James STOKES / Sarah NORMAN
(1805-1863) (1810-1897)
James STOKES / Sarah NORMAN
Whitchurch Canonicorum
Bradpole
Bettiscombe
Hawkchurch
Hawkchurch
Cork
Hawkchurch
Painswick
Hawkchurch
Norfolk
Cork
Hawkchurch
Birmingham
Hawkchurch
Painswick
Hawkchurch
Stawell
Burton upon Trent
Ararat
Geelong
Port
Phillip
Phillip
Skipton
Stawell
Beaufort
Skipton
Colac
Beaufort
Stawell
Linton
Swan Hill
James was born in Hawkchurch and Sarah in Whitchurch Canonicorum, Dorset. They married at Bradpole but lived in Hawkchurch, where the first six children were born.
James was a labourer. Even though their marriage record shows James a bachelor, other records indicate James had previously married Sarah's sister Mary.
A Mary Norman was born to Robert & Mary (Sarah's parents' names) at Bettiscombe in 1806 and a Mary Stokes was buried there in 1833 (aged 27).
The family emigrated to Australia on board 'Sea Queen', arriving at Port Phillip in April 1844. They settled in the Skipton area, near Ballarat.
In 1863 James died at Pleasant Creek, near Stawell, after fracturing his spine in a fall - the death certificate gives his occupation as carter. He was also recorded as 'married, but particulars not known'. Interestingly, Sarah married a John Dempsey in 1860 - recorded as being a widow from 1850.
The family emigrated to Australia on board 'Sea Queen', arriving at Port Phillip in April 1844. They settled in the Skipton area, near Ballarat.
In 1863 James died at Pleasant Creek, near Stawell, after fracturing his spine in a fall - the death certificate gives his occupation as carter. He was also recorded as 'married, but particulars not known'. Interestingly, Sarah married a John Dempsey in 1860 - recorded as being a widow from 1850.
| When | What | Who (Age) | Where | Occupation | Comment |
| 1841 | Census | Jms/Sarah (35/30) | Hawkchurch | Labourer/ | |
| 1844 | Pass.List | Jms/Sarah (28/35) | UK -> Aust | Labourer/ | Sea Queen Voyage |
Sea Queen
Voyage
Voyage
Born at Hawkchurch, Dorset, John was the
son of James and Mary NORMAN.
Honora was born in Cork, Ireland.
son of James and Mary NORMAN.
Honora was born in Cork, Ireland.
On the Sea Queen's Passenger List John was not recorded with the rest of the family - paid full fare, so presumably considered an independent passenger.
It was recorded that John was to work for an Alexander Duncan in Melbourne.
John and Honora married in 1857 and lived at Beaufort.
John and Honora married in 1857 and lived at Beaufort.
Honor was born at Hawkchurch, Dorset, and George at Painswick, Gloucestershire.
Honor and George married in 1852 and they lived in North Melbourne. George was the brother of Peter DICKINSON, who married Hannah.
George, born at Hawkchurch, married Catherine in 1860 (she was from Cork, Ireland) and Caroline (from Norfolk) in 1870. They raised their children in Skipton,
but moved to Colac in later years.
Even though George's baptism record names him at George STOKES, as does his passenger list entry on the 'Sea Queen', he was married under the name George NORMAN and his
death was also registered using this name. His children also went under the name NORMAN.
He was born in 1835, before James and Sarah were married, but not baptised until after James and Sarah married in 1836. Could it be that he was not, in fact, James' son and so took the name NORMAN as an adult?
He was born in 1835, before James and Sarah were married, but not baptised until after James and Sarah married in 1836. Could it be that he was not, in fact, James' son and so took the name NORMAN as an adult?
Mary was born at Hawkchurch and William at Birmingham. They married in 1855 and both died
at Beaufort, Victoria.
at Beaufort, Victoria.
Hannah was born at Hawkchurch, Dorset,
and Peter at Painswick, Gloucestershire.
They married in 1857 in Victoria.
and Peter at Painswick, Gloucestershire.
They married in 1857 in Victoria.
Peter was the brother of George DICKINSON, who married Honor.
Barbara DEANE, the mother of Rebecca, had earlier been married to Thomas FIELDING - her son by that marriage married Amelia.
Samuel was born at Hawkchurch. He and Rebecca married in 1883 & lived at Stawell.
Barbara DEAN, the mother of Thomas, later married William GREEN - her daughter by that marriage married Samuel.
Amelia and Thomas married in 1864 and lived at Stawell.
Thomas was born in Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire.
Elizabeth and Thomas married at Linton in 1867.
After Elizabeth died Thomas ran a farm at Goschen, near Swan Hill.
After Elizabeth died Thomas ran a farm at Goschen, near Swan Hill.
Elizabeth, like George, married under the name of NORMAN. I've found no Melbourne record of her birth, but the baptism of an Elizabeth NORMAN took place in Adelaide in 1848.
It seems more than a coincidence that the parents' names at the Adelaide baptism were Robert NORMAN and Mary, the same names as Sarah's parents.
Could it be that Elizabeth's use of the name NORMAN was because she was maybe not the daughter of James STOKES?
A suggestion has been put forward that Elizabeth may have been the illegitimate daughter of her elder sister Honor.
Could it be that Elizabeth's use of the name NORMAN was because she was maybe not the daughter of James STOKES?
A suggestion has been put forward that Elizabeth may have been the illegitimate daughter of her elder sister Honor.
James married Kate in 1876 - they lived in Ararat for a while - their third child, Ruby, was born in Geelong, however.
James and Priscilla married in Geelong in 1889 and continued to live there.
