The story of this branch of the BROCKWELL family tree is clouded with confusion. I hope the following collection of facts & theories can help clear up some questions, if not all.
My starting point is my Great-Great-Grandmother, Theresa Brockwell, her marriage certificate records her parents as Thomas Brockwell & Mary Ann Stephenson.
Thomas Brockwell was born in Surrey & Christened on the 15th. September 1822 in Kingston Upon Thames. He was the eldest child of John Brockwell & Mary Roberts.
Our research into Thomas Brockwell appears to show that he was a bit of a rogue as he had four wives(?), all called Mary! He committed Bigamy at least once (when he married Mrs. Mary RICHARDS in 1870 his first wife was still living in England).
He married Mary EVANS on the 7th. January 1850 in Isleworth, Middlesex, England. Mary was the daughter of Phillip EVANS. Thomas & Mary had one child Henry John Brockwell who was christened on 17th. Nov. 1850 in Kingston Upon Thames, Surrey, England.
The 1851 Census recorded that Thomas Brockwell, his wife & son were living at the "Wellington" pub in Kingston Upon Thames where he was the publican.
However he left England onboard the "GRAHAM" on the 19th. Nov. 1853 & arrived in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia in early 1854. It is not known why he went to Australia or if he ever planned to bring his wife & son out later or not. Or, as some researchers have suggested, did he ran off with another woman, possibly Mary Ann (aka. Marian) Stephenson ?
Whether Thomas Brockwell married Mary Ann (aka. Marian) Stephenson or not I belief they had at least two children together, Theresa born 4th. July 1855 & James born 6th. November 1856, both born in Melbourne in the Colony of Victoria. Though neither birth was officially registered. We know their birthdates as they were listed on the birth certificate of their younger brother "Sidney BROCKWELL". Sidney Brockwell was born on the 13th. April 1859 at 220 Lonsdale St. East Melbourne, Victoria. His parents were listed as Thomas BROCKWELL, aged 30 years, born London, England & Mary Ann S****n or L****n (maiden name unreadable) aged 36 years in London. This certificates also lists that Thomas & Mary Ann BROCKWELL were married in 1852 in London, England. The information on this birth certificate was supplied by "Caroline Aldridge, Servant to Mother". Apparently Sidney's mother was rich enough to hire a servant in 1859 yet by 1867 she is destitute, alone with five children between the 12yrs. & 2yrs.
Thomas Brockwell returned to England possibly in late 1858 leaving behind Mary Ann (aka. Marian) Stephenson, who was pregnant with Sidney Brockwell. The actual date Thomas returned to England (if found) should help to clear up the question of Sidney's paternity.
For some reason Thomas only stayed in England for a very short time before he again boarded a ship ("LINCOLNSHIRE") & returned to Melbourne in December 1859. Thomas & Mary Ann (aka. Marian) Brockwell were together for only a few years more. As Thomas later claimed he married again in 1861 even though Mary Ann (aka. Marian) Brockwell claimed that she & Thomas Brockwell had another two sons Henry born circa. 1862 & Albert born circa 1865. One must be sceptical about the paternity of Henry & Albert (& even Sidney). We know that by 1867 Mary Ann (aka. Marian) Brockwell had fallen on very hard times. She now lived in the "red light district" in Romeo Lane (which ran between little Collins St. & Bourke St.). In June 1867 "Theresa Brockwell" aged 12 yrs. was taken away from her mother and placed in a Industral School for four years her "Care" papers listed her father Thomas Brockwell as "dead". James Brockwell was aged 11yrs. in 1867 and there is a family story that tells that around this time he was "living in the country with relatives". The other children were Sidney 8yrs., Henry 5yrs. & Albert 3yrs. it is thought that they lived with their mother.
Was James Brockwell living with his father in Sandhurst?
As we know Thomas Brockwell was working as a Maltster in the Sandhurst area between 1867 & 1871.On the 12th. December 1869 Thomas Brockwell's 3rd. wife, "Mary" (of Manchester) died. This Mary Brockwell's death certificate records that she died in hospital. That she was born in Manchester, Lancashire, England in 1816 & that she married Thomas Brockwell in Melbourne in 1861 when she was aged 45 yrs. It also states that she had been in Victoria for ten years however it has no details about her parents or her maiden name. On the 13th. Dec. 1869 Mrs. Mary BROCKWELL wife of Thomas Brockwell, was buried in Eaglehawk Cemetery. There is no record of a Thomas Brockwell marrying in Melbourne in 1861.
On the 13th. June 1870 Thomas Brockwell married the widow Mary Richards at St. Peter's Church at Eaglehawk, Victoria. On the certificate of this marriage Thomas Brockwell claims that he had been married twice before and widowed in 1859 & 1869. As Thomas Brockwell's first wife Mary Evans was still living in England we known that Thomas was a "Bigamist" at least once or maybe 3 times! Wife #1 Mary EVANS, wife #2 Mary Ann (Marian), wife #3 Mary (of Manchester) & wife #4 the widow Mrs. Mary RICHARDS.
Around 1871 Thomas Brockwell left Sandhurst to live in Hindmarsh, South Australia where he worked as a Maltster.Meanwhile Mary Ann (Marian) Brockwell (now also known as Mary Smith) was said to have been in Melbourne Gaol & her 3 youngest sons Sidney, Henry & Albert where taken into "Care" in September 1871. The boys were said to have been neglected, they were placed in Industrial Schools for the next seven years.
It should be noted that a James Brockwell was charged with stealing fence palings in January 1872 in Hindmarsh, South Australia.
Was young James Brockwell still living with his father?On 16th. March 1874 Thomas Brockwell died in Hindmarsh aged 52yrs. from a ruptured blood vessel. The death certificate was witnessed by a Mr. Philip Richards (who could have been his step-son or the brother of his wife's first husband.).
Albert Brockwell (aka. Albert Smith), the youngest child of Mary Ann (Marian) Stephenson (& Thomas Brockwell ?) died while in "Care" on the 20th. May 1876. He died from "Scariatina" (Scarlet Fever) & "Angina" (Quinsy-Heart Disease) at the residence of his "foster parents" in Richmond. He was just 12 years old and was buried in a common grave at Melbourne Cemetery.
Later in 1876 James Brockwell aged 20 yrs. was living and working as a labourer in Melton, Victoria where he met his first wife Sarah Rebecca Sheen. They married on the 14th. of November 1876 in Brunswick, the witnesses to the marriage were Sarah's brother Timothy Sheen & his wife Ellen Mary. James listed his parents as Thomas Brockwell & Mary Ann Stevenson. James & Sarah had ten children (or maybe 11 if Sarah first child was in fact fathered by James Brockwell as is thought).
It was on James & Sarah's marriage certificate that Mary Ann BROCKWELL's maiden name was first listed as "Stevenson". A new theory has been put forward lately that Mary Ann's maiden name my have been Stevens/Stephens and in an attempt to hide her unsavoury past she changed her name to "Mrs. Marian Brockwell" nee Stephenson. It is an interesting line of thought which needs more work.
Theresa Brockwell married her long time boy friend, Francis Aram Hopkinson on 24th. of January 1877, together they would have ten children (their first two were born before Theresa & Francis married). On Theresa's marriage certificate her parents are listed as Thomas Brockwell & Mary Ann Stephenson. Then on Theresa's death certificate her parents were listed as Thomas Brockwell & Marion Stephenson.
While in "Care" Henry Brockwell was hired out to Mrs. Annie Griffiths, a dairywoman at 82 Malvern Rd. Prahran from 31st. August 1876 to 6th. Feb. 1877. He was then licensed out to Mr. Alfred W. Walsh, Jeweller of Prince St. Hawthorn from 30th. April 1877. On 11th. September 1877, Henry Brockwell (aka Henry Smith) aged 15yrs. absconded from licensed service and was arrested on 22nd. October 1877. He was licensed out again about two months later, this time his employer was John Guess of Mulgrave, the publican of the "Cheshire Cheese Hotel" in Ferntree Rd. Mulgrave. Henry was released from "Care" on the 19th. September 1878.
He married on the 1st. January 1904 to the widow Regina LOWES nee Edwards. Henry was working as a Brickmaker & was living in Lyle Street, Brunswick at the time. Henry lists his parents as Thomas Brockwell & Marian Stephenson. Regina was the widow of Joseph Moore LOWES who had died in the Lunatic Hospital in Clifton Hill in 1897. Regina & Joseph had at least two sons, Stanley Joseph & Alfred LOWES. Henry & Regina had three daughters, Florence, Elsie & Dorothy born in Victoria before the family moved to Sydney, New South Wales. Henry Brockwell died on the 14th. of August 1930 in Hurstville, New South Wales.
Sidney Brockwell was never married. He lived with his mother prior to his death in 1894 and was buried at Coburg Cemetery on 26th. January 1894 aged 34yrs. The information on his death certificate was given by Mrs. Sarah Brockwell - Sidney's sister-in-law. She listed Sidney's parents as Thomas Brockwell & Marian Stephens.
Mary Ann (Marian) Brockwell nee Stephenson died on the 1st. Nov. 1895 aged 63yrs.(?). She was buried with her son Sidney and in 1898 Emma (daughter of James Brockwell), aged 9yrs. was buried with them.
The Family Tree
1. Isaac BROCKWELL & Martha PLANK
2. Francis BROCKWELL & Ann LINDSEY (1734-????)
Married 24th. May 1795, Kingston Upon Thames, Surrey, England.3. John BROCKWELL & Mary ROBERTS
Married 23rd. November 1819, Kingston Upon Thames, Surrey, England.4. Thomas BROCKWELL
Bapt:- 15th. September 1822, Kingston Upon Thames, Surrey, England.
Died:- 16th. March 1874, Hindmarsh, South Australia
1st. Marriage
7th. Jan. 1850, Isleworth, Middlesex, England.
Spouse:- Mary EVANS5. Henry John BROCKWELL
Bapt. 17th. Nov. 1850 Kingston Upon Thames, Surrey
Marriage:- 1872, St. Pancras, Middlesex, England.
Spouse:- Mary6. Louisa Eliza BROCKWELL born 1875, Surrey, England.
6. Bertha Lydia BROCKWELL born 1883, Surrey, England.
2nd. Marriage
circa. 1852 (de facto ?)
Spouse:- Mary Ann STEPHENSON (aka. Stephens, aka Smith)5. Theresa BROCKWELL
Born: 4th. July 1855, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Died: 15th. March 1941, Fitzroy, Victoria, Australia.
Married: 24th. Jan. 1877, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Spouse:- Francis Aram HOPKINSON (1853-1905)
(s/o Sam. HOPKINSON & Mary ARAM)6. William Henry Brockwell HOPKINSON (1873-1949)
Spouse :- Helenor J. DOBELL
6. James Albert Brockwell HOPKINSON (1876-1876)
6. Albert Edward HOPKINSON (1878-1958)
Spouse :- Mary E. QUINSEE
6. Helen HOPKINSON (1880-1882) infant death
6. Florence May HOPKINSON (1881-1966)
Spouse :- John Edward CHAMBERS
6. Alice Helen HOPKINSON (1884-1954)
Spouse :- Cyril J. W. McGRATH
6. Lily Elizabeth HOPKINSON (1887-1918)
Spouse :- Arthur Bernard DAVIS
6. Francis Samuel HOPKINSON (1892-1950) never married
6. Charles Frederick HOPKINSON (1895-1900) child death
6. Ronald Roy HOPKINSON (1898-1981)
Spouse :- Eva Pearl HALL5. James BROCKWELL
Born: 6th. Nov. 1856, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Died: 10th. June 1940, Brunswick, Victoria, Australia.
1st. Marriage
14th. Nov. 1876, Brunswick, Victoria, Australia.
Spouse :- Sarah Rebecca SHEEN (1859-1898)6. Walter James BROCKWELL (1879-1970)
Spouse :- Adelaide C. OSBOURNE
6. William Henry BROCKWELL (1881-1881) infant death
6. Albert BROCKWELL (1882-1964)
Spouse :- Elisbeth W. G. BERHNDT
6. Edward BROCKWELL (1883-1884) infant death
6. Henry Garnet BROCKWELL (1885-1950)
Spouse :- Violet Jane HOWELL
6. Ada Theresa BROCKWELL (1887-1978)
Spouse :- William CHRISTIAN
6. Emma BROCKWELL (1889-1898) child death
6. Frederick George BROCKWELL (1891-1983)
Spouse :- Ettie M. SANFORD
6. Charles BROCKWELL (1892-1986)
Spouse :- Essie N. T. HAMMILL
6. William Henry BROCKWELL (1897-1897) infant death.2nd. Marriage
15th. July 1912, Boulder, Western Australia.
Spouse :- Irene Marjorie TAIT5. Sidney BROCKWELL
Born: 13th. April 1859, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Died: 24th. Jan. 1894, Preston, Victoria, Australia.
Never Married5. Henry BROCKWELL
Born: circa. 1863, Prahran, Victoria, Australia.
Died: 14th. August 1930, Hurstville, New South Wales, Australia.
Married: 1st. January 1904.
Spouse :- Regina EDWARDS (1867-1932)6. Florence Regina BROCKWELL (1900-????)
Spouse :- Harold E. GAMGEE
6. Elsie May Edwards BROCKWELL (1902-1902)
6. Dorothy Hazel BROCKWELL (1904-????)
Spouse :- Arthur Henry JONES5. Albert BROCKWELL
Born: circa. 1865, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Died: 20th. May 1876, Richmond, Victoria, Australia.
Never Married3rd. Marriage
c. 1861, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (de facto?)
Spouse :- Mary (of Manchester, England) (1816-1869)
No Children4th. Marriage
13th. June 1870, St. Peter's Church, Eaglehawk, Victoria, Australia.
Spouse : - Mary (Widow of Mr. Richards)
No Children.
