Joseph was the fourth of their 6 children, all born Cumbria England
In the Census of 1841 Joseph aged 10 lived in Newbiggin village, Croglin parish, in Cumberland, with his father Joseph Nicholson aged 45, his wife Isabella aged 45, and his 2 younger siblings, Jane aged 8, and Henry aged 5. His father's occupation was given as Husbandman. [ farmer] That is all the people there were in this house- the teenage children were probably apprenticed or employed elsewhere.
In the 1851
Census of Newbiggin village, Croglin he is not living with his
parents but is listed at Warwich Bridge about 8 ? miles away, "Joseph Nicholson
aged 20 born in the parish of Croglin, apprentice", 5 years
apprenticeship, living in the house of one Joseph OWENS born Hayton,
aged 48 joiner and carpenter who employs 3 men. Also in this house
are Mr OWENS' wife Jane aged 55, born Dalston, daughter
Nancy aged 16, son James aged 12 both of whom were born Warwick Bridge.
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Photograph taken in Melbourne by R Yeoman 169 Burke Street East. Melbourne. Died 22 June 1908 Ballarat [buried Carngham] |
On 7 May 1853 at the Warwick Bridge Registry Office, District of Carlisle, Subdistrict of 1 Wetheral, Cumberland, England, he married Jane CRAGHILL - m. see certificate from England below. Warwick Bridge was a mile or so ? east of Carlisle.
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born Little Corby, Cumberland on 13 June 1831- LDS :at Wigton parish very close to Little Corby, christened 31 July 1831, father Joshua and mother Jane Craghill, her father was Joshua Craghill, a dyer and her mother was Jane nee Phillips. Photographed by the Melbourne Photographic Company in Bridge Street Ballarat Died 17 May 1906 Preston Hill, Vic. aged 74 |
ARRIVAL in Victoria, Australia
On 26 May 1854
Joseph Nicholson and his wife Jane travelled as "assisted immigrants"
- there were 450 in this class on boardd- by the fast clipper sailing ship
"Bride of the Sea" from Liverpool to Port Philip Bay embarking at
Geelong 11 August 1854 to Great Myers Street Geelong "on own account".
It is not known yet which scheme paid for the fare. His occupation was
listed as joiner on the ship.
below: handwritten
"note", most likely written by Elsie (nee Nicholson) Bell: c 1950? Ballarat?
"Two ships in the story. “The Bride of the Ocean” and “The Pride of the Seas”
One was the ship in which they travelled and the other a tender which brought them ashore. The tender caught fire and practically all of their belongings destroyed.
Grandfather was so very ill that he had to be carried ashore.
Grandmother, in Geelong then, lost her purse. They were in a strange land. Grandmother was crying, when suddenly William appeared, full of cheerfulness, money, and stories of wealth and plenty awaiting them on the gold fields. William said “what ails thee lass?” Soon everything was put right. William came to Australia and met them on arrival. He later returned to England, married Jane Jackson and went to Canada. Grandfather would have gone had he not had such a bad time on the voyage out. He could not undertake another sea voyage.
Names mentioned a great deal were Warrick Bridge, Ambleside, Keswick, Ullswater.
Grandfather served his 7 years apprenticeship with “Jobby” Owen (Town not mentioned. Perhaps Cumrew)[ Wendy who wrote this bit about Cumrew?] We have above proof he lived in Warwick Bridge and was aprenticed there to Joseph Owens]
The inscription
in a little book which Cousin Joe has
”Joseph Nicholson,
Cumrew Sunday School,
Award Sept. 14
th 1844
TE
When they left their ship, on arrival from England the lighter carrying the passengers’ goods chattels caught fire and practically all possessions were lost. An application was made to the Register Carlisle for a copy of the marriage certificate. This was forwarded from Carlisle in 1854 - hence the “copy”."
They went to the Ballarat area and later moved to Carngham 16 km west of Ballarat and they had only three children after being married almost 10 years!
Joseph
Nicholson bought land from the Crown at Preston Hill near Carngham
see parish map.
Parish
of Carngham from which the Purchase title was obtained at " Land Victoria".
This
land is now near the corner/intersection of Angle Road [blue] and
the Haddon-Preston Hill Road [north side of land - red here] about 12 miles
west and a bit south of Ballarat.
Joseph
Nicholson of Preston Hill, paid the Crown twenty pounds for the land which
is called Smythesdale in pencil across the Title-top left faint], Carngham
allotment 6 Section 32 Vol/1664/Folio 736. it was "19 acres,
3 roods and 38 perches more or less" purchased in 1884. This land
was later sold, 1908 October, by his executrix his daughter Jane [Mrs]
Gilhooley-out of the family. Joseph's estate was settled by "administration"
"A" after his death as he left no will it seems to me having looked in
the Vic. Probates Index. 2003. This could be inaccurate as all the indexer
did was ditto. the above entry.
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Joseph Nicholson [b 1830], became a land owner near Ballarat 1884 Preston Hill, Cargnahm parish, and farmer later in life.
Letters held by family:
1904 Joseph wrote from Preston
Hill, Snake Valley, thanking his "dear son-in-law" for a 50th wedding
anniversary present.
1905 Joseph wrote to a son re feeling not so good and needing to rest and someone is to help with the washing, and his medicine was not working ...
Another letter to his wife who had gone to live elsewhere so she could get medical care. He cared a lot for her.
Another letter written to son Joshua and wife who had just adopted a baby girl.
Other family names mostly
in Canada: McKeegan, Alma McRae n 1892, K W. Nicholson b 1944.
If
you would like more information or can add to this tree please contact
Nicholsons
of Australia