slow and laborious work involved by the carrier, with no formed roads and lack of fodder for the animals except for the native grasses and herbages along the track. With the construction of railways this transport system ceased to exist except for the lesser centres of industry when horseteams and better roads supplemented the old wagon and its team of bullocks.
During these carrying days Thomas Welsh met Miss Catherine Phoenix who came from Castlefin-County of Donegal Ireland. She had recently arrived on the sailing ship "Parsee" and was employed in service at Bonnybrook, Victoria and they were married in 1857 in Melbourne, he being 24 years and she 19 years. They went to the Bolinda Goldfields for a short while then to the Broken River as Benalla was then named. There were but three or four houses at the time, land was 20 shillings per acre and the old brick building opposite the RE College, the "Black Swan" Hotel.
There were more aboriginals than whites and the favourite camping site was where the Fire Brigade Station was situated. The Welsh's shifted to Boho some five miles from Violet Town in 1868 where he purchased 400 acres by miners right from the crown and in it's virgin state was thickly covered with gum and wattles of giant size and was thickly covered with undergrowth. In the days of clearing their land they lived amongst the trees and wattles and their "eight hour" day mostly became 18 hours. Their tools of trade consisted of the cross cut saw, crowbar, axes, adzes and the single furrow plough. With these tools he built his slab hut with roof of bark and lived off the land with plentiful supplies of possum, kangaroo, wild game and damper. The land became more settled with the passing of time as the disillusioned alluvial miners drifted back into land settlement and with the construction of the Railway from Melbourne to Albury the growth of intermediate stopping places became established.
This Violet Town area grew and notwithstanding the difficulties of land settlement with its droughts, bushfires, floods and deep economic depressions, the valiant pioneers went forward with protess, families multiplied and social amenities with schools, churches, society clubs grew with the increase. Thomas Welsh was the founder of the Medthodist Church in 1897 at Boho and was a prominent member all his life. He also took part in the establishment of the school and all public affairs. In April 1907 they celebrated their Golden Wedding and it was notable affair and occasion for the district. The Welsh family consisted of the parents and 13 children of this union, the first and second children being deceased, and the eleven surviving children all settled on the land in this district, except one who became a civil Engineer at Kerang. They were joined by 37 grandchildren and 100 guests. For those people who can remember the gatherings that took place in these earlier days can well imagine the scene of the old house a Boho which had been a happy home for so many years. For days beforehand the "boys" had used the horses to drag up big logs and had them set in big heaps around the house, marquees were erected, tarpaulins placed around the tables, swings in the trees, large boilers of hot water, food and refreshments aplenty, music from gramophones, violins and piano. The celebrations commenced midmorning and continued through the night when the log fires were lit illuminating the whole surrounds with flickering lights and shadows. The Chairman conducted the occasion and musical items, toasts and goodwill was expressed by all and the correspondent of the time commented on the fact that a more important or enthusiastic gathering in the social life of this community had never been held before, and it will love long in the memories of all those present. This couple saw with pleasure and satisfaction their family marry and some move away from the district. They lived on to celebrate their diamond Wedding in 1917 at their home "Happy Valley" in Warrenbayne West when all the children again attended along with many of their old friends. By this time the Welsh family with descendants had now grow to 100, being 74 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. This wonderful couple lived on in peaceful contentment at this "Happy Valley" and on the 8th of February 1923 at the grand age of 90 years Thomas Welsh passed away peacefully. His wife Catherine survived him another three years when she passed away in their old home at the age of 88 years. They are both interred along with many other pioneers in the Violet Town cemetery. The Welsh descendants have shown their appreciation of their progenitors and the ties that bind them together by holding a family commemoration service at the homeland of Violet Town on Oct. 1 1970 when some 300 members gathered, and a further 900 were unable to come. Many were not aware of their relationship when meeting each other. This family group would probably be the largest of any in Australia and it is important to remember the forebearers from whom it originated: Thomas and Catherine Welsh.

More About THOMAS WELSH:
Burial: 09 Feb 1923, Violet Town, Victoria, Australia
Emigration: 1853, Port Phillip, Victoria, Australia
Occupation: Farmer
Record Change: 29 Oct 2002
Religion: Church of Scotland/Methodist

More About CATHERINE PHOENIX:
Burial: 18 Sep 1926, Violet Town, Victoria, Australia
Emigration: 09 Jun 1854, Port Phillip, Victoria, Australia
Occupation: Housewife
Record Change: 07 Feb 2002

Children of THOMAS WELSH and CATHERINE PHOENIX are:

THOMAS⁶ WELSH, b. May 1858, Mickleham, Victoria, Australia ¹⁸; d. 18 Jan 1860, Mickleham, Victoria, Australia¹⁸.

Notes for THOMAS WELSH:
He died at 20 months.

More About THOMAS WELSH:
Cause of Death: Dysentery
Record Change: 27 Oct 2002

ii.

WILLIAM WELSH, b. Jun 1860 ¹⁹; d. 20 Dec 1864, Benalla, Victoria, Australia..

Notes for WILLIAM WELSH:
William Drowned at Benalla.
A Magisterial inquiry was held in Benalla on the 20th Dec 1864 into the death of William, it states that he was 4.5 years old at the time of his death.
Drowned

More About WILLIAM WELSH:
Cause of Death: Drowned while swimming
Record Change: 27 Oct 2002¹⁹

20.	iii.	MARY JANE WELSH, b. 14 May 1861, Mickleham, Victoria, Australia; d. 16 Oct 1943, Yarragon, Victoria, Australia.
21.	iv.	JOHN WELSH, b. 26 Nov 1863, Benalla, Victoria, Australia.; d. 12 Feb 1944.
22.	v.	ROBERT WELSH, b. 09 Aug 1865, Benalla, Victoria, Australia.; d. 15 Oct 1958.
23.	vi.	CHRISTINA ELIZABETH WELSH, b. 09 Oct 1867, Benalla, Victoria, Australia.; d. 07 Oct 1952, Benalla, Victoria, Australia..
24.	vii.	CLARA CATHERINE WELSH, b. 26 Aug 1870, Boho, Victoria, Australia; d. 04 Feb 1952, Benalla, Victoria, Australia.
25.	viii.	JAMES CHARLES WELSH, b. 26 Nov 1871, Boho, Victoria, Australia; d. 28 Sep 1940.
26.	ix.	GEORGE THOMAS WELSH, b. 26 Jul 1873, Boho, Victoria, Ausralia; d. 07 Feb 1957, Broardford, Victoria, Australia.
27.	x.	WILLIAM ANDREW WELSH, b. 09 May 1876, Boho, Victoria, Australia; d. 01 Jun 1972.
28.	xi.	SELINA CONSTANCE WELSH, b. 16 Oct 1877, Warranbayne, Victoria, Australia; d. Oct 1949.
29.	xii.	ALEXANDER FERGUSON WELSH, b. 17 Mar 1881; d. 21 Jul 1966, Wangaratta Base Hospital, Victoria, Australia.
30.	xiii.	HENRY FERN WELSH, b. 28 Dec 1882, Boho, Victoria, Australia; d. 17 Feb 1943, Euroa, Victoria, Australia.

12. JAMES⁵ WELSH (JOHN⁴, JOHN³, THOMAS², JOHN¹) was born 1843 in Earlsferry , Fife, Scotland.. He married JANET BARKER 31 Dec 1868 in Wemyss, Fife, Scotland., daughter of HENRY BARKER and CATHERINE LAURIE. She was born 1845 in Buchaven, Fife, Scotland.

Notes for JAMES WELSH:

More About JAMES WELSH:
Christening: 15 Jul 1854, Wemyss, Fife, Scotland.
Occupation: 01 Jan 1869, Mason

More About JANET BARKER:
Occupation: 01 Jan 1869, Net worker

Marriage Notes for JAMES WELSH and JANET BARKER:
1881 Census.
Dwelling:      12 Ashville Ter
      Census Place:      South Leith, Edinburgh, Scotland
      Source:      FHL Film 0224018 GRO Ref Volume 692-2 EnumDist 4 Page 10
            Marr      Age      Sex      Birthplace
James Welsh      M      38       M      Williamsburgh, Fife, Scotland
      Rel:      Head
      Occ:      Mason
Janet Welsh      M      36       F      Buckhaven, Fife, Scotland
      Rel:      Wife
Catherine Welsh      U      11       F      Kirkcaldy, Fife, Scotland
      Rel:      Daur
      Occ:      Scholer
Elizabeth Welsh      U      9       F      Kirkcaldy, Fife, Scotland
      Rel:      Daur
      Occ:      Scholer
John Welsh      U      8       M      Kirkcaldy, Fife, Scotland
      Rel:      Son
      Occ:      Scholer
Janet Welsh      U      5       F      Kirkcaldy, Fife, Scotland
      Rel:      Daur
      Occ:      Scholer
Caroline Welsh      U      4       F      Leith, Edinburgh, Scotland
      Rel:      Daur
      Occ:      Scholer
Christina Welsh      U      1       F      Leith, Edinburgh, Scotland
      Rel:      Daur
John HODGE      U      31       M      Leith, Edinburgh, Scotland
      Rel:      Boarder
      Occ:      Joiner
Grace HODGE      U      3       F      Leith, Edinburgh, Scotland
      Rel:      Boarder

Children of JAMES WELSH and JANET BARKER are:

	i.		CATHERINE⁶ WELSH, b. 1870, Kirkcaldy, Fife, Scotland..
	ii.		ELIZABETH WELSH, b. 1872, Kirkcaldy, Fife, Scotland..
	iii.		JOHN WELSH, b. 1873, Kirkcaldy, Fife, Scotland..
	iv.		JANET WELSH, b. 1876, Kirkcaldy, Fife, Scotland..
	v.		CAROLINE WELSH, b. 1877, Leith, Midlothian, Scotland.
	vi.		CHRISTINA MCKAY WELSH, b. 05 May 1879, Leith, Midlothian, Scotland; m. ROBERT GEMMELL²⁰, 1905, Guelph, Ontario, Canada.²¹.

Notes for CHRISTINA MCKAY WELSH:
She was born at 12 Ashville Terrace.

More About CHRISTINA MCKAY WELSH:
Burial: Woodhaven Cemetery, Guelph, Ontario, Canada.²¹

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