Elizabeth Pritchard 1851-1934

The Courier-Mail, Brisbane, Queensland, Friday 8 June 1934, page 16

The death occurred on Tuesday after a short illness of Mrs Elizabeth Elworthy, a member of one of the early pioneering families of Queensland. The late Mrs Elworthy sailed as a child from England to Queensland with her parents in the Agricola 81 years ago. She was the wife of the late Mr John Elworthy, partner in the old grazing form of Elworthy and Mellor at Imbil and Dovedale in the Wide Bay district. IMG_20160309_123128162She is survived by a family of three sons and three daughters – Dr H.H. Elworthy, of London. Mr A.W. Elworthy, of Philadelphia. Dr R.R. Elworthy, M.D. of London. Miss Edith Elworthy, Mrs Norman Bell, and Mrs G.M. Parsons. For some years the deceased lady had lived at St Kilda, Melbourne, with two of her daughters.

Elizabeth is on the left, with her son Rex and granddaughter Joanna in about 1925. It was taken in the garden of 100 Castlenau, Barnes in London.

In 1891, she was living in London while the children were going to school, and whilst she and the girls returned to Australia, the boys stayed, though Arthur moved to Philadelphia.

1891 Census

Civil Parish – Hammersmith; Parliamentary Borough – Hammersmith; Ecclesiastical Parish – Hammersmith

203 Uxbridge Road

Elizabeth Elworthy Head Wid 40 Living on own means Gloucester

Edith Dau S 12 Scholar Australia, Queensland

Isabelle dau S 10 “  “ Australia, Queensland

Rex son S 8 “  “ Australia, Queensland

Gladys dau S 5 “  “ Australia, Queensland

Alice Leatherby serv S 22 servant domestic London Chelsea

John Elworthy 1835 – 1887

John is the father of Rex Elworthy, and grandfather of Joanna, amongst many others.

Rex Elworthy aged about 12.
Rex Elworthy aged about 12.

John Elworthy (1835-1887) and William Henry Elworthy (1833-1912) were brothers. William Henry Elworthy went to Australia in 1863 with his wife Mary Amelia Elworthy (they were 2nd cousins)and child Mary (Minnie) (b.1862). 

John Elworthy left England for Australia in 1864, leaving behind his wife Sarah and  twin children John Tolley Elworthy (b.1863) and Sarah Evelyn (b.1863), he never visited them again before he died in 1887. He then married Elizabeth Pritchard in 1876 in Sydney. Apparently re-marriage after seven years of no contact with a previous wife was legal in Australia, I have no idea whether this is true. In English law, he would have been regarded as a bigamist.

William & John’s younger brother Edward 1840- ???? went to the USA (before 1861),lived in Buffalo City, New York State, joined the Unionist army as an artillery man in 1863, and then deserted in 1865.

William & John started logging together on the river Mary near Logan, Queensland,  and then moved to Gympie in 1870, to follow the gold rush. They failed to make a fortune in gold, though I do have some gold ore from John, but then started rearing beef at Imbil, Queensland, and in partnership with two brothers from Devon (Mellor Brothers who were butchers) sold beef to the gold prospectors in Gympie and made a considerable fortune.

Elizabeth returned to England with the children, and they all went to Cheltenham College, or Cheltenham Ladies College. She, and the girls, went back to Australia. The boys remained in England, though Arthur moved to Philadelphia.