John Smith, born circa 1820, in Suffolk England was my great great grandfather. John married Eliza Sandfield on January 21, 1843, in Great Bradley, Suffolk. He had four children by the time he was 27. In April 1855 he emigrated aboard the ‘Speedy’ and settled in Armidale NSW. John was accompanied on the voyage by his wife, Eliza and his four children – Mahala, George, Frederick and Charlotte.
He died in 1901 at the home of his daughter Mahala in Auburn, New South Wales, at the age of 81.
In Memoriam notice: http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/1339922
(Trove search for “Mahala Hazelwood”) Ref The Sydney Morning Herald on Wed 30 Jul 1902 – In Memoriam – “Smith – In loving memory of my dear father John Smith who departed this life July 26 aged 81 years, at his daughter’s residence Sydney Rd Auburn, leaving his 2 daughters and 35 grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren. Inserted by his loving daughter Mahala Hazelwood”. The date of death does not correspond with that given on smithfamilytree.com.au online. FROM Willem Ponsen, Brisbane, 0408 676 085, researching the Gibbs family tree (incl Dredge / Hazelwood / Yuile)