Thomas Hamilton Ayliffe facts for kids

Thomas Hamilton Ayliffe (born 1774, died 1852) was a doctor whose family were among the first European settlers in South Australia. You might recognize his name from places like Ayliffe's Crossing and Ayliffe Hill, which are named after his family.

Early Life and Family History

Thomas Hamilton Ayliffe was born in 1774 into a wealthy family. When he was about 12 years old, he became an orphan. He and his brother and two sisters were looked after by George O'Brian Wyndham, the Earl of Egremont. The Earl was also in charge of their father's will. During this time, their family name was changed to "Ilive" for a while.

Thomas's oldest sister, Elizabeth, had several children with the Earl. Their oldest son, George Wyndham, later became a Colonel and then Lord Leconfield. Thomas was sent to St John's College, Cambridge to study medicine.

Marriage and Challenges

In 1796, before finishing his studies, Thomas married Hester Jinks. She was two years older than him and from a less prominent family. The Earl did not approve of this marriage. Because of this, Thomas was removed from the university and cut out of his father's will. The will allowed the Earl to do this until Thomas turned 28.

Despite these challenges, Thomas managed to complete his university degree in 1800. It's not entirely clear what medical qualifications he officially had, but he was known as a "surgeon" and taught medicine to his sons.

Move to South Australia

After the Earl of Egremont passed away in 1837, Colonel George Wyndham, who inherited most of the Earl's wealth, gave Thomas Ayliffe a large sum of money. This money was used to buy land in South Australia. The land included about 160 acres near Sturt Creek in the Adelaide foothills, some 600 or 700 acres near Clare, and a large area on Yorke Peninsula. Thomas was required to settle on this property.

Thomas and Hester, along with their three sons and their families, sailed to South Australia on a ship called the Pestonjee Bomanjee. They arrived in October 1838. Governor Gawler, who was on the same ship, became a friend of the family. They first camped at Glenelg. Among their staff was Henry Ayers, who later became a very important person in South Australia. The Ayliffes also brought livestock, including horses.

They settled on their land in the foothills, which they called "Wyndham Farm". They first lived in a pre-made wooden house, and a larger house was built soon after.

Thomas lived at "Wyndham Farm" and opened a medical practice with his sons George and Henry. After George passed away in 1844, the practice continued as T.H. & H. Ayliffe. Thomas died peacefully in 1852.

Key Family Members in Australia

Many members of the Ayliffe family played a part in the early European settlement of South Australia. Here are some of the most notable:

George Hamilton Ayliffe (1810–1844)

George Hamilton Ayliffe, Thomas's son, also arrived in South Australia on the Pestonjee Bomanjee in 1838 with his wife, Elizabeth. They lived in "Belle Vue" cottage in St Marys. George was friends with Sir Dominick Daly, who was a governor. George became the Registrar of Births, Deaths, and Marriages in 1889. He died after a long illness. His wife Elizabeth never remarried and raised their children with help from her late husband's cousin, Lord Leconfield.

Their children, including Thomas Hamilton Ayliffe (1834–1900), Ettie Bode (c. 1836–1920), Cecelia Hill (1838–1915), George Hamilton Ayliffe (1840–1906), and William H. Ayliffe (1844–1928), all lived long and active lives.

Thomas Hamilton Ayliffe (1834–1900)

This Thomas Hamilton Ayliffe was George's son. He was four years old when his family moved to South Australia. At 18, he joined the gold rush in Victoria and sent gold back to his mother. He became a wealthy contractor, working on major government projects like the Bay Road, the South Road, and bridges. He also owned a valuable quarry. Later, he lost a lot of money in cattle business. He then went to New Zealand and the Northern Territory for gold mining. He worked as an auctioneer in Adelaide before returning to gold mining in Western Australia, where he passed away.

Elizabeth Esther "Ettie" Ayliffe (c. 1836–1920)

Ettie Ayliffe was born in Exeter, England, and moved to South Australia when she was two. She became a teacher. She married Joseph Adolphus Bode in 1877 and lived near Strathalbyn. Ettie was a talented writer and published many poems in newspapers. She also wrote poetry collections like The Islander and Lubra, and several novels that were published in parts in South Australian newspapers, including Old Love Letters and The Flaw in the Diamond.

Cecelia Hamilton Wyndham Ayliffe (1838–1915)

Cecelia was born on the ship Pestonjee Bomanjee during the journey to Australia. She married journalist Thomas Padmore "T. P." Hill in 1859. Cecelia wrote a novel called Checkmated. She traveled quite a bit, including trips to New Zealand and San Francisco. She passed away in England in 1915.

Thomas Hamilton Ayliffe (c. 1812–1895)

This Thomas Hamilton Ayliffe was another son of the original Dr. Thomas Hamilton Ayliffe. Although he was listed as a passenger on the Pestonjee Bomanjee, he actually arrived in South Australia later. One story says his ship was wrecked off New Zealand, and he lived with the Māori people for a year before escaping. He worked as a ship's carpenter and was very knowledgeable about history. Unlike his brothers, he didn't practice medicine. He married Jane Bell in 1845 and settled in the Sturt district before moving to the Stockport–Hamley Bridge area, where he lived for 35 years. He was involved in local government and was a pioneer in fruit-growing.

Dr. Henry Ayliffe (1818–1890)

Henry Ayliffe, another son of the original Dr. Thomas Hamilton Ayliffe, studied medicine in London with his father. He came to South Australia on the Pestonjee Bomanjee in 1838. He started his medical practice in Adelaide. He later returned to England for more medical training and qualifications. When he came back to Adelaide in 1853, his ship, the Anne Milne, was wrecked off Portland, Victoria, but he was safe. He continued his practice in Adelaide before moving to Angaston, where he became the Government medical officer for the poor.