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.

Charles Gossage (1855-1920)
Sarah Hunt (1855-1897)
Susan Timmins (1867-1955)

Charles Gossage was born on 26 April 1855 in Hobart, the son of Charles Gossage and Ellen Hayes. As a boy, he moved with his family to Bothwell, where he attended the local public school and was noted in 1869 for academic achievement during the annual examinations. On 31 December 1879, Charles married Sarah Hunt, daughter of Henry Hunt and Catherine McDonald, at St Luke’s Church, Bothwell. Over the next eighteen years, they raised a large family, though their domestic life was marked by repeated tragedy. Of their children, several died in infancy or early childhood. Those who survived included Charles Henry (1881), Richard (882, later killed in France during the First World War), Roland (1885), and Merle Kathleen (1888). Sarah died on 27 January 1897, aged 41, following complications of childbirth, leaving Charles a widower with young children. Throughout his adult life, Charles lived at various properties in Bothwell, primarily along High Street, Elizabeth Street, and Alexander Street. He worked as a hawker and later as a contractor, appearing regularly in valuation rolls and electoral records, and was well-known within the district. On 16 January 1905, Charles remarried at St Andrew’s Church, Bothwell, to Susan Timmins. They had three sons together: Alexander Anthony (1906), John Eric (1908), and Ivo George (1909). By 1914, Charles was recorded on the electoral roll as a contractor, with Susan listed as a dressmaker. Charles died on 1 December 1920 at Bothwell, aged 65, from heart failure. He was buried in the Bothwell Public Cemetery. Susan died at the age of 88 on 16 November 1955 and was buried at the Old Cemetery in New Norfolk.

Charles Gossage - son of Charles Gossage and Ellen Hayes.

b: 26 Apr 1855, Hobart, Tasmania; d: 1 Dec 1920, Bothwell, Tasmania; bur: 3 Dec 1920, Public Cemetery, Bothwell, Tasmania.

Spouse (1) - Sarah Hunt, daughter of Henry Hunt and Catherine McDonald.

b: 13 Oct 1855, Bothwell, Tasmania; m: 31 Dec 1879, Bothwell, Tasmania; d: 27 Jan 1897, Bothwell, Tasmania; bur: 30 Jan 1897, Public Cemetery, Bothwell, Tasmania.

Children of Charles Gossage and Sarah Hunt:

  1. Charles Henry Gossage - b: 14 Jun 1881, Bothwell, Tasmania; bap: 9 Sep 1881, Bothwell, Tasmania; d: 26 Nov 1935, Queenstown, Tasmania; bur: 28 Nov 1935, Public Cemetery, Bothwell, Tasmania. Spouse - Mary Gertrude Goldstraw, daughter of Anthony Goldstraw and Mary Darke, b: 13 May 1885, Campbell Town, Tasmania; m: 20 Sep 1906, Zeehan, Tasmania; d: 1959, Ivanhoe, Victoria.

  2. Richard Gossage - b: 13 Aug 1882, Bothwell, Tasmania; bap: 4 Jan 1883, Bothwell, Tasmania; d: 2 Dec 1918, Gloucestershire, England - died of wounds inflicted in France.

  3. Female Gossage - b: 15 Jan 1884, Bothwell, Tasmania; d: 15 Jan 1884, Bothwell, Tasmania.

  4. Female Gossage - b: 15 Jan 1884, Bothwell, Tasmania; d: 15 Jan 1884, Bothwell, Tasmania.

  5. Roland Gossage - b: 22 May 1885, Bothwell, Tasmania; bap: 18 Oct 1885, Bothwell, Tasmania; d: 10 Apr 1947, Bothwell, Tasmania; bur: 11 Apr 1947, Public Cemetery, Bothwell, Tasmania. Spouse - Mary Ann Wylie, daughter of David Wylie and Mary Ann Mason, b: 21 Dec 1883, Bothwell, Tasmania; m: 22 Apr 1909, Bothwell, Tasmania; d: 1970, Tasmania; bur: 1970, Bothwell Cemetery, Tasmania.

  6. Merle Kathleen Gossage - b: 4 Feb 1888, Bothwell, Tasmania; bap: 23 Jan 1889, Bothwell, Tasmania; d: 31 Dec 1971, Tasmania; bur: 4 Jan 1972, Malbina Cemetery, Tasmania. Spouse - George McCarthy, b: abt 1886, place unknown, m: 21 Jul 1910, Queenstown, Tasmania; d: 18 Sep 1960, Tasmania; bur: 20 Sep 1960, Malbina Cemetery, Tasmania.

  7. Vernon Gossage - b: 16 Jul 1891, Bothwell, Tasmania; bap: 30 Sep 1891, Bothwell, Tasmania; d: 6 Nov 1891, Bothwell, Tasmania; bur: aft 6 Nov 1891, Public Cemetery, Bothwell, Tasmania.

  8. Mona Phyllis Gossage - b: 15 Aug 1893, Bothwell, Tasmania; bap: 10 Dec 1893, Bothwell, Tasmania; d: 11 Dec 1893, Bothwell, Tasmania; bur: aft 11 Dec 1893, Public Cemetery, Bothwell, Tasmania.

  9. Male Gossage - b: 27 Jan 1897, Bothwell, Tasmania; d: 27 Jan 1897, Bothwell, Tasmania; bur: aft 27 Jan 1897, Public Cemetery, Bothwell, Tasmania.

Spouse (2) - Susan Timmins, daughter of John Timmins and Janet Myers.

b: 11 Aug 1867, Bothwell, Tasmania; m: 16 Jan 1905, Bothwell, Tasmania; d: 16 Nov 1955, Tasmania; bur: aft 16 Nov 1955, New Norfolk, Tasmania.

Children of Charles Gossage and Susan Timmins:

  1. Alexander Anthony Gossage - b: 28 Feb 1906, Bothwell, Tasmania; d: 26 Oct 1981, New Norfolk, Tasmania.

  2. John Eric Gossage - b: 14 Jul 1908, Bothwell, Tasmania; d: 10 Aug 1974, Tasmania; bur: aft 10 Aug 1974, New Norfolk, Tasmania.

  3. Ivo George Gossage - b: 10 Aug 1909, Bothwell, Tasmania; d: 13 Feb 1942, Hobart, Tasmania; bur: 15 Feb 1942, New Norfolk, Tasmania.