Matthew Stephens and Elizabeth Bennett

Matthew Stephens was born in Clearwell, Gloucestershire in 15 November 1808. He was baptized in Newland on 12 January 1809. He was the second son of William Stephens and Sarah nee Pearce.

On 4 April 1836, at age 28, Matthew married Elizabeth Bennett at St Michael’s, Llanfihangel Tor-y-mynydd in Monmouthshire, Wales [1]. Elizabeth Bennett was then only 16. She was born on 1 May 1819 in Quabbs, Drybrook, Gloucestershire and was baptized in Drybrook,

St Michael’s, Llanfihangel Tor-y-Mynydd

Photo taken by Nola Walder August 2006

Gloucester on 31 December 1820. Elizabeth was the daughter of James Bennett and Ann nee Toomey.

Matthew’s occupation is described as Miner (1837), Miner (1838), Iron Miner (1841), Miner (1842), Farmer (1847), Haullier (1851) or Haullier (1852) in census returns and the birth records of his children. In 1851 Matthew and Elizabeth and family resided at Stank Farm, Clearwell where Matthew rented 11 acres of land. Matthew also acted as an enumerator in the 1851 census of Clearwell.

Matthew and Elizabeth had 7 children in Newland/Clearwell: Richard Pearce (1837-1890, born Newland), William Thomas Bennett (ca 1840-1888, born Clearwell), James Bennett (1842-1882, born Clearwell), Sarah Ann Tommey (1846-1853, born Clearwell), Mary Jane (1847-1850, born Clearwell), Josiah (ca 1849-1934, born Clearwell), Matthew (1852-1852, born Clearwell).

Matthew, Elizabeth and their five children (Richard, William, James, Sarah and Josiah) immigrated to Australia arriving in Victoria on 15 February 1853 with aboard the South Sea. The ship had departed from Liverpool on 27 October 1852.

Matthew, Elizabeth and family settled initially at Gardiner’s Creek, Victoria (now within the city of Boroondara). By 1856 they had moved to Prahran [2]. They subsequently moved to the Warrnambool area [3] and then to Sherwood, near Cranbourne.

Matthew Stephens 1836-1885

Sarah Ann died in 1853 at Gardiner’s Creek shortly after the family’s arrival in Victoria. A further four children were born to Matthew and Elizabeth in Victoria: Benjamin (1854-, born Gardiner’s Creek), Francis Pye (1856-1924, born Prahran), Matthew Jonathan Morland (1858-1934, born Malvern) and Elizabeth Sarah (1861-1862, born Malvern).

Elizabeth died on 30 June 1876 in Warrnambool, Victoria and was buried in the Warrnambool cemetery.

Matthew died on 28 August 1885 in Prahran, Victoria. He was buried on 29 August 1885 in the St Kilda cemetery in the same plot as grandson, Jesse Emanuel, daughter, Elizabeth Sarah, and son, Richard Pearce. A broken tombstone marks the deaths of daughters, Sarah Ann and Elizabeth Sarah.