Blog
31 Aug 2010Who Do You Think You Are? – see Jason Donovan’s ancestors in our records
This week on Who Do You Think You Are? Australian actor and singer Jason Donovan traced his roots.
Jason was born in Melbourne in 1968. He was brought up by his father, Terence, and is estranged from his mother, Susan Menlove. Susan’s mother Joan looked after Jason when he was a child while both his parents were busy with their show business careers.
Jason Donovan (copyright Phil Guest)
Jason’s maternal great grandmother, Eileen Dawson, was born 1886 in Melbourne. Eileen was also in show business and Jason visited Judy McCard, his mother’s cousin, to find out more. Judy confirmed that Eileen started her stage career in 1903 when her father put her on the stage. Eileen headlined nightly at the Sydney Opera House at the height of her career.
Eileen’s father was Simeon Lyons who was born in Tasmania. Joseph Lyons, Simeon’s father, first arrived in Tasmania in 1842. The findmypast.co.uk team found Joseph with wife Rosetta on our 1841 census before they left England:
Click to enlarge
We also found Joseph, Rosetta and Simeon in the 1861 census on findmypast.co.uk:
Click to enlarge
Jason traced his family back seven generations to find William Cox who was born 1764 in Dorset, England. Here you can see William’s baptism record, recently published on findmypast.co.uk courtesy of the Dorset Family History Society:
Click to enlarge
From this record we can tell that William’s father was Robert Cox – one generation further back than Jason found during his research.
When he was 36, William volunteered on board the convict ship Minerva; Jason assumed he was a convict but he was actually the captain of the ship, in charge of the convicts and soldiers on board. William’s ship arrived in Sydney harbour in 1800 and during the voyage his wife Rebecca gave birth to their baby.
By 1814 William and the convicts had built 60 miles of road across the Blue Mountains from Sydney to Mount York. Jason read Cox’s memoirs which described difficult conditions, including traversing a sheer rock face. William treated the men as equals and looked after them well. In 1815 the men laid the final stretch of road – it was 101 miles long in total. This road linked Sydney to the Interior and paved the way for settlers to make their way inland to start a new life.
William died in 1837. Today’s road still follows traces of his original route.
Jason was pleased to connect with his Australian roots. The findmypast.co.uk team, however, have found more evidence in our records of Jason’s British ancestry in his paternal line.
Jason’s Donovan line were based in Staines, Middlesex as far back as we could trace them – until we got to his great-great-great-grandparents who were both born in Ireland.
Here you can see Jason’s great-grandfather Walter Donovan and great-great-grandparents John and Martha Donovan on this 1911 census return on findmypast.co.uk:
Click to enlarge
This census return shows Walter as an Examiner and Packer for Wallpapers Ltd, while John worked as a Coal Porter. Martha had given birth to a staggering 14 children and the census form shows 12 people living in five rooms.
We also found Jason’s ancestors on the 1861 census on findmypast.co.uk. Here you can see Jason’s great-great-grandfather John (aged three) and great-great-great-grandparents, Mathew and Catherine Donovan:
Click to enlarge
Mathew, described as a Labourer, and Catherine were both born in Ireland.
The Rowat(t) family, another side of Jason’s paternal family history, provide more British heritage and a black sheep of the family. The Rowat side were based in Kingston, Surrey until we get back to Jason’s great-great-great-grandfather who was born in Scotland.
The 1901 census on findmypast.co.uk shows Jason’s great-great-grandfather Robert Rowatt as a prisoner in HM Prison Holloway (Holloway was not made female-only until 1903):
Click to enlarge
Robert is listed as a Bricklayer and can be found at home with his family in both the 1891 and 1911 censuses.
We found Jason’s great-great-great-grandfather Thomas Rowat, who was born in Scotland, on findmypast.co.uk’s 1851 census:
Click to enlarge
This census return shows that Thomas was employed as a Carpenter and was lodging in Kingston with a widowed laundress and her grandson.
What a lovely guy.
I thought the Irish connection would come in somewhere – with a name like Donovan!
Another interesting episode but we never heard whether there was a connection with the Lyons Coffee Houses, or indeed Nigella Lawson.
Yes, I too would like to know whether any connection was found to Lyons Corner Houses or Nigella Lawson. I’d also like to know why he is estranged from his mother – but them I’m a nosey soandso.
Hello there,
I have just watched WDTYA, Jason Donovan, and the name Cox from Wimborn just shouted at me.
My gg uncle Tom Martin Cox son of John Martin Cox, a Farmer, was born in Sturminster Marshall in 1842. Brother Robert Martin Cox was born 3 years later in Wimborn.
In 1851, aged 10 & 7 they were living in Wimborn Minster with their Aunt Jessica Cox.
Tom married my gg aunt Amy Matilda Barnard in Putney in 1859. He gives his profession as Esquire!
1861 they are visiting Basingstoke, and he gives his profession as Former Booksellers Clerk.
1871 sees them as lodgers in Pirbright, and now his profession is Annuitant.
After that nothing, as with many of my ancestors they have vanished in a puff of smoke. I have been unable to find out what happened to Tom or Amy, not even death certificates.
Is Cox a common name in Wimborn, or is there a possibility that my Tom is connected in some way to William Cox? If that is the case, it might be possible that he and his wife went to Australia, although I have not found any evidence to back that thought up. Judging by the census reports they did not seem to have a permanent home, or even a job. So how did they live?
Any help would be greatly appreciated, as Tom & Amy have been on the back burner for about 5 years now!
Regards
Jackie
Hello Jackie, Have you found your connection? I think I might have. Not sure how you could get in touch privately but would be prepared to share and work together to confirm it. Perhaps the site would connect us.
hello i think your progame is great i have been doing my family tree for years and i love doing it, but iam stuck on my nan side of the family as her death papers are in a avers surname, but i was told her birth surname is diffrent now this is going to be a hard one to do can you help please manyt hanks paula xxx, ps, jason i must say this, my son was named after you he is now 21 years. iam 43
Hi,
I love the program……
For years i have spent long hours seaching my family tree….
via computer..here in UK
From England to Canada..St, Pierre..France..Spain..
Boy am i now stuck.. surnames..Lafitte,Picabea,Benoit,..
Found out Grandmother was Micmac…
Great stories about these people….along the way…
I wish i was famous sometimes…just to get the help…to make that
all important..bit that is stopping me getting further.
So frustrating….language barrier, etc,etc.
I love watching WDYTYA. I only wish there were more records available to search and print on line. Being disabled, treking around all over the country isn’t always an option, but I do love seeing all the different ways of finding out more information that come to light for the celebs.
Quote
Joy says:
31 August 2010 at 2:53 pm
I’d also like to know why he is estranged from his mother – but them I’m a nosey soandso.
Unquote
Because his mother left his father, and Jason when Jason was very young. How fond would you be of a mother who walked out of your life when you were a child?
I think all of the WDYTYA series are brilliant. I have been searching my tree for years with very slow results. I wonder what the costs would be to have someone do it for you and have almost instant results. I WISH
The lineage was irrelevant, the Cox story and the road building feat was just brilliant. Really enjoyed that part of the programme.
Ref: Jason Donovan
I watched the programme with interest but what on earth happened to his mother?
Her absence haunted the programme casting doubt on his ability to present a balanced view of the family.
I was left with the impression that we were to assume the worse about
her.
Norman Smart
I thought it was fascinating how they built the road through the Blue Mountains in just 6 months. What was a bit of a surprise for me was my cousin in Australia has a grandson of 1yr named Lachlan. I have never heard of the name and she said it was Scottish and was very popular over there as it is the name of the first governor of NSW, Lachlan Macarie(wrong spelling I think) He was mentioned as being the person who asked William Cox to build the road. So now I know who he was. Not sure if they see our WDYTYA but will tell her all about it as they obviously all know Jason Donovan.
Another great episode. Jason has a real colourful ancestry, absolutely fascinating watching.
This was a great episode and it was good to see the further work done
here on the site.
One other thing when are we going to see the rest of the American episodes.
Its a pity his Irish side was not even mentioned in the tv show. As already mentioned above Donovan is and Irish name, as this great site has proven. Also his discovered Jewish ancestor Lyons also has an Irish name. So there is possibly Irish blood there also.
I found it disturbing that Jason went to Melbourne to investigate his mother’s family history but just couldn’t muster up the whatever to knock on her door… I wonder, what does he tell his children about his mother. Does he say she is dead? When they grow up, they might feel angry with him for not having sorted things out with her and, thus, denying them their right to know her. When she is dead and gone, he might even regret not having made the effort to reconcile with her.
Hi, I love watching WDYTYR and have been into family history for some years. Unfortunately I was away and missed the programme on Jason Donovan but have been reading about it on here, it sounds a very interesting one and I was excited to read that his Donovan line was traced back to Staines, Middlesex as that is where I live and Staines isn’t a place that is renowned for a lot. At least we can now boast that Jason Donovan’s ancestors lived here!
Mavis Oakey wrote: “I found it disturbing that Jason went to Melbourne to investigate his mother’s family history but just couldn’t muster up the whatever to knock on her door… I wonder, what does he tell his children about his mother. Does he say she is dead? When they grow up, they might feel angry with him for not having sorted things out with her and, thus, denying them their right to know her. When she is dead and gone, he might even regret not having made the effort to reconcile with her.”
That really isn’t anyone else’s business and has nothing to do with researchers on this family history site. It is highly unlikely that anyone would lie to their kids about a fact that has been public knowledge for years. Most people in that situation (at least these days) would tell children the truth, that she left him when he was a small child and his grandmother was his real mother figure. His children will have the benefit of the research he did about her ancestry, so they will know their own family history.
The purchases I make are entirely based on these atrcleis.
My Aunt in UK phoned to say how much she enjoyed watching Jason’s background unfold and also looking and lovely Melbourne and surrounds. Wich brought me to the site, I would love to watch the program, do you think it will be replayed soon.
Hi there, I live in Toronto Canada, my family in the uk feel that Jason is related to us, the Lyons family came from the Whitechapel area in East london, and we are desendants of Sarah lyons who came to Britain and resided in Ipswich. I have the complete family tree going back to 1700, if he is interested, he can Email me and I will give him an update.
Regards Elizabeth Lewis (Nee Lyons)
I believe we are related, I live in Canada, but the family still live in the UK, We came from East London Whitechapel area, and are all related to Sarah Lyons who lived in Ipswich, coming from Holland in the early 1700. I have the family tree dating back to that time, if Jason is interested, he can email me, and i will give him more details.
Regards Elizabeth Lewis (Nee Lyons)
If Jason will contact me at the above Email Address I will fill him in with the family Lyons Tree which I have.
REgards Elizabeth Lewis (nee Lyons)
Hi Elizabeth – My partner is a descendant of Simeon Lyons’ eldest daughter Rosetta. Would like to swap information about the Lyons Family, you can contact me by email or through Genes Reunited.
Eugenie
Hi Elizabeth, I saw your post about the Sarah Lyons family. I believe my wife is a direct descendant of the same family of a Sarah Lyon born in 1702/1703 in Holland, and died in 1807 in Ipswich. Does this match with your family?
Does anyone have information about the O’Brien side of the family?
My children grew up watching Adventure Island with Jason’s mum Sue Donovan. We loved Mr Meany and the characters Michael Howson played. That was a sweet show. I remember how sad I felt when his parents parted and how she seemed to fade from view. I wondered what had happened to her. I also saw the police series with his dad in it. He was very good. Jason certainly got the acting genes from his parents.
I had ancestors in the early Australian film industry around 1904.
What an interestin show. Which of William Cox’s children is Jason’s line? I have a link through William’s son James(b1764)
Barbara
Sorry, I mean James Cox born in 1790.
Barbara
I am editor of “The `Minerva’ Journal of John Washingon Price”, the young surgeon who documented life on board. William Cox was not the Captain of the ship, which was Captain Joseph Salkeld, but was a Lieutenant in charge of the 21 person contingent of the NSW Corps soldiers guarding the 200 or so convicts, and in searching for my ancestor, Private James Bull of that Corps, I discovered Price’s Journal and determined to expose its contents to the world. Cox, because he was in charge, is referred to as “Captain”. Price delivbered Rebecca Cox’s baby, her seventh son, in Cork, aboard “Minerva”, and during the month he spent in Sydney, “In my rambles, I called to see Mr Cox, whom I found in great trouble, his youngest child having died last night.”
Unfortuneately I cannot access this particular episode in Canada.
Captain Joseph Salkeld could possibly be a relation If possible could you let me know were I could find more information.
For Barbara,
My husband and our son from the George Cox line ( son of Rebecca Upjohn and William Cox Snr). Jason Donovan is from the Edward Cox line – he was youngest brother of George, James, henry and William Junior and their sister. Edward was the only son born in Australia – his property was Fernhill Mulgoa NSW which is on the market for $50 to $80 million dollar range currently. The Jason Donovan line is as follows (based on my research) Edward Cox – Richard William Cox whose daughter married a man named Menlove (who was the son of or a religious minister). Their son ? Eric married the daughter of the Lyons opera singer/pool hall owner. They are either Sue MacIntosh/Menloves parents or grandparents. The James Cox settled in Tasmania and built Clarendon. A museum in Tasmania is currently loading alot of Cox photographs on their website just click on google photos. Those in UK interested in more – Rebecca Upjohn Cox wife of William Cox senior ( road builder) has alot of Upjohn family in UK, USA and Australia – Upjohn Pharmceuticals, Richard Upjohn Church Architect, Sir Upjohn UK lawyer, Anna Milo Upjohn artist, Sheila Upjohn author, Richard Upjohn Light founder American Geographic, famous neurosurgeon architect. Her father was James Upjohn the famous clockmaker of Exeter. Her sister married Gabriel Wigram famous Goldsmith. Another inetersting fact – Richard William Cox’s brother Dr James Charles Cox’s daughter married the Earl of Lindsey.