My Lamprell family were heavily based around Great & Little Wratting stemming from Edward Lamprell around 1622, with known branches in Gt Thurlow, Lidgate, Cowlinge, Kedington, London and Australia, to name but a few! Now a little about my Great Great Great Grandparents James & Elizabeth Lamprell (nee Lamprell) - James Lamprell born c.1809 Little Wratting Suffolk, England, married Elizabeth Lamprell born 1810 Great Wratting Suffolk, England, at Great Wratting on 25 December 1829. James was the son of James & Elizabeth, and Elizabeth was the daughter of Richard & Mary. Both descended from a branch of the Lamprell family which has had a long association with Great & Little Wratting, Suffolk, England.

James & Elizabeth, and their children William, James, Mary Ann*, Elijah, Henry, Charles, Harriet and John, left Plymouth, England on 24 March 1851 on board the emigrant ship Marion. The Marion was a 3 mast ship which had been built at the Canadian Port of Quebec in 1850. It was then registered at the Port of Liverpool. (*Mary Ann’s future husband, Benjamin Preston was also aboard.)

Under the command of Captain G. Kissock, the Marion went on shore about 10pm on the night of Tuesday 29 July 1851 on a reef off Troubridge Shoal South Australia, now called Marion Reef. All survived the wreck. Two long boats left the ship to find help, the first with a party consisting of 9 women, 10 children, 3 sailors, and 2 male emigrants landed in the area of Rapid Bay, the second with from 40-60 people reached Cape Jervis. At the time the Captain left his ship, the water had reportedly reached within six inches on the main deck.

The first few years in the new colony saw hardship for the Lamprell family. In the September following their arrival, Elizabeth and her four youngest children were admitted to the Adelaide Destitute Asylum for a period of time, whilst the family managed to make a start for themselves. Then James and Elizabeth suffered the loss of their youngest child John on 8 April 1852, who died of dysentery, aged 2 and a half years. The marriage of Mary Ann to Benjamin Preston on 8 October 1852, in the Adelaide District, saw new beginnings for the family.

James & Elizabeth, and their family made their way to the Creswick area near Ballarat, Victoria, where they settled in an area called Kingston.

Another Lamprell relative Charles Lamprell born 1820 Lidgate, Suffolk, England, arrived in Tasmania on 8 November 1842 aboard the Marquis of Hastings (2) (‘2’ = second visit of the Marquis to Tasmania). It seems he was transported for Felony and Arsony after setting fire to Captain Boldrowes(?) corn stack. He was tried at Bury St Edmunds on 11 January 1842 and subsequently received a term of 15 years transportation.

Charles and Ann Dolan applied for the Governors Permission to Marry on 9 Jul 1850, and were married on 29 Jul 1850 at Avoca, Tasmania, in a Church of England Ceremony. The witnesses to the Marriage were Thomas Pilgrim and Eliza Stacey.

Ann was also a convict, arriving in Tasmania aboard the Asia on 21 Jul 1847. She had been tried at the Manchester Sessions on 26 Aug 1846 for larceny and received 7 years transportation.

William Lamprill born c.1799 South Ockendon, Essex, arrived in Tasmania on 7 December 1827 aboard the Asia, after being convicted at the Essex Assizes for stealing a lamb. He received a conditional pardon in 1836 and a free certificate in 1841.

He was a convict servant/shepherd in the employment of David and Mary Ann Reynolds (nee Stanfield), who lived at Somerville, a two story solid stone house.

William had accompanied David Reynolds, when David was drowned in a boating incident on 12 August 1834 in the Derwent River, near Austin’s Ferry, when ferrying farm produce to Hobart.

On 7 June 1836 William married Mary Ann Reynolds (David’s widow), in the Parish of Trinity. It is interesting to note that William was recorded as being a widower. As yet we have not managed to find any information concerning his first wife.

William and Mary had four children William born 1837, James born 1839, John born 1841 and Frederick born 1843. Unfortunately John and James died in January 1843.

William is thought to have left Mary in the mid to late 1840’s, returning to England. He died at Colchester, Essex, in 1855. Mary, known as Granny Lamprill, lived in a cottage at Somerville, Tasmania, until she died on 22 June 1881 at Brighton Plains aged 83 years. She was buried at St. Mark's Church Pontville.

Thanks go to Sally Steel for this information.

Richard George Lamprell baptised 14 February 1836 St Alphage, Greenwich, Kent, ENG, was the son of Richard & Eliza Lamprell (nee Giles). Richard's line has been traced back to the mid 1700's to the family of John & Sarah Lamprell (nee Wade) who were based around the Coggleshall area of Essex, ENG.

Richard George Lamprell and his wife Jane (nee Ellis) arrived in Western Australia in 1864 with their one remaining son George Ellis born 21 Feb 1861, Whitechapel, London, England. Their second son Richard William born 12 Jun 1862 St James, London, England, unfortunately died at sea on 3 Dec 1863. Eliza Jane, their third child, was born in Western Australia on 15 March 1864, and Richard’s occupation at that time was recorded as Servant. Ten years later their fourth known child Emily May was born in North Adelaide, South Australia, on 31 May 1874, followed by Benjamin Giles on 7 Jun 1877.

George James Lamprell born circa 1830 Essex, ENG, was the son of Joseph and Sarah Lamprell (nee Harding). George married Louisa Allen (nee Coley) on 14 Apr 1884 in Sandhurst (Bendigo), Victoria, Australia. George was according to the Marriage Certificate, a Widower with one child and Louisa was a Widow with three children living and two children deceased. Not a great deal is presently known about George and his family.

Joseph Henry Lamprell born circa 1853 London, ENG, was the son of George James and Ann Lamprell (nee Morton). I strongly suspect this may have been the first marriage and son mentioned above (George James Lamprell & Louisa Allen (nee Coley)). Joseph married firstly Betsy Trueman. Sadly Betsy died in 1891 after giving birth to their child Joseph George in Geelong. Later the same year Joseph married his second wife Louisa Gibson. Interestingly Louisa was the niece of Louisa LAMPRELL (nee COLEY) who married George James LAMPRELL. Again, at this point very little else is known of the family.

Roz Voullaire

Established 21 Feb 2001 - Updated 17 Mar 2007

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