John and James PROSSER appear in the 1841 census living with their parents and siblings in the village of Peterchurch, Herefordshire. The census states that John and James were both 5, and born in 'N S W'. With them is Thomas Prosser, 35, Agricultural Laborer, born in Herefordshire; Simon Prosser, 30, born in Herefordshire; and Christiana Prosser, 30, born in Scotland.
Who were John and James? How did the Prosser family come to be in NSW and what became of them after 1841?
Thomas PROSSER was born about 1808 in the parish of St Martin's, near Hereford, Herefordshire. On the 31st January 1826, aged 18, Thomas enlisted for service in the 4th King's Own Regiment of Foot at Cheltenham in Gloucester (about 40 miles from his home town). The 4th went to Portugal from 1827-8, and Thomas served there, the regiment then returned to England.
On the 2nd January 1831, Thomas (a bachelor) married Christian Prosser (a spinster) at Cheadle, Cheshire, England. According to censuses (1841,51,61), Christiana was born in Scotland. The 4th appear to have been stationed in Scotland, which may help account for the connection. Christiana certainly accompanied the 4th Regiment to New South Wales later in 1831, as the couple had two children born in New South Wales. John Prosser was baptized in 1834 (NSW BDM indexes) and James Prosser was born in March 1836 and baptized at St Philips, Sydney on 1 May 1836.
The 4th regiment departed New South Wales in 1837 and sailed for Madras (in India, then referred to as the East Indies). Thomas' family must have travelled with him, and in 1838 Thomas had been unwell and in hospital, and took his pension. At the time of discharge in 1838, Thomas was 31 years of age, 5 feet 7 inches tall, with brown hair, hazel eyes and a dark complexion (perhaps due to the Australian and Indian climates he had been exposed to). Thomas was recorded as having a 'broken constitution', and some of his illness was put down to illness 'contracted while on duty over Convicts in New South Wales'.
It is not known exactly when Thomas, Christiana, John, and James returned to England, but as stated above the family of four had settled Peterchurch, Herefordshire, close to where Thomas was born. It does not appear that Thomas and Christiana had any further children.
In 1851, Thomas (a pensioner), Christiana and younger son James (15) were living in a lodging house in Peterchurch. I cannot find any sign of John Prosser. In 1861, Thomas (54, an Agricultural laborer and a pensioner), Christiana (51) and their younger son James (25, a carpenter and stated as born in Australia) were living on Long Lane in Peterchurch.
On 24 Aug 1864, James married Mary Pritchard at Holmer, Herefordshire. In 1871, Thomas and Chistiana were still living in Long Lane, in a boarding house. With them was a grand daughter, Mary Ann Prosser, aged 8 (so born about 1863) and born in Peterchurch.
On 30 June 1878, Thomas Prosser died in his home on Long Lane aged 74 (according to his death certificate index). His wife Christiana was the executrix. In 1881, Christina was still on Long Lane, now a Lodging House Keeper, with a grandson James aged 11 staying. In 1891, Christina, now aged 80, was living in the Long Lane Cottage 'Primrose', still a Lodging House Keeper, but no family was staying with her. Finally, in 1901, Christina aged 93 (!) stated she was born in 'Duncan Town Scotland'. Living with her was her eldest son John, a Journeyman Carptenter aged 66, and John's wife Drusilla, 64 and born in Vowchurch Hereford. Christina died in 1902, aged about 89 according to her death certificate index.
What became of the Australian-born sons John and James?
John had been with his family in 1841. On 31 Dec 1859, John married Drusilla Vaughan (father Charles) at Peterchurch, Hereford, and they had several daughters. 1n 1861 John, Drucilla and a new daughter Ellen were at Peterchurch, and in 1871 John was lodging (carpenter, without his family) in Doddenham, Worcestershire. In 1891, John (wheelwright born Sidney Australia) and Drusilla (a dressmaker) were living in West Bromwich, Staffordshire, and in 1901 they were living with John's mother. Drusilla died in Herefordshire in 1922 aged 86.
James had been with his parents in 1841, 51 and 61 as described, then marrying in 1864. In 1871, James and his wife Mary were lodging "for 1 night" in Rowley Regis, Staffordshire. James was a carpenter (born Australia), and Mary was 37, born at Ewyas Harold, Herefordshire, along with a one-year old son James, born in Leominster, Herefordshire. I have not traced them further.
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