Person:Amelia Ludkin (1)

Amelia Elizabeth LUDKIN was born in Tharston, Norfolk, England on 10 November 1882 to James LUDKIN and Anna Jane WOMACK. She was the eldest of 5 children, the others being William and Rose who were born in England and Alice and Arthur who were born in Rockhampton.

Amelia arrived in Rockhampton aboard the "Waroonga" as an emmigrant on 21st July 1888 at the age of 5 yrs old. The "Waroonga" sailed from London 29th May 1888. She was a 1600 ton ship. Her surgeon aboard was Dr Jas GOODALLand the Captain was TEMPLETON.

On the 29 May 1900 Violet Amelia LUDKIN was born at Ipswich Queensland and Arthur LUDKIN on 14th June 1901. Arthur died 6 months later on 18-12-1901. The father of these two children is registered as "unknown", but it is thought that the father may have been Lawrence Henry HART.

On the 10th of April 1902 at Blackstone Queensland, she married Robert Woodward PORTER from Sussex, England. Blackstone is a mining area of Ipswich but the name was not derived from coal. It was Mrs James ORR who suggested Blackstone for her birthplace in Ireland. It was not a popular choice but eventually the name was accepted by the authorities.

Robert PORTER was 26 and a baker by occupation. In 1905, Mercia Ruby was born in Sydney where Amelia was now living with Lawrence Henry HART at 35 Foveaux St. He was a commercial traveller. Stella Victoria was born to this couple in 1907 in Victoria, where they appear to have been living at 367 Rathdown St.

On 30 December 1913, Thelma Rose was born in Rockhampton, but Lawrence still lived in Melbourne. This couple never appeared to have married.

Amelia then moved to New Zealand around 1916/17 where we have discovered that she lived in Lorne St for a time. It is thought that after there she went to Onehunga and ran a boarding house, before going to the North Shore. It has now been found that she married Anders ANDERSON in 1915. On her marriage certificate it states she is able to do this as she had not heard from her husband for thirteen years. It is still to be found as to whether this marriage was dissolved or if Anders died but I think that he must have died as she married her next husband classed as a widow. She also married Anders under her maiden name of LUDKIN.

Amelia next married a Leonard Augustus MOUSLEY on Wednesday, 29 May 1918 at the age of 34 while in Lorne St. He was 29 and his profession was a cheesemaker. It seems he was a soldier stationed in Auckland although his regular address was Palmerston North. Amelia was a widow by this time with Robert PORTER dying in 1916. The Mousley marriage was dissolved in Auckland on the 25 November 1935. On her divorce papers it was stated that Amelia and Leonard divorced because of adultery. It was stated that Amelia committed adultery for the month of July 1929 and on other occassions from the year 1929 with one Louis CANNING at Devonport and other places. Louis CANNING was ordered to pay all costs. Divorce papers were presented 13th July 1932. After sometime in Auckland she married Louis CANNING who was a N.Z. Army N.C.O. and lived at Hopa Hopa Camp in Ngarawahia and later retired to live at 34 Galileo St, Ngarawahia.

Amelia died in Greenlane Hospital on 18th September 1966 of Pulmonary Embolism, Deep Vein Thrombosis left calf and left Femoral Atery Thrombosis.

A small memory that one of her grandsons have is that there was a large family bible in the lounge and she turned over a page each day. She was also a very strict lady and very small and short in stature.

Amelia has a Will which is in the Hamilton Court, Probate Number BCDG4421 632/66. This Will was proved 05 October 1966.