Benjamin Trewhella (1854-1910)
History
Benjamin Trewhella junior was was born on 31 October 1854, at Fuggo Farm, Lelant, Cornwall, England. He was the first son of Benjamin senior and Betsy Trewhella. Benjamin senior arrived in Melbourne in 1854 from Lelant in Cornwall in search of gold. He eventually operated a mine at Barry's Reef, three kilometers north of Backwood. Betsy and Benjamin junior joined him at Barry's Reef from Cornwall in 1858. [1] After the mine was sold, Benjamin senior and Betsy moved to Blue Mountain south of Trentham where they cleared the virgin forest and started a farm. On leaving school Benjamin junior worked on the farm with his father clearing and cultivating the land. Later he obtained a contract to cut sleepers for the for the new railway line being built at Bacchus Marsh. In January 1885 he married Sarah Hosking, a school teacher at Golden Point, Blackwood. Ben junior bought fifty acres adjoining his father's property. The couple had nine children, the majority with a listed birthplace of Blue Mountain, Trentham. [2] The oldest son, Benjamin Hosking Trewhella, opened a business in Birmingham, England.[3]
In 1887 Benjamin and his brother William bought James Lyon's sawmill at Blue Mountain. In 1893 when it became difficult to find logs in the vicinity of the mill, Benjamin and his brother went their separate ways. William and his wife moved into Trentham where he opened an engineering shop. Ben continued in the saw milling business moving into Trentham in the railway station yard. William's business continued to grow, so in 1903 Benjamin sold the saw milling business and invested his money in the engineering business. Shortly afterwards Ben moved from Newbury into Trentham, eventually building a house on the corner of Quarry and Victoria Streets, overlooking the foundry. The house was called "Lelant" after Lelant in Cornwall where he was christened. Ben took over the office work which allowed William to focus on design and manufacture. The foundry floor space had doubled by this time and employed fifteen men and boys.[4]
Benjamin Trewhella junior died on 19 May 1910. [5]. Sarah died on 13 December 1921. Both are buried at Trentham cemetery. [6]
| Obituary DEATH. TREWHELLA.—On the 19th May, at his residence, Trentham, Benjamin, beloved husband of Sarah Trewhella, and senior partner, Trewhella Bros., engineers, &c., Trentham, Victoria.[7] One of the foremost and best-known residents of the Trentham district, in the person of Mr. Benjamin Trewhella, died yesterday. Mr. Trewhella, who had only been ill for a short time, was 54 years of age. He was a partner in the well-known engineering firm of Trewhella Bros., owners of the local ironworks, and was very prominent as member and worker in lodges and other public bodies. He was also a prominent worker in the Methodist Church. Mr. Trewhella was (states our correspondent) widely esteemed, and much sympathy is felt throughout the district for his widow and family of nine.[8] WILLS AND ESTATES - Benjamin Trewhella, of Trentham, farmer and Ironworker who died on May 19 left by a will dated October 12, 1895, realty valued at £900 and personalty £6616 to his widow and children.[9] |
Legacy
Along with his brother William Trewhella (1859-1951), Benjamin founded the Trewhella Foundry in Trentham in 1888.[10]
Family
William Trewhella (1771*1846) married Ann Glasson (1773-1813)
--+ William Trewhella (1798-1876) married Loveday Eddy
--.--+ William Martin Trewhella (1826-1880) married Mary Ann UNKNOWN
--.--+ Benjamin Trewhella (1827-1902) married Betsy Noall (1823-1914)
--.--.--+ Betsy Trewhella (1851-1935)
--.--.--+ Fanny Trewhella (1853-?)
--.--.--+ Benjamin Trewhella (1854-1910) married Sarah Hosking (1862-1910)
--.--.--.--+ Benjamin Hosking Trewhella (1886-?)
--.--.--.--+ Sarah Trewhella (1888-1978) married Charles Henry Hollis (1881-1980)
--.--.--.--+ George William Trewhella (1889-1980)
--.--.--.--+ Frank Edward Trewhella (1893-?)
--.--.--.--+ Emma Florence Trewhella (1896-?)
--.--.--.--+ Charles Richard Trewhella (1898-?)
--.--.--.--+ Alex Bryant Trewhella (1900-?)
--.--.--.--+ Ralph Major Trewhella (1903-?)
--.--.--+ William Trewhella (1859-1951)
--.--.--+ UNNAMED SON Trewhella (1862-1862)
--.--.--+ Anna Trewhella (1863-1954)
--.--+ William Trewhella (1825-?) married Martha Warren (1833-?)
--.--+ John Trewhella (1833-1910)
--.--+ Ann Trewhella (1834-1893) married Tobias Uren (c1831-1881)
--.--+ Christopher Trewhella (1837-1880)
--.--+ Jane Trewhella (1838-1907) married Martin Trewhella
--.--.--+ Loveday Trewhella (c1870-?) married John Uren
--.--+ Phillis Trewhella (c1840-1880)
--.--+ Matthew Treshella (1841-1935)
--.--+ Martin Trewhella (1842-1935) married Jane UNKNOWN
--+ Matthew Trewhella
--+ Christopher Trewhella
--+ Martin Trewhella
--+ Ann Trewhella
See also
Notes
References
- ↑ The Trewhella Brothers, From Cornwall to Victoria, Margaret Scala, 2003
- ↑ The Trewhella Brothers, From Cornwall to Victoria, Margaret Scala, 2003
- ↑ http://www.auspostalhistory.com/articles/56.php, accessed 14/11/2014.
- ↑ The Trewhella Brothers, From Cornwall to Victoria, Margaret Scala, 2003
- ↑ Bacchus Marsh Express, 21 May 1910.
- ↑ The Trewhella Brothers, From Cornwall to Victoria, Margaret Scala, 2003
- ↑ Bacchus Marsh Express, 21 May 1910.
- ↑ Bendigo Advertiser, 20 May 1910.
- ↑ The Argus, 14 July 1910.
- ↑ http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/CORNISH-GEN/2001-01/0979286454
Further Reading
External links
--C.K.Gervasoni 15:19, 13 August 2013 (EST); --Christopher Caudle 16:49, 21 October 2015 (AEDT)