Sarah THORNBER
| First name | Sarah |
|---|---|
| Last name | THORNBER |
| Country of Origin | England |
| Date of Birth | 1817 |
| Year of Arrival in Australia | 1839 |
| Submitted by | Beverley Hammond |
Story
Sarah was the daughter of James Thornber and Ann ( Hartley). She was the second youngest of 11 children. Her father was firstly a farmer of “Spout House” near Colne, England. He became a cotton manufacturer and then a clothier at 13 Market Street, Manchester.
Sarah sailed from Plymouth on the “Lady Raffles” on the 13th May 1839, arriving in Sydney on 12th September. Between 20th September and 10th October, Sarah wrote a long letter, in several instalments, to her sister Isabella which she must have either brought back to Australia on a later trip to England, or kept a copy of, or never posted.
Sarah travelled under the care of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Wilson and was fortunate enough to take on the position of stewardess. She asks her sister to tell anyone coming here not to come as Steerage Passengers, for if they do “they can never be comfortable”. There was little sickness on board and only two deaths. Two lengthy poems are included in the text: “The Sailor’s Funeral” and “Farewell to England”.
It seems her reason for leaving England was a broken romance with James. “I tell you I think it is a good job that we parted – – – his jealous disposition was the first cause of my leaving England – – – I will try to forget him – – – will be a hard trial – – -“.
Her impressions on arrival in Sydney were not good. She uses the words ” low lifed, very dirty, nothing but bustle all day, no food cheap e.g. 2lb. loaf of bread 13.5d., 1lb. potatoes 2.5d., eggs 3d. each, nothing cheap excepting meat, with beef and mutton 5d. per pound’. Sarah was looking forward to going up-country with the Wilsons to Parramatta.
Sarah married Thomas Foster (born 1821), a coachman of Upper Clapton, London, at St Phillip’s Church on 12th March 1842. When Jane (married E. Howard) was born in 1843 they were living in Kent Street. After Thomas (1845) and Ellen (1847 m. S. Furness ) were born the family left for England. Thomas was then a Coach Proprieter.
Isabella (1849 m. J.Warton), William (1852 m. E. Corby) and Emma (1854 m. l.Gledhill) were baptised at St. Thomas’, Stamford Hill before the family returned to Sydney on the “Light of the Age” clipper ship arriving 13 December 1855. This was a charter with The Family Colonisation Loan Society. A subscription of 1 Pound was paid and a loan of 42 Pounds 10 Shillings received. Three more children completed the family, Charlotte (1856 m. G. Sargent), Amelia (1859) and Mary Ann (1866 m. J.Savage).
In her letter, Sarah says she is hoping to meet up with her brother, Robert (1810). Robert Thornber arrived in Adelaide on the “Thomas Harrison” in February 1839 and his wife Catherine followed with their four children in 1840. Four children were born in Australia.
Sarah’s eldest sister Mary (1800) married William Holland. He gave Sarah a bible when she left for Australia. Mary and 11 year old Mary Anne came to Melbourne on the “Abdalla” in 1853 to live in Yackandandah. Mary Anne married William Roper and later Antonia Moglia and owned a Coffee Palace in Beechworth.
Thomas Foster, coachman, died in 1873. Sarah died in 1893 at her residence, 255 Victoria Street, Darlinghurst