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Champion of the Seas was the second large clipper ship destined for the Liverpool, England - Melbourne, Australia passenger service. Champion was ordered by James Baines of the Black Ball Line from Donald McKay. She was launched April 19, 1854 and was abandoned January 3, 1877, leaking badly off Cape Horn.

October 11, 1854 – December 26, 1854 Her maiden voyage Liverpool - Melbourne took 75 days during which a 24 hour run of 465 miles (748 km) was recorded.

Unassisted Passengers to Victoria:

BARNES ---- MRS 24YO arriving DEC 1854 Ship: CHAMPION OF THE SEAS
BARNES ELO 24YO DEC 1854 CHAMPION OF THE SEAS

Can't see a marriage for Eli to Jane in Victoria.

Ah here we go, they married in Brighton (from FreeBDM):

Marriages Sep 1854 (>99%)
Barnes Eli Brighton 2b 302
Riall Jane Matilda Brighton 2b 302

[Doh just realised Lewella already found this!]

Children
1. Eli John b. c1854, d. 1856 aged 22 months Melb
2. Unnamed male b. 1855 Williamstown, d. 1855 12 days old
3. Eli John b. 1856 Melb
4. Charlotte b. 1857 Melb

Jane Matilda died same year as Charlotte was born.

Can't see a death nor marriage for Charlotte, nor for Eli John b. 1856 (unless the 22 months is a mistranscription and he was 2 months old, making the death in 1856 the one born 1856).

Maybe the first Eli was born in England before they left for Australia (or on the voyage across?)

But I can't see their immigration at all. :-(

1851 England Census
about William Barns
Name: William Barns
Age: 50
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1801
Relation: Head
Spouse's Name: Hannah
Gender: Male
Where born: Wisboro Green, Sussex, England

Civil Parish: Wisborough Green
County/Island: Sussex
Country: England

Street address: Village
Occupation: Cordwainer

Registration district: Petworth
Sub registration district: Billingshurst
ED, institution, or vessel: 3e
Neighbors: View others on page
Household schedule number: 6
Household Members:
Name Age
William Barns 50
Hannah Barnes 49
James Barnes 16
May Barnes 14
Thomas Barnes 11
John Barnes 9
Walter Barnes 5
Jane Barnes 3

Another transcription error:


1841 England Census
about Ele Barner
Name: Ele Barner
Age: 10
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1831
Gender: Male
Where born: Sussex, England

Civil Parish: Wisborough Green
Hundred: Bury
County/Island: Sussex
Country: England

Registration district: Petworth
Sub registration district: Billingshurst
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members:
Name Age
William Barner 41
Hannah Barner 40
Sarah Barner 16
William Barner 14
Eliza Barner 12
Ele Barner 10
Alfred Barner 8
James Barner 6
Mary Barner 4
Thomas Barner 2

Results for: Barnes, British Isles
Father: William , Mother: Hannah
Exact Spelling: Off
Batch Number: C071301
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International Genealogical Index / British Isles - 11
Select records to download - (50 maximum)
1. JOHN BARNES - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Male Christening: 09 OCT 1842 Wisborough Green, Sussex, England
2. ELIZA BARNES - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Female Christening: 15 MAR 1829 Wisborough Green, Sussex, England
3. JAMES BARNES - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Male Christening: 15 MAR 1835 Wisborough Green, Sussex, England
4. THOMAS BARNES - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Male Christening: 25 AUG 1839 Wisborough Green, Sussex, England
5. SARAH BARNES - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Female Christening: 26 JUN 1825 Wisborough Green, Sussex, England
6. ELI BARNES - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Male Christening: 27 MAR 1831 Wisborough Green, Sussex, England
7. WILLIAM BARNES - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Male Christening: 11 MAR 1827 Wisborough Green, Sussex, England
8. JANE BARNES - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Female Christening: 13 FEB 1848 Wisborough Green, Sussex, England
9. MARY BARNES - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Female Christening: 30 APR 1837 Wisborough Green, Sussex, England
10. ALFRED BARNES - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Male Christening: 23 JUN 1833 Wisborough Green, Sussex, England
11. WALTER BARNES - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Male Christening: 25 JAN 1846 Wisborough Green, Sussex, England

1851 England Census
about Eli Barnis
Name: Eli Barnis
Age: 21
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1830
Relation: Shop Man
Gender: Male
Where born: Wesborough Gh, Sussex, England

Civil Parish: Lewes St Thomas in The Cliffe
County/Island: Sussex
Country: England

Registration district: Lewes
Sub registration district: Ditchling
ED, institution, or vessel: 8a
Neighbors: View others on page
Household schedule number: 35
Household Members:
Name Age
Henry Martin 28 - master draper employing 3 men
Eli Barnis 21
William Stapleton 27
George Inskip 16
Loris Cornwell 26

There was a death of an Eli Barnes, 77yrs, in 1908
father .. William ; mother Hannah Puttick
Reg. No. .. 9526

If you think that this might be your Eli is is well worth getting the death certificate as the Australian death certificates usually have a lot of extra info.

?? Possible ??


1841 England Census
about Jane Ryall
Name: Jane Ryall
Age: 10
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1831
Gender: Female
Where born: Dorset, England

Civil Parish: Holy Trinity
Hundred: Dorchester Borough
County/Island: Dorset
Country: England

Registration district: Dorchester and Cerne
Sub registration district: Dorchester
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members:
Name Age

Charles Ryall 45
Eliz Ryall 40
Jane Ryall 10
Emily Ryall 7
Charlotte Ryall 6
John Ryall 9

1851 England Census
about Jane Riall
Name: Jane Riall
Age: 22
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1829
Relation: Servant
Gender: Female
Where born: Weymouth, Dorset, England

Civil Parish: Brighthelmstone
Town: Brighton
County/Island: Sussex
Country: England

Registration district: Brighton
Sub registration district: Kemp Town
ED, institution, or vessel: 1e
Neighbors: View others on page
Household schedule number: 78

England & Wales, FreeBMD Marriage Index: 1837-1983
about Jane Matilda Riall
Name: Jane Matilda Riall to Eli Barnes
Year of Registration: 1854
Quarter of Registration: Jul-Aug-Sep
District: Brighton
County: Sussex, East Sussex
Volume: 2b
Page: 302

Australian Electoral Rolls, 1901-1936
about Eli Barnes
Name: Eli Barnes
Gender: Male
Electoral Year: 1903
State: Victoria
District: Bourke
Subdistrict: Essendon
Address: 13 Laluma Street
Occupation: Draper
Wife: Caroline

Here are the Victoria Aus marriage details for eli barnes and carol lewcraft:

LEWCRAFT Carol M BARNES Eli 1887 5623

This should give fathers names, but no guarantee with aus records!

Regards Linda :)

Probably Dorset

Found a marriage for Eli BARNES to Caroline Lewcraft in 1887, in Victoria. Australia

Found the death of a Jane Matilda BARNES, 27yrs, parents unknown, in 1857. Place of birth listed as "DORS"

Janes maiden name is listed as R I A LL (at the birth of her children)

Have I missed his surname ?

Eli was born 1830 in Harsham, Eng. came to Australia & m Jane Matilda RAILL 1855, son Eli John b & d 1856. Maybe a daughter Charlotte OR Rachel b abt 1857? who may have died abt 10 yrs old. Jane also believed died, then Eli m Caroline Lewcraft 8.9.1887 & went on to have another 8 children of whom 6 survived. Caroline was b London1858. They m in Australia.
I am interested in finding out when Eli came to Australia, did he come straight here from Eng, or detour along the way. Just what happened to Charlotte/ Rachel & to Jane & when?
Hope someone out there can answer these questions.
Thank you..Judy