Eliza Kilsby

BIRTH & BAPTISM
First name(s) Eliza
Last name Pratt
Father's first name(s) James
Father's last name Pratt
Birth year 1834
Mother's first name(s) Mary
Birth place -
Mother's last name -
Baptism year 1835
Baptism date 22 Jun 1835
Place Leeds
County Yorkshire
[This is the record for Eliza's Primitive Methodist baptism at Leeds Quarry Hill (York Street) Chapel, several months after her birth on 4 Oct 1834.]

"Eliza daughter of James & Mary Pratt, in the parish of Calverley, was born October 4th 1815 (an error ofor 1834) and christened June 24th 1835. Registered June 27th 1835 by me Thomas Yates."
(see docs)

MIGRATION Eliza arrived with her father and siblings in "Mahomed Shah" in 1849, and the family went to the goldfields before moving around Melbourne and Victoria.

Eliza's obit seems to suggest that her mother, Mary, died on the voyage out.

MARRIAGE Eliza met James Kilsby in Melbourne in 1852 on his return from the rush to the Victorian goldfields (he arrived in the colonies, Adelaide, on 18 March 1850).

South Australian Register, Thu 20 March 1856, MARRIED: Job and his sister Eliza had a double wedding. On the 19th inst, by the Rev. Joseph Dare, Mr James Kilsby of Gawler Hills, to Eliza, second daughter of Mr James Pratt, late of Bramley near Leeds, Yorkshire. On the 19th inst, by the Rev. Joseph Dare, Mr Job Pratt to Miss Elizabeth Lester.

Border Watch 24 Jan 1880 How BUSH FIRES ORIGINATE.-On Thursday morning, as Mrs. James Kilsby, of Red Camp, was driving into town, an incident occurred which shows how easily bush fires are caused, and what care should be exercised at this season of the year with matches. About half way between Glenburnie and the town the wheel of the vehicle went over a small calico bag that had evidently been lost by some one on the road, and smoke was seen to issue from it. On stopping the Vehicle and examining the bag it was found that it contained a box of wax vestas, some of which had been ignited when the cart went over the box. Had the day been a very hot one and the bag not been picked up after being driven over, a disastrous fire would most probably have resulted.

The Advertiser 27 March 1906 A GOLDEN WEDDING. MOUNT GAMBIER, March 22.-Yesterday afternoon Mr. and Mrs. James Kilsby, of "Bentley," Gambier East, celebrated their golden wedding. About 100 guests were present. Mr. M. C. Wilson, who presided, congratulated Mr. and Mrs. Kilsby on having completed 50 years of married life, and hoped they would see many more anniversaries of their wedding. The toast was heartily supported by several other gentlemen, many of whom nave been friends of the couple for nearly 40 years. Mr. Kilsby, in giving a short account of his life, said he was born in Northamptonshire (England) in 1850, and when 19 years of age he left for Australia, landing at Adelaide after a passage of 88 days. After arriving in Australia he engaged in various occupations, until two years later he found himself on the Victorian diggings; but he only stayed there about three years. From the diggings he went to Bald Hill, near Gawler, and settling on a section of land met Miss Eliza Pratt, whom he married. That was 50 years ago on March l8. Three years later he came to Mount Gambier, and 10 years afterwards (37 years ago) he came to Bentley, where he had lived ever since. Once, while on horseback to Adelaide, he was nearly murdered by bushrangers. and on another occasion nearly speared by blacks. During his residence at Mount Gambier he had carried on farming, dairying, hop-growing, and grazing. Mr. and Mrs. Kilsbv are in good health, and have a family of eight sons and daughters. There are 36 grandchildren and two great-grand- ¡ children. In the evening there was a gathering of the grand-children. Mr. and Mrs. Kilsby received many valuable pre- sents from the family and friends. There were present at the celebration, besides Mr. and Mrs. Kilsby, five friends who have celebrated their golden weddings. They were Mr. and Mrs. D. Norman, sen., Mr. and Mrs. J. Hosking, sen., and Mr. M. C. Wilson, whose wife died a few years ago.

DEATH Eliza doesn't attract much attention until she dies in 1908, although she does register at the Golden Wedding celebrations for her marriage to James KIlsby. On her death in 1908 there were many extended tributes from a variety of sources, so she was not inactive, just under-reported. She remained devoutly nonconformist to her end.

Border Watch Wed 22 Jan 1908 Mrs. James Kilsby. An old and respected resident of the Mount Gambier district, in the person of Mrs. James Kilsby passed away at " Bentley," the residence of her husband, on Friday last. The deceased, who was in her 74th year, was one of the fast diminishing band of pioneers who laid the foundations of the Australia of to-day. Born near the manufacturing town of Leeds, in Yorkshire, England, in the year 1834, she emigrated to Australia with her father, Mr. James Pratt, about 1848. She lived first in Melbourne, and there Mr. Kilsby met her in 1852, on his return from a rush to the Victorian gold diggings. Mr. Kilsby had arrived in the colonies on March 18, 1850, and on the date of the sixth anniversary of his landing he was united in marriage to Miss Eliza Pratt. The ceremony was performed in Adelaide, and afterwards Mr. and Mrs. Kilsby went to reside at Bald Hills, near Gawler, where Mr. Kilsby was engaged in farming. After spending several years there Mr. Kilsby sold out, and Mr. and Mrs. Kilsby and their family came to reside at Mount Gambier. This was about 50 years ago, and they have lived here continuously since, at "Bentley," on the Casterton road. A short time ago Mrs. Kilsby and her husband were prostrated by influenza, but they recovered sufficiently to be able to leave their beds. Mrs. Kilsby, however, suffered severely during the recent spell of intense heat. Last week complications sent in, and although two doctors were called in and an operation performed she never rallied, and passed quietly away on Friday afternoon. The deceased leaves her aged life's partner and a family of eight children—six sons and two daughters—to mourn her loss. The sons are Messrs. G. H., A. A., E. J., and C. E. Kilsby, of Mount Gambier; Mr. F. W. Kilsby, of Adelaide; and Mr. A. E. Kilsby, of the Wimmera; and the daughters Mesdames Kilsby, of Mount Gambier, and Bruce, of Victoria. There are 36 grandchildren and five great grand-children. Mr. and Mrs. Kilsby celebrated their golden wedding in March, 1906, when a large gathering of relatives and friends assembled at "Bentley" to do them honour. The funeral was appointed to leave "Bentley " at noon on Sunday, but in consequence of the disastrous fire at Glenburnie the cortege had to be delayed, and did not reach the Mount Gambier cemetery until late in the afternoon. Mr. G. B. Renfrey carried out the mortuary arrangements.

Chronicle (Adelaide) 1 feb 1908 Mrs. James Kilsby, a colonist of over 50 years died at Mount Gambier on January 24. The deceased was born in Leeds, Yorkshire, in 1834, and in 1848 emigrated to Australia with her father (Mr. J. Pratt). She first lived in Melbourne, and in 1893 was married to Mr. J. Kilsby, in Adelaide. Afterwards Mr. and Mrs. Kilsby went to reside at Bald Hills, near Gawler, where Mr. Kilsby engaged in farming. Several years later they removed to Mount Gambier. The deceased left a widower and a family of eight. There are 86 grandchildren and five great grandchildren. Mr. and Mrs. Kilsby celebrated the golden anniversary of their wedding in March, 1906.

One of Eliza's daughters gets lost in the bush and dies age 5 yrs despite a huge search. See James' profile and docs.

This family continues the Pratt convinced christianity in its own way, and work for the church is significant. Eliza has married well to a decent man and the evidence suggests they are successful in life. See docs Her brother, Job, seems to have taken to drink, and might have been a warning to the rest of the family who were strict calvinists.

The several articles give a good reflection on Eliza and on her life in Australia. More then usually fact based.

Descendants of Eliza and James Kilsby buried in Mount Gambier. KILSBY fmly HARMER, Betty KILSBY, Alfred & Alice Annie & Edith KILSBY, Alice Emily KILSBY, Alick William & Ida KILSBY, Anne Phillis & Goerge KILSBY, Dulcie & Alfred Ernest KILSBY, E E Kate Pasfield & Olive Adelaide Pasfield KILSBY, Eleanor Emma KILSBY, Elizabeth Hoking & George H KILSBY, Elsie Mavis & Norman George KILSBY, Frank Herbert & Unknown Grace KILSBY, Hannah KILSBY, Harold Raymond & Elizabeth May & Gladys May KILSBY, Harold William & Frederick Allan KILSBY, Helen Sarah KILSBY, Herbert George & Ruby Margaret KILSBY, Hnery KILSBY, Isabel Hannah & Charles William KILSBY, Isabel Taylor KILSBY, James & Eliza KILSBY, James & Myrtle M KILSBY, James A KILSBY, John A W & Ethel Sophia KILSBY, Mary & Claudia Mary KILSBY, Mary Alice & Alfred Ashton & Bertha KILSBY, Mary Ann KILSBY, Mary Hosking KILSBY, Mary Jane & Thomas KILSBY, Mary KILSBY, Myrtle May & Arnold KILSBY, Phoebe L KILSBY, Ronald Gilbert & Gilbert Thomas & Avril Adela KILSBY, Sarah Ann KILSBY, Stanley KILSBY, Susanna & Caleb Ernest KILSBY, Victor & Ethel KILSBY, William & Mary & Nell & Emily KILSBY, William Henry & Annie Ethel May