Read Family

The story of my Read family in Australia begins with the arrival of William and Susannah Read and their children, Elizabeth Ann and William, on the Ellenborough on 12 October 1853. Shipping records state that the family were Baptists and all could read and write. At the time of their arrival in Sydney their ages were Willliam 38, Susannah 39, Elizabeth 12 and William 8. William senior was born at Weymouth, Dorset c1815 to William and Mary Read, both of whom were living at Weymouth in 1853. Susannah was born at Portland, Dorset to John and Elizabeth Peters. John Peters was dead by 1853, but Elizabeth was still living at Portland.. Elizabeth Ann and William were both born at Weymouth. Two other children, a boy and a girl, had died before the family left England.

Between 1853 and 1863 the family’s whereabouts are unknown although it is more than likely that they spent some time on the goldfields. From 1863 the Read family were living in Bulhanaming Street, Redfern in the block between James and Wells Streets. William Read was a plasterer, a trade which William junior also took up. Bulhanaming Street no longer exists. Susannah Read died on 5 Jamuary 1875 and was buried two days later at Haslems Creek. She did live long enough to see her children married. William Read died in 1890 at his son’s home in Redfern.

In 1872 Elizabeth Ann Read married Thomas Spence. They had five daughters two of whom died in infancy. William Read junior married Emily Ann Ida Rogers on 9 May 1874 at the residence of the Congregational Minister Rev. W Slatyer in Cleveland Street. Ten children were born to the couple between 1875 and 1894. Their fourth child, Arthur Ernest Read was my great-grandfather, whose desire to see the world and join an army led him to set off on his own adventure whilst still in his teens. More on Arthur Read.