Sacketts in Australia—The Early Years

Sacketts in Australia—The Early Years

by Sheila Phythian

The earliest record of a Sackett in Australia is that of Thomas Baker Sackett (Thomas, Henry, Thomas, Thomas, unknown) who was born in Essex about 1796. He was convicted at the Old Bailey on 13 September 1827 and sent to Australia as a convict sailing from England on 4 March 1828. He died in 1837 in NSW (New South Wales) aged 41.

George William Sackett

(Henry, Edward, Jeremiah, John, Henry, Thomas, Thomas, John, attributed to George, Thomas) son of Henry Sackett and Mary Ann Elizabeth Allen was born in Ramsgate, Kent, England on 4 June 1865.
He married Eliza Shaxson in Queensland in 1889.
In the 1903 and 1905 electoral rolls he is registered as living at Petty Street, Cilmerton Qld and working as a sign writer.
George returned to England for a visit sometime in the first decade of the 20th century.
He sailed again for Australia on board Ophir arriving in August 1911. He brought his younger brother Alexander Allen Sackett with him at this time.
In the 1913 electoral roll he is registered as living at Kingsholme Street, Fortitude Valley, Qld and working as a decorator. In the 1919 electoral roll he is registered as living at Ripley Farm, North Road, Brighton, Qld and working as a farmer. The farm belonged to his son Henry who at the time was serving with the AIF (Australian Imperial Forces) fighting in Europe. In 1925 he is registered as living at McLean Street, Coolangatta, Qld and working as a sign writer.
He died in August 1933 and was buried in the Toowong Cemetery.

The children of George William and Eliza Sackett

1. Marion Isabelle Sackett was born in Queensland in 1889.
She married Henry William Butterworth in 1912. Henry is the son of Frederick William Butterworth and Miranda Melton and was born at Spring Hill, Brisbane, Qld in 1889.
Marion gave birth to a son Henry William Butterworth jnr in 1913.
Henry William snr enlisted with the AIF on 19 June 1916 with the rank of Private. He gave his address as Kangaroo Point, Brisbane and his occupation as accountant. He had previously served in the cadets, the Queensland rifles and the Artillery as well as the Citizens Military Forces. He joined the 42nd Battalion, 4th Reinforcement and embarked from Brisbane on board HMAT A36 Boonah on 21 October 1916. He was promoted to Corporal and was killed in action at Villers-Bretonneux, France on 17 April 1918 aged 28. He is buried at Bonny Communal Cemetery in France.
Marion and her son went home to live with her parents.
She married (2) Frederick William Spencer in 1928.Frederick William was born in 1895, the son of Frederick William Spencer and Catherine Hume Lithgow Paterson. In the 1919 and 1925 electoral rolls he is registered as living at Sunnybank, Logan, Qld and working as a farmer.

2. Henry Allen Sackett was born in Queensland in 1892.
In the 1913 electoral roll he is registered as living at Ripley Farm, North Road, Brighton, Qld and working as a farmer.
He left the farm with his parents and enlisted with the AIF on 25 October 1916 with the rank of Private. He joined the 41st Battalion, 6th Reinforcement and embarked from Sydney, NSW on board HMAT A64 Demosthenes on 23 December 1916. His unit was a Machine Gun Corps Details. He returned to Australia on 19 February 1919.
In the 1919 electoral roll he is registered as living again at Ripley Farm and working as a farmer.
He married Martha Caroline Reid in 1919.
In the 1925 and 1936 electoral rolls Henry Allen is registered as living at Holme Street, Brighton, Qld and working as a farmer.

3. George Shaxson Sackett was born in Queensland in 1898.
He died in 1900.

4. Eric William Sackett was born in Queensland in 1901. He married May Isabella Weber in 1924. May Isabella was born in 1900, the daughter of William Weber and Maria Helena Wunsch.
Eric William is registered in the 1925 electoral roll as living at Ripley Farm, Brighton, Qld with his brother Henry Allen and working as a farmer.
He had a son, Alan Sackett who died in 1925.
Eric William died in 1927.
May Isabella is registered in the 1936 electoral roll as living at Broughton Road, Kedron, Qld.

Alexander Allen Sackett (Allen Alexander Sackett)

(Henry, Edward, Jeremiah, John, Henry, Thomas, Thomas, John, attributed to George, Thomas) son of Henry Sackett and Mary Ann Elizabeth Allen was born in Ramsgate, Kent, England on 11 November 1881.
He arrived in Victoria on board the Ophir in August 1911.
He is registered in the 1913 electoral roll as living at the YMCA, Edward Street, Brisbane North, Qld and working as a commercial traveller. There is no further information in the electoral rolls or the BMD regarding him.
The Sackett Family website gives his death in 1947.

Richard Edward Sackett

(Henry, Edward, Jeremiah, John, Henry, Thomas, Thomas, John, attributed to George, Thomas) son of Henry Sackett and Mary Ann Elizabeth Allen was born in Ramsgate, Kent, England in June 1868.
He enlisted from NSW on 10 November 1914 giving his age as 44. He held the rank of Private and gave his occupation as decorator. There is no record of his return to Australia. However …
He is registered in the 1930 electoral roll as living at the Lidcombe State Hospital, Homebush, West Sydney, NSW and working as a decorator.
He died at Manly, NSW in 1933 aged 66.

George William Sackett, Alexander Allen Sackett and Richard Edward Sackett were brothers.

George File Sackett

(Jeremiah, Benjamin, Benjamin, Jeremiah, Henry, Thomas, Thomas, John attributed to George, Thomas) son of Jeremiah Sackett and Sarah File was born in Barham, Kent, England in 1863. He arrived in Victoria, on board the Cuzco in March 1886 and disembarked in Sydney, NSW on 12 March 1886. He sailed in the 3rd class and steerage section of the ship.
He married Arabella Leans later in 1886 at Albury, NSW. Arabella is the daughter of Arabella Leans. Her father's name is not given on her death registration.
George died at Young, NSW in 1927 and Arabella died at West Wallsend, NSW in 1955.

The children of George File and Arabella Sackett:

1. George Alfred Sackett was born at Cootamundra, NSW in 1887.
He married Irene Victoria Bell at Dapto, NSW in 1918. Irene is the daughter of Robert Henry and Emily Bell.
In the 1930 and 1936 electoral rolls he is registered as living at Wallendbeen, Harden, NSW and working as a farmer.
George Alfred died at Blacktown, NSW in 1966 and Irene Victoria died at Balmforth, NSW in 1961.
George Alfred Sackett and Irene Victoria Bell had children:

i. Ruth Bell Sackett who married Victor Harold Law at Ryde in 1957. They in turn had children Stuart Law and John Victor Law.
ii. David George Sackett who married Gladys Helen Stubbs at Bowral in 1953. They in turn had children Elizabeth Helen Sackett, Peter David Sackett and Robert Andrew Sackett.

2. Walter Sackett was born at Cootamundra in 1889.
He enlisted in the AIF (Australian Imperial Forces) on 1 February 1916 as a Private, giving his occupation as a grocer. His unit, the 56th Battalion, 2nd Reinforcement, embarked from Sydney on HMAT A40 Ceramic on 14 April 1916. He served on the Western Front and was promoted to the rank of Corporal. He returned to Australia on 23 June 1919.
He married Grace Myrtle Croxon at Newtown, NSW in 1922. Grace is the daughter of Charles and Alice Croxon.
In the 1930 and 1936 electoral rolls he is registered as living at Wallendbeen, Harden, NSW and working as a storekeeper.
Walter died at Young, NSW in 1961 and Grace Myrtle died at Ryde, NSW in 1945.

3. Edwin Christopher Sackett was born at Cootamundra in 1891.
In the 1925 electoral roll he is registered as living at Kalkie, Bundaberg, Qld and working as a labourer. In 1936 he is still working as a labourer, but living at Shelter Shed, Mackay, Qld.

4. Bertha Priscilla Sackett was born at Cootamundra in 1893.
She married John Thomas Symons at Cootamundra in 1920. John Thomas, born at West Harton, Durham County, England is the son of John Symons, a coal miner, of Prospect House, Leadgate, Durham County. John Thomas Symons had served in the 20th Battalion, D Company in WW1. When he enlisted on 4 May 1915 he gave his occupation as grocer's assistant. He served as a Private throughout the war, leaving from Sydney on HMAT A35 Berrima on 26 June 1915 and returning on 9 March 1919. His unit is given as 1st Sanitary Section.
In the 1930 and 1936 electoral rolls Bertha is registered as living at 23 Handley Avenue, Thornleigh, Parramatta, NSW, with John Thomas working as newspaper eng.
Bertha died on 14 Jan 1993.

Bertha Priscilla Sackett and John Thomas Symon(d)s had a son Russell Garance Symon(d)s. He married Fay Mary Jones at Sydney in 1958.

5. Caleb Frank Sackett was born at Cootamundra in 1896.
He enlisted with the AIF on 21 February 1916. On enlistment he gave his occupation as farmer and living at Wallendbeen, NSW. He started as a Private in the 56th Battalion, 2nd Reinforcement embarking from Sydney on HMAT A40 Ceramic on 14 April 1916. He was promoted to the rank of Corporal, served on the Western Front and returned to Australia on 18 January 1919.
He married Minnie Morcom Nicholls at Bulli, NSW in 1922. Minnie is the daughter of Isaac Newton and Ada Jane Nicholls.
In the 1930 and 1936 electoral rolls Caleb is registered as living at Cowra Road, Young, NSW and working as an orchardist.
Minnie died at Young in 1947.
Caleb married (2) Queenie Ella B Nelson at Kempsey, NSW in 1954.
He died at Young in 1973.

Caleb Frank Sackett and Minnie Morcom Nicholls had children:

i. Joy Ada Sackett who married Charles Duff Robinson at Young in 1957. They in turn had children Alan, Ruth, Lynette, Ann, Peter and Stephen.
ii. Betty Morcom Sackett (1927–1981).
iii. Patricia Dora Sackett
iv. Faith Arabella Sackett
v. Janet Anne Sackett who married Mr Nowland and in turn had three sons and one daughter.

6. Hubert File Sackett was born at Murrumburrah, NSW in 1898.
He married May Jane Rustin at Queanbeyan, NSW in 1925. May Jane is the daughter of John Sydney and Agnes Esther Rustin.
In the 1930 electoral roll Hubert is registered as living at Ross Road, Queanbeyan and working as a baker.
In the 1935 electoral roll he is registered as living at Torrens Street, Braddon, ACT and still working as a baker.
Hubert died in 1976 and May Jane died in 1975.

Hubert File Sackett and May Jane Rustin had children:

i. Winson May Sackett who married Vernon Avent and had three daughters.
ii. Hubert Ross Sackett who married Anne Rowe at Bowral in 1957 and also had three daughters.

7. Ada Annie Sackett was born at Cootamundra in 1900.
In the 1930 electoral roll she is registered as living at 178 Denison Road, Summerhill, NSW and working as a teacher.
She married Adrian John Fraser Brown at Murrumburrah, NSW in 1930. He is registered in the 1930 electoral roll as living at Range View, Hillsion, Riverina, NSW and working as a farmer.
In the 1936 electoral roll they are living at Sunnymede, Binnaway, Gwydir, NSW.

Ada Annie Sackett and Adrian John Fraser Brown had children:

i. Alan Brown.
ii. Dorothy Brown.
iii. Rosemary Brown.
iv. Robyn Brown.

8. Dora Arabella Sackett was born at Cootamundra in 1905.
In the 1930 electoral roll she is registered twice, one at Rosebeth, King Street, The Rock, NSW and working as a nurse and again at 44 Grosvenor Crescent, Summerhill, NSW.
Dora married William McFadden at Hornsby, NSW in 1940. In the 1930 electoral roll William was registered as living at 29 Roderick Street, Tamworth, NSW and working as a postal assistant. At that time he was married to Muriel. Muriel died in 1932. In the 1936 electoral roll William is living at Pilliga and working as a postmaster.
Dora Arabella died in 1974.

Leonard Sackett

(Jeremiah, Benjamin, Benjamin, Jeremiah, Henry, Thomas, Thomas, John attributed to George, Thomas) son of Jeremiah Sackett and Sarah File was born in Barham, Kent, England in 1869.
He arrived in Australia on board the Austral in November 1889.
He married Martha Letitia Sweeney at Cootamundra, NSW in 1897. Martha Letitia is the daughter of Francis and Ann Sweeney.
Leonard died at Lismore, NSW in 1917.
In the 1930 electoral roll Martha is registered as living at 48 Cathcart Street, Lismore and in the 1936 electoral roll she is registered as living at 58 Cathcart Street, Lismore. (I suspect that she did not in fact move house, but that the houses were renumbered between these two dates.)
Martha Letitia died at Balmain, NSW in 1962.

The children of Leonard and Martha Letitia Sackett:

1. Leonard Francis Sackett was born at Cootamundra in 1898.
He married Miriam Ruth Riley at Bowral in 1926.
In the 1930 electoral roll he is registered as living at 46 Cathcart Street, Lismore, NSW and working as a secretary. In 1936 he is still working as a secretary, but living at 56 Cathcart Street, Lismore. (A comparison with the addresses of his mother at these two dates leads me to suspect that they did not move house, but that the houses in the street were renumbered between 1930 and 1936.)
Leonard died at Lismore in 1958.

2. Ella Doreen Sackett was born at Cooma in 1902.
She married John William Axtens at Lismore in 1926. John William enlisted in the AIF on 11 August 1914 giving his age as 20, his address as 1 Belmont Road, Mosman, NSW and his occupation as draper. He served as a Private in the Naval and Military Expeditionary Force (Tropical Unit), Headquarters embarking from Sydney, NSW on board HMAT A35 Berrima on 19 August 1914, serving in Egypt. He enlisted a second time on 20 June 1915 giving his date of birth as February 1895 and his previous military service as 17th Australian Infantry. He started as a Sergeant in the 30th Battalion, Machine Gun Section embarking from Sydney, NSW on board HMAT A72 Beltana on 9 November 1915, serving on the Western Front. He was commissioned as a Captain in the 8th Machine Gun Company, and then promoted to 2nd Lieutenant and Lieutenant. He returned to Australia on 5 July 1919.
In the 1930 and 1936 electoral rolls Ella Doreen and John William are registered as living at 10 Birdwood Avenue, Lane Cove, NSW. John was working as a warehouseman.

3. Dulcie Clare Sackett was born after 1908.
In the 1936 electoral roll she is registered as living at 58 Cathcart Street, Lismore with her mother and working as a law clerk.
She married Clifford Frederick Underwood at Lismore in 1939. Clifford was in the 1930 electoral roll as living at Rail Ref Room, Nyngari and working as a manager. In 1936 he was living at 63 Liverpool Road and working as an insurance clerk.
Dulcie Clare died in 1978.

George File Sackett and Leonard Sackett were brothers and Robert Moffat Sackett was their cousin.

Robert Moffat Sackett

(Benjamin, Benjamin, Benjamin, Jeremiah, Henry, Thomas, Thomas, John attributed to George, Thomas) son of Reverend Benjamin Sackett and Elizabeth Lee was born in Bow, Middlesex, England in 1880. He married Susan Maud Oliver in 1905. Susan Maud is the daughter of Richard and Susan Oliver. They arrived in Australia with their infant daughter on board the Ophir in January 1910. In the 1930 electoral roll they are registered as living at 85 Greenhill Street, Croydon, NSW with Robert working as a general cleaner and in 1936 they are registered as living at 21 Beaufort Street, Croydon Park with Robert working as a cleaner.
Robert Moffat died at Burwood, NSW in 1951 and Susan Maud died at Burwood in 1954.

Children of Robert Moffat and Susan Maud Sackett

1. Phyllis Maud Sackett was born in England in 1909.
She married Archibald Stutsel at Burwood, NSW in 1926.
In the 1930 electoral roll they are registered as living at 86 Greenhill Street, Croydon, NSW with Archibald working as a bus driver. In 1936 they are registered as living at 177 Burwood Road, Enfield, NSW with Archibald working as a foreman.

2. Robert Lee Sackett was born in 1918.
He married Dorothy Violet Sherer at Liverpool, NSW in 1942.

William James Sackett

(Thomas, Thomas, Thomas, John, William, Thomas, Thomas, John, attributed to George, Thomas) son of Thomas Sackett and Harriet Marie Simpson Craycraft was born in Faversham, Kent, England on 3 June 1884.
He enlisted in the AIF on 23 October 1916 giving his age as 31, his address as Hurstville Hotel, Hurstville, NSW and his occupation as barman. He embarked with the rank of Private in the Light Trench Mortar Battery, Reinforcement 5 leaving from Sydney on board HMAT A67 Orsova on 2 December 1916. He returned to Australia on 12 June 1919.
He is registered on the 1930 electoral roll as living at 118 Erskineville Road, Erskineville, NSW and working as a wine saloon keeper. In the 1936 electoral roll he is registered as living at 128 Station Road, Newtown, NSW and working as a dealer.
William James died at Manly, NSW in 1964 aged 80.

Edward Herbert Sackett (also known as Edmund)

(George, Thomas, Thomas, John, William, Thomas, Thomas, John, attributed to George, Thomas) son of George Sackett and Louisa Else was born in Faversham, Kent, England in 1896.
He arrived in Victoria, Australia on board the Norseman in March 1914 at the age of 18.
He enlisted in the AIF on 30 June 1915 giving his address as Birchington, England and his occupation as farmer. His rank was Private in the 8th Light Horse Regiment, 8th Reinforcement. He embarked from Melbourne on board HMAT A55 Kyarra on 20 August 1915. He became a Bombardier in the 12th Field Artillery Brigade. He was killed in action in France on 8 October 1918 at the age of 22. He is buried at Bellicourt British Cemetery in France.

William James Sackett and Edward (Edmund) Herbert Sackett were cousins.

It is interesting to note that except for Thomas Baker Sackett who did not voluntarily migrate to Australia all of these Sacketts descend from (Thomas, Thomas, John, attributed to George, Thomas).

There are several other Sacketts that receive a single mention such as a death notice, registration on an electoral roll, marriage or arrival via ship. They are more difficult to trace or to determine their lineage.

• 1853 (April) Henry Sackett age 25 arrived in Victoria on board Kent. He then left for Hobart Town, Tasmania in July 1853 on board Emma Prescott. No trace of him has been found so far in the Tasmanian records.
• 1862 (July) George Sackett age 39 arrived in Victoria on board Gresham.
• 1863 John W Sackett died in Sydney, NSW age 5.
• 1865 (May) Dr George and Mrs Sackett arrived in Victoria on board Rangitoto.
• 1876 Sarah Sackett married Sidney Bines at Sydney, NSW.
• 1877 (December) Mr Sackett age 33 arrived in Victoria on board Arawata.
• 1885 Mary A Sackett married Albert E Oakey at Sydney, NSW.
• 1896 Hannah Jane Read Sackett married George William Daye in Qld.
• 1907 Thomas Sackett died Cobar, NSW age 40.
• 1909 Thomas Sackett died at Coolgardie, Western Australia. He was hit by a train.
• 1911 John Sackett son of James Sackett and Ann Lee died in Qld. John was born in Dagenham, Essex in Dec 1841 according to the 1861 census when he was working as a butcher for the North Atlantic Royal Navy. (James, John, Henry, Thomas, unknown) This makes him a third cousin to Thomas Baker Sackett.
• 1925 Lily Sackett daughter of Benjamin and mother nee Reed died at Balmain South, NSW.
• 1930 electoral roll John Stephen Sackett living at 'The Renown', Restwell Street, Bankstown, NSW and working as a grocer. I think John Stephen is the brother of William James Sackett, so born in Faversham, Kent, England on 28 February 1876. His lineage would be (Thomas, Thomas, Thomas, John, William, Thomas, Thomas, John, attributed to George, Thomas) The Sackett Family website gives his death as 10 August 1954.

There are also other records going on into the 1950s, but as these concern people who may still be living I have not included them.