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A photograph of John Hedges as an old man |
What Happened Next
We don't really know what John did next. This story is partly based on the diary
of a real man, John Hedges of Hampstead, London, and there are no records that
tell us exactly what he did once he reached Sydney.
John migrated to Sydney in 1858 when he was 31-years old, sailing from
Birkenhead on the Admiral Lyons with his wife, Harriet and their sons, John
Walter (known as Walter) and George Basil (known as Basil). He was one of the
47 passengers on board who paid their own fare.
In his diary/letter to his mother John recorded the details of the voyage. From
this we can tell that he was quite a clever man – he was able to read and
write well, and was careful to record the weather, temperature and ship’s
position every day.
What happened to the family once they reached Australia is largely unknown,
although we do know that one of John’s first tasks on reaching dry land
was the burial of two-year old George Basil who died from fever in Sydney
harbour.
We know that the family established itself in Sydney, and by 1863 John was
registered as a bricklayer. By 1869 that description had changed to
‘builder’. Together with his son John Walter, who worked with him,
John built the family home, Hampstead.
Seven children were born in Australia, bringing John and Harriet’s total
to 11, although only two survived to adulthood and both died before John. He
also buried both of his wives – Harriet, who died from exhaustion brought
on by acute sciatica, and Emily Phillips who he married in 1888 when he was 60.
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‘Hampstead’, the house John built with his son, John Walter, in the
outskirts of Sydney |
In later years John was a member of his local lawn bowls club, and was a member
of two Masonic lodges.
John died on 17th December 1920 aged 92. His descendants still live in
Australia.
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