The Shorte family tree began with Johannes Shorte de Exeter in 1490. For the  next three generations the eldest son was named Johannes,after which the  anglicization of John was used. John Shorte purchased the estate of Bickham in  the parish of Kenn near Exeter in 1682, and it remains in the family to this  day. His grandson dropped the 'e'  from the surname and, as John Short,  succeeded to the Bickham estate in 1736 at the age of 22 , Marrying Susannah  Vowler Gent of Exeter who was Augustus Short's grandmother. Augustus Short was  the first bishop of Adelaide, Australia.
 Augustus' mother was formerly Grace Millett whose ancestors, the Powheles, came  over with William the Conqueror. One of the family was chamberlain to the  Empress Maude who granted them estates in Cornwall where they became the  Powheles of Powhele.
 Any researcher who discovers  the link between Benjamin Short 1833 - 1912 and  Augustus Short 1802 - 1883 would be warmly thanked. The Shorts from Exeter and  the nearby west Country were known for their very decided religious beliefs.  The Shorts from Surry were also dissenters..as religious persecution was alive  and well this is one of the probable causes for emigrating.