Albert Ross Hovell (c1833-1888)

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Biography

Albert Ross Hovell was born circa 1833 to William Hilton Hovell (1786-1875) and died 5 May 1888 Cooktown, Queensland, Australia of unspecified causes. He married Ellen Napthali (1838-1913) 23 July 1864 St Michaels in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

He became a ship captain and sailed to the "South Sea Islands". In February 1869, together with his second mate Rangi, he was charged with murder on board the Young Australia. They were convicted and sentenced to death, commuted to a life sentence. However there were doubts about the testimony, and they were released with free pardons on 13 December 1870 (Australian Town and Country Journal, 17 December 1870, page 10). More details on his career may be found at About The Torres Strait, which says "by 1876 he was a hopeless alcoholic".

Some voyages of Albert Ross Hovell

Ship	From	To	Date	Details	Reference
Woodlark	Port de France	Sydney	27 Jan 1860	Capt Ross (passenger) alias Albert Ross Hovell	[1]
Clarence Packet	South Sea Islands	Sydney	24 Aug 1860	A.R. Hovell, Chf Mate, age 27	[2]
Clarence Packet	South Sea Islands	Sydney	19 Jun 1861	master	[3]
Clarence Packet	South Sea Islands	Sydney	8 Jul 1863	master	[4]
Clarence Packet	South Sea Islands	Sydney	8 Feb 1864	master	[5]
Clarence Packet	Port of Rotumah	Sydney	6 Jun 1864	master	[6]
In 1864 the Clarence Packet was exchanged for the Star of Eve (see court cases [7] and [8]).
Star of Eve	Sydney	South Sea Islands	30 Sep 1864	master	[9] [10]
Star of Eve	The John Wesley reports the total wreck of the schooner Star of Eve, at Rotumah, on March 13 [1865].				[11] [12] etc
John Wesley	South Sea Islands	Sydney	8 Aug 1865	crew from wrecked Star of Eve	[13]
Sea Witch	South Sea Islands	Sydney	7 Jul 1868	master	[14]
Young Australia a.k.a. Young Australian	South Sea Islands	Sydney	20 Jan 1869	master	[15]
Australasian Packet	Torres Strait	Sydney	6 Mar 1872	master	[16]
Australasian Packet	New Guinea	Sydney	26 Jan 1873	master	[17] [18] [19]
Australasian Packet	New Caledonia	Sydney	10 Feb 1874	master	[20] [21]
Australasian Packet	Sydney	Torres Strait	April 1874	master	[22]
Rover	Port of Thursday Island	Sydney	21 Aug 1880	master	[23]

Children

Offspring of Albert Ross Hovell and Ellen Napthali (1838-1913)
Name	Birth	Death	Joined with
Emily Frances Hovell (1865-1903)
Sophia Frances Ellen Hovell (1867-1956)
Frances M Hovell (1869-1871)
Marion Hilton Hovell (1871-1966)
William Hilton Ross Hovell (1874-1939)	20 December 1874 Balmain, New South Wales, Australia	24 October 1939 Petersham, New South Wales, Australia	Lila Hilda Floyd Olive (c1879-1937)
Alberta Ross Hovell (1880-1944)

Footnotes (including sources)

‡ General

AWT:db: monaropioneers, id: I99046 — no longer available
AWT:db: snake2000, id: I25071 — no longer available

₪ Wedding

On the 23rd July, by special license, at St. Michael's Church, by the Rev. H. S. King, B.A., Albert Ross Hovell, commander of the Clarence Packet, to Ellen, youngest daughter of the late Mr. Napthali. No cards.

The Sydney Morning Herald, 5 August 1864, page 1

The Sydney Morning Herald, 20 August 1864, page 9

¶ Death

BDM Index ref for death: 1888/C1135 (gives date as 6 May 1888)
HOVELL.—May 6, 1888, at Cooktown, Captain Albert Ross Hovell, late of Balmain, N. S. W.

The Sydney Morning Herald, 22 May 1888, page 1

§ Remains

Headstone: http://austcemindex.com/inscription.php?id=6452525
"Albert Ross Hovell (c1833-1888)". Find A Grave. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=61121705. Retrieved 2013-02-15.