Clement-Jones family 12/22 - Person Sheet
Clement-Jones family 12/22 - Person Sheet
NameValentine GRIFFITH JP , 2393
Birth28 Apr 1790
Death16th July 1843, Tasmania
FatherCharles GRIFFITH , 2176 (1760-1818)
MotherBridget JONES , 2177 (1762-)
Spouses
Birth1798
Death26 Nov 1867
Marriage27th October 1825, Hobart, Tasmania
ChildrenCharles William , 2739 (1827-1889)
 Valentine , 2740 (1827-1875)
 Edwin , 2741 (1829-1868)
 Francis , 2742 (1831-1872)
 James Ross , 2743 (1840-)
 William , 2745 (1837-1914)
 Sarah Georgina , 2747 (1832-1863)
 Emily , 2826 (1834-1843)
 Louisa , 2827 (1835-1878)
 Eliza Estelle , 2828 (1841-1854)
 George Burwood , 2883 (1838-1940)
Notes for Valentine GRIFFITH JP
Lieut Royal Marines 1804-1815.

Emigrated to South Africa in 1820 on the Stentor with his brothers and sisters and then subsequently went to Tasmania in 1823 where he had a large family, some of whom moved to Victoria. Arrived on "William Penn" from C of G Hope

Memorial headstone in in St Lukes graveyard Richmond, Tasmasnia. Tasmanian Family History Society Inc. Hobart Branch

Made J.P. in 1835

Extract from The Story of Valentine Griffiths and his brothers A “precis of reports taken from various documents “ by Noel Griffith

The ship Stentor finally sailed on 13th January 1820, and arrived in Table Bay South Africa 19th April..

The Griffith family suffered every misfortune that a changeable climate could inflict on crops. Afrer 3 years Valentine and John decided to look elsewhere. Valentine decided on Van Diemen’s Land and Dr Granville John chose the Swan River area of Western Australia. It sems that Charles remained in South Africa.

Valentine GRIFFITH sailed for Van Diemen’s Land, arriving on 12 July 1823 on board "William Penn". He had previously fathered an illegitimate child in South Africa.

Private Baptisms, St, George's Cathedral, Cape Town
11th April 1824
William Valentine, illegitimate son of Valentine GRIFFITH and Mary MORGAN, born 15th March 1821.

Sponsors Richard Hairbottle, William Sheepley, Rachel Sheepley

The William Penn had sailed from Cork with a full cargo of salt and stopped at the Cape on the way. Valentine had brought with him £1,080 in cash, goods and stock including 8 mares, 2 cows, 1 bull, and 20 merino sheep. (other animals died on the voyage . He was granted 800 acres of land in the Tea Tree Brush district. There he established the “Woodlands Estate” an estate of 1800 acres.

The stone built house was completed in 1843 and is still standing.

Valentine committed suicide on 16th November 1843 at Woodlands “by shooting himself with a pocket pistol loaded with a ball whle labouring under Insanity caused by the depressed state of his pecuniary affairs and a high sense of honorable feeling”-so it was found by the jury which sat here the next day.

Extract from Email from Peter Harris his 3rd Gr Grandson dated 23rd April 2012

Hi Tim

Well we have returned from our Easter trip to Tasmania with the report that our ancestor’s 1843 home is in great condition having been renovated extensively yet kept within the period.
 
I tracked down the farmer whose great grandfather purchased the home from the Valentines. He sold it 20 years ago to a really nice chap who was enthusiastic about the contact and even showed us through the original interior area.
 
Photos are attached of the homestead called Woodlands House and it really is quite magnificent.
1.    The gates to the property
2.    The homestead
3.    The kitchen
4.    The homestead
 
The other photos on separate emails for easier access include some of the beautiful surrounding area which was once owned by Valentine Griffith and Sarah.
 
Some history provided:
1815:   After 11 years in the Royal Marines 1st Lt Valentine Griffith took a ½ pay deal with the Marines to allow him to emigrate to Van Diemen’s Land via the Cape of Good Hope.
1820:   Emigrated via the Cape.
1823:   Arrived on William Penn on July 06 1823
            Granted 800 acres of land
1824:   Granted another 300 acres
1825:   Married Sarah Smith
1829:   Robbed of 200 sheep and later that year another 500 were stolen
            Sold his ½ pay Commission and was granted another 500 acres amid complaints and controversy from locals.
1835:   Appointed a Justice of the Peace (He had to sell his Commission for the JP appointment)
1839:   Purchased 190 acres to secure a total of 1790 acres.
1843:   Woodlands House completed and had 28 people living at the property.
1848:   Committed suicide with a single-shot pistol wound to the head.
1852:   Sarah married A W Burn
1859:   John Griffith occupied the homestead
1864:   Joseph Barwick (Great grandfather of the man we met Maurice Barwick) purchased the property.
1885:   Total acreage = 4,000
 
Cheers and best wishes
 
Peter
 
Last Modified 23 Sep 2013Created 4 Mar 2023 using Reunion for Macintosh