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You may notice that throughout Richards life there are instances of ages and dates that do not correspond. For instance, the birth/age details on Richards death certificate do not correspond with those given on the shipping records etc. These discrepancies may have occured due to a lack of education, a necessity in some instances to lie about his age, or the ability of the informant to give the correct information at the time of the event.
I have compiled a list of Sources, Discrepancies and Questions where available for each of the events noted. I would be grateful if anyone could assist with information or documentation substantiating the correct dates.
| Born in Devon, England |
Richard Hannaford was born about 1819 [01].in the Hamlet of Prince Town, which is in the Parish of Lidford (Lydford), and County of Devon (also known as Devonshire), England [02]. Richard was the second eldest of six children born to Samuel Hannaford and Elizabeth Newman between about 1818 and 1830. His brother John was the eldest , then after Richard came Thomas, James, George and his only sister, Maria. Richard and his siblings grew up in Prince Town. This little hamlet was described as a bleak and exposed town in the heart of Dartmoor, with an abominable climate of fog, snow, wind and rain. The town originally grew around the barracks for French Prisoners of War, constructed in 1806. It is evident that Richard was not fully educated as a child, he could read but could not write. His marriage certificate bears his mark X. Contract documents signed by Richard in the 1860's also bear his mark X, and letters were written by his scribe. |
| Married in the Stoke Damerel Parish Church |
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In his early twenties Richard married Elizabeth Rowe in the Parish Church, in the Parish of Stoke Damerel, County of Devon on 4th April 1839. The marriage certificate [03] states that "Richard and Elizabeth were married by Banns. Richard's occupation was a mason, and that he was a bachelor of official age. Elizabeth of no specified occupation was a spinster and a minor. At the time of their marriage they both lived in King Street, Richard at number 11 and Elizabeth at number 13. Richards father is noted as Samuel Hannaford a ??????and Elizabeths father is James Rowe a blacksmith" |
In the March Quarter of 1841 James Richard, the first of their surviving children was born, and his birth registered in Tavistock, in the Parish of Lydford, Devon, England.
The census records of 1841 state that Richard 22, Elizabeth 20 and James Richard an infant, were living at No 2 Chapel Row, Prince Town in the Parish of Lidford. [04]
Jane Ann was born in the March Qtr in 1844 and her birth registered in Tavistock, in the Parish of Lydford, Devon, England
It was not until 1850 that another child was born. This child Emma, did not survive through childhood. Emma was listed as living with her parents in the 1851 Census, but was not listed on the immigration passenger list therefore, I am assuming that she had died prior to the family immigrating to Australia in August 1854.
It has been noted that there was about seven years (1843 - 1850) between the birth of Jane Ann and Emma. Elizabeths death certificate states that five children had died prior to her passing away in 1863. It is possible that some of these children were born and died during this period of time.
Another daughter named Elizabeth was born in 1851. Her birth was probably after August of that year as she is not noted on the 1851 census [04]. This census indicates that Richard 32, Elizabeth 28, James 10, Jane Ann 8 and Emma 1 were living at 24 William Street, in the Parish of Stoke Damerel, Ecclesiastical district of St James, Borough of Devenport in Morice Town.
Henry Rowe was the next surviving child to be born. His birth was registered in the December Quarter of 1854 in the District of Stoke Damerel, Devon, England.
Richard now 40, Elizabeth 22 and their four children, James Richard 13, Jane Ann 10, Elizabeth 3 and Henry an infant child, immigrated to Australia. With Government assistance and a 5 pound fare the family boarded the "Lady Kennaway" departing from Plymouth England on 24th August 1854 and arriving in Sydney, Australia on 8th or 9th December 1854. [05]
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