John Eldridge was born in Bramshaw, Hampshire, England in 1779. He married Frances Manson on 19 Apr 1813 in the Eling Parish, Hampshire. On the 1851 census he was living in the Village of Marchwood in the Parish of Eling, shown aged 71 with his wife Frances aged 67 and unmarried children Sarah and James. His children John and George are shown in the 1851 census entries following his household.
The children of John and Frances from John to William were baptised at Eling, Hampshire.
A descendent Thomas Eldridge came to Port Phillip, Victoria, Australia as an assisted immigrant arriving on 29 Jun 1849 on the ship Saxon. He married Sarah Kelly at St Francis Roman Catholic Church VIC in 1851. Sarah was born in Wicklow, Ireland the daughter of Michael and Sarah Kelly and had previously been married at Dublin, Ireland to Simon Martin and had four children, Elizabeth, Christopher, Mary Ann and Bridget, all born at Melbourne, before Simon died there in 1850 aged 33.
Thomas and Sarah had three children born in Melbourne. Thomas was a gardener and he died on 3 Sep 1875, aged 50 and Sarah on 14 Jan 1879, aged 60. Both died at Toorak Road, Toorak and were buried at the St Kilda Cemetery.
His sister Fanny also came to VIC. She married Alfred Nicklen in 1854 in England and their children were born at Pranran, South Yarra and the following 6 at Toorak, VIC. Fanny died on 6 Jul 1870 at Andrew Street, Toorak and was buried at the St Kilda Cemetery.
A descendent James Eldridge, born 1850 in Marchwood, Hampshire migrated to the USA in about 1871 or 1872. He was shown as a sailer in the 1871 census at Southampton. He mostly lived in Nebraska before moving to Wyoming after the death of his wife.
James R Eldridge, father James R, grandfather William J,
and great granfather James Eldridge 1850-1941
Henry James Eldridge 1923-1976