Thomas CHAMPION

Occupation Details

• Thomas' occupation was 1841 Ironmonger. 

  • Occupation Notes
    • The decision to sell his ironmongery business in Russell Square, London, and take himself, wife Harriett and five children to Australia must have given Thomas Champion quite a lot of doubts. Was it the best for them all leaving a country where their ancestors had lived since they came from Normandy in the eleventh century?
      
      On August 17, 1841, after staying a while with Harriett's father, John Woodrough, at Cambridge Butts - near the Thames river - they boarded a small boat to take them and their possessions down the river to the Barque "Andromachie" at Gravesend for the long trip to Australia (possibly having cousins in Sydney and Tasmania already would help them in settling more quickly than coming among complete strangers).
      
      Thomas commenced his journal on leaving London and recorded events on board during the trip. One interesting entry was before leaving London, son Thomas - aged 11 - had been at Blackfriars for the celebration of Queen Victoria's coronation when a bullock was roasted in the street and pieces given to the residents of the area.
      
      Heavy seas caused problems on board often flooding their cabin and soaking their beds and possessions. Passengers quarreled a lot and grumbled at too much beef in their diet, but a welcome change of pork, fish and albatross pies helped.
      
      Many ships were seen and conversations held with their Captains, some taking mail back on their homeward bound trips and giving news from Australia, New Zealand and Bombay and receiving latest news from London.
      
      Crossing the equator celebrations by the crew, who threatened to cut Thomas Champion's beard off, evidently he was proud of his beard and appealed to the Captain to order the crew to desist or he would have a complaint to make on arrival in Port Jackson.
      
      Serious illness of Harriet Champion and Louisa falling down hatchway carrying a kettle of boiling water and receiving bad scalding on body and legs and her recovery taking a number of weeks.
      
      Arriving in Melbourne on February 13, 1842, a tiresome stay of nearly a month at Williamstown while goods were unloaded mainly for Woolley and Bacchus warehouse.
      
      The port being some distance from the city could not go there often, and the river water caused quite a lot of illness. Leaving Port Philip Bay a large American boat coming into port without a lookout in crows nest very nearly caused a collision with the Andromachie, only skillful sailing by both captains averted a tragedy as Champion cabin was where the impact would have been. Captain congratulated family on their very narrow escape and this I think is reason for a Thanksgiving Prayer at our gathering at Windsor, March 22, 1987.
      
      On arrival at Deloittes Wharf( March 23, 1842) they were met be a cousin and taken to this tearooms and restaurant for dinner and later found temporary living quarters above a nearby grocery shop in George Street. Returning to ship for overnight stay and to gather together their possessions for the embarking next day to their new home in a new country.
      
      The town s it was then pleased them, well-stocked shops with up-to-date goods. The lovely gardens and the walk to Mrs. Macquarie's Chair and to head bands in the park, unveiling the Governor Richard Bourke's statue, all helped them to settle down for a couple of years before moving to permanent home in Windsor. Their third Australian bond child, Eliza was born there.
      
      an extract from the forward of Register of Thomas & Harriett Champion, Descendants in Australia, 1842-1987
      Ms. Bessie Jean Warren
      Epping, NSW, 1987