Eliza Smith (nee Rowlinson) (8 Oct 1855 - 3 Feb 1898)
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| Eliza Rowlinson (8 Oct 1855 - 3 Feb 1898) |
Eliza Rowlinson was christened on 8 October 1855 at Pampisford, Cambridgeshire, England to William Rowlinson and Eliza Rowlinson (nee Reynolds).
This is me visiting Pampisford in May 2025 and exploring the area.
Eliza was baptised on the 25 November 1855 at St. John the Baptist Church at Pampisford, Cambridgeshire, England. Pampisford was Pampisworth until mid 17th century.
This is me at the church. One thing I noticed about the village was the extensive flint used in the area’s buildings.
Here is some flint on the church.
This is the entrance to the church in May 2025.
Eliza's mother Eliza dies on the 18 June 1859 after a miscarriage. Eliza is 3 years 8 months old.
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| Pampisford Hall where Eliza's father worked as a Labourer Gardener |
A Newmarket trainline ran near it but is now disused, the trainline dismantled and therefore now a private track.
These are the gates, in May 2025, to Pampisford Hall. They were moved there to accommodate the new dual-way highway.
WORKING FOR REVEREND THOMAS ERSKINE AND MRS EMMELINE ERSKINE
Just up the road from Pampisford Hall was Babraham (pronounced Bay-brum) Hall where an Emmeline Augusta Adeane grew up. Her father Henry John Adeane, owned Babraham Hall.
Just up the road from Pampisford Hall was Babraham (pronounced Bay-brum) Hall where an Emmeline Augusta Adeane grew up. Her father Henry John Adeane, owned Babraham Hall.
On 8 April 1856 Emmeline married Reverend Thomas Erskine.
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| Babraham Hall where Mrs Erskine grew up |
This is Babraham Hall in 2025. It’s now a restricted Science facility so access wasn’t possible. This photo was taken from a distance near the Babraham Church.
I found the above tablet in the Babraham Church mentioned Reverend Erskine.
In April 1864, they moved to Alderley, Cheshire and it is supposed that Emmeline asked around the area for a possible new servant girl to take with her. As Eliza was just down the road and her father was working as a Gardener at Pampisford Hall, we suspect it is from this that Eliza was chosen to go and work for them. Eliza would have been 9.
The Erskine's stayed at Alderley, Cheshire from 1864 to April 1870 before moving onto Ufton in Berkshire where the Reverend became Reverend of Ufton.
English Census 1871 - We find Eliza living as a kitchen maid at The Rectory on High Road, Ufton, Berkshire, England (now called The Old Rectory at Ufton Nervet - photo below) with the Reverend Thomas Erskine, his wife Emmeline Augusta and their children Robert Steuart (10) and Edward John (6). At this time Joseph was in the next village Sulhamstead Abbotts working as a servant/apprentice. Eliza is 15.
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| Alderley, Cheshire Rectory and Church where Eliza lived from 1864 to 1871 |
The Erskine's stayed at Alderley, Cheshire from 1864 to April 1870 before moving onto Ufton in Berkshire where the Reverend became Reverend of Ufton.
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| The Rectory as it stands in 2012 |
The day after Joseph's 21st birthday, Eliza Rowlinson now 20 married Joseph Smith on 3 April 1875 at the Parish Church of Sulhamstead Abbotts, Berkshire, England. Eliza's residence is listed as Saint George's Pimlico, probably where she was working for the Erskine's at the time.
Joseph is listed as a Baker.
MIGRATING TO AUSTRALIA
Not long after on 14 May 1875 Joseph and Eliza left England for Adelaide, Australia aboard the Hespirides which left from Plymouth, England. It was a Friday.
Eliza became pregnant on the boat with their first child Lucy who was born once in Adelaide.
They arrived in Adelaide on 3 August 1875. When they arrived at Port Adelaide, Joseph's brother, Henry, met them with his dray and a big black horse called Ted. Henry had immigrated previously and bought land from the South Australian Company for 2 shillings per acre at Sellick's Hill, south of Adelaide.
Extract from "The Advertiser" 4 August 1875 - Arrival of the Hesperides with Immigrants
"The arrival of the Hespirides, which took place on Tuesday August 3rd has been a matter of expectation during the last few days and although the passage has scarcely equalled Capt. Upton's anticipation, head winds and calms being antagonists against which seamanship is powerless, the result under adverse circumstances proves what the craft could do when winds are more propitious. The light breeze which brought her up the gulf deserted her altogether when abreast of Glenelg and she dropped anchor in about 7 fathoms with the Union Jack half masted at the fore.
Harbourmaster Dagwell put off immediately with a boats crew and a boarding, the melancholy news was obtained that when two days sail from the line the doctor (Dr. Blood) died.
Although thus deprived in a great measure of medical assistance, the Hespirides has brought out as healthy and as well selected a set of immigrants as any ship has landed on these shores. Some few deaths have occured, but nothing on the bill of health will prevent a speedy transfer of the immigrants from their present home to the more congenial atmosphere of shore. As the vessel lay off the Bay a finer craft in appearance could not be desired, and with the exception of the usual weather worn appearance of her hull which a brush of paint will soon rectify, everything below and aloft seemed in as good preservation as if she had only just left port.
On board care and discipline were evident and the courteous demeanour of Captain and Officers was an assurance that the time had not been spent unhappily during the voyage. The Matron also, Mrs. Rodgers much credit is due.
At sunset the Hespirides again was underway for Port Adelaide with a very light wind, Mr. Dagwell remaining on board.
The Hespirides said from Plymouth on the 14th May having on board 396 emmigrants, assisted and free.
There were 38 married couples, 146 single men, 121 single women, 17 boys under 12, 26 girls under 12 and 10 infants. The occupations are classified as follows:
57 agricultural labourers, 2 bricklayers, 6 bakers, 2 blacksmiths, 1 bootmaker, 2 coachbuilders, 7 carpenters, 9 cooks, 1 charwoman, 1 coachpainter, 101 domestic servants, 3 engine fitters, 1 engineer, 1 file cutter, 5 gardeners, 1 groom, 1 hairdresser, 1 harnessmaker, 1 iron moulder, 72 labourers, 4 mechanics, 2 masons, 3 miners, 5 nursemaids, 1 printer, 1 tinman, 2 tailors, 1 slater, 1 storemen, 1 laundress."
Extract from "The Advertiser" 6 August 1875
"The Hespirides was towed up to the Port on Thursday afternoon when quite a sensation was created by the crowd of persons assembled on the wharves. The single woman had been previously transferred to the tug and as soon as the vessel was moored the steamer came alongside the wharf and the passengers proceeded to the Railway Station and from thence to town by the 6.45 train."
The brothers were short men and so Joseph, who went first to live with Henry and work the farm, found it too hard pushing the large heavy equipment and so decided to move closer to the city.
Joseph and Eliza had 11 children:
On 4 February, 1898, Eliza Smith (nee Rowlinson) died. It is believed she died from blood poisoning after childbirth (Rufus William Smith's birth).
On Wednesday 9 February, 1898, "The Advertiser" of Adelaide wrote: "SMITH - On the 4th February, at Leicester Street, Parkside, Eliza, the beloved wife of Joseph Smith, aged 43 years. A fond wife, a loving mother."
Eliza is buried in the West Terrace Cemetery, Buried Road 3 Path 35 Allotment 42E - no headstone, only lawn, near a big tree. She is buried with her newborn son Rufus William Smith who died about a month later.
One year later on Saturday 4 February, 1899, "The Advertiser" of Adelaide wrote: "IN MEMORIAM - SMITH - In loving memory of Eliza, the beloved wife of Joseph Smith, of Leicester Street, Parkside, and daughter of William Rowlinson, Pampisford, Cambridge, England, who died February 4th, 1898."
Joseph is listed as a Baker.
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| Joseph Smith and Eliza Rowlinson's marriage certificate |
MIGRATING TO AUSTRALIA
Not long after on 14 May 1875 Joseph and Eliza left England for Adelaide, Australia aboard the Hespirides which left from Plymouth, England. It was a Friday.
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| Hespirides Ship |
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| Passenger List of Hespirides with Joseph and Eliza Smith listed |
Extract from "The Advertiser" 4 August 1875 - Arrival of the Hesperides with Immigrants
"The arrival of the Hespirides, which took place on Tuesday August 3rd has been a matter of expectation during the last few days and although the passage has scarcely equalled Capt. Upton's anticipation, head winds and calms being antagonists against which seamanship is powerless, the result under adverse circumstances proves what the craft could do when winds are more propitious. The light breeze which brought her up the gulf deserted her altogether when abreast of Glenelg and she dropped anchor in about 7 fathoms with the Union Jack half masted at the fore.
Harbourmaster Dagwell put off immediately with a boats crew and a boarding, the melancholy news was obtained that when two days sail from the line the doctor (Dr. Blood) died.
Although thus deprived in a great measure of medical assistance, the Hespirides has brought out as healthy and as well selected a set of immigrants as any ship has landed on these shores. Some few deaths have occured, but nothing on the bill of health will prevent a speedy transfer of the immigrants from their present home to the more congenial atmosphere of shore. As the vessel lay off the Bay a finer craft in appearance could not be desired, and with the exception of the usual weather worn appearance of her hull which a brush of paint will soon rectify, everything below and aloft seemed in as good preservation as if she had only just left port.
On board care and discipline were evident and the courteous demeanour of Captain and Officers was an assurance that the time had not been spent unhappily during the voyage. The Matron also, Mrs. Rodgers much credit is due.
At sunset the Hespirides again was underway for Port Adelaide with a very light wind, Mr. Dagwell remaining on board.
The Hespirides said from Plymouth on the 14th May having on board 396 emmigrants, assisted and free.
There were 38 married couples, 146 single men, 121 single women, 17 boys under 12, 26 girls under 12 and 10 infants. The occupations are classified as follows:
57 agricultural labourers, 2 bricklayers, 6 bakers, 2 blacksmiths, 1 bootmaker, 2 coachbuilders, 7 carpenters, 9 cooks, 1 charwoman, 1 coachpainter, 101 domestic servants, 3 engine fitters, 1 engineer, 1 file cutter, 5 gardeners, 1 groom, 1 hairdresser, 1 harnessmaker, 1 iron moulder, 72 labourers, 4 mechanics, 2 masons, 3 miners, 5 nursemaids, 1 printer, 1 tinman, 2 tailors, 1 slater, 1 storemen, 1 laundress."
Extract from "The Advertiser" 6 August 1875
"The Hespirides was towed up to the Port on Thursday afternoon when quite a sensation was created by the crowd of persons assembled on the wharves. The single woman had been previously transferred to the tug and as soon as the vessel was moored the steamer came alongside the wharf and the passengers proceeded to the Railway Station and from thence to town by the 6.45 train."
The brothers were short men and so Joseph, who went first to live with Henry and work the farm, found it too hard pushing the large heavy equipment and so decided to move closer to the city.
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| Eliza Rowlinson |
Joseph and Eliza had 11 children:
- Lucy Catherine Ashmeade (nee Smith) (1876-1948)
- Robert Stewart Smith (1878-1908)
- Eliza Agnes Smith (1880-1881)
- Charles Henry Smith (1883-1960)
- Ernest Smith (1885-1966)
- Horace Joseph Smith (1887-1976)
- Leonard Rowlinson Smith (1889-1968)
- Edith Emeline Doubtfire (nee Smith) (1891-1977)
- Ruby Myrtle Doubtfire (nee Smith) (1893-1974)
- George Clarence Smith (1895-1962)
- William Rufus Smith (1898-1898)
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| The shop the family owned |
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| Joseph and Eliza's Family with step mother Jane Back - Robert, Len, Charles, Ern, Horace Front - Edie, Lucy, Joseph, George, Jane, Ruby |
On 4 February, 1898, Eliza Smith (nee Rowlinson) died. It is believed she died from blood poisoning after childbirth (Rufus William Smith's birth).
Eliza is buried in the West Terrace Cemetery, Buried Road 3 Path 35 Allotment 42E - no headstone, only lawn, near a big tree. She is buried with her newborn son Rufus William Smith who died about a month later.
One year later on Saturday 4 February, 1899, "The Advertiser" of Adelaide wrote: "IN MEMORIAM - SMITH - In loving memory of Eliza, the beloved wife of Joseph Smith, of Leicester Street, Parkside, and daughter of William Rowlinson, Pampisford, Cambridge, England, who died February 4th, 1898."
OTHER NOTES
In May 2025, there are no Rowlinson’s living in Pampisford according to the March 2025 census that was attached to the church entrance. The owners of Pampisford Hall were the Killanders.
I found one Rowlinson buried in the church graveyard as below - Herbert Rowlinson who died 5 March 1942.
Greetings from Nelson New Zealand. I enjoyed reading about Eliza and found it very interesting because Rev Thomas Erskine was my 1st cousin 3x removed.
ReplyDeleteHello! This blogspot was recently updated as I travelled to Pampisford. I found a tablet in the church mentioning Rev Erskine! Do you have a photo of him at all?
DeleteThat’s fantastic!
ReplyDelete