THE BARRETT FAMILY IN AUSTRALIA

Rosabella CLEAL married William BARRETT on 1-7-1848 in Hamilton, Canada   William and Rosabella spent the next nine years somewhere in Canada (at least until 1851) and then America, until 1857 when Rosabella and William Barrett and their 3 children Edward(1851-1949), Fredk William(1856-1939), and Emily(1857-1942) left New York on December 7, 1857 on board the ship "Reinhard" bound for Australia. (source: Edward's marriage certificate). Also on board the "Reinhard" was the widow Mrs Blake (Rosabella's sister Emma Priscilla Blake) and her three year old son William Alexander Blake. They arrived in Melbourne on March 10th,1858. From Melbourne, they travelled to Malmsbury and then on to Kilmore, before finally settling in Seymour, Victoria, around 1870. William Barrett first appears in the Seymour rate books in 1872.   We only have copies of his rate payments for about ten years. They were as follows:    1872: No 22 Owner: John Finn. Weather - board house.    1873: No 26 Owner: Joseph Jordan. Weather - board house    1874: No ? Owner: Benjamin Jordan. 7 roomed house, Emily St, Seymour    1875-1876: No 21. Owner: James Lyster. Brick - cottage, High St, Seymour    1876: No 29. Owner: James Lyster. Brick - cottage, High St, Seymour    1877-1882: No 20. Owner: James Lyster. Dwelling house - High St, Seymour. N.A.V. 14 pounds. Rates 14 shillings. We are still trying to establish where they went after 1882. William and Rosabella had twelve children, four of whom died before reaching adulthood. James Richard Barrett was born c.1849 in Canada - died in infancy Edward Barrett (born 1851 in Canada, died 1949 Beechworth Emma Priscilla Barrett was born c.1853 in either Canada or USA - died in infancy Frederick William Barrett was born 1856 in either Canada or USA. He died in 1939 aged 83 at Alexander, Victoria Emily Barrett was born 1857 in Brooklyn, New York and died in 1942 aged 84 at Blackburn, Victoria. William Barrett was born 1860 at Kilmore, and died 1871 aged 10 years at Malmsbury, Victoria Henry Barrett was born 1863 at Kilmore, and died 1871 aged 8 at Malmsbury, Victoria We understand that Frederick enjoyed spending time with his brothers William and Henry. One day whilst out on a lagoon at Seymour their boat capsized, throwing everyone in the water. According to Fred's testimony at the inquest (he was 15), he called out for William (10) and Henry (8) to strike out for the shore. Upon reaching it himself he turned and saw both boys still thrashing about in the water. He saw them both sink. It was then he ran home to get his father who sent his son for the police while he went to the assistance of his sons. He was too late. All he found was the floating caps of his young sons. Their bodies were recovered that day by the local constable. Philip Barrett was born 1865. A painter, he came home from Walhalla c.1914 to East Malvern and died there in 1915. Jane Paterson Barrett was born 1867 at Kilmore, Victoria Alfred John Barrett was born 1869 at Kilmore, Victoria. He and his brother lived in Walhalla as painters   for a number of years. In 1914 he enlisted for service in World War I, and died in Victoria   Laura Rosabella Barrett was born 1871 and died in 1873 aged 1 at Seymour, Victoria Amy Ethol Barrett was born 1875 and died a year later at Seymour, Victoria

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