Shep's Place Family Tree

Sarah and Thomas Champion met probably in London where both were born, and they married in London in 1861. Apparently Thomas found work away from London because in the 1871 census he worked as a surveyor in Ely, Cambridgeshire--possibly a temporary assignment because Sarah and the children were living in London. Thomas was lodging at the Angel Hotel on Bridge Street in Ely.

The occupations of others in Thomas' area in Ely were railway porter, bookbinder, dress maker, boat wright, laundress, publican, ostler, housemaid and cook.

From the birthplaces of their children we see that Sarah and Thomas moved frequently. Between 1862 and 1871 the family had lived in Essendon, Hertfordshire; London, Borough; Northamptonshire; and London, Hornsey. Only their youngest child, George was born in South Australia.

Thomas and Sarah came to South Australia aboard the "Hesperus" in 1878. If all of their children came with them, then they boarded the ship with five children ranging in age from 16 to two with Harry being the youngest.

Thomas was a builder and architect who lived in Adelaide and Nairne, South Australia. His religion was Church of England.