Monday, December 20, 2010

Woodland Family

The Woodland Family of Taunton Somerset

The Woodland Family of Taunton
Thomas Woodland was born in the town of Taunton, Somerset County, in England in about 1799. This information is taken from the 1841 UK Census, where Thomas appears, aged 41 years, employed as a labourer and the head of his family. 

Living with Thomas Woodland at the address of East Reach, in the parish of St Mary Magdalen, in Taunton were his wife, Rebecca (Coles) 35,and children, James 15, Jane (Martha Jane) 14 Joseph 12,John 3 and Mary 1 year. James, like his father Thomas, worked as a labourer. An older son, Thomas Coles Woodland was not living with the family at the time of the census.

Thomas Woodland senior had married Rebecca Coles in the Taunton parish of St James in 1824 (see image below from the Pallots Marriage Index for England 1788-1837). Rebecca was born in about 1806, also in Taunton, according to information on the census records. 


Pallot's Marriage Index for Thomas Woodland
and Rebecca Coles
 


                                       

The town of Taunton has a long history, beginning in the time of the Saxons. Taunton is mentioned in the Domesday book, as having three watermills. According to the Pigot and Co's National Commercial Directory of Somerset, 1930, 'Taunton, a populous and respectable market town and borough, in the hundred of its name, is situated on the river Tone, and upon the banks of the Bridgewater and Taunton canal: 146 miles from London through Salisbury, and 155 through Bath, 33 from Exeter. It derives its name from the river Thone or Tone, and in early days it was called Thono Dunum, ie 'the town upon the Tone'.'

St Mary Magdalene Church, Taunton


St Mary Magdalen has been the town church since its completion in 1508.Baptism records can be found for all of the children of Thomas and Rebecca Woodland in the parish records of the anglican church of St Mary Magdalen, Taunton, between the years 1825 and 1840. 


East Reach where the Woodland family lived in Taunton


The town of Taunton, at the time when Thomas and Rebecca Woodland were raising their family of four sons and two daughters, was quite a prosperous place, with a hospital (built in 1812) and mainline railways connected (1842). The main industries in Taunton in the 19th century, were textile-based industries, notably silk and lace making.  

 Between July and September of 1843, Thomas Woodland died, leaving his wife, sons and daughters to provide for themselves. Thomas's death could well have forced his family members into the criminal activities for which they were sent to trial in 1844, however it appears from Criminal Registers in England that the three eldest of the Woodland boys were already involved in skirmishes with the law prior to their father's death.

On January 9, 1843 at age 13, young Joseph Woodland, the third son of Thomas and Rebecca,was tried for the crime of larceny but fortunately for the young lad, he was acquitted. Joseph appeared again, along with his older brother, Thomas Coles Woodland, before the Taunton, Somerset Court on June 26, 1843. Joseph was accused once again, of 'larceny', and Thomas was accused of 'receiving stolen goods'. On this occasion, the brothers were acquitted. 

Luck eventually ran out for Thomas Coles Woodland, who at the age of 21, was tried on January 8,in the quarter sessions at Taunton, for the crime of 'receiving 31 pounds from my brother-in-law.'. Thomas, who used the name of Coles at this hearing, was sentenced by the prosecutor, to ten years imprisonment in Van Dieman's Land. Thomas left the shores of England, on march 8, 184,4 on board the convict ship 'Maria Somes', a journey of days. The 'Maria Somes' arrived in Tasmania, on July, 30, 1844 under the master, John Baker. His mother Rebecca must have been heartbroken to lose her eldest son to the harsh penal system of the Australian colonies. 

According to Thomas COLES Woodland's convict records, he had a prior conviction for assault for which he had served 8 months imprisonment. The ship's surgeon, James Osborne,reported that Thomas's character during the journey was 'bad'. His description in the ship's records show Thomas to be 22 years of age, 5 feet 2.75 inches in height, protestant, a baker and confectioner, able to read and write and of single status.'

Thomas did not marry and died in a small hamlet known as Ormley in the North East of Tasmania. He was a woodcutter and spent his time collecting bark from the black wattle trees. Tannin that was extracted from this bark was used in the tanning process for hides. Thomas Woodland's place of burial is unknown and is most likely to have been on what is now a private farming property.

 James Woodland

On January 8, 1844,in the same month that Thomas Woodland was transported to Tasmania to serve a sentence of seven years, his brother, James, was sent to trial in Taunton charged with the crime of 'receiving 31 pounds from my brother Joseph, transported to Parkhurst'. James Woodland, was sentenced to 7 years transportation to Tasmania. He sailed from Downs in England on the convict ship 'Barossa" departing May 17, 1844 and arriving on the shores of Van Dieman's Land on September 6, 1844. This journey of 110 days transported 324 male prisoners to Tasmania, delivering 319 after 3 deaths on board the ship. The voyage took place under the watch of master, John Austin and surgeon, John Gannon.

 James was described as being 20 years old( he was actually 18 years old ) , 5 feet 4 1/2 inches in height, protestant, able to read and write a little and a bricklayer by trade. Also recorded were prior convictions for James Woodland, which were as follows: 'illegally pawning goods..' for which he had served 1 month imprisonment, and 'stealing cutlery' for which he had served a further 2 months' sentence in England. The ship's surgeon reported James' condition during the voyage to be 'good'. 

James Woodland's name on the list of Convicts on board the 'Barossa'
























Conduct Record for convict James Woodland
  The above record is James Woodland's conduct record which starts on May 17, 1844 and ends on September 10, 1844. This document provides the following detailed description of James Woodland.
Trade: Bricklayer
Height: 5'1/4"
Complexion: Fresh
Head: Oval
Hair: Dark Brown
Whiskers: None
Visage: Oval
Forehead: Medium
Eyebrows: Dark Brown
Eyes: Blue
Nose: Long
Mouth: Medium

The description continues, reporting that James had 'a scar on the thumb of his left hand, a wart on his right thumb and two scars on his right eyebrow.'

James woodland committed several further offences between the years 1844 and 1849. His original 7 year sentence was extended to 10 years. The handwriting on the conduct record is difficult to read, however it appears that he was tried several times in Launceston and Hobart Town for crimes such as illegally possessing a firearm and assault. The 1849 Convict Muster shows that James was residing in Campbelltown where his bricklaying skills were most likely put to good use in the construction of now historic homesteads, bridges and public buildings.

On August 30, 1859, according to the Australia Marriage Index, 1788-1949, James married Agnes Collier in Campbelltown, Tasmania.  Agnes was born in about 1837 in Old Beach, Tasmania. It is likely that she was the daughter of convict parents, however this needs to be further investigated.

Map of Tasmania showing Campbelltown


James and Agnes Woodland had the following children:

James Easter Woodland  born in 1860 and died on April 27, 1861.

Helen Rebecca Woodland  born in 1861 in Campbelltown, Tasmania.

Emma Woodland  born in 1864, in Great Lakes, Ross, Tasmania. Emma married James Woodland Searle on July 2 1885 in the Evangelical Lutheran Church, Maryborough, Queensland. James Searle was Emma's first cousin and son of James' sister Mary Jane and her husband Samuel Searle who emigrated to Queensland in the 1870's. Emma died on March 27, 1948 in Howard, Queensland.

James William Woodland  born in 1865 in Campbelltown. James married Louisa Anne Watkins on January 11, 1895 and died on June 23, 1925 aged 59 years.

Unnamed Male born 1865 Campbelltown, Tasmania.

Thomas Tasman Woodland  born in 1879, in Campbelltown. Thomas married Evelyn Theresa Bonner in 1915. he died on September 26, 1963 in Launceston, Tasmania.

William Henry Woodland  born in 1881.

Winifred Woodland  born in 1887.

Elizabeth Woodland birth year unknown. Elizabeth married Thomas Bowley and lived in Ulverstone, Tasmania.

John Henry Woodland  born on October, 1883, in Cleveland, Tasmania. The 1914 Australian Electoral Roll shows John living in Brighton, Franklin, Tasmania aged 31 years. In 1916, John Henry Woodland enlisted in the Australian Army. On December 22, 1916, he embarked on the ship 'Persic' with the 12 Infantry Battalion - 13 to 23 reinforcements. His World War 1 records show that he served his country from August 1916 until March 1918. Campaigns which this Battalion fought were: Egypt, Sinai, Defence f the Suez Canal, Western Front: Pozieres, Retreat to the Hindenburg Line,Messines, Bullecourt, Menin Road, Polygon Wood, Passchendaele, Amiens, Albert, Hindenburg Line.
John Henry Woodland's enlistment record listed his mother,Agnes Woodland as his next of kin.



On April 22, 1922, at age 38, John Henry Woodland married Florence Keen in Queensland. It is most probable that John Woodland went to Queensland after World War 1 because he had his aunt, Mary Jane and her husband Samuel Searle living there.

Back in Somerset
James Woodland, convict and father of John Henry Woodland left behind in Taunton, Somerset his mother, Rebecca, younger brother John and sister, Mary Jane Woodland. Young Joseph Woodland had been the third son of Thomas and Rebecca Woodland to be transported as a convict to Australia. Joseph was tried in Taunton on the same day as his older brother, James - January 8, 1844. His crime, at the age of 14 years was the theft of 35 pounds. He, along with other juvenile offenders, was sent to NSW as a Parkhurst Boy.


Parkhurst Boys

James Woodland's mother, Rebecca, remarried a man named James Searle, in March of 1846. The remaining Woodland Children, Mary Jane and John adopted the surname Searle. James Woodland's sister, Mary Jane 'Searle' married Samuel Searle in Somerset in September, 1855, aged 28 years and the couple immigrated to Queensland Australia in October, 1874.

Deaths of James and Agnes Woodland

James Woodland, the convict who had arrived on the shores of Tasmania in 1844, died in Campbelltown in 1897 aged 71 years. Although, James obtained a Certificate of Freedom, he was tried and imprisoned on a number of occasions throughout his life in Tasmania. On March, 19, 1872, he was sentenced to 3 years imprisonment for sheep stealing. James had also previously received a one month sentence for 'having 9 kangaroo skins improperly in his possession.'
It is most likely that the gaps between the births of James and Agnes Woodland's children was due to the fact that James was serving time in prison.

James Woodland was buried in the Meadowbank Presbyterian Cemetery, which is now on a large rural property and overlooks the town of Campbelltown, affording James a view of the town that he helped to build, laying bricks as a convict.

Agnes Woodland nee Collier, died on December, 6, 1923 and was buried in the Anglican section of the Ulverstone Cemetery near Devonport. Since her daughter, Elizabeth lived at Ulverstone, it is likely that Agnes lived with her there, before her death. Agnes's will dated December,1, 1923, names her daughter, Elizabeth Bowley and her son John Henry Woodland as executors of her estate.






This is the story of James Woodland, from Taunton, Somerset, England, told for his descendants.

8 comments:

  1. G,day thank you for taking the time to reserch this information as it has filled in another part of my family tree. I am a decendant of James,s daughter Elisabeth who married Thomas Bowley. Thanks again Brett

    ReplyDelete
  2. I am Elizabeth Colliers great great grand - daughter. I have family bible. They brought up my grandfather who was called Willie or William Edward Bowley. He spoke of a granny woodland. Any one with more info can
    You please post want to complete family tree.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I am the writer of this Woodland family blog. Anyone wanting to contact regarding information about this blog, me can do so via my email address which is lastmacdade@hotmail.com
    Regards Sharn White

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hey this is some really amazing information! This really helps me understand a lot of where I have come from. But I am a bit lost right now, there is a gap. My Fathers name was Anthony(b1965) and his fathers name was Lawrence. I think I might be related to James William some how but I don't know. Know anything that could help me?

    ReplyDelete
  5. James Woodland & Agnes Collier are my 2nd G Grandparents.
    Regards
    Judy Russell
    judrus1012@msn.com

    ReplyDelete
  6. Dylan you are related to James Woodland through Anthony son of Lawrence son of Allan son of James William son of James Woodland convict. If you need more information you may contact me at lastmacdade@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  7. I am a descendant of the Allen family who had a grocer's shop at 19 East Reach, Taunton during the 19th century, so found your blog really interesting

    ReplyDelete
  8. my maiden name is Woodland mygreat grandfather Alan arthur woodland is son of James william woodland and ann louise taylor watkins. Im thankful for this information on my family history. Thank you. Crystal Heathcote nee Woodland

    ReplyDelete