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AUSTRALIAN
CAWDELL FAMILY REUNION MAY 26TH 2001
The Cawdell Family Reunion was
held at the home of Kerrin Cawdell-Brunner in Wattle Grove New South Wales on May 26th 2001.
The event was a huge success with some 38 Cawdells present. Two came from New Zealand and Ron, Doreen and Andrew
Cawdell made the journey from the Isle of Wight.
Kerrin arranged an excellent buffet lunch and Ron managed to ‘blue tack’
an A3 sized copy of the Cawdell family tree along her fence in the garden where
many of those attending spent most of the day enjoying a lovely Australian late
summer / autumn day as well as some ‘tinnys’ of Australian beer and etc.
The Cawdell-Smiths were particularly interested in their ancestry as many
had previously not been entirely aware of the fact that they had actually
descended from Thomas Cawdell
who had only added ‘Smith’ to his name on arrival in Australia in 1865
after the death of his two brothers at sea en route. He had recorded their
deaths as ‘Smith’ parents unknown.
The reasons for this is not known but it obvious there was something
strange about their deaths and the reason for the three brothers being
‘transported’ in the first place. So far it has not been possible to trace the
name of the ship or its port of departure. Thomas James Cawdells earlier
researches state that they were ‘sent’ to Australia but as yet the reasons are unknown.
There was also a mystery as to why Thomas’ son Charles gave Thomas
mothers maiden name as ‘Napier’ and not Jaques, on his fathers death
certificate. We know for certain that
Thomas mother was Eliza Cawdell nee Jaques. He was born 9 months and two
weeks after her marriage to Army Sergeant James Cawdell whilst he was serving
in Ireland, his sister Charlotte and his brothers James and Charles were also born in Ireland.
The only Napier name that springs to mind is that of General Sir Charles
Napier. A well known British General
born in 1782 and who fought successful campaigns in many parts of the world.
There is a statue erected in his honour in Trafalgar Square. Several romantic
theories for the death certificate mention of ‘Napier’ have been put
forward previously but
John Irving, a grandson of Clara Cawdell whose family has used the Napier
name on occasions and one of Thomas’
sisters, has written to Ron Cawdell recently with some fresh information. He
has received correspondence from
a granddaughter of Georgina Cawdell, Thomas’ youngest sister, which states that
she can recall being told a story by her aunt
that Eliza Jaques’ mother was in fact an illegitimate child
of.......Sir Charles Napier ! whilst he served in Ireland as a young army
officer.
This theory is more realistic so far as the dates and ages go but I must
add that it is only another theory which can never be proven one way or the
other. Thomas may have known of this story and passed it down as if it was his
mother, rather than his grandmother, who could have been a Napier or perhaps it
just became confused in the telling and romanticising of the whole affair.
The next Cawdell Family Reunion
is due in Baldock , Hertfordshire,July
2005. I hope to have the “ History of the Cawdell Family” completed and
published in hardback form in good time for that reunion. As you can see by the new revelations over
the Napier name
there is still time for more interesting information being included.
Please contact me with any family history matters you feel will be of
interest.
Tel.01983-883629 or email:- [email protected]
Ron Cawdell
Thanks for news letter Ron.
I am in the throws of adding photographs to the family tree. So, with Christmas coming up, get snapping with those cameras and send me your photos. Also send any photos of loved ones that are no longer with us. I will gladly send back any photos you want returned.
Mike Cawdell
67 Old North Road, Royston, Herts, SG8 5ER.