The "Christmas" Family

CHRISTMAS FAMILY

I thought it most unusual that anyone could be called Mary Christmas other than by accident and, to a degree, I was right.  Most of the female children born into my CHRISTMAS family were given names other than Mary.  (Could it be that they were not very adventurous, or did they foresee what stories could be told in the future?).

My great-great-grandmother was born Mary Christmas on 8 March, 1840, at Battle in Sussex, England.  Her father, Trayton, had married a Mary Ann Sargent in 1833 and of their 14 children, Mary was the eldest of five girls.

The family lived on the Great Beech farm at Battle.  Young Mary married William Cramp, also from Battle, when she was 23 years old.  William, a plasterer by trade, emigrated with Mary and four children to Australia in November, 1887.

Mary's younger brother, George Frederick (or Fred as he was known) Christmas married a Mary Baker in 1874.  They had four children, including three girls, none of whom were named Mary.  This family emigrated to Australia in 1888.

In my research into the Christmas line which goes back to the early 1860's, I have only found three Mary Christmas births and four Marys who married into the Christmas family.

One Mary Christmas that I did find intriguing was Mary Cowcheral Christmas sentenced on 24 October, 1787, in Middlesex, England to seven years transportation to Australia (ref PRO-V0682 AO-0151).     She arrived in the Second Fleet on the Lady Juliana and was sent to Norfolk Island, arriving there on 7 August, 1790.   Here she gave birth to a daughter on 22 December, 1799 who was christened Mary Christmas.  Mary married the child's father Thomas Russel Crowder (alias Rysdale) three days before Christmas that same year.

[Note: Thomas Crowder marriage (1) to Sarah on 7 June, 1788 St Phillips Sydney].

Mary was sent from Norfolk Island to Hobart, Tasmania on Christmas Day 1807, aboard the 'Porpoise'(2).  I have no knowledge of what happened to Mary after she arrived in Hobart, nor have I been able to trace her daughter, Mary.  I often wonder if she survived infancy.

All I can do is keep searching and maybe one day all my CHRISTMAS' will come together and I can then wish them all -    *** MERRY XMAS ***

[1]

[2]

Children of Trayton Christmas and Mary Ann (Sargent)

Mary Christmas and William Cramp

Mary Christmas born 8 March, 1840 (ref 13 Battle UK) at Battle SSX married 28 March, 1863 to William Cramp (refer CRAMP W).

Mary was the fifth child of Trayton Chris(t)mas  a tenant farmer on the Ashburnham Estate, (born 27 September, 1807 and married 22 September, 1833 at Ticehurst SSX Mary Ann Sargent born c1816).  They lived at Great Beech Farm in Battle SSX and Trayton died in 1851 aged 43.

Another child of Trayton and Mary was George Frederick born c1852 f 26/2/1948 Marrickville NSW probate #340064 married 23/5/1874 Hastings SSX Mary Baker born c1851 d 4/3/1942.

Trayton Christmas

Trayton Christmas was the second child of James Chris(t)mas born c 1789 and married 25 May, 1805 at Warbleton by licence to Sarah Waters.

James Christmas

James Chris(t)mas was the twelfth child of Thomas Chris(t)mas born 16 March, 1739 at Mountfield SSX died 4 April, 1805 and Hannah Cruttenden married 24 June, 1761.

Thomas Christmas

Thomas was the fifth child of Robert Chris(t)mas born 24 November, 1702 died 5 December, 1765, married 4 May, 1731 Mountfield SSX to Susanna Chrisford died 2 September, 1789.

Robert Christmas

Robert was the 2nd child of Thomas Chris(t)mas born c 1660 died/ buried 30 September, 1732 at Mountfield SSX married Mary (surname unknown)  died/buried 26 November, 1726, Mountfield SSX (possible marriage Mary WOODGATE 22/9/1684 East Grinstead).

Thomas and Mary had four children altogether - Elizabeth b c1700, Robert, Nicholas b c1706 and Sarah b c1708.

Children of George Frederick Christmas and Mary (Baker).

Charles Herbert Christmas and Eva Grace Lee

Charles Herbert Christmas BA born 6 September, 1880 (ref 70 Hastings UK) at 11 Sea View Terrace St Leonards (St Mary in the Castle Church St Leonards) Hastings SSX married 22 April, 1903 Eva Grace Lee born (date unknown) died 10 March, 1952 probate #388424 at Ashfield NSW.

Charles was the fourth child of George Frederick Christmas a carpenter born c 1852 bp 1855 died 26 February, 1948 at Marrickville NSW married 23 May, 1874 Hastings SSX to Mary (Baker) born c1851 died 4 March, 1942 Marrickville NSW.

He was appointed to service 23 July, 1896 then became Deputy Head Master Technical High School Grade A6 on 28 January, 1913 with a salary of ^375 pounds.  He was then appointed to teaching staff Assistant Lecturer in Mathematics on 4 February, 1913 with an additional salary of ^0:15:0 weekly.

Reference Public Service List 1915-1917 (1916 p172-174).

Charles Herbert died 8 January, 1969 probate #666204 at Ashfield NSW.

George Frederick was the fourteenth child of the union of Trayton Christmas and Mary Ann (Sargent).

---

[1] [Article published in "Timespan" a Journal of the Nepean Family History Society Inc (NSW) No 37 Dec 1989]

[2] General Muster NSW Norfolk Island Vol 1811 (Mary Christmas Ref 1049 Hbt Cnvt F name Mary Crowder.

Muster 1805-1806 Norfolk Island; Mary Christmas D0779, Child of all descriptions & S, D0553 Norfolk Island Muster 1805, Womas from sentence, Stores Off.