This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: HAMPSON of Lancashire Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/VUh.2ACIB/142 Message Board Post: Since posting my query in March 2005, regarding Edward and Eliza HAMPSON (nee Harrison), I have found out a little more about the family and I am hoping that this information may help someone out there come up with the answer why this young couple immigrated first to the USA and then later to Australia in 1853/54, which was at the time of the great gold rush in western New South Wales and Victoria. Edward's parents were Thomas and Nancy Hampson. Nancy was either, Nancy Slater, marriage took place to a Thomas Hampson on 30 Sept 1799, St Peter, Bolton Le Moors, Lancashire or Nancy Dawns married a Thomas Hampson on 20th April, 1801 at Leigh, Lancashire, England. Their children were all bapt.at Saint Michael, Ashton Under Lyne, Lancashire:- Hannah HAMPSON b.25 Sept 1808 Henry HAMPSON b.26 July 1810 James HAMPSON b.01 Dec 1812 Sarah HAMPSON bapt.22 Sept 1816 Francis HAMPSON bapt.11 April 1819 Charles HAMPSON bapt. 03 Jun 1821 Thomas HAMPSON bapt. 18 May 1823 Edward HAMPSON bapt. 15 May 1825. **** Edward HAMPSON married Eliza HARRISON on 1st Jan 1844 at Manchester Cathedral, Lancashire. Eliza, maybe the daughter of James and Betty HARRISON, born 28 May 1823 and bapt. 07 Sep 1823 at the Congerational or Independent Church at Hatherlow, Cheshire, England. Between 1844 and 1848, this couple sailed to the USA, as sometime in 1848 Eliza gave birth to a son, Wright Harrison HAMPSON in Salem, Mass. Followed by Desdemona Ann HAMPSON in 1851 - Newark, New Jersey and Alice Maria HAMPSON in 1853 - Boston, Mass. Maybe, some of Edward's or Eliza's siblings were already in the USA. However, by Nov 1854 the family were in New South Wales in Australia for the birth of their fourth child, a son Thomas. I have not been able to find the ship which the couple sailed to the USA, or the ship they sailed to Australia on. However, a trip to the State Library in Sydney may solve the voyage to Sydney between 1853 or 1854. Edward Hampson was killed on Christmas Eve 1862, when thrown from his horse into a tree, in the Macleay River district on the Mid North Coast of N.S.W, while carrying out his duties as a police constable. I have not been able to find the death of his wife Eliza. After thier arrival in Australia, they had five more children, Thomas, William, Edward, Henry and Mary. Any information on this family would be very much appreciated. Janice - Belrose - Sydney, Australia