Sunday, October 23, 2011

Matilda Chapman (1841-1907)

MATILDA CHAPMAN  
Sex: F
Birth Date: 28 Feb 1841 Place: Ireland 1
Death Date: 4 Nov 1907 Place: Hunters Hill, NSW 2,3
Burial Date: 5 Nov 1907 Place: Field of Mars Cemetery, Ryde, NSW 4

Matilda's birth was recorded in the Edward Chapman book and register as follows:
 Wm Chapman & Mary Rainey
Sons & Daughters to the above
Matilda Chapman was born the 28th Day of February 1841

Matilda arrived in Australia with her sister Mary Jane Chapman on 15 December 1860 on the ship "Lady McDonald". Both girls entries were marked 'and sister'. 
Her occupation was said to be 'house servant' and her native place was Cork Ireland. 
Her religion was Church of England and she was able to read and write. 
Matilda's age was stated to be 19 which agrees with her stated birth year. 
(source.5,6 )

The Immigration Deposit Journal from the State Records of NSW shows that the sponsor for both Matilda and Mary Jane was their brother Thomas Chapman 

The 'Lady McDonald' apparently had an uneventful voyage, the only newspaper reports located being the departure from Plymouth and the disembarking of immigrants in Sydney:

(newspaper were searched using the National Library of Australia 'Trove' digitised collection.)

1860 'STABLES & CO.'S CIRCULAR.', The South Australian Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1858-1889), 11 October 1860, p. 3, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article824983
circular from 6 St. Helen's-place, London, Aug. 15,1860.
.....The Schah Jehan for Adelaide, and the Lady McDonald for Sydney, take no cargo, but are gone round to Plymouth to embark a large number of emigrants.

1860 'Advertising.', Empire (Sydney, NSW : 1850-1875), 17 December 1860, p. 3, 
This newspaper contained the list of names of emigrants and who had paid their deposit:
IMMIGRANTS PER LADY McDONALD : Notice is hereby given that the under-mentioned persons for whom passages were provided to this colony in pursuance of deposits made in this Office under the Remittance Regulations, have arrived in the ship Lady McDonald, and that they will be prepared to join their friends - the single females from the Depot, Hyde Park Barracks, at and after 9 o'clock this day, Monday the 17th instant; and the families and single men from the ship, at noon tomorrow, Tuesday the 18th instant.
NAME OF IMMIGRANT - NAME OF DEPOSITOR.
Chapman, Matilda - Thomas Chapman
Chapman, Mary - Thomas Chapman

Matilda married  HENRY MORTON in 1881, the marriage registered in the Glebe district of Sydney, New South Wales 8
Newspapers have been searched for a marriage announcement, but nothing has been located.  
Marriage certificate has not been obtained at this stage.

The 1883 and 1884 Sands Sydney Directory shows an entry for Matilda Morton at a boarding house, 97 Macquarie Street south, Sydney.   
This is included here for information only and has not been confirmed as referring to our Matilda.  There was no mention of Henry Morton in these directories.

In 1882, at the age of 41, Matilda gave birth to her only child RUBY MORTON (1882 - 1966) 
Matilda died on 4 November 1907 at the Hunters Hill home of her daughter, Ruby Buchan and was buried on 5 November 1907 at the Field of Mars Cemetery, North Ryde, New South Wales 

FURTHER LINKS TO  RUBY BUCHAN nee MORTON WILL BE ADDED LATER
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Source Citations
1. Edward Chapman book and register.

2. National Library of Australia, Historic Australian Newspapers 1803 - 1954 (database online http://newspapers.nla.gov.au),
1907 'Family Notices.' Sydney Morning Herald, Tuesday 5 November 1907, p. 6, 
DEATH: MORTON.-November 4, at the residence of her daughter, Mrs. Harry Buchan, Richmond, Hunter's Hill Matilda Morton, aged 65. By request, no flowers.

3. NSW Registry of Births Deaths & Marriages, Death index online database (http://www.bdm.nsw.gov.au), 13997/1907 district Hunters Hill. Matilda MORTON - parents William & Mary. 

4. National Library of Australia, Historic Australian Newspapers 1803 - 1954 (database online http://newspapers.nla.gov.au),
1907 'Family Notices.', The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842-1954), 5 November, p. 10, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article29689573
MORTON. -The Funeral of the late Mrs. MATILDA MORTON will leave her daughters residence ****(fold in newspaper made the street name indeciferable) street. Hunter's Hill, this (Tuesday) afternoon, at 3 o'clock, for Field of Mars Cemetery. Coffill and Co. funeral directors

5. State Archives of NSW Immigrant Index 1860-79 (reel 2139) and Ships List of passengers., p.4 4/4796

6. National Library of Australia, Historic Australian Newspapers 1803 - 1954 (database online http://newspapers.nla.gov.au),
1860 'Advertising.', Empire (Sydney, NSW : 1850-1875), 17 December 1860, p. 3, 
This newspaper contained the list of names of emigrants and who had paid their deposit:

8. NSW Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, Marriage index online database, 2141/1881 district Glebe. MORTON, Henry & CHAPMAN, Matilda.

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