Susannah Soppitt

Some time back, Julia made a comment about Susannah Soppitt, her great aunt, who fitted nicely in age with the Susannah Soppitt on the Chyebassa.

Since it is such an uncommon combination of names, I searched the 1881 Census and there was but one of that name and age, living in Middlesbrough, Yorkshire with her family.
Source Citation: Class: RG11; Piece: 4850; Folio: 31; Page: 7 & 8

Name:	Susannah Soppitt
Age:	14
Estimated Birth Year:	abt 1867
Relation:	Daughter
Father's Name:	Henry
Mother's Name:	Emily
Gender:	Female
Where born:	Middlesbro, Yorkshire, England
Civil Parish:	Middlesbrough
County/Island:	Yorkshire
Country:	England
Street address:	87 Russell St
Registration district:	Middlesbrough
Sub registration district:	Middlesbrough
ED, institution, or vessel:	20
Household Members:	Name Age Frank Goodyear 7 Vernon Goodyear 9 Amelia Soppitt 17 Elizabeth Soppitt 8 Emily Soppitt 38 Henry Soppitt 37 John Soppitt 19 Lewis Clement Soppitt 2 m Susannah Soppitt 14

Henry was born in Durham, and worked as a Pilot. John was a Pilot's Apprentice. Amelia was a Dressmaker. The Goodyear boys were listed as "Step son", presumably sons of Emily from a previous marriage; it appears that both Henry and Emily were on their second marriages.

FreeBMD has a marriage in Sculcoates District in June Quarter 1880 between Henry Soppitt and Emily Goodyear. A likely candidate for Henry's earlier marriage is at Newcastle on Tyne, March Quarter 1865. for Emily's earlier marriage, the most likely is Emily Birch to James Rutter Goodyear in Sculcoates District in December Quarter 1870.

The Durham/Newcastle on Tyne connection fits, as the only likely Joseph Soppitt in the 1881 Census was living in Durham.

Susannah does not 'feature' anywhere in the Queensland Historical Index.

Arrival of the Chyebassa

21^st October 1885, Brisbane Courier

SHIPPING MOVEMENTS

Queensland

Chyebassa, B.I.S.N. Company’s R.M.S, from London via ports, with passengers, immigrants, and a general cargo, arrived and anchored in the Brisbane roadstead at 5:30 p.m. yesterday and will be assisted up the river with her immigrants on board on this morning’s tide. Her saloon passengers were landed in town by the Boko last evening.

22 October 1885 – Brisbane Courier

IMPORTS

(A special charge made on consignees’ announcements inserted in this column.)

Chyebassa, B.I.S.N. Company’s R.M.S. from London via ports: 10 cases bedsteads, 79 cases merchandise, 2 cases and 1 cask copper, 30 boxes hams, 5 crates 3 cases and 1 cask earthenware, 9 flywheels, 2 packages samples, 6 cases books, 3 cases brushware, 100 cases spirits, 6 cases boots, 200 cases whisky, 3 tanks groceries, 215 zinc plates, 24 casks papier mache, 2 cases jewellery &c., 45cases and 1 tank oilmen’s stores, 1 case engine fittings, 2 cases engine and boiler fittings, 210 kegs paint, 22 cases bolts and nuts, 23 cases sheathing, 3 trunks, 100 hogsheads beer, 50 cases rum, 2 cases confectionery, 24 booms, 48 plates, 12 end boxes, 36 girders, 108 struts, 30 bundles flats, 12 bedplates, 2 girders, 12 bundles plates, 2 boilers, 2 base plates, 4 casks belts, pouches, &c., 1 case books, 700 bundles poles, 40 cases bolts and nuts, 10 cases insulator pins, 19 bundles steel, 255 logs timber, 56 cases corner brackets, 2 cases repeaters, 5 cases weighing machines, 6 axles, 5 wheels, 10 cases nails, 100 cases wire nails, 2 cases tools, 33 kegs washers, 1 carriage, 25 drums oil, 60 kegs white lead, 13 cases hardware, 2 bales horsehair, 15 bottles quicksilver, 1 keg iron staples, 1 case wire, 1 hogshead tinware, 2 casks glassware, 50 cases galvanized iron, 1 case clothing, 1 case pictures, 83 bundles switch rails, 44 bundles tongue rails, 41 bundles check rails, 44 cast steel crossings, 264 cast iron check chairs, 44 cast iron lever boxes, 22 cases fittings, 6 cases spirits, 2 cases confectionery, 3 cases linen, 2 cases india-rubber goods, 104 cases oilmen’s stores, 4 tanks, 24 axle arms, 5 bales sail cloth, 2 cases chemicals, 40 cases oilmen’s stores, 5 cases glue, 1 case perfumery, 9 cases toys, 2 cases purses, 4 cases albums, 3 bundles bedplates, 3 cases holloware, 5 cases sweets, 2 cases files and saws, 2 casks white lead, 2 cases medicines, 72 pieces iron, 26 cases paper, 8 cases stationery, 40 cases ling, 1500 cases whisky, 14 joists, 12 cases cigarettes, 8 cases tobacco, 11 casks bolts, 4 bundles riddles, 2 cases glue, 14 cases tinplates, 3 casks hinges, 2 cases japanned trunks, 101 cases champagne, 3 bales leather, 100 cases nails, 4 cases boots, 73 barrels and 238 cases currants, and a large quantity of cargo not described in the manifest.

Emma (Avon) Card

Again, looking at the NAA records for WW1, we find:
CARD Albert
SERN 266
POB Ayr QLD
POE Townsville QLD
NOK M(other) ROYAL Emma
Before we follow Albert, this new surname for Emma sends us off on a quest to the Queensland BMD.
Death: 1903/C004760 CARD, Henry, Father's name Henry CARD, Mother's name Eliza GOODING.
Marriage: 1903/C002117 CARD, Emma to Thomas Daniel ROYAL
And another family:

1904/C011696

Royal

Helen

Thomas Daniel

Emma Avon

1906/C010807

Royal

Pheobe Olive

Thomas Daniel

Emma Avon

1907/C005768

Royal

Fredrick Norman

Thomas Daniel

Emma Avon

1909/C003625

Royal

Elizabeth Hannah

Thomas Daniel

Emma Avon

1914/C002212

Royal

Harold

Thomas Daniel

Emma Avon

Now, back to Albert. He enlisted on 14th February 1916, in the 2/11 Machine Gun Company. His mother's address was given as Gatton Street, Cairns. He was 19 years and 7 months old. He was killed in action on 29th September, 1917, in Belgium. Lily CARD administered his estate.
By 1923, Emma Avon Card ROYAL was living in Withington Street, East Brisbane. (I wonder if she contacted Jen and Ella?)
Emma ROYAL was buried in Balmoral Cemetery, Brisbane, on 26th September 1929, aged 61 years. Thomas Daniel ROYAL buried in same grave, 11 June 1923, aged 67 years.

CARD Herbert
SERN 938
POB Ayr QLD
POE Ayr QLD
NOK B(rother) Card Frank
Herbert enlisted on 17th December 1914. He was a shopkeeper at the time. He was sent to the Middle East, joined his unit at Gallipoli on 28th August 1915, was slightly wounded (shell wound) on 21st July 1917. 5th Light Horse. Returned to Australia 3rd August 1919 on the "Madras", after being discharged.in Cairo.

Lydia (Avon) Tait

Looking for the Tait surname in the National Archives for 1914-1918, we find:
TAIT William Fairley
Service Number - 756
Place of Birth - Brandon QLD
Place of Enlistment - Ayr QLD
Next of Kin - (Mother) TAIT Lydia
He enlisted on 2 January 1915, and was currently serving in A Squadron, Ayr Light Horse.He was 27 years old, and a farmer. Lydia's address is given as Maidavale, via Ayr, N.Q. He joined 25th Battalion, 7th Infantry Brigade.
He was killed in action on 5th August, 1916. His will placed Lydia at Traquair Farm, Maidavale.
TAIT Robert
Service Number - 2061 6109
Place of Birth - Lower Burdekin QLD
Place of Enlistment - Townsville QLD
Next of Kin - (Mother) TAIT Lydia
He enlisted on 31st January 1916. He went to France on 10th April 1917, after some time in Fargo hospital and Durrington Camp No.3. Wounded in action on 20th September 1917, he was repatriated to Australia on 5th April 1918 with a gunshot (shell) wound to the back of the left knee.

Lydia TAIT was buried in Ayr Cemetery on 10th June 1952, one day after her death, aged 82 years.
Her husband, Robert TAIT, was buried in Ayr Cemetery on New Years Day 1932, also one day after his death.
They are buried in adjoining graves (1030 and 1031).