In Remembrance: Ellen Virginia Lowe 1836-1872

My 2x Great Grandmother

Today, I’m remembering my great great grandmother Ellen Virginia LOWE, who died 152 years ago, on 8 September 1872 at Scoresby, Victoria, Australia. ¹Ellen was buried at Ballyshanessy Cemetery, Melbourne, Victoria. Today the cemetery was is known as Burwood Cemetery. ²

Ellen was baptised on 03 January 1836 at Hobartown, Tasmania, Australia. Her parents were James LOWE and Bridget Berlinda Kennedy. ³

From: Australian Town and Country Journal. Nov. 17, 1894, p. 26-27 Engraver unknown

Very little is known of Ellen’s early life, however on 04 July 1855, she married Joseph Henry JONES at St. David’s Cathedral, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia. Van Dieman’s Land is now known as Tasmania. ⁴

St. David’s Cathedral. Image: Creative Commons

Joseph and Ellen’s first child, a son, John James JONES was born at Hobart. He was baptised as Thomas James⁵ and known by that name for his lifetime. By the time Thomas was 18 months old the family had left Hobart and settled at Port Albert, Victoria.

Their family eventually increased to seven children, four boys and three girls. At the time of Ellen’s death, all seven children were still living. The eldest was 16 years old and the youngest was 10 months old.

I haven’t been able to find out who cared for the children after their mother’s death, but tragedy continued to strike the family. Eight months after Ellen died, the baby, Avonia died at age 18 months.⁶ The cause of death given was “dentition and want of breast milk for four weeks”. Dentition is another name for teething. I find it heartbreaking with today’s values, that this baby died from teething and starvation after the death of her mother.

Two years later, on 13 April 1874, Catherine died in Scoresby, Victoria, at age 12, from epilepsy. ⁷

There was yet another death of one of Joseph and Ellen’s children, when their sixth child, William, died in the children’s hospital on 02 February 1883 from typhoid fever. ⁸

Ellen’s husband Joseph’s life seemed to spiral after the death of his wife, but that is another story for another post.

1. DEATH CERTIFICATE, Ellen Virginia Jones, died on 8 September 1872, at Scoresby, Victoria; Registry Births Deaths and Marriages, Victoria. Jones Family Papers, privately held by Jennifer Jones.

2. Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/123121527/ellen_virginia-jones: accessed September 5, 2024), memorial page for Ellen Virginia Lowe Jones (4 Jan 1836–8 Sep 1872), Find a Grave Memorial ID 123121527, citing Burwood Cemetery, Burwood, Whitehorse City, Victoria, Australia; Maintained by esco (contributor 47339147).

Image: Birds Eye View of Hobart: Tasmanian Archive and Heritage Office Commons - https://www.flickr.com/photos/107895189@N03/15027182788/

3. BAPTISM: Ellen Lowe baptised on 3 January 1836 at St. Joseph’s Church, Hobart, Tasmania, Victoria, baptism certificate privately held in Jones Family Papers,by jennifer Jones,

4. MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE: Joseph Henry Jones and Ellen Virginia Lowe, 4 July 1855 at Hobart, Tasmania, Australia, Reg No: 1855/360 Births Deaths and Marriages, Department of Justice Tasmania. Jones Family Papers, privately held by Jennifer Jones.

5. BIRTH CERTIFICATE: John James Jones, citing birth 7 June 1856, at Hobart, Victoria, Australia; Births Deaths Marriages, Victoria. Jones Family Papers, privately held by Jennifer Jones.

6. DEATH CERTIFICATE, Avonia Jones died 29 May 1873 at Scoresby, Victoria, Australia; Births Deaths Marriages, Victoria. Jones Family Papers, privately held by Jennifer Jones.

7. DEATH CERTIFICATE, Catherine Jones, died 13 April 1874 at Melbourne, Victoria; Births Deaths Marriages, Victoria. Jones Family Papers, privately held by Jennifer Jones.

8. DEATH CERTIFICATE, William Jones, died 02 February 1883 at Melbourne, Victoria; Births Deaths Marriages, Victoria. Jones Family Papers, privately held by Jennifer Jones