Edward Waghorn

Edward Waghorn was born May 1806, Chatham, Kent, England and died 18 July 1868, Melbourne, Victoria.

Thomas Fletcher Waghorn was born 1800, Chatham, Kent, England and died 1850, Islington, London, England.

WAGHORN FAMILY

There were ten Waghorn children and all were born into the working class in Chatham, Kent between 1795-1813.

One of them was destined to be famous; another, infamous.

THE FAMOUS WAGHORN

Thomas Fletcher Waghorn was a postal pioneer who developed a new route from England to India. Waghorn’s overland route reduced the journey from 16,000 miles (26,000 km), via the Cape of Good Hope, to 6,000 miles (9,700 km); from 3 months to between 35 and 45 days.

The ‘hero who took a shortcut’ was well known in his day.

He is the subject of dedicated books, as well as being celebrated in paintings and monuments.

He became a pilot in the Royal Navy and was commissioned a lieutenant by the age of 17. “By then he had grown to an enormous size – so big he once played a giant in a circus.” (1) Perhaps this was a factor in his success

.
Lt. Thomas Fletcher Waghorn
by Sir George Hayter, c1847
(Source: Wikipedia)

THE INFAMOUS WAGHORN

Younger brother Edward Waghorn, convicted of larceny, arrived in Van Diemen’s Land on 16 December 1828 via the “Roslin Castle.” (2)

This was not Edward’s first brush with the law. He’d been convicted of fraud the previous year. (3)

He was subject to the usual convict musters whilst in Van Diemen’s Land.

Edward was barely 5′ 2″ in contrast to his giant brother Thomas.

COLONY OF PORT PHILLIP

On 13 November 1839, Edward departed from George Town, Tasmania, for Port Phillip on the “Paul Pry.” (4)

His circumstances can be surmised by his criminal record.

TROUBLE

On 23 June 1851, Edward and another were found guilty of chopping down wood on Crown Land. They pleaded that they had only been cutting a young tree for their bullocks, and as this appeared to be a correct statement, they were each fined in the penalty of five shillings and 4s. 6d. costs. (5)

On 18 March 1853, the Supreme Court of Victoria, Melbourne Criminal Sittings, found Edward guilty of horse stealing and sentenced him to six years on the roads. A ticket-of-leave was granted on 19 November 1855 for the district of Kilmore. (6)

Between 1860-1862 Edward made various appearances before the Melbourne City Court on charges of vagrancy. The more bemusing include references to his apparent sense of self-worth and social standing. On 28 June 1861, he was charged with being an ‘incorrigible mendicant.’ He was chased from Conroy’s Hotel, North Melbourne by a constable. Edward “appeared to be in a suffering position” and claimed the constable had kicked and nearly killed him. When asked if he had ever applied to enter the Benevolent Asylum he answered: “Never. I would not disgrace the name of Waghorn by doing so. They have asked me to do it and I would not. I am an agent for the Heidelbery “busses” and go and take my coffee every morning at a coffee stall.” The Mayor discharged him. (7)

On 24 September 1861, Edward, ‘a notorious drunkard,’ was brought up charged with disorderly conduct at the Rainbow Inn. He had only just been arrested. He objected strongly to going to prison, as he said that he was invited to a banquet at the Theatre Royal on Monday next. The Bench thought a little ‘self-denial’ would do him good and sent him to prison for one month with hard labour.” (8)

INQUEST

Edward’s death on 18 July 1868 was the subject of an inquest held by the City Coroner. Edward was found to have died suddenly during Friday night at the Queen’s Boarding House. He was 62 and had for some time been a hanger-on at hotels and a sort of helper at stables. His death was found to be the effect of apoplexy.

His sister, Ann Munday, nee Waghorn, who also lived in Melbourne, read about her brother Edward’s death in the newspaper. Ann gave sworn evidence at the inquest. (9)

ESTATE

Edward, whilst apparently without a friend in life, did have one in death. On 17 May 1870, his English spinster sister, Mary Jane Waghorn of Rochester was granted Letters of Administration for his estate which was worth less than £100. (10)

BROTHERS – THOMAS AND EDWARD WAGHORN

The two brothers’ life experience could not have been more different.

Lieutenant Waghorn albeit ultimately unsuccessful from ‘a financial perspective,’ was a world pioneer. By contrast, his brother Edward’s life of crime was apparent from early manhood and the stain of being a convict, was lasting.

Neither Thomas nor Edward had children so it cannot be that Edward’s lack of issue ensured that his background remained hidden for so long. Thomas did marry – twice – but Edward remained a bachelor. It is sobering to think of the vastly different outcomes of the two brothers separated only by six years of age. Indeed at least three of Edward’s sisters, whilst not leading the sort of life Edward led, did not fare well financially either. His spinster sister, Mary Jane Waghorn, back in England was in straitened circumstances as were Edward’s sisters in Melbourne, Ann Munday (nee Waghorn) and Sarah Ransom (nee Waghorn). All three were the subject of public pleas to provide them with money given the great service their brother Thomas had done the world. (11) As Edward left no issue, recognition of Edward’s hard path has been undertaken by the descendants of his Melbourne sister, Ann Munday, nee Waghorn.
Thomas Fletcher Waghorn’s Statue,
Chatham, England
(Source: Wikipedia)

References:

1. http://archive.aramcoworld.com/issue/196806/mr.waghorn.s.route.to.india.htm

2. British Transportation Registers 1787-1867

3. London Metropolitan Archives MJ/SP/1827/09/118, 4 August 1827

4. .LINC, Tasmanian Government, Name Index, Edward Waghorn, Departures

5. “The Argus” (Melbourne, Victoria 1848-1957 Tuesday 24 June 1851, p.1

6. “Victoria Police Gazette” 22 November 1855, p.3017.

7. “The Argus” 29 June 1861, p.6

8. “The Melbourne Leader” 28 September 1861, p.5

9. Inquest 20 July 1868, Victoria, 1868/613

10. England and Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations) 1858-1966, Administrations 1870, p.3

11. Re sister Mary Jane Waghorn in England. “The Leader” Melbourne 7 July 1883. Re sisters Ann and Sarah Waghorn in Melbourne, “An Old Indian” wrote to “The Argus” on 26 July 1883 reporting their plight.

Researcher Margaret Watts. Four times Great Niece of Edward Waghorn.

Author and Contributer Robyn Watters – PPPG Member No. 1468 and five times Great Niece of Edward Waghorn.