EDDY Family of Cornwall

Benjamin married a second time to a Jane born 1841, some time between the 1861 and 1871 censuses. I don't know when Mary NEWTON died and when Benjamin married Jane, so I'm not exactly sure which children that were in the 1871 census but not the 1861 census, belonged to which mother.

In the 1851 census, at No.104 at Princess St., St Just (transcription courtesy of Geoff McKee: Benjamin EDDY H m 26 copper miner b.St Just Mary “ W m 23 b.Gulval Benjamin “ S 1 b.Gulval John PENROSE Lodger 24 b.Sennen

1861 census, ref St Ives 1-49: EDDY Benjamin Head M 36 St Just CON EDDY Mary Wife M 34 Gulval CON
EDDY Benjamin Son U 11 St Just CON EDDY Samuel Son U 4 St Ives CON EDDY James Son U 1 St Ives CON

1871 census, ref St Ives 1-20: EDDY Benjamin Head M 44 St Just - CON
EDDY Jane Wife M 29 Lelant - CON
EDDY Samuel Son - 13 St Ives - CON
EDDY James Son - 10 St Ives - CON
EDDY Ann Daughter - 8 St Ives - CON
EDDY Thomas Son - 5 Lelant - CON
EDDY Ambrose Son - 1m St Ives - CON

I have assumed, for now, that the 5 year gap between the baptisms of Thomas and Ambrose was when Mary NEWTON died and Benjamin married Jane. Although I can't be sure of when Benjamin remarried, and therefore who was the mother of Ann, Thomas and Ambrose, this 5 year gap is the longest between baptisms of Benjamin's children. Ambrose is almost certainly Jane's son.

I am unsure of John's parents as I couldn't find him in the 1861 or 1871 censuses, but notes from two researchers suggest his middle name was Newton - which was Mary's maiden name (presumably therefore his mother). Also, Liane Satie (another genealogist) says he died aged 48 in Victoria, Australia, making him born around 1866 - concurring that he is probably the son of Mary not Jane.

The family emigrated to Australia in 1876 aboard the 'Hydaspes'. Liane Satie, has found them in the South Australian name book with the following details: Benjamin Eddy, born circa 1828 in England, arrived 1876 aboard 'Hydaspes', occupation: miner. Married Jane, born circa 1841 in England, children Ambrose (c1871), Thomas (c1873) and Walter (c1875). Also James Eddy, born circa 1861 in England, arrived 1876 aboard 'Hydaspes', occupation: miner.

I originally had Walter's birth year as 1866 but as I couldn't find him in the 1871 census, I have assumed this to be the incorrect year, especially given the above information suggesting 1875 as his year of birth.

Notes from David John & Lorraine Eddy: Benjamin Eddy was born at Halsetoun, 5 miles out of St. Ives. His first wife, Mary Newton bore him 5 children that I know of. Their marriage was carried out at St. Just by the Reverand G.C. Gorham, and made their mark (denoting illiteracy). The marriage was witnessed by Samuel Newton & Samuel Neal. Both couples gave their address as Church Town. Mary and their daughter Mary Ann died in Cornwall. Benjamin remarried to Jane Uren Warmington and they produced another six children, sadly none of these had descendants, the eldest two were buried in Cornwall. Jane was born about 1841 and was related to Margaret Warmington, her stepson Benjamin Jnr's wife, possibly her sister. At the time of their daughter Sarah's death they were living at Wheal Kitty or Hitty, near Lelant (via Hayle). Jane and Benjamin, and his six sons departed aboard the "Hydaspes", from Plymouth on June 18th, 1876, and arrived at Port Adelaide on September 1st, 1876. Benjamin Jnr, their eldest surviving son did not accompany them to South Australia as he was married and had a child, in Cornwall. The Eddy family is strong around the old Cornish mines areas from St. Ives and Penzance to Lands End still (in 1990). Each of his son's descendants had a common story - "that the eldest brother bought his brothers out to Australia". I believe this to be true. Some Eddy's moved to other Mining areas after the Walleroo, Kadina & Moonta mines ran foul of the stock crash in England & America in the latter years of the 1800's. Some moved on to California and some to New Zealand. I also traced some from St. Ives that went to Waterford in the south of Ireland, perhaps these were his uncles and cousins.

Jane died aged 41 years and was buried at the Walleroo Mines Cemetery, I tried to find her grave as well as others connected but very few headstones were left and none of the older ones could be read in the 1970's. Benjamin died in Sandhurst, now called Bendigo where he lived with his eldest son, Samuel, and his other sons lived nearby in California Gully. Three of his sons sang in the California Gully Methodist Church Choir. One would have been James, whose own son Bertram was a well known Perth baritone who sang with his wife at King's Hall, Perth, in Western Australia. A Hymn book belonging to - "Benjamin Eddy, c/- Walleroo mines", containing his birth & death dates on the inside cover, as born 7/12/1826 & died 22/7/1886.

All Benjamin's sons worked the various mining areas together, until death pushed them apart. Benjamin Jnr was buried 4 years after his arrival in the colony at Broken Hill; John returned from South Africa to Sandhurst (Bendigo), where he was buried; Samuel and Walter were both killed in mine collapses at the South Kalgurlie Mines, 10 years apart and are buried in the same plot. Thomas left for Los Angeles, California and kept a strong correspondence to all of his brother's families until his death (date unknown). He lived with a Miss Minnie Warmington, believed to be his step-mother's sister. He sent many suitable packages of items he considered worthy of patenting to his nephew Bertram, who lived in Perth but the duty was too expensive to pay and they were left at the Customs in Fremantle. Bertram's widow, Leila gave many of Tom's cards and letters (as well as those from other members of the Eddy family) to her son Bevan's granddaughter Helen Marchesani, nee' Eddy.