- Born: 7 May 1833, Eardisley, Herefordshire, England 82,83
- Christened: 15 Jun 1834, Eardisley, Herefordshire, England
- Marriage (1): Caroline Gittoes on 12 Aug 1853 in Tredegar, Monmouthshire, Wales 72
- Marriage (2): Johanna McElligott on 6 May 1895 in Church Of Christ, 48 Elizabeth Street, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
- Died: 27 Jan 1900, General Hospital, Launceston, Tasmania, Australia at age 66
- Buried: 3 Feb 1900, C Of E Cemerery, Cypress Street, Launceston, Tasmania, Australia
Cause of his death was Emphysema & broncho-pneumonia.
Other names for Tracy were Tracey and Tracy William.
General Notes:
More document images held - available on request.
Tracy was born prior to his mother's marriage to Henry Watkins. He wsas baptised after they married and both Henry & Sarah were listed as his parents.
The boy's and girl's name Tracy is pronounced TRAY-see. It is of Irish and Gaelic origin, and its meaning is "warlike".
Occupation given as Gold Miner in 1865.
Arrived in Australia on board the sailing vessel "Robert Small" in 1863 with wife Caroline and children - Caroline and William Henery as 'Assisted British Immigrants'. According to the passenger list Tracy was semi-literate, being able to read but not write. Tracy's emigration was sponsored by the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints.
At some stage after his arrival in Australia Tracy learned to write his name as evidenced by his signature on the 1865 birth record of his daughter Mary Ann Watkins.
According to family oral history (Russell Ray Watkins), Tracy Watkins managed the Warrandyte Hotel for the owners - the Trezise family in the late 1880/90's. Tracy left his job and family and took off with the Hotel barmaid/cook. Nothing was know of Tracy after he took off with the barmaid/cook.
The Victorioan police Gazette of 1884 has the following item:
See police gazette, 1883, p. 291.
Tracy Watkins, wife desertion. - Offender was senn in Melbourne during May last, driving a furniture van. _O.6612. Ist July 1884. (Editor's note: The 1883 Police Gazette is missing from the archive).
A marriage (bigamous as there is no divorce on the public record) is recorded in Sydney in 1895 between Tracy Watkins and Joanna Littlewood. Joanna Littlewood is presumably the barmaid/cook. It appears they married in Sydney Sydney where Tracy was unknown. The marriage certificate describes Tracy as a 'widower' (which he wasn't) and Johanna Littlewood as a widow (which she was).
Records reveal that Tracy was a dealer/pawnbroker in Hobart in 1884/5.
Tracy Watkins died in Launceston. Perhaps they moved to Tasmania as a married (sic) couple to escape scrutiny from the faimily (and the law).
Mary Ann Watkins, Tracy's daughter's marriage certificate in 1882 shows Tracy's as living in Warrandyte and his occupation as 'Publican' thus giving credence to above story. Tracy signed the Marriage Certificate.
William Hartrick, Tracy's grandson (Mary Ann Watkins & Abraham Hartrick) recalled in a recorded interview in 1977 that " (his)..grandparents "had the Warrandyte Hotel and that his grandfather (Tracy) cleared out to Tassie with another woman, the pub's cook". He said family members never found out where Tracy had gone until after his death. William's father, Abraham Hartrick went to Launceston, Tasmania to see what the 'widow's' situation was, but she was left with nothing. According to Bill, Tracy's wife, Caroline (Bill's grandmother) came to live with his parents following Tracy's disappearance. (The interview was conducted by The Warrandyte Historical Society and covers Bill's memories of Warrandyte town and it's residents. I have an audio copy of this interview).
According to Tracy's grandson, Russell Ray Watkins, family oral history has Tracy working as the licencee of the Warrandyte Hotel which was owned by the Trezise family. Tracy allegedly stole some money from the hotel when he absconded with Johanna Littlewood. The existing Trezise family members still hold a grudge for the alleged theft.
Records held in the State Library, Launceston confirm that Tracy was buried in the Church of England Cemetery, Cypress Street, Launceston. This cemetery no longer exists and a sports field covers the area. The bodies were not exhumed. Most of the gravestones were destroyed. Only a few survived and are privately owned (by the respective families).
Tracy's wife, Johanna placed a Death Notice in "The Examiner" on 3 February 1900. The death notice states that Tracy was the 'father of Mrs H.J.J. Maddox, of Melbourne; Mrs W. Capes, of Sydney; and J. and A. Watkins of New South Wales",. Both Mrs Maddox & Mrs Capes are daughters of Johanna Littlewood and not Tracy (ie thay are his step-sons)..
(Sarah Ann Littlewood married Harry James Joseph Maddox in Victoria in 1895 (Ref 1895/3138).
J & A Watkins are, in fact, John Littlewood (b. 1861 Sydney) and Alfred Ernest Littlewood (b. 1869 Sydney) - the children of johanna and her former husband. (Information courtesy of Jordan Gregory)
Editor's Note:
The 1914 Ringwood electoral roll lists Tracy's son William Henry Watkins as a" miner" living at Warrandyte as well as "Francis & Isabella Trezise". Francis Trezise is described as an "hotelkeeper". Assumably this is the Trezise family mentioned above.
Johanna & Tracy's flight to Tasmania may not have been an arbitary choice of locations as Johanna's son, Alfred was listed as a miner in the 1914 Zeehan (Tasmania) electoral roll.
The following information has been provided by Tracy's great-great grandsonm Ewen Mitchell:
Ouote
I have a tiny diary and I do not know who it belonged to but there are some hand written references to Tracey Watkins in it. .......
My mother told me she had been told the notes were from someone hired by someone in her grandmother's family to investigate his whereabouts.
Pages 1-3 are written in pencil whilst pages 4 onwards are written in ink (most likely fountain pen). The diary appears to have been written one year after Tracy's death by Tracy's son-in-law, Abraham Hartrick, husband of Mary Watkins.
The diary reads as follows:
Page 1
Tracey Watkins Born 7th May 1833 in the County of Herefordshire England. Married in Tredegar, County Monmouthshire Wales.
Page 2
Left with Mrs Littlewood in 1882.
Pawn Brokers in George St Sydney.
Page 3
Tracey Watkins Dealer, 83 Murray St Hobart 1894-95.
Recognised Mrs Littlewood (alias) Mrs Watkins at the Launceston R W Station 22/1/91
Page 4
1894 to 1895
Tracey Watkins
Dealer, 83 Murray St Hobart.
Saturday 20th 1901 3pm called on Mr Storrer "Undertaker".
He recognised the photo of Tracey Watkins . The woman represented herself as his wife and told me that Watkins was supposed to have
Page 5
...property at Scottsdale 40 miles or 47 miles from Launceston.
Monday 21st 1901 called at Hospital Launceston.
"Information "
Tracey Watkins was admitted to the hospital on the 26th (Saturday) January and died suddenly on the 27th January 1900. (see editor's note below re dates)
Page 6
The woman represented herself as his wife. When asked if she could afford to pay - Answered No; and then said she may be able to pay 1/- per week and that Tracey Watkins had an income of 1 pound (£1-) per week. He also said he had a family of four (4) children but did not say what sex.
Page 7
Said he was a miner but had not done any work for (10) ten years.
The nurse that nursed him has left the hospital to go to India but the assistant nurse was in the hospital, but did not recognise the latest photo. But recognised the old photo as like him by having this full beard.
She said he died suddenly...
Page 8
...in fact she said he did not think he was going to die so suddenly or he may have said something to her.
Unquote
Editor's Note: 26 January 1900 was a Friday.
According to William Hartrick (1885-1981) when he was interviewed by the Warrandtyte Historical Society around 1975 his father, Abraham Standish Hartrick was the person the family sent to Launceston to find out about Tracy after Tracy's death.
It appears that the diary note was written by Abraham Standish Hartrick. Ewen Mitchell has done a comparison of Abraham's signature writing and that of the diary. It seems to match.
No known copies of the photographs Abraham Hartrick took with him to Launceston exist.
***
Tracy's death notice reads asn follows:
WATKINS.-On the 27th January, at Launceston, T. Watkins,the beloved husband of Johanna Watkins, and father of Mrs. H.J.J. Maddox of Melbourne; Mrs W. Capes, of Sydney; and J. and A. Watkins, of New South Wales, aged 66 years. A fond and faithful husband, a good father, and a true friend.
(Editors Note; Mrs H.J.J. Maddos is Sarah Ann Littlewood (1858-1864) who married Harry James Joseph Maddox in Victoria in 1895. Mrs W Capes is Julia Lilly Littlewood (1867-1935) who married William Capes in Victoria in 1891. Both are daughters of Johanna and her first husband John Littlewood. J and A Watkins are also assumed to be childen of Johanna & John Littlewood).
Despite his treatment of his wife, Caroline Gittoes and their children, Tracy appears to have had a loving relationship with Johanna and her children.
On 1 March 1923 William Capes was granted Letters Of Administrstion to Tracy's estate. Tracy was referred to in the document as Tracy William Watkins. The estate was valued at £261, Presumably this was real estste (at Scottsdale - see page 5 of Abraham Hartrick's 1901 diary).
(Editor's note: Johanna Littlewood (nee McElliott) would not have had a legal basis to claim Tracy's estate as their marriage was illegal (Tracy was stll married to Caroline Gittoes). Legally the proceeds of his estate should havev gone to Caroline and then his children.
Administrstion of Tracy's estate was granted on 1 March 1923, nine years after Johanna's death to William Capes, husband of Johanna's daughter from her first marriage - ie no relation of Tracy. The estate was values at £
What happened to the estste proceeds? Was it passed on to Tracy's legal heirs?)
Research Notes:
1843 Baptism record shows locality as Eardisley.
1851 Wales Census shows birthplace as Almeley and living as a 15 year old farm labourer (servant) at "Castle", Brewardine, Glamorgan, Wales.
1861 Wales Census shows birthplace as Eardisley and living with wife; Caroline, son; william; brother: Henry and neice; Elizabeth Williams at 12 White Street, Merthyr Tydfil, Glamorgan, Wales.Tracy's occupation was shown as 'Miner'.
Shire of Bulleen 1881 rates notice show Tracy Watkins as "Hotel keeper for the Warrandyte Hotel". (Sally Blackwood).
The Warrandyte Hotel was on the site of the present day Warrandyte Hall on the corner of Webb and Yarra Streets. The hotel burned down in the 1932 bushfires. (RRWatkins)
Noted events in his life were:
• Occupation: Miner & hotel keeper.
• Registered Christening, 15 Jun 1834, Eardisley, Herefordshire, England. 84
• UK Census, 1841, Almeley, Herefordshire, England. 85
• UK Census, 1851, Bredwardine, Herefordshire, England. 86
• Registered Marriage, Jul-Sep 1853, Abergavenny, Herefordshire, Monmouthshire, England. 87
• Court: Riot, 25 May 1855, Glamorgan, Wales. 82
• Court: Charged with "riot", 2 Jul 1855, Cardiff, Glamorganshire, Wales. 80
• UK Census, 1861, Lower Merthyr Tydfil, Glamorgan, Wales. 20
• Immigration: Sailed SS "Robert Small" from Southhampton 11/6/1863, 16 Sep 1863, Melbourne, Vic. Australia. 88
• Newspaper Article: Mine accident, 3 Aug 1864, Melbourne, Vic., Australia. 73
• Newspaper Article, 11 Jan 1871, Melbourne, Vic., Australia. 75
• Newspaper: Weekly Times, 25 Dec 1880, Andersons Creek, Victoria, Australia. 78
• Police Gazette: Publican's License, 1881, Warrandyte, Vic., Australia. 76
• Police Gazette: Publican's License, 1882, Warrandyte, Vic., Australia. 76
• Police Gazette: Wife desertion, 1 Jul 1884, Victoria, Australia. 76
• City Directory: 83 Murray St, 1894, Hobart, Tas., Australia. 77
• Occupation: Dealer, 1894. 77
• Registered Marriage, 6 May 1895, Sylvania, NSW, Australia. 89
• City Directory: 85 Murray St, 1896, Hobart, Tas., Australia. 77
• Occupation: Pawnbroker, 1896. 77,90
• Police Gazette: Stolen Property, 1896, Hobart, Tas., Australia. 90
• Newspaper: Mercury, 17 Jan 1896, , Tasmania, Australia. 78
• Newspaper: Tasmanian News, 20 Jan 1896, , Tasmania, Australia. 78
• Newspaper: Tasmania Police Gazette, 31 Jul 1896, Hobart, Tas., Australia. 81
• Newspaper: Police Court, 17 Feb 1897, , Tasmania, Australia. 78
• Registered Death, 27 Jan 1900, Launceston, Tas., Australia. 91
• Investigation: Diary notes, early 1901, Launceston, Tas., Australia. 92
• Letters of Administration, 1 Mar 1923, Launceston, Tas., Australia.
Tracy married Caroline Gittoes, daughter of John Gittoes and Sarah Price, on 12 Aug 1853 in Tredegar, Monmouthshire, Wales.72 (Caroline Gittoes was born on 12 May 1826 in Colva, Radnorshire, Wales 17, christened on 4 Jun 1826 in Colva, Radnorshire, Wales, died on 31 Oct 1911 in 2 North Street, Richmond, Vic., Australia and was buried on 2 Nov 1911 in Boroondara Cemetery, Kew, Vic., Australia.). The cause of her death was Senile decay and dementia.
Noted events in their marriage were:
• Registered Marriage, 1853, Abergavenny District, Monmouthshire, Wales. 72
Marriage Notes:
Both 'signed' the marriage register with their mark
Tracy next married Johanna McElligott on 6 May 1895 in Church Of Christ, 48 Elizabeth Street, Sydney, NSW, Australia. (Johanna McElligott was born circa 1836 in Tralee, County Kerry, Ireland and died in 1914 in St Peters, NSW, Australia 51.)
Noted events in their marriage were:
• Registered Marriage, 6 May 1895, Sylvania, NSW, Australia. 93
Marriage Notes:
Believed to be a bigamous marriage for Tracy.
Watkins oral history has Tracy as a Warrandyte, Vic. publican who ran off with a barmaid - Johanna Littlewood.
Both originally resided in Victoria but chose to be married in Sydney and then live in Tasmania. Hiding perhaps?
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