SEWELL

       FROM SERVITUDE TO FREEDOM      

THE DESCENDANTS

OF

JOSEPH & JEAN/JANE SEWELL

BY

MERV WEBSTER

Printing
Word Processing &
Published by
Merv Webster
P.O. Box 8211
Bargara,
Queensland,
Australia, 4670
  
Phone: 07 4159 1868
Email: thegrey@tpg.com.au
www.users.tpg.com.au/thegrey 

© Mervyn John Webster

AUTHOR’S NOTES

          Many of us have come to know of such people as Governor Arthur Phillip, John Oxley, Sir Thomas Mitchell and Allan Cunningham; just to mention a few names associated with the growth of this great country we call Australia.  Sadly though, if we were asked who our own relatives were and what part they played in giving us a chance to be here  for some of us even recalling as far back as our grandparents may leave us wondering.

            I found it rather sad that those who struggled against so many odds, enabling us to make this great country our home, should be forgotten so quickly.  Many of our forebears may not have been famous or recorded in the history books like those aforementioned, but many were battlers and should not be forgotten.  Some things we may wish to forget, for what ever reason, but none of us are perfect and surely our children and their children’s children should have the opportunity to know their heritage.

            This thought was highlighted after my reading Brian Andrew’s history of Catherine and Donald McDonald, which gave me a wonderful insight into my grandmother’s mother, grandmother and great-grandfathers histories.  I was then determined to record my mothers, father’s, family, ‘The Callaghans’.  Inspiration is one thing, but when it came to reality, I had no idea that the compiling and recording of such information would turn out to be the task that it did.  Though with that achievement accomplished, once again I have endeavored to cover my grandmothers father’s family, The Sewells.  I could never lay claim to all the credit as so many people, including family members, contributed in some way.  To all of you, I thank you very much.

            Complete accuracy was something I found impossible, but every effort was made to come as close as possible.  You may have to forgive misspelling of some names.  It has never been intended on my part to deliberately pry into the personal affairs of any family members during my research and in this respect I hope I have used discretion and recorded only information that was freely and generously given.

            To research such material has meant calling on many family members and asking them to recall many memories or search out old photos and memorabilia.  I am grateful so many had preserved so much.  Also the records of many institutions such as the Department of Births, Deaths & Marriages of Queensland and New South Wales, the Archives of Queensland and New South Wales along with the history groups, Museums, Libraries and authors of other books all provided valuable historical information.

            For those of you whom I have never met, please allow me to tell you something of myself.  I am the great, great, great-grandson of Joseph and Jean/Jane Sewell and a descendant of their 2nd child, Henry Sewell.  Henry married Mary Clutterbuck and their fourth child Edward Sewell was my great-grandfather.  Edward married Catherine Isabella Marquard and their eighth child Thelma Mary Sewell was my grandmother.  Thelma Mary married William Callaghan and their second child Isabell Leyvone Callaghan married Mervyn Laurence Webster, my father.  I was born Mervyn John Webster in Goondiwindi, Queensland, in 1953.  I was given my father’s first name and my grandfather’s second name.  My father worked all of his working life for the Commonwealth Banking Corporation and therefore we moved continually, living in various Queensland towns as he reached out for promotion.

            They included Gympie, Ayr, Bowen, Stanthorpe, Maryborough, Roma and Toowoomba.  I also spent some time in Rabaul, New Britain.  My wife, Christine Mary Edwards, was a Roma girl and the daughter of Vince and Mary Edwards.  Our four children include Shane Christian, Amanda Megan, Meagan Marie and Nathan Lee and our grandchildren are Sara, Danielle, Jamie and Brodie.  Since 1978 I worked in the Electricity Industry as an Electrical Lineworker in the towns of Roma, Warialda and Goondiwindi.  I spent a number of years researching material on the Sewell family and much of that period was in Goondiwindi, a town long associated with Edward Sewell’s family.  In 1994 health problems led to my moving to Bargara, a little coastal village east of Bundaberg and it was here I completed our family history.

          The many years of research has led me to preserving the character of this great country through writing and performing bush poetry and bush ballads.  I have published eight books of bush verse and yarns and recorded six albums of bush poetry and bush ballads.  You can share my poems and ballads at our web site, Bush Poetry, Ballads and Yarns  www.users.tpg.com.au/thegrey.

            I hope I have preserved the history of those family members who have now gone and that each of you will continue to keep some record of your present families, so future generations can look back on their heritage.

Mervyn John Webster

I dedicate this book to my Grandmother Thelma Mary Martyn [Nee Sewell]

  My research into my Grandmother's great grandfather, Joseph Sewell has been an interesting journey, but before we look at Joseph's family I will give you some details into the research I have done in finding Joseph's parents and beginnings in Chelmsford, Essex, England.  

Joseph may have belonged to the following family.

DESCENDANTS OF EDWARD AND FRANCES [NEE LARK] SEWELL

The information above is still being researched and not 100% authentic, so any information you may have that could help out would be very much appreciated.  Please email me at EMAIL

 How Joseph's came to Australia

1808 - Born in Essex England

     According to the Parish Register of St Marys Chelmsford, it would appear that Joseph was born on the 16th November 1808 and was baptized on the 21st May 1909.  Various documents such as the Indents of the Ship, Lady Harewood and Joseph Sewell’s Ticket of Leave, also seem to estimate that Joseph Sewell was born in around 1808 and that his native place of dwelling was Essex in England. 

1832 - Tried, Chelmsford, England    

     On the 3rd of January 1832, aged  nearly twenty-five years, Joseph Sewell was tried in Chelmsford for the offence of stealing a turkey.  His trade was shown as a Ploughman, Reaps, Sows and Milks.  He was single and a Protestant and could read and write.  Having a prior conviction of three months, this saw him receive the penalty of 14 years, to be served in the Colony of New South Wales.

     His description was described as five feet six and three quarter inches, dark sallow complexion, brown hair with Hazel and small eyes.  He had the distinguishing features of a thick nose and a Heart with two sails, J.S. Man, M.S. Anchor, 1832 on lower letter arm, blue ring on left middle finger and a scar on the back of left thumb.

1832 - Arrival in New South Wales

     The 'Lady Harewood' left Portsmouth on the 15th of March 1832 and arrived in the Colony of New South Wales on the 5th of August, 1832.  The General Return of Convicts in New South Wales of 1837 shows that Joseph was aged 30 years and assigned to a P.J. Fredericks ... and the story goes on.  

The following shows Joseph's descendants and if you would like to help on the research and build on his story then I would be happy to hear from you.  

CONTENTS

JOSEPH SEWELL &   JEAN/JANE WHITTLE/SEWELL

JOSEPH SEWELL JNR                    [1]                       

HENRY SEWELL                            [2]   

RICHARD HENRY SEWELL       [2.1]

LILLIAN JANETTE SEWELL

ANGELINE IVY SEWELL

AARON DANIEL SEWELL

MIRIAM MARY SEWELL

THELMA LOUISA SEWELL

VINCENT HENRY SEWELL

ZENA PHYLISS SEWELL  

WILLIAM WALLACE SEWELL    [2.2]

HENRY WILLIAM SEWELL

FREDERICK WALLACE SEWELL

ELLEN GERTRUDE SEWELL

THOMAS WILLIAM SEWELL

ETHEL CLARE SEWELL

WILLIAM WALLACE SEWELL

MARY ANN THELMA SEWELL

GLADY’S EVELYN SEWELL

DORIS RITA SEWELL

GRACE ALMA SEWELL

JOYCE AMY SEWELL

ALLAN VINCENT SEWELL

KATHLEEN SHEELAH SEWELL  

HERBERT GEORGE SEWELL    [2.3]  

EDWARD SEWELL                       [2.4]

IOLINE MARY SEWELL

IVY MAY SEWELL

CATHERINE SEWELL

EDWARD SEWELL

WILLIAM GEORGE SEWELL

RICHARD SEWELL

DONALD THOMAS SEWELL

THELMA MARY SEWELL

DORIS SEWELL

ROBERT VINCENT SEWELL

LORNA SEWELL

RUTH EVELYN SEWELL

THOMAS SEWELL                         [2.5]  

MOLLIE L SEWELL

M--RIA  SEWELL ?

HENRY JAMES SEWELL

HERBERT EMANUEL SEWELL

CARMEL C SEWELL

WILLIAM R SEWELL

HENRY [HARRY] SEWELL JNR     [2.6]

IT’S SAD HOW WE’VE FORGOTTEN

We sat around the fireside 
one bleak old winters night. 
Our thoughts were of the buried past 
along with life’s long plight. 
Then reminisced of yesteryears; 
how quickly time had past, 
Seemed going back was kind of hard, 
the mem’ries didn’t last. 

‘Twas sad how we could not recall 
the families gone by, 
We’d lost our fam’ly heritage 
and pondered over why. 
  
They were not known for famous deeds, 
though battlers just the same, 
In this great land they’d lived their lives 
and carried on our name. 
Through flood and droughts and fire and wind 
they managed to survive, 
Yes fought to make their way in life 
and tried to stay alive. 

‘Twas sad how we could not recall 
the families gone by, 
We’d lost our fam’ly heritage 
and pondered over why. 
  
We questioned why the memories 
had seemingly been lost 
and figured we must make a search 
no matter what the cost. 
We’d dig into the buried past and 
see what could be found, 
Then write the records in a book 
to keep them safe and sound. 

‘Twas sad how we could not recall 
the families gone by, 
But now we’ve got the spirit mate 
we’ll give it our best try.     

©Bush Poet

Merv Webster -The Goondiwindi Grey

     The following information gives a basic outline of the descendants of Joseph and Jean/Jane [Whittle] Sewell.  A more detailed account is being compiled with documents and photos and if you belong to any of the following families I would very much appreciate any assistance with any information or photos you may wish to contribute to the Sewell story.  Please contact me through the following mediums.

Mervyn John Webster

 

Email: thegrey@tpg.com.au

P.O. Box 8211, Bargara, Qld, 4670

Phone: 07 4159 1868 Mobile 0427 591868

1ST GENERATION OF SEWELL'S IN AUSTRALIAA

JOSEPH AND JANE [WHITTLE] SEWELL
     

Joseph Sewell born 1808 died 1844

married 1840

Jean/Jane Whittle

2ND GENERATION

 JOSEPH AND JEAN/JANE [WHITTLE] SEWELL

[TOP OF PAGE]

DESCENDANTS OF RICHARD AND JEAN/JANE [WHITTLE] CARPENTER  

THE DESCENDANTS OF JOSEPH SEWELL JNR

Require information please.

[TOP OF PAGE]

THE DESCENDANTS OF HENRY AND MARY ANN [CLUTTERBUCK] SEWELL

3RD GENERATION
    

2.1. Richard Henry Sewell born 1873	married 1895	Louisa J Griffin (nee Cox)
2.2. William Wallace Sewell born 1874	married 1899	Sarah Eizabeth Cook
2.3. Herbert George Sewell born 1876		Died 1914
2.4. Edward Sewell born 1878	married 1900	Katherine Marquard
2.5. Thomas Sewell born 1880	married	Jessie O'Callaghan ?
2.6. Henry Sewell born 1882		Died 5 months

DESCENDANTS MARY ANN [CLUTTERBUCK] AND WILLIAM  GILLET

DESCENDANTS MARY ANN [CLUTTERBUCK] AND  ?

DESCENDANTS  MARY ANN [CLUTTERBUCK] AND JOHN SULLIVAN

DESCENDANTS OF RICHARD HENRY AND LOUISA GRIFFIN [COX] SEWELL

4TH GENERATION

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5TH GENERATION

 

2.1.2.1

Information Required

 

2.1.4.1

Information Required

 

2.1.5.1 Darrell Keith Roy Lowe

married

Information Required

[TOP OF PAGE]

DESCENDANTS OF WILLIAM WALLACE AND SARAH ELIZABETH [COOK] SEWELL

4TH GENERATION

 

2.2.1.  Henry Sewell	married	Died as a child
2.2.2.  Frederick W. Sewell	married	Agnus Kilro                                 Myra C. Merrill
2.2.3  Ellen Gertrude Sewell	married	Died 1926
2.2.4  Thomas William Sewell	married	Alice May Gibson
2.2.5  Ethel May Clare Sewell	married	Claude B. Webster
2.2.6  William Wallace Sewell	married	Florrie Hinnet
2.2.7  Mary Ann Thelma Sewell	married	Ray Bentley
2.2.8  Gladie  Evelyn Sewell	married	George Morgan
2.2.9  Doris Rita Sewell	married	Edward White
2.2.10  Grace Alma Sewell	married	Gordon Smith                             Tom McCormack
2.2.11 Joyce Amy Sewell	married	Ian Clark
2.2.12 Allan Vincent Sewell	married	Mary Brennen
2.2.13 Kathleen Sheelah Sewell	married	Allan Nash

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5TH GENERATION

 

2.2.5.1 Kenneth Claude Webster	married	1. Shirley 2. Nola
2.2.5.2 Margaret Clare Webster	married	ohn Donnelly
2.2.5.3 Raymond Frederick Webster	married	1. Patty  2. Shirley

 

2.2.8.1 Veronica Morgan	married	1. Page Leech 2.         Schofield
2.2.8.2 Geoffrey Morgan	married	Gloria
2.2.8.3 Joan Morgan	married	Terrell
2.2.8.4 Sharon Morgan	married	Ron Bonnicci

 

2.2.9.1 James White

married

Jenny Jones