Sidney Southey HOOKINS (Tree 3Q)

 Sidney Southey HOOKINS was born on 12 August 1837 at Holloway Street, St Sidwell, Exeter and was only the 3rd HOOKINS birth recorded in the national registration of births which began that year. His 2nd Christian name is the maiden name of his mother Ann who had a link with the poet Robert SOUTHEY, a contemporary of the poets Coleridge and WORDSWORTH. Sidney's father was John HOOKINS, a Schoolmaster.

In 1841 Sidney lived at Elm House, Brockley with his parents and 5 other siblings whilst 2 more sisters were away at school in Yatton.

Elm House, Brockley

Just 7 years after the 1841 Census Sidney's father died of heart disease so within the next 3 years his mother Ann had moved to 6 Aberdeen Terrace in Westbury on Trym with 5 children including Sidney + 3 Aunts and a Servant.

By the time of the 1851 Census Sidney was occupied as an Accountant just short of his 24th birthday and he lived at 2 Highbury Place, St Michael, Bristol with his mother, an Aunt who was deaf, a Servant and a Lodger.

In 1867 Sidney set sail (unassisted) to Australia aboard "True Briton" bound for Victoria. In 1875 he was employed in the Civil Service in Sydney because there is a report of an injury which he incurred in Wodonga whilst visiting his brother in Albany. Five years later he married Fanny Blackburn BURKE on 6 July 1880 at the Presbyterian Church in Yarra.

Presbyterian Church, Yarra

Their union was to be blessed with 4 children all born in South Yarra - Sidney Blackburn in 1881, Ethel Francis in 1882, Beatrice Lucy Millicent in 1874, and Spencer Southey in 1886.

 

Sidney, Fanny and children

Sidney Southey HOOKINS

Sidney's and Fanny's last home

Sidney died in February 1912 at the age of 74 at Alfred Hospital in Melbourne and was buried in St Kilda Cemetery in Port Philip City, Victoria.

Sidney's Gravestone