→ Henry Blinco abt 1831 Oxford arrived Sandridge (Port Melbourne) on July 1, 1863 accompanied by wife Mary and three young children.
Synopsis
At first glance this didn’t look like much of an emigration story. the family of Henry Blincow goes to Melbourne and then returns after 4 years. But I think its a story of a widow who falls in love with a man, who just cant manage to support her and her Atkins children, and although she has a son with him, a family tragedy happens, and it seems the marriage from then on is doomed. On their return to England they drift apart or Henry dies both situations seem possible. Mary Ann reverts to the close family ties with he first husband’s brother (Charles Atkins), as a result her daughters adopt the Atkins surname again and she and one daughter move North. Mary died age 87 in Lancashire, it seems a happy grandmother.
Bicester, Oxfordshire
Henry was one of eight children of George and Keziah Blincow in Market End, Bicester. George Blincow a Agricultural Day Labourer would have been struggling to provide for the family in quite desperate times in Bicester. Henry himself born at a time Cholera was rife in the town. But in 1848 when Henry was 17 things changed for the better, a Railway line specifically intended to join the University towns of Oxord and Cambridge was started it became known as the Buckinghamshire Railway and it went right through Bicester. The work Henry his father and brothers were able to get as ‘Navvies” on the railroad was much better paying that the agricultural labouring and iGeorge and his three eldest sons were earning a good wage. When the line opened in 1850, a massive feast was held in the cricket field near the station. Records show that 900 men and women were fed 1,000 lbs of meat. An extra £6 was donated specifically so the men who built the railway (likely including George and Henry) could join the feast. But with the line built Henry was forced to look further afield for work and this was to be in the industrial heartland of Birmingham in Warwickshire
Aston, Warwickshire
Labouring work was found in Warwickshire and it was here he met a young widow Mary Ann Atkins who had two small girls to look after. Mary Ann had been married to a Charles Atkins, Master Grocer, her father was a Cooper and so she came from better social background and probably had not suffered like Henry growing up.
In 1859 the couple got married and by 1861 census were living 11 Garrison Terrace, Aston, the two girls Ann Maria and Mary Clara have taken the Blincow name. A Blincow son Henry was born in the summer of 1861. However Henry was only able to get Agricultural Labouring work it seems and so in late 1862, early 1863 they decided to take an assisted passage to Australia surely this was the route to better prospects.
The Voyage
Henry and Family had to travel first to the port of departure and it this case was Gravesend In Kent. Likely a train journey for the family with horse and cart for the ends of the trip . The ship they were boarding had to be loaded up with there belongings so likely a day or two in a boarding house in Gravesend was spent before they departed.The Caduceus was a substantial three-masted ship of about 1,106 tons. By 1863, she was a regular on the “Emigrant Run” between London and the colonies.
Henry, Mary and three children arrived in the midst of Melbournes mild winter and at Sandridge which by 1863 had a pier to which passengers were ferried from the larger boats sitting in deeper waters. After being boarded for the night, then Henry would have be required to attend the Immigration Depot to be “hired out.” Employers would come to the depot to sign contracts with newly arrived workers. Work for labourers was plentiful and 10 yrs after the Gold Rush Melbourne was wealthy town and lots of development was going on.
We know that the family were living in Williamstown and so that likely where the first employment contract was made, The rail yards etc were there and possible Henry was able to get Railway labouring work similar to that he did in Bicester.
Tragedy August 1864
It was just over a year after landing and the family were staying in a boarding house/hotel and a strong indicator that things were not going that well for Henry regarding work and income. He it seems wasn;t in a position to place a deposit and rent a home for the family. Instead they were paying week to week boarding fees. It may be the work was intermittent of a “day” nature and they were struggling. It also help understand what transpired for which Henry was harshly judged for his actions
In August 1864, Mary Ann was went into an early labour, Henry hesitated to call a doctor the expense being well above what reserves they may have had, this resulted in a very painful and difficult unsupervised premature birth and death of the 2 month premature baby. An inquest was held and the news report below, describes the perspective of the court, but ignores the frail financial situation the couple were in.
On Wednesday afternoon an inquest was held at Mac’s hotel, Willlamstown, hefore Dr Wilkins, upon the body of a male infant, whoso death took place about twelve o’clock on Mon day night. The child had been born about twenty-four hours previously, and about two months before its proper time. From the evidence of Henry Blincoe, the father, it appeared that soon after birth the child was seized with convulsions, which continued with great violence up till the time of death, and that during the whole period of its illness no medical aid was obtained. The verdict returned was that premature birlh was tho cause of death, the jury expressing their opinion that the conduct of Blincoe in neglecting to call ia medical assistance was deserving of the highest censure.
One cant help but draw a conclusion this bitter and sad situation was the very reason the Blincow’s made a decision that few emigrants made at this time. They decided to return home as soon as they could. This was of course conditional on having served contractual period of two years to be free to return without financial penalty. Plus they had saved the substantial funds for the return journey. So it was in fact two years after this tragic event they were in a position to pay the fares and return.
Return to England 1866
The family returned in June 1866 on the ship Dover Castle ie 3 years after emigrating so they had stayed the 2 years promised under the assisted passage scheme so no penalty But henry would have paid The Cost: Steerage for the return trip was the absolute cheapest option, usually costing between £12 and £15 per adult.
The Family Total: For a couple and three children in steerage, the total would have been roughly £36 to £45. A massive amount to have saved and one wonders just how Henry did this , did Mary Ann work as well?
We lose track of Henry but Mary Ann appears regularly in Census until 1911. In the 1871 Census the closest to when they return Mary is alone in Bedminster Gloucestershire, but states a married woman and is employed as a dressmaker, son Henry age 9 is with her and this is good proof we have the right Mary Ann Blinco. Henry is likely elsewere labouring at this stage, or the marriage has separated. Its interesting that Mary Clara is now Atkins again and in 1871 census and a servant age 15 in Clifton, Gloucestershire. Even more interesting is Annie Maria Atkins is age 18 a housekeeper for her uncle Henry Atkins in Oldham, Lancashire. It appears that Mary Ann Blinco moves to Oldham later and dies there in 1912.
However Mary Clara (note as Atkins) gets married in 1876 in Clifton Gloucestershire to Henry Jones Chappell in 1891 they are living in Bristol with two sons. Those two sons are with Clara’s sister Ann Maria Atkins and Mary Ann Blinco in 1901 census in Oldham Lancashire Mary Ann is a Widow. In 1901 Clara is with her husband Henry Jones Chappell in Bristol so the boys are just visiting their Aunt and Grandmother.
Death Obituary
Unknown for Henry Blinco but his wife Mary Ann Atkins died in 1912 in Oldham, Lancashire
Timeline
| Event | Date/Location | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Full Name | Henry Blincow | |
| Birth Date | 1831 | |
| Birth Place | Bicester, Oxfordshire | |
| Census UK 1841 (6 Jun) | 6 Jun 1841, Bicester Market End, Oxfordshire | George Blencowe 45 Agricultural Labourer Keziah Blencowe 40 Charles Blencowe 20 John Blencowe 15 Sarah Blencowe 13 Harriet Blencowe 15 Henry Blencowe 10 George Blencowe 8 Mary Blencowe 5 Jane Blencowe 3 |
| Census UK 1851 (30 Mar) | 30 Mar 1851, 33 Crockwell St, Bicester, Oxfordshire | Keziah Blincowe 52 Head Widow and Pauper John Blincowe 25 Son Rail Labourer George Blincowe 19 Son Rail Labourer Henry Blincowe 17 Son Rail Labourer Mary Ann Blincowe 15 Daughter Lacemaker Jane Blincowe 12 Daughter Eliza Blincowe 8 |
| Birth of Daughter Anne Maria | 1853, | |
| Birth of Daughter Mary Clara | 1856, | |
| Marriage | 8 Nov 1859, Balsall Heath, Kings Norton | |
| Census UK 1861 (7 Apr) | 7 Apr 1861, 11 Garrison Terrace, Aston, Warwickshire | Henry Blinkhorn 32 Head Agricultural Labourer Mary Blinkhorn 36 Wife Ann M Blinkhorn 8 Daughter Clara Blinkhorn 5 Daughter |
| Birth of Son Henry | Jun 1861, | |
| Emigrated a Blencowe variant | 1 Jul 1863, Melbourne, Victoria | Henry Blincow 32 Labourer Oxford. The ship Caduceus arrived at Sandridge (Port Melbourne) on July 1, 1863, after a 90-day voyage from London. Mary Blincow 33 Ann M 10 Mary C 8 Henry 2 Page: 235; Volume: 14; Ship: CADUCEUS; Arrival date: Henry Blincow 32 Labourer Oxford |
| News Article | 5 Aug 1864, The Herald Melbourne | On Wednesday afternoon an inquest was held at Mac\'s hotel, Willlamstown, hefore Dr Wilkins, upon the body of a male infant, whoso death took place about twelve o\'clock on Mon day night. The child had been born about twenty-four hours previously, and about two months before its proper time. From the evidence of Henry Blincoe, the father, it appeared that soon after birth the child was seized with convulsions, which continued with great violence up till the time of death, and that during the whole period of its illness no medical aid was obtained. The verdict returned was that premature birlh was tho cause of death, the jury expressing their opinion that the conduct of Blincoe in neglecting to call ia medical assistance was deserving of the highest censure. |
| Travel | Jun 1866, London, England | The family returned in June 1866 on the ship Dover Castle ie 3 years after emigrating so they had stayed the 2 years promised under the assisted passage scheme so no penalty But Henry would have paid The Cost: Steerage for the return trip was the absolute cheapest option, usually costing between £12 and £15 per adult. The Family Total: For a couple and three children in steerage, the total would have been roughly £36 to £45. A massive amount to have saved |
| Death | After 1871, Unknown |
Timeline for Mary Ann Atkins (nee Amos )
| Event | Date/Location | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Full Name | Mary Ann Atkins (Amos) | |
| Birth Date | 1825 | |
| Birth Place | Thornbury, Gloucestershire | |
| Marriage | 9 Oct 1849 Wooton Underwood, Gloucestershire | To Charles Atkins Master Grocer |
| Birth of Daughter Anne Maria Atkins | 1853, Gloucestershire | |
| Birth of Daughter Mary Clara Atkins | 1856, Gloucestershire | |
| Widow | Jan, 1856, Bristol | Death of Charles Atkins |
| Marriage | 8 Nov 1859, Balsall Heath, Kings Norton | To Henry Blincow |
| Census UK 1861 (7 Apr) | 7 Apr 1861, 11 Garrison Terrace, Aston, Warwickshire | Henry Blinkhorn 32 Head Agricultural Labourer Mary Blinkhorn 36 Wife Ann M Blinkhorn 8 Daughter Clara Blinkhorn 5 Daughter |
| Birth of Son Henry | Jun 1861, | |
| Census UK 1871 (2 Apr) | 2 Apr 1871, 3 Fairfield Terrace, Bedminster, Somerset | Mary Blinco 46 Wife Dressmaker Henry Blinco 9 Son |
| Census UK 1901 (31 Mar) | 31 Mar 1901, 451 Lees Rd., Oldham, Lancashire | Anna Maria Atkins 48 Head Single Mary Anne Blines 76 Mother Henry Chattin 21 Nephew Francis Chattin 13 Nephew |
| Census UK 1911 (2 Apr) | 2 Apr 1911, 77 Laburnam Cottage Broadway St Oldham | John Taylor 69 Head Ironmonger Shopkeeper Anne Maria Taylon 58 Wife Mary Ann Blinco 86 Mother-in-law Francis Chappell 23 Nephew Emily Clara Chappell 14 Niece |
| Death | May 1912, Mrs Mary Ann Atkins Age 87 Residence Place 77 Broadway St, Oldham | 20 May 1912 Cemetery Greenacres Burial Place Oldham, England |
Sources
- Daphne Austins Blencowe Database
- Ancestry and FamilySearg
- Trove Newspaper archive
- Victoria State Records