Joseph Charles Kitching 1852 - 1923

Joseph Charles was born in Roxburgh in abt 1852, but again I have been unable to find any birth certificate. The family moved around living in Hartlepool, Leeds and back to Hartlepool where Joseph's parents both died when is 14, leaving him the sole guardian of his two younger brothers George and Richard. It is highly likely that children may have lived with their aunt Hannah. George died 2 years later in 1868.

By 1871 Joseph Charles had moved back to Roxburgh where he was working in Ladhope as a Farm Servant. It was most likely around this time he met Lillias Cockburn, as their first child was born in Nov 1872 and the couple married a month and half later in Channelkirk Berwick where they were working on the Maltbarns property.

It may have been around this time that Joseph took over care of Richard. What we do know is that family was still in Channelkirk in early 1874, but by mid 1876 they were in Stow, Midlothian, and by early 1879 they were in Lasswade.

At the time of the 1881 census, the family were living in Thornton Carrington and Joseph's brother Richard was living with them. (their 5th child was born in the same year). There were 10 families living the villiage, which was most likely mining quarters.

Joseph, Lillias and their family departed Glasgow aboard the Shenir on 21 Sep 1882, arriving in January 1883 at Maryborough. It is unclear why Richard (at this point only 18) didn't go with them. Emigration records are a follows.<br />\nJoseph KITCHING(S) 30y<br />\nLilian 26y<br />\nJoseph 8y<br />\nAdam 7y<br />\nMary 5y<br />\nJoan 3y<br />\nAlex inf</p>\n\n<p>

The family obviously moved around a little, but there are records of the family at Howard School in February 1892 , where Joseph is noted as a farmer. The family stayed in the Wide Bay area, and the 1903 Electoral Rolls indicated that the family was still living in Howard.

Some time between 1903 and 1905 the family relocated to Lindsay St Bundamba (near the Bundamba Racecourse), about 4km from Ipswich. Joseph stopped working around 1906.

Joseph and Lillias had 11 children at least 8 of whom lived to adult hood. Their fourth child Joan married my G Grandfather George E Hardie and was a strict women who had a very low level of education and is noted as illiterate on her death record, however she could sign her name. Their daughter Joan and George were residing with Joseph and Lillias on the 1906 Electoral records.

The Hardie family relocated from Howard at the same time, which is about the time that the Coal mines in Ipswich ramped up their production. All of the Hardies were miners, as were the Kitchings. It could be that Joseph tried the land, and ended up in Howard, which was at the time a small mining town.

Joan and George ended up being Exclusive Bretheren (a practice not continued in future generations). George's brother owned a large mine in Ipswich.

Joseph died in Ipswich on Jul 9 1923 and is buried there.