JOHN SAVELL, son of THOMAS SAVELL and SARAH UNKNOWN was born 12 Oct 1821 in St Saviour, Southwark, Surrey, England, and died 05 Nov 1901 in Enfield, Sydney, NSW, Australia. He married JANE HASTINGS 11 Nov 1852 in Sydney, NSW, Australia, daughter of WILLIAM HASTINGS and GRIZZEL HEWETSON. She was born 12 Dec 1834 in Kells, Kirkcudbright, Scotland, and died 16 Dec 1910 in Summer Hill, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Children of JOHN SAVELL and JANE HASTINGS are:
MARY JANE SAVELL, b. 05 Nov 1853, Sydney, NSW, Australia; d. 11 Feb 1922, Newtown, NSW, Australia.
THOMAS SAVELL, b. 26 Jan 1855, Chippendale, NSW, Australia; d. 1939, Burwood, NSW, Australia.
GRACE LOUISA SAVELL, b. 28 Jan 1857, Chippendale, NSW, Australia; d. 31 Dec 1907, Burwood, NSW, Australia.
SARAH SAVELL, b. 12 Mar 1860, Chippendale, NSW, Australia; d. 22 Jul 1932, Auburn, NSW, Australia.
HARRIET SAVELL, b. 01 May 1861, Chippendale, NSW, Australia; d. 12 Mar 1862, Waterloo, NSW, Australia.
ELIZABETH ANN SAVELL, b. 09 Jul 1862, Chippendale, NSW, Australia; d. 22 Mar 1928, Casino, NSW, Australia.
JOHN FRED SAVELL, b. 11 Jun 1864, Redfern, NSW, Australia; d. 27 Dec 1864, Waterloo, NSW, Australia.
JAMES SAVELL, b. 09 Mar 1866, Araluen, NSW, Australia; d. 12 Aug 1945, Liverpool, NSW, Australia.
ALICE SAVELL, b. 24 Jun 1867, Araluen, NSW, Australia; d. 26 Nov 1945, Auburn, NSW, Australia.
WILLIAM SAVELL, b. 13 Nov 1869, Long Flat, Araluen, NSW, Australia; d. 28 Jul 1953, Fremantle, WA, Australia.
JOHN HASTINGS SAVELL, b. 25 Jun 1871, Long Flat, Araluen, NSW, Australia; d. 18 Sep 1944, Parkerville, Perth, WA, Australia.
HARRIET S SAVELL, b. 20 Jan 1874, Enfield, NSW, Australia; d. 1874, Enfield, NSW, Australia.
UNNAMED MALE SAVELL, b. 20 Jan 1874, Enfield, NSW, Australia; d. 1874, Enfield, NSW, Australia.
HENRY GEORGE NICHOLAS SAVELL, b. 04 Feb 1875, Enfield, NSW, Australia; d. 10 Feb 1875, Enfield, NSW, Australia.
JANET JESSIE SAVELL, b. 12 Apr 1876, Enfield, NSW, Australia; d. 26 Mar 1964, Glen Cove, Long Island, America
GEORGE AUGUSTUS SAVELL, b. 20 Sep 1878, Enfield, NSW, Australia; d. 23 Nov 1907, WA, Australia
Notes for JOHN SAVELL
John was born on 12th October 1821 and christened on the 7th April 1822 in St Saviour Church Southwark Surrey, the son of Thomas and Sarah Savell (maiden name unknown). John Savell arrived in New South Wales around 1850, based on information recorded on his death certificate . The circumstances or the ship he arrival are not clear - whether it was part of the immigration scheme or by other means.
John Savell married Jane Hastings by License at St Andrews Presbyterian Church Sydney on the 11th of November 1852. John was aged 30 and being around 12 years older than Jane. John Savell and Jane are recorded as Bachelor and Spinster, the marriage being witnessed by Mary Sullivan and John Wood. The addresses of John and Jane are both given as Sydney.
Their first child Mary Jane Savell was born on the 3rd of November 1853 where their address is also listed as Sydney and John's occupation as a Sawyer. Their children Harriett, Elizabeth and John Frederick Savell, covering the period 1860 to 1864 were all christened at St Pauls Church, Cleveland Street. John is working as a labourer living at Waterloo Estate.
Harriett and (John) Frederick Savell are both buried in Camperdown Cemetery into Common Internment. Hariett dying of Diarhorra and Frederick of a "Natural Death". Again John is working as a Labourer and living at Waterloo.
John and Jane had moved to Araluen by 1866 which is a valley around 27kms from Braidwood. They purchased two allocations of land, Parish nos 276 and 412 (both 2 acres), which are referenced on the Parish map of Araluen. George Hickey, wife of Mary Jane is nearby on Parish no 467, also 2 acres.
View Larger Map
"In the 1860's and 1870's Araluen was booming with over 4000 people in the valley, and a reputation of being one of the richest goldfields in Australia. Gold worth almost $1 million per month in today's values was being taken from the mines.
In the 1860s there were as many as 20 pubs on the fields, which contributed to the disordliness of those wild and reckless days. By the 70's some 20 butcher shops, plus general stores, bakers, shoemakers, blacksmiths, other merchants and a small number of churches served the needs of the population.
This wealth also attracted bushrangers. The notorious Ben Hall and his gang unsuccessfully tried to hold up the gold coach at Majors Creek Mountain in 1862. Most gold was taken out by coach or dray to Braidwood then on to Goulburn, with a police escort to protect the gold which had by this time usually been bought by Government asseyors."
James Savell was born in March 1866 at Araluen, although this birth does not appear to be officially registered. In June 1867, Alice Savell was born at Long Flat. James and Alice Savell were baptised together on the 25th of December 1868 at Braidwood. James was almost 2 years old at this time, which is very unusual for this time, suggesting John and Jane were not regular church goers? John was living at Long Flat Araluen and his occupation is given as a miner.
William Savell is born in November 1870, and his Johns occupation is listed as a labourer. John Hastings Savell is born in June 1871. John Savell is still living at Long Flat on both occasions.
By 1874, John and Jane had moved to Redmire/Redmyre and then Enfield where there next 5 children were born. The first and second were twins, which were born on the 20th of January, 1874 but did not survive. The first only living 3 hours. The second, Harriett, 11 weeks. The next son, Henry George Nicholas born in Feburary 1875 but only survived six days before being buried in St Thomas Church.
In total, John and Jane had 17 children between 1853 to 1878.
The Redmire Estate was subdivided in 1867 and smaller lots of land were offered for sale. The first property built was Thomas Henderson's 'Seven Oaks Farm', a dairy farm located around Victoria Street Strathfield. The oldest houses still standing are 'Fairholm' [now Strathfield Gardens Retirement Village in Cotswold Rd] and 'Llandilo' [now Trinity Grammar Preparatory School on The Boulevarde], both built in the late 1870's.
Many other land grants began subdivision and gradually Strathfield and Homebush began to develop as a residential district. Strathfield and Homebush were considered desirable places to live as the railway, which was first established in Homebush in 1855, enabled businessmen to travel to work in the City each day. The Municipality [or local government area] of Strathfield was incorporated on 2 June 1885 covering the localities of Redmire, Druitt Town and Homebush. The locality of Redmire was renamed Strathfield in 1885 and Druitt Town was renamed Strathfield South in the 1890's.
In the 1877 Greville Postal Guide, only 148 householders were recorded in Enfield, primarily farmers, market gardeners, tanners, woodcutters, dairymen, potters, fencers, carpenters and labourers. However, by 1888, the population of Enfield had reached 1500 and local residents submitted a petition to the NSW Governor requesting the formation of a municipality. Enfield Municipal Council was incorporated on January 22 1889 and elections were held on March 23 1889.
In 1887, John is living in Mitchell St Enfield and by 1894, he has moved to Park Rd Enfield, still listing his occupation as a labourer. John Savell died in 1901. John created his will on the 1st of September 1901, leaving his "real and personal estate" to his wife Jane where the "land and cottage at Enfield" was to become the property of the two sons George and William Savell in equal shares. After his death on the 5th of November 1901 aged 79 years after a bout of acute diarrhoea, his assets were listed as real estate to the value of 150 pounds and Farming implements the value of 10 pounds. John Savell was buried on the 7th of November in St Thomas Church of England, Enfield in Section 3, Grave 5 with his wife and son, Henry George Nicholas
Jane Savell survived until 1910. Jane is listed in the Sydney Sands directory for 1910 living at Cross Street, Strathfield. Jane died on the 16th of December, aged 76 years at the home of Mary Hickey at Kensington Road Summer Hill. Jane was buried on the 17th of December, the burial being witnessed by Skipworth Savell and W B McLehan. Double Probate was issued on the death of Jane and the "land near Bankstown" was sold for Seventy Pounds in 1913 by Thomas Savell of Guildford, Western Australia.
Four of the sons of John and Jane went to Western Australia - Thomas, William, John Hastings and George. John and his wife Selina appear to be the first to have left NSW around 1897 with the other brothers following.
Extracts from Sands Directory
1887 Savell, John, Mitchell St, Enfield
1892 Savill, John, Rowland St, Enfield
1894 Savell, John, Rowland St, Enfield
1901 Savell, John, Park Rd, Enfield
1909 Saville Mrs, Park Rd (West Side), Enfield
1901 NSW Census
Enfield, Park St, John Savell, 1 male 1 female
Extracts from Electoral Rolls
1869-70 Sevill, John, Araluen, household, Sandy Creek, Araluen, NSW (???)
1870-71 Sevill, John, Araluen, household, Sandy Creek, Araluen, NSW (???)
1874-75 Savill, John, Redmire, household, Redmire
1876-77 Savill, John, Redmire, household, Liverpool Rd
1881-82 Savill, John, Enfield, household, Enfield
1885 Savill, John, Freehold, Enfield, NSW
1894 Savell, John, Park Rd, Enfield, NSW, Labourer
1895 Savell, John, Park Rd, Enfield, NSW, Labourer
1906 Savell, Jane, Park Rd, Enfield, NSW, Domestic Duties
1909 Savell, Jane, Cross St, Strathfield, NSW, Home Duties
Notes for JANE HASTINGS
Details from Jane's death certificate, completed by her son in law George Hickey list her parents as James Hastings, occupation unknown and Grace Houston, born in Galloway Scotland, 72 years in NSW, married at 18yrs of age to John Savell.
A Jane Hastings (and assumed to be the right Jane) arrived on the "William Rogers" on the 26th September 1838, aged 4 years. There is only one Jane Hastings marriage in NSW in the 19th century - to John Savell in 1852.
Jane's birth is recorded in the Parish of Kell's, Kirkcudbright in 1834 as Jean Hastings. The shipping record also lists her name as Jeannie. Jane is used in the Orphan School admission register along with her sisters Sarah and Nicholas. Jean and Jane were commonly interchangable in Scotland. The shipping records list her mother Grizzel Hastings as being from Penpont Dumfrieshire, the daughter of James Hodgson and Mary Carr. From the scotish parish registers, the Hastings children were recorded in the Kells Parish, Kirkcudbright as having parents William Hastings and Grizzel Howatson.
"Kirkcudbrightshire - commonly called a Stewartry, but in reality and to all intents and purposes a sheriffdom or shire, lies in the south of Scotland, and forms the eastern and by far the most extensive portion of the ancient district of Galloway. It is bounded by Dumfries-shire on the east and north-east, on the south by the Solway Frith and the Irish Sea, by the county of Ayr on the north and northwest, and by Wigtonshire (or Western Galloway) on the west. In extent it measures, from south-east to north-west, about forty four miles, by breadth varying from twenty to thirty miles, the narrowest part being toward its north-western limits....
The aspect of the country, however, forms a very natural distinction into two divisons: if a line be drawn from the centre of Kirkpatrick-Iron-Gray parish to the Gatehouse of Fleet, all to the northwest, with little exception, is so mountainous, that it may be termed a Highland district; while the south and eastern parts exhibt a fine champagne and cultivated country - a contrast strikingly obvious...
The number of horses, cattle and sheep reared in the county is sufficiently large to evince the possession of much practical knowledge, and consequent success, in this branch of the productive economy; and the breed of swine has increased to a prodigious extent, these animals being now a staple commodity both for home consumption and exportation....
The shire, or stewartry, comprises twenty-eight parishes and contains two royal burghs, Kirkcudbright and New Galloway...."
County Description from Pigot's Directory, 1837
On arrival to Sydney, Jane was placed in the Protestant Orphan School at Parramatta, the Female Admission Book 1827-1888 register showing her age as 7, entered on 3/1/1839 and mother as Grizzel Hastings. She left the school on the 15th of March 1839, presumably after the marriage of Grace to William Stevenson.
Details from death notice, SMH 17 Dec 1910
Savell - December 16 at 67 Kensington Rd Summer Hill, Jane, relict of the late John Savell, of Enfield, in her 77th year.
Details from funeral notice, SMH
Savell - The Relatives and Friends of the late Jane Savell are kindly invited to attend her funeral, which will move from her late residence 67 Kensington Rd, Summer Hill, this day for Enfield Cemetery
"St. Andrew's Kirk. This Church, erected for the use of persons
connected with the Established Church of Scotland, in the southern
parts of Sydney, is a handsome gothic structure, situated in the
extension of Clarence Street, near Bathurst Street and Kent Street;
and is a considerable ornament to that part of the town. The
engraving will present a better outline of the front of this building
than any description can convey."
In 1832 he (McGarvie) accepted an invitation to start a second Presbyterian congregation in Sydney and held services in the courthouse until St Andrew's Scots Church was built at Kent Street near Bathurst Street. The church opened for divine service on 13 September 1835 and he remained as its minister until his death in 1853.
The Reverend McGarvie (a rival of Lang) officiated at the other St Andrews Scots
Kirk. It was known as "our Kent street Church" to distinguish it from the
original Scots Church, which was known as "Lang's Church." The Kent St Church
was opened on 13 September 1835. It was located on a block between Kent street
and St Andrews place at the rear of where St Andrews Anglican cathedral now
stands. As the city grew the congregation moved out to the suburbs and in 1911
it was demolished. Some of the fittings including stained glass windows were
incorporated in St Andrews Scots Church Rose Bay (since also demolished).
The reference to the original Scots Church foundation being laid in 1824 is to
the first building of Lang's congregation. I believe there was a later (2nd)
building, but not sure about that. The present Scots Church building (currently
undergoing renovation or demolition) is only a C20 building.
Research Notes
Enfield is in the parish of Concord. Refer to the 1915 map.
Park Rd is now Cosgrove Rd as this is referred to on the Bankstown Parish map (Sands directory starts at Roberts Rd/Liverpool St intersection)
Refer Parish map 14012801 (Bankstown) for
Starting with Jane Savells Death certificate, the following information is obtained:
Date and place of death: Dec 16th, Kensington Rd Summer Hill, Ashfield
Age: 76 yrs
Name and occupation. of father and maiden surname of mother: James Hastings, Unknown, Grace Houston
Information provided by: George Hickey (son-in-law)
Witnesses of burial: Skipworth Savell and W B McLehan
Where born: Galloway, Scotland. 72 yrs in the Colonies
Place of Marriage age, and to whom: Sydney, 18yrs, John Savell
This provides the initial details of locating Jane Hastings, giving her parents and very approximate arrival in NSW. There is no James Hastings, wife Jane that arrives in the indexes available for either the assisted immigrants or Bounty Scheme. The name of Janes mother, Grace Hastings is however quite a useful start. There are no deaths of a Grace Hastings (or Grizzle) from 1830-1900 in NSW. There are no deaths any Hastings to from 1800 to 1955 with a mothers name of Grace. There is however a family which arrives in 1838 from Dumfrieshire, Scotland aboard the “William Rogers” (there are only two Hastings families that are indexed in the entire Bounty scheme). There is a Jane Hastings that is 3 years old in 1838 as part of this family, which matches very closely with the details provided on Janes Death certificate.
This family provides the following details from the shipping records:
Name, Age, Married or Single, Trade, Native place, Remarks
Hastings William, 34, Married, Shepherd, Galloway, Very Deserving
Hastings Grizel, 34, Married, Galloway
Hastings Mary, 8
Hastings Cera, 6
Hastings Nicholas, 4
Hastings Jane, 3
Hastings James, 2
Hastings Grizel, 1
The Immigration book provides the following information:
William Hastings, brought out by government, a native of Glencairn, in the parish of Dumfrieshire, Died at Spring Cove. Calling Shepherd, aged 38.
Grizzle Hastings brought out by government, a native of Penpont, Dumfrieshire, Daughter of James Hodgeson Shepherd and Mary Carr, Daughter or David Carr, farmservant. Calling farm servent, aged 34.
The following ages are given for the children James – 3, Mary – 9, Sarah – 8, Nicholas – 6, Jeanie – 4, Grizzle – 1.
You will note that there are some inconsistencies on the ages of the children, even though that these details would have been gathered around the same time!
John Lang promoted immigration via schemes like the Bounty Scheme of Protestants from England, Wales, Northern Ireland, Germany, France, and elsewhere. His Scottish Highlanders epitomize the kind of migrant he thought would improve the morals and religion of Australia. Poor but upright, law abiding Calvinist Presbyterians, frugal, industrious, and godly.
Tracing the family back to Scotland, the following baptisms are recorded in the parish of Kells, Kirkcudbright:
Hastings, Grizzel, parents William Hastings/Grizzel Howatson born 8 dec 1837
Hastings, James, parents William Hastings/Grizzel Howatson born 25 nov 1835
Hastings, Jean, parents William Hastings/Grizzel Howatson chr 12 dec 1834
Hastings, Nicholas, parents William Hastings/Grizzel Howatson chr 25 jan 1833
I have not located Mary or Sarah’s baptisms in either the Scotland OPRs (Original Parish Registers) or the IGI. Many Scottish baptisms seem to not be recorded (prior to Civil Registration), a possible symptom of the fact that a fee was payable for the baptism to be carried out, something a Shepherd would have considered the value of.
The following marriage is also recorded in the Parish of Glencairn Dumphrieshire, Scotland:
WILLIAM HASTINGS Spouse: HEWITSON Marriage: DEC
The Given name of the spouse was unfortunately not recorded in the Parish Register (an apparent oversight by the Church!) but this appears most certainly the correct marriage.
Note that the Scottish name Grizzel is interchangeable with Grace as is Jean and Jane.
The William Rogers turns out to be a very interesting ship. My father mentioned that we had a Scottish connection somewhere and that there was a story in the family that there was something significant with the voyage (the food may have been bad…). In reality, around 50 passengers died of “The Fever” (Typhoid) - 29 of them at the Quarantine Station at Manly. It was a notorious plaque ship of its time. Unfortunately, Jane’s father, William Hastings was one of the deaths, whose grave is now on the site of the Quarantine Station having died when arriving in Sydney.
The next piece of information comes from the entry of the Hastings children into the Male Liverpool Orphanage and the Female Protestant Orphan School at Parramatta. After leaving the Quarantine Station, now a widow due to the death of her husband William, Grizel seems to have had little choice but to enter the children into orphanages given the circumstance that she was placed. A James Hastings dies in 1839 at the Liverpool Orphanage, aged 3, no parents recorded. I believe that this is the death of James.
The admission book for the Female Protestant orphan school provides the following infomation:
Hastings Sarah Age 7 Admission 3rd Jan 1839 Left 22 April 1839 Mother Grizel Hastings
Hastings Jane Age 4 Admission (unreadable) Left 15th Nov 1839 “ “ “ “
Hastings Nicolax Age 5 Admission 25 Jan 1839 Left 27th Jan1845 “ “ “ “
Comments (recorded against each child)
Sarah Hastings - died 22nd April 1839
Jane Hastings – This girl came from the Emigrant Barracks – She was given to her mother 15th Nov 1839
Nicholax – This girl was apprenticed to John Brown
The other children, Mary seemingly too old to enter and Grizzle too young. With the deaths of James and Sarah, by the end of 1839 the Hastings family has now reduced to just Mary, Nicholas, Jane and Grizzle.
The next potential piece of information is the Marriage of William Stevenson (bachelor) to Grace Hastings (widow) on the 1st of March 1839. This marriage is incorrectly indexed in the BDMs as HASTING. After this marriage, the Hastings children are removed from the orphanage (except Nicholas for some reason). The next useful information from the BDMs comes from the marriages of the Hastings sisters in the 1850’s
Pre registration (from the registers):
John Fall m Nicholas Hastings 13th April 1852 at St James in Sydney. Witnesses were listed as Mary Hastings and James Ball
The marriage of Grace provides some more additional details:
John Gosling m Grace Hastings 24th March 1857 at Dr Langs. The following information was added later into the certificate from the church register:
Grace Hastings birthplace Edinburgh, parents William Hastings (house carpenter) and Grace Hodgeson
John Savell and Jane Hastings marriage also provides:
John Savell m Jane Hastings 11 Nov 1852 at St Andrews Scots Church Sydney. Witnesses John Wood and Mary Challiner (???)
Unfortunately Nicholas Fall dies on the 25th Jan 1867. Her death certificate provides some more very interesting details:
Age 35 yrs, Father William Hastings, Mother Grace Hodson, born ???? Scotland, 29 yrs in NSW. There is a note that states “additional information given by mother 6th July 1867 by Grace Wood”
This now seems to start coming together. The Witnesses to Jane Hastings marriage was John Wood – which is the same surname as the mothers name from the details from Nicholas Fall’s death certificate, Grace Wood. Grace Hastings/Stevenson (nee Howatson/Hodgeson) seems to now be a “Wood”.
Another search of “Woods” from the BDM’s with parents John and Grace/Grizzel provides some additional info as there are two children who appear with these parents (details supplied from the baptisms registered):
Elizabeth Wood, Parents John Wood (farmer) and Grisel Hodson Abode Sydney born at the Lachlan River, born 27th Nov 1842, baptised 6th Sept 1849
Louisa Wood, Parents John Wood (labourer) and Grizell, Abode Kent St born 17 March 1850, baptised 7th Feb 1850.
From this point, I cannot locate the death of a Grace/Grizel Wood. This is unfortunate as the details from this would potentially confirm the parents of Grace, and her husbands. I also cannot find a marriage of Mary Hastings (who is unmarried in 1852 as the witness to marriage of Nicholas) and the death of Grace Gosling.
There is a very important link that can be established between Louisa Wood above and Jane Savell which does prove a relationship with Jane and the Wood family. In 1868, Louisa Woods marries a William Burton McLenehan. Fortunately, W B McLehan (sic) is the witness of burial on Jane Savell’s death certificate provided above. Given the reference to Grace Wood on the death of Nicholas Fall (nee Hastings) and John Wood on the marriage of Jane Hastings and John Savell, I believe that this provides substantial proof that the Hastings family who arrived on board the “William Rogers” in 1838 is indeed the correct family. Sometime between 1839 and 1842, Grace Hastings/Stevenson has remarried John Wood. Unfortunately this marriage is not found registered on the NSW BDMs.
Incidentally, Louisa McLenahan (parents John and Grace) dies in Paddington in 1907. William B McLenahan dies 1910 in Sydney.
The name “James Hastings” given on Jane Savell’s certificate appears incorrect – which could be due to the fact that her father died in 1838 and she had a brother called James and her mothers (Grace’s) father was also called James. An easy mistake given the informants to Janes death in 1910 were Skipworth Savell (John Savells cousin) and George Hickey, her son in law. There are also several variations of Grace’s surname Howatson, Hewitson, Hodgeson, Hodson, Houston – all of which seem to be similar sounding (especially if tried with a bad scottish accent!). I could easily imagine the people recording the surname (especially if recording the spoken version) having problems with the pronunciation and spelling variations.
So, in summary, which does tie quite nicely with the version provided by Bernard Heagney it appears that Jane Hastings is the daughter of William and Grace (Grizell) Howatson, arriving from Scotland in 1838 aboard the William Rogers. Grace remarries William Stevenson and then John Wood and has two additional children who would be Janes half sisters Elizabeth and Louise. If it is correct, the voyage and the early life of Grace and Jane Hastings is a very troublesome start with the death of William Hastings and the other children in the orphanages. It makes a very interesting story on this part of the family.
Links: FrontPage, Savell Family Tree
Comments (0)
You don't have permission to comment on this page.