The family had a strong connection with Bishopsbourne and were involved with erecting buildings, the establishment and operating the Bush Inn hotel, farming and the postal service. The patriarch of the family was William Webb who was born on 20 December 1792 at Nether-Stowey, Somerset, England. He married Ann Maria Webber (1789-1860) on 30 June […]
Author: Ivan Badcock
Methodism at Longford – Beginnings
One of our lectionary readings of recent times told of Jesus sending out seventy-two disciples to the towns and villages in Judea on mission. Their aim was to bring God’s Kingdom to the people of that region. A similar outreach commenced at Longford in the year 1834, when a small band of men and […]
Bishopsbourne – Chronology
Bishopsbourne, Tasmania, as a named place, came into existence in 1844 when Bishop Francis Nixon, the first Church of England bishop in Van Diemen’s Land, purchased part of the Vron farm property from the William Gwillim Walker Estate. Bishop Nixon designated that the College being established be known as Christ’s College and the township Bishopsbourne. […]
Butleigh Hill Church – School – Cemetery
On moving to Green Rises in 1910, Grandfather and Grandma Badcock (Melvyn and Evelyn) joined up with the Butleigh Hill Methodist Church and continued with fairly regular attendance and strong support until the church was destroyed by fire in the early hours of Wednesday, 5 November 1947. The cause of the fire was generally believed […]
John Alexander Herbert: First Fleet Convict – London to Sydney
Early Years Information on John’s early years is currently limited. He was born in a house at Shoe Lane (behind St. Andrew’s Church near Long Lane), District of Smithfield, Town of Holborn, County of London early in 1767. Long Lane is near Central London, nearby being the Smithfield Markets, the Old Bailey Courts, St. Andrew’s Church […]
The Bible – The Living Word
There are evidences of God to be found in the books of the Bible, of God speaking to mankind. The words, “God said” and “Thus saith the Lord” are mentioned 3,808 times with “The word of the Lord” occurring 525 times. The Bible reveals God’s faithfulness, his loving care and his rulership over all mankind. […]
Page: Robert & Ellen + Family
Both Robert and Ellen were born at Norfolk, England, Ellen at Thompson and Robert at Attleborough. Ellen was the second daughter and child of Robert and Susannah Goss. Robert was the second child and eldest son of William and Ann Page. The Goss family emigrated leaving Liverpool, England in December 1854 travelling with other emigrants […]
Jan (Jaan) Ferdinand Jouke Boersma (1943-2020)
Jaan Boersma was dux of the Launceston Technical High School in 1959, gaining eight credits from all eight subjects which provided a springboard for his distinguished career. Jaan, as an eight year old, arrived in Tasmania from Holland with his parents and siblings. Here he completed his primary school education at the Cormiston Road State […]
Robert Mather (1782-1855) and Family
Emigrated to Van Diemen’s Land in 1822 The Mather Family – General Notes Beginnings – Robert Mather (1782-1855) Robert Mather was the firstborn son of Andrew Mather and Agnes (Hamilton) of Lauder Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Later Andrew and his family moved to Berwick and chose the trade of blacksmith and farrier. At age 14½, Robert made […]
The Herbert/Bolton Plaque Unveiling Address
Westbury Church of England Cemetery Australia Day – 26 January 2010 My late aunt Joyce Page, a sixth-generation descendant of John Herbert and Hannah Bolton, when talking about the families convict ancestors, would say, “we must be okay as our ancestors were selected to come here by the best judges in England”. She would say […]