Janet was born on 10th Dec 1830in Auchtertol Fife in Scotland
Her Father was James Grieves (1802-1879)in 1851 Census -James is listed as a Hand Loom Weaver - this would possible allow him to work at home so he could care for his Girls
Her mother Elizabeth Elspeth Leach/Leitch (1803-1851) in Fife
Janet was a Presbyterian and according to her information on her Passenger entry when she sailed for Australia she could both Read & Write
In 1854 Janet sailed on the "Athleta" from Birkenhead U.K. on Nov 23rd 1854 Arriving in Portland Bay Victoria Australia on 19th February 1855- where she was indentured to a Mrs. Heatley of Belfast (now Port Fairy) Victoria Australia for a term of 3months as a domestic servant for 20pounds.
Janet had left her widowed father and 3 siblings - Elizabeth (1836-1919) William possible a twin to Elizabeth (1836-1915) and Agnes (1839-1923) home in Scotland
In 1855 Janet married George Swanston on 7th December in Belfast (now Port Fairy) in Victoria Australia, at the time of their marriage George was a Seaman. after their marriage George became a Boatman for Belfast (Port Fairy) Harbour the crew were known as "Mills Men" they manned the Rescue Boat. Then in 1861 Janet and the family moved to Middle Island off Warrnambool when George became a Assistant Lighthouse Keeper until 1864 when they returning to Belfast (Port Fairy) in 1867 Janet became a widow . her children were:_
Eliza (1856-1936) -my husbands Great Grandmother
John (1858-1889) James (1859 -1914) George (1861- 1896) William Alexander (1863-1927) Mary Ann (1864- ) Randolph Watton (1866 - 1867) Little Randolph sadly died the day after his father George.
Leaving Janet with 6 children between 11yrs & 3yrs of age. later we find that Janet has another daughter in 1870 but no father was named Little Agnes dies in 1871 just under 1year old. In later life we see Janet has moved to South Melbourne where she rents until her death at just 67years of age
Like many women of the 1800s Janet had a hard life but also must have been a strong person to travel the High Seas to an unknown world of Australia without family.
Her Father was James Grieves (1802-1879)in 1851 Census -James is listed as a Hand Loom Weaver - this would possible allow him to work at home so he could care for his Girls
Her mother Elizabeth Elspeth Leach/Leitch (1803-1851) in Fife
Janet was a Presbyterian and according to her information on her Passenger entry when she sailed for Australia she could both Read & Write
In 1854 Janet sailed on the "Athleta" from Birkenhead U.K. on Nov 23rd 1854 Arriving in Portland Bay Victoria Australia on 19th February 1855- where she was indentured to a Mrs. Heatley of Belfast (now Port Fairy) Victoria Australia for a term of 3months as a domestic servant for 20pounds.
Janet had left her widowed father and 3 siblings - Elizabeth (1836-1919) William possible a twin to Elizabeth (1836-1915) and Agnes (1839-1923) home in Scotland
In 1855 Janet married George Swanston on 7th December in Belfast (now Port Fairy) in Victoria Australia, at the time of their marriage George was a Seaman. after their marriage George became a Boatman for Belfast (Port Fairy) Harbour the crew were known as "Mills Men" they manned the Rescue Boat. Then in 1861 Janet and the family moved to Middle Island off Warrnambool when George became a Assistant Lighthouse Keeper until 1864 when they returning to Belfast (Port Fairy) in 1867 Janet became a widow . her children were:_
Eliza (1856-1936) -my husbands Great Grandmother
John (1858-1889) James (1859 -1914) George (1861- 1896) William Alexander (1863-1927) Mary Ann (1864- ) Randolph Watton (1866 - 1867) Little Randolph sadly died the day after his father George.
Leaving Janet with 6 children between 11yrs & 3yrs of age. later we find that Janet has another daughter in 1870 but no father was named Little Agnes dies in 1871 just under 1year old. In later life we see Janet has moved to South Melbourne where she rents until her death at just 67years of age
Like many women of the 1800s Janet had a hard life but also must have been a strong person to travel the High Seas to an unknown world of Australia without family.
