Thomas Gudsell

Thomas Gudsell

born 5 December 1831 Sanderstead, Surrey, England
bapt 8 January 1832 Sanderstead, Surrey England
arrived Melbourne, Australia between Nov. 1856 - Jan 1858
arrived Lyttelton, New Zealand on the “Prince Alfred"
on 30 June 1861 aged 29 years
died 5 July 1923, 70 Division Road, Christchurch
of senility and arteriosclerosis
buried Weedons Cemetery, Canterbury plot 63

married
25 January 1858 at the Congregational Church, St. Kilda Melbourne, Australia
by Rev.Richard Fletcher. Witnessed by William Gilpin and Henriette Nichols
Sarah Franks
daughter of Robert Franks and Mary Woods
born 10 June 1833 Shapwick, Somerset, England
bapt 29 December 1833 Shapwick, Somerset, England
arrived Melbourne on the “James Fernie” 12 March 1857
arrived Port Chalmers, Otago, New Zealand on the “Oscar” 9 November 1861
died 12 May 1895 Weedons of heart disease
buried Weedons Cemetery plot 62

Thomas and Sarah Gudsell with one of their six sons

photographed by Peter Schourup, Christchurch.

Thomas and Sarah Gudsell

photographed by Grand & Dunlop, Christchurch

Thomas and Sarah Gudsell
photographed by Eden George Co Ltd.

Thomas Gudsell
by an unknown photographer


Thomas Gudsell


Thomas Gudsell with his daughter-in-law Ruth Gudsell nee Bird (1877-1957) and grand-daughter Lulu Eva Gudsell (1904-1977).


Thomas Gudsell photographed about 1911 with his son Robert Gudsell (1863-1954), grandson William Alexander Gudsell (1889-1962) and great grandson William James Gudsell (1910-1995).


Thomas Gudsell


Thomas Gudsell

The Prince Alfred

June 30, s.s. Prince Alfred, 704 tons, Bowden, from Melbourne.
Chief cabin passengers — Captain Mundle, Messrs. Wood (2), Richardson, Tayler, Wilson, Howsan, Chittenden, Leslie, Burgess, and Rothwell.
Second cabin — Mrs. Thomson, Miss Frazer, Messrs. Stott, Lyons, Butler, Aldgate, Scott, J., T., and W. Jones, Smith, Collier, Pattison, Rowe, Stephens, T. and P. Brown, Newman, Thomson, W. Stott, Bonner, Hollingworth, Duggen, Boyd, Godsell (sic), Jeffrys, Owlsley, Swinden, Sunty, Anderson, Burns, Phillips, Hunraham, McMahon, Palmer, Brooks, and Bishop.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XVI, Issue 902, 3 July 1861, Page 4

The s.s. Prince Alfred, Captain Bowden, left Dunedin on the 5th June and the Bluff on the following day. Arrived in Melbourne on the 14th, after a boisterous passage, in which she lost her mizen-mast, and was detained two days in fitting a new one. Left Melbourne on the 20th, arrived at the Bluff on the 26th, where she landed 1015 sheep, having lost only six on the passage. Left the Bluff the same day, arrived at Dunedin on the 27th, and landed 175 tons of cargo. Left again on the 29th at 7 a.m. and arrived in Lyttelton on the 30th at 11 a.m. She brings Mr. Richardson, the contractor, about twenty-five " navvies," and a quantity of material for the railway works.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XVI, Issue 902, 3 July 1861, Page 4

Within the last few days Messrs. Geo. Holmes and Co., the railway contractors, represented by Mr. Richardson, one of the firm, have come down from Melbourne with a large plant and a staff of 35 skilled miners, to commence active operations upon the tunnel. They have already set to work, first making their preaprations for commencing the undertaking in the right way.

By Monday week they expect to be ready for attacking the tunnel face at both ends, and the Wednesday following, the 17th inst., is fixed for the ceremony of turning the first sod. The design is to commence from the ends and work inwards, straight forward, the shafts which have been sunk not being brought into use for working purposes.

Messrs. Holmes and Co. state their anxiety to avoid interference with the labour market. Their rates of pay are, for labourers, 7s. for ten hours; for miners 8s. for eight hours. They will require about 150 men in all, and will engage with as many good men as offer, up to the number, within the colony, at the rate specified, but are secure of a full supply from Melbourne in case of difficulty.

The same rule, they state, will apply to all materials required and work to be done.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XVI, Issue 903, 6 July 1861, Page 4

A Crimean Veteran:
The Late Mr John (sic) Gudsell, of Christchurch.

One of the few remaining Crimean veterans died in Christchurch last week, in the person of Mr Thomas Gudsell, who was in his 92nd year. As a young man he went to the Crimea and served in the commissariat for one year and ten months, returning to England by the last transport from the Crimea. He was later one of the miners engaged in the construction of the Lyttelton tunnel.

He leaves a family of one daughter (Mrs Hight) and five sons - Mr Thomas Gudsell, Timaru; Mr Robert Gudsell, St Albans; Mr. George Gudsell, Maheno, Otago; Mr Harry Gudsell, Riccarton; and Mr James Gudsell, Auckland.

Mr Gudsell's other descendants number 26 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren.

Mr Gudsell did not take an active part in public affairs, but was, many years ago, a member of the Weedons School Committee.

(from unknown newspaper)