T is for Thomas Moxham

Sixpenny Handley, Dorset

Many of our Moxon Society members have been introduced to each other when travelling overseas or have become friendly through Facebook, and this contributes to collaboration on research. It is always a delight when members on different sides of the world solve a problem with a newly discovered Moxon, Moxam, Moxim or Moxham. It’s even better when we can connect a new member – in this case Mary Moxham, originally from Sydney but now living in Queensland – to the research.

Member Philip Lord from the UK recently sent me a portrait of a World War 1 soldier.  His name was Frederick Moxham.

I quickly found that he was from South Australia and that his parents were Thomas Moxam/Moxham and Mary Ann Brooks who were listed in our tree The Moxhams of Ebbesbourne Wake, Wiltshire or MX37.  This tree has many living descendants spread around the English-speaking world.

So, Thomas, although born in Dorset, must have emigrated to Australia.  And indeed he did.

The Adelaide Register announced the arrival on 28th November 1859 of the David McIvor, a ship of 968 tons, with 383 government (sponsored) immigrants.  The ship had left Liverpool on 27th August. One of these passengers was Thomas Moxham from Dorset, England.

Here is an excerpt from the South Australian Register, describing the passengers:

"There are on board a large number of remittance emigrants; and as Dr. Duncan will probably have paid his visit of inspection to the vessel before she is moored in the stream, such as have friends may then leave without obstacle: - Industrial - Labourers 72, agricultural labourers 41, female servants 85, cabinetmakers 2, carpenter 1, bricklayer 1, miner 1, clerk 1, tailor 1, joiner 1, masons 4, ropemaker 1, teacher 1, smith 1, shepherd 1, moulder 1, wheelwright 1, coach builder 1, tinsmiths 3, ploughman 1, milliner 1, dairymaid 5..."

"In general appearance the vessel would seem admirably adapted for passengers; but on boarding, it was evident that there was rather a lack of that rigid discipline so necessary to the well-being of emigrant vessels, and in cleanliness perhaps a little behind many of the previous arrivals.  The people on board, though doubtless eligible persons, from the very fact of their having passed the Commissioners, certainly did not appear to be anything superior, if equal, to the occupants of former vessels, and of their conduct on the voyage it appears that at one period matters wore rather a serious aspect, from the national strifes existing amongst them ..." (29 November 1859)

Young Thomas Moxham was born in 1833 in Sixpenny Handley, Dorset, the youngest son of Henry Moxam and Sarah Elliott.  By 1841 he was the only son left at home with his parents, and in 1851 he was a junior servant working for a farmer of 600 acres employing 20 men in West Woodyates within walking distance of his home.

Aged 26 when he arrived in Adelaide, no doubt he was a useful farm labourer.  By 1863 he had married 16 years old Mary Ann Brooks and they settled in Myponga south of Adelaide and later in the Lobenthal region northwest of Adelaide, followed by Norton Summit, closer to Adelaide.  He died in Catherine Street, K) in 1909.

Three of his sons - William Thomas (b1873), John (b1875) and Frederick (b1883) served overseas in World War 1.  Two survived to produce children and grandchildren in South Australia but John died in Pozieres, France on August 10, 1916.

Ten years earlier than Thomas Moxham's migration to Adelaide, his oldest brother John Moxham had migrated to New South Wales and settled in the Maitland area.  He was the John Moxon/Moxham whose biography was published in the Moxons Down Under Newsletter, November 2016.  He arrived on the Emigrant in 1849 as a free settler.  He had married Marina Derrick in Sixpenny Handley just before they departed for the colony.  All their children were born in New South Wales.

This couple too had many children, and their descendants include our member Mary Moxham of Queensland.  Mary is an enthusiastic member who has already taken on guardianship of MX37 in association with other members.