barrych
13-11-2004, 7:20 AM
This is my first post to the forum.
I am interested in getting some background on my great grandfather George William? Challenger, b 6/1/1833 Brinsop Heref; m Amelia Mortimer 7/8/1853 Alderney, Channel Is; d 1/8/1876 London. George was the son of a farmer: John Challenger b 24/10/1802, Burghill, Heref, d 23/3/1848, Tillington, Heref. John was also the son of a farmer: Thomas Challenger b abt 1760, d 5/4/1838, Brinsop, Heref.
George apparently broke the farming mould. He learned (where?) railway construction, married in the Channel Is (what was he doing there?). I have a copy of a safe passage letter dated 1861 for he/wife/child and several other families to travel to Portugal, signed by Earl Russell (who before and after 1861 was British PM). He then went to Monte Video, Uruguay where he was listed as "railway contractor" on my grandfather's baptism cert. He left sailing equipment and a will in Spanish in Callao, Peru in 1875, sold his house in Lima for 900 pounds, returned to England (London) and died of TB a year later. His wife and 6 children sailed for Rockhampton, Qld, arriving 5/2/1879.
I was wondering what was happening in the vicinity of Brinsop Herefordshire in about 1850. Were there railways being built there? By whom? Are there any records that might indicate what he did? I also wonder what would have taken such a person off to Alderney a few years later. I doubt they would have had a railway there. Some other civil engineering project perhaps?
An email from a rail enthusiast in MonteVideo indicates that the first Uruguan railway was being constructed there in about 1865 when George went there.
Seeking enlightenment,
Barry Challenger
Melbourne
I am interested in getting some background on my great grandfather George William? Challenger, b 6/1/1833 Brinsop Heref; m Amelia Mortimer 7/8/1853 Alderney, Channel Is; d 1/8/1876 London. George was the son of a farmer: John Challenger b 24/10/1802, Burghill, Heref, d 23/3/1848, Tillington, Heref. John was also the son of a farmer: Thomas Challenger b abt 1760, d 5/4/1838, Brinsop, Heref.
George apparently broke the farming mould. He learned (where?) railway construction, married in the Channel Is (what was he doing there?). I have a copy of a safe passage letter dated 1861 for he/wife/child and several other families to travel to Portugal, signed by Earl Russell (who before and after 1861 was British PM). He then went to Monte Video, Uruguay where he was listed as "railway contractor" on my grandfather's baptism cert. He left sailing equipment and a will in Spanish in Callao, Peru in 1875, sold his house in Lima for 900 pounds, returned to England (London) and died of TB a year later. His wife and 6 children sailed for Rockhampton, Qld, arriving 5/2/1879.
I was wondering what was happening in the vicinity of Brinsop Herefordshire in about 1850. Were there railways being built there? By whom? Are there any records that might indicate what he did? I also wonder what would have taken such a person off to Alderney a few years later. I doubt they would have had a railway there. Some other civil engineering project perhaps?
An email from a rail enthusiast in MonteVideo indicates that the first Uruguan railway was being constructed there in about 1865 when George went there.
Seeking enlightenment,
Barry Challenger
Melbourne