Martha Coles - Venters (Gilby), Free Settler "Hilton" 1855

Mark Alan Gilby PRO

3/28/2022 at 12:53 AM

Martha Gilby was born in Steeple Gidding, Huntingdonshire, England in 1807 (Christened in St Andrews Church on May 17) to Richard Gilby and Frances (Atkins). Her younger brother was my 2xGreat Grandfather.

She married Robert Coles at the same church in April 1837, and their son Charles was born later that year. Robert died in 1847, and Martha married William Venters on October 5, 1848 - again at St Andrews church. Charles was adopted and travelled to Australia with Martha & William on the Hilton as Charles Venters.

NB: Charles Venters, born to William & his first wife (Hannah ATKINS**), travelled to Australia in 1852 ("Kate")
** No connection yet found between my 3xgreat grandmother, Frances ATKINS and Jannah ATKINS. work in progress.

Trove.au suggests that Martha may have married a third time, after William's death in 1857.

Private User

3/28/2022 at 4:29 PM

Can you please link to the article in trove

Was there 2 Charles VENTERS who came to Australia on the same ship - step brothers - ne born 1821 and the other 1837?

Private User

3/28/2022 at 4:50 PM

I worked out the 2 Charles VENTERS

The family emigrated in various ships

son George in November 1848 on "Emperor"
sons Charles (biological son) and Benjamin in October 1852 on "Kate"
daughter Ann in November 1853 on "Maidstone"
William and wife Martha plus children Frances, Mary and Charles (adopted son) in August 1855 on "Hilton"

Son John was the only one not to emigrate - he died in 1849

Private User

3/28/2022 at 4:51 PM

Martha died in 1874 as Martha HAWKINS

Private User

3/28/2022 at 5:18 PM

I have added sources into her timeline.

Do you know what happened to adopted son Charles - did he keep using VENTERS or did he use COLES?

I have that the biological son Charles died in 1887 in Central Cumberland

VENTERS CHARLES
Registration number
7271/1887
Father's Given Name(s)
WILLIAM
Mother's Given Name(s)
DIED GRANVILLE
District
PARRAMATTA

Private User

3/28/2022 at 5:28 PM

What is the source for a birthdate of 1771 for Robert Cole

That makes him 37 years older than his wife.

Mark Alan Gilby PRO

3/30/2022 at 2:34 PM

I have Robert's death certificate from 1847, which states his age.
I have not managed to find a 2nd Robert Cole death in Steeple Gidding in the same timeframe ... it could be Martha's husband's father, but at the same time, we know that they only had one child.

I'll have another look over the next couple of days.

Mark Alan Gilby PRO

3/30/2022 at 2:45 PM

I agree with your dates for Free Settler entry.

I have John's 1849 burial details from St Andrew's Steeple Gidding parish register.

My Australian brick wall for (both) CHARLES VENTERS is that I do not know whether Charles 'the younger' used his birth surname or continued to use Venters. However, I think that you DO have the elder one's correct death.

Elizabeth (nee Rust), the wife of Charles (the elder), died either on that voyage (1852) or during their stay in the quarantine island. They had lost their firstborn in 1848 in Steeple Gidding and the child on the "Kate" was their 2nd daughter of that name.

Trove has a report of insolvency / bankruptcy of one Charles Venters, if I recall correctly.

It is the younger Charles and his descendants who will be DNA matches with me, but I have yet to find any.

Mark Alan Gilby PRO

3/30/2022 at 2:55 PM

I agree with Martha Hawkins as name at death

Mark Alan Gilby PRO

3/30/2022 at 2:59 PM

Insolvency was 1882/3
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/221661439?searchTerm=cha...

Mark Alan Gilby PRO

3/30/2022 at 2:59 PM

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/225821777?searchTerm=cha...

Mark Alan Gilby PRO