Our Louisa Petitt married Charles Dean in 1851 and they emigrated to Australia setting up home in Adalong, NSW Australia.\
Louisa Pettit1 (F)
b. 23 Mar 1828, d. 02 Mar 1892, #1768
Pedigree
Last Edited=11 Jul 2003
Louisa Pettit was baptized on 23 March 1828 in All Saints, Little Shelford, Cambridgeshire, England.2 She was the daughter of Thomas Pettit and Elizabeth Gifford.1 Louisa Pettit appeared on the 1841 Census in the household of Thomas Pettit at House 033, Little Shelford, Cambridgeshire, England, and Elizabeth Gifford, Philip Pettit, Thomas Pettit, Frederick Pettit, John Pettit, Harriet Pettit and George Pettit lived in the same house.3 Her married name was Dean.4 Louisa Pettit married Charles Dean, son of Stephen Dean and Sarah Fletton, on 26 July 1851 in All Saints, Little Shelford, Cambridgeshire, England.5 Louisa Pettit arrived with Charles Dean on 18 November 1854 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, aboard the Kate.6 Louisa Pettit died on 2 March 1892 in Adelong, New South Wales, Australia, at age 63.7 |
- Children of Louisa Pettit and Charles Dean:
- Louisa Dean (1851 – 21 Jun 1926)
Stephen Dean (1853 – 08 Dec 1938)
Amelia Pettit Dean (1856 – 1856)
Thomas Pettit Dean (1858)
Alfred Dean (1860 – 1874)
Harriett Pettit Dean (1862)
The Shelford Diaspora
Leaving the village for a new life If, like me, you are a local historian, you soon come into contact with people from America, Australia and other former colonies whose forebears migrated from Shelford to find a new life.
Attendance given at the Little Rose Inn, Cambridge, on Thursdays from one to four, for the applications of Farm Labourers and others, to the Australian Colonies, Cape of Good Hope, Canada and America, by Mr Josias Johnson, Barley, Selecting Agent to Her Majesty’s Emigration Commissioners. Her Majesty’s Emigration Commissioners are prepared to grant to Eligible Emigrants, under modified regulations, passages to the several Australian colonies of ADELAIDE, PORT PHILIP, & SYDNEY. A limited number is also wanted for the CAPE OF GOOD HOPE…. EMIGRATION TO CANADA & THE WESTERN STATES of AMERICA, via Southampton. – The first ship, the “Ava”, of 600 tons, Perrett Webster, commander, carrying an experienced surgeon, will embark her passengers on the 10th of April punctually. Emigrants to the Western States can engage for their passage at one payment, from England to any of the following points:- In Canada to Quebec, Montreal, Kingston, Coburgh, Port Hope, Toronto, Hamilton, and Port Stanley: – and in the United States to Oswego, Buffalo, Cleveland, Sandusky, Toledo, Detroit, Milwaukie, Chicago, and Cincinnati, without occasion for any intermediate landing. Passengers will be embarked at Southampton, and be conveyed thither by railway, free of expense…
On 20 March the Cambridge Chronicle reported: EMIGRATION – On the 11th inst. a number of emigrants started from Shelford Station to go on board the Phoenician, at the London docks, bound for Australia. About 20 persons had congregated to witness the departure.
EMIGRATION – a family consisting of 7 persons, viz., father, mother and 5 children, bade adieu to their native place, Gt. Shelford, on the 15th instant – going on the first train to London, on their way to Australia. Others, we hear, are shortly to follow.
THE FARMERS AND LABOURERS – The farmers of this parish and neighbouring villages are already endeavouring to engage their labourers for the ensuing harvest, and they have offered considerably to raise their wages above those given last harvest; this has, in nearly every instance, been refused by the men. It has been very generally anticipated that labourers would be very scarce at the ensuing harvest, in consequence of so many able-bodied men emigrating; and as Ireland is so drained by the emigration mania, we must not expect many labourers from there. The crops have such a prospect of being abundant that we fear the farmers will be short of hands to secure them in due time.
Within the last 2 years, upwards of 120 persons have emigrated from this village, Lt Shelford and Stapleford. There is scarcely a ship that is allowed to carry letters from the Australian colonies to this kingdom that is not the bearer of communications from emigrants there, to their relations or friends here; and it is gratifying to state that nearly every letter received is couched in language the most satisfactory. Many of the senders strongly advise their friends to follow them; and some of them have offered to send money, providing parties here could, or the parish would, make up sufficient to pay the outfit and the expenses. Many of our own able-bodied labourers have a severe attack of the emigration fever and are determined if possible to follow their relations for the land of gold.
In April 1854, Hayes Powter and his wife, who had emigrated to Australia in 1850, made a return visit to Shelford. They were welcomed at the station by a group of friends and family, and the bells were rung to greet them. Lots of people called round to see them. Powter had obviously gone to the gold fields. He made a good showing, with his gold watch and chain, a fistful of gold rings, and pockets bulging with gold sovereigns. He was the master of grandiose gesture, presenting a gentleman who had helped him emigrate with a handsome gold ring. Another party of labourers from Shelford and Stapleford left on 14 November 1854. In February 1855: Another family, consisting of 13 individuals, father and mother and nine children, together with the husbands of the two eldest daughters, who are married – left their native place and country for that of Australia. The man (Henry Poulter) is uncle to the oft-mentioned Hayes Poulter, whose return to Australia was noticed in this paper a few weeks since. Such a contined run of emigration would seem to thin the population; but not the slightest likelihood of a short supply in the labour market is at present apprehended.
So I guess those high harvest wages offered in June 1851 had not lasted. On 8th August: Several letters have been received here within the last few days from Australia and America, all giving cheering accounts of the success of the senders. One party from Little Shelford, named Rider who left about 6 years since, and were at great distress at the time, state that since they have been in Australia, they have amassed sufficient capital to purchase a farm, and were living very comfortably. A respectable young man from Stapleford, who left about the same time, informs us that since he has been at the Antipodes he has saved a sufficient sum to redeem his estate at Stapleford, which was deeply mortgaged before he came into possession. Many other accounts have been received here and in the neighbourhood, too numerous to mention.
Transportation and after… Of course, not all emigrants went voluntarily. William Dean was tried for “grand larceny” at the Epiphany Quarter Sessions in Cambridge in 1827 and sentenced to seven years’ transportation to Australia. The Deans’ home in the 1850s Presumably life didn’t go well because, in the mid-1850s, they emigrated, not to Australia like the rest of the Shelford labourers, but to West Bend, Wisconsin in the United States. I can only assume he’d had enough of Australia to last him a lifetime! William went first, sailing from Liverpool, and Hannah followed a year or so later with 2 of their children, by now young adults.
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From: “Peter Galanakis” <galanakispet@acn.gr> Subject: [ENG-CAMB] Emigration from Gt & Lt Shelford Date: Mon, 21 Jul 2003 18:53:55 +0300
Hello everyone,
Further to the discussions regarding emigration, I have come across the following articles. Hope they are of interest.
1852
20 March
On the 11th inst. a number of emigrants started from Shelford Station, to go on board the Phoenician, at the London docks, bound for Australia. About 20 persons had congregated to witness the departed.
1854
11 March
Within the last 2 years, upwards of 120 persons have emigrated from this village, Lt Shelford & Stapleford.
On Tuesday last, the villagers of this parish were set in commotion in consequence of the return of HAYES POWTER, who emigrated about four years and a half since. The emigrant was met by several of his relatives and friends at the railway station, who escorted him and his wife into the village. The ringers were soon called into requisition, and the iron tongues of the church bells gave forth their loud greetings. He was visited by many persons during the day. MR POWTER, it appears, has amassed considerable property while in Australia, he has a profusion of gold rings, he also sports a gold watch and chain and it is said that his pockets are filled with glittering sovereigns, and he says, he offered to sell another emigrant from Shelford a piece of land for £700 before he left. We hear POWTER has presented a gentleman of this place with a gold ring value £11 as a testimonial of respect, for being instrumental in causing his emigration. A few days since, a letter was received !
by MR JOHN HOWARD of Little Shelford, from his son at the gold fields, who states that he is gaining £10 per week. Another letter has just been received from JAMES BUTLER, a labourer in Australia, by his father-in-law, at Stapleford. BUTLER emigrated about two years since, and states that he saved £50 in the first year, and he thought, by perserverance, he should have £100 by the second.
11 November
Shelford & Stapleford are about to be deprived of some more of their able bodied labourers, who it is stated will leave these parishes on the 14th inst. for Australia. MR HAYES POWTER, the returned and lucky emigrant, we hear is again about to return to the golden regions as he states his exchequer is nearly run out, and Shelford fields will not replenish it, he therefore intends to try his fortune once more in the Antipodes.
1855
3 February
On Thursday morning the 1st instant another family, consisting of 13 individuals, father, mother and 9 children, together with the husbands of the two eldest daughters, who are married – left their native place and country for that of Australia. The man, HENRY POULTER is uncle of the oft mentioned, HAYES POULTER, whose return to Australia was noticed in this paper a few weeks since. Such a continued run of emigrants would seem to thin the population, but not the slightest liklihood of a short supply of the labour market is at present apprehended.
1857
8 August
Several letters have been received here within the last few days for Australia & America, all giving cheering accounts of the success of the senders. One party from Little Shelford, named RIDER, who left about 6 years since, and were at great distress at the time, state that since they have been in Australia, they have amassed sufficient capital to purchase a farm, and were living very comfortably.
1866
20 January
It is with the deepest regret that we announce that MR H J DENNIS son of MR JOHN DENNIS of Great Shelford was one of the unfortunate passengers on board the ill-fated LONDON, a steam ship which had left Plymouth for Melbourne on January 11 with the loss of 220 lives.
(There are two lengthy articles on Henry John Dennis and the wreck of the London, if anyone is interested I’d be happy to send them to you)
Source:- The Great Shelford Chronicle, Containing news about some of the inhabitants and happenings in the village 1774 – 1868.
I’d also be happy to look up names for anyone who may be researching family in Gt & Lt Shelford. But please be patient as the book is not indexed.
All the best
Therese Galanakis
Greece.