Ellen Porter (Ellen Haines)

I have a slightly obsessive personality.  Scary really – more for my family than myself!  Anyway, I was doing some research a few days ago and was re-reading an article on the death of Rev Frederick Hibberd in 1908 and realised that there was a statement about the relationship of Rev Dr Thomas Porter to the Dixson family “Dr. Porter delivered an eloquent panegyric. His wife was a sister of Dr. S. Dixson and Mr. Hugh Dixson.”  How could I have missed this before!!!  So (seeing I am easily distracted) I immediately began to research Dr Thomas Porter and his family to verify the connection.  However, Dr Porter’s wife was not a Dixson.  I simply read the article incorrectly.  The writer was making a statement about Dr Porter and then immediately went back to discussing Frederick Hibberd – whose wife was a sister of Dr. S. Dixson and Mr Hugh Dixson. 

But as I’ve now researched the family of Ellen and Thomas Porter, I thought I’d share it!  Now you may have noticed that this entry is actually titled Ellen Porter.  That’s because I will always have a slight gender bias in these matters, practicing positive discrimination really, and so I’ve decided to write this entry about Ellen rather than her husband!   Oh, I should also point out, that Dr Porter was obviously a close friend of the Dixson and Hibberd families – it was the Baptist connection.  At Dr Porter’s funeral it was specifically noted that “The Dixson Trust was represented by…”

Ellen Haines was christened in Alderbury, Wiltshire on 31 January 1841.  She was the youngest child of Elizabeth (nee Dredge) and Job Haines, who at 38 and 40 respectively already had a number of children.  Elizabeth was Job’s second wife and there were also children from his first marriage.  The 1851 Census shows Ellen living with her parents and two older brothers in Downton, Salisbury.  Soon after, they must have decided to leave England.  On 30 December 1854, Job, Elizabeth, and three of their children (Charles, 16; Elizabeth 14; and Ellen 13) arrived in Melbourne on the Tudor. 

Two years later, Ellen’s older – but rather young – sister, married John Herbert in the Rehobeth Baptist Chapel, on Regent Street in Collingwood, Melbourne. 

On 30 October 1859, 18 year old Ellen married 21 year old Thomas Porter, also at the Rehobeth Baptist Chapel.  Thomas was the elder of two sons of Thomas and Eliza Porter – Irish immigrants who had come to Australia in 1840.

Ellen appears to have had a wonderful life with Thomas.  They went to California, where Thomas studied to be a doctor.  On their return, Thomas decided he’d rather be a Minister and his first parish was in the then rural area of Doncaster, Melbourne.  They went to Adelaide, where he was the Minister of Hindmarsh Church of Christ.  Then they went to the USA for another eight years.  In around 1881 they moved back to Victoria and Thomas became a Minister in the Baptist Church – at the George Street, Fitzroy Baptist Church, followed by Ballarat Baptist. In 1894 they moved to Sydney where Thomas became Minister of the Petersham Baptist.  Thomas would have had many dealings with Frederick Hibberd, Frederick Harry and Hugh Dixson as they were all heavily involved in the Baptist Union of NSW.  Thomas was the President of the Union in 1902 - the year after Frederick Harry had been.  

Thomas retired from full time ministry in 1907, but would make himself available for interim ministries – essentially in Sydney but also in Goulburn, NSW and Ballarat, Victoria.  They had four daughters and three sons (who reached adulthood) plus a number of grandchildren.  There is evidence of relatively frequent visits to the USA – in 1897 Ellen went without George (two of their sons were living there!).  

On 19 December 1927, Thomas died rather unexpectedly (which is a nice thing when you are 89).  Their two sons in the USA were unable to return for the funeral, but the youngest son obviously visited after his father death, because he then died at his mother’s house on 21 January 1928.  It must have been a relatively difficult time for Ellen.  On 31 August 1928 – not even a year after her husband – Ellen died at their home at 5 Coronation Avenue, Petersham.    

Relationship to SNR = friend of Great-great-great grandparents