Eliza Wall [w.5]

Eliza Wall was the fifth child of Edward Wall & Mary Garner christened July 7th, 1816 at Smethwick, Staffs.

Eliza married Francis Powell on September 13th, 1840 at Harborne. Francis was born in Scotland, c1816 & was as an engine smith. His father was Francis Powell, a glazier.

In 1841 Francis & Eliza were living at French Walls, Smethwick, both aged 25 with a 6 month old son Francis. His occupation was given as a smith J (perhaps journeyman). Francis & Eliza were witnesses at her brother Edward’s wedding to Mabel Wale in 1841.

The 1851 census shows Francis & Eliza (listed as surname Pow) living in Limehouse, Middlesex & Francis continued to be an engine smith. They had 4 sons by this time – Francis, George Edward (7), James (4) & Thomas (1), the last 2 having been born in Limehouse. The family appear to have used ‘Pow’ as their surname for the future.

There is a record of Eliza (Pow) with children Francis (17), George (14), James (12), Thomas (8) & Robert (6) sailing on the ‘Shooting Star’ to Melbourne, Australia & arriving in December 1858.

Son James married Mary Mulligan in 1869 in Melbourne, Victoria.

Francis, an engine smith, wrote a will dated March 17th, 1875 stating that he was formerly of Melbourne, Victoria but later of Adelaide S. Australia. His address was North Terrace, Adelaide. Francis left all his property to wife Eliza & following her death to his 5 sons, Francis, George, James, Thomas & Robert. He stated that his sons should look after his ‘afflicted’ son Francis. He also stated that the property he possessed along with David Black of Melbourne should be sold & his share to be give to his wife Eliza. A letter annexed to the will written by Lawrence Grayson of Adelaide states that Francis died on March 9th, 1875 & that he made his last will on March 7th, 1875. This was sworn to by the witnesses of the will.

In 1896 a letter of administration was granted to son Thomas Pow, ironmoulder, of 116 Dorcas Street, Melbourne, Eliza having died at Emerald Hill on September 7th, 1895 at 116 Dorcas Street without administering the estate. Francis had obviously been successful as he owned a number of properties in Melbourne. Another piece of correspondence pertaining to the administration mentions son Francis being in a lunatic asylum, George Edward & Robert both living near Melbourne, Thomas was temporarily residing in Castlemaine but whose wife & family were living in Carlton & son James was living in New South Wales.

Son Thomas married Mary Ann Kidd on April 14th, 1881 at Carlton, Melbourne. Thomas & Mary had 2 sons Robert George & Thomas Leslie before her death in June 1890 at Baulkamaugh. A letter from Thomas’s brother George Edward stating that he was a licensed victualler & had a property worth £280 on Alexander St. in 1890 was included in the administration of Mary Ann’s effects. Thomas married again in 1896 in Melbourne, his second wife being Emily Whiffen. Thomas & Emily had a daughter Dorothy Emily before his death in 1909; Emily died in 1933.

On February 3rd, 1883 son Robert married Sarah Ann Hackwell at Sandridge, Melbourne.

Son George married Mary Ann Gallagher on April 14th, 1884 at S. Melbourne. Notices in newspapers not that they had a daughter in 1885, & a son in 1888. Their 5 year old daughter Gertrude Rosile died in June 1890 at the Vine Hotel, as did another daughter Janet Janie who died in 1890 & another daughter Alice Elizabeth who sadly died in infancy in 1892. Sadly Mary died in 1894 at the Vine Hotel, Moray St, S. Melbourne. An advert for the sale of the Vine Hotel & adjoining famous orchard of 2 acres appeared in 1880 stating it to be the best situated hotel in the Ovens district.

Son Francis was listed in a number of asylums in 1873, 1878 & 1879. He died on April 28th 1905 at Ballarat & Sunbury Hospital as informed by his brother George of the Treasury Hotel, Queen St, Melbourne. At this time his brother Robert lived at 3 Cliff St, South Yarra, brother Thomas resided at 447 Cardigan St, Carlton & the whereabouts of James was unknown, being last heard of in New South Wales.

The children of Eliza Wall & Francis Powell were:

w.5.1 Francis Powell christened January 24th, 1841 at Smethwick, Staffs; died April 28th 1905 at Ballarat & Sunbury Hospital, Australia
w.5.2 George Edward Powell christened March 24th, 1844 at N. Harborne, Staffs; died 1913 in E, Melbourne, Australia
w.5.3 James Powell born July-September 1846 in Limehouse, Middlesex; died in 1915 in Granville, NSW, Australia
w.5.4 Thomas Pow(ell) born Oct-December 1849 in Limehouse, Middlesex; died May 5th, 1909 at 447 Cardigan St, Carlton, Melbourne
w.5.6 Robert Pow(ell) born April-June 1852 in Limehouse, Middlesex; died 1913 in E, Melbourne, Australia
Sarah Ann Hackwell