Establishing the parents of Thomas Crump

Working backwards

Photographer Sandra Williamson, Gravestone Thomas Crump & Selina Crump nee Wheeler, Boroondara Cemetery, Kew, Victoria, Australia, Sandra Williamson’s private Collection, 11 July 2003[B023]

Thomas Crump died on the 13 April 1874 in Hawthorn, Victoria, Australia.  On his death certificate it stated that he was born in “Kent, England” and had been living for “32 years in Victoria”[i].

Based on the time he lived in Victoria he would have arrived around 1841/2.  His death certificate also stated that he had been married twice although the name of his first wife was not listed, as particulars were unknown at the time.

Shipping Records

The only Thomas Crump arriving in Australia in 1841/2 travelled on the Marquis of Hasting arriving in Sydney on 4 February 1841, accompanied by his wife Rebecca Crump.  On Rebecca’s record, it stated that she was formerly known as Underhill presumably her maiden name as her father’s surname is also given as an Underhill.[ii].[iii].

A Closer look at Thomas’s Entitlement Certificate

Below is a transcription of the certificate

“Thomas Crump

Married Male Immigrant

Arrived by the Ship Marquis of Hastings

Bought out by C.F  Warne

A native of – Parish of Goudhurst – Kent.  Parents living at East Fairly, Coxheath near Maidstone – Fathers Name Wm Startup Mothers name Elizabeth

Calling – Agriculture Labourer

Age on embarkation – Twenty seven on 25 Nov 1840

Person certifying Registry of Baptism – None

Character, and Person certifying the same S W Nursington(?) & others

State of bodily health, strength, and probably usefulness very good

Religion Wesleyan Methodist

Read and Write – Both

Remarks – no Complaints”

The Entitlement certificate reveals that Thomas considered his parents to be William and Elizabeth Startup. Records show that his mother Elizabeth married William Startup by banns on 10 February 1816 in Tudeley with Capel, Kent, England.[iv]

Thomas left England before the 1841 census however his mother, stepfather and the family were still living in East Fairly, Coxheath near Maidstone, Kent, England that year.[v][vi]

1.  William Startup, age 48, Ag Lab [step father]
2.  Elizabeth Startup, age 51 [mother]
3. William Startup 20, Ag Lab 
4.  John Startup 17, Ag Lab 
5. James Startup 12, Ag Lab 
6. Helenor Startup 10 

Living next door to

1. Robert Startup, aged 24, Ag Lab [eldest son of William & Elizabeth, stepbrother of Thomas]
2.  Elizabeth Startup, aged 27 [wife of the eldest son of William & Elizabeth] 
3. Roseanna Startup, aged 1
4. Robert Waterman, aged 70, gardener
5. Mary Waterman, aged 55

The time & Place of Thomas’ Baptism

The pivotal evidence for the parentage of Thomas Crump is the immigration records of 1841, where his  parents are identified William Startup and Elizabeth, living in East Fairly, Coxheath near Maidstone, Kent where they are still living later in that same year at the time of the census.[vii] Elizabeth did not marry William Startup until 10 February 1816, three years after Thomas was born.[viii]  In the same immigration records his age is recorded as “Twenty seven on 25 Nov 1840” which results in a calculated birthdate of 25 Nov 1813 a two-day variance from the date recorded as in his baptism records.

Conclusion

Thomas CRUMP was born on 22^nd November 1813 and baptised a month later on 2^nd January 1814 Church of England, Goudhurst, Kent, the illegitimate son of Elizabeth Crump late a servant of Mr W. Mynn, the father was listed as William Mynn Jnr, farmer. [ix]  

His mother, Elizabeth, went on to marry William Startup on 10 February 1816, who became Thomas’s stepfather.

[Post updated 26 July 2019]

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[i] Victorian death certificate 4922 (1874), Thomas Crump, 13 April 1874, district of Boondara, entry 1168; Registry of Births Deaths and Marriages Victoria, Melbourne. 

[ii] Ancestry.com, "New South Wales, Australia, Assisted Immigrant Passenger Lists, 1828-1896," database and images, Ancestry.com (www.Ancestry.com : accessed 15 Jul 2019); Passenger record for Rebecca Crump,  4 February 1841, 'Marquis of Hastings' p.163, entry line 6; Citing State Records Authority of New South Wales; Kingswood New South Wales, Australia; Entitlement certificates of persons on bounty ships; Series: 5314;Reel: 1333; Ancestry.com. New South Wales, Australia, Assisted Immigrant Passenger Lists, 1828-1896 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007; Entitlement certificate for Rebecca Crump, who arrived on 4 February 1841 on the vessel Marquis of Hastings in New South Wales Australia from Goudhurst, Kent, Citing State Records Authority of New South Wales; Kingswood New South Wales, Australia; Entitlement certificates of persons on bounty ships; Series: 5314;Reel: 1333

[iii] Ancestry.com, "New South Wales, Australia, Assisted Immigrant Passenger Lists, 1828-1896," database and images, Ancestry.com (www.Ancestry.com : accessed 15 Jul 2019); Passenger record for Thomas Crump,  4 February 1841, 'Marquis of Hastings' p.163, entry line 5; Citing State Records Authority of New South Wales; Kingswood New South Wales, Australia; Entitlement certificates of persons on bounty ships; Series: 5314;Reel: 1333; Ancestry.com. New South Wales, Australia, Assisted Immigrant Passenger Lists, 1828-1896 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007; Entitlement certificate for Thomas Crump, who arrived on 4 February 1841 on the vessel Marquis of Hastings in New South Wales Australia from Goudhurst, Kent, Citing State Records Authority of New South Wales; Kingswood New South Wales, Australia; Entitlement certificates of persons on bounty ships; Series: 5314;Reel: 1333

[iv] “Kent Marriages and Banns”, database with images, Findmypast, Marriage of William Startup of this parish, bachelor & Elizabeth Crump of this parish, spinster were married by banns on 10 February 1816 Tudeley with Capel parish register, Marriage banns 1754-1825, page 8,entry 23; Kent Archives Office, Maidstone, County Hall, Maidstone, Kent, England, P374/1/D/2

[v] 1841 English Census HO107/457/45/ 13 The household of William & Elizabeth Startup in Coxheath Street, East Farleigh, Kent, England.

[vi] 1841 English Census HO107/457/45/ 13 The household of Robert & Elizabeth Startup in Coxheath Street, East Farleigh, Kent, England.

[vii] 1841 English Census HO107/457/45/ 13 The household of William & Elizabeth Startup in Coxheath Street, East Farleigh, Kent, England.

[viii] “Kent Marriages and Banns”, database with images, Findmypast, Marriage of William Startup of this parish, bachelor & Elizabeth Crump of this parish, spinster were married by banns on 10 February 1816 Tudeley with Capel parish register, Marriage banns 1754-1825, page 8,entry 23; Kent Archives Office, Maidstone, County Hall, Maidstone, Kent, England, P374/1/D/2

[ix] Baptism of Thomas born 22 November 1813 & baptized 2 January 1814 (illegitimate of) Elizabeth Crump, late a servant of W. Mynn’s and William Mynn, Jnr, a farmer, Goudhurst Kent parish register Baptisms 1813-1830, entry 87; Kent Archives Office, Maidstone, County Hall, Maidstone, Kent, England.