Joseph George Ellis
| First name | Joseph George |
|---|---|
| Last name | Ellis |
| Country of Origin | England |
| Date of Birth | 1850 |
| Year of Arrival in Australia | 1873 |
| Submitted by | Charles Stephens |
Story
Joseph George Ellis was born on April 8 1850 in Monks Coppenhall, Cheshire, England. He was the son of John Ellis and Mary Simcock and was the first of 6 children born to this couple. He was brought up in the trade of Fitter. In 1870 he joined the Royal Navy as a Marine Gunner. In 1871 he was posted on board HMS Dido a steam gunboat.
In 1873 while The Dido was at berth in Brisbane Joseph was discharged as a runner, it was noted on his service papers that he had been of good conduct.
Joseph next turned up in Williamstown, Melbourne where he met and seduced young Emma Waters. Emma was the daughter of William Waters a Vitner and his wife Mary Elizabeth Parker, this couple had arrived in Australia from Wiltshire in 1850. Joseph and Emma were married in Williamstown on July 4 1876 and were living in Emerald Hill, Victoria when their Daughter Alice Alecia May was born on February 19 1877
Travelling with Emma\’s sister Louisa and her husband Charles Boxall Emma and Joseph were in Wagga Wagga NSW when their first son Joseph William John was born on September 11 1880. Then by February 10 1883 they were all in Tamworth NSW when their third and last child, Albert Henry was born.
In Tamworth Joseph was working for the firm of Britten and Bolton as an Engine Driver and also doing odd jobs for local farmers. The Tamworth News of January 22 1884 reported that on Saturday the 19th a fatal accident had occurred on the property of Thomas Pullman at Moor Creek. Mr Pullman had employed Joseph to repair a faulty pump down a well on his property. It was found, when the well was opened, that the air in the well was foul and an attempt was made to clear it by lowering down a bucket of burning charcoal and after it was determined that the air was now pure Joseph descended into the well. What was not known was that charcoal burned in an enclosed space gives a poisoness gas and after Joseph had been down for a short while he was overcame and fell into the water. As it was some time before help could be mustered and Joseph was brought to the surface he was found to be dead.
At the inquest into this accident it was determined that death was caused by drowning. He was buried in the Tamworth Cemetery and the inscription on his tombstone reads
Farwell my wife and children dear
I must lie here till Christ appear
No grief nor sorrow for me take
But love my children for my sake.
Joseph left his family provided for with the not inconsiderable sum of 200 pounds, However it was not long before Emma remarried but events in her life must have taken their toll as she was soon commited to an institution for the insane at Beechworth, Victoria and died there on July 5 1919.
All of their children lived on to marry and raise large families of their own, their progeny are legion and live throughout Australia.