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Matthew taking in the view across the white cliffs, which are a wonderful feature of the south coast of England This area of Birling Gap is very scenic indeed. This was another station of the Coastguardsmen, while executing their task of keeping England free of smugglers - a huge task.
LIFE of THOMAS DOWN MONTGOMERY
This story continues after the Life of John Montgomery on page two. This page deals with the life of his son, who emigrated to Australia with his family. THOMAS DOWN MONTGOMERY
arrived in Australia c.1880. He may have been in the country a few times previously as he worked the ships as a Steward/Gentleman for P.& O.S.N.Company. At the time of his marriage to Celia Skates, his mother had died and his father lived at Westhampnett, Sussex, as a pensioner. Thomas Down Montgomery was b.14th Apr.1838 Seaford and birth certificate notes his father as
in
the Coastguard Service.
JANE DOWN his mother was informant at his birth, by her mark 'X' at Eastbourne SSX. Registrar, in sub-district of Seaford, Sussex 12th May 1838.
At age 26, Thomas married
CELIA ANN SKATES
who was aged 22 and widowed. The marriage was solemnised at St.Peters Church, Southampton, Hampshire 13th Mar.1865. At that time Thomas was noted as a steward with Peninsula and Oriental Steam Navigation Company, once known as P. & O. Lines. Prior to their marriage Thomas Montgomery lived at 34 Bedford Terrace, Southampton, while Celia Skates lived at 36 Bedford Terrace, Southampton.
N.B. It is IMPORTANT to understand before reading - as the name changed regularly - Nathaniel was SKATES - at his decease; SKEATS at marriage of his son Thomas. At Celia's birth, Nathaniel and Celia were SKATES. Mary Ann (nee Brown) was Mary Ann SKATES. In other documents it is also varied. I will just use Skates for this complete story.
Celia was dau/of
NATHANIEL SKATES Innkeeper, while Thomas was son of John Montgomery a Coastguardsman. Celia Ann Montgomery was b.21st Aug.1841 to Nathaniel Skates and Mary Ann Brown. Nathaniel was described as a grocer at this time. Mary Ann Skates signed with 'X' and her residence was Three Field Lane, St.Mary, Southampton, Hampshire. Celia was previously married to John Belbin, who was laid to rest aged
27 at James Street 23rd Feb.1862. She married young to became a widow in 1862. There was no record of issue to Celia and John Belbin.
NATHANIEL SKATES
was born c.1807 at Southampton and married at St.James Church, Paddington U.K. 30.10.1836 to Mary Ann Brown, who died 13th Nov.1846. Nathaniel and Mary Skates had issue;
1. Emma Skates b.c.1840 (age11 in 1851),
2. Celia Ann Skates b.21st Aug.1841 at Three Field Lane, St.Mary, Hampshire.
3. James Skates b.19th Oct.1843 - lived 10 days
4. Elizabeth Skates bapt.9th Mar.1845 (age 6 in 1851).
The baptism was conducted at St.Peter's Church in Commercial Road, Southampton. Celia was about five, when her mother died. On 2nd July 1850, Nathaniel remarried to Sarah Saunders at St.Mary's Church, Southampton. Nathaniel Skates was proprietor of 'Rose and Thistle Inn' at Eldon Terrace, by 1843. Directories show he was there in 1867, but not in 1869. He was noted as Beerseller, Grocer and Pub. Nathaniel lived at 36 Bedford Terrace Southampton in 1865, while the Montgomery family lived at No.34. So we understand that Thomas was living at 34 Bedford Terrace, while Celia was living at No.36 Bedford Terrace. This was in the centre of Southampton City in 1997 and was occupied by a photographer. These narrow shops have first floor residences.
Census 1851 shows:- Nathaniel Skates, aged 44, at 'Rose and Thistle' Pub, Eldon Terrace, Southampton. By that time he was married to a widow Sarah Saunders, dau/of Phillip Manning, shoemaker. The census notes Nathaniel as grocer and innkeeper, with wife Sarah age 50 and daughters, Emma 11 yrs, Celia age 9 and Elizabeth age 6. On the night of 1851 census,
residents at the Rose & Thistle were Alfred Vane, servant, age16; George Lamb, visitor, age 23; William Brown, visitor, age 25, tailor, born Surrey; William Barker, visitor age 30, tailor, born Kent; Mary Barker age 30, married, born Kent; Hester Cox, visitor age 20, born Kent
THOMAS & CELIA MONTGOMERY had four children, when they decided to make Australia their home. No exact date of emigration is given for Thomas who worked the ships, but he obviously left the vessel, after one of his duties were completed. On Tuesday 20th Sep.1887 Thomas aged 52, was a 'saloon' passenger on vessel 'Merkara' as it sailed toward Australia.
Their daughter
EMMA JANE MONTGOMERY aged 21, was first to sail, leaving London on the small vessel 'Jumna' after boarding 7th March 1890 and arriving in Brisbane 2nd May 1890. Celia Ann, with her younger children Rhoda, Arthur and William Montgomery sailed out of London on 10th June 1890 aboard vessel 'Dorunda' arriving at Brisbane 5th August 1890. Some of their family travelled by train to Gravesend, to wave them goodbye, never to see them again. The passenger manifest states that Celia Ann Montgomery was aged 39 and could read & write; William, aged 14 could read & write; Arthur aged 9 could read & write and Rhoda was just six years and could read & write.
In Australia,
ARTHUR MONTGOMERY
became a
mariner, while
RHODA MONTGOMERY
m.14th Oct.1919 to Thomas Wainwright, a mariner. Thomas died in Brisbane aged 65, on 25th Feb.1933 after only a few years of marriage with no issue. He is buried South Brisbane (Dutton Park) Cemetery, Sect.N.No.146. Rhoda lived a long life residing at Wahcumba Street, Dutton Park until her decease, although her place of burial is unknown. Arthur is laid to rest with Emma
Jane (Bateman) at Dutton Park Cemetery. No information on
WILLIAM MONTGOMERY
is available at this time, although a William Montgomery died 16.9.1923 - with no confirmation of relationship.
This leaves the history of the Montgomery family to Emma Jane and her husband James Birrell, whom she married on 24th Dec.1890, six months after her arrival in Brisbane. Emma and James had five children, before James died in 1910 aged only 42. His last son Andrew was born after his decease. This story of the Australian line, continues in another chapter. Emma married secondly to Charles Bateman.
THOMAS and CELIA
resided at 31 Rosa Street, Spring Hill, prior to moving to Wahcumba Street, Dutton Park, in 1916. In 1995 the home at Rosa Street, Spring Hill was still extant. Little is known about their life, but they are laid to rest in a hilltop site at Dutton Park Cemetery, Brisbane. The marble memorial is inscribed with Thomas b.1838 d.1st July 1919 aged 83 while Celia b.1841 d.9th Apr.1923 aged 82. The Informant at her death did not know her maiden name and it was written at Spitie. This is usual in so many deaths of that time as they did not know the maiden name of their mother in so many instances. Thomas suffered from bronchitis and heart problems. The funeral service was conducted by W.Gmatz of Christian Assembly. Daughter Rhoda Wainwright inherited her parents Dutton Park home, where she lived out her days. Rhoda (Birrell) Burns became the owner after Rhoda Wainwright's death. Rhoda Montgomery married Thomas Wainwright 14.10.1919 with no issue. Thomas Wainwright d.25.2.1933 aged 65. Arthur Montgomery d.6.7.1944 aged 64.
In Qld marriages four William Montgomery men married as follows. We are not saying any are correct or belong to this family. William John Montgomery m.29.5.1915. William Montgomery m.14.4.1926 Elizabeth Boran. William Henry Montgomery m.4.1.1926. William Martin Montgomery m.8.6.1925.
In Queensland deaths - William Montgomery d.16.9.1923 (Could this be one of the family) Grave Sites in Dutton Park Cemetery (I think) ........
Claude Douglas Birrell. S.N. ? No.321 ?
Jane Drysdale (nee Russell) Birrell. N. No.321 ?
Arthur Montgomery N.224.
Celia Montgomery 8A 194.
Thomas Montgomery 8A 194.
Thomas Wainwright N.146.
EMMA & JAMES BIRRELL had son Ernest who married 1933 to Ellen (DeLanty). They lived with Rhoda Wainwright when Matthew Birrell was just a lad. The Batzloff family lived next door. Matthew and Lorraine Batzloff, who were childhood friends, have renewed their friendship in recent years. Lorraine married Ted Endersby and Matthew married Thelma on 20th December 1958. Both Thelma and Lorraine were born 26th May 1938. Neither knew of these dates until recent times. We remain friends in 2003 and have an occasion to celebrate together, as the years pass.
ALL 1881 CENSUS :- This is SKATES research
,
and is not confirmed as belonging to our family, but all names and places point to the possibility of links in the future. Census 1881 of Hampshire shows many Skeates as residents of Appleshaw - Penton, Grafton. These areas are sited on the map, as just above Southampton. Please ignore the "E" which is in, or out of the name, as it was just written down as the registrar thought he heard it.
SKEATES
,
Harry
,
was a lodger age 44 and born Penton. SKEATES
,
Nathaniel m.18.10.1695 Elizabeth Crouch, Penton Mewsey. SKEATES
,
Nathaniel b.4.8.1731 Amport to George Skeat and Mary. CROUCH
,
James, head age 46, wife Mary age 52, Thomas Crouch 14, Emily Crouch 13, Henry 7
yrs.
SKEATES
,
Jane, head, widow, age 73, born Collingburn, Wiltshire (adjoining). SKEATES
,
Frederick, head, age 44, Ag.Lab. born Appleshaw; Fanny, wife, age 36 born Woodford, Wiltshire; Frank son, age 15; Fanny, dau age 13; Eliza, dau age 12; Elizabeth, dau age 10; Ellen, age 8; All born Appleshaw
.
SKEATES
,
Henry, head, age 74, born Appleshaw; Sarah, wife, age 64 born Appleshaw. SKEATS
,
Nathaniel, head, age 66 born Appleshaw, Ag.Lab; Jane, wife, age 66 born Appleshaw; William, son, age 31, born
Appleshaw.
PENTON - GRAFTON - 1881 = SKEATES
,
Nathaniel, head, age 32 Ag..Labourer, born Penton Grafton, Fanny, wife, age 26 born Fyfield; Edith, dau age 7 born Fyfield; Fanny, dau age 5 born Penton; George, son age 3 born Andover; Edmund, age 1 yr born Penton Grafton. In 1997 contact was made with Terry Skeates of John Bassett Memorial Library, Bishop's University, Lennoxville, Quebec, Canada. He believes, as we do, that there are links to both our families, but more research will have to be done confirm it. Terry has proved his Nathaniel Skeats line, but we can only link to Nathaniel as above in these pages. Also in 1997 contact was made with Terry Belbin, who has researched the Belbin family, confirming the marriage of Celia to John Belbin, prior to his decease and her marriage to Thomas Montgomery.
WAINWRIGHT RESEARCH
- A
ncestors of Thomas Wainwright are not found. Research continues.
We trust you've found something of interest in the pages and we welcome your emails. Thelma & Matthew Birrell
CHERISH YESTERDAY..................
DREAM TOMORROW LIVE TODAY.........
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