The Tree - Person Sheet
The Tree - Person Sheet
NameTabitha Edwards 
BirthMar 1787, Bodmin, Cornwall, England
Baptism25 Feb 1797, Bodmin, Cornwall, England
Death8 Oct 1889, New Plymouth, New Zealand
Misc. Notes
Name from Ross Davis in a facebook post in November 2018, “Paul Inch, with Tabitha Edwards (his wife) arrived in New Plymouth on the "William Bryan" with three children. Phillippa, Louisa, and Thomas Inch”.
Sailed from Plymouth, England on the 19th November 1840 and arrived at New Plymouth, New Zealand on the 30th March 1841
https://www.geni.com/projects/New-Zealand-Settler-Ships-William-Bryan-1841/12857
Inch
- Paul 31 Shoemaker
- Tabitha 33
- Phillippa Under 14
- Louisa Under 14
Brian of nzolivers notes the discrepancy in the ages of Paul and Tabitha in the passenger list against those dates of birth later found here.
Brian surmises that they may have lied about their age to be eligible for emigration. This theory is supported by a book Brian has found online. It was put out by the New Zealand Company and called, “Information Respecting the Settlement of New Plymouth in New Zealand”:
https://steemit.com/history/@ravenruis/nz-history-...lers-in-new-plymouth
APPENDIX (No. II.) REGULATIONS FOR LABOURERS WISHING TO EMIGRATE TO NEW-ZEALAND
(4) They must be actual labourers, going out to work for wages in the Colony, of sound mind and body, not less than fifteen nor more than forty years of age, and married. The marriage certificate must be produced.
If the passenger ages are recorded as at the date of departure from the English port of Plymouth on the 19th of November 1840:
- Paul being born 4 December 1803 would in fact have been 36 (not 31), when they departed England.
- Tabitha 33 being born in March 1787 would in fact have been 53 on the 19th of November 1840 (not 33), when they departed England. For Tabitha, this would of clearly of been a problem, hence the ages fudged.
The writer of the website notes that, “a number of the passengers (both single and married) fibbed about their ages in order to secure their passage”.
- -
Date and place of birth (5 Mar 1793 at St. Mabyn, Cornwall, England) and death (9 Oct 1889) from:
https://www.geni.com/people/Tabitha-Inch/6000000017965416828
Obituary of Tabitha Inch (nee Edwards) in the Taranaki Herald, Wednesday 9 October 1889, found in PapersPast in February 2019:
OBITUARY.
DEATH OF MRS. TABITHA INCH,
AGED 102 YEARS.
We have to record the death of Mrs Tabitha Inch, who died at her son's residence, New Plymouth, on Tuesday last [8th Oct 1889], at the advanced age of nearly 103 years. Mrs Inch was one of those early settlers who braved the hardships immigrants had to encounter fifty years ago in their endeavour to, establish a new country in the southern hemisphere. Mrs Inch was born in March, 1787, at Bodmin, Cornwall, England, but did not marry till somewhat late in life. She had only three children — of whom two are living in this district — Mrs H. Henson Wood, at Waitara, and Mr Thomas Inch, in New Plymouth. Mrs Inch came out in the William Bryant, arriving here on March 31st, 1841, being amongst the pioneer party who started from the Plymouth in England to help to establish a New Plymouth in New Zealand. The immigrants by the William Bryant consisted more than half of women and children, and they were landed on the beach at Moturoa, a perfectly strange place to them, where neither house nor habitation were ready for their reception, and the district peopled only by a savage race. No one can describe the desolate feeling that came over the women portion of the immigrants after leaving the ship. Huddled up together in the raupo whares belonging to Mr R. Barrett, the old whaler, or in tents erected by the men - "rough," as Mr Cutfield, who was in charge of the expedition, remarks in his letter to the directors of the Plymouth Company, "but better than being out of doors" - was the way these immigrants, with their families, passed the first night in the new and strange land they had come to. Mrs Inch leaves a large number of descendants, there being twenty-seven grandchildren - the eldest being Mr Henry Wood, of Omata, who is forty-two years of age - and fifty-two great-grandchildren. The old lady, who was much respected, has for some years been very infirm, but kept her feet till within the last twelve months. Latterly she has taken to her bed, and on Tuesday afternoon breathed her last, as if going to sleep. The funeral will leave the residence of her son (Mr Thomas Inch), Leech-street, to-morrow (Thursday), at 2 o'clock, when, we understand, all her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren who can walk will follow their aged relative to the grave.
Notice of Death of Tabitha Inch (nee Edwards) in the Patea Mail, Thursday 10 October 1889 found in PapersPast in February 2019:
LOCAL. AND GENERAL
Mrs Inch, relict of a late New Plymouth “old identity,” died on Monday [7th Oct 1889] last at the great age of one hundred and two years. The good old lady leaves twenty-five grandchildren and fifty two great grandchildren to represent her share in the great colonisation scheme of the world, and has passed away, we verily believe, without leaving a single enemy.
Age died from death search on New Zealand BDM website in February 2019:
1889/4435. Inch, Tabitha, died age 102Y
Full date of death of 8 October 1889 from further searching in February 2019 on BDM Search by incrementally changing the date range for the death.
Brian Oliver of nzolivers has amended day of death to the 8th, which matches the Obituary in the Taranaki Herald.
However, Brian is mystified about the date and place of birth given earlier of 5 Mar 1793 at St. Mabyn, Cornwall. If Tabitha here was 102 years of age when she died as per the BDM records, she must of been born circa 1787, about six years earlier?
The Obituary in the Taranaki Herald gives her born in March 1787, at Bodmin, Cornwall, England, which matches better. Brian Oliver of nzolivers gives this as date and place of birth.
Date and place of Christening from England, Select Births and Christenings 1538-1975, found in February 2019:
Name: Tabia Edwards
Gender: Female
Baptism Date: 25 Feb 1797
Baptism Place: Bodmin,Cornwall,England
Father: Henry Edwards
Mother: Grace
FHL Film Number: 962600
Date and place of marriage from Cornwall, England, Parish Registers, 1538-2010, found in February 2019:
Name: Tabitha Edwards
Gender: Female
Event Type: Marriage
Marriage Date: 6 Feb 1831
Marriage Place: St Tudy, Cornwall, England
Spouse: Paul Inch
Sailed from Plymouth, England on the 19th November 1840 and arrived at New Plymouth, New Zealand on the 30th March 1841
https://www.geni.com/projects/New-Zealand-Settler-Ships-William-Bryan-1841/12857
Inch
- Paul 31 Shoemaker
- Tabitha 33
- Phillippa Under 14
- Louisa Under 14
Brian of nzolivers notes the discrepancy in the ages of Paul and Tabitha in the passenger list against those dates of birth later found here.
Brian surmises that they may have lied about their age to be eligible for emigration. This theory is supported by a book Brian has found online. It was put out by the New Zealand Company and called, “Information Respecting the Settlement of New Plymouth in New Zealand”:
https://steemit.com/history/@ravenruis/nz-history-...lers-in-new-plymouth
APPENDIX (No. II.) REGULATIONS FOR LABOURERS WISHING TO EMIGRATE TO NEW-ZEALAND
(4) They must be actual labourers, going out to work for wages in the Colony, of sound mind and body, not less than fifteen nor more than forty years of age, and married. The marriage certificate must be produced.
If the passenger ages are recorded as at the date of departure from the English port of Plymouth on the 19th of November 1840:
- Paul being born 4 December 1803 would in fact have been 36 (not 31), when they departed England.
- Tabitha 33 being born in March 1787 would in fact have been 53 on the 19th of November 1840 (not 33), when they departed England. For Tabitha, this would of clearly of been a problem, hence the ages fudged.
The writer of the website notes that, “a number of the passengers (both single and married) fibbed about their ages in order to secure their passage”.
- -
Date and place of birth (5 Mar 1793 at St. Mabyn, Cornwall, England) and death (9 Oct 1889) from:
https://www.geni.com/people/Tabitha-Inch/6000000017965416828
Obituary of Tabitha Inch (nee Edwards) in the Taranaki Herald, Wednesday 9 October 1889, found in PapersPast in February 2019:
OBITUARY.
DEATH OF MRS. TABITHA INCH,
AGED 102 YEARS.
We have to record the death of Mrs Tabitha Inch, who died at her son's residence, New Plymouth, on Tuesday last [8th Oct 1889], at the advanced age of nearly 103 years. Mrs Inch was one of those early settlers who braved the hardships immigrants had to encounter fifty years ago in their endeavour to, establish a new country in the southern hemisphere. Mrs Inch was born in March, 1787, at Bodmin, Cornwall, England, but did not marry till somewhat late in life. She had only three children — of whom two are living in this district — Mrs H. Henson Wood, at Waitara, and Mr Thomas Inch, in New Plymouth. Mrs Inch came out in the William Bryant, arriving here on March 31st, 1841, being amongst the pioneer party who started from the Plymouth in England to help to establish a New Plymouth in New Zealand. The immigrants by the William Bryant consisted more than half of women and children, and they were landed on the beach at Moturoa, a perfectly strange place to them, where neither house nor habitation were ready for their reception, and the district peopled only by a savage race. No one can describe the desolate feeling that came over the women portion of the immigrants after leaving the ship. Huddled up together in the raupo whares belonging to Mr R. Barrett, the old whaler, or in tents erected by the men - "rough," as Mr Cutfield, who was in charge of the expedition, remarks in his letter to the directors of the Plymouth Company, "but better than being out of doors" - was the way these immigrants, with their families, passed the first night in the new and strange land they had come to. Mrs Inch leaves a large number of descendants, there being twenty-seven grandchildren - the eldest being Mr Henry Wood, of Omata, who is forty-two years of age - and fifty-two great-grandchildren. The old lady, who was much respected, has for some years been very infirm, but kept her feet till within the last twelve months. Latterly she has taken to her bed, and on Tuesday afternoon breathed her last, as if going to sleep. The funeral will leave the residence of her son (Mr Thomas Inch), Leech-street, to-morrow (Thursday), at 2 o'clock, when, we understand, all her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren who can walk will follow their aged relative to the grave.
Notice of Death of Tabitha Inch (nee Edwards) in the Patea Mail, Thursday 10 October 1889 found in PapersPast in February 2019:
LOCAL. AND GENERAL
Mrs Inch, relict of a late New Plymouth “old identity,” died on Monday [7th Oct 1889] last at the great age of one hundred and two years. The good old lady leaves twenty-five grandchildren and fifty two great grandchildren to represent her share in the great colonisation scheme of the world, and has passed away, we verily believe, without leaving a single enemy.
Age died from death search on New Zealand BDM website in February 2019:
1889/4435. Inch, Tabitha, died age 102Y
Full date of death of 8 October 1889 from further searching in February 2019 on BDM Search by incrementally changing the date range for the death.
Brian Oliver of nzolivers has amended day of death to the 8th, which matches the Obituary in the Taranaki Herald.
However, Brian is mystified about the date and place of birth given earlier of 5 Mar 1793 at St. Mabyn, Cornwall. If Tabitha here was 102 years of age when she died as per the BDM records, she must of been born circa 1787, about six years earlier?
The Obituary in the Taranaki Herald gives her born in March 1787, at Bodmin, Cornwall, England, which matches better. Brian Oliver of nzolivers gives this as date and place of birth.
Date and place of Christening from England, Select Births and Christenings 1538-1975, found in February 2019:
Name: Tabia Edwards
Gender: Female
Baptism Date: 25 Feb 1797
Baptism Place: Bodmin,Cornwall,England
Father: Henry Edwards
Mother: Grace
FHL Film Number: 962600
Date and place of marriage from Cornwall, England, Parish Registers, 1538-2010, found in February 2019:
Name: Tabitha Edwards
Gender: Female
Event Type: Marriage
Marriage Date: 6 Feb 1831
Marriage Place: St Tudy, Cornwall, England
Spouse: Paul Inch