From Devon to South Australia
Georgina Knapp, the daughter of Thomas Alden Knapp and Mary Back, was born in about 1821 in Kenton, Devon, England. She was christened on 24 June 1821 at St Gregory’s Church, Dawlish, Devon, England. Georgina had four sisters and three brothers: Mary Ann, John, Frances (died as infant), Eliza Alden, Hester Alden, Thomas James and George Henry. The family lived in Kenton near Dawlish, a small village on the south coast of Devon, England. Thomas Alden Knapp was a blacksmith.
Georgina was not a robust child and at the age of sixteen she was sent to Australia for the sake of her health. She obtained a position as servant to William Beavis and Mary Ann Randell. William Randell was a farmer and miller from Kenton, Devon. He had been appointed General Stock Manager for the South Australian Company. Randell had trouble finding a servant to help look after his large family and at the last minute Georgina Knapp was appointed to the position.
The Randell family, together with their servant, boarded the sailing ship Hartley on 16 May 1837 in Torquay on the south coast of Devon for a five month voyage to South Australia. |
The Hartley arrived in the new colony on 20 October 1837 and the Randell family disembarked at Holdfast Bay. Their eldest son, William Richard Randell, later recalled being carried through the surf at Glenelg on the shoulders of a sailor. He said there was not a single house in Adelaide when they arrived. At first, William and Mary Ann Randell, together with their seven children, their servant and another family of six, the Shepherdson's, lived in a tent that they leased from Robert Gouger. (Gouger had gone back to England after his suspension as Colonial Secretary)
In about June 1839, after eight months in a tent, the Randell family moved into a new house on the banks of the River Torrens - Park Cottage at Hackney.
In 1840 William Beavis Randell purchased a parcel of land in the Adelaide Hills from the South Australian Company and established Kenton Park. The Randell family moved to Kenton Park in 1844. When he left the South Australian Company in 1845, Randell began farming and in 1848 he completed building the first of his three flour mills. Randell later allocated land for the township of Gumeracha and by 1860 the town was laid out. |
Georgina Knapp did not stay with the Randell family for very long. Within three months of her arrival she had met and married 27-year-old William Thomas Brown Bales. The wedding took place on 29 January 1838 at Trinity Church, Adelaide, South Australia. As William Bales was also from Kenton, Devon, I can't help but wonder if they were previously acquainted!
About two years later Georgina’s parents and siblings immigrated to Australia. The Knapp family boarded the John in London on 12 September 1839 and arrived in South Australia on 5 February 1840. Georgina must have been overjoyed to be reunited with her parents, brothers Thomas and George, and sisters Hester and Eliza. The Knapp family settled on the LeFevre Peninsula, South Australia. Hester Knapp married John Alexander Walker a year after arriving in South Australia. Eliza Knapp married John Beer in 1843.
About two years later Georgina’s parents and siblings immigrated to Australia. The Knapp family boarded the John in London on 12 September 1839 and arrived in South Australia on 5 February 1840. Georgina must have been overjoyed to be reunited with her parents, brothers Thomas and George, and sisters Hester and Eliza. The Knapp family settled on the LeFevre Peninsula, South Australia. Hester Knapp married John Alexander Walker a year after arriving in South Australia. Eliza Knapp married John Beer in 1843.
Georgina’s health had not improved very much in the ten years she had lived in South Australia. She died on 3 May 1848 in Sturt, South Australia at the age of 27 years. The cause of death was dropsy, probably a heart condition. Her sister’s, Eliza and Hester, helped to look after Georgina’s three small children until their father remarried a year later.
Descendants of Thomas Alden Knapp
Thomas Alden Knapp was born in about 1785 in Dawlish, Devon, England and died on 28 February 1865 at Marion, South Australia aged about 80 years. Thomas married Mary Back on 16 June 1805 in Grittleton, Wiltshire, England. Mary was born in about 1781 in Devon, England, christened on 8 June 1782 in Exminster, Devon, England and died on 21 November 1856 at Sturt, South Australia aged about 75 years. They had eight children: Mary Ann, John, Frances, Eliza Alden, Hester Alden, Georgina, Thomas James and George Henry.
- Mary Ann Knapp was born in about 1810 in Devon, England, was christened on 29 April 1910 at St Gregory’s Church, Dawlish, Devon, England and died in December quarter 1888 in St Thomas Parish, Devon, England at age 77 years. Mary Ann married William Mayne on 11 August 1836 in Exeter, Devon, England.
- John Knapp was born 20 January 1812 in Dawlish, Devon, England. was christened on 12 February 1812 at St Gregory’s Church, Dawlish, Devon, England and died in December quarter 1889 in Newton Abbot, Devon, England at age 74 years. John married Elizabeth Joslin on 21 November 1836 in Kingsteignton, Devon, England. They had four children: John, Thomas, George and Elizabeth.
- Frances Knapp was born in about 1815 in Dawlish, Devon, England, was christened on 16 April 1815 at St Gregory’s Church, Dawlish, Devon, England and died on 4 November 1815 in Dawlish, Devon, England aged about six months.
- Eliza Alden Knapp was born in about 1816 in Devon, England, was christened on 3 August 1817 at St Gregory’s Church, Dawlish, Devon, England and died on 16 April 1855 in Brighton, South Australia at age 39 years. Eliza married John Beer on 18 October 1843 in Adelaide, South Australia. John was born in about 1826 in Cornwall, England and died on 30 August 1900 in Moonta, South Australia at age 74 years. John next married Mary Ann Knapp nee O'Flaherty on 29 September 1856 at Trinity Church, Adelaide, South Australia. Mary Anne was the widow of Thomas James Knapp, the brother of Eliza Alden Knapp. John next married Sophia Hayter on 9 March 1893 in Moonta, South Australia.
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- Thomas James Knapp was born on 10 March 1822 in Kenton, Devon, England, was christened on 10 March 1824 at St Gregory’s Church, Dawlish, Devon, England and died on 28 January 1855 at Port Adelaide, South Australia at age 32 years. Thomas married Mary Ann O’Flaherty on 7 September 1848 in Adelaide, South Australia. Mary Anne was born on 2 October 1813 in Chatham, Kent, England and died on 17 December 1891 in Adelaide, South Australia at age 78 years. They had one son: Edwin Thomas. Mary Anne next married John Beer on 29 September 1856 at Trinity Church, Adelaide, South Australia.
- George Henry Knapp was born in about 1826 in Kenton, Devon, England, was christened on 1 May 1827 at St Gregory’s Church, Dawlish, Devon, England and died on 21 July 1904 in Birkenhead, South Australia at age 77 years. George married Mary Palmer on 4 September 1850 in Adelaide, South Australia. Mary Ann was born on 14 December 1828 in Exeter, Devon, England and died on 3 January 1906 in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia at age 77 years. They had eight children: Thomas, George, Georgina, Thomas George, Sarah Ann, Eliza Mary, John, John and James.