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.
Hannah Smith (1840-1880)
James Douce (1813-1893)
William White (1843-1905)
Hannah Smith, daughter of Benjamin Smith and Ann Hammond.
Born: 1840, Elmdon, ESS, England (EWEB: Hannah Smith, 1840, Saffron Walden, Essex, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2N3L-47H)
Baptised: 31 May 1840, Elmdon, ESS, England; note in the margin: "Privately baptised. Received into Church 25 Dec 1842" (EPR: Anna Smith, baptism, D/P3/1/5, no 580/1840, image 39, Elmdon)
Census: 7 Jun 1841, Union Workhouse, Saffron Walden, ESS, England; Ann Smith, aged 29; Sarah, 10; James, 7; Benjamin, 5; Zacharias, 3; Hannah, 1; all born in Essex, England (CE41: Smith, 1841, Saffron Walden, Essex, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MQ2K-83W)
Residence: 26 Jun 1846, Union Workhouse, Saffron Walden, ESS, England; Ann, Sarah, James, Benjamin, Zacharias, and Hannah (UKCPL: Ann Smith, MH 12/3709, Saffron Walden 135, 28 Aug 1846, https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C3278522)
Correspondence: 12 Feb 1849, Poor Law Commissioners report. A List and Description of the Persons desirous of Emigrating from the Parish of Elmdon in the County of Essex to Van Diemen's Land... Hannah Smith, aged between 1-14, single, 357 days in workhouse during last year (UKCPL: Ann Smith, MH 12/3710, Saffron Walden 135, 31 Dec 1849, https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C3278523)
Departed: 30 May 1849, Gravesend, KEN, England; on board the William Jardine with her mother and siblings as unassisted immigrants (MB2/39: Anne Smith, 1849, William Jardine, https://libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/mb2-39-1-11/MB2-39-1-11_146)
Arrived: 26 Aug 1849, Hobart, TAS, Australia (MB2/39: Anne Smith, 1849, William Jardine, https://libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/mb2-39-1-11/MB2-39-1-11_146)
Article: 29 Aug 1849, named under "Shipping News": Ann, Sarah, and James Smith and three children (COUR: "Shipping News," 29 Aug 1849, https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/2965154)
Married (1): 10 May 1855, James Douce, St Luke's Church, Bothwell, TAS, Australia; James, aged 42, a bachelor and farmer; Hannah, aged 15, a spinster; witnesses: her parents, Benjamin and Ann Smith (RGD37: Douce-Smith, no 3/1855, https://libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/RGD37-1-14p1j2k)
Extract from the life story of Benjamin Smith (1835-1927):During my absence in England, my youngest sister had got married and gone to live at Port Sorell. I therefore made up my mind to go and see them before settling down for good. I went and found my oldest brother was also with them, and when I got there, they persuaded me to stay also, about the worst venture I ever made. I had only ₤23 in money, but I had bought a fine lot of shirts and clothing, which all went into the company, and I worked hard for 6 months and got nothing in return. We got a road contract and managed to get about ₤12 each out of that, and with that, my brother and I cleared out. My brother-in-law promised to refund the ₤20, but I never saw a penny.
Residence: 1 May 1862, New Ground, TAS, Australia (RGD33: Benjamin James Douce, no 1355/1862, https://libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/rgd33-1-40p503j2k)
Separation: abt 1867, after her marriage to James Douce ended, Hannah moved to the Green Ponds district to be closer to her family (RGD33: Mary Jane White, no 652/1868, https://libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/rgd33-1-46p369j2k)
Notes: 19 Nov 1868, on her daughter Mary Jane White’s birth registration, Hannah was recorded as White, formerly Smith, and the child’s father, William White of Green Ponds, later became her husband (RGD33: Mary Jane White, no 652/1868, https://libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/rgd33-1-46p369j2k)
Residence: 4 May 1870, Hutton Park, Melton Mowbray, TAS, Australia (RGD33: William Isaac White, no 645/1870, https://libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/RGD33-1-48p091j2k)
Married (2): 25 Mar 1871, William White, Minister's House, Kempton, TAS, Australia; William, aged 25, a farmer; Hannah, aged 31, a widow; witnesses: Robert Boyd and Elizabeth Boyd. Hannah signed as Hannah Douce and described herself as a widow, although her first husband, James Douce, was still alive (d: 19 Mar 1893) (RGD37: White-Douce, no 120/1871, https://libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/RGD37-1-30p78j2k)
Birth Informant: 7 Apr 1880, Philip James Stafford, her grandson (RGD33: Philip James Stafford, no 1329/1880, https://libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/RGD33-1-58p426j2k)
Residence: 7 Apr 1880, Hutton Park, Melton Mowbray, TAS, Australia (RGD33: Philip James Stafford, no 1329/1880, https://libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/RGD33-1-58p426j2k)
Died: 14 Dec 1880, Bothwell, TAS, Australia; aged 40; cause: cancer; informant: her mother, Ann (Hammond/Smith) Norton (RGD35: Hannah White, no 9/1880, https://libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/RGD35-1-49p39j2k)
Spouse (1) - James Douce, son of William Douce and Sarah Unknown.
Born: abt 1813, Saffron Walden, ESS, England (EPR: James Douce, baptism, D/P9/1/13, no 3/1813, image 3, Saffron Walden)
Baptised: 14 Jan 1813, Saffron Walden, ESS, England (EPR: James Douce, baptism, D/P9/1/13, no 3/1813, image 3, Saffron Walden)
Convicted: 20 Oct 1840, Quarter Sessions, ESS, England; burglary, sentenced to life transportation. Gaol report: eleven times convicted of poaching; once for stealing turnips; very bad. Stated this Offence: "Housebreaking, Prosecutor John White, Debden; poaching: ten or eleven times, once - eight months, five times - three months, once - five months, two months, 1 month and once for ten days one month. Tried with William Douce, Charles Thomson, Edward Warren & James Harwood, all on board. Single." (CON33: James Douce, no 1755, Duncan, https://libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/con33-1-8/con33-1-8p58)
Embarked: 2 Dec 1840, Duncan; hulk report: good (CON33: James Douce, no 1755, Duncan, https://libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/con33-1-8/con33-1-8p58)
Departed: 16 Dec 1840, Sheerness, KEN, England; on board the Duncan (BATE: p364/1841, Duncan)
Arrived: 18 Apr 1841, Hobart, TAS, Australia (CON33: James Douce, no 1755, Duncan, https://libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/con33-1-8/con33-1-8p58)
Description: Trade: brickmaker's labourer; Height: 5' 3"; Age: 23; Complexion: sallow; Head: large; Hair: dark brown; Whiskers: none; Visage: large; Forehead: high; Eyebrows: black; Eyes: brown; Nose: long; Mouth: medium; Chin: broad; Native Place: Saffron Walden; Remarks: several tattoos; Protestant; can read & write (CON33: James Douce, no 1755, Duncan, https://libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/con33-1-8/con33-1-8p58)
Convict Work: 25 Jul 1849, Ibbott Vale, Bothwell, TAS, Australia; hired by John Ibbott (CON33: James Douce, no 1755, Duncan, https://libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/con33-1-8/con33-1-8p58)
Muster: 3 Aug 1849, Bothwell, TAS, Australia; attended (CON33: James Douce, no 1755, Duncan, https://libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/con33-1-8/con33-1-8p58)
Ticket of Leave: 20 Nov 1849, refused (CON33: James Douce, no 1755, Duncan, https://libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/con33-1-8/con33-1-8p58)
Muster: 16 Mar 1850, Bothwell, TAS, Australia; attended (CON33: James Douce, no 1755, Duncan, https://libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/con33-1-8/con33-1-8p58)
Ticket of Leave: 12 Jun 1850, apply in four months (CON33: James Douce, no 1755, Duncan, https://libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/con33-1-8/con33-1-8p58)
Convict Work: 29 Jul 1850, Ibbott Vale, Bothwell, TAS, Australia; hired by John Ibbott (CON33: James Douce, no 1755, Duncan, https://libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/con33-1-8/con33-1-8p58)
Ticket of Leave: 22 Oct 1850, approved (CON33: James Douce, no 1755, Duncan, https://libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/con33-1-8/con33-1-8p58)
Ticket of Leave: 11 Mar 1851, revoked, absent from muster (CON33: James Douce, no 1755, Duncan, https://libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/con33-1-8/con33-1-8p58)
Conditional Pardon: 14 Jun 1853, recommended (CON33: James Douce, no 1755, Duncan, https://libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/con33-1-8/con33-1-8p58)
Conditional Pardon: 23 May 1854, approved (CON33: James Douce, no 1755, Duncan, https://libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/con33-1-8/con33-1-8p58)
Married: 10 May 1855, Hannah Smith, St Luke's Church, Bothwell, TAS, Australia; James, aged 42, a bachelor and farmer; Hannah, aged 15, a spinster; witnesses: her parents, Benjamin and Ann Smith (RGD37: Douce-Smith, no 3/1855, https://libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/RGD37-1-14p1j2k)
Residence: 15 Apr 1856, Fraser Glen, New Ground, TAS, Australia; entitled to be placed on the Tasmanian Electoral Roll; qualification: rented land, Edmund Robson, lessor (COUR: "Devon Electors," 15 Apr 1856, https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/2502042)
Article: 31 May 1856, named under "To Jas Alexander Gibson" (CC: "To Jas Alexander Gisbon," 31 May 1856, https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/65718479)
Residence: 1 May 1862, New Ground, TAS, Australia; occupation: farmer (RGD33: Benjamin James Douce, no 1355/1862, https://libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/rgd33-1-40p503j2k)
Separation: around 1867, after her marriage to Hannah Smith ended, Hannah moved to the Green Ponds district to be closer to her family (RGD33: Mary Jane White, no 652/1868, https://libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/rgd33-1-46p369j2k)
Died: 19 Mar 1893, Port Sorell, TAS, Australia; aged 80, a farmer; cause: heart disease; informant: Benjamin James Douce, his son (RGD35: James Donce, no 601/1893, https://libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/RGD35-1-62_157)
Inquest: 20 Mar 1893, Port Sorell, TAS, Australia; died from natural causes from heart disease and not otherwise (INQ: James Douce, no 10220/1893, https://libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/SC195-1-70-10220)
James Douce and Hannah Smith had the following children:
Sarah Ann Douce - b: 25 Jan 1859, New Ground, Tasmania, Australia; 2 Aug 1929, Launceston, Tasmania, Australia.
Benjamin James Douce - b: 19 Mar 1862, New Ground, Tasmania, Australia; d: 28 Dec 1927, Harford, Tasmania, Australia.
Alice Douce - b: 21 Aug 1865, Greens Creek, Tasmania, Australia; d: 20 Apr 1943, Bothwell, Tasmania, Australia.
Spouse (2) - William White.
Born: abt 1843, date and place unknown (RGD37: White-Douce, no 120/1871, https://libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/RGD37-1-30p78j2k)
Article: 3 Feb 1869, named under "Stolen": Green Ponds Municipality (POL709: "Stolen," p25/1869, https://libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/POL709-1-6/POL709-1-6P36)
Residence: 4 May 1870, Hutton Park, Melton Mowbray, TAS, Australia; occupation: labourer (RGD33: William Isaac White, no 645/1870, https://libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/RGD33-1-48p091j2k)
Married: 25 Mar 1871, Hannah Smith, Minister's House, Kempton, TAS, Australia; William, aged 25, a farmer; Hannah, aged 31, a widow; witnesses: Robert Boyd and Elizabeth Boyd. Hannah signed as Hannah Douce and described herself as a widow, although her first husband, James Douce, was still alive (d: 19 Mar 1893) (RGD37: White-Douce, no 120/1871, https://libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/RGD37-1-30p78j2k)
Death Informant: 15 Nov 1872, Rosetta Smith, daughter of Hannah's brother, James and Mary Smith (RGD35: Rosetta Smith, no 188/1872, https://libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/rgd35-1-41p83j2k)
Article: 12 Sep 1878, named under "Black Marsh": shooting match (MERC: "Black Marsh," 12 Sep 1878, https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/8967878)
Residence: 7 Apr 1880, Hutton Park, Melton Mowbray, TAS, Australia (RGD33: Philip James Stafford, no 1329/1880, https://libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/RGD33-1-58p426j2k)
Marriage Witness: 16 Jun 1883, Congregational Parsonage, Kempton, TAS, Australia; Samuel Ayers and his sister-in-law, Sarah (Smith) Parlsoe (RGD37: Ayers-Parsloe, no 239/1883, https://libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/rgd37-1-42p144j2k)
Charged: 4 Jun 1887, Lower Court, Kempton, TAS, Australia; disturbed the public peace, fined 8s 9d (PSGP: William White, p225/1887, https://libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/LC194-1-5/LC194-1-5P227)
Residence: 4 Jun 1887, Hutton Park, Melton Mowbray, TAS, Australia; occupation: labourer (PSGP: William White, p225/1887, https://libraries.tas.gov.au/Digital/LC194-1-5/LC194-1-5P227)
Residence: 15 Jan 1901, The Grange, Kempton, TAS, Australia; James Hadden (owner), hut, part of The Grange, 30 acres, capital value of £150, annual rateable value £7 10s (TGG: "Valuation Roll," p78/1901, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G98N-SZRP)
Died: 11 Feb 1905, Royal Hobart Hospital, Hobart, TAS, Australia; aged 62 (TFI: William White, death, no 114/1905)
Death Notice: WHITE - On February 11, 1905, at the General Hospital, Hobart, William White (late of Kempton), aged 62 years (MERC: "Deaths," White, 13 Feb 1905, https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/12291016)
Buried: 13 Feb 1905, St Mary's Anglican Cemetery, Kempton, TAS, Australia (MERC: "Deaths," White, 13 Feb 1905, p1 (https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/12291016)
William White and Hannah Smith had the following children:
Mary Jane White - b: 19 Nov 1868, Kempton, Tasmania, Australia; d: 8 Dec 1941, Colebrook, Tasmania, Australia.
William Isaac White - b: 30 Mar 1870, Melton Mowbray, Tasmania, Australia; d: 2 Apr 1953, Melton Mowbray, Tasmania, Australia.
Hannah Eve White - b: 25 Dec 1871, Kempton, Tasmania, Australia; d: 27 Jan 1961, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.
Lilly Ellen White - b: 11 Apr 1874, Melton Mowbray, Tasmania, Australia; d: 16 Dec 1927, Kempton, Tasmania, Australia.
Rose Emily White - b: 14 Nov 1876, Kempton, Tasmania, Australia; d: 8 Apr 1898, Kempton, Tasmania, Australia.
Bibliography of Sources
BATE - Bateson, Charles. The Convict Ships : 1787-1868. Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Library of Australian History. 1985.
CC - TROVE: The Cornwall Chronicle (Launceston, TAS : 1835-1880). Images. National Library of Australia. https://trove.nla.gov.au : 2023.
CE41 - FamilySearch: England and Wales Census, 1841. Database with Images. findmypast. https://www.findmypast.com. Citing PRO HO 107. The National Archives, Kew, Surrey. https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/1493745 : 16 Nov 2022.
CON33 - Libraries Tasmania: Conduct Registers of Male Convicts arriving in the Period of the Probation System (CON33). Images. Convict Department (TA60). Tasmanian Government, Australia. https://www.libraries.tas.gov.au/tasmanian-archives : 2023.
COUR - TROVE: The Courier (Hobart, TAS : 1840-1859). Images. National Library of Australia. https://trove.nla.gov.au : 2023.
EPR - England: Essex Archives Online: Essex Parish Registers. Images. Essex Record Office. https://www.essexarchivesonline.co.uk : 2023.
EWEB - FamilySearch: England and Wales Birth Registration Index 1837-2008. Database. "England & Wales Births, 1837-2008," findmypast. https://www.findmypast.com. Citing General Register Office, Southport, England. https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/2285732 : 2023.
INFO - Information supplied.
INQ - Libraries Tasmania: Findings relating to Coroner's Inquests (SC195). Images. Supreme Court, Registrar's Office (TA42). Tasmanian Government, Australia. https://www.libraries.tas.gov.au/tasmanian-archives : 2023.
MB2/39 - Libraries Tasmania: Ship Arrivals with Passenger Lists (MB2/39). Images. Marine Department (TA931). Tasmanian Government, Australia. https://www.libraries.tas.gov.au/tasmanian-archives : 2023.
MERC - TROVE: The Mercury (Hobart, TAS : 1860-1954). Images. National Library of Australia. https://trove.nla.gov.au : 2023.
NS686 - Church Records, Latrobe (NS686). Tasmanian Archives and Heritage Office. Microfilm. Anglican Parish of Latrobe (NG686).
PSGP - Libraries Tasmania: Record of Cases Heard in Petty Sessions, Green Ponds (LC194). Images. Bothwell Lower Courts (TA1053). 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.
ROC - Libraries Tasmania: Reports of Crime, 1860-1933 (POL709). Images. Police Department (TA242). Tasmanian Government. https://www.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.
UKCPL - The National Archives, UK: Correspondence with Poor Law Unions and Other Local Authorities. Open Document. Saffron Walden 135. Reference MH 12. Government UK. https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C10855: 2023.