was sentenced to transportation for 7 years on 5 or 6 July 1785 at the Berkshire, Summer Assizes. Tried as Thomas Heddington (sic) late of the parish of Bray in the county of Berkshire Labourer on the 23rd day of March, with force and arms in the parish aforesaid, 2 silver Tablespoons of the value of 12s. One Wooden Dish of the value of one penny four copper farthings of the value of one penny 20 copper halfpence of the value of 10d and six pounds in monies numbered of the goods and monies of Isaac Sewell, feloniously did steal and carry away. Age given as 18, Thomas spent time on the Ceres hulk before being delivered to Alexander on 6 January 1787. On 4 March 1790 Thomas was sent to Norfolk Island by Sirius and there in July 1791 was supporting three on a Sydney Town one acre lot. Up until his death on the Island on 13 January 1798 Thomas had leased a further 12 acres of which were under cultivation. His tombstone is the earliest legible one that has survived on the Island pre 1800. Thomas was survived by his wife Elizabeth Thompson (Lady Juliana) and children Adam, Margaret and John. On 30 December 1806 Elizabeth Eddington was credited with £16.5d for the sale of sheep before leaving for VDL (Tasmania) with Margaret 15, and John 13. Elizabeth died in Hobart Tasmania on 10 April 1839 aged 92 and was buried as Mrs Eddington.
Honouring his WW1 descendants
Charles Henry Bradlaugh Eddington
(Brother to Frederick, Gilbert, Walter and William Eddington)
Born 21 April 1893 Hobart Tasmania to John Thomas and Sarah Ann (Thompson) Eddington
Occupation Stereotyper
Enlisted 6 November 1918 Hobart Tasmania aged 25
Next of kin Father John Thomas Eddington 3 Marine Terrace Battery Point Tasmania
Discharged 21 November as the war had ended on 11 November 1918
Died 25 April 1970 Hobart Tasmania
1411 Frederick Hippons (sic) (Hibbins) Eddington
(Brother to Charles, Gilbert, Walter and William Eddington)
Private 1st Australian Clearing Hospital transferred to 2nd Australian Stationary Hospital
Born 11 February 1895 Hobart Tasmania to John Thomas and Sarah Ann (Thompson) Eddington
Occupation Printer
Enlisted 25 September 1914 Pontville Tasmania aged 19
Next of Kin Mother Sarah Eddington 3 Marine Terrace Battery Point Hobart
Embarked 5 December 1914 Melbourne Victoria aboard HMAT Kyarra A55
Service at Gallipoli
Returned to Australia October 1918 aboard HT Devon
Discharged 24 January 1919
32394 Gilbert O’Connor Eddington
(Brother to Charles, Frederick, Walter and William Eddington)
Gunner 13th Field Artillery Brigade
Divisional Ammunition Column 1, 24th Reinforcements
Born 30 March 1889 Hobart Tasmania to John Thomas and Sarah Ann (Thompson) Eddington
Occupation Carpenter
Enlisted 26 August 1916 Claremont Tasmania, aged 27
Next of kin Wife Lillian May Eddington 8 Central Street Hobart Tasmania
Embarked 14 February 1917 Melbourne Victoria aboard RMS Osterley
Service in France and Belgium
Killed in action 30 September 1917 Belgium
Buried Plot IX, Row A, Grave No 8 in The Huts Cemetery, Dickiebusch Belgium
Examiner (Launceston Tasmania) Saturday 27 October 1917, page 1
Eddington – Killed in action, in Belgium, 30th September 1917, Gunner Gilbert O’Connor, dearly beloved husband of Lilian May Eddington, Central Street Hobart, and third eldest son of J.T. and S. Eddington, Battery Point Hobart, and grandson of T.H. and the late Louisa Eddington, Church Street, Hobart, aged 28 years. Dearly loved, sadly missed.
6734 Osmond Field Eddington
(Uncle to Charles, Frederick, Gilbert, Walter and William Eddington)
Private 12th Battalion 22nd Reinforcement
Born 23 February 1884 Hobart Tasmania to Thomas Eddington and Louisa (Abel) Eddington
Occupation Electrician
Enlisted 17 May 1916 Claremont Tasmania, aged 32
Next of kin Wife Laura Isabell Eddington c/o Mrs M Lloyd, Tregear Street Moonah Tasmania
Embarked 30 September 1916 Melbourne Victoria aboard HMAT Palermo A56
Service in Western Front
Killed in Action 15 April 1917 France
Buried in isolated grave east of Lagincourt France
Commemorated Australian National Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, France
The Mercury (Hobart Tasmania) Friday 11 May 1917, page 5
News has been received of the death of Osmond Field (Bob) Eddington, killed in action in France on April 15. He was the youngest son of Mr T.H. Eddington of Church Street and grandson of the late Mr John Eddington, Past Grand Master of the Masonic Lodge, also great-grandson of the late Judge Hibbins. Although a young man he had travelled much, and been in several shipwrecks. After one wreck he was in the water for more than five hours, eventually being brought to shore by a Negro, who had held him up the whole time. He was also in the great earthquake of San Francisco in 1906, and saved life there. Among other acts, he rode for some miles with a mother and her few hours’ old infant through the fires, after he was sworn in as a special constable to guard the Mint.
The Mercury (Hobart Tasmania), Monday 15 April 1918, page 1
Eddington – In loving memory of our dear brother, Osmond Field Eddington, killed in action in France April 15, 197. Dearly loved and so sadly missed. Though death divides, fond memories cling. Inserted by his loving father, brother and sisters.
148 Walter Herbert Eddington
(Brother to Charles, Frederick, Gilbert and William Eddington)
Private 2nd Light Horse Regiment (September 1914)
Born 11 November 1886 Hobart Tasmania to John Thomas and Sarah Ann (Thompson) Eddington
Occupation Labourer
Enlisted 1 September 1914 Brisbane Queensland aged 24 years
Next of kin Father John Thomas Eddington Hobart Tasmania
Embarked 24 September 1914 Brisbane Queensland aboard HMAT Star of England A15
Service in the Middle East
Returned to Australia
Died 5 March 1972 Brisbane Queensland
Photo ‘The Queenslander Pictorial, supplement to The Queenslander 10 October 1914 (John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland) SLofQ
1201 William John Eddington
(Brother to Charles, Frederick, Gilbert and Walter Eddington)
Warrant Officer 2nd Australian Stationary Hospital
Honorary Lieutenant
Born 1883 in to John Thomas and Sarah Ann (Thompson) Eddington
Occupation Clerk
Enlisted Perth Western Australia
Next of kin Mrs L Eddington 253 Royal Street East Perth Western Australia
Embarked 14 December 1914 Fremantle Western Australia aboard HMAT Kyarra A55
Service at Gallipoli
Brought to the notice of Secretary of State for War for valuable services rendered in connection with the War
Arrived in Australia 16 May 1919 per HS Dongola ex HT Czar
Appointment terminated 11 August 1919
Died 13 September 1944