Alfred Thompson
| First name | Alfred |
|---|---|
| Last name | Thompson |
| Country of Origin | England |
| Date of Birth | 11/9/1836 |
| Year of Arrival in Australia | 1860 |
| Submitted by | Sally Douglas |
Story
Alfred Thompson born at St Mary Redcliffe, Bristol, Gloucestershire in 1836 was appointed to the Victorian Railways as a and Locomotive Running Foreman in August, 1860 – he was later a train Engineer too. Alfred’s father was Henry Thompson from Publow, Somerset who became a Master Saddler and Harness Maker, while his mother Ann Garland was from Backwell, Somerset. Ann died in 1847 and that left Alfred and his two siblings – Priscilla and Frederick in the care of their father Henry, although Frederick actually lived from then on with one of his mother’s sisters – Priscilla Garland and her husband George Wadge a Builder, Auctioneer, Licensed Victualler and Accountant. Life had changed dramatically and so at the age of 24 Alfred said goodbye to his father and siblings and left on a sailing ship for his destiny in Melbourne, Victoria. Henry Thompson had come from a long line of proud and skilled Copper Miners and Copper Workers and mine owners who had worked their way from mines of the Forest of Dine (Dean) in Newland, Gloucestershire to the mines of Stanton Drew, Pensford and Publow, Somerset and two direct ancestors of Henry’s were Burgesses of Bristol; but this life was not for young Alfred.
In 1866 Alfred married a young Scottish lass Fanny Shiels at “the Manor” in Brunswick, Victoria. Fanny was born in 1849 on the journey from Plymouth to Sydney on the “Agenoria”. Fanny’s parents William and Elizabeth Shiels (nee Burrell/Birrell) had three other small children with them. Also onboard was Elizabeth’s sister Margaret and her husband John Greig and their young family which also included Agnes Greig who became Agnes Franks of “Eureka” fame; being an observer to the fiery historic battle in Ballaarat (Ballarat).
Alfred and Fanny Thompson had three sons and two daughters. One “Thompson” grandson Alfred Rupert Thompson who had lost his father when he was about 9, enlisted at 18 in World War 1 and was in the AIF 5th Battalion,16th Reinforcement embarking on the “Suffolk” in March, 1916 – Alfred Rupert likely fought at Poziers in the Somme Valley, Ypres in Flanders and Amiens on the Western Front but went on to live till the age of 87 whereas the Alfred who sailed to Australia in 1860 lived till he was 83.
It has been said within the family that Fanny often met Alfred at the train gates near Dendy Street, Brighton to give him his lunch as he journeyed through on a train – it sounds as though life for them was still an enjoyable journey