NOTE: Australian Everinghams are not updated on this American web site.

Matthew James EVERINGHAM b.1769 Yarmouth UK?1
d.25 Dec 1817 (drowned)
at Hawkesbury, Australia
married:
Elizabeth RHYMES (b.1774)
married 13 Mar 1791 St. Johns Parramatta
parents:
inconclusive
children: EVERINGHAM 2

  1. Mary (b.23 Dec 1791 d.Jan 1792)
  2. Sarah Elizabeth (b.9 Jun 1793)
  3. Matthew James (b.10 May 1795)
  4. William (b.6 Aug 1797)
  5. George (b.9 Dec 1799)
  6. Ann (b.7 Nov 1802)
  7. Elizabeth (b.10 Jun 1805)
  8. John Rymes (b.Oct 1806) no info
  9. James (b.25 Dec 1809)
  10. Maria (b.6 Aug 1811)
  11. John (b.20 Jul 1814)

siblings:

    Matthew James Everingham's Grave at Wilberforce.

fact sources and writings about this individual:
1Birth information from internet sources (no proof) or documentation shown. Valerie Ross has no birth place for Matthew.
2Children info from (Hawkesbury Settlers) web site written by; "Lesley Uebel" taken 1999

Burial: St. Johns, Wilberforce
3Burial information from Terry J O'Neill, descendant of Matthew James Everingham.


Famous History of Matthew Everingham at age 15-19.. (notes from the Internet)

Tried by a London jury before Mr. Rose at Justice Hall in the Old Bailey at the sessions which began Wednesday, 7th July 1784.
(Matthew James Everingham - indicted, for being a profligrate person on the 17th of June,...did falsely pretend to Owen Owens, servant to Samuel Sheperd -Esquire, in the middle Temple, that he was sent to Mr Shepherd, from Mr. Clermont's for "Burn's Justice" or "Compton's Practice" meaning certain books, by which he obtained the same books, value 10s. the property of Samuel Shepherd, whereas he was not sent with that message.)
VERDICT: "Guilty". Transported to Australia aboard the "Scarborough" (first fleet 1788) for 7 years!

Matthew became a police constable before his sentence was completed and some have said he later built or helped build the first hotel in Wyong Creek (NSW). A few years later it was washed away by massive floods. Matthew is a celebrated historical figure in early Australian cultural and colonial history. Matthew's story was featured, and his descendants were discussed (including many photos of Everinghams) in a Feb 1988 National GeographicTM Magazine.


The first Europeans to set foot on Mt Wilson Australia, in 1795, were Matthew Everingham, William Reid and John Ramsey. This is Matthew's actual written recording of that event:

"Southward is a level champagne to the westward of the country is rocky and barren without a single tree standing for many miles, but had a most picturesque and romantic view, the sun shining on the rocks. They appeared to the beholder like towns and castles in ruins - I wish'd much to go over and explore that barren track of land but our provisions grew very short and were obliged to bend our thoughts towards home."

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