Hello Michael,
Here's what I know about some of those immigrants 1839-71 to
Victoria.
** Richard CHANT 48 & Anne CHANT 47 & Harriet 19 arrived January 1855 on
the "Birmingham". Richard was born 17.12.1805 Stoke-sub-Hamden, Somerset...his
parents are Edward CHANT 1779-1844 & Prudence nee STAPLE 1777-1865. Richard married
22.12.1803 in St.andrews, Clifton, Bristol to Ann WIGMORE who was born (date not known) in
Clifton, Bristol & she died 1890.
The Harriet with them is his niece Harriet Land CHANT born 1836 in Stoke who is the
daughter of Job CHANT 1808-1898. Harriet was down as a housemaid when she married
18.6.1855 in Belfast now Port Fairy to a John Thomson who was born in Ballymoney? in
Ireland.
** The Edith CHANT 22 who arrived on the "British Empire" on 6.6.1849 is the
sister of my own ancestor Alfred CHANT born 1824 Somerton. Edith was chris.24.9.1826 in
Somerton, Somerset. Edith married 27.4.1858 in St.Peters C.of E. Melbounre to John
Weymouth OSBORNE born 1821 in Cornwall, England. Edith died 1893 in Geelong, Victoria.
** Now, Sarah CHANT arrived Port Philip Bay, Victoria 15.1.1841 on the
"Ferguson" 15.1.1841... She left Plymouth 25.9.1840. Sarah is the daughter of
George CHANT 1771 & Thamar (Tamar) nee MUSTON. Sarah was born 20.7.1817 in west
chinnock, Somerset. She married 3.7.1844 in St.James C.of E.Melbounre to Joseph MORGAN.
Sarah's brother Isaac Muston CHANT arrived Moreton Bay in 1857 on the
"Parsee".
** The Margaret 26 arriving December 1857 on the Medway is a mystery BUT I have on file
a Margaret CHANT chris.9.10.1829 west chinnock daughter of Thomas CHANT 1781 & Mary
SANDFORD 1764.
* I have her with an Elias GARD born c1828 in Chiselborough who was a labourer in
1851.
* In May 1851 Margaret hen un-married had a Tthursa/Thurza with a surname MUDFORD
& this Thursa married Joseph BEST in chiselborough, Somerset & they had 4 children
1863-1877 in Chiselborough.
* On 15.10.1860 in west chinnock, Margaret married Isaac MUDFORD born 1868. I have
a child Eliza born to them 1849 before marriage so the Thursa could be to him also.
* If this is the correct Margaret she might have come back to from Australia &
married Isaac Mudford & settled down.
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You were querying Walter BENZIE & Mary CHANT...I have them on file with Mary W.CHANT
born 1882 Albury NSW married 1921 in Albury, NSW to Walter e.H.BENZIE born
c1882....that's all I know about them.
Regards,
Janette Pfeifer in Oz.