Hampton William Watts

Hampton William Watts

Male 1849 - 1893  (43 years)

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  • Name Hampton William Watts 
    Birth 18th Nov 1849  Farley, Wiltshire Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    Death 23 Jan 1893  Calcutta, India Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Person ID I404  My Genealogy
    Last Modified 27 Nov 2023 

    Father Hampton Abel,   b. 8 Jan 1823, Great Cheverell, Wiltshire Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 24th Feb 1873, Edmonton London Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 50 years) 
    Mother Barnes Sarah Baker,   b. 12th Oct 1824, Dinton, Wiltshire Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 1884, Market Harborough, Leicestershire Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 59 years) 
    Marriage 2nd Aug 1847  Dinton, Wilts. Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Family ID F156  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Sheppard Emma Jane,   b. 1854, Stepney, London Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 1906, Marrickville, New South Wales Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 52 years) 
    Marriage 12 Oct 1880  St Dunstan and All Saints, Stepney, London Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Children 
    +1. Hampton Marguerite Louise,   b. 7 Jul 1881, Mile End, London Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 1958, Tonbridge, Kent Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 76 years)
     2. Hampton Adeline Sheppard,   b. 1886, New South Wales Find all individuals with events at this location
     3. Hampton Dorothy Emma,   b. 1890
    Family ID F154  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 7 Dec 2023 

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBirth - 18th Nov 1849 - Farley, Wiltshire Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarriage - 12 Oct 1880 - St Dunstan and All Saints, Stepney, London Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDeath - 23 Jan 1893 - Calcutta, India Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 

  • Photos
    511 Commercial rd in East London, where William Watts and Emma Jane are registered as living in 1881
    511 Commercial rd in East London, where William Watts and Emma Jane are registered as living in 1881
    The central blue door is No. 511
    1880 marriage banns of William Watts Hampton and Emma Jane Sheppard
    1880 marriage banns of William Watts Hampton and Emma Jane Sheppard
    They are both living at 61 Nelson St in Whitechapel, London
    18th June 1891, William Hampton, master of the 'Warrego', 1552 tons arrives at sydney from Melbourne, Passenger List
    18th June 1891, William Hampton, master of the 'Warrego', 1552 tons arrives at sydney from Melbourne, Passenger List
    23rd July, 1891, W Hampton, Master of the 'Warrego', arrives Sydney from Cooktown, Passenger list
    23rd July, 1891, W Hampton, Master of the 'Warrego', arrives Sydney from Cooktown, Passenger list
    24th Oct 1892, W W Hampton is Master of the 'Cintra', arriving at Sydney from Cooktown
    24th Oct 1892, W W Hampton is Master of the 'Cintra', arriving at Sydney from Cooktown
    27th Nov 1887, W W Watts is Master of the 'Barcoo' steamship, 1500 tons, arriving Sydney from Cooktown
    27th Nov 1887, W W Watts is Master of the 'Barcoo' steamship, 1500 tons, arriving Sydney from Cooktown
    1st Aug 1886, W W Hampton is Master of the 'Barcoo', arriving sydney from Cooktown
    1st Aug 1886, W W Hampton is Master of the 'Barcoo', arriving sydney from Cooktown
    'Maranoa'
    'Maranoa'
    One of the ships William Hampton captained in Australia
    'Maranoa'
    'Maranoa'
    a second photo of the 'Maranoa'
    from the state library of Victoria
    1851 Census for Abel and Sarah Hampton and their children in Wiltshire
    1851 Census for Abel and Sarah Hampton and their children in Wiltshire
    'Able' Hampton is recorded as living 'Under the Hill' at Alderbury in Wiltshire, aged 28. He's a servant, born in Chevrell Magna in Wiltshire, and is married to Sarah Hampton.
    Sarah is aged 26 and comes from Dinton in Wiltshire.
    There is a daughter called Sarah Ann Hampton, aged 2, born in Farley, Wiltshire, and a son called William Watts Hampton, aged 1, also born in Farley, Wiltshire.
    Also living with them were Elizabeth Batter, a servant aged 16 and Eliza Hayter, a servant aged 18
    Street scene, King st, Sydney Australia, 1900
    Street scene, King st, Sydney Australia, 1900
    12th Oct 1880 marriage record for William Watts Hampton and Emma Jane Sheppard
    12th Oct 1880 marriage record for William Watts Hampton and Emma Jane Sheppard
    St Dunstan and All Saints, Stepney, Tower Hamlets, England
    1871 Census record for Abel and Sarah Hampton and their family, Colney Hatch, N London
    1871 Census record for Abel and Sarah Hampton and their family, Colney Hatch, N London
    Abel Hampton, aged 48, is a 'Cab Proprietor', living at 15 St Johns Villas, Colney Hatch, Edmonton, Middlesex.
    His wife Sarah B Hampton is aged 46.
    Daughter Sarah A Hampton is a Housemaid aged 22.
    William W Hampton is a son aged 21 and a Ships Steward.
    Daughter Jane D Hampton aged 19 is a school mistress.
    Also with them are 2 visitors, Frederick Giffin who worked on the Railways and Harry Spicer a Whitesmith.
    [Colney Hatch is a road that runs through Muswell Hill, North of Alexandra Palace]
    1861 Census for Abel and Sarah Hampton and their family, in Dean, Hampshire
    1861 Census for Abel and Sarah Hampton and their family, in Dean, Hampshire
    Abel Hampton is head of household at a Cottage in Dean, Hampshire, aged 38. He is a groom.
    His wife Sarah B Hampton is aged 36, is a Groom's wife and Washerwoman.
    Daughter Sarah A Hampton is 12 yrs old, and William W Hampton is aged 11 and is an Under Groom.
    A Daughter called Jane D Hampton is aged 9.
    30th Oct 1879 Master Certificate awarded to William Watts Hampton in the Merchant Service
    30th Oct 1879 Master Certificate awarded to William Watts Hampton in the Merchant Service
    This must have been a great day for William, which meant he could now command ships.
    1936 marriage of Dorothy Emma Hampton, daughter of William and Emma
    1936 marriage of Dorothy Emma Hampton, daughter of William and Emma
    18th Nov Baptism of William Watts Hampton, son of Abel and Sarah, at Farley, Wiltshire
    18th Nov Baptism of William Watts Hampton, son of Abel and Sarah, at Farley, Wiltshire
    Abel's occupation is Groom
    1893 Probate for William Watts Hampton, who died 23rd Jan 1893 at Calcutta
    1893 Probate for William Watts Hampton, who died 23rd Jan 1893 at Calcutta
    William Watts Hampton of 83 Victoria Street, Sydney, New South Wales, died 23rd January 1893 at Calcutta Indian Administration (with Will) London 14th July to James Alfred Shephard dental surgeon, the attorney of Emma Jane Hampton, widow, Effects £300.
    1893 record of death for William showing he died of 'malarial fever and delirium' while Master on the SS Waroonga on the Hooghly River in India
    1893 record of death for William showing he died of 'malarial fever and delirium' while Master on the SS Waroonga on the Hooghly River in India
    This is the river that serves Calcutta
    Nelson st, London
    Nelson st, London
    No.61 doesn't exist anymore, but this terrace on Nelson street is from the right era

  • Notes 
    • SUMMARY
      William Watts Hampton was born in the autumn of 1849 in the Wiltshire village of Farley to Able Hampton and Sarah Barnes, who were both domestic servants. He was the second of three children, and grew up as a child in Wiltshire and Hampshire, before his parents moved to North London.

      In the 1861 census, aged 10, William is described as an 'under groom'. This is probably because his father Able is a Groom in this census, and so had taken on his son to train him. They must have worked in a big house with stables somewhere near where they lived, possibly Longford Castle 3 miles away which was where Able started as a servant aged 18.

      At some point William decided against a life with horses and developed a love for boats, perhaps when he moved to London where the Thames would have been crowded with shipping at the height of the British Empire. In the 1871 Census he is still living with his family in north London (his father is now a hackney cab driver), and William is a ships steward, aged 21. So he's started his life at sea.

      His career then takes the following steps:
      17th feb 1875, William Watts Hampton qualifies as Only Mate in the Merchant Service, by Order of the Board of Trade.
      14th June 1878, William Watts Hampton qualifies as First Mate in the Merchant Service, by Order of the Board of Trade.
      30th Oct 1879, William Watts Hampton qualifies as Master in the Merchant Service, by Order of the Board of Trade.
      A Master is a captain in the merchant navy, since merchant ships don't use the term Captain. So by the age of 30 he can be in command of merchant ships.

      In 1880, aged 31, William marries Emma Jane Sheppard, aged 27, in Stepney, East London. She was from an East End tailoring family. When the marriage Banns were read out, they were both living at No. 61 Nelson St in Whitechapel. Perhaps they met while both lodgers there. In 1881 the following year they're both living at 511 Commercial rd, Tower Hamlets, Mile End, London. He's aged 31 and he's a 'Mariner Merchant Service'. Emma J Hampton is his wife aged 27. Their daughter Marguerite Louise is also born in 1881. She was the first of 3 children, and is the significant one to continue this family tree.

      At some point between 1879 and 1883 William commands ships that travel from Britain to India, because in 1883 he is described as "W W Hampton, late of the British-India Steam Navigation Company, in which service he has been long and favourably known as having had large experience in their first-class passanger ships trading between England and India". That description comes from an interestingly detailed record of an 1883 voyage between Britain and Australia, in which he was in charge of the 'Maranoa', the last of 3 ships built to order for the Queensland Steamship Company to carry 60 first class and 80 second class passengers. The beginning of the article praises the luxury fittings in the saloon etc, and tells us she used on average 27 tons of coal per day and filled up with 1000 tonnes for the votage to Australia when she left on 19th Oct at 1:53pm from London...

      "On the 19th she encountered a heavy westerly gale in the English Channel, and the engines had to be slowed in consequence. After adjusting compasses at Portland the Maranoa took her departure at 8:30am on the 20th and experienced strong easterly winds with heavy sea and fine, clear weather up to Cape Vincent; thence she had strong head winds until passing Gibralter at 6:30 pm on the 24th October. Malta was reached on the 28th at 3:30am and after a quantity of coal had been taken on board the passage was resumed at 4:23pm. Squally and insettled weather prevailed up until Port Said, where she arrived at 5:45am on the first instant and took in a further supply of fuel. The canal was navigated without incident; Suez was touched at on 3rd ultimo and Aden was reached on the 8th ultimo, after a hot passage down the Red Sea. She left again the same day, and as the weather was fine and the sea smooth, the Maranoa made a fine run of 7 days to Colombo, the engines working splendidly the whole time. On the following day she got under weigh again and had fine weather and light breezes to 5.8 whence she had to do some hard steaming against SE trades, which occassionally increased to a moderate gale, and were attended with a high head sea until the 30th parallel was reached, when the wind moderated somewhat but continued from the same direction. From 90 miles south of the Leuwin to Lonf 124 E she encountered a series of strong easterly gales accompanied by a high sea, but she behaved admirably. Light to moderate breezes with occassionaly foggy days were had after that till Adelaide was reached at 11:20am on on the 6th instant. After landing passengers the voyage was resumed at 3:23pm same day, and she arrived at Sandridge pier Melbourne at 9am on the 8th. More passengers were landed here and the Maranoa got under weigh for Sydney at 2:30pm, passed through port Phillip Heads at 3:40pm, rounded Wilson's Promotary at 1:45 am on the 9th passed Cabo island at 4pm and entered Sydney Heads at 10:35 am yesterday, thus making the passage from Port Phillip Heads to Sydney in 40 hours 55 minutes. the Maranoa is Captained by W W Hampton, late of the British-India Steam Navigation Company, in which service he has been long and favourably known as having had large experience in their first-class passanger ships trading between England and India."
      source: Sydney Morning Herald, Tues 11th Dec 1883 (http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/13546751)

      So we know that he was a Master for the British-India Steam Navigation Company, and the Queensland Steamship Company. The following records are of him as Master of various voyages in Australian waters; 1st Aug 1886, W W Hampton is Master of the 'Barcoo', arriving sydney from Cooktown; 27th Nov 1887, W W Watts is Master of the 'Barcoo' steamship, 1500 tons, arriving Sydney from Cooktown; 18th June 1891, William Hampton, master of the 'Warrego', 1552 tons arrives at sydney from Melbourne; 16th Oct 1891 W W Hampton is again Master of the 'Maranoa' from Brisbane to Sydney; 24th Oct 1892, W W Hampton is Master of the 'Cintra', arriving at Sydney from Cooktown.

      Then suddenly he dies in India on 23rd of January 1893, aged 43.
      The UK Register of Deceased Seamen records that William died of 'malarial fever and delirium' while Master on the SS Waroonga on the Hooghly River in India. He may have been buried at sea.
      His Probate says he was living at 83 Victoria St, Sydney at the time.
      He left his widow £300, which is the equivalent of £24,000 in 2017 money (National Archives calculator).
      His daughter Marguerite was aged 12 when he died, his youngest child aged 3.

      Emma Jane his widow lives on in Sydney until 1906, when she dies aged 52.

      +++++

      William married Emma Jane in 1880 in Stepney, when he was aged 31 and she was 27. Their daughter Marguerite was born the year after. Another daughter, Dorothy was born in 1890.
      They moved to Australia in the late 1880s, and set up home in Sydney, while William worked on steam ships, sailing the coasts of Australia.

      He died aged 42 at Calcutta in India, in January 1893. The cause of death and why he was there have yet to be revealed. He left his wife £300 in his Will, which is the equivalent of £24,000 in 2017 money according to the National Archives calculator.

      His middle name, Watts, comes from his paternal Grandmother, Sarah Watts.

      +++++++++++

      From 1887 to 1892 William is recorded as the Master (essentially the Captain since there wasn't one) of various steamers arriving in Sydney from Australian ports. Some records have been attached above.

      There is a good description of one voyage he took from Britain to Australia as Captain of the "Maranoa", the last of 3 ships built to order for the Queensland Steamship Company to carry 60 first class and 80 second class passengers. the beginning of the article praises the luxury fittings in the saloon etc, and tells us she used on average 27 tons of coal per day and filled up with 1000 tonnes for the votage to Australia when she left on 19th Oct at 1:53pm from London...

      "On the 19th she encountered a heavy westerly gale in the English Channel, and the engines had to be slowed in consequence. After adjusting compasses at Portland the Maranoa took her departure at 8:30am on the 20th and experienced strong easterly winds with heavy sea and fine, clear weather up to Cape Vincent; thence she had strong head winds until passing Gibralter at 6:30 pm on the 24th October. Malta was reached on the 28th at 3:30am and after a quantity of coal had been taken on board the passage was resumed at 4:23pm. Squally and insettled weather prevailed up until Port Said, where she arrived at 5:45am on the first instant and took in a further supply of fuel. The canal was navigated without incident; Suex was touched at on 3rd ultimo and Aden was reached on the 8th ultimo, after a hot passage down the Red Sea. She left again the same day, and as the weather was fine and the sea smooth, the Maranoa made a fine run of 7 days to Colombo, the engines working splendidly the whole time. On the following day she got under weigh again and had fine weather and light breezes to 5.8 whence she had to do some hard steaming against SE trades, which occassionally increased to a moderate gale, and were attended with a high head sea until the 30th parallel was reached, when the wind moderated somewhat but continued from the same direction. From 90 miles south of the Leuwin to Lonf 124 E she encountered a series of strong easterly gales accompanied by a high sea, but she behaved admirably. Light to moderate breezes with occassionaly foggy days were had after that till Adelaide was reached at 11:20am on on the 6th instant. After landing passnegers the voyage was resumed at 3:23pm same day, and she arrived at Sandridge pier Melbourne at 9am on the 8th. More passengers were landed here and the Maranoa got under weigh for Sydney at 2:30pm, passed through port Phillip Heads at 3:40pm, rounded Wilson's Promotary at 1:45 am on the 9th passed Cabo island at 4pm and entered Sydney Heads at 10:35 am yesterday, thus making the passage from Port Phillip Heads to Sydney in 40 hours 55 minutes. the Maranoa is Captained by W W Hampton, late of the British-India Steam Navigation Company, in which service he has been long and favourably known as having had large experience in their first-class passanger ships trading between England and India."

      Sydney Morning Herald, Tues 11th Dec 1883
      http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/13546751

      ++++++++

      1851 Census which mentions 1 yr old William:
      'Able' Hampton is recorded as living 'Under the Hill' at Alderbury in Wiltshire, aged 20. He's a servant, born in Chevrell Magna in Wiltshire, and is married to Sarah Hampton.
      Sarah is aged 26 and comes from Dinton in Wiltshire.
      There is a daughter called Sarah Ann Hampton, aged 2, born in Farley, Wiltshire, and a son called William Watts Hampton, aged 1, also born in Farley, Wiltshire.

      1861 Census which mentions 11 yr old William:
      Abel Hampton is head of household at a Cottage in Dean, Hampshire, aged 38. He is a groom.
      His wife Sarah B Hampton is aged 36, is a Groom's wife (and another word I can't read).
      Daughter Sarah A Hampton is 12 yrs old, and William W Hampton is aged 11 and is an Under Groom.
      A Daughter called Jane D Hampton is aged 9.

      +++++++

      17th feb 1875, William Watts Hampton qualifies as Only Mate in the Merchant Service, by Order of the Board of Trade.

      14th June 1878, William Watts Hampton qualifies as First Mate in the Merchant Service, by Order of the Board of Trade.

      30th Oct 1879, William Watts Hampton qualifies as Master in the Merchant Service, by Order of the Board of Trade.

      ++++++++

      Marriage record 12th Oct 1880:
      William Watts Hampton marriage registered in 1880 in Stepney. At his marriage he and Emma Jane are registered as living at 61 Nelson st. His father Abel Hampton is given as deceased.

      On Sept 19th 1880, William's age is given as 31 on the record of the Banns of Marriage.

      1881 Census: William W Hampton is living at 511 Commercial rd, Tower Hamlets, Mile End, London. He's agd 31 and he's a 'Mariner Merchant Service'. Emma J Hampton is his wife aged 27.

      profession given at baptism of his daughter in 1881 as 'Master Mariner'.

      ++++++++

      Theres a record of Hampton William, Master Mariner living at No. 12 Orwell st in Sydney, Australia
      unfortunately its undated

      Good record of a voyage he took from UK to Australia:
      http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/13546751

      ++++++++

      1891 Master of the Maranoa:

      Mariners & ships in Australian Waters
      'MARANOA' OF BRISBANE, WILLIAM WATTS HAMPTON, MASTER
      BURTHEN 805 TONS FROM THE PORT OF BRISBANE TO SYDNEY, NEW SOUTH WALES 16TH OCTOBER, 1891
      source: State Records Authority of New South Wales: Shipping Master's Office; Passengers Arriving 1855 - 1922; NRS13278, [X212-X213] reel 505. Transcribed by Joan Bell.

      The Maranoa facts n figures:
      Steel steamship, passenger-cargo built by W Denny & Bros., Dumbarton for QSS Co. Of Ausn Co April 1887, working their major routes along the east coast. Sold 1911 to Bombay interests for scrapping

      The Queensland Steam Shipping Company (QSS Co) was a shipping company of Australia from 1885 to 1887. The company was formed by the British India Steam Navigation Company, Charles Parbury, James Burns and McIlwraith McEacharn & Company. The shipping company was amalgamated with the Australasian Steam Navigation Company with their respective vessels in 1887 to form the Australasian United Steam Navigation Company
      source: wikipedia
      +++++++++

      Record of Death 23rd Jan 1893:
      'William Watts Hampton of 83 Victoria Street, Sydney, New South Wales, died 23rd January 1893 at Calcutta Indian Administration (with Will) London 14th July to James Alfred Shephard dental surgeon, the attorney of Emma Jane Hampton, widow, Effects £300."


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