Elizabeth Criddle (Thomas) - Is Elizabeth Thomas the daughter of Kezia Chirgwin?

Elizabeth (Thomas) Criddle is a relatively well documented Western Australian early settler from the time of her arrival in Freemantle to her death. She is my 2nd great grandmother and married Wiliam Crittal (Criddle) in Newcastle, Toodyay, Western Australia on 19 June 1842.

She was a child immigrant to WA, arriving on the "Eleanor" in December 1837. Our family history has her birth date as 26 November 1822. This means she was 14 on departing England and just turned 15 on arrival in Fremantle. She was brought to Fremantle by the Children's Friend Society and worked as a servant to Lionel Lukin and his wife at Deepdale, Toodyay. Lionel Lukin and his wife were also passengers on the "Eleanor". It was at Deepdale that she met and Married William Criddle in 1842 when she was a few months short of 20 years old.

Finding the parents of Elizabeth Thomas has always been problematic. As a child sponsored by the Children's Friend Society, she would have been either an orphan or from a family that was destitiute enough to relinquish custody of their daughter knowing she would be sent to Western Australia. (Many but not all of the childrens that arrived in Perth as part of the Children's Friend Society programme were orphaned).

Where in England did she come from?

According to our family "folklore" passed down through her grand daughter, Audrey (Criddle) Lipple, she was born in Bristol. There is contradictory evidence that she was from Kent (Stated in her Obituary published in the Western Mail on 6 Feb 1909, that she was born in Kent. Searching English BDM records and Bristol Church information, no sign of an Elizabeth Thomas has been found. The nearest (by Geography) possibility is Elizabeth Thomas, daughter of William Thomas and Kezia Chirgwin. This link has been included in the tree as the parents of Elizabeth (Thomas Criddle).

There are several problems with Elizabeth (Thomas) Criddle being the daughter of William Thomas and Kezia Chirgwin. William and Kezia lived in Penzance, Cornwall and had additional children to Elizabeth. Both William and Kezia were still living when Elizabeth (Thomas) Criddle emmigrated to Western Australia, and so she was not orphaned. The birth date for Elizabeth (Thomas) Criddle is 1822, which matches into the timescale of her travel to Australia as a sponsored child, her employment as a servant and her marriage at 19 to William Criddle. Records of the birth of Elizabeth Thomas (daughter of William and Kezia Thomas indicate she was born in 1828 rather than 1922. This would make her only 13 when she married William Criddle and 9-10 when she travelled to Australia.

The birthdate used in the GENI tree is 26/11/1822 that matches the known Australian records. This does not match English BDM records, for the daughter of William and Kezia Thomas (1828). According to information relating to Elizabeth Thomas (born in Penzance), she was the youngest child in the family. There are also claims that Elizabeth Thomas married a person by the name of Casley in Cornwall.

Where is brother Samuel?

Although there is not a lot of confirming documentation, it was believed in the family that Elizabeth Thomas was accompanied to Australia by her brother Samuel. Researchers of the Children's Friend Society indicate that Elizabeth was employed as a servant, but her brother who wore leg callipers (reason unknown) was not considered suitable for employment by Lionel Lukin (Elizabeth's employer). No futher information has been found on Samuel other than a death record in the WA BDM for Samuel Thomas aged 33 who died in 1888. There is no record of Kezia and William Thomas having a child named Samuel.

I feel that it is highly improbable that Elizabeth (Thomas) Criddle is the daughter of WIlliam Thomas and Kezia Chirgwin. I feel that the the parentage link should be severed and Elizabeth (Thomas) Criddle parents be listed as "unknown".

It is unfortunate, as linking to Kezia Chirgwin provides direct ancestry to English Royalty (including William the Conquerer), but accuracy is more important than prestige.

I have corresponded with Leanne M (volunteer GENI curator), Managers of this profile please consider and respond.

Regards
Bruce Lumley