William and Mary MYERS appears in the 1841 census living with their family in Stanley Terrace, Onchan, Isle of Man. The census states that William was 8, and born in 'N S Wales', and Mary was 7 and also born in 'N S Wales'. With them is Elizabeth Myers, 30, Independent, born in England (E, as England is off the Isle of Man); Charlotte Myers, 5, born Isle of Man; Henrietta Myers, 4, born Isle of Man, and Maryanne Jones, 40, born in England, a Female Servant.
Who were William and Mary? How did the Myers family come to be in NSW and what became of them after 1841?
Joseph MYERS, Gentleman, was born in England (probably Liverpool, Lancashire). On 24 May 1828 he married Elizabeth JONES at St John's, Liverpool - probably his second marriage. Of Elizabeth I have been able to determine little, but she was born in Liverpool about 1805. Joseph became a merchant and cotton broker with members of his family in Liverpool, and a notice a week after his marriage announced that the firm "J. and J. Myers" of Liverpool (with his brother John K.) was dissolved (London Gazette, Part 1, 1828, p1077).
Shortly afterwards (7 July 1828), Joseph and Elizabeth travelled on Australia on the 'Mary', arriving in Sydney on 20 Jan 1829, with two boys and two girls (assumed to be from a first marriage). Elizabeth probably conceived on the voyage, as a daughter Elizabeth Ann Myers was born 13 May 1829, and baptized at St James' Church in Sydney shortly afterwards. Two years later a son John Kitching Myers was born, baptized at St John's Parramatta on 14 Nov 1831 (by Samuel Marsden). Joseph appears to have been continuing his profession of merchant, and Sydney papers occasionally list goods of "J. Myers" on importation lists. Three more children followed, William J (1832), Mary J (1833) and Charlotte (1834).
It is not clear when the Myers family decided to leave NSW, but by 1836 the family had arrived in the Isle of Man (a resort for those evading creditors). In Sep 1836, the Australian-born Elizabeth, aged 7, was buried at Lezayre cemetery. The baptism of a daughter Henrietta was recorded at Maughold in June 1837.
Joseph Myers died in January 1839 on the Isle of Man, again buried at Lezayre.
Joseph was entered in the burial register as 'late of the town of Liverpool' (no mention of NSW), and the Liverpool Mercury (25 Jan 1839) reported that he died "at his house, near Ramsay, Isle of Man... aged (possibly 47?)". There was probate for Jospeh's death on Isle of Man (Lez, A, 42, 0106249).
It was shortly after this that the Myers family appear in the 1841 census living in Onchan on the Isle of Man. It is curious that Charlotte's place of birth is listed as IoM, but she was baptized in NSW.
Henrietta, aged around 5, died in June 1842 at Douglas, IoM. At some point after this Elizabeth and family returned to Liverpool. The 1851 census shows Elizabeth, an annuitant, living in Liverpool with her son William (an apprentice general broker, born Sydney N.S.Wales), Charlotte (born Isle of Man), and a servant. Mary is not at home at that time.
In 1861, Elizabeth was living with all three of her children at 13 Oxford St, My Pleasant, Liverpool. William J (28) was a General Merchant born in 'New South Wales', Mary J (27) a 'Fundholder' also born in 'New South Wales' and Charlotte (25) also a Fundholder. Elizabeth died in 1870 at Seaforth, Liverpool, her daughter Mary Jane being one of the executors.
If 1870 was a trying year, 1871 was a terrible year for the family. In early 1871, Mary J appeared in the census living at “Lezare” Elm Road, Litherland, Lancashire, her means being 'Income from Dividend'. William Joseph died on 24 Aug 1871 at 'Lezayre House' (named after the Isle of Man home presumably), and Mary Jane died less than a month later in the same family home.
Mother and the two Australia expatriates all died within two years in Liverpool, and all were buried at the church of St George, Everton.
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