Aussies looking for long-lost relatives (From Gazette Series)

Aussies looking for long-lost relatives

VISITORS from Down Under will be in Thornbury this month - and are keen to meet long lost relatives.

Peter Burroughs from Queensland, Australia and his cousin Albyn Leslie are on the trail of fellow descendants of John and Eliza (nee Day) Burroughs and their family who hailed from the Hill, Rockhampton and Oldbury areas.

Two of John and Eliza's sons, Thomas Day and John, both immigrated to Australia in the 1850s to try to make their fortunes in the goldfields of Ballarat, Victoria.

Thomas stayed on in Victoria and by 1877 had become Mayor of Sandridge, later to be known as Port Melbourne. Records give his occupation as "contractor".

About a year before he immigrated to Australia in 1853, Thomas Day Burroughs had married Hannah Hawker, the daughter of Thomas and Emma Hawker (nee King) of Oldbury on Severn. In 1858 Hannah, along with her daughter Helena Rosina Burroughs, joined her husband in Victoria.

John Burrough's passage to Australia, in 1855, was paid for by his parents and after spending two years working the Ballarat goldfields in the Colony of Victoria, he crossed over to New Zealand where he again pursued the life of a gold miner in the South Island. After many different occupations and shrewd land purchases John eventually settled in Tua Marina and became a farmer. By then he had married Adelaide Powick and they went on to have nine children - Peter Burroughs and Albyn Leslie descend from this line of the family.

Two other children of John and Eliza (Day) Burroughs were Mary and Charles. Mary Burroughs married Frederick Rugman. Their granddaughter was Mary Bruton of Oldbury on Severn. Charles went on to marry Sarah Ann Prewett and lived at Vine Farm, Oldbury Naite.

The visit by the two Aussies and their wives is the result of family tree detective work by Thornbury museum volunteer Heather Palmer who contacted them as part of her research into Mary Bruton.

"They were planning a visit to the UK in any case and said they'd love to come to Thornbury and call in at the museum," said Heather.

"They'll be here on Tuesday, September 27 and are keen to meet or make contact with any other descendants of the family."

Heather said there had been extensive research into the history of the family which had now gone back as far as John and Hester (nee Taylour) Burroughs of Rockhampton, circa 1720, and their son John Burroughs - born 1728 - and his wife Hannah (nee Motley) of Day House, Hill.

Anyone who thinks that they might have a connection can be put in touch with Peter and Albyn by contacting Heather on 01454 418378 or via the museum in Chapel Street on 01454 857774.