Rowney Family Tree

John is thought to have been born around 1844 in Bedfordshire, England. The timing of his birth and the death of his mother may suggest that his mother may have died due to complications during childbirth.

Around two years later, in 1847, John's father married again, to Edith ROWNEY, from Sharnbrook, in Bedfordshire

In 1849, John sailed from England with his father and step-mother aboard the "Ascendant". They arrived as migrants in the Colony of South Australia on 21 Nov 1849. Depending on his birth date, John may have been either 10 years old, or around 5 years old at that time. After their arrival the CLAYTON family appear to have lived for a time around Torrens (SA), in the area between North Adelaide (SA) and Port Adelaide (SA). Around 1852 they moved out of the city into the foothills of the North Mount Lofty Ranges, where they settled around Darley (SA) and later, Campbelltown (SA). John's step-mother, Edith, had a couple of brothers, Thomas and William ROWNEY, who were living around that area at that time.

In June 1864, John was married to a girl named Jane TRENNEAR at the Wesleyan Parsonage in Pirie Street, Adelaide (SA). Jane was believed to have been 16 years old, and John gave his age as 20 years.

John and Jane settled at Campbelltown and their first child, Emma Jane, was born there a few months after their marriage, in October 1864. Unfortunately, Emma Jane lived for only 4 months, dying in early 1865. John and Jane's second child, John (jr), was born in 1867. He was also born at Campbelltown.

In 1871, their third child, Charles, was born nearby at Darley. However, he too died at just 4 months old. The family was living at Darley by this time. Another daughter, Fanny Jane, was born at Darley in 1873. The hard times for John and Jane continued, as Fanny Jane also passed away at a young age. She died in 1875 when she was just 1 year and 8 months old. The following year, in 1876, baby Ellen was born. The CLAYTON family were still living at Darley Village at that time, however they must have moved back to Campbelltown soon after, as their next child, Thomas, was born at Campbelltown in 1880. John was employed as a labourer during this period.

In June 1882, the family was struck another cruel blow when Jane herself died in Paradise (SA), only a short distance from Campbelltown. Jane's age was recorded at just 30 years at the time of her death, but that would mean that she was even younger than was supposed at the time of her marriage, perhaps there was an error when she died, or maybe her age was also altered for the sake of appearances when she married. It is also quite possible that the CLAYTON family just did not overly concern themselves with the accuracy of dates and ages.

When Jane died, John's family would probably have consisted of three children; John (aged 14), Ellen (aged 6), and baby Thomas (19 months). He may have had difficulty taking care of the children alone, as only six months after Jane's death, in January 1883, he married again. His second wife was Jane ROWNEY, the daughter of his step-mother's brother, William ROWNEY. Jane was 25 years old and had previously given birth to an illegitimate daughter, Emma, in 1879. The father was not recorded. Emma would have been about 3 years old when Jane and John married. Jane may have helped John with his children after his wife's death, and the relationship developed from there. John gave his age as 37 years at the time of their marriage. They were married at the home of Jane's father in Glynde (SA), near Campbelltown.

John and Jane's first child together was Frederick, who was born at Campbelltown in 1885. Their next two children, Bessie and Sydney, were born at Gilles Plains (SA), in 1888 and 1893 respectively. Sydney lived for only a few months, dying in the same year he was born. His death registration indicates that the family was living at Gilles Plains at that time. Gilles Plains is just a few miles north of Campbelltown. Their last child, Hilda, was born back in Campbelltown itself, in 1895.

In 1896, Jane's daughter, Emma, died when she was just 16 years of age.

John and Jane appear to have lived out their days around Campbelltown. A number of the CLAYTON children also seem to have settled in the nearby area.

Jane died in 1919 at the age of 61.

John died a little over a year later, in 1920. He would have been around 75 years old. He was buried in the cemetery at Payneham (SA), a short distance from Campbelltown.