John Middleton's Shop, Tamworth NSW, 1892
of a drawer of my late father's desk in 1990
was the starting point of my family research
Family HistoryIn 1864, John Middleton who was born in Staindrop, County Durham married Mary Jardine (born in Blackburn, Lancashire, to James Jardine & Catherine Nichol of Annan, Dumfrieshire), in Newcastle-on-Tyne. I have traced John's family back to George Middleton, a famer in Middleton St. George, County Durham, who died 20 April 1783 and his wife, Mary Edrington George and Mary married 6 May 1740, at Long Newton, Co. Durham.
John & Mary emigrated to Australia in 1884, with their seven children, among them my paternal and maternal Grandparents, Charles Louis Middleton & John Jardine Middleton.
Charles Louis married Catherine Colliver, daughter of Peter Colliver, a merchant mariner born in Penzance in 1841 and Catherine Hume Bowmaker, born in Sunderland, County Durham in 1846.
Charles was a tailor in Sydney in the Queen Victoria Building. Charles and Catherine had nine children. Their eldest son, Charles, was my father.
John Jardine Middleton married Sarah Dewhurst, born in 1875 in Muswellbrook NSW to John Dewhurst, born 1835 in Leicestershire and Elizabeth Standering born 1838 in Rochdale, Lancashire.
John and Sarah had the first store in Port Kembla, NSW. They had five children, and their only daughter, Phyllis, was my mother.
John Jardine Middleton & Sarah Anne Dewhurst
1 January 1900Thus my parents were first cousins. Despite five years research I have not yet identified any current members of my extended Middleton family beyond the descendants of John & Mary.
Similarly, I have not yet located any JARDINE descendants outside those direct descendants of the family that emigrated in 1884.
My research of the COLLIVER line has proven more fruitful, and I have located family members in Canada, England and Australia.
If you think that I might be part of your family, please email me at middleton@ihug.com.au
Acknowledgements
While most of the information on this website results from my own research, I have been fortunate in the generosity of various family members who have shared precious family mementos with me. A number of aunts and their cousins have allowed me access to various treasures, including one of Peter Colliver's maritime journals, a book of silk paintings compiled from his voyages into the Orient,and Family Bibles that contained Family records that proved invaluable in researching this family history. Gladys Lunney generously provided access to various papers that have provided clues that allowed me to trace much of my Colliver family. Various Colliver family members that I have located in the UK, Canada and Australia have also provided copies of records and papers that have allowed me to explore the family in greater detail. I have also been fortunate in locating Davy reserachers who have provided family files that have allowed me to trace my roots in that family in great detail. More recently, I have been assisted in exploring family details by many members of various County mai Lists.
To all who have assisted me in this journey, my heartfelt thanks.
I have found the following links to be particularly useful:
General Family History Research Sites Special Interest Sites Australian Family History Resources Cyndi's List Clan Jardine NSW Births, Deaths & Marriages Family Search History of Gateshead, County Durham Australian First Families IGI Batch Numbers Dumfries & Galloway
ã John Middleton, 2000