Bothwell Families

These pages offer a glimpse into the lives of the Bothwell families during the 1800s.
You’ll find family trees and individual timelines - while not exhaustive, they will continue to be updated as research progresses.
Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information presented.

Alfred Ainsworth (1827-1905)
Sarah (Bale) Hill (1829-1911)

🏠Property History
👨🏻‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family Timeline

Alfred Ainsworth was born around 1827 in Hampshire, England. Sarah Bale was born on 7 April 1829 in Norwich, Norfolk, and baptised there in May. She later emigrated to Tasmania, married, and was widowed, becoming known as Sarah Hill.

On 15 April 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 at [1-I5] 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 at [1-I5] High Street, where they were both owners and occupiers. After Alfred’s death on 2 November 1905, Sarah continued living there alone. She died on 25 February 1911 at age 81 from sarcoma of the jaw and was buried in Bothwell Cemetery.

In 1916, Louisa and her brother John Richard Hill sold the High Street property to Ethel Kate Best, closing a long chapter of family life in Bothwell.

Alfred Ainsworth.

b: abt 1827, Hampshire, England (1); d: 2 Nov 1905, Bothwell, Tasmania, Australia (1); bur: 6 Nov 1905, General Cemetery, Bothwell, Tasmania, Australia (2).

Spouse - Sarah (Bale) Hill, daughter of John Bale and Ann Hovell.

b: 7 Apr 1829, Norwich, Norfolk, England (3); bap: Norwich, Norfolk, England (4); m: 15 Apr 1867, Bothwell, Tasmania, Australia (5); d: 25 Feb 1911, Bothwell, Tasmania, Australia (6); bur: 27 Feb 1911 (7).

Information on Sarah’s first marriage and children are located on the Richard Hill and Sarah Bale page.

Children of Alfred Ainsworth and Sarah (Bale) Hill:

  1. George Alfred Ainsworth - b: 28 Mar 1868, Broadmarsh, Tasmania, Australia (8); d: 5 May 1885, Bothwell, Tasmania, Australia (9); bur: 8 May 1885, General Cemetery, Bothwell, Tasmania, Australia (10).

  2. Henry Arthur Ainsworth - b: 8 Jan 1873, Campbell Town, Tasmania, Australia (11); d: 1947, Auburn, Victoria, Australia (12). Spouse - Amy Annie Nichols, daughter of Henry Fortenam Nichols and Mary Ann New, b: 22 Sep 1872, Bothwell, Tasmania, Australia (13); bap: 25 Oct 1872, Bothwell, Tasmania, Australia (14); m: 30 Apr 1902, Bothwell, Tasmania, Australia (15); d: 1961, Glenferrie, Victoria, Australia (16).

Sources

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) & Bothwell 2 (B38), AF819/1/27 (modified)

Family Timeline of Alfred Ainsworth and Sarah (Bale) Hill

About 1827 - Alfred Ainsworth was born in Hampshire, England. (1)

April 7, 1829 - Sarah Bale, daughter of John Bale and Ann Hovell, was born in Norwich, Norfolk, England. (2)

May 24, 1829 - Sarah was baptised in Norwich, Norfolk, England. (3)

April 15, 1867 - Alfred Ainsworth, a 40-year-old shepherd, married Sarah (Bale) Hill, a 43-year-old widow and milliner, at Sarah's home [1-I5] High St, Bothwell according to the Rites and Ceremonies of the Congregational Body. Witnessed by John Bale, Rosanna Bale, John Richard Hill, Ann Bale, Francis Knowles, Mary Knowles, Rachel Mozley and Mary Wilson. (4)

March 28, 1868 - George Alfred Ainsworth was born in Broadmarsh, as reported by note from his father Alfred on April 16. (5)

March 1, 1870 - [1-I5] High St. Empty, Mrs Sarah Ainsworth (owner), house, ground, annual rateable value £10. (6)

January 8, 1873 - Henry Arthur Ainsworth was born in Campbell Town, as reported by his father Alfred, a labourer, on February 8. (7)

September 8, 1874 - [1-I6] High St. Alfred Ainsworth (occupier, inserted), Rampling John Bale (owner), cottage, annual rateable value £5. (8)

December 18, 1876 - Newspaper article.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT. Bothwell, 11th December, 1876. Mr Henry C Hurst, Public School, Bothwell.
Dear Sir, We, the undersigned residents in the District of Bothwell, having heard of your intended departure from amongst us, cannot allow you to leave without expressing our deep sense of the valuable services rendered by you and your wife, in the cause of Education, as Master and Mistress of the Public School in this town. Those among us who are parents, and who, as such have sent our children to your school, can bear testimony, not only to the progress which they have made under your instruction, but also to the great respect which they entertain towards you as their teacher, thereby proving to us in a manner more expressive than words, that it has been your aim and endeavour to impart a high tone to your school, as well as to attend to the moral culture of your pupils. We cannot omit to mention, moreover, your kind willingness, in times of sickness, to alleviate the sufferings of those around you, a Christian duty which we all appreciate, and for which we thank you very heartily. Your kind manner and consistent walk in life have won from all of us very great respect. In bidding you farewell, we earnestly hope that you may be happy in your new sphere of labour; that your usefulness as a teacher of youth may be extended and appreciated and that every blessing may be vouchsafed to you and your family. We beg to subscribe ourselves, Your faithful friends and well wishers... Sarah Ainsworth. (9)

February 25, 1879 - [1-I6] High St. Alfred Ainsworth (occupier), Rampling John Bale (owner), cottage, annual rateable value £5. (10)

January 27, 1880 - [1-I6] High St. Alfred Ainsworth (occupier), Rampling John Bale (owner), house, annual rateable value £5. (11)

April 30, 1885 - Mary Ann Hill, a 26-year-old dressmaker, died in Bothwell at the age of 26 from consumption, as reported by stepfather, Alfred Ainsworth, on May 3 (13). She was buried at Bothwell Cemetery on May 3 (13).

HILL - On April 30, 1885, at her mother's residence, Bothwell, Mary Ann Hill, aged 26 years. (14)

May 5, 1885 - George Alfred Ainsworth died in Bothwell at the age of 17 from consumption, as reported by his father Alfred on May 7 (15). He was buried at Bothwell Cemetery on May 8 (16).

AINSWORTH - On May 5, 1885, at his father's residence, Bothwell, George Ainsworth, aged 17 years. (17)

February 16, 1886 - [1-I5] High St. Alfred Ainsworth (owner, occupier), Mrs Sarah Ainsworth (owner), house, annual rateable value £9. (18)

January 2, 1889 - Peter Davie, a 24-year-old bachelor and farmer, married Louisa Maria Hill, a 27-year-old spinster, at St Luke's Church in Bothwell according to the Rites and Ceremonies of the Church of England by Licence. Witnessed by L A Davie and John Richard Hill. (19)

January 14, 1890 - [1-I5] High St. Alfred Ainsworth (occupier), Mrs Sarah Ainsworth (owner), house, ground, annual rateable value £9. (20)

March 28, 1899 - [1-I5] High St. Alfred Ainsworth (occupier), Mrs Sarah Ainsworth (owner), cottage, land, capital value £120, annual rateable value £8. (21)

April 30, 1902 - Henry Arthur Ainsworth, aged 29, married Amy Annie Nichols, aged 29, in Bothwell. (22)

November 2, 1905 - Alfred Ainsworth died at [1-I5] High St in Bothwell at the age of 78, as reported by his son-in-law, Peter Davie, on November 2 (23). He was buried at Bothwell Cemetery on November 6. (24)

ANESWEARTH - On November 2, 1905, at his residence, Bothwell, Alfred Aneswearth, in his 79th year. At rest. (25)

January 17, 1911 - [1-I5] High St. Mrs Sarah Ainsworth (owner, occupier), cottage, land, ½ acre, capital value £125. (26)

February 25, 1911 - Sarah (Bale/Hill) Ainsworth died in Bothwell at the age of 81 from sarcoma of the jaw and exhaustion, as reported by her son-in-law, Peter Davie, on February 27 (27). She was buried at Bothwell Cemetery on February 27 (28).

AINSWORTH - On February 25, 1911 at Bothwell, Sarah, relict of the late Alfred Ainsworth. In her 82nd year. (29)

October 5, 1916 - [1-I5] High St. John Richard Hill and Louisa Maria (Hill) Davie conveyed the 1 rood, 11 perch property to Ethel Kate Best for £60. (30)

Sources

Sources

 Family of Alfred Ainsworth

  1. Deaths in the District of Bothwell 1844-1938 (RGD17), Tasmanian Archives, microfilm Z1640, Alfred Ainsworth, RGD17/1/2, no 741/1905.

  2. Tasmania: Bothwell Cemetery Records, Alfred Aneswearth, 1905, section A34, site 11-12.

  3. ancestry: Public Member Family Trees, Hill Family Tree (https://www.ancestry.com.au/family-tree/person/tree/30745614/person/12300606400/facts).

  4. ancestry: Norfolk, England, Transcripts of Church of England Baptism, Marriage and Burial Registers, 1600-1935, Sarah Bale, 1829, Norwich (https://www.ancestry.com.au/discoveryui-content/view/1247708:61636).

  5. Libraries Tasmania: Registers of Marriages, Tasmania (RGD37), Aneswearth-Hill, no 97/1867, Bothwell (https://libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/RGD37-1-26p68j2k).

  6. Deaths in the District of Bothwell 1844-1938 (RGD17), microfilm Z1640, Sarah Ainsworth, RGD17/1/2, no 773/1911.

  7. Bothwell Cemetery Records, Sarah Aneswearth, 1911, section A34, site 11-12.

  8. Libraries Tasmania: Registers of Births, Tasmania (RGD33), George Alfred Ainsworth, no 46/1868, Brighton (https://libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/RGD33-1-46p283j2k).

  9. Libraries Tasmania: Registers of Deaths, Tasmania (RGD35), George Alfred Ainsworth, no 477/1885, Bothwell (https://libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/RGD35-1-54p46j2k).

  10. Bothwell Cemetery Records, George Alfred Aneswearth, 1885, section A13, site 19.

  11. Registers of Births, Tasmania (RGD33), Henry Arthur Aneswearth, no 58/1873, Campbell Town (https://libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/RGD33-1-51p772j2k).

  12. Victoria: Births, Deaths & Marriages (https://www.bdm.vic.gov.au/research-and-family-history), Henry Arthur Ainsworth, death, 1947, Auburn.

  13. Registers of Births, Tasmania (RGD33), Amy Annie Nichols, no 26/1872, Bothwell (https://libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/RGD33-1-50p519j2k).

  14. Baptismal Register of the Bothwell Church of England (NS1854), Tasmanian Archives, microfilm Z2238, NS1854/1/1, Amy Annie Nichols, no 471/1872.

  15. Libraries Tasmania: Tasmanian Federation Index 1900-1930, Ainsworth-Nichols, marriage, no 23/1902, Bothwell.

  16. Victoria: Births, Deaths & Marriages, Amy Annie Ainsworth, death, no 12674/1961, Glenferrie.

Family timeline of Alfred Ainsworth

  1. Deaths in the District of Bothwell 1844-1938 (RGD17), Tasmanian Archives, microfilm Z1640, Alfred Ainsworth, RGD17/1/2, no 741/1905.

  2. ancestry: Public Member Family Trees, Hill Family Tree (https://www.ancestry.com.au/family-tree/person/tree/30745614/person/12300606400/facts).

  3. ancestry: Norfolk, England, Transcripts of Church of England Baptism, Marriage and Burial Registers, 1600-1935, Sarah Bale, 1829, Norwich (https://www.ancestry.com.au/discoveryui-content/view/1247708:61636).

  4. Libraries Tasmania: Registers of Marriages, Tasmania (RGD37), Aneswearth-Hill, no 97/1867, Bothwell (https://libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/RGD37-1-26p68j2k).

  5. Libraries Tasmania: Registers of Births, Tasmania (RGD33), George Alfred Ainsworth, no 46/1868, Brighton (https://libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/RGD33-1-46p283j2k).

  6. FamilySearch: Australia, Tasmania, Government Gazette, 1833-1925, Empty, p356/1870 (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L98F-VB3M).

  7. Registers of Births, Tasmania (RGD33), Henry Arthur Aneswearth, no 58/1873, Campbell Town (https://libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/RGD33-1-51p772j2k).

  8. Australia, Tasmania, Government Gazette, 1833-1925, Alfred Ainsworth, p897/1874 (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-898F-JBPR).

  9. TROVE: The Mercury (Hobart, TAS : 1860-1954), "Acknowledgement," Hurst, 18 Dec 1876, p3 (https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/8949923).

  10. Australia, Tasmania, Government Gazette, 1833-1925, Alfred Ainsworth, p371/1879 (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L98N-9S2L).

  11. Australia, Tasmania, Government Gazette, 1833-1925, Alfred Ainsworth, p91/1880 (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G98N-9SGF).

  12. Libraries Tasmania: Registers of Deaths, Tasmania (RGD35), Mary Ann Hill, no 476/1885, Bothwell (https://libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/RGD35-1-54p46j2k).

  13. The Mercury (Hobart, TAS : 1860-1954), "Deaths," Hill, 1 May 1885, p1 (https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/9104295).

  14. Tasmania: Bothwell Cemetery Records, Mary Ann Hill, 1885, section A13, site 19.

  15. Registers of Deaths, Tasmania (RGD35), George Alfred Ainsworth, no 477/1885, Bothwell (https://libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/RGD35-1-54p46j2k).

  16. The Mercury (Hobart, TAS : 1860-1954), "Deaths," Ainsworth, 6 May 1885, p1 (https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/9104526).

  17. Bothwell Cemetery Records, George Alfred Aneswearth, 1885, section A13, site 19.

  18. Australia, Tasmania, Government Gazette, 1833-1925, Alfred Ainsworth, p429/1886 (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-898F-29B).

  19. Registers of Marriages, Tasmania (RGD37), Davie-Hill, no 4/1889, Bothwell (https://libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/RGD37-1-48p4j2k).

  20. Australia, Tasmania, Government Gazette, 1833-1925, Alfred Ainsworth, p173/1890 (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-898F-VDGQ).

  21. Australia, Tasmania, Government Gazette, 1833-1925, Alfred Ainsworth, p323/1899 (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L98F-V8X4).

  22. Libraries Tasmania: Tasmanian Federation Index 1900-1930, Ainsworth-Nichols, marriage, no 23/1902, Bothwell.

  23. Deaths in the District of Bothwell 1844-1938 (RGD17), microfilm Z1640, Alfred Ainsworth, RGD17/1/2, no 741/1905.

  24. Bothwell Cemetery Records, Alfred Aneswearth, 1905, section A34, site 11-12.

  25. The Mercury (Hobart, TAS : 1860-1954), "Deaths," Aneswearth, 6 Nov 1905, p1 (https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/12324849).

  26. Australia, Tasmania, Government Gazette, 1833-1925, Sarah Ainsworth, p148/1911 (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L98N-9C4H).

  27. Deaths in the District of Bothwell 1844-1938 (RGD17), microfilm Z1640, Sarah Ainsworth, RGD17/1/2, no 773/1911.

  28. The Mercury (Hobart, TAS : 1860-1954), "Deaths," Ainsworth, 28 Feb 1911, p1 (https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/10093324).

  29. Bothwell Cemetery Records, Sarah Aneswearth, 1911, section A34, site 11-12.

  30. Tasmania: The List: Properties & Titles, (https://www.thelist.tas.gov.au), John Richard Hill, historic deed, no 13/9453.