Bothwell Families
These pages offer a glimpse into the lives of the Bothwell families. You’ll find family trees and historical events specific to the area. While not exhaustive, the information will continue to be updated as research progresses. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the material presented.
Alfred Ainsworth was born about 1827 in Hampshire, England. Sarah Bale was born on April 7, 1829, in Norwich, Norfolk, and baptised there in May. She later emigrated to Tasmania, married, and was widowed, taking the name Sarah Hill. On April 15, 1867, Alfred, a 40-year-old shepherd, married 43-year-old Sarah, a widow and milliner, at her home on High Street, Bothwell. They made their home in High Street, which remained in the family for nearly 50 years. Their first son, George Alfred, was born in 1868 at Broadmarsh, and their second, Henry Arthur, in 1873 at Campbell Town. By 1874, the family was living in Bothwell again, where Alfred worked as a labourer. Sarah remained active in the community and signed a public letter in 1876, thanking the local schoolmaster for his service. In 1885, tragedy struck with the deaths of Sarah’s daughter, Mary Ann Hill (age 26) and son, George Alfred (age 17), both from consumption. Despite these losses, the family endured. Henry Arthur married Amy Annie Nichols in 1902, and Sarah’s daughter, Louisa, married Peter Davie in 1889. Property records show Alfred and Sarah consistently residing in High Street, where they were both owners and occupiers. After Alfred’s death on November 2, 1905, Sarah continued living there alone. She died on February 25, 1911, at age 81 from sarcoma of the jaw and was buried in Bothwell Cemetery.
Alfred Ainsworth.
Born: abt 1827, Hampshire, England (RGD17: Alfred Ainsworth, no 741/1905, https:/www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-892R-FF9S)
Married: 15 Apr 1867, Sarah Bale, [I5] High St, Bothwell, TAS; Alfred: 40, shepherd; Sarah: 43-year-old widow, milliner; witnesses: John Bale, Rosanna Bale, John Richard Hill, Ann Bale, Francis Knowles, Mary Knowles, Rachel Mozley, Mary Wilson (RGD37: Aneswearth-Hill, no 97/1867, https:/libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/RGD37-1-26p68j2k)
Residence: 8 Sep 1874, [I6] High St, Bothwell, TAS; inserted, Rampling John Bale (owner), cottage, annual rateable value £5 (TGG: "Valuation Roll," 1874, p897, https:/www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-898F-JBPR)
Residence: 25 Feb 1879, [I6] High St, Bothwell, TAS; Rampling John Bale (owner), cottage, annual rateable value £5 (TGG: "Valuation Roll," 1879, p371, https:/www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L98N-9S2L)
Residence: 27 Jan 1880, [I6] High St, Bothwell, TAS; Rampling John Bale (owner), cottage, annual rateable value £5 (TGG: "Valuation Roll," 1880, p91, https:/www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G98N-9SGF)
Death Informant: 30 Apr 1885, Mary Ann Hill, stepdaughter (RGD35: Mary Ann Hill, no 476/1885, https:/libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/RGD35-1-54p46j2k)
Residence: 16 Feb 1886, [I5] High St, Bothwell, TAS; owner, house, annual rateable value £9 (TGG: "Valuation Roll," 1886, p429, https:/www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-898F-29B)
Residence: 14 Jan 1890, [I5] High St, Bothwell, TAS; owner, house, annual rateable value £9 (TGG: "Valuation Roll," 1890, p173, https:/www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-898F-VDGQ)
Residence: 28 Mar 1899, [I5] High St, Bothwell, TAS; Mrs Sarah Ainsworth (owner), cottage, capital value £120, annual rateable value £8 (TGG: "Valuation Roll," 1899, p323, https:/www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L98F-V8X4)
Died: 2 Nov 1905, [I5] High St, Bothwell, TAS; aged 78, heart disease; informant: Peter Davie, son-in-law (RGD17: Alfred Ainsworth, no 741/1905, https:/www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-892R-FF9S)
Death Notice: ANESWEARTH - On November 2, 1905, at his residence, Bothwell, Alfred Aneswearth, in his 79th year (MERC: "Deaths," Aneswearth, 6 Nov 1905, https:/trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/12324849)
Buried: 6 Nov 1905, Public Cemetery, Bothwell, TAS (BC: Alfred Aneswearth, 1905, section A34, site 11-12)
Spouse - Sarah (Bale) Hill, daughter of John Bale and Ann Hovell.
Born: 7 Apr 1829, Norwich, Norfolk, England (PMFT: Hill Family Tree, https:/www.ancestry.com.au/family-tree/person/tree/30745614/person/12300606400/facts)
Baptised: 24 May 1829, Norwich, Norfolk, England (PMFT: Hill Family Tree, https:/www.ancestry.com.au/family-tree/person/tree/30745614/person/12300606400/facts)
Arrived: 20 Oct 1845, Hobart, TAS; 'Louise', although Sarah is not named on the shipping list, it is presumed she arrived with her mother Ann (CB7: Ann Bale, p65/1845, 'Louisa,' https:/libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/CSO92-1-15)
Married (1): 15 Apr 1867, Sarah Bale, [I5] High St, Bothwell, TAS; Alfred: 40, shepherd; Sarah: 43-year-old widow, milliner; witnesses: John Bale, Rosanna Bale, John Richard Hill, Ann Bale, Francis Knowles, Mary Knowles, Rachel Mozley, Mary Wilson (RGD37: Aneswearth-Hill, no 97/1867, https:/libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/RGD37-1-26p68j2k)
Article: 18 Dec 1876, named under "Acknowledgement" Henry C Hurst (MERC: "Acknowledgement," 18 Dec 1876, https:/trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/8949923)
Residence: 2 Aug 1910, [I5] High St, Bothwell, TAS; owner, cottage, capital value £120, annual rateable value £8 (TGG: "Valuation Roll," 1910, p826-827, https:/www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G98N-SSHF)
Died: 25 Feb 1911, Bothwell, TAS; aged 81, daughter of John Bale and Ann Hovell,, sarcoma of the jaw & exhaustion; informant: Peter Davie, son-in-law (RGD17: Sarah Ainsworth, no 773/1911, https:/www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-892R-FF96)
Buried: 27 Feb 1911, Public Cemetery, Bothwell, TAS (BC: Sarah Aneswearth, 1911, section A34, site 11-12)
Death Notice: AINSWORTH - On February 25, 1911 at Bothwell, Sarah, relict of the late Alfred Ainsworth. In her 82nd year (MERC: "Deaths," Ainsworth, 28 Feb 1911, https:/trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/10093324)
Property Transfer: aft 28 Feb 1911, [I5] High St, Bothwell, TAS; estate of Sarah (Bale) Hill to her children, John Richard Hill & Louisa Maria (Hill) Davie (LIST: John Richard Hill, historic deed, no 13/9453)
Information on Sarah’s first marriage and children is located on the Richard Hill and Sarah Bale page.
Children of Alfred Ainsworth and Sarah (Bale) Hill:
George Alfred Ainsworth.
Born: 28 Mar 1868, Broadmarsh, TAS; informant: by note from Alfred Ainsworth, father, shepherd (RGD33: George Alfred Ainsworth, no 46/1868, https:/libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/RGD33-1-46p283j2k)
Died: 5 May 1885, [I5] High St, Bothwell, TAS; aged 17, consumption; informant: Alfred Ainsworth, father (RGD35: George Alfred Ainsworth, no 477/1885, https:/libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/RGD35-1-54p46j2k)
Death Notice: AINSWORTH - On May 5, 1885, at his father's residence, Bothwell, George Ainsworth, aged 17 years (MERC: "Deaths," Ainsworth, 6 May 1885, https:/trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/9104526)
Buried: 8 May 1885, Public Cemetery, Bothwell, TAS (BC: George Alfred Aneswearth, 1885, section A13, site 19)Henry Arthur Ainsworth.
Born: 8 Jan 1873, Campbell Town, TAS; informant: Alfred Ainsworth, father, labourer (RGD33: Henry Arthur Aneswearth, no 58/1873, https:/libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/RGD33-1-51p772j2k)
Married: 30 Apr 1902, Amy Annie Nichols, Bothwell, TAS; Henry: 29, bachelor; Amy: 29, spinster (TFI: Ainsworth-Nichols, marriage, no 23/1902)
Died: 1947, Auburn, VIC; aged 74 (VBDM: Henry Arthur Ainsworth, death, 1947)Spouse - Amy Annie Nichols, daughter of Henry Fortenam Nichols and Mary Ann New.
Born: 22 Sep 1872, Bothwell, TAS; informant: Henry Nichols, father, licensed victualler (RGD33: Amy Annie Nichols, no 26/1872, https:/libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/RGD33-1-50p519j2k)
Baptised: 25 Oct 1872, Bothwell, TAS (ANG: Amy Annie Nichols, NS1854/1/1, no 471/1872)
Married: 30 Apr 1902, Henry Arthur Ainsworth, Bothwell, TAS; Henry: 29, bachelor; Amy: 29, spinster (TFI: Ainsworth-Nichols, marriage, no 23/1902)
Died: 1961, Glenferrie, VIC; aged 89 (VBDM: Amy Annie Ainsworth, death, no 12674/1961)
Properties in Bothwell inherited by Sarah (Bale) Hill
For more information click on the link under the map.
Complete maps located on the Property History page.
Tasmanian Archives - Bothwell B37, AF819/1/26 (modified)
Bibliography of Sources
ANG - Baptismal Register of the Bothwell Church of England (NS1854). Tasmanian Archives and Heritage Office, Hobart. Microfilm. Anglican Parish of Bothwell (NG613).
BC - Tasmania: Bothwell Cemetery Records. Transcribed from parish registers by the Central Highlands Council, Bothwell.
CB7 - Libraries Tasmania: Register of Ships' Arrivals with Lists of Passengers (CB7, CUS30). Images. Immigration Board (TA212). Tasmanian Government, Australia. https://libraries.tas.gov.au/tasmanian-archives : 2023.
LIST - Tasmania: The List: Properties & Titles. Historic Deeds, Grants & Titles. Images. Land Information System Tasmania. Tasmanian Government. Australia. https://www.thelist.tas.gov.au : 2023.
MERC - TROVE: The Mercury (Hobart, TAS : 1860-1954). Images. National Library of Australia. https://trove.nla.gov.au : 2023.
NBMB - ancestry: Norfolk, England, Transcripts of Church of England Baptism, Marriage and Burial Registers, 1600-1935. Images. Church of England Bishop and Archdeacon Transcripts of Parish Registers. Norfolk Record Office, Norwich, Norfolk, England. https://www.ancestry.com.au/search/collections/61636 : 2023.
PMFT - ancestry: Public Member Family Trees. Family trees submitted by Members. https://www.ancestry.com.au/search/categories/42 : 2023.
RGD17 - FamilySearch: Australia, Tasmania, Civil Registration, District Registers, Deaths. Images. Tasmanian Archive and Heritage Office, Hobart. https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/2514003 : 5 Jun 2023.
RGD33 - Libraries Tasmania: Registers of Births, Tasmania (RGD33). Images. Registrar-General's Department (TA85). Tasmanian Government, Australia. https://libraries.tas.gov.au/tasmanian-archives : 2023.
RGD35 - Libraries Tasmania: Registers of Deaths, Tasmania (RGD35). Images. Registrar-General's Department (TA85). Tasmanian Government, Australia. https://libraries.tas.gov.au/tasmanian-archives : 2023.
RGD37 - Libraries Tasmania: Registers of Marriages, Tasmania (RGD37). Images. Registrar-General's Department (TA85). Tasmanian Government, Australia. https://libraries.tas.gov.au/tasmanian-archives : 2023.
TFI - Libraries Tasmania: Tasmanian Federation Index 1900-1930. Database. Data compiled by the Tasmanian Family History Society and published on CD-ROM as part of the Tasmanian Federation Index Births 1900-1919,
Deaths and Marriages 1900-1930 by Macbeth Genealogical Services, 2006. https://www.libraries.tas.gov.au/tasmanian-archives : 2023.
TGG - FamilySearch: Australia, Tasmania, Government Gazette, 1833-1925. Images. Tasmanian Archive and Heritage Office, Hobart. https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/2170647 : 2023.
VBDM - Victoria: Births, Deaths & Marriages. Images. Research and Family History. Victorian State Government. Australia. https://www.bdm.vic.gov.au/research-and-family-history : 2023.