Caroline Chisholm
Caroline Chisholm
(1808 - 1877)
Caroline Chisholm, the famous "Emigrant's Friend" to Australians, was born on 30 May 1808 in the Mayorhold area of this parish - probably in Bearward Street just a few streets away from the church - in the centre of Northampton. Her father - William Jones was a local businessman, farmer and pig-dealer. He owned property in the town centre and his name is recorded in the local Poll (or Tax) Book dated 1796.
Caroline was the youngest child in the family. She had 11 other brothers and sisters.
Our parish records show that Caroline was baptised on 26th June 1808. Unfortunately her father died (aged 72) in April 1814, when Caroline was only six years old.
Caroline married Captain Archibald Chisholm (an officer in the Honourable East India Company's 'Army') at Holy Sepulchre on 27 December 1830.
Further details of Caroline Chisholm's life will be added to this page in due course. In the meantime here is a picture of the $5 Australian bank note issued in 1967 which features Caroline's image :
Australian $5 note
Further pictures:
Ballengeith leaving Southampton for Australia 28 August 1852
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Australia Day
Australia Day is the official national day of Australia, celebrated annually on 26th January. It commemorates the arrival of the “First Fleet” into Sydney Cove – a fleet of 11 ships sent from Britain to Australia to establish a penal colony on the shores of New South Wales, previously discovered by Captain James Cook in 1770. The settlement was necessary because of both the loss of colonies in North America and as a measure to decrease the overcrowding of Britain’s jails. Over 1400 convicts and naval officers made the arduous eight month voyage, braving ships infested with rats and lice, cramped conditions, poor diet, the humidity of the tropics and the unforgiving nature of the sea.
Between 1787 and 1867 an estimated 160,000 British Convicts were shipped to states across Australia during this time.
While Convict Transportation as a policy ceased after this period, both assisted and unassisted mass migration exploded in the years prior to the First World War, due in part to the 1851-1871 gold rush and the rapid prosperity which followed.
An estimated 25,000 British migrants arrived every year between 1890 and 1914.
Holy Sepulchre has a number of special connections with Australia :
The 58th Regiment of Foot (later the Northamptonshire Regiment) was stationed in Australia from 1843 to 1845.
Caroline Chisholm - the Emigrant's Friend - was born in the parish(1808), and married (1830) in this church before embarking on her famous work in India and Australia. Her first child (also Caroline) died within a few weeks of her birth and is buried in the churchyard. Her parents and other relatives are also buried in the churchyard.
We shall be developing more information about these connections.
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Dr Carole Walker's excellent new book, entitled
A Saviour of Living Cargoes : The Life and Work of Caroline Chisholm was launched at the Caroline Chisholm School (in Wootton)
on Australia Day (26 January 2010).
Holy Sepulchre was represented at the Book Launch by
The Revd Dr Graham St.John-Willey, here with Dr Carole Walker:
Representing Northampton Borough Council
His Worship the Mayor (Mr Michael Hill) and the Mayoress:
And children from the school were also there:
Contact
Office: Church Lane
Northampton, NN1 3NL
Tel: 01604 627988
Vicar: 01604 230316
Restoration Trust:
Tel: 01604 754782