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There is no concrete evidence to show that Isaac was or wasn't Ellen's father but all paperwork discovered so far leads to the presumption that he was. All we have are the facts that:
1. There are two Baptism entries for 27 Feb 1830:
(a) Father J J Therry, State Library Reel E126 FM4/5271 SAG 007
Register: St Mary's Cathedral Roman Catholic Baptisms 1830
Name: Ellen Matthews
Date of Birth: 27 Feb 1830 (BDM Registry 1417/1830 V18301417 127; Father Richard; Mother Margaret)
Date of Baptism: 27 Feb 1830
Father: Richard Matthews
Mother: Margaret Hayes
Residence: Sydney
(It appears Isaac (aka Richard) Simpkins has registered under a "pseudonym" to cover up the fact that he had applied for his Scottish family to receive assistance to emigrate to Australia.)
(b) Register: St Mary's Roman Catholic Baptisms Register (Sept 1819 to Nov 1838), Baptisms for the year 1830
Name: Ellen Watkins
Baptism: 27th February 1830
Place: No entry
Birth Date: 27th February, 1830 (BDM Registry 1830 V125, Entry No: 1544; Father Richard; Mother Ellen)
Father: Richard Watkins
Abode: Sydney
Quality or Profession: No entry
Mother: Ellen McGuigan
Minister: Rev J J Therry
Sponsor: Ellen McGuigan
2. Isaac and Margaret were living together when Ellen was about 2 years of age when Margaret was sent to the factory and Isaac was charged with beating Ellen when she was left in his charge. Then there is his letter applying to remove Ellen from the orphan school stating she was his child. Ellen's death states Richard Watkins as her father, but Isaac was known to change his name regularly using Richard and John due to a shaded past.
3. When Isaac married Margaret, their second marriage was registered under the name Richard Simpkins with the signature showing Isaac Simkins. Isaac used the name Richard again to presumably cover up the fact that he was already married.
Submitted by Robyn Elizabeth Allman nee Price
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Female Orphan School
The Female Orphan School in Parramatta opened in 1801 in George Street. Some of the children were orphans with no parents but many of the girls came from single parent families. Most were the children of convicts still under sentence. The girls were instructed in sewing, weaving, religion, writing, cooking, laundry and other domestic work. It first housed 31 girls aged between 7 and 14 years old, but by 1803 there were 103 girls which was way over capacity.
In 1818, the girls were relocated to a new building on Arthur's Hill. It was built by Governor Macquarie and used no convict labour in its construction. He was disturbed by the street urchins in Parramatta and built this charitable institution to house female orphans. Made of locally quarried stone, it is Australia´s oldest three storey building. It is said to be haunted.The first shipment of female orphans were 70 girls who arrived by boat on the nearby Parramatta river in June 1818. In 1819 the Parramatta George Street site became the Male Orphan School. By 1829 there were 152 girls in a building designed for 100. Numbers in the 1830's averaged 170.
In 1850 the Female Orphan School became co-educational as boys were moved in from Bonnyrigg. It was then renamed the Protestant Orphan School. The place was not run all that badly, the children did not suffer abuse and were treated quite well. However there were instances of children being chained to logs as punishment for climbing trees. Some girls were locked in the dark cellars underneath the orphanage as punishment, various diseases went through the Orphanage and wiped out a great number of children. These diseases included Scarlet Fever, Small Pox, Cholera, Whopping Cough and Influenza.
The Protestant Orphan School eventually became part of a mental asylum and has now been restored and is part of the University of Western Sydney, James Ruse Drive, Rydalmere.
Ellen was a ward of the Rev. Thomas Hassall at the Orphan School, Parramatta.
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Colonial Secretary Letters 34/3440, Shelf 4/2241.5
Sydney 19th May 1834
Sir,
I beg leave very respectfully to address you hoping you will excuse the liberty I have taken in thus troubling you respecting my child at present in the Orphan School at Parramatta named "Ellen Hayes" as I am going to live a distance from Sydney, I should esteem it a great favor if I could get her out of the school to take her with me, as I am able to maintain her and bring her up in a right way of living honestly.
I have the honor to be Sir,
Your Most Able Humble Servant
Isaac Simpkins
We certify that Isaac Simpkins the applicant is well able to support the child hereinamed in every respect decently & honestly.
J. McEncroe, R. C. C.
Michael Phillips
(Approved May 31st. Ellen was discharged from the Orphan School on 2 June 1834, Colonial Secretary Ref No. 36/1718 4/2328)
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Ellen is buried next to her first husband, Thomas Barnes Watson, St John's Church of England, Section D 029, at Camden. The gravestone reads "Wilton", the surname of her second husband who is buried in Rockhampton, Queensland.
Submitted by Janice Johnson and Robyn Elizabeth Allman nee Price
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Find A Grave Index
Name: Mary Ann Eleanor Watkins Wilton
Maiden Name: Watkins
Event Type: Burial
Event Date: 1886
Event Place: Camden, Camden Council, New South Wales, Australia
Event Place (Original): Camden, Camden Council, New South Wales, Australia
Age (Estimated): 54
Photograph Included: N
Birth Date: 1832
Death Date: 25 Aug 1886
Cemetery: Camden Anglican Church (St Johns) Cemetery
Affiliate Record Identifier: 177681419
Affiliate Image Identifier: 177681419
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