While a family history does begin with the oldest known ancestor, in this case I will begin with the oldest confirmed ancestor and then go back latter on. There is reason to my madness (usually). References are marked with "[..]"s, where there is just a number, for example "[42]" refer to the list of references and sources at the end of this document, where the reference is of the form "[see blah, blah]", it refers to an attached certificate, photograph or the like (in the print version only, alas).
Very little is known of the life of Elias. His occupation is unknown, but it is doubtful that he was a member of a skilled profession. His sons were farm labourers, woodsplitters and brickmakers (labourers), so it is likely that he was of some similar employment. Elias' youngest child, Caroline, was baptised in January, 1827 (1828 in the modern calendar - at that time the calendar year began some time in March, thus any date from January or February is actually the following year for that given, as we now count it[7]), 13 months latter Elias was dead at the age of 40, the Rev. Robert H. Selby officiating at the burial.[8], [see burial record for Elias Neeves, 22nd February, 1828/9]
Just as mysterious as Elias' origin is that of his wife, Charlotte Polham. Her putative marriage at Brede held her to be of that parish[2], however her death certificate lists her place of origin as Wilsbam, Kent.[9], [see death certificate for Charlotte Neeves]. A careful examination of detailed Kent maps reveals no such locality. Wittersham in Kent has been suggested[2], although I think Willesborough (near Ashford) is a more likely possibility. Either way, it must be remembered that details on certificates are provided by the next of kin, and in the case of an elderly mother, dying half the world away from where she was born, it is no surprise that place names can be mixed up. Even official records can be wrong, the passenger listing for a possible relative, John Neeves, gave his place of origin as Beckley, Kent.[10], [11] Beckley is most definitely in Sussex.
Helen Buttler has elsewhere prepared an excellent narrative on life life of Charlotte,[2] I will not repeat what she has written, however for those who do not have a copy of her article, I will summarise the salient events in her life story. At the time of Elias' death, their two eldest sons would have been 15 and 13yo. It is possible that they found employment and helped support Charlotte and her younger children. It has been suggested that the family survived, at least for a while, on parish handouts, state welfare being non-existent at the time.[2] During the mid-19th century a rather savage depression was in force in the UK. Those who could afford to paid their own way and left, mostly for the USA, which then had an open imigration policy. Faced with a growing number of hungry, unemployed lower-class people, the British authorities elected to ship them en-mass to the then new Australian colonies. The massed shipping of the irish, both native irish and "Orangemen" and the "Bouny Scheme" is well documented elsewhere, as too the huge loss of life by those poor unfortunates hoping to look for a better life. It is an amazing commentary on the morals and standards of the time that the authorities saw to it that those who were shipped as convicts fared far better on the voyages than the Bounty passengers and enjoyed better conditions. The cost of a passage to Australia was not cheap, and for a family such as Charlotte's, well out of her reach. Charlotte's eldest son, William, did arrive in Australia as a Bounty passenger.[2], [10], [11] Charlotte was not eligible to emigrate as a Bounty passenger (she was too old), but the parish of Brede did have a fund to pay for the costs of passage for those in poverty who so wished, and Charlotte and her family took advantage of this and emigrated to Sydney in 1841 upon the Fairlie.[2], [10], [11]
Little is known of Charlotte's life in the Colonies, whether she worked, where she lived, etc. Her children scattered to the far corners of the Sydney Basin, from Sydney City to Prospect, to Mulgoa and to Liverpool. It is known that she travelled around, visiting her children's families and she eventually died near Liverpool and is buried in the cemetery of St Luke's (Anglican).[2] If there ever was a grave marker, it has long since perished and the site of her grave is now a lawn.[6] Charlotte was 68 when she died.
Sarah Ann Neeves, the oldest child of Elias and Charlotte married Samuel Lawrence at Brede in 1836[1] (whose sister married Sarah's brother, William) and emigrated with her mother and siblings to Sydney on the Fairlie in 1841. Sarah and Samuel had three children prior to emigrating and presumably had more after arriving. They settled near Liverpool, south-west of Sydney.[2]
William Neeves was the only other child of Elias and Charlotte to have been married in Brede prior to emigrating. He married Sarah, sister to his brother-in-law Samuel Lawrance, in 1837 at Brede.[1], [2] Unlike the rest of the family, William and Sarah emigrated in 1838 on the Palymira as Bounty emigrants. On the passage WIlliam served as an attendant in the Palymira's hospital and his wife served as a nurse. William was listed as a farm servant, Sarah as "country service, Dairy and Brew House". Sarah (and presumably her brother Samuel as well) was from the parish of Sandhurst, in Kent, which is north of Brede, just over the Sussex/Kent border. Her parents were Thomas and Hannah.[11] Upon arrival he worked for Mr Chippendale at Liverpool, for the grand sum of £25 a year, with rations.[11], [12] At some stage he and his wife moved to Parramatta, where they died in the 1870's.[12] William and Sarah are buried at St Bartholomew, Prospect (both in Section 1, gravestone does not survive).[13], [14] William and Sarah arrived without any children and there is no record of any being born in the Colony.
Elias Neeves Jr. was living with his mother and brother, Henry, in the 1841 UK census at 10 Cockle St., Brede[2] and emigrated with Charlotte and the others on the Fairlie in 1841.[2,10,11] His passage was paid for by Gore and Co. of Parramatta and upon arrival he settled there.[2], [11] Elias was listed as a farm labourer and brickmaker.[2],[10] He was the last of the children to marry (that we know of) and did so seven years after arriving in Sydney, marrying Eliza Ward (nee Larkin), a widow, at Cook's River/Petersham.[6],[12] Eliza was the daughter of a convict who arrived in 1801. After being pardoned he received several land grants and ended up owning a considerable amount of land in the Airds/Campbelltown area.[6] Their first child was born in Sydney, but by 1852 they had moved to Penrith and they seemed to have remained there until at least 1859, with the baptism of their last child. Within a few years the family appears to have moved back to Sydney, with Elias dying and being buried at Camperdown. Eliza and her children remained in the Newtown area, where Eliza died some 40 years latter and their children and grandchildren married and settled in the same area, although one grandchild moved to Murwillumbah, in country NSW.[12]
Caroline Neeves was the youngest child of Elias Sr. and Charlotte. For some curious reason she was not baptised until after her first birthday. European mythology holds that unless a child is baptised soon after birth, the child will be "plagued" by evil spirits latter in life and certainly Caroline's tragic life bears witness to this belief. Caroline emigrated with her mother in 1841 on the Fairlie, occupation housemaid. Upon arrival she found service in Sydney, receiving £12 a year, with rations.[2],[11] By 1845 Caroline had presumably worked off her "bounty" as she married Edward Burgess at St Thomas, Mulgoa.[2],[12] Like St Bartholemew's at Prospect, St Thomas was once in the centre of a thriving township, but now lies some distance from the present location of Mulgoa, surrounded by dense bush. The two churches share a similar appearance, although St Thomas' is still the parish church and not the burnt-out shell that St Bartholemew's now is. The Neeves connection is not the only link between the two churches. St Bartholemew's was built by James Atkinson, of Mulgoa, at a cost of £1250 and a further £100 for the provision of pews, baptisimal font (marble) and a communion table.[13]
Edward accompanied the Neeves on their voyage to the Colonies and was also Brede-born. The family settled at Luddenham and two children were born there and baptised at Mulgoa. Edward worked for Mr Blaxland at Newington Farm (of Blaxland, Lawson and Wentworth fame - curiously enough, Caroline's brother, Henry, settled at Prospect, scarcely a few miles from Veteran Hall, the homestead of Henry Lawson, the latter now in the grounds of Prospect Reservior).[2,12] Caroline was widowed just three and a half years after she married when Edward appears to have been run over by his dray (cart) late in the night while on the way home from Sydney, somewhere near Petersham, where Caroline's brother, Elias, would marry a few months latter. Caroline was then 4½ months pregnant.[2] The child was born in Haymarket - Caroline had moved back to Sydney Town, possibly living with her brother, Elias, for a while.[12] Two years after the death of Edward, Caroline married a second time to Henry Brown, an emigrant from New York, USA.[2],[12] The marriage was at Scots Church, so it is possible Henry was a presbyterian.[12] Over the next 7 years Henry and Caroline had six children. The first two were born at Goulburn, where her last child to Edward also died. Around 1853 the family moved back to Sydney and lived at Pitt St. for several years, then to Parramatta for the birth of their 5th child and finally moving to Haymarket for their last child. At just 39, Caroline died at Prospect, while visiting her brother, Henry, and was buried at St Bartholomew's.[2],[12],[14] At the time of her death, of Caroline's nine children, only four still lived, and her only surviving son died only a few years afterwards.[2]
Henry was still living with his mother and Elias at the time of the 1841 English census (10 Cockle St., Brede).[2] Shortly afterwards he departed for the Colonies with his mother and other family on the Fairlie, arriving in Sydney on the 5th November, 1841. He was listed as a single brickmaker, who could read but not write.[10] On arrival in Sydney, Henry went into the service of Gore and Co. of Parramatta[2],[15] where he remained for several years. In 1844 he married Sarah Walker at the newly built St Bartholemew's, Prospect, the Rev. John Troughton performing the rites.[12],[14] Over the next six years Henry and Sarah appeared to have moved around quite a bit. Their first two children were baptised at St Thomas', Mulgoa[12] and it is possible that they lived with Henry's sister, Caroline, and her husband, Edward Burgess. Perhaps Henry worked at Newington Farm with Edward? With the death of Edward in 1848, Henry and Sarah also moved back to Sydney, taking up residence at Sussex Street, Sydney.[6] Their next two children were both baptised at St Andrews, Sydney.[12] Around 1851 they moved back to Prospect where their last two children were born.[12],[14]
At some stage Henry aquired a property in the Prospect area, whether he purchased it or it was a land grant is unknown. The property was originally part of the much larger "William Goodin" land grant, although the NSW government did resume and reissue vacant or unwanted land grants. An 1887 map of the Prospect region clearly shows Henry's property (then presumably in the hands of his heirs, Henry dying in 1877) as "Henry Neeves, block 17A, 18.1.14".[13] Henry was said to have farmed grapes and fruits,[2] indeed, the Prospect region did have an active small-scale wine producing industry up until the 1970's when much of the land was resumed for residential development. Alas, with the development of Sydney's Western Motorway, the property has now vanished, lying underneath the Motorway immediately to the west of Prospect Road and under the western on-ramps. The original boundary of the property is also marked by the end of Church Lane (now Watchhouse Road), which originally continued on to St Bartholemew's and formed the eastern edge of the property.[13] There is a rather distorted family tale that has been passed down my line that an early Australian Neeves (likely Henry, althought it could have been his son, William) was a "over fond of the bottle" and when his wife received a letter notifying her of inheriting a distillery in Ireland, she tore the deed up. Since the only Irish connection in the early Australian Neeves dynasty was Sarah Walker, this suggests the tale was about Henry, and Henry did have a vineyard on his farm. [23] Henry and Sarah were still living on the farm in 1865 when his sister, Caroline, died while visiting and was buried in the nearby St Bartholomew's Cemetery, which lay only a few 100 yards away.[2],[12],[14]
In November, 1870, Henry purchased from John Connor a considerably larger plot of land, adjacent to his Church Lane property, consisting of lots 32, 35 and 36 of the original Flushcombe Estate (granted to Captain Robert Lethbridge in 1823 and then consisting of 2000 acres). Connor purchased the land in 1832. Henry's larger property measured approximately 670 by 570 metres, bounded on the south by the (then) Western Highway, on the west by (the then) Flushcombe Road, on the north by Augusta Street and on the east by the original boundary of the Lethbridge land grant. The Neeves family home was situated on the corner of Flushcombe Road and Neeve Street.[25] Unfortunately, as with Henry's Church Lane farm, the Western Motorway cuts through this property, the cottage being smack in the middle of the motorway's path.
Upon their deaths, both Henry and Sarah were also buried in St Bartholomew's cemetery (in section 1, headstone(s) not surviving).[14] Henry's wife, Sarah, was the daughter of Samuel and Agnes Jane Walker and was born about 1820 in Blaris, near the modern day town of Lisburn, in County Down, Ireland. Sarah came to Australia as a Bounty passenger on the James Moran, arriving on 6th October, 1841 and brought out by Robert Howe and Co. and was employed by John Brown "and wife". Occupation listed as housemaid/dairymaid.[11]
That brings to an end the second generation of documented Neeves. While Neeves is not a common name, it would however, be foolish to assume that all Australian's able to trace descent back to a Neeves emigrant are of the same family. Charlotte and her children were not the only Neeves to come to Australia. John Neeves, possibly a nephew of Elias emigrated with William on the Palmyra in 1838. John hailed from Beckley in Sussex, not far from Brede and was listed as a "baliff and farm labourer". John's passage was paid for by the government (another Bounty passenger) and he arrived with his six children, his wife dying less than a week before the Palmyra arrived at Sydney. Upon arrival, John and his family moved to the Hunter Valley where he was placed into the service of John Larnach.[10] Another Neeves to arrive in Sydney was Henry Neeves (or Neave), a native of Norfolk County, who was transported in 1836.[11] Henry obtained his Certificate of Freedom in 1844 and appears to have settled in the Penrith area.[15] English Neeves seem to be concentrated in either the area of Sussex/Kent or that of Suffolk/Norfolk. There does not appear to be any connection between the two, at least not as far back as the records go. I have not come across any mention of this second Henry in the BDM indices, so it is possible he did not have any children.
There are a number of reasons for an interest in genealogy, be it religious or as a hobby. One of the more "serious" reasons is in tracing genetically-linked diseases. A cursory glance at the life-spans of the early Neeves indicates that they all died relatively young. William (son of Elias Sr) seems to have been the most long-lived, reaching the "grand age" of just 59. One is tempted to attribute this to the shorter life expectancy in those times and the undoubtedly hard life that they lived. To an extent this may be true, the life expectancy in rural Kent and in the first 100 years of Australian colonisation was lower than that for the more "well off" english middle and upper class. However, this was due more a higher infant mortality rate than a lower adult life expectancy - in fact, the Neeves were of "agricultural stock", who as a class tended to live long lives if they managed to get past childhood. Lifespans of 80 years or more was not uncommon amongst the rural farm workers of southern Sussex.[5] While other families of the same class were enjoying an average life-expectancy of around 45-50 years, and an adult life expectancy (that is, excluding those who died before reaching adulthood) of around 60-70 years, the equivalent figures for the early generations of Neeves, both in Sussex and NSW were 35 and 50, respectively. Where the cause of death is known, it appears to have been due to heart disease. Something for any Neeves descendent to be wary of. Physically, the Neeves were described as "small and wiry" people, with a strong tendency towards arthritis in latter years.[23]
Henry and Sarah had seven children, all bar one of whom reached adulthood and married. Charlotte Jane Neeves moved to Parramatta where she married Thomas Roberts, bore 11 children and died at the advanced age of 84. Henry Neeves Jr. also moved to the Parramatta district, where he married Jane Casey and died at the young age of 39. Henry Jr. was buried at St Bartholemew's (Section 1, headstone not surviving). So far no trace of any children has been found. Thomas Neeves married Louisa Sperring at Waterloo, then settled at Prospect. The first 6 of their children were baptised at St Bartholemew's, the remainder at Parramatta. Some of Thomas' children remained in the Parramatta area, others moved into the "inner western suburbs", the area from Newtown to Homebush where Elias' children had settled. Thomas died at the age of 81 and both Thomas and Louisa were buried at St Bartholemew's, their headstone is said to still exist, although I have yet to find it (Section 3, plot 24). James Neeves, the first Neeves to be born at Prospect, married Britannia Pike (the Pikes were another Prospect family), who was 20 years his junior. James and "Brit" settled in the Parramatta district and had two children, James dying at the age of 72. James and Britannia are both buried at St Bartholemew's (section 3, plots 262 and 263, on the north side of the church), their decorative headstone remains intact.[12],[14]
The Inn was built to cater for the needs of both the traffic on the Western Highway and also the workforce of the nearby Prospect Reservior, which was constructed in the 1880's. With the completion of the Reservior and the re-routing of the Highway to bypass the Inn, it's day's were numbered. After 1936 the Inn (which has public rooms on the ground floor and the family living in the upper floor) apparently served as a private residence for some time until it was "abandoned" and became derelict. It's demolition was narrowly averted when the near-by Drive-In Theatre wanted to expand and was saved by a council Permanent Preservation Order in 1989.[2],[16],[28] The Inn was recently included in the State Heritage Office's inventory of the State's 100 most significant heritage buildings. [27] In the 1980's there was a push to restore the building and an English couple, James and Susan Kellie (who had many years experience in England running country inns) leased the property and restored it to it's original condition. The Inn re-opened for business in May 1994 and boasts a bar, restaurant and a room available for special occasions. Business is brisk and a reservation is advised if a group wishes to dine there. The inside of the Inn is decorated with Neeves and Prospect memorabilia and if you mention to James or Susan that you are a Neeves descendent, be prepared for some wonderful conversation (and special service to boot!).[16],[28] The Inn appears to have served as a focal point for most of the Neeves "dynasty", with many who were alive at the time having memories of visiting or staying there.[2],[4],[17] Agnes and James were buried at St Bartholomew's in the late 1920's.
Agnes and James had two other children, Henry James Manning, who settled at Potts Point (Sydney) and Ethel Mildred Manning. Ethel married Leslie James Leabon (the Leabon's were another old Prospect family) at St Bartholomews' and both are also buried there. Leslie worked at Prospect Quarries (ending up as the manager). They lived on the Old Western Road (Block 6, Lots 2-3) which they inherited from James and Agnes, and lay just east of the Cricketer's Arms. Ethel and Leslie had two children, Amy Mildred Leabon and Winifred Agnes Leabon, both born at Prospect. Amy married Victor Biggs, a butcher, and lived on the Old Western Road property until 1953 when they moved to Wamberal. Winifred married Edward Dryden, a carpenter, who was the head carpentery teacher at Blacktown Tech when he retired. They lived first at Wentworthville, then Albury and finally settled at Northmead. Edward was raised on a farm that was part of John Pike's original land grant and his brother, George Dryden, was mayor of Blacktown in the 1950's. Agnes and James Manning, Ethel and Leslie Leabon, and their two daughters, Winifred and Amy, are all buried at St Bartholomews, on the north side of the church (graves are marked by red marble tablets, flat on the ground). [25]
William and Mary Ann's first child, Alice Maude Mary Neeves married Henry Wall[12],[24] (the Wall's were a prominent Prospect family). Alice and Henry owned an orchard farm at Seven Hills for some time before moving to Wallgrove Road, Eastern Creek (the house is now a veterinary surgery). In latter life they moved to Pitt Row, Mays Hill.[23] Their first son, George William Neeves, died young and was buried at St Bartholomew's (section 1, gravestone does not appear to have survived). [14] Their second daughter, Charlotte Florence, also died young at the age of just 15 months and is buried at St Bartholomew's (Section 1, no gravestone remaining).[14] Florence Emily Neeves married Harold Freeman Tosh, son of a Yorkshire-born architect and lived in Argyle Street, Parramatta. The house was built by Harold's father, James, and remained in the family for several generations until it was demolished in the 1970's. The site is now part of the Parramatta CBD.[23] Florence and Harold are both buried at St Bartholomew's, in the Tosh family plot.[14],[23] Edith Elizabeth Neeves married Arthur Britten,[12] a carpenter, and moved to Willoughby, on Sydney's North Shore.[23] Lilly May Neeves, also known as Minnie, married William Cameron, lived in Parramatta and were both buried at St Bartholomew's.[12],[13],[23] Their second son, James Henry Neeves, married Evelyn Lennana[12],[24] and lived in Patrick Street, Blacktown. Evelyn was the aunt of Russell Dickens, a vet and long serving alderman on Blacktown Council, at one stage mayor. Their house stood where the old RTA Motor Registry now stands. James died in the late 1980's at the age of 95. Little is known about Elsie Ellen Neeves and Amy Gertrude Neeves.[23]
George William Neeves (the second child of that name) was born at Prospect, married Martha Dorothy (Dot) Jenkins of Mortlake at All Saints, Parramatta, had seven children and was buried at the Church of England cemetery Necropolis (Rookwood), Sydney (section 7, number 1263). The attached wedding photo William and Martha has an interesting tale. They were breaking the law when it was taken - they were married during a big influenza outbreak and everyone had to wear face masks at all times while in public. They were married in their masks but took them off for the wedding photo. For a number of years, up to 1931, he and his family lived on Pennant Hills Road, North Parramatta, however the bank forclosed on their loan during the depression. George was a panel beater by trade and lost one eye in a work accident. As a child John Neeves remembers seeing him removing his glass eye at night and putting it in a glass of water. He also used to forget to put it in in the mornings and usually made a big show for the grandkids when putting it in. He was also a skilled, but amateur, cartoonist [see appendix for some examples].[26] Lawrence Mossuto, grandson of George is a successful Sydney-based artist, having already had several exhibitions of his works.[26] George's eldest child, Keith William Neeves, moved to Bundaberg, Queensland. [23],[26] Keith served in WWII, however in what capacity is unknown.[26] George's youngest son, Kevin Lester Aubrey Neeves, was born at Prospect and married Elaine Merle Fitzgerald at Hamilton, near Newcastle, while Kevin was based at the Williamtown RAAF base (he achieved the rank of Wing Commander and served for 20 years). They had four children, born successively at Melbourne (Robyn), Newcastle (Paul), Wagga Wagga (John, who moved to Adelaide) and Canberra (Linda). Kevin and his family eventually settled in Canberra, where he died.[26]
There is some uncertainity about the origin of Mary Ann Cook. She married William at Parramatta in 1872 with her "usual place of residence" being at Prospect and born about 1853. The NSW BDM's and the Prospect parish records do list a Mary Ann Cook, baptised at Prospect in 1853, born to Joseph and Caroline Cook of Dowlish Wake, Somerset (whose line I have back to about 1600). This Mary Ann does seem to be an ideal candidate - born at the right time and living right there at Prospect. However, the marriage certificate of Mary Ann and William Neeves lists her place of origin as being Cambridgeshire, England, and her parents George Cook and Hannah Starling.[18] Mary Ann's death certifcate also gives the same parents and origin, and adds further that she came to Australia at the age of 5 (ie: about 1858).[19] While the death and marriage certificate information would seem to rule out the first possibility, such information was either provided by the person in question or the next of kin and is open to unintentional or deliberate error (as to why the latter, that'd be anyone's guess, but I have encountered apparently deliberate misinformation in the records before). So far, searches of the Cambridgeshire records have revealed no trace of Mary Ann's birth there. Note though, the name Starling does reappear in the family. One characteristic of Mary that no one can fail to notice was her piercing eyes, as evident in any of her photographs, and something that carried on in at least some of her descendents [see attached photographs]. (The eyes were said to be "deep set and blue"[23]). According to family legend passed down to John Neeves from Kevin and Lorraine Neeves, Mary Anne Cook was born in England and emmigrated to Australia with her mother. Her mother died at sea during the trip and Mary arrived in Australia an orphan of 14 years of age.[26] That age of 14 at emigration is in contrast to that of 5 yo, as given on her death certificate.[19] It is conceivable that mary arrived as an orphan, however her father was George Cook and a George Cook was a witness as Mary's wedding. It is possible that the latter George was her brother and that she arrived in the Colonies in the company of at least one sibling, possibly more - perhaps, like with the Neeves family, Hannah Cook decided to emigrate with her children after the death of her husband, but died enroute? Mary's wedding certificate has the note that "consent was given by George Cook, the legal guardian".[18] This is suggestive that this George was her brother. Mary was said to have told Keith Neeves (born 1920, Mary died 1928) that she was the great grandniece of Captain James Cook.[26] The story is possible, however while Mary was from Cambridgeshire, James Cook was from Yorkshire.
The IGI (the Mormon's genealogical database) is often quite useful in such cases, however the IGI does not have complete coverage of English PR's. In order to gain access to the PR's, the LDS required the permission of the parish priest (and presumably also the bishop). This was not always forthcoming. PR's from Ireland and Kent, for instance, are for the most part not indexed in the IGI. Sussex also seems to be quite poorly covered.
An attempt has been made to search PR's for other parishes in the hope of finding the elusive Elias. Ken Wickham, of Kent, did find an Elias born in 1787 at Peasmarsh.[2] Peasmarsh is about 2-3 miles NE of Brede and is also in Sussex. The link is tenuous, but it is the only one that so far has been found. There do no appear to be any gaps in the Peasmarsh PR's, yet there is no record of Elias' marriage or death.[21] One can presume he moved out of the area, married Charlotte and then moved onto Brede and settled there around 1810. Elias was the fourth (and last) child born to Emanuel Neeves and Ann Almond as listed in the Peasmarsh PR's.[21] It is possible, in fact likely, that Emanuel and Ann had more than four children. (The copy of the Peasmarsh PR extract that I have does not have their marriage listed, however [6] gives a date of 1774, no location. The extracts that I have were copied by hand from the records at the Lewes Record Office so possibly some entries may have been missed, especially with the variation in the spelling of Neeves). Of the four children listed, the two girls do not appear again in the PR's. Since there are only a handful of marriages listed, it is likely that they survived into adulthood and married. Emanuel and Ann's eldest child, William appears to have married and remained in Peasmarsh, his descendents can be traced for several generations.[21]
Is there anything else that might connect Emanuel Neeves with Elias? As it happens there are two pieces of evidence, slim though they may be. Elias named his two eldest sons William and Thomas.[1] Emanuel's eldest son was also named William and his father was Thomas.[21] Secondly there is an Emanuel Neeves appearing in the Brede PR's, where he marries Hetty Noaks in 1802. Emanuel is listed as a widower.[1] The imediate conclusion is that the two Emanuel's are the same, however there is a death entry in the Peasmarsh PR's for an Emanuel Neeves in 1790 (unlikely to be a young child of Emanuel's since the PR's usually list the father's name for a child).[21] It is my belief that the Emanuel who married in 1802 at Brede was a brother of Elias, not listed in the Peasmarsh PR's. Perhaps the Emanuel who was married to Elizabeth and had a female child in 1793 in Peasmarsh.[21] If so then this Emanuel would have to be Emanuel Sr's first child.
What then of Emanuel's ancestry? The Peasmarsh records do not list the birth of an Emanuel, however there is a Manwell Neeves, born 1752[21] who is most likely one and the same.[6] Manwell was the fifth of the nine children of Thomas Neeves and Susannah Pankhurst, married at Peasmarsh in 1745. Only three of Thomas' children reached the age of 10. Susannah was said to have been born at Rye, in south-east Sussex, in her Peasmarsh PR death entry.[21] The youngest surviving child of Thomas moved to nearby Beckley and appears to have been the ancestor of the John Neeves who came out on the Palmyra with William in 1838.[10] Thomas was previously married to Mary Bassett, who died in 1742 at Peasmarsh.[21] However neither their marriage nor the birth of their first child is in the Peasmarsh PR's.[6],[21] In fact, while the Peasmarsh records go back to 1569, the earliest Neeves' entries is Thomas and Mary's second child, Mary, born in 1738.[21]
Where Thomas and Mary married and, more importantly, where they came from still remains a mystery. Hopefully the examination of further East Sussex PR's may shed some light on this mystery. Until then, Thomas and his second wife, Susannah, must remain the most distant Neeves ancestors for whom we have any evidence for. Indeed, one Neeves researcher has spent a considerable amount of effort and money on the search and has been unable to take the family back beyond the 18th century.[4]
The Neeves story ends here, but if you have any further information, please feel free to contact me or any other Neeves researcher to pass the information on.[22] Once it is lost, it is gone for good. And of course, as long as there are still Neeves descendents alive, the Neeves story never truly ends.
Births: (b=born; c=baptised; #=PR entry number; s/o= son of; d/o=daughter of; final column is given occupation of father; Eliz.=Elizabeth)
Annie b.12/12/1886 c.16/1/1887 #999 d/o Thomas & Louisa labourerDeaths: (d=died; #=PR entry number; S/P=Section/plot)
Charlotte Florence
b.28/2/1877 c.25/3/1877 #806 d/o William & Mary Ann labourer
Eliza. Agnes b.14/7/1876 c.3/8/1876 #804 d/o Thomas & Louisa farmer
Ethel b.15/7/1880 c.5/9/1880 #863 d/o Thomas & Louisa labourer
Ethel May b.9/1/1878 c.24/2/1878 #820 d/o Thomas & Louisa farmer
Florence Emily b.5/1/1879 c.23/2/1879 #837 d/o William & Mary labourer
George William b.20/9/1874 c.25/10/1874 #788 s/o William & Mary labourer
Matilda b.7/8/1882 c.16/9/1882 #900 d/o Thomas & Louisa labourer
Minnie b.3/2/1884 c.16/3/1884 #922 d/o Thomas & Louisa labourer
Thomas b.26/2/1879 c.6/4/1879 #840 s/o Thomas & Louisa labourer
James b.6/9/1852 c.30/1/1853 #268 s/o Henry & Sarah labourer
Agnes b.8/8/1854 d/o Henry & Sarah labourer
Britannia May (Pike) d.9/9/1950 age=79yr S/P-3/263Marriages:
Charlotte Florence d.25/6/1878 age=15mo #OLD-248 S/P-1
Charlotte Louisa d.20/6/1914 age=23yr #288 S/P-3/23
Emma Anne d.11/9/1983 S/P-5/447
Ethel May d.6/10/1878 age=9mo #OLD-252 S/P-1
George William d.20/2/1892 age=17yr #59 S/P-1
Henry d.7/1/1877 age=53yr #OLD-236 S/P-1
Henry d.25/1/1886 age=39yo #OLD-317 S/P-1
James d.29/8/1924 age=71yr #422 S/P-3/262
Louisa Matilda d.27/10/1949 age=90yr S/P-3/24
Mary Ann d.26/3/1928 age=76yr #522 S/P-2/54
Mildred May d.25/4/1966 age=80yo S/P-3/25
Sarah d.21/10/1884 age=65yr #OLD-298 S/P-1
Sarah d.30/8/1870 #OLD-204 S/P-1
Thomas d.9/7/1930 age=81yr #629 S/P-3/24
Thomas Jr. d.3/4/1935 age=55yr #859 S/P-3/25
William d.13/9/1930 age=80yr #633 S/P-3/54
William d.3/11/1873 age=60yr #OLD-220 S/P-1
Henry Neeves and Sarah Walker, married: 8/4/1844, by Rev. John Troughton (This is the only marriage entry for a Neeves)
BDM Certificates:
p.14. Burial record for Elias Neeves, 1828/1829, Brede; Geoffrey Wren.
p.15. Death certificate of Charlotte Neeves (Polham), 1856; Anthony Neeves.
p.16. Death certificate of William Neeves, 1873; Anthony Neeves.
p.17. Death certificate of Mary Ann Neeves (Cook), 1928; Anthony Neeves.
p.18. Death certificate of Kevin Lester Neeves, 1996; John A. Neeves.
p.19. Marriage certificate of William Neeves and Mary Ann Cook, 1872; Anthony
Neeves.
p.20. Marriage certificate of Agnes Neeves and James Manning, 1875; Dawn Eades.
p.21. Marriage certificate of Kevin Neeves and Elaine Fitzgerald, 1924. John A.
Neeves.
p.22. Birth certificate of George William Neeves, 1895; John A. Neeves.
p.23. Birth certificate of Martha Jenkins, 1897; John A. Neeves.
p.24. Birth certificate of Kevin Lester Neeves, 1931; John A. Neeves.
Other Certificates & records:
pp.25-26. Selection of passenger records from Fairlie and Palmyra; Pat Warren.
p.26b. Death card of Lorraine Betty Neeves, 1928; John A. Neeves.
p.27a. Burial certificate of George William Neeves, 1970; John A. Neeves.
p.27b. Burial certificate of Allan Albert Neeves, 1923; John A. Neeves.
p.27c. Burial certificate of Lorraine Betty Neeves, 1928; John A. Neeves.
p.28. Petrol consumers licence, George W. Neeves, 1948; John A. Neeves.
Newspaper clippings, maps, etc:
p.29. Map of Prospect region, c.1887, showing Neeves holdings.[13]
p.30. Detailed map of part of Neeves holdings purchased c.1870; Dawn Eades.
p.31. Map of present day Prospect, showing location of Neeves holdings relative to
present geographical features. St Bartholomews is on the far right of the map, map
reference: M3/M4. [Dawsons Pink Pages, 1997]
p.32. Advertisement for "Flushcombe Stores", 3/2/1883. Source unknown; Dawn
Eades.
p.33. Newspaper clipping, source unknown, possibly the Advocate, about 1989,
conservation order put on Cricketers Arms Hotel.
p.34. Newspaper clipping, Guardian, 14/5/1985, exterior restoration completed.
p.35. Newspaper clipping, source unknown, possibly the Guardian, about 1996,
restoration push for St Bartholomews.
p.36. Newspaper clipping, source unknown, possibly the Guardian, about 1996/7,
restoration push for St Bartholomews.
p.37a. Newspaper clipping, Guardian, 22/10/97, state heritage listing for Cricketers
Arms.
p.37b. Royal Cricketers Arms Inn, business card, James & Susan Kellie.
p.38. Royal Cricketers Arms, from "Our City - Our Heritage".[28]
pp.39-41. Extracts from sketch book of George William Neeves of Western Rd, Prospect;
additional pages available upon request; John A. Neeves.
Photographs:
p.42a. Photograph of Leslie and Ethel (Manning) Leabon, 1912; Dawn Eades.
p.42b. Photograph of Agnes Manning (Neeves); Dawn Eades.
p.43a. Photograph of Agnes Manning (Neeves) and Florence Cooney (Manning); 1927; Dawn
Eades.
p.43b. Photograph of residence of William and Mary Ann Neeves; 1979. Anthony
Neeves.
p.44. Photograph of "Giftonia", Seven Hills, family home of Henry Neeves; Pat
Warren.
p.45. Photograph of Mary Ann Cook, Alice Maud Neeves, Hazel Wall and Gloria Hazel
Pope; about 1920-1922; Pat Warren.
p.46. Photograph of (rear, L-R) James, Elsie, Ami, Edith, Minnie (Lily) and William
Jr. Neeves, (front L-R) Alice, William, Mary Ann (nee Cook) and Florence Neeves; Pat
Warren.
p.47. Photograph of George William Neeves and Martha Jenkins; John A. Neeves.
p.48. Photograph of Kevin Lester Neeves and Elaine (nee Fitzgerald); John A.
Neeves.
p.49. Group photograph, partially identified: Alice Neeves (rear, 2nd from R), Kevin
Lester Neeves (front, 2nd from R), Lorraine Audrey Neeves (front, L of the dog, small
girl), Dorothy May Neeves (behind and to R of Lorraine) and Martha Dorothy Neeves
(2nd to R of Dorothy); John A. Neeves.
p.50. Photograph of (rear, L-R) Dorothy May, Alice Ellen, Martha Dorothy and George
William, (front L-R) Lorraine Audrey and Kevin Lester Neeves; John A. Neeves.
p.51. Photograph taken at Penrith (Nepean?) River, (L-R) Dorothy May, Keith William,
Alice Ellen and Lorraine Audrey Neeves; John A. Neeves.
p.52. Photograph of Neeves property, Pennant Hills Rd, North Parramatta; lost in the
1930's depression; John A. Neeves.
p.53. Neeves family photograph, partially identified: James Henry (rear, far right,
suit w/o hat), George William (rear, holding baby), Keith William (rear, baby),
William Sr. (old man with suit & hat at front), Mary Ann (to right of William),
Minnie (behind William & Mary Ann), Clara Tosh (to right of Mary Ann), Alice (left of
William Sr, with girl in lap), Florence (behind and to left of William Sr), Elsie
(left of Alice, with baby), Ami (behind Alice, in floral top), Edith (behind, to left
of Alice), Louisa Matilda (large lady at left), Martha nee Jenkins (left of Edith,
with baby). There is some discrepancy with these identifications; pat Warren, Anthony
Neeves and John A. Neeves.
p.54. Photograph of Minnie Cameron (nee Neeves); Pat Powell.
p.55. Photograph of Florence Emily Neeves and Harold Tosh; Pat Powell.
p.56a. Photograph of Florence (Neeves) Tosh and Clara Tosh; Pat Powell.
[copies of the following B&W photographs are available upon request. It costs about
$A1 to reprint a B&W print]
p.56b. Approximate site of Henry Neeves' original grant (block 17A, SW of the
church).
p.56c. Photograph of part of the 1870 land purchase, looking south along Manning St.
The turn-off to the left in the foreground is what remains of Florence St. It is
possible that a pile of building rubble to the left of the photograph is remains of
Neeves-built structures.
p.57. Front and rear views of St Bartholomews, Prospect.
p.58a. Tombstone of Mary Ann (Cook) Neeves (d.1928) and William Neeves (d.1930); St
Bartholomews.
p.58b. Tombstone of Thomas Neeves Jr and Mildred May. ("In loving memory of my dear
husband and our father, Thomas Neeves, died 3rd april 1935, aged 55 years, Also
Mildred may/loving wife of above, died 25th april 1966 aged 80 years") Thomas Neeves
Sr. also buried in same plot, but his marker has been destroyed by vandalism; St
Bartholomews.
p.59a. Tombstone of Henry James Wall, husband of Alice Maude Neeves. ("In loving
memory of my dear husband and our father, Henry James Wall, died 19th march 1923,
aged 55 years". No inscription for Alice); St Bartholomews.
p.59b. Tombstone of William Cameron and Minnie (Neeves). ("In loving memory of
William Cameron, died 23rd may 1946, Also Minnie, wife of the above, died 5th june
1946, Also Elsie Pilcher, died 6th june 1927"); St Bartholomews.
p.60a. Tombstone of James Neeves and Britannia May.
p.60b. Tombstone of Louisa Matilda Neeves, wife of Thomas Neeves Sr; St
Bartholomews.
p.61a. Tombstone of Edith (Neeves), Arthur Britten and Enid Britten; St
Bartholomews.
p.61b. Tombstone of Winifred Agnes Dryden (died 7th aug 1966, 52 years); St
Bartholomews.
p.62a. Tombstone of Agnes Manning and Ethel Leabon. ("In loving memory of Agnes,
relic of the late James Manning, died 19th dec 1928, aged 74. Also Ethel Mildred
Leabon, wife of Leslie James Leabon, died 9th jan 1939, aged 50"); St
Bartholomews.
p.62b. Tombstone of James Manning and Leslie James Leabon. ("In loving memory of
James Manning, died 27th dec 1927, aged 72. Also Leslie James Leabon, died 6th march
1951, aged 64"); St Bartholomews.
p.63a. Tombstone of Florence Emily (Neeves) and Harold Freeman Tosh; St
Bartholomews.
p.63b. Tombstone of Harold Thomas Tosh; St Bartholomews.
p.64a. Tombstone of Clara Winifred (Tosh) Robinson; St Bartholomews.
p.64b. Tombstone of Thomas Roberts and Charlotte Jane (Neeves); St Bartholomews.
p.65a. Tombstone of Arthur Roberts, son of above; St Bartholomews.
p.65b. Tombstone of Gwendoline (McMillian) Bowerman; St Bartholomews.
Return to my home home page