George Orpwood
George Orpwood
Date of Birth 12 December 1842
Place of Residence 108 Cameron St Launceston Tasmania Australia
Spouses Name Matilda Jane Giblett
Childrens Names Herbert Matthew, Alice Margaret, Ellen Maude, Florence Witham, Matilda Evelyn, Alfred Leslie, Kate Marion & Clarice Beatrice Mary

George Orpwood was born in Bloomsbury, London on 12 Dec 1842 to Matthew Orpwood (1806-1844) and his wife Ellen (1816-1868). At the age of 13 George migrated to Tasmania on the Maitland with his widowed mother and two of his brothers, Matthew and Richard, arriving in Hobart on 16 Sep 1854. He married a widow Matilda Jane Minniss (nee Giblett) in 1867 in Victoria and they had eight children between 1868 and 1883 with the first two dying at a young age. He was a draper, in partnership with Mr John Frost for 16 years. He took a keen interest in mining and was director of several companies. His leisure interest was in music and he sang bass in the Exhibition Choir. He died at his home at 108 Cameron St on 24 Apr 1893 aged 51 and was buried in the Cypress Street Church of England Cemetery. Matilda died at the Nauru Hospital, Launceston, on 25 Oct 1927.

Peter Smedley Apr 2008 & Phillip Orpwood Jun 2009