Edward James Lawton

1846 - 1924  (~ 77 years)

• Name	Edward James Lawton
  Baptism	4 Jan 1846	Holy Trinity Church, Weymouth, Dorset, England   [1]
  Gender	Male
  Emigration	8 Feb 1850	South Australia   [2]
  	"In 1849, Thomas William Lawton became so interested in Australia that he decided to book passages for himself and family to South Australis. Grandma Mabey decided to come also so as to assist with the children on the voyage. He had been advised that there was a definite need of school and music teachers in South Australia. On the 8th February 1850, they sailed from Plymouth on the ship Fatima, Commander Ray being in charge. The number of passengers being 223, comprising of 42 married couples, 37 single men, 27 single girls and 75 children. Near the Cape of Good Hope a severe storm was encountered and it took two weeks to round the Cape. When the storm was at it's worst, the Captain ordered all passengers to be battened below. Mrs. Mabey begged to be allowe to remain on deck, saying, 'I am a Captain's wife, you know." the Captain ordered a chair to be lashed to the mast. Then having securely tied her in, covered her over and around with tarpaulins where as she said, "She rode out the storm." The journey took 4 months and they anchored in South Australia on the 10th of June 1850. Going ashore they found the hotels full and no accomodation. However for a l pound note they were granted sufficient space in which to stack their luggage. There the seven rested for the night. Next day, Thomas Lawton hired a bullock wagon and driver to take them to Adelaide. Grandma Mabey, being 70 years of age, was allowed to ride with the luggage. The rest walked beside the wagon to Gawler Place, Adelaide, where friends lived upon whose advice they had come to South Australia."
  Memo	Bowden, Australia   [2]
  	also started the first Building Society in the Colony, which enabled many residents to purchase their homes by buying shares in the Society. It continued to function until 1920 with their son Edward as Chairman.
  Reference Number	27256
  Religion	The Lawtons belonged to the Church of England, but the distance to the City proved a drawback to their regular attendance. In Fourth Street, the Wesleyans had a chapel which they attended and when a new chapel was opened in East Street, Brompton, in December 1850 Thomas Lawton was resident organist and choir master and the family became Wesleyan Methodists.
  Death	1924	South Australia, Australia   [3, 4]
  Burial	Wesleyan Cemetery, Walkerville, South Australia, Australia   [4]
  Person ID	I27057	Maybee Society
  Last Modified	7 Apr 2024

  
  

  Father	Thomas William Lawton,   b. 10 Nov 1812, Guernsey, Channel Islands d. 7 Sep 1882, Bowden, South Australia, Australia (Age 69 years)
  Relationship	natural
  Mother	Ann Mabey,   b. 4 Nov 1812, Wyke Regis, Dorset, England d. 10 Aug 1888, Hindmarsh, South Australia, Australia (Age 75 years)
  Relationship	natural
  Marriage	19 Jan 1837	Melcombe Regis, Dorset, England   [5]
  Family ID	F3615	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Martha Bradley,   b. 1845   d. 1921, South Australia, Australia (Age 76 years)
  Marriage	1 Jun 1870	North Adelaide, South Australia, Australia   [2, 6]
  Family ID	F8347	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	7 Apr 2024

  
  

• Sources

  [S1] Ancestry.com online; Url: http://www.ancestry.com/, Dorset, England, Births and Baptisms, 1813-1906 and England & Wales Christening Records, 1530-1906. [S317] Lorraine (Allan) Somers, Frans Donald Gijsbert Somers, #111.; Number: 111. [S1] Ancestry.com online; Url: http://www.ancestry.com/, Australia, Death Index, 1787-1985. [S380] Find A Grave; Url: http://www.findagrave.com/, Find A Grave Memorial# 144628357. [S1] Ancestry.com online; Url: http://www.ancestry.com/, Dorset, England, Marriages and Banns, 1813-1921. [S1] Ancestry.com online; Url: http://www.ancestry.com/, Australia Marriage Index, 1788-1950.