Jane Hungerford was born c1829, Rosscarbery, Co Cork, Ireland, the daughter of Thomas John Hungerford of Rose Bank, Co Cork, Ireland, and his wife Catherine (‘Kate’), formerly Masters. Her parents were married in 1824, Co Cork, Ireland.
After her father’s death, Jane and her mother Kate travelled to Victoria, sailing from Gravesend on 22 May 1857 aboard the Suffolk, and arriving in Melbourne on 20 August 1857, giving their ages as 20 and 47. Jane married Gustavus Helsham, 30 November 1860, Christ Church, South Yarra, Vic. Born in 1840 in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England, he had arrived in Melbourne in November 1858 aboard the Resolute. Jane and Gustavus lived briefly in New South Wales, before returning to England.
They had three children. In 1871 Jane was living at 20 Bessborough Street, Westminster, England, with her children and her mother, listed on the census as Charlotte Hungerford. In 1881 the family was living at Wiggenhall, Norfolk, England, where Gustavus was a landed proprietor and Justice of the Peace, although Jane was absent on census night. Gustavus was Lord of the manor of Fitton.
Jane Hungerford Helsham died on 5 July 1884, aged 55, Norfolk, England.
Kate Hungerford (Jane’s mother) had died on 20 February 1880. The Freeman’s Journal (Dublin) for 25 February 1880, records the death of Catherine Hungerford as follows:
HUNGERFORD – Feb. 20, at Beacondale-road, Gipsy-hill, the residence of her daughter, Mrs. Helsham, of St Mary’s Hill, King’s Lynn, Catherine, widow of J. J. Hungerford (sic), Esq., of Rose Bank, Co. Cork, Ireland, grandson of the late Colonel Hungerford, of Cahirmore.
