Thomas GOLLEDGE & Charlotte KENSEY

(3rd great grandparents)

Thomas was born 5 January, 1811 at Parramatta, NSW. His father, Thomas GOLLEDGE was a convict who had arrived 21 years earlier as part of the Second Fleet. It is not clear how Thomas Jnr spent his early life, but at the age of 18, he is recorded living with his sister, Charlotte and her husband, Richard ALCORN at Falbrook, NSW. At that time, 1830, he lodged a petition with Governor Darling requesting a land grant. It is assumed he was granted some land, as 11 years later, he is listed in the 1841 Hunter Valley Directory (p 104) as owning a property called 'Glenridding' at Rocky River, NSW. That same year, aged 30, he married 16 year old, Charlotte KENSEY at St Andrews, Singleton, NSW.

Charlotte was born in 1825 in Hackney, England. The third child of Thomas KENSEY and Elizabeth DAVIS. They came from Hertfordshire, although her mother's family are thought by some to be Welsh. When Charlotte was 7, her father was convicted on two counts of stealing and was transported for 14 years to the NSW Colony. 6 years later, Charlotte arrived in the colony as a bounty migrant aboard the 'City of Edinburgh' with her mother and sister. Her eldest brother had died of typhoid some time prior to this.

Charlotte and Thomas married 31st May 1841 in St.Andrews Church, parish of Whittingham in the county of Northumberland, Patricks Plains. The Minister was Irving HETHERINGTON (Presbyterian) in the presence of Benjamin SINGLETON and Ann KENSEY (Charlotte's sister). Charlotte signed her name with a mark, indicating an inability, or unwillingness, to sign her name. A year after their marriage, Charlotte gave birth to Charlotte, the first of sixteen children who would be born over the next twenty eight years.

In 1848, Thomas and his family of five children probably moved to Waterloo Station, New England District, NSW. He was employed as the Overseer. It would seem the family traveled around, living first at Waterloo Station, then Tia, a property owned by John BROWNE, a brother in-law of Thomas' sister, Charlotte. From there he moved to Tiara Station and then Miki. By 1856, Thomas and Charlotte had ten children. Thomas was working at the Tiara Station as a shepherd. He is listed as buying 1 pair blankets 16/-, 3 lb soap and 10 LB flour 5/- from the company store. The family lived in the Armidale area from until 1858 when they then moved to the Uralla area from 1858-1864 and then to Gundy area from 1864-1869.

After the 1860's the family probably settled on their own land, where a further five children were born. Their last child, Alice Kensey GOLLEDGE was born in 1869, Thomas was 58 and Charlotte, 44. Alice died the next year. Of the remaining fifteen children born to the couple, 13 survived into adulthood. An unusual occurrence at that time.

Thomas died in 1880, aged 69 and is credited with establishing Waterloo Station and of finding Rocky Creek and Pullamon goldfields near Uralla.

Charlotte then moved to Tenterfield, apparently with some of her children. Tenterfield at that time would have been quite a busy town. Selectors had been able to acquire 40 acres of land in 1862 and this brought a lot more people to the district. Tenterfield had; newspapers, hotels, hospital, courthouse, churches, schools, banks, School of Arts, showground and post office. They were very busy as carriers ran between Tenterfield and Grafton and the Clarence and as well Cobb and Co ran from there to Brisbane and Sydney. As well there was a tannery, boot factory, meat works, cheese factory, soap works and lime making.

Charlotte died on 5 October, 1900 from 'failure of the heart', which lasted an hour. An inquest was not considered necessary. Charlotte was probably living with her son, Francis and his wife Rosaline (nee WHITE). Rosaline is listed on Charlotte's death certificate as certifying her identity. Her death notice read:

Golledge, - On the 5th October, 1900 at Rouse Street, Tenterfield. Charlotte, relict of the late Thomas Golledge. Aged 74 years and 9 months. Deeply mourned. Tamworth Papers please copy

Her grave is located in the old portion of the Church of England cemetery, Tenterfield. It is surrounded with a sandstone kerb and a marble headstone bears the inscription:

"In loving memory of Charlotte, beloved wife of late Thomas Golledge. Died 5th October, 1900. Aged 75 years. At rest."

Their son, George Alfred GOLLEDGE was my second great grandfather.

For more information on Thomas and Charlotte's children, please look here.

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