Ricketts Family
John Ricketts, together with his wife Mary Ann, son John Henry, and his sister Mary, arrived in Australia in 1855, aboard the "Monteagle".
Originally from Deal, in Kent, England, they came to join John’s three brothers Charles, Thomas, and Stephen, who had arrived much earlier, in 1842.
At the time of John’s arrival they were living in Brighton.
Stephen had married Elizabeth King, in 1853, and had two children.
John, Stephen, and their families arrived in Mornington, in 1859.
Stephen Ricketts worked for the Mornington Shire, as Park gardener and caretaker, from 1870 to 1891, and received much commendation on his retirement.
After the death of his wife Elizabeth, Stephen married Matilda Johnston, and they lived in Main Street, Mornington, where Stephen traded as a second hand dealer, occasionally advertising goods for auction.
John Ricketts worked as a gardener at the "Briars", near where he and his family lived, at Green Island.
John Ricketts’ son, also John, married Sarah Cooke, and they had a family of six children who lived in Mornington.
John Ricketts’ grandson, also John, served in the 1st World War with 21st Battalion, He was wounded in France, and sent home in 1917. He was later discharged, and died in 1920.
His sister Carol Ricketts married James Francis, and their son James Thomas Francis, also died in 1920 after contracting Tuberculosis in the 1st World War.
The two brothers Stephen and John, their wives Mary Ann, Elizabeth and Matilda, (Stephen’s second wife) are all buried in the Mornington cemetery.
