Thomas Coop – Youth to Early Adulthood

Thomas Coop travelled to Australia with his mother, father and siblings at the age of 14. The family arrived in Australia in August 1853 a few days before Thomas' 15th birthday. He was born on 29 August 1838 in St Marylebone, Middlesex, England to Thomas Coop (1816-1886) and Elizabeth [Large] Coop (1813-1859[1] and baptised on 7 October 1838 at Saint Mary, St Marylebone Road, Marylebone, England[2]. According to a certified copy of his birth entry, Thomas was born at 2 Westmorland Street, Marylebone, Middlesex, England in the sub-district of Cavendish Square.

 

Extract from a certified copy of Thomas Coop's Birth Entry issued to the Author by the General Register Office, UK (GRO) in May 2004

Thomas' heritage on his father's side comes predominantly from Bury in Lancashire via Tamworth in Staffordshire. I wrote about three generations of his ancestors - Thomas’ father (Thomas), Great Grandfather (Thomas) and 2nd Great Grandfather (Samuel) in my post: Tamworth and Three Generations of Coops. His heritage on his mother's side is from Kent in England.

I wrote about Elizabeth, her marriage to Thomas Coop Snr , their travel to Australia and a little about their lives in the goldfields at Robinson Crusoe Gully in Bendigo, Victoria in my post Thomas and Elizabeth - Marylebone to Australia.

According to The Cyclopedia of New Zealand[3], Thomas left school at 10 years old. This information is likely to have come from Thomas’ himself[4]. It isn’t clear what he was doing between the ages of 10 and 14 when the family moved to Australia but it is likely that he would have been supplementing the family income in some way. I haven’t been able to find an 1851 census entry for the family.

The family left London, England on 30 April 1853 aboard the ‘Marchioness of Londonderry’ and arrived at Port Phillip, Victoria, Australia on 4 August 1853[5], a few days before Thomas' 15th birthday. 

Tasmania - Working as a Bushman

After arriving in Australia in August 1853, Thomas and his parents and siblings appear to have remained in Victoria for a short time before travelling to Hobart in Tasmania. They definitely went to Tasmania but exactly when is unclear. They may have been aboard the ship Tasmania II which left Victoria for Hobart during October 1853. However, while the shipping record looks like it may belong to them, some of the details on the record are incorrect; most significantly, Elizabeth is recorded as Mary. Also, some of the ages are incorrect and Sarah is missing. It records: Thomas, 28; Mary, 30; Thomas and Henry, 12,11; Emily, Arthur 9,6.[6].

It isn’t clear where in Tasmania they went to, either. They may have travelled to Oatlands where Thomas’ uncle, Henry Coop (his father’s brother), lived. Henry (1813-1884), had arrived in Australia aboard the ‘Moffat’ in 1834 as a convict[7]. By the time of Thomas’ arrival in 1853, Henry was a free man and living in Oatlands, Tasmania. Alternatively, Thomas’ Aunt Alice [Coop] Denton (his father’s sister) was living in Hobart in 1853. Alice (1823-1880), had travelled to Tasmania sometime before 1850. Alice married Christopher Denton (1802-1857) in Hobart on 21 January 1850[8].

As a youth of 15 years, Thomas would likely have been expected to earn a living of some sort or fend for himself in some way. It appears that between 1853 and about 1855/1856, Thomas was a Bushman in Tasmania[9]. From what I can work out, being a Bushman was more of an activity/way of living than a job. Thomas would likely have been living in the bush surviving and/or making a living from the bush in any way he was able e.g., snaring and the like.

Puddling at Kangaroo Gully, Victoria

It appears that sometime during 1855, Thomas’ immediate family (parents and siblings) moved back to Victoria and onto the goldfields at Robinson Gully, Bendigo[10].  Thomas either went with them or followed shortly after because by 1856, Thomas was puddling at Kangaroo Gully, Bendigo, Victoria[11].  He would likely have been living in a tent in a tent settlement at the Gully.

On the Bendigo goldfields during the 1850’s, puddling was a standard technique for mining gold. By 1854, there were more than 1000 puddling machines being used along the banks of the Bendigo Creek. During 1854, the number of puddling machines rose to 1500.  In 1860 there were 1,592 puddling machines in use.  Each of these machines employed three or four men and two horses[12].

Horse-driven puddling machine, central Victoria, 1880s (Courtesy of Department of Environment and Primary Industries, Victoria) via ResearchGate[13]

Timber Getting and Pit-sawing in Victoria

Sometime, perhaps towards the end of 1856/early 1857 to sometime in 1858/59, Thomas changed his line of work from puddling to timber getting and pit-sawing[14]. He remained in Victoria but where exactly I am uncertain. He may well have remained in the same general area.  His parents and siblings were still living at Robinson Crusoe Gully, Bendigo; not far away from where he had been at Kangaroo Gully[15]. The discovery of gold had stimulated a significant demand for timber.

Pit-sawing

Gold had been discovered in the Ballarat-Bendigo area in 1851 and, within a year of that, the population of the Colony rose by more than 100,000.  By about 1858, there were half a million people in the Colony. This created a huge demand for wood for building, mining timbers and firewood. Realising the importance of timber to the gold mining industry, the colonial government of Victoria applied only light regulation to timber getting. Timber Getters were required to get an annual licence but this was inexpensive and there was no restriction on species, size or quantity of timber that could be taken[16].

There is a story which I read somewhere that Thomas and his friend, while pit-sawing timber in Victoria, were among the victims of the notorious bushranger, Dan Morgan[17]. I can no longer find the source of this story, just my note that it was told in an obituary in the Mt Bengar Mail - ? I should have kept a better record. The story may or may not be true but it goes like this: Bushranger Dan Morgan, after living with Thomas and his friend for a few weeks, disappeared one morning taking all their belongings with him. It wasn't until after he was gone that they discovered who their visitor had been. There was a reward of £200 being offered for his capture at the time.

Broken River – Benalla – Albury – Lambing Flat, New South Wales

In 1859, Thomas went to Broken River in New South Wales and then on to Benalla and Albury. 

By 1860, Thomas was at Lambing Flat, New South Wales (presumably gold mining). He was there at the time of the Lambing Flat Riots. The Lambing Flat riots were series of violent demonstrations, disturbances, and riots (from November 1860 to 14 July 1861) by miners and settlers at Lambing Flat against the Chinese miners in the area[18][19].

Gabriel’s Gully, Otago, New Zealand

The Cyclopedia of New Zealand suggests that Thomas travelled from Victoria to Otago on the outbreak of the Gabriel’s Gully goldrush in 1861[20]. This implies that he came in response to the goldrush which would not be at all surprising given his background to date. It is likely also that The Cyclopedia of New Zealand got this information directly from Thomas[21].

The discovery of payable quantities of gold by Gabriel Read, in the Tuapeka Valley, at what became known as Gabriel’s Gully was reported on 8 June 1861 in the Otago Witness and:

“By December perhaps 14,000 people - several times Dunedin’s population - had pitched their tents on the Tuapeka and Waipori fields and staked out their 8 x 8 m claims, 4000-5000 of them at this gully and nearby Wetherstons alone. The first of New Zealand’s three big gold rushes (Otago, Westland and Thames) – and the third of the transformative Pacific rushes (California, Victoria and New Zealand) was on”[22]

By 1862 thousands of miners had moved into Gabriel's Gully and adjacent areas - photo via New Zealand History [Website]

It seems likely, then, that Thomas’ first visit to New Zealand was towards the end of 1861 and that he may initially have gone to Gabriel’s Gully. To date, I have been unable to find a record of travel from Victoria to Otago for Thomas. However, available information does suggest that Thomas was at Gabriel’s Gully for a while and, therefore, probably did some gold mining there. However, he wasn’t there for long.

Timber Cutting (Pit-sawing) in Otago

Thomas was in Cromwell, Otago by February 1862 although, at that time, it was referred to as ‘The Junction’. The location overlooks the confluence of the Clutha and Kawarau Rivers. Even earlier, it had been referred to as 'The Point' by the first runholders in the 1850s. When a gold-rush town sprang up in the early 1860s it became known as 'The Junction'; later becoming Cromwell[23].

While there in early 1862, Thomas was engaged in timber cutting (pit-sawing) for the first bridge over the Molyneux river and for the Mountney Hotel in Cromwell[24][25]. That probably entailed getting the timber from elsewhere, such as Wanaka, and rafting it down the river to Cromwell; an activity he was later engaged in as well (see below).

How Thomas Swam to New Zealand

The Cyclopedia of New Zealand suggests that Thomas returned to Victoria in June 1862[26]. It appears that he had been engaged to travel to Victoria to bring back a consignment of horses. The means by which he delivered them is what prompted the family story that Thomas swam to New Zealand. You can read more about this in my post: How Thomas Coop Swam to New Zealand.

Pit-sawing and Rafting Logs – Wanaka / Cromwell, Otago; Shearing, Otago

The Cyclopedia of New Zealand suggests that during the period 1863 – 1868, Thomas was ‘engaged in shearing and in other country pursuits’[28]. Those other country pursuits included pit-sawing and rafting logs from Wanaka to Cromwell.

In 1863, Thomas, along with others, was involved in pit-sawing the timber from which the first bridge over the Clutha was constructed at Cromwell. The bridge was built at Deadman's Point, 4 kilometres upriver from the Cromwell Junction. It was built by Henry Hill, and opened in May 1863. It was a suspension footbridge suitable for packhorses. Before the river was bridged, a boatman had rowed travellers across the river charging 'half-a-crown per head'[29]

Thomas worked for some time in bringing timber from Wanaka to Cromwell down the Clutha River by means of rafts in association with George Magnus Hassing[30]. The rafts were taken ashore about a mile above Cromwell at a place called ‘The Landing’. One of these trips occurred during 1864 when Thomas rafted the Upper Clutha River with George Hassing and Robert Kidd, as referred to in the Memory Log of GM Hassing, originally published in 1929[31]:

From this point to the landing place, a couple of miles above Cromwell, perhaps – with the exception of Knobby Island or Quartz Reef Point – there is, with a thorough knowledge of the river, no difficulty in navigating a raft, Indeed in ’64 I remember coming down the river in darkness after leaving the Lindis Junction, when we were stuck for a while on a shallow bar. It was so dark that I could scarcely discern the landing place. On that occasion I had with me on the raft Mr Thos. Coop, afterwards for many years postmaster at Roxburgh and the late Mr Robert Kidd, of Cromwell (p.65).

Linesman/Relieving Telegraph Operator – Queenstown to Tokomariro (now Milton), Otago

Thomas joined the Post and Telegraphic Department as a linesman during 1868. He was responsible for the area between Queenstown and Tokomairiro (now Milton). This is a distance of 144 miles (232 kilometres) which he covered on horseback. 

Queenstown to Tokomairiro (now Milton) - Map created with Google My Maps

Thomas was given the opportunity to learn telegraphy in his spare time and soon became proficient enough at it to be asked to be a relieving telegraph operator.  At that time, J.K Logan was in charge of the trans-Otago line (before later becoming inspector of telegraphs at Dunedin).  It was Logan, some six years younger than Thomas, who would have taught him all about lines and operating[32].

In September 1868, Thomas was left in charge of the Queenstown station[33]. It appears that at this time, he was still responsible for the lines between Queenstown and Tokomairiro. 

It was during this time that Thomas met and married his first wife, Margaret Ballantyne. Margaret was herself an immigrant having been born in Scotland in about 1848[34]. They married at the Registrar’s office at Dunstan on 5 October 1869 when Thomas was 31 years old (Bachelor Telegraph line-man) and Margaret 21 years old (spinster)[35].

The 1870-73 Dunstan Electoral Rolls[36] tell us that during the period 1870-73, Thomas was living in a wood and iron house at Clyde, near Cromwell (see map above) It was during this period that Thomas and Margaret's first two children were born[37]:

• Arthur Coop – born in 1870 (Registration 1870/37702) and died soon after on 8 March 1871 at the age of 5 ½ months (Registration 1871/4929). Arthur is buried in the Old Roxburgh Cemetery, Roxburgh, New Zealand.

• Henry Coop – born 21 Feb 1872 (Registration 1872/39841) and died 23 May 1947, 75 years old (Registration 1947/24858). Henry is buried in East Taieri Cemetery in Mosgiel, Dunedin, Otago.

During 1873, Thomas was transferred to the Roxburgh telegraphic office and from 1 September 1873 took up the position of Postmaster/Telegraphist in Roxburgh[38] where he continued to be employed until his retirement in 1905. He continued to live in Roxburgh until his death in 1924.

You can read more about Thomas' life in Roxburgh in my post Thomas Coop - The Roxburgh Years.

N.B. I have now moved by blogging efforts from this platform to We Are.xyz so that I can integrate building my family history archive with blogging. This post, or a similar version of it, can be found at:   Thomas Coop – Youth to Early Adulthood

Notes

[1] England & Wales Births 1837-2006 - Registered 4th Quarter 1838 in Marylebone (Vol. 1 Page 135) Transcript via FindMyPast [Website]. Accessed 22 April 2022.

[2] England Births & Baptisms 1538-1975 Transcript via FindMyPast [Website]. Accessed 22 April 2022.

[3] 'Mr Thomas Coop' (p.698) from: Cyclopedia Company Ltd., 1905 The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Otago & Southland Provincial Districts] The Cyclopedia Company Ltd., Christchurch via the New Zealand Electronic Text Collection, Victoria University of Wellington [Website]. Accessed 20 March 2020. Accessed 22 April 2022.

[4] The intention of the Cyclopedia Company Ltd. was to record information about the settlement and progress of the Colony. The publication favoured those individuals who could afford to pay for inclusion and entries were generally from the memory and perspective of the person featured in them. See The Cyclopedia of New Zealand via the New Zealand Electronic Text Collection, Victoria University of Wellington [Website]. Accessed 22 April 2022.

[5] Public Record Office Victoria; North Melbourne, Victoria; Inward Overseas Passenger Lists (British Ports) [Microfiche Copy of VPRS 947]; Series: VPRS 7666 via Image Ancestry.com. Victoria, Australia, Assisted and Unassisted Passenger Lists, 1839-1923  [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc., 2009. Accessed 22 April 2022. Thomas is incorrectly listed as being 13 years old rather than 14.

[6] Series VPRS 948/P0001, Sep - Oct 1853 - Image 445 via Public Record Office of Victoria; North Melbourne, Victoria, Australia [Website]. Accessed 22 April 2022. 

[7] Information accessed at Ancestry.com includes:

• Class: HO 27; Piece: 46; Page: 350 Image via Ancestry.com. England & Wales, Criminal Registers, 1791-1892 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2009. Accessed 23 April 2022. 

• Home Office: Convict Prison Hulks: Registers and Letter Books; Class: HO9; Piece: 4 Image via Ancestry.com. UK, Prison Hulk Registers and Letter Books, 1802-1849 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Accessed 23 April 2022. 

• Class: HO 11; Piece: 9 Image via Ancestry.com. Australian Convict Transportation Registers – Other Fleets & Ships, 1791-1868 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007. Accessed 23 April 2022. 

• Class: HO 10; Piece: 50 Image via Ancestry.com. New South Wales and Tasmania, Australia Convict Musters, 1806-1849 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007. Accessed 23 April 2022. 

• Class: HO 10; Piece: 59 Image via Ancestry.com. New South Wales and Tasmania, Australia, Convict Pardons and Tickets of Leave, 1834-1859 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007.

[8] Tasmanian Pioneer Index 1803-1899 Transcript via Ancestry.com. Australia, Marriage Index, 1788-1950 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010.

[9] 'Mr Thomas Coop' (p.698) from: Cyclopedia Company Ltd., 1905 The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Otago & Southland Provincial Districts] The Cyclopedia Company Ltd., Christchurch via the New Zealand Electronic Text Collection, Victoria University of Wellington [Website]. Accessed 20 March 2020. Accessed 22 April 2022.

[10] See: Jane Chapman 'Thomas and Elizabeth - Marylebone to Australia' (posted 2 July 2020) BJNL's Genealogy [Blog]. Accessed 22 April 2022.

[11] 'Mr Thomas Coop' (p.698) from: Cyclopedia Company Ltd., 1905 The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Otago & Southland Provincial Districts] The Cyclopedia Company Ltd., Christchurch via the New Zealand Electronic Text Collection, Victoria University of Wellington [Website]. Accessed 20 March 2020. Accessed 22 April 2022.

[12] Eaglehawk and Bendigo Heritage Study 1993 - Graham Butler & Associates (1993) Eaglehawk and Bendigo Heritage Study Environmental History Volume 2 via City of Bendigo [Website]. Accessed 23 April 2022.  

[13] Horse-driven-puddling-machine-central-Victoria-1880s (Courtesy of Department of Environment and Primary Industries, Victoria) - Uploaded by Susan Lawrence as Figure 1 in 'The Sludge Question: The Regulation of Mine Tailings in Nineteenth-Century Victoria'. Accessed 23 April 2022 via ResearchGate [Website]

[14] 'Mr Thomas Coop' (p.698) from: Cyclopedia Company Ltd., 1905 The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Otago & Southland Provincial Districts] The Cyclopedia Company Ltd., Christchurch via the New Zealand Electronic Text Collection, Victoria University of Wellington [Website]. Accessed 20 March 2020. Accessed 22 April 2022.

[15] See: Jane Chapman 'Thomas and Elizabeth - Marylebone to Australia' (posted 2 July 2020) BJNL's Genealogy [Blog]. Accessed 22 April 2022.

[16] Carron L.T., 1985, A History of Forestry in Australia. Australia National University Press Chapter 5, pp.179,188-89 document via Australian National Unicersity Open Research Library [Website]. Accessed 22 April 2022.

[17] Dan Morgan (1830 –1865) was known by a number of alias’ and was nicknamed ‘Mad Dan Morgan’ by some. His real name was probably John Fuller. He was a notorious Australian bushranger known for his erratic and violent behaviour. See: 'Morgan, Daniel (Dan) (1830–1865)' via Australian Dictionary of Biography [Website]. Accessed 22 April 2022. 

[18] 'Mr Thomas Coop' (p.698) from: Cyclopedia Company Ltd., 1905 The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Otago & Southland Provincial Districts] The Cyclopedia Company Ltd., Christchurch via the New Zealand Electronic Text Collection, Victoria University of Wellington [Website]. Accessed 20 March 2020. Accessed 22 April 2022.

[19] Newspaper Report 'Lambing Flat Riots' - The Argus (Melbourne, Vic.: 1848 - 1957 - Wed 10 Jul 1861 page 6 via Trove [Website]. Accessed 22 April 2022.  See also: 'Lambing Flat Riots 1860-61' Britannica [Website] Accessed 22 April 2022.

[20] 'Mr Thomas Coop' (p.698) from: Cyclopedia Company Ltd., 1905 The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Otago & Southland Provincial Districts] The Cyclopedia Company Ltd., Christchurch via the New Zealand Electronic Text Collection, Victoria University of Wellington [Website]. Accessed 20 March 2020. Accessed 22 April 2022.

[21] The intention of the Cyclopedia Company Ltd. was to record information about the settlement and progress of the Colony. The publication favoured those individuals who could afford to pay for inclusion and entries were generally from the memory and perspective of the person featured in them. See The Cyclopedia of New Zealand via the New Zealand Electronic Text Collection, Victoria University of Wellington [Website]. Accessed 22 April 2022.

[22] 'Gabriel's Gully' via New Zealand History [Website]. Accessed 22 April 2022.

[23] 'Cromwell Bridge' via Mighty Clutha Otago's Stolen Treasure [Website]. Accessed 22 Aprile 2022. The town officially became the borough of Cromwell on 16 October 1866, with Captain William Jackson Barry as the first Mayor.

[24] 'Mr Thomas Coop' (p.698) from: Cyclopedia Company Ltd., 1905 The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Otago & Southland Provincial Districts] The Cyclopedia Company Ltd., Christchurch via the New Zealand Electronic Text Collection, Victoria University of Wellington [Website]. Accessed 20 March 2020. Accessed 22 April 2022.

[25] It was about this time (February 1862) that Thomas’ father, also Thomas, travelled from Victoria to Otago on the ship Chariots of Fame:

Thos Coop -  age 44 - born 1818 - Departure Feb 1862 Victoria, Australia - Destination Otago, NZ - Ship Chariots of Fame - Ship’s Master Kerr Robert A.

Public Record Office of Victoria; North Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Series Number: VPRS 948 Transcript via Ancestry.com. Victoria, Australia, Outward Passenger Index, 1852-1915 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc., 2015. Accessed 23 April 2022: 

[26] 'Mr Thomas Coop' (p.698) from: Cyclopedia Company Ltd., 1905 The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Otago & Southland Provincial Districts] The Cyclopedia Company Ltd., Christchurch via the New Zealand Electronic Text Collection, Victoria University of Wellington [Website]. Accessed 20 March 2020. Accessed 22 April 2022.

[27] Keith Cree 'Her father Swam to New Zealand Article' in The Weekly News (Auckland) May 1957 Copy held by Author. 

[28] 'Mr Thomas Coop' (p.698) from: Cyclopedia Company Ltd., 1905 The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Otago & Southland Provincial Districts] The Cyclopedia Company Ltd., Christchurch via the New Zealand Electronic Text Collection, Victoria University of Wellington [Website]. Accessed 20 March 2020. Accessed 22 April 2022.

[29] 'Cromwell Bridge' via Mighty Clutha Otago's Stolen Treasure [Website]. Accessed 22 Aprile 2022.

[30] George Magnus Hassing was an interesting character. See: 'Mr. George Magnus Hassing' from: Cyclopedia Company Ltd., 1905 The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Otago & Southland Provincial Districts] The Cyclopedia Company Ltd., Christchurch via the New Zealand Electronic Text Collection, Victoria University of Wellington [Website]. Accessed 20 March 2020. 

[31] G.M. Hassing, Pages from the Memory Log of G.M. Hassing, Sailor – Pioneer – Schoolmaster, Invercargill, Southland Times, 1932, p. 65. Original document published 1929. Copy of relevant pages held by Author. 

[32] Nigel Fitzgerald 'Teviot Post Office Name was Quietly Dropped' Otago Daily Times 12 December 1874. Copy held by Author. 

[33] 'Mr Thomas Coop' (p.698) from: Cyclopedia Company Ltd., 1905 The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Otago & Southland Provincial Districts] The Cyclopedia Company Ltd., Christchurch via the New Zealand Electronic Text Collection, Victoria University of Wellington [Website]. Accessed 20 March 2020. Accessed 22 April 2022.

[34] Calculated on the basis of her death record. She died 11 Nov 1889, 41 years old - Registration Number 1889/5049 Births, Deaths & Marriages Online, [digital index], New Zealand Department of Internal Affairs [Website]. Accessed 22 April 2022.

[35] Registration Number 1869/3989 Births, Deaths & Marriages Online, [digital index], New Zealand Department of Internal Affairs [Website]. Accessed 22 April 2022.

[36] BAB Microfilming; Auckland, New Zealand; New Zealand Electoral Rolls, 1853-1981 via Ancestry.com. New Zealand, Electoral Rolls, 1853-1981 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010.

[37] The birth and death registrations that follow can be found at: Births, Deaths & Marriages Online, [digital index], New Zealand Department of Internal Affairs [Website].  The Cemetery records referred to can be found via Ancestry.Com New Zealand Cemetery Records 1800-2007.  

[38] 'Mr Thomas Coop' (p.698) from: Cyclopedia Company Ltd., 1905 The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Otago & Southland Provincial Districts] The Cyclopedia Company Ltd., Christchurch via the New Zealand Electronic Text Collection, Victoria University of Wellington [Website]. Accessed 20 March 2020. Accessed 22 April 2022.