Thank you to Rod and also to the many other Listers who have helped with my enquiry regarding the Hampson family of Macleay River district. Within a day of requesting help with the HAMPSON family, I have found out so much from this wonderful List and I would like to share the HAMPSON story with you so far. Edward HAMPSON was Christened on 15th May 1825, at Saint Michael, Ashton Under Lyne, Lancashire, England. His parents being Thomas and Nancy HAMPSON. Family rumour has it that this family was very well off, living in a large home in the town of Ashton Under Lyne in Lancashire. Eliza HARRISON was Christened on 23 May 1824 at Saint Michael, Ashton Under Lyne, Lancashire. Her parents were James and Alice HARRISON Edward HAMPSON at 20 years of age, married Eliza HARRISON also 20, on 1st January 1844 at the Cathedral, Manchester, Lancashire ENGLAND. Some time between 1844 and 1848, Edward and Eliza HAMPSON sailed for the United States, and settled on the east coast of the USA. It is believe that there were already relatives of Edward's living in the U.S. Children born in the U.S.A were.:- Wright Harrison HAMPSON born 1848 in Salem, Mass. Desdemona Ann HAMPSON born 1851 Newark New.Jersey Alice Maria HAMPSON b.1853 Boston, Mass. After the birth of Alice in Boston in July 1853 and before the birth of Thomas in Australia in Nov 1854, the family sailed from Boston to old Sydney Town, Australia. What ship they sailed on is at the moment unknown. Children born in the Colony were:- Thomas 1854, William 1856, Edward 1857, Henry 1860 and Mary 1862. All except Thomas, who may have been born in Sydney, not long after the family arrived in Sydney Cove, were born in the Macleay River district. The family settled somewhere near Kempsey, at the moment it is unknown exactly where their property was. Any help with establishing where the family actually lived, would be very much appreciated. As previously stated, the father Edward joined the police force, and was tragically killed on Christmas Eve 1868 when he was thrown against a tree. More work has to be done regarding the death of Edward. Not sure if he was on duty when he died. It was only six month before, when Edward and Eliza's son Thomas, at 14 years of age was killed in an accident in July, while driving a team of bullocks, when one of the wheels got on the end of a slab, suddenly lifting the other end, which struck Thomas on the head killing him on the spot. Thomas at the time was in the employ of Mr.James Ducat (Manning River New - 11.07.1868). Thomas was recovering at the time from a broken arm at the time of his death. The surviving children all married:- 1870 Wright Harrison HAMPSON, married Isabella Emmeline Reid at Port Macquarie. She died in 1886 and Wright's second wife was Ellen Berman and they married in 1906, also in Port Macquarie. Desdemona Ann HAMPSON married Edwin James CLOUGH in 1868 at Macleay River. Alice Maria HAMPSON married John JONES in 1868 at Macleay River. (The sisters may have married on the same day). William HAMPSON married Elizabeth BOLSTER in 1884 at Kempsey. Edward HAMPSON married Annie KELLARD IN 1882 in Sydney. Henry Frank HAMPSON married Ada Caroline KELLY in 1881 in Sydney. Mary Amelia HAMPSON married Arthur Pringle STEWART in 1881 in Newtown. The one member of this family whose name survives today, through his wonderful exploits is Wright Harrison HAMPSON, through his colourful career as a mail contractor and coach driver for Cobb & Co. He was well known for playing on his bugle "The Girl I Left Behind Me", when his coach was leaving town. There was also his stories of the Boer War, he was 52 years of age when he joined up. Wright Harrison HAMPSON, died in 1929 in Granville, his son Wright Harrison HAMPSON Jnr, died five years before his father in 1924 at Parramatta. Again, a big thank you to everyone who contributed to put this story together. Regards, Janice Belrose - Sydney ----- Original Message ----- From: "Rod Gow" <rgow@ceinternet.com.au> To: <AUS-NSW-NORCO-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, March 27, 2005 4:25 AM Subject: Re: [NORCO] EDWARD HAMPSON-Police Constable > Dear Janice, > > We had a look at some newspaper indexes relating to HAMPSON of the > Macleay River and found the following which may be of some interest... > > Manning River News newspaper - 11 July, 1868 page 2 columns 5 and 6 > >