COUZENS FAMILY

My name is Anton Couzens and I am researching my families history

The Couzens name and its variants are found in both England and Ireland. After some research I found that they can trace their ancestors back to the ancient territories of England between the 11th and 12th centuries. They can also trace their ancestral roots back to Norman origin, and it first appeared in ancient medieval records in Yorkshire at the time of the Norman Conquest.

My Grandfather John Couzens was a Master Chimney Sweep and was born in 1806 in Cripplegate, London, he married Susannah Green who was born circa 1821 Halstead, Essex. John and Susannah had 13 Children, John, Sarah, James, Mary Anne, Charles, William, Thomas, Esther, Annabel, Caroline, Louisa, Harriett and Alfred all children were born in Chelmsford, Essex, England

Charles Couzens married Esther Nicholls at London Road Independent Chapel, Chelmsford, Essex on 25 April 1871, Charles and Esther had 2 childred, Elizabeth Emily born 10 May 1871 at 123 Moulsham St. Chelmsford and Frederick Charles born 1873 130 Moulsham St, Chelmsford. Charles and family came to Australia in 1888 on the Quetta. Elizabeth had a daughter Florence who married Charles Henry Warmington in Childers Queensland. Elizabeth later married Friedrick Weis and had 6 children.

Charles & Florence Warmington

Elizabeth & Friedrick Weis

William Couzens

Born Chelmsford, Essex in 1854. Baptised (aged 4 months) on 29 October 1854 in St John’s Moulsham. On 23 November 1872 at St Johns Church in the parish of Moulsham he married Mary Ann Elizabeth Pavling daughter of William Paveling. William And Mary came to Australia in 1873 on The Gauntlet. Died Tuesday night aged 94. He was born in Essex in 1854 Married to Mary Ann Paveling in 1872.
Landed in Ipswich in 1873 on 23 November their wedding anniversary. They travelled by bullock dray to Texas. The trip taking 3 months. They went to a cattle station owned by McDougalls. They came back to Maryborough and visited his wife's relations. He got gold fever and visited the Palmer Gold fields but was not successful and returned to Maryborough and worked in the Maryborough Foundry. He was then employed at Yengarie Plantation with John Thompson ( He had come out on the same boat) which was owned by John Cran. In 1882 took the Blue Bell Inn in Tinana Gympie Road till 1885. He returned to England where he had the Kings Head Hotel in Chelmsford for two years
Returning to Australia Mr James Cran asked him to manage Iindah Plantation for two years. He transferred to Duncraigan Plantation near Bundaberg where he worked with Alex Adie.
In 1888 he bought land at Horton (R Cunninghams Farm 1948) and grew maize and cane. He was the first commercial cane grower in the Isis District. Employed by the Cran Brothers he supervised the Kanakas felling scrub at Doolbie and Horton. In 1906 He bought the Grand Hotel in Childers which he sold 9 moths later when he became proprietor of the Palace Hotel for seven years. In 1913 he retired from business and moved to Dallarnil for 6 years, before returning to Noakes Street.
He was the first in the district to own a Motor vehicle International Buggy. He was a cricketer and a fisherman at Woodgate. He was a foundation member of both the Isis Bowling Club and Golf Club. He was a Director of the Electric Light Company. He was a life member of the Show Society Mrs W.G. Hutton looked after him in his latter years Buried by Rev H J Richard

Thomas Couzens born 20 july 1856 Chelmsford Essex married Sophia and they had at least five Childred, Louisa born in 1880, Emma Elizabeth in 1881, Sophia in 1884, Edith Annie in 1886, and William Thomas in 1889 all were born at 86 Moulsham St, Chelmsford, Essex, England.

Emma Elizabeth Couzens married William Henry Cousins and had 3 children Emma Elizabeth born 1898, Agnus born 1899 and William Thomas born 1901. All were born in Chelmsford Essex. According to the 1901 census William Henry was a market gardener. William Thomas Cousins married Mary Maud Greenlees

Alfred Couzens

Is the son we are particularly interested in and what we know for certain is as follows: He was baptised on 12 June 1866 in St John’s Church, Moulsham, Essex. As a young man he went out to South Africa where he bought a large farm and grew sugar cane and bred horses. Unfortunately at the outbreak of the Boer War, Cecil Rhodes took over the farm and all the stock. Part of the settlement was that should Alfred marry and have sons that they be educated free at the Cecil Rhodes College in London – this however was never taken up. Alfred returned to England a wealthy man. He met Alice Juniper and they were married in Chelmsford Registry Office in 1897. Alfred was of the Roman Catholic faith and Alice Church of England but all their eleven children were brought up in the doctrine of the Church of England. Alfred died on 5 February 1921 in St Columbus Hospital, Hampstead and is buried in East London Cemetery, Plaistow – no headstone.

In 1896 while in South Africa, Alfred volunteered for service in The Matabeleland Relief Force and served in Rhodesia under the banner of The British South Africa Company. Medal issued to Alfred. Silver with Gold ribbon and three blue stripes. Inscribed on the side Tropper A.Couzens M.R.F

Alice Couzens

Immediately after their marriage Alice and Alfred lived in Maud Street, Canning Town, London. They later moved to Fords Park Road and kept a shop on the corner of Beckton Road. Sadly this enterprise didn’t last long as Alice was forever allowing people credit and not receiving payment. Alfred was eventually declared bankrupt and the family moved to 29 Lambert Street, Custom House, London, where Alfred found work as a fireman at Tate and Lyle’s sugar refinery in Silvertown. He eventually rose to be chief fire officer. Alfred died of cancer in January 1921, just five weeks before his youngest daughter was born. Alice was a very large lady who weighed in the region of 17 stones and in later life her hair was pure white. She died 28 October 1937 at 29 Lambert Road, Custom House, London and is buried in East London Cemetery, Plaistow, No headstone, grave number 50837, 7 rows away from Alfred.

William Couzens

(My father) was born on the 2nd October 1908 at 107 Fords Park Road Canning Town, London. He was one of 11 children. His fathers name was Alfred Couzens born about 1867 in Essex and his mothers name was Alice Juniper born 30 December 1876 at 5 Seymour Street Chelmsford, Essex.

During his apprenticeship he worked at Buckingham Palace a few times, we did have some record of this but it has been lost a long time ago. He joined the British Merchant Navy at approx. age 15 and left on 4th March 1927. The ships he served on were the PORT HUNTER, THE PORT CAROLINE, THE PORT PIRIE, THE MINNEWASKA, THE TUSCANIA and THE PORT VICTOR which he left in Brisbane in 1927. As far as we know he went stay with his brother Alfred for sometime then worked in the outback in the sugarcane and cattle areas. In 1931 He married Dorothy Ellen Bull at Fortitude Valley Queensland and had six children. In 1941 he gained employment with the Colonial Sugar Refinery and engaged The Malaita as a cook, this begins his career in the Australian Merchant Navy.

During his time in the merchant navy he also served on the THE FIONA, THE WANGANELLA, THE KOOYONG and THE KEKERANGU in the capacity of Chief Cook. While in the merchant navy he was awarded The 1939-1945 Star, The Australian Service Medal, The War Medal and The Pacific Star. In 1945 he leaves his family and continues service in the merchant navy until his discharge in 1948 in Hobart.

Eleana May Couzens (late Shaw, nee Olds) Daughter of David Norman Olds & Olive Beatrice Yeates

In 1947 he met Eleana May Shaw (nee Olds). They married on the 8th May 1948 in the Congregational Manse, Lydia Terrace Wallaroo South Australia and had 4 children the first died shortly after birth. He worked on the wharf as a labourer and also worked as a cook on a dredge for The Westmintster Dredging Company. He also worked as a Cook for The Point Price Salt Mines and later he found employment with The Engineering & Water Supply Department which took him to Port Germien and Coonalpyn South Australia to work. After returning to Wallaroo he found employment with the Esquire Motor in as Head Chef. Shortly after leaving the Esquire he became sick. William died in July 1976 and is buried in the Wallaroo Cemetary. William also was a KNIGHT of the Order OF Merit (Sir William Couzens)and GRAND MASTER of the ROYAL ANTIDILUVIAN ORDER OF BUFFALOES at Lodge #41 in Wallaroo.

Anton Craig Couzens Yougest son of William & Eleana Couzens

Born In Wallaroo on 13th February 1957. Went to School in South Austalia, at aged 17 joined the Royal Australian Navy. Term of engagement, 10 years. Trained as a Radar Plotter, Communications Maintainer and a Cook. Worked as a Chef in Australia and New Zealand. Married twice have one son and one daughter, two step daughters. In 2005 attended TAFE have completed Certificate II in Electrotechnology Servicing, Certificate III in Elecotrotechnology Communication, Diploma in Electronic Engineering and currently studying Advanced Diploma in Electronic Engineering and Certificate III in Computers systems

Other photo's of Anton Couzens

William's Lodge Medals

Photographs of some of the ships he served on