Cornish Connections
Zacharias Johns, son of John Johns and Elizabeth Oppie, was born in about 1811 in Redruth, Cornwall and was christened on 26 Mary 1811. On 22 October 1834, Zacharias married Jane Williams, eldest daughter of Edward and Jane Williams in the Parish Church, Redruth, Cornwall. Their first child, Mary Ann Johns was born in 1835 and was christened on 4 May 1835 in Redruth, Cornwall.
Shortly after the birth of Mary Ann, Zacharias decided to try his luck in the recently reopened mines in El Cobre, Cuba. He must have had some degree of success, as he spent the next ten years or so in Cuba. His wife, Jane, joined him there and in 1845, their second daughter, Elizabeth Jane, was born in El Cobre, Cuba. Zacharias and Jane did return to Redruth before 1850 and two more children, Catherine (b.1850) and Zacharias (b.1853) were born there.
In 1851, Zacharias recorded his occupation as Beer-seller and Farmer of ten acres. However, he had developed a taste for travel and it wasn’t long before he returned to Cuba. Jane remained in Redruth with the children and we find her living in Harris Row in 1861 with her daughter Elizabeth Jane and son Zacharias.
By 1871, the family had moved to Ford’s Row. Jane was supporting herself doing needlework, Elizabeth Jane was working as a mine girl and Zacharias jnr, was employed as a tailor. Her eldest daughter, Mary Ann had married in 1853 and emigrated to South Australia with her husband, William Moore in 1857.
It is not clear whether or not Zacharias returned to his family in Cornwall when the El Cobra mine was closed but, by 1875, he had joined other Cornish miners trying their luck in the goldfields of Bendigo, Victoria. Zacharias John died on 22 January 1875 in Bendigo, Victoria at age 64 years, he was buried in the Eaglehawk Cemetery on 24 January 1875.
In 1851, Zacharias recorded his occupation as Beer-seller and Farmer of ten acres. However, he had developed a taste for travel and it wasn’t long before he returned to Cuba. Jane remained in Redruth with the children and we find her living in Harris Row in 1861 with her daughter Elizabeth Jane and son Zacharias.
By 1871, the family had moved to Ford’s Row. Jane was supporting herself doing needlework, Elizabeth Jane was working as a mine girl and Zacharias jnr, was employed as a tailor. Her eldest daughter, Mary Ann had married in 1853 and emigrated to South Australia with her husband, William Moore in 1857.
It is not clear whether or not Zacharias returned to his family in Cornwall when the El Cobra mine was closed but, by 1875, he had joined other Cornish miners trying their luck in the goldfields of Bendigo, Victoria. Zacharias John died on 22 January 1875 in Bendigo, Victoria at age 64 years, he was buried in the Eaglehawk Cemetery on 24 January 1875.
Descendants of Zacharias Johns
Zacharias Johns was born in about 1811 in Redruth, Cornwall and died on 22 January 1875 in Bendigo, Victoria at age 64 years. Zacharias married Jane Williams on 22 October 1834 in Redruth, Cornwall. Jane was born in about 1813 in Redruth, Cornwall and christened on 11 July 1813 in Phillack, Cornwall. They had four children: Mary Ann, Elizabeth Jane, Catherine and Zacharias.
- Mary Ann Johns was born in about 1835 in Redruth, Cornwall and died on 18 October 1916 in Parkside, South Australia at age 81 years. Mary Ann married William Moore on 18 April 1853 in Redruth, Cornwall. William was born in about 1831 in Gwennap, Cornwall and died on 10 May 1909 in Parkside, South Australia at age 78 years. They had six children: Mary Ann, William, Catherine, Emily, Thomas and Jane.
- Elizabeth Jane Johns was born in about 1845 in El Cobre, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba and died on 20 June 1931 in Wallaroo, South Australia at age 86 years. Elizabeth married William Hicks on 2 April 1873 in Redruth, Cornwall. William was born in December quarter 1849 in Redruth, Cornwall and died on 25 November 1924 in Wallaroo, South Australia at age 75 years. They had four children: William, Elizabeth Jane, Edith Roslean and Effie Evelyn.
- Catherine Johns was born in June quarter 1850 in Redruth, Cornwall and was christened on 13 August 1850 in Redruth, Cornwall.
- Zacharias Johns was born in September quarter 1853 in Redruth, Cornwall and was christened on 6 November 1853 in Redruth, Cornwall. Zacharias married Ellen Elizabeth Martha Burridge in December quarter 1879 in Newton Abbot, Devon. Ellen was born in June quarter 1851 in East Retford, Nottinghamshire. They had three children: William Richard Burridge, Frank Gilbert Bishop and Frederick Williams.