2nd Great Grandparents; William Thomas Jessep and Ellen Drake

William Thomas Jessep 1842-1919 and Ellen Drake

2nd great-grandparents

Frederick Ernest Jessep 1889-1966

William Frederick Jessep 1910-1939

Trevor Warren Jessep-Pond 

Tania Lynne Jessep-Pond

When William Thomas Jessep was born on May 10, 1842, in Ingham, Norfolk, England, his father, Thomas, was 25 and his mother, Jane, was 25. After his mother, Jane Cooper, died in childbirth, his father, Thomas, remarried Elizabeth English and decided to emigrate, with his children. Unfortunately Thomas died of scarlet fever 9 days into the voyage and was buried at sea near the Canary Islands. William and his siblings were abandoned in Hobart and the older siblings had to work on farms and send money to the orphanage for the support of the younger siblings. After these tragic beginnings the family did well in the colony although life had been difficult. The younger girls were obliged to marry early  after leaving the orphanage and his sister married an x-convict, William Gasson.  His brother, Thomas, did well and actually became a member of parliament (see below). William married Ellen Drake on November 14, 1868, in Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand. They had 11 children in 22 years. He died on December 13, 1919, in Waverley, New South Wales, Australia, having lived a long life of 77 years, and was buried in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. 

When Ellen Drake was born on May 2, 1852, in Banwell, Somerset, England, her father, John, was 22, and her mother, Ellen, was 25. Her father was poor and illiterate and his parents had lived in the workouse. They emigrated initially to Australia and then to New Zealand. (see below a detail about their voyage to New Zealand, from Melbourne, as steerage passengers). Her father worked hard and established a brickworks in Dunedin. Many famous buildings in New Zealand were built with bricks from his brickworks. He had learnt this trade as a child. He also purchased a lot of land and the family lived well. She married William Thomas Jessep in 14 Nov 1868 , when she was 16. They had 11 children in 22 years. She died on October 28, 1931, in Granville, New South Wales, Australia, at the age of 79, and was buried in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

The story is written and published by Bill Jessep and cousins. http://www.lulu.com/shop/bill-jessep/jessep-down-under/hardcover/product-21951997.html.  It is a very detailed description of the Jessep family from it's humble beginnings in the colony of Australia.

Below; Ellen Drake (from Chris  Farrington public photo on Ancestry.com) Below right; Ellen Drake 4 generations, South Island NZ. Ellen Drake, Rose Mulholland, Ellen Curno and Rose Curno on knee (shared on Ancestry.com by Faye Brown)

Above; Ellen's baptismal record. Her father is listed as a cabinet maker.

Notes on Thomas Jessep (William's brother)

He was also the son of Thomas Jessep, farmer, and Jane Cooper. He married Louisa Drury on 10 April 1873, at Surry Hills and had issue, 4 daughters and 4 sons. He was a staunch Methodist. 

When he arrived in the colony he began as a fruit merchant. Initally he worked as a farm hand in an orchard. He went to Ballarat diggings in 1866 and had little success. He then went to Sydney in 1869 and  became a wholesale fruiterer, establishing Thomas Jessep & Son. He was a foundation member and first Chairman of the New South Wales Fruit Exchange Co-operative Company. He was also Commissioner of Melbourne Centennial Exhibition in 1888. Chicago Exposition in 1893. He joined Loyal Orange Institution in 1870 and was Grand Secretary of Grand Lodge from 1883 - 1885, 1911 - 1912, 1915. He became deputy Grand Master 1886 - 1888. Grand Master in 1889. He was also Director of Protestant Hall Company for many years. He became Chairman. Member of Australian Protestant Defence Association, Temperance Advocate, Member of Evangelical Council, a Methodist lay preacher and Waverley Sunday School superintendent.

He entered politics as alderman of the Waverley Municipal Council 1889 - 1892, Alderman of the Sydney City Council for Brisbane Ward, 19 October 1893 - 6 December 1900, and Member of the Works Committee 1900; the Garbage Disposal Committee 1900; and the Fishmarkets Inquiry 1898 - 1899.