Samuel Matchett

Story

Most likely reason that Samuel left Northern Ireland was due to Potato famine.

Samuel was the son of William Matchett and Esther Scott. He was born in 1830 in Portadown, County Armagh, Northern Ireland. Samuel was the first of the new arrivals to Australia. He emigrated to Sydney on the ‘William and Mary’ arriving on 4 January 1852.

Samuel married his cousin, Jane Matchett (Vic BDM 1854/533, Minister William Moss, Witnesses John Lewis and John Matchett)) on 4 March 1854 in Independent Chapel, Prahran, Victoria. Samuel and Jane were sponsored to come out by their cousin, William Matchett, who came out to Sydney. Jane\’s parents were John Matchett and Sarah Mary Gilpin.

At the time of Samuel\’s emigration in 1852 his parents, William and Esther were living near Portadown.

Samuel worked as a labourer at first, later becoming a grazier. By 1854 he was living in North Melbourne, 1857 at Gisborne and by 1873 he was residing at Moranding.

Samuel inherited 200 pounds from his Uncle David. ‘Éto my nephew Samuel Matchett of Ballin Yea Post Office Melbourne Victoria.’ (Will of David Matchett)

First Families 2001: ‘Samuel and Jane Matchett were both born in Ireland and were cousins. Samuel came to Sydney on 4 January 1852 on the ‘William and Mary’ aged 20 years (State Records NSW Assisted Immigrants arriving in Sydney & Newcastle, 1844-59). They married before moving to the Gisborne area and taking up land at New Gisborne. The town of Gisborne was first gazetted in 1859 and on the ratepayers roll for 1864 it showed that Samuel Matchett owned 81 acres of land at Riddells Creek. The value of the property was for the sum of 36 pounds and was described as being fair land with a homestead. The early children were born at Gisborne before the family moved to Kilmore where the rest of the family were born. Samuel and Jane moved to become one of Flowerdale\’s first families. He had a residential address in 1880 at C/- Billean Yea PO Melbourne.

Samuel Matchett died at 8 Erin Street, Richmond, Co Bourke, Victoria on 28 November 1898 (Reg Number 18116 Cause Jaundice: Exhaustion 4 mths, registered by son David.) and was buried in the Gisborne cemetery.’ He was 68years old.

Children of Samuel Matchett and Jane Matchett

Sarah Jane (Jinnie) b.29.8.1855 Essendon d.1925

Samuel b. 1857 Gisborne d.5.6.1863 Gisborne 5yrs 10mths.

Mary Ann b.1858 Gisborne m.Henry Pearce d.1902 43yrs

Dinah b. 1860 Gisborne m. William Thorley d. 1923 Yea

Susan/Susannah b.1862 Gisborne m.George Smythe d.1923

William John b. 1864 Gisborne m. Florence Lyle d. 1940 Yea

David b.1866 Kilmore m. Millie West d. 1938 Yea

Samuel b.1868 Kilmore m.1 Elizabeth Jane Doherty. M.2 Christina Margaret Gray d.1953

Thomas b,1870 Kilmore (Vic BDM 23842) d.1870

George Thomas 18.8.1870 Kilmore m. Susan Humprys d. 1942 Bunyip (Reg.22864)

Eliza b.1872 Kilmore m. James Henry Antony

Gisborne Cemetery the headstone on the grave of Samuel and Jane Matchett. reads

‘In Memory of

Samuel Matchett

Born November 4th 1830

Died November 28th 1898

Aged 68 years

Also Samuel Matchett

Born April 27th 1857

Died March 5th 1863

Aged 5 years 10 months

Son of the above

Also Jane Matchett

Born July 13th 1829

Died November 8th 1901

Aged 72 years

Wife of above

Gone but not forgotten.’

< Back to the Stories