Beecroft/Becraft Ancestors

William Beecroft and Jane Simpson

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Husband William Beecroft [8350]

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           Born: Cir 1818 - Northumberland, England, United Kingdom
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 
FamilySearch ID: LTNB-SDR

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         Father: James Beecroft [8351] (      -      )
         Mother: 

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       Marriage: 2 Feb 1841 - Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland, England, United Kingdom

Events

• He worked as a Butcher.

• He traveled. Hello Graeme

I have the complete passenger list of this voyage of the "Palestine". My
great-grandmother arrived on it also.

Your William and Jane were each 34 years old, and had with them four
children Ann (11), Dorothy (9), Clement (7) and Elizabeth (1).

The ship departed from Plymouth on 29 November 1852 and her arrival was
reported in the "Perth Gazette" of Friday 29 April 1853 as follows:
"We have great pleasure in reporting the arrival yesterday of the barque
Palestine from London with immigrants, as there had been great doubts of her
safety."

On Wednesday 4 May, "The Enquirer" reported the arrival of the Palestine as
follows:
"The Palestine (466 tons) left England on the 30th December, experienced a
stormy passage, put in at the Cape, where she remained three days, taking in
a supply of water, and arrived here on the 28th instant. She conveys 223
immigrants, men, women and children, under the charge of Surgeon
Superintendent Charles Cooper."

Another longer article appeared in the "Perth Gazette" on 6 May which stated
amongst other things that your Mr Beecroft was a butcher.

Hope some of this is news to you and that it helps with your research. I
also have the WA CD-ROM of births, marriages and deaths in WA from 1841 to
1905 which I could check for your Beecrofts if you would like me to.

Jill Barker, in Sydney, Australia.

• Immigrated: to Australia on board the ship Palestine, Nov 1852. The family arrived in Australia in April 1853. Sadly, Jane did not survive the trip.

• Immigrated: 28 Apr 1853, Perth, Western Australia, Australia. Plymouth, England on 29 November 1852 to Perth, Western Australia, arrived 28 April 1853.
This information has been taken from a photocopy of the original 'Certificate of final departure'. As the names are listed alphabetically on the certificate it is assumed that I have accessed only the first page of many.

BEECROFT, William MM 34 Butcher
BEECROFT, Jane MF 34 Died on voyage
BEECROFT, Ann f 11
BEECROFT, Dudley m 9
BEECROFT, Clement m 7
BEECROFT, Elizath f 1.

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Wife Jane Simpson [8352]

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           Born: 1815 - Willington Quay, Northumberland, England, United Kingdom 1
     Christened: 5 Sep 1815 - Wallsend, Northumberland, England, United Kingdom 1
           Died: 1852-1853 - In route to Australia
         Buried:  - At Sea 2
FamilySearch ID: LTNB-3DT
Find A Grave ID: 210398429

Events

• Immigrated: 29 Nov 1852, Plymoth, England. Plymouth, England on 29 November 1852 to Perth, Western Australia, arrived 28 April 1853.
This information has been taken from a photocopy of the original 'Certificate of final departure'. As the names are listed alphabetically on the certificate it is assumed that I have accessed only the first page of many.

BEECROFT, William MM 34 Butcher
BEECROFT, Jane MF 34 Died on voyage
BEECROFT, Ann f 11
BEECROFT, Dudley m 9
BEECROFT, Clement m 7
BEECROFT, Elizath f 1.

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Children

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1 F Ann Beecroft [8353]

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           Born: 1841 - England, United Kingdom
     Christened: 14 Nov 1841 - St. Peter's, Wallsend, Northumberland, England
           Died: 
         Buried: 
FamilySearch ID: M7JR-M63

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2 F Dorothy "Dora" Beecroft [8354]

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           Born: 1843 - Northumberland, England, United Kingdom
     Christened: 
           Died: 20 Jul 1914 - Perth, City of Perth, Western Australia, Australia
         Buried:  - East Perth Cemeteries, Perth, City of Perth, Western Australia, Australia 2
FamilySearch ID: M7JR-M68
Find A Grave ID: 207565496

         Spouse: William Henry Foster [16725] (1839-1923)
           Marr: 1866 - Canning, Western Australia, Australia 3

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3 M Clement Simpson Beecroft [8355]

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           Born: 13 Dec 1846 - Northumberland, England, United Kingdom
     Christened: 
           Died: 23 May 1914 - Perth, Western Australia, Australia
         Buried: 29 May 1914 - Karrakatta Cemetery and Crematorium, Karrakatta, Nedlands City, Western Australia, Australia 2
FamilySearch ID: 974J-GSF
Find A Grave ID: 210398830

         Spouse: Jane F Moon 4 [9422] (1850-1919)
           Marr: 1872 - Fremantle, Western Australia, Australia 4

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4 F Elizabeth Jane Beecroft [8356]

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           Born: 31 Mar 1849 - Wallsend, Northumberland, England, United Kingdom
     Christened: 
           Died: 24 Nov 1906 - Cottesloe, Western Australia, Australia
         Buried:  - Karrakatta Cemetery and Crematorium, Karrakatta, Nedlands City, Western Australia, Australia 2
FamilySearch ID: KPDG-8N1
Find A Grave ID: 205479699

         Spouse: Charles Hole Duffield [15883] (1823-1891)
           Marr: 1881 - Greenough, Western Australia, Australia

         Spouse: Robert John Creswick [15882] (1841-1880)
           Marr: 1869 - Western Australia, Australia

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Death Notes: Wife - Jane Simpson

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Died on board the ship Palestine. Travelled with her husband William and children Clement, Dorothy, Ann and Elizabeth.

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Medical Notes: Wife - Jane Simpson

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Died en route to Western Australia 1852 aboard the "Palestine". Travelled with her husband William and children Clement, Dorothy, Ann and Elizabeth.

Sources

1 The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, "FamilySearch Family Tree," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org : accessed 28 Nov 2025), entry for Jane Simpson, person ID LTNB-3DT.

2 Findagrave.com.

3 The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, "FamilySearch Family Tree," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org : accessed 29 Nov 2025), entry for William Henry Foster, person ID KHWT-DRF.

4 LDS - IGI Index (familysearch.org).