JOSEPH HEYWOOD OF BOLTON LE MOORS 1802
Joseph Heywood was bon on the 11th July 1802 at Dukes Alley, Bolton le Moors, England. He married Mary Thompson on the 26th April 1824 at Manchester Cathedral. They first lived at Farnworth by Bolton at Halshaw Moor where they produced their first 8 children, Elizabeth, Eliza, Jane, Susan, Alice, Joseph, William and Mary. The family then moved to Kiln, Little Lever where the next 6 were born. This is confirmed in the 1841 Census. Joseph was a butcher having his shop in Little Lever with his residence upstairs. His brother Peter Heywood (1807) was a joiner and builder. The two brothers together with 4 of Joseph's children Susan (1829), Joseph (1833), John (1839) and Robert (1842) set sail from Liverpool on 27th October 1852 aboard the South Sea. The South Sea was a 950 ton vessel which bought our Heywood's to Australia in 1853. In the book "Our Master Marines" edited and published by Mrs HA (Jennie) Woods there is a passage which talks about Captain William Brett. It states. .. "Later he was in command of the 'South Sea', a vessel of 950 tons, conveying 482 passengers, including 6 children - 4 adults died on the voyage. The voyage was from the 27th October 1852 to the 15th February, 1853 being 110 days. The four deaths were reported in the Melbourne 'Argus News' of the 16th February, 1853." The documents on which this book is based have been donated to the Mitchell Library and may have further detail on this voyage. A check of The Argus:Melbourne newspaper for Wednesday, February, 16, 1853 in the Shipping lntelligence, Arrival column states "February 15. - South Sea, ship 950 tons, W. S Brett, from Liverpool Oct. 27. Passengers cabin: Mrs Staunforth and family, Dr. Ewer and family, Mr. and Mrs. Gould, Mr. and Mrs. Black, Mrs. McEwen, Miss Flavell, Mrs. Brown, Mrs. Brett, Mr. and Mrs. Drew and family, Messrs. Faithful, Hood, Couchman, Gills, Barney, Johnson, Saunders, Harrison, Montgregion, Holt, Whittaker, Tart, Pattison, Hopkirke, and 450 in the steerage. Willis and Morry, agents. "From the Public Record Office Victoria (online at www.prov.vic.qov.au) a search of the Unassisted Shipping lndex of lnward Passenger Lists '1852-1889 (fiche 30, page 7) shows our Heywood's (spelt incorrectly as HAYWOOD) arriving on the South Sea in February 1853. This index shows the number of passengers as 381. The Heywood's listed are Joseph age 50, Peter age 45, Susan age 22 (should be 23), Joseph age 10 (should be 19), John age 19 (should be 13), Robert age 12 (should be 11). Joseph Heywood (1802) and Peter Heywood (1807) both died after contacting a malignant fever when calling at St Jago lsland off the African coast. Joseph died on the 27th December 1852 while Peter died 21 January 1853. The 4 children as reported in an article in the "Bolton Journal & Guardian" in 1853 were left in the care of Thos Taylor whose passage was paid for by the Heywood's. Information in a letter seen by the paper states the children are in Melbourne and are likely to be engaged at a salary of eleven pounds per month for the four. Research has found that there was a Thomas Taylor onboard the South Sea whose age was 20 years on departure. lt is questioned why the Heywood children two of which were of similar or older age would be left in his care. There were six other Taylors onboard. Also the question of the relationship of Thomas Taylor to the Heywood's and why they would pay his passage has not been solved.
The following is a copy of a letter written by Margaret Whitworth (1844) nee Heywood, to Agnes May Nickson nee Bittner (1892) on the 19 April 1938 and is a first hand account of the departure by our Heywood's from Little lever. Margaret is the sister of Joseph Heywood (1833) who survived the voyage out to Australia. Margaret remained in England with her mother, brothers and sisters and we are now in contact with many of their descendants. This is one of the few letters between the English and Australian Heywood's that has survived.
541 Tonge Moor Rd
Bolton
Lancashire
19 April 1938
My Dear Niece
My nephew George Ashton is writing this for me, as my eyesight is failing, & I cannot see well enough to write myself.
I was quite thrilled to receive a letter from the grand-daughter of my dear brother Joseph, whom I have never seen since that “never to be forgotten” day, 87 years ago, when he, my father, Uncle Peter, sister Susan, brother John, & brother Robert left the old home in Little lever, to go to Australia.
I was only seven years old, but I can remember it as well as if it was yesterday.
I can remember my mother holding one hand, and my father the other. I can remember John and Robert being so anxious to be off. They were only schoolboys and did not realize the full nature of the parting.
They were just the age to look upon it as a glorious adventure.
That night I was sitting up with mother after all the others had gone to bed. I can understand now; she was nervous, excited, & afraid to be alone, so had kept me up for company.
About eleven o’clock a knock came to the back door. Mother sent me to see who it was. I was afraid to open the door, & shouted “Hullo”!
A voice, (my father’s voice) answered “It’s me”. I could hardly open the door quick enough.
It had big heavy bolts.
He came in & kissed us both. He dared not go upstairs to wake the others, for he had only an hour to stay. He had come back when he found that the ship was not sailing till next morning, for he felt that he must see us all once more if only for an hour.
Then he went away all alone and we never saw him again.
I can remember the day, many weeks later, when the black edge letter came. Mother burst into tears when she saw the black edge, and was afraid to open the letter.
She went out with the letter in her hand, & we saw nothing of her for a long time. I looked everywhere & at last found her, looking dazed’ sitting in the skippose with the letter in her hand.
Though I was only a little girl, I seemed to understand what a great blow it was. Mother would not come indoors. She said “Wait a bit I’ll come soon” but she did not come in for over half an hour.
Well Agnes dear I must close this letter. I see from the family tree that your second name is Margaret, like mine. I am afraid we shall never meet, but I send you my love, and best wishes to all your family & to all the Heywood’s in Australia.
Yours affectionate great–aunty
Margaret.
PS Letter arrived air in good time for my birthday
Margaret.
