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Orphan Number: 82
Orphan: John Mercer ANGUS
Mother:ANGUS, Euphemia
Father:,
Mother's ship:
Father's ship:
Age when admitted:12yrs
Date admitted:Mar 1852
Date discharged:
Institution(s):Queens Orphan School
Discharged to:
Remarks: father dead at Port Phillip - unsure whether admitted to Queens Orphan School
References: CSO24/190/6998


This orphan has been claimed by: Kay Clarke

John (Orphan Number 82) was born on the 29th of September 1838. "Birth Registration: Father Andrew Angus; Mother Euphemia Angus; Birthplace Tasmania; Registration year l842', Registration Place Hobart; Number 1771" (Births Name Indexes 1088607 Image 81) "Baptism Record: When Baptised 14th December 1842; When Born 29th September 1838; Child's Christian Name John; Parents' names Andrew and Euphemia Angus; Abode Hobart town; Quality or Profession Dealer." (Baptisms solemnized in the Parish of Hobart Town in the Parish of St. Davids in the County of Buckingham in the Year 1842 Page 95).

John's parents married in the Parish of Melrose Scotland on 9th August 1838. They arrived in Hobart on the 15th December 1838 on the North Briton: Passengers included; A.F. Angus, Mrs Angus and child - so John was born during the voyage. The father Andrew Fleming Angus was a wine merchant, brewer, dealer and publican. He deserted his family and three sons and died in Melbourne in 1850 aged 30 years. John and the other two boys, Andrew Fleming and James Simpson were admitted to the Orphan School in 1852. Their mother was committed to the New Norfolk Asylum in 1857 where she died that same year and was buried in a pauper's grave.

John is registered on the Orphan School list as John Mercer but was registered on his birth and baptism records as John. It is not known whether John was actually admitted to the Orphan School. There is no record of his discharge. His real age was 14 years, not 12 years as recorded in the School records, so it is possible he was not admitted for that reason.

John's brother Andrew Fleming Angus (Orphan Number 76) was discharged to his mother. on the 17th of April 1852. Remarks: Father died at Port Phillip. Mother Free. He had only spent one month in the Orphan School and so was still 6 years old when he was released.

James Simpson Angus (Orphan Number 81) the youngest of the 3 brothers was discharged to his brother John on the 19th of March 1857. Remarks: Discharged to brother; father dead at Port Phillip. He had spent 5 years in the Orphan school from the age of 4 years so he was 9 years old on discharge.

By 1857, the year James was discharged from the Orphan school to his brother John, the boy's mother had been committed to the New Norfolk Lunatic Asylum.

There is no information to be found about John Angus after the time of the discharge of his brother James Simpson Angus in March 1857. It is thought that he remained single. John's death place and date are unknown.

Sources: Birth registration - Births Name Index; Baptism record; Orphan School record; Tasmanian newspapers - Trove; Linc Tasmania; Family History.



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 Site last updated June 2021