The Love Story of Joseph and Catherine Coffee: A Journey of Courage and Connection

-

In the mid-19th century, South Australia was a burgeoning colony, a destination for hopeful emigrants seeking a fresh start. Among them was Catherine Roberts, a 19-year-old woman who embarked on the voyage aboard the Stebonheath. The reasons for her journey are unknown, but it is clear that she was travelling alone to an unfamiliar land. Her journey would eventually intertwine with that of Joseph Coffee, a ship crew member, leading to a significant chapter in her life.

Catherine Roberts set sail from London and Plymouth on 31 January 1849 aboard the Stebonheath, a 926-ton ship that carried 373 emigrants to Port Adelaide. The voyage lasted an arduous 100 days, marked by cramped conditions and the challenges of life at sea. The ship finally arrived on 11 May 1849, delivering Catherine to her new home in South Australia.

Joseph Coffee, born in 1822, was a crew member aboard the Stebonheath. Shortly after arriving in Port Adelaide, he made a decision to desert the ship. On 9 July 1849, he pleaded guilty to desertion and was sentenced to one month of hard labour. This event marked a turning point in his life, as he remained in South Australia, likely laying the groundwork for his future with Catherine. Records do not detail their meeting, but it is possible they crossed paths during the voyage or shortly after. By 10 January 1850, just months after his release from hard labour, Joseph and Catherine were married at Holy Trinity Church in Adelaide. At the time, Joseph was 28 years old, and Catherine was 20.


The couple’s first child, George Robert Coffee, was born on 11 June 1851 in Port Adelaide. Based on this date, George was likely conceived around late September or early October 1850, aligning with their early married life. George was baptised on 20 July 1851 at St. Paul’s Church, Port Adelaide, cementing the family’s roots in the region.

While much of their story is supported by records, there are still gaps to fill. Joseph’s labour sentence and Catherine’s early life as an immigrant paint a picture of resilience and determination. However, further research may reveal more about their courtship and early life together. Questions remain about Joseph’s role on the Stebonheath and whether he met Catherine during the voyage. Exploring Catherine’s origins in Wales and the legacy they left through their children could provide additional insights.

Joseph and Catherine Coffee’s story is a reminder of the sacrifices and choices our ancestors made. Their courage and determination in forging a life together in a new land inspire us to persevere, even when faced with the unknown. Through ongoing research, their legacy continues to unfold, offering insight into the past and connection to the present.

Bibliography

  • "South Australia Marriages 1842-1937," South Australian Genealogy Records.
  • "Victoria, Australia, Asylum Records, 1853-1940," Ancestry.com.
  • "Passenger Records for the Stebonheath," South Australian Maritime Museum.
  • "Desertion Records of Joseph Coffee," Adelaide Times, July 9, 1849.
  • "Birth and Baptism Records for George Robert Coffee," St. Paul’s Church, Port Adelaide, 1851.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Family Names

-
Some of this blog is for me ... to keep track of my findings ... to share with my family... But some of it I am hoping will be fragrant flowers attracting other family detectives ... long lost relatives ... family names. While my intention is to the privacy of the living ... here are the names on my family tree long since passed. My father's paternal side is missing ... but I know who they are ... I just don't think they know who we are ... so until then .. psst, it's a secret. Of course, if you are one of the Family Detectives ... please leave a comment and lets see if we can't help each other out! FATHER'S MATERNAL NAMES John Laing Herny Laing John Lang Agnes Lang Elizabeth Annan John Ross Ellen Ross Ann Ross Adam Weathersone Henry Butts Elizabeth Butts Mary Lee Sarah Weatherstone Michael Toomey Catherine Toomey (Tormey) Ann Chance MOTHERS PATERNAL NAMES James Hardy Jane Cadman Edith Scott James Scott Robert Scott George Scott Sarah Scott Elizabeth Gibson Sarah H...
Read more

Sarah Weatherstone Part 1 From Birth to Departure

-
Image
Sarah Age 18, based on Convict Indent descriptions  When I was handed some family history papers on our Lang family, each person's background information took about a page. Sarah Weatherstone's entire life was written in 2 sentences. It seemed little was available on her in 2004, yet 10 years later she is the ancestor in my family tree that I know most about. I don't think I would have liked her, but then again she grew up in tough times and perhaps things would have been different for Sarah if she'd been born in a different place and time.  My research is ongoing and already new information has come to light and had me spending a few nights editing this post and Part 2.  Part 3 is being written, but the research is taking longer, because it's once she reaches Australia that we really do find out a lot about Sarah! Stay tuned .... Sarah Weatherstone was in the Tower Hamlet of Middlesex on July 1st, 1821. Her baptism took place at St Dunstan’s Church of Eng...
Read more

John Weatherstone

-
Image
*** The following article has been copied from http://branchesleavespollen.blogspot.com.au/2012/02/belated-australia-day-post-john.html *** This has to be some relation, so please visit Amy's blog if you too are related to one of Australia's convict Weatherstones. John Weatherstone was probably born in 1806 in Gloucester. Various unsourced research has named his parents as William Weatherstone and Mary Clutterbuck. Indeed, in the Parish records of St Mary-de-Lode in Gloucester a William Wetherstone and Mary Clutterbuck were married by licence on 12 February 1788. Whether or not this couple are the parents of John Weatherstone is yet to be proven. In fact, on John Weatherstone's death certificate (the only document to mention his parents) his father is listed as John, a farmer, and his mother as unknown. This is to be expected considering the amount of time that had elapsed (more than 50 years) since John Weatherstone's arrival in Australia. John Weatherst...
Read more