Bembridge - a short history

This post is a short history of the Bembridge area and is a companion post to my history of the Bembridge State School, No. 4557, which operated from 1937 until 1953. You can read this here. 

Before we start, the name Bembridge comes from the Old English and means place lying this side of the bridge (1)

This map, based on the Tyabb Parish Plan, was drawn by Leila Shaw and appears in her book The Way We Were. (2) You can see the location of Bembridge, formerly The Saltmans, top right.         

The Saltmans

The area was originally known as The Saltmans, presumably due to its low-lying situation,  and the earliest references I can find to it are in connections to bushfires in the 1890s. 

The Argus in February 1895 reported - The plains known as Saltman's, which adjoin Westernport Bay, have been blazing for days past, and the thermometer has varied from 98deg. to 102deg. for the last four days. The place is enveloped in smoke, and news is still coming to hand of further destruction by a fire which is now raging towards Langwarrin. (3)

The Saltman's on fire

The Argus, February 15, 1895 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article9345976

Three years later in February 1898, The Argus had this report - 

On Sunday, another fire was raging on the "Saltman's" Plains, which is a reserve of several thousand acres bordering the Westernport Bay, and kept the beaters busy to stop it from running into the properties of Messrs. Batchellor, Pike, Morrison, and McKirdy. Nearly the whole of the Langwarrin Estate is burnt, and there is hardly any of the "Saltman's" unconsumed. (4)

Another fire occurred in January 1905, as reported by the Mornington Standard - 

Several large fires have broken out in this district during the past week. A large portion of the Saltman's Plains, extending to the Westernport beach, has been burned. (5)

The area, possibly Crown land,  was leased as a whole and in November 1902, Mr E. A. Sage placed this public notice in the Mornington Standard - 

All Stock running on Saltman's Plains, Tyabb, will be impounded from this date. E. A. SAGE, Lessee. (6) This is, I presume, Edward Arthur Sage, listed in the 1903 Electoral Rolls as a butcher from Somerville. 

The term, The Saltmans was still in use to describe the area in the 1930s  - for instance in a report of yet another fire in 1932 - 

Bush Fires - Several fires broke out on Saturday last. In two cases homes were endangered at The Saltmans, a dozen neighbors had difficulty in keeping the fire at a safe distance from the home of Mr. Beglehole. (7)

In 1934 we learn of young John Nash's accident -

While playing in a paddock near his parents' residence, John Nash, the four-year-old son of Mr and Mrs S. Nash, of The Saltmans, was kicked on the head by a horse. He received a compound fracture of the skull. After examination at Somerville he was removed to the Children's Hospital. (8)

However, by 1936 when there was agitation for the School, newspaper reports always referred to the area as Bembridge -  with this exception in December 1936 when the Frankston and Somerville Standard reported on the new school thusly - The news that the Education department has decided to build a school at Bembridge, usually known locally as "The Saltmans," has intense satisfaction to resident that quarter. (9)

Detail of Plan of the agricultural area of Tyabb, 1865. 

Click on image to enlarge. 

The Saltmans is top right, in the vicinity of Tyabb Water Holes

Office of Lands and Survey, Photo-lithographed by J. Noone.

State Library of Victoria http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/166429

Bembridge Estate at The Saltmans

In January 1906 the following advertisement appeared in various newspapers for the new Bembridge Estate which was, as a later advert noted,  A rare chance for you to get a farm of your own (10). Bembridge Estate - We have just received instructions to sell this wonderfully well situated land, in blocks from 10 to 50 Acres: price £5 per acre. £1 per acre deposit, balance to suit. See this immediately, as it is specially good. Birtchnell Bros. & Porter,  82 Swanston-st. (11)

Bembridge Estate

Weekly Times, January 13, 1906 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article225183421

Sales may well have slowed down two months later when yet another fire swept through the area -

The Saltman's Plains, about 2000 acres bordering Westernport Bay, took fire, and the flames spread with great rapidity, crossing into Mr. Miller's property. A large quantity of fencing was burned, and the orchard, which was laid out in English fashion, was destroyed. Some of the out-buildings were also burned. On Monday the property owned by the executors of the late Wm. Craig, adjoining the Saltman's, was severely damaged by the fire, the house and fencing being burned. (12)

Whether or not the land at the Bembridge Estate was a suitable purchase for farmers was a matter for debate.  In April 1907 the Somerville Fruit-growers', Horticultural, and Agricultural Association, invited Dr Cherry, of the Agricultural Department to inspect the land and give a lecture to the locals as to the result of his inspection (13). The Weekly Times reported -

The settlers on the Bembridge estate, Saltman's Plains, have been given an encouraging opinion regarding the producing qualities of their holdings by Dr. Cherry, Director for Agriculture. In response to a request, Dr. Cherry recently inspected the land and told the settlers that it only required working to sweeten it and make it productive. Old farmers, who have spent the best of their lives in the district, have stated that the land is practically useless as it had never produced anything but sparse, stunted timber and short scrub. (14)

In January 1912, an advertisement for the re-sale of two of the blocks, promoted the area's orcharding credentials. 

Bungower Road, part of Bembridge's Estate. 4 miles Somerville, 3 miles Tyabb - 45 acres of Orchard Land, in two blocks of 10 and 35 acres, being lots 2 and 7, on plan of sub-division 4716, and being part of Crown allotments 29 and 30. 12 acres cleared, 1000 fruit trees. 3 and 4 years planted, together with a 3-roomed horse, stable and shed. This property is situated in the centre of the finest fruit growing district in Victoria. Title, certificate. Terms--£50 cash, and balance by yearly instalments of £5 with 5 per cent interest added. For further information apply Birtchnell Bros and Porter, 82 Swanston-street. (15)

It appears then, that many fruit trees had been successfully planted and they had survived 3 to 4 years, so perhaps the land wasn't practically useless as some of the old timers had opined in 1907. Alternatively, the poor land may have been the impetus for farmers to find another source of income, such as coal mining. This report is from  October 1910 - Mr V. J. Fraser, of the Bembridge Estate, Somerville, is continuing his boring operations for coal on his property, near Somerville. About 12 feet of stuff has been passed through, which shows signs of good coal. Mr Fraser's bore has reached a depth of 140ft, and he has procured additional lengths, and continued boring on Friday. It is highly probable that a good quality seam will be struck within a few feet from the present depth, as the prospects are very promising. (16) In spite of the optimism, there is no evidence that coal was ever found. 

Bembridge Progress Association

The push for the School also seemed to inspire other civic zeal - the Progress Association was formed in May 1937, as reported by the Frankston and Somerville Standard -
Convened by Mr. McAllister, a meeting of residents of Bembridge district was held at the property of Mr. C. Roach, jnr., on Saturday. At the meeting a body to be known as the Bembridge Progress Association was formed. Mr. C. W. Roach, senior, was elected chairman, and Mr. C. Rolfe, secretary. (17) These men were John James Duncan McAllister, Somerville, a labourer; Charles Winfield Roach jnr, Somerville, a farmer and Cedric Charles Rolfe of Waikato, Tyabb. (18)

This report on the Progress Association from July 1945, tells us something about organisation and mentions a few local people - A pleasant function was held in the Progress Association's rooms on July 14 when Mr. Harry Boakes was farewelled prior to his departure for Bungower Road, Somerville. Mr. Boakes who had been a resident of Bembridge for 20 years, was thanked by the president (Mr. W. A. Elliott), for his grand work for and on behalf of the Association. Mr. Elliott said that Mr. Boakes was one of the oldest members, and his wisdom and counsel would be missed. Mr. Roach Senior, said that when the Association held a social evening that Mr. Boakes was the first at the rooms and helped with all the work getting the rooms ready for the evening's entertainment. He would (and felt sure he spoke for all others), miss Mr. Boakes, and trusted that he would be able to attend sometimes at the social evenings held by the Association. The president, on behalf of the Association, presented the guest of honor with a gift. Mr. Boakes, in a neat speech, thanked one and all. Mr. Felmingham has purchased the property recently occupied by Mr. Boakes. (19)  

Bembridge Social Club and the Hall

At some time during the Second World War, a Bembridge Social Club was also established; this report of the 1945 Annual General Meeting lists some of the members -
The Annual General meeting of the Bembridge Social Club was held last Saturday night in the club rooms, Bungower Road, when the new committee was elected; all retiring members with the exception of the secretary (F. Kahl) who resigned and did not offer himself for re-election, were re-elected as follows: President, Mr. Geo. Spence, vice-presidents, Messrs. A. Douglas and Mr. W. Perritt; committee, Messrs. Turner, Dobby, Pratt, Spriggs, and Levy; hon. secretary and treasurer, Mr. R. Manby. (20) 

There was a need for a local hall, and after the school closed in 1942 the Education Department allowed the Bembridge Social Committee to hold card parties for Patriotic purposes in the building as well as fortnightly social evenings.  (21)  However after the re-opening of the School another venue was required and the Bembridge Social Club took up the challenge and in January 1944, as reported,  the resourceful residents at Bembridge have purchased a suitable building, which they intend to erect as a public hall. (22)  The Hall was put into good use straight away with two Euchre parties being held in aid of the Red Cross. (23) The Hall was located in Bungower Road, and regular card nights, followed by a supper, where held throughout the War years.

Detail of the Bembridge section of Mr Roach's  Mail Run map, as drawn by Leila Shaw, showing the Hall location in  Bungower Road and the school location in Tyabb-Tooradin Road.

Click on image to enlarge.

Image: The Way We Were by Leila Shaw (24)

The local Council was initially unaware of this new public building in their Shire, and it was the subject of discussion at a Council meeting - Without realising that it was breaking a Council by-law, Bembridge, in a spirit of enterprise, arranged for the removal of a building from Pearcedale for use as a hall. This was explained in a letter to Frankston Council on Friday night. As the building complied with Council regulations, it was decided to issue a belated permit. (25)

The Hall receives a belated permit

Frankston Standard, February 11, 1944 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article75049512

In March 1945, the Frankston Standard could report that the Bembridge Social Club has decided to offer its rooms in Bungower Road free to any religious order caring to avail themselves of same for services, Sunday School, etc. It is hoped that the churches will be able to accept this offer. (26)

Concerns of the District
In  May 1945, the following report of the Progress Association meeting was published in the Frankston Standard -
At a public meeting convened by the Progress Association the following matters were discussed and the attendant motions passed:
Re public telephone: "That the sectary write to the P.M.G. Department re a public phone at Bembridge, and find details of cost,, etc." It was stated that Mr. C. Grice had some time ago promised financial help. Mr. A. Sullivan informed the meeting that, if it was necessary to have a caretaker that the phone could be erected at or near Mr. Sullivan's home.

Re roads: "That the secretary write to the Council requesting that a deputation meet the engineer and inspect roads in the district."

Re bus: "That further representation for a bus be made, and that the route be from Pearcedale along the Somerville Road to Eromosa Road corner, then along Mc Kadies Road to junction, of Tyabb-Tooradan Road, thence along Tyabb-Tooradin Road to Pearcedale, thence to Dandenong, returning the same way." Views expressed by various speakers showed how this, service could and would help the district.

Re public hall: "That the secretary write to the Social Club inviting the Social Club Committee along to discuss ways and means of transferring the Social Club's rooms to a committee to be appointed, and known as the Hall Committee." Speakers pointed out that as the district had no public hall, and as a block of land has been offered on which a hall could be erected, it seemed as if the money spent on enlarging and improving the Social Club's rooms would be more to the advancement of this district than building a new hall. The matter rested in the hands of the members of the Social Club (it was pointed out), who only can say whether they are prepared to co-operate and make their rooms into a hall which the district can be proud of. It was suggested that the Hall Committee should consist of nine members, three from each of the Social Club and the Progress Association and three from outside of both these, with an outside chairman. It was also pointed out that neither side would lose its individuality. (27)

I have no information as to the fate of the Bembridge Hall.

The state of the roads

The locals were not just concerned about the state of the roads in 1945, this had been an issue since the Bembridge Estate was established in 1906. In May 1909, for instance the Frankston and Hastings Shire received the following letter from - Messrs Dawson, Park, Cornack, Sullivan, Malony, Thornell, Anderson, and Koersten, residents on " Bembridge Estate," requesting early attention by council to bad road on north side of the estate before the winter sets in. (28)  

Eight years later in 1917 the Engineer for the Shire of Frankston and Hastings presented this report on the road to The Saltmans - 

This road traverses a wet, peaty flat and no useful results would be obtained by forming the road unless it is drained and gravelled. This work would cost say £200. Some useful work could be done by forming about 15 chains of the Bungower road at the Eastern end. This work would only cost £6. A motion to work on the 15 chains of road was carried. (29)

In May 1945, the Frankston Standard reported that -

The Bembridge roads are in a bad state, and to obtain improvements the Centre Riding councillors (Messrs. Noble, Firth and Webb), and the shire engineer were invited to meet the Progress Association in Bembridge. About 12 members met the councillors, engineer and assistant engineer, and after a discussion the party set off on a tour of inspection of the different roads. On the tour Messrs. Rolfe and Elliott acted as spokesmen for the residents, and put the case for improvements, which were promised on different roads, also drains to be cleaned and culverts repaired. The councillors said improvements would be carried out as soon as possible if the residents would help with the labor problem. (30)

By 1948 the area actually had a bus service, but the roads were still so bad that, as reported in the Dandenong Journal, residents were in danger of losing the Frankston-Bembridge bus service because of the bad state of Boundary Rd  between Robinson’s Rd. and Golf Links Road. (31)

Government Services

A convenient service to the locals was provided by the Government in late 1937 when a rural mail delivery service was established (32) with Charles Roach being the first delivery man. His memories of this are published in Lelia Shaw's book The Way We Were -

I organised the first Road-side Postal service from Somerville via Frankston/Flinders Road, Dandenong Road, Pikes Road, Witney's Road, Bungower Road and  return to Tooadin -Tyabb Road and right to Boundary road and end of run.....When the Postal Inspector came around, he altered some of it and said that those living off the road in isolated houses could put their mail box on the roadway as set out. I was not allowed to go to isolated boxes.

I won the first contract in 1937 and delivered the main and daily papers on a push bike. The roads in those days were bad and hard on the bike when loaded......When I first started, I think it was over 20 miles...a big  post box was erected on on the corner of Bungower  Road and Tooradin-Tyabb Road and residents could post their letters there. I did the delivery for  fourteen years.... I was sick on two days during the 14 years and my niece did the delivery  one day and nephew the other day (Gwen and Lyall Roach) (33)

Gwen Roach, who helped her uncle out with his mail run, on her wedding day, October 6, 1945, to Frederick Stephen Piper.

Image and wedding report - Frankston Standard, October 18, 1945, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article75055339

Charles Roach's Mail Run map, as drawn by Leila Shaw.

Click on image to enlarge.

Image: The Way We Were by Leila Shaw (34)

Detail of the Bembridge section of Mr Roach's  Mail Run map, as drawn by Leila Shaw, showing the Hall location in  Bungower Road and the school location in Tyabb-Tooradin Road.

Click on image to enlarge.

Image: The Way We Were by Leila Shaw

In 1948,  the following letter was published  in the Frankston Standard regarding electricity supply (or lack thereof)

Sir,--It was a pleasure to read in this week's' "Standard" your outspoken comments regarding the lack of electricity on the farms throughout the Mornington Peninsula. People between Somerville, Tyabb and Bembridge have asked for it many times. Apart from the inconvenience of petrol irons and kerosene lamps, they are too expensive. Could the Commission help the farmers, who, if several yards off the road, are charged £36 or more to bring electricity to the house, and that, usually has to be paid within a month ? Could that money be spread over the five years, like the guarantee, as the initial expense has prevented many farmers having electricity installed?

Again thanking you for bringing to the fore such an important matter as the need for electricity on our farms.-Yours etc.,

G. A. CAMM, Somerville, 20/3/48 (35)

I have no information about when Bembridge was supplied with electricity.

War Service

I can find two men with a Bembridge connection (apart from Clement Greenwood, the first teacher at the school, whom I have written about in the School history, here) who enlisted in World War Two, but there would be more than that - nearly 200 men who were born in Somerville enlisted and over seventy men had Somerville as their address on enlistment (36) and some of these men would have been from Bembridge. The ones we know about are Sergeant Jim Coghlan (VX126854 (V80138) and Corporal Cedric Rolfe (VX5678) (37)

Sergeant Jim Coghlan

Weekly Times, December 6, 1941 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article224829265

Corporal Cedric Rolfe

Frankston Standard, January 7, 1944 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article75049137

Last Reference

The last reference on Trove I can find to Bembridge is in August 1952, referring of the appointment of  Stanley Spencer to the school;  as it turned out he was the last teacher at the School, so that seems appropriate (38). We'll finish off this potted history of Bembridge with the following report  which appeared in the Country News section of The Age in 1941 - 

With the aid of traps and ferrets, a Bembridge trapper caught 500 rabbits at Bembridge in two days.(39)

Many rabbits

The Age, August 22, 1941 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article205172951

Bembridge is remembered today by Bembridge Road, which runs off Tooradin-Tyabb Road. A Bembridge golf course was located on Bembridge Road from 1995 until around  2019. It is now Mornington Green Cemetery.

This short history of the Bembridge area and is a companion post to my history of the Bembridge State School, No. 4557, which operated from 1937 until 1953. You can read this here. 

Trove list - I have created a list of articles from Trove, on Bembridge. Access it here. 

Footnotes

(1) Mills, A.D A dictionary of British Place names (Oxford University Press, 2003)

(2) Shaw, Lelia The way we were: adventures, feats and experiences of pioneering families of the Mornington Peninsula (Somerville, Tyabb & District Heritage Society, 1998). Map is from page 6.

(3) The Argus, February 15, 1895, see here. 

(4) The Argus, February 2, 1898, see here.

(5) Mornington Standard, January 14, 1905, see here.

(6) Mornington Standard, November 15, 1902, see here.

(7) Frankston and Somerville Standard, January 23, 1932, see here.

(8) Frankston and Somerville Standard, November 2, 1934, see here.

(9) Frankston and Somerville Standard, December 11, 1936, see here.

(10) The Australasian, March 17, 1906,  see here.

(11) The Age, January 3, 1906, see here.

(12) The Age, March 7, 1906, see here.

(13) The Argus, April 1, 1907, see here.

(14) Weekly Times, April 27, 1907, see here.

(15) Mornington Standard, January 27, 1912, see here.

(16) Mornington and Dromana Standard, October 8, 1910, see here.

(17) Frankston and Somerville Standard, May 21, 1937, see here.

(18) Electoral Rolls on Ancestry.com

(19) Frankston Standard, July 26, 1945, see here.

(20) Frankston Standard, February 22, 1945, see here.

(21)  Bembridge School Building files at the Public Records Office of Victoria - VPRS 795/P0000, 4557 (1936-1956 and 1960-1961)

(22) Frankston Standard, January 21, 1944, see here.

(23) Frankston Standard, February 4, 1944, see here.

(24) Shaw, Lelia, op. cit., p. 191

(25) Frankston Standard, February 11, 1944, see here.

(25) Frankston Standard, March 15, 1945, see here.

(27) Frankston Standard, May 3, 1945, see here.

(28) Mornington and Dromana Standard, May 8, 1909, see here.

(29) Mornington Standard, September 15, 1917, see here.

(30) Frankston Standard, May 31, 1945, see here.

(31) Dandenong Journal, February 18, 1948, see here.

(321) Frankston and Somerville Standard, January 21, 1938, see here.

(33) Shaw, Lelia, op. cit., pp 190-192

(34) Shaw, Lelia, op. cit., p. 191

(35) Frankston Standard, April 1, 1948, see here.

(36) Weekly Times, December 6, 1941, see here; Frankston Standard, January 7, 1944, see here 

(37) https://nominal-rolls.dva.gov.au/ww2 

(38) The Argus, August 5, 1952, see here

(39) The Age, August 22, 1941, see here.

(40) https://www.thehotelconversation.com.au/news/2019/08/05/nine-hole-golf-course-sale-melbournes-mornington-peninsula/1564984510; https://www.mpnews.com.au/2022/02/08/ashes-to-forests-eco-friendly-burials/ 

The Leah family of Mordialloc make the news

On August 12, 1939 Mr Harry Leah of 18 William Street, Mordialloc featured in an article on the front page of The Herald under the headline – 9ft Octopus caught: Dog Saved from Tentacles –

A 9ft. octopus seized and overpowered a heavy Airedale dog in 18 inches of water at Mordialloc today. The dog was rescued by its owner Mr Harry Leah, an elderly man, who fought the octopus with a garden fork. He dragged the octopus ashore, still wrapped around the dog, and killed it.

After the dog had run into the shallow water, chasing seagulls, its barking led Mr Leah to run in to see what the matter was. Then he ran to his home, which faced the beach, and got the fork. Fishermen said the octopus was the biggest they had seen in the Bay for years. They had never found one in such shallow water.

Apparently some unusual combination of tide and wind had denied the octopus its usual food, and it came in scouting for beach scraps. It weighed about 40 lb. The picture shows all the actors in the drama - and the pitchfork. (1)

Harry and his Airedale, and the octopus and the pitchfork.

This photo is from the Weekly Times, but the same photo accompanied The Herald article, but this one is clearer. 

Weekly Times, August 19, 1939 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article224431961

This wasn’t the first time the Leah family had an unusual experience, as on October 29, 1936 the following article appeared in the Sun News-Pictorial –
35 ft. Tree Shattered Mysteriously In Storm. Fragments Fly 400 Yards. Fence Torn Down, But House Undamaged -

After a loud clap of thunder, a tree in the front garden of a house in William Street, Mordialloc, was uprooted and shattered into hundreds of pieces, just before 4 p.m. yesterday. Fragments of the tree, which was nearly 35ft. in height, were hurled over an area of 400 yards. The house is occupied by Mr. Jackson.

Two heavy red gum gate posts and a section of cyclone fencing were torn down, but no damage was done to the house itself, which was only 35ft. from where the tree stood.

No Lightning Seen.
“There was no flash of lightning at the time - just a terrific clap such as is heard during blasting operations, and the tree was blown into hundreds of pieces,” said Mr. Jackson later. Mrs. Eva Jackson, his wife, and her mother, Mrs. Elizabeth Leah, were in the house at the time. Mrs. Leah, who has been ill for some time, was in bed in a front room when the incident occurred. She suffered a severe shock. (2)

Shattered in a sudden storm about 4 p.m. yesterday, a large honeysuckle tree at the home of Mr. E. Jackson, in Williams Street, Mordialloc, was distributed in pieces over an area of hundreds of square yards. Large fragments of the wood were found 400 yards away. No one was injured, and there were no actual eye-witnesses of the occurrence.

The Suns News-Pictorial, October 29, 1936 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article277599099

Fragments of a large honeysuckle tree which apparently was struck in a storm in Williams Street,

Mordialloc, yesterday afternoon. These were found 400 yards from the trunk of the tree.

The Suns News-Pictorial, October 29, 1936 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article277599099

Harry Leah was born in Macclesfield, in Cheshire England, in 1869 the second last of the eight children of Martin Leah, a carpenter, and his wife Mary. Harry took up the occupation of a blacksmith and in 1889 he married Elizabeth Hannah Stanley. Elizabeth, born 1867, was the eldest of the seven children of John and Nancy (nee Holding) Stanley. She was born in Gorton, Lancashire. Her father had various and varied occupations, as listed in the England Census – an iron turner; a Publican and in 1891 a dress skirt maker. (3)

Harry and Elizabeth’s marriage took place at Droyslden, near Manchester, and their only child, Eva, was born in next year in Openshaw, which is two miles from Droyslden. In the 1911 English Census, Harry, Elizabeth and Eva were living at 14 Half Moon Street in Dunkinfield, a town four miles from Openshaw. Harry was recorded as operating a Shoeing Smith. (4)

In 1912 the family moved to Melbourne to Glebe Avenue in Cheltenham, where Harry carried on the trade of a farrier. On June 11, 1913 Eva married Enos Jackson at St Matthew’s Anglican Church in Cheltenham. Eva was 22 years old and Enos, who had been born in Hurst in Lancashire, was a 25 year old clerk. (5). Enos was later listed in the Electoral Rolls and a draughtsman, and later still as a Clerk of Works; he was employed by John S. Metcalf & Co., Engineers, who specialized in designing systems for the bulk handling of grain and grain elevators. (6)

Application for copyright of  plan entitled New South Wales Country Grain Silos. No 5 - Formation plan. Enos Jackson of Wilson Street, Cheltenham  is listed as the author; the applicant being John S. Metcalf & Co. 

National Archives of Australia, Series A1336 - see full document here - https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=3437767 

Harry, Elizabeth, Eva and Enos moved to Wilson Street Mordialloc around 1915 (7) and this was, as we saw, where they were all living when the tree shattered and when Harry’s dog was taken by the Octopus. If you are wondering why William Street can no longer be found in Mordialloc, in the late 1940s the name of the street was changed to Bowman Street. (8)

William Street shown in the 1945 Collins' Melbourne and suburban street directory, on map 6

State Library of Victoria https://www.slv.vic.gov.au/search-discover/popular-digitised-collections

Bowman Street shown in the 1949 Collins' Melbourne and suburban street directory, on map 6

State Library of Victoria https://www.slv.vic.gov.au/search-discover/popular-digitised-collections

Elizabeth died only two months after the shock of the tree incident from heart trouble on December 29, 1936, at the age of 69. She was buried at the Cheltenham Memorial Park. Harry died on April 5, 1943, aged 74, and is buried with Elizabeth. Eva and Enos did not have any children and they died in 1964 and 1962 respectively and were both cremated at Springvale Crematorium. (9)

Footnotes

(1) The Herald, August 12, 1939, see here; Article: Weekly Times, August 19, 1939, see here; Image: Weekly Times, August 19, 1939, see here

(2) Sun News-Pictorial, October 29, 1936, see here; images - Suns News-Pictorial, October 29, 1936, see here.

(3) From Ancestry.com - Census Records, England; England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837-1915; England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1837-1915

(4) From Ancestry.com - Census Records, England; England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837-1915; England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1837-1915

(5) Electoral Rolls on Ancestry.com; Marriage certificate of Eva and Enos; 

(6)  Copyright application from John S. Metcalf & Co., National Archives of Australia, see here; John S. Metcalf & Co. - The Argus, March 29, 1916, see here; The Argus, March 30, 1916, see here; The Age, January 19, 1917, see here; The Argus, January 31, 1917, see here; Adelaide Register, April 30, 1918, see here; Maryborough Chronicle (Qld), September 23, 1921, see here.
(7)  Electoral Rolls on Ancestry.com

(8) Listed as Williams Street in the 1945 Sands and McDougall Melbourne and Suburban Directory as as Bowman Street in the 1950 one.

Harry Leah at No. 18 - 1945 Sands and McDougall Melbourne and Suburban Directory

State Library of Victoria https://www.slv.vic.gov.au/search-discover/popular-digitised-collections

Enos Jackson at No. 18 - 1950 Sands and McDougall Melbourne and Suburban Directory

https://www.slv.vic.gov.au/search-discover/popular-digitised-collections

(9) Death certificate of Elizabeth Hannah Leah; Harry Leah's death notice in The Age, April 7, 1943, see here; Friends of Cheltenham & Regional Cemeteries database https://www.focrc.org/; Eva Jackson's Death certificate; Springvale Botanical Cemetery database   https://www.smct.org.au/deceased-search

Harry Leah's death notice

The Age, April 7, 1943 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article20684331

Daughters of a Convict - Sarah Simonson (1864-1923), Isabella Grant (1867-1928) and Hannah Monash (1869-1931)

Sisters Sarah Simonson (1864-1923), Isabella Grant (1867-1928) and Hannah Monash (1869-1931) are buried at the Brighton General  Cemetery. They are the daughters of Moton Moss and Rebecca Alexander. I wrote about the sisters for the Brighton Cemetorians newsletter, The Cemetorian, and this is an extended version of that article. I came across this family as I have an interest in place names and World War One soldiers and wrote about the streets in St Kilda named after Crimean War battles and soldiers - streets such as Alma, Inkerman, Balaclava and Malakoff. And because I like the sound of the word Malakoff I wrote about the Great War soldiers who had enlisted from Malakoff Street in both St Kilda and Caulfield. I discovered that Sarah Simonson lived for a time at 17 Malakoff Street in Caulfield, had two sons who enlisted and that they were the nephews of General Sir John Monash; and then discovered that Isabella Grant lived with Sarah at 17 Malakoff Street and that her husband also served in the War. You can read this post here. 

We will start this story with the father of Sarah, Isabella and Hannah, Moton Moss - and who in various sources is sometimes called Martin and sometimes Morton.

In 1824, Moton Moss was sentenced to seven years transportation to Van Diemen’s Land for stealing two bags of seeds valued at eight shillings. He arrived on the Medway in December 1825. He served his time, returned to England, was charged with theft again and was transported again, on the Lotus, to Hobart arriving in May 1833. He received his certificate of freedom in 1839. (1)

Moton's obituary in The Herald, in June 1879 notes he was a well-known and old established colonist, with whose doings nearly everyone is familiar and that he was born in London on June 7, 1800. It makes no reference to his convict past, but that he arrived in Melbourne from Tasmania in 1852 opening a small drapery warehouse at the corner of Bourke and Elizabeth streets ... During the days of the diggings he carried on business with varied success, and afterwards left that place and went to Sydney, where, after remaining for a short time he returned  to the colony, and opened business as a merchant in 1861, which he carried on up to the time of his death. He dealt largely in mining shares, and was also interested in most of the Banking and Insurance Companies in Melbourne ... His presence at the various auction rooms in town was always a source of pleasantry to those engaged there, his humor and good nature never deserting him up to the last ... He is one of the largest city property holders here, and leaves a considerable amount of money to his widow and children, by whom his death was much regretted, although not altogether unexpected, he having reached the ripe age of 79 years. (2)

Dr Sue Silberberg in her book A Networked Community, notes that by the early 1860s Moton had acquired around 50 parcels of land in Carlton, East Melbourne, Fitzroy and South Melbourne. (3)  When he died in 1879 Moton still had substantial land holdings mainly vacant blocks in country towns - Wallan and Epping were two of them - as well as various urban properties such as the Wexford Arms Hotel in Lonsdale Street, the White Hotel in Nunawading, the Rose and Crown Hotel in Flemington Road, and shops and houses. (4)

Moton was married to Rebecca Abrahams, who had been born in London to Isaac and Susan (nee Levy) Alexander.  Rebecca had previously married Isaac Abrahams in Sydney in about 1846, when she was 17 years old. They had three sons - Isaac, Morris and Jacob. Her husband died when the boys were little, and she was still only 23 when she married Moton. (5)

Moton and Rebecca had four children. Their son David, was on September 28, 1857 at 119 Elizabeth Street and he died in Sydney in September 7, 1906. (6)  Their three daughters were - Sarah Maria, born on January 31, 1864 at 124 Collins Street; Isabella Deborah, born in April 1867 at 3 Alfred Place, Victoria Street, Carlton and Hannah Victoria on September 30, 1869, also at 3 Alfred Place. (7)

Hannah is the best known as she was the wife of General Sir John Monash, who needs no introduction. They had married at the Freemasons Hall in Collins Street on April 8, 1891 in a service, conducted by Rabbi Solomon M. Solomon. Hannah was 21 and John was 25. They had one daughter Bertha on January 22, 1893. Hannah died on February 27, 1920 at her home Iona, in Toorak. Her service was conducted by Rabbi Dr Joseph Abrahams. (8)  Rabbi Abrahams had recently retired as the senior minister of the Melbourne Hebrew Congregation and only two weeks before the funeral had addressed a large crowd at the Prahran Town Hall at a function held by the Jewish Community to welcome General Monash on his return from active service abroad. (9). Hannah is buried in a double grave at Brighton Cemetery,  with her husband, who died in October 8, 1931. (10)

Hannah Victoria Monash

Image: Monash University Archives

The middle sister, Isabella, married James Peter Grant, a Quantity Surveyor on July 13, 1901, when she was 34 and he was 27. They were married by the Registrar of Marriages, Edward Shattock, at his office in Ascot Vale. (11) The marriage was not successful and they separated some years later and there were no children. When James enlisted in the A.I.F at the age of 41 in April 1916, he was living in New South Wales and he listed his sister, Miss Mary Theresa Grant f Malvern, as his next of kin. James was wounded in action whilst fighting in France - a gunshot wound to the right leg, which led to amputation – and died as a result two days later on April 7, 1918.  After his death the issue arose as to who should receive his medals. There are a series of letters in his file at the National Archives of Australia from both women supporting their claim and finally in July 1921 the decision was made that his widow, Isabella, should receive the medals. I have written more about James Grant's war service in my Malakoff Street soldiers post, here. (12)

In the 1910s Isabella lived at various addresses in Prahran or St Kilda; but in the 1920s she was living at Belle Vista in Parliament Place, East Melbourne. This was an up-market boarding house, located in the Tasma Terrace buildings. Isabella died March 24, 1928, aged 60.  She was buried the next day at Brighton Cemetery and her funeral service was conducted by Rabbi Solomon M. Solomon,  of the Melbourne Hebrew Congregation, who had conducted the marriage service of her sister, Hannah, and the funeral service of her brother-in-law, Max Simonson (more of whom later) (13) 

Rabbi Solomon died in March 1941 and The Argus had this short obituary-

Rev. Solomon Mark Solomon, who died yesterday at Hamilton Russell House, Alfred Hospital, aged 83 years, was chaplain-colonel of the Australian Militia Forces. His life was marked by many varied activities and for nearly half a century was secretary and assistant minister to the Melbourne Hebrew Congregation. He was also secretary of the Melbourne Jewish Friendly Society. The Boy Scout movement claimed much of his time, and for his services was presented with the gold award. For many years he was treasurer and trustee of Mintern Boys' Home, Frankston. He was a Freemason and a member of the Australia Natives Association. He leaves a widow, four daughters and three sons. (14)

Moton Moss died on June 12, 1879 and his wife Rebecca on July 24, 1882 at the age of 53, they are buried at the Melbourne General Cemetery. At the time of Rebecca's death the three daughters were still under the age of 21 and Rebecca’s will listed Abraham Loel and Dr Walter Balls Headley as  Executors of her Will and Trustees of her Estate. (15)  

Who were these men who were entrusted to look after 18-year old Sarah, 15-year old Isabella and 12-year old Hannah? 

Abraham Loel was a clothier of Bourke Street.  He was in partnership with Jacob Abraham Cantor and in 1877 they undertook renovations to their building as reported in The Herald -

As the city progresses and people regard the smaller and less ornamental buildings in the principal streets as eye-sores, it is interesting to note the improvements which are taking place, from time to time, in our street architecture. The latest improvement of this sort has been effected at the establishment of Messrs Cantor and Loel, clothiers and outfitters, in Bourke street, opposite the General Post Office. The firm have erected an additional storey to their establishment, which now comprises three, and ornamented the front of the building with a great "Crystal Palace" window, which is very attractive, Messrs. Cantor and Loel's establishment, which is now one of the finest in Bourke street, comprises, in its altered condition, a shop on the ground floor, well lighted, 100ft by 50ft, a room overhead of similar dimensions used as a show-room, and for cutting and fitting on garments; and a third storey, containing a room 40 feet square, used as a workshop. (16)  

The partnership, which also operated under the names of the Crystal Palace Clothing Company and the Beehive Clothing Company, split up in May 1888. Abraham Loel was a Freemason (as was Jacob Cantor) and at one time the Worshipful Master of the Lodge of Australia Felix No. 474. (17)  Mr Loel died in December 1910 and the Jewish Herald reported - Mr. Abraham Loel, an old colonist, and at one time prominently connected with the East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation, died on Monday last at the age of seventy-four years. Formerly well-to-do, misfortune over took him, and his declining days were passed in reduced circumstances, cheered however, by the sympathy of his co-religionists, by whom his kindly character was appreciated. (18) 

The other executor was Dr Walter Headley Balls. Dr Balls Headley trained as doctor in England, after his arrival in Australia worked in Queensland and then Melbourne where he was at the Womens' Hospital from 1878 until 1900. He was also a lecturer in obstetric medicine and diseases of women and children at the University of Melbourne and was considered to be the leading gynaecologist in Melbourne. (19) In 1905, Dr Balls Headley was elected as Grand Master of the Free and Accepted Masons of Victoria. He died in Canada in 1918. (20) 

It would be interesting to know why they were both selected to be the guardians of the three Moss sisters and executors of Rebecca's estate. I presume that Moton and Abraham Loel were connected through business. Loel and Balls Headley were both Freemasons, so there is that connection between them.  I have found no evidence that Moton Moss was a Freemason, even though his daughter Hannah was married at the Freemasons Hall, and John Monash was not a Freemason. (21)

One of the first duties of the Executors in October 1882 was to sell by auction Rebecca’s Most magnificent and unique assemblage of rare and valuable diamonds ever witnessed at one time in the history of the Colony – the advertisement itemises some of the individual pieces including flawless diamonds of eight to twelve carats and stones that had formed part of the diadems of Rajahs. (22) This collection along with Moton’s property portfolio certainly indicates that he made the most of his opportunities after his start in the country as a convict.  

Part of the advertisement for the sale of Rebecca Moss' Diamond collection

The Argus, October 18, 1882 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article11556290

Another duty of Mr Loel and Dr Balls Headley was to give permission for Moton and Rebecca’s daughter, Sarah, to marry. She was 19 at the time and they are both listed on her marriage certificate as her guardians. Sarah married 32-year old, Max Michaelis Gabriel Simonson, on January 9, 1884 at the family home, Elsinore in Robe Street, St Kilda. The service was conducted by Rabbi Elias Blaubaum, of the St Kilda Hebrew Congregation. (23) Incidentally,  two days after the wedding, the valuable household furniture and effects of Elsinore sold at a public auction. (24).  I wonder where Isabella and Hannah lived then; perhaps with Sarah and Max.

 

Part of the Marriage Certificate of Sarah Moss and Max Simonson

Click on image to enlarge

Sarah's husband, Maximilian Simonson (but nearly always referred to as Max),  was a merchant and importer and he had been born in Christburg, West Prussia. He arrived in Victoria in June 1878, from London. He was naturalized in March 1894, when he was 42 years old. (25)

Part of Max Simonson's Naturalization file

National Archives of Australia

  https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=1792995

Click on image to enlarge

Max and Sarah had six children all born in Brighton - 

Vera Amelie, born November 22, 1884 at Park Street, Middle Brighton; Karl Jacob born September 19, 1886 at Middle Brighton;  Leopold John  on July 2, 1888 at Karlvera, Church Street, Middle Brighton; Doris Belle on January 9, 1892 at Karlvera;  Eric Loudon, on January 23, 1894 at Kalvera and Paul William  on November 9, 1895 at Karlvera. There is more detail about their lives in  footnote (26)

Miss Vera Simonson, Sarah and Max's daughter, on her wedding day to Stephen Prowse, 

on August 6, 1913.

Punch, October 9, 1913 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article176550218

Eric and Paul both served in World War One and both also served as Aide de Camp (ADC) to their uncle, General Monash. I have written more about their military service in my Malakoff Street soldiers post, here.

Max Simonson died on September 30, 1920 at St Helen’s Licenced House, Woods Street, Preston. This was a hospital for mental cases, as reported in one newspaper. His Inquest noted that he had been admitted to St Helens in December 1915, and that he died of heart disease and disease of the brain and that he was 69 years old. His burial service was conducted by, as we know,  Rabbi Solomon M. Solomon.  Sarah Simonson died on September 4, 1923 at her home at 60 Coppin Street, East Malvern. Her funeral held two days later was conducted by Rabbi Israel Brodie of the Melbourne Hebrew Congregation. She is buried in a double grave at the Brighton Cemetery with her husband Max. (27)

This, then, is the story of the Moss sisters, who are a perfect examples of how having a father who was a transported convict was no barrier to marrying a respectable husband and making a successful life for themselves and their children. Moton is an example of how many convicts thrived in Australia after they had done their time. Having said that, transportation didn't always work out well for everyone.  George Moss, the brother of Moton, was also transported to Van Diemen's Land, in 1831. He along with seven others stole a boat from Port Arthur and managed to sail it all the way to Twofold Bay, near Eden, in New South Wales, where they were captured. George was sent to Norfolk Island after this and was shot and killed when he and others tried to steal another boat. (28)


Footnotes
(1) These are the names: Jewish lives in Australia, 1788-1850 by John S. Levi (Miegunyah Press, 2013), pp 622-623.

(2) The Herald, June 12, 1879, see here.

(3) Networked Community: Jewish Melbourne in the Nineteenth Century by Sue Silberberg (Melbourne University Press, 2020), p. 147.  It was footnote 46, on page 173 of Dr Silberberg's book which alerted me to Moton's entry in These are the names as Moton is called Martin/Morton in the book.

(4) Moton's Will and Probate papers at the Public Records Office of Victoria.

(5) Death certificate of Rebecca Moss.

(6) David - Birth notice - The Age, September 29, 1857, see here; Death notice - The Argus, September 10, 1906, see here.

(7) Birth notices - Sarah - The Argus, February 1, 1864, see here; Isabella - The Argus, April 20, 1867, see here ; Hannah - The Argus, October 1, 1869, see here.

(8) Hannah - Marriage certificate and Death Certificate; General Monash's entry in Australian Dictionary of Biography https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/monash-sir-john-7618 

(9) Jewish Herald, July 11, 1919, see here; Jewish Herald, February 20, 1920, see here - ;

(10) Brighton Cemetorians database https://www.brightoncemetorians.org.au/ 

(11)  Isabella - Marriage certificate.

(12) James Peter Grant - (Service Number 2322) Service Record at the National Archives of Australia.

(13) Electoral Rolls on Ancestry.com; Tasma Terrace - https://www.nationaltrust.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Womens-Melbourne-Walks-Part-2_B5_reducedsize.pdf Death Certificate of Isabella.

(14) The Argus, March 10, 1941, see here.

(15) The Herald, June 12, 1879, see here;  Death Certificate - Rebecca Moss; Rebecca's  Will and Probate papers at the Public Records Office of Victoria.

(16) The Herald, June 21, 1877, see here.

(17) The Argus, June 6, 1888, see here; Jewish Herald, December 12, 1884, see here.

(18) Jewish Herald, December 23, 1910, see here.

(19) Australian Dictionary of Biography entry - https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/ballsheadley-walter-2926

(20) Weekly Times, January 7, 1905, see here.

(21) Ancestry.com has two databases - United Grand Lodge of England Freemason Membership Registers, 1751-1921 and the Grand Lodge of Freemasons of Ireland Membership Registers, 1733-1923. All Australian Lodges were connected to these two Grand Lodges and their membership registers are on-line. 

(22) The Argus, October 18, 1882, see here.

(23) Sarah - Wedding Certificate

(24) The Argus, January 8, 1884, see here.

(25) Naturalisation  papers at the National Archives of Australia - https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=1792995

(26) Vera - Birth notice - The Argus, November 24, 1884, see here; Vera married Stephen Robert Prowse on August 6, 1913 - there is a report of the wedding in Punch, August 21, 1913, see here. Vera died in Caulfield on August 16, 1952 and is buried at the Melbourne General Cemetery - The Argus, August 18, 1952, see here.

Karl - Birth Notice - The Argus, September 20, 1886, see here;  Karl married Alice Christina Redfern in 1918; he died in 1964 in Toorak and was cremated at Springvale Cemetery.

Leopold -  Birth notice - The Argus, July 9, 1888, see here; Leopold married Grace Alice Zwar at the Broadford Presbyterian Church  - report Broadford Courier, October 25, 1912, see here. Leopold died in New South Wales in 1960.

Doris - The Argus, January 16, 1892, see here; Doris died in Caulfield on June 20, 1945 and is buried at the Melbourne General Cemetery - The Argus, June 22, 1945, see here.

Eric - The Argus, February 3, 1894, see here;  Eric married Olive Marjorie Jenkins September 17, 1923 at Scots Church in Collins Street - wedding report The Herald, September 18, 1923, see here; they were divorced in 1931 - see Divorce file at Public Records Office of Victoria   https://prov.vic.gov.au/archive/88719579-F371-11E9-AE98-0DE8EADA793B?image=1  Eric died on July 17, 1954  and was cremated at Springvale Cemetery.  Death notice - The Herald, July 19, 1954, see here 

Paul - couldn't find a  birth notice; his birth comes from the Scotch College website https://portal.scotch.vic.edu.au/ww1/honour/simonsonPW.htm  Paul married Beatrice Fleming Inglis in London at the Registry Office,  on March 15, 1919. He died on March 31, 1966 and was cremated at Springvale Cemetery.

(27) Death Certificates of  Max and Sarah; Preston Leader, September 2, 1918, see here; Max's Inquest at the Public Records Office of Victoria https://prov.vic.gov.au/archive/0DC74D0E-F1C4-11E9-AE98-316C163776B2?image=1;  Brighton Cemetorians database https://www.brightoncemetorians.org.au/

(28) These are the names: Jewish lives in Australia, 1788-1850, op. cit., p. 620.

Sarah Fagan (c. 1790-1879)

Sarah Fagan, operated a hotel or a 'shanty' in Lyndhurst in the 1850s. Sarah had arrived in Victoria in 1853 and after her husband Alexander died in 1857 she opened her establishment in Lyndhurst (this part of Lyndhurst is now called Lynbrook). The building was located where the old ABC Lyndhurst Radio Station was, on the corner of the South Gippsland Highway and Hallam Road. Sarah had came to Victoria on the Earl of Charlemont, which sunk off Barwon Heads in June 1853. No lives were lost, however the passengers lost all their belongings. (1)  

Sarah Fagan (c. 1790-1879)

Image: The Good Country: Cranbourne Shire  by Niel Gunson (F.W Cheshire, 1968)

I first wrote about Mrs Fagan in 2018 and I was thrilled to receive an email from Dr Niel Gunson, the author of The Good Country: Cranbourne Shire on March 22, 2019 and he wrote this about Mrs Fagan, who was his great-grandmother -

I was delighted to see that you had contributed an article on Sarah Fagan to The Koo Wee Rup Blackfish (on line), also contained in the Casey-Cardinia blog, and am wondering if you got any feedback from descendants or local people. It is quite a few years since I investigated the Fagan family and at 88 with many other interests I doubt if I will be able to do much more. I have always avoided paying for genealogical research but in the case of the Fagans I admit to having paid for three reports from professional genealogists in Northern Ireland which provided general information but no family details. I finally gave up when I wrote to a hotel proprietor in Armagh where the Fagans had lived in an adjacent townland and asked him/her if they would put my letter on a notice board in their bar as all professional help had proved useless and it might be possible for a local patron to have knowledge of former families in the area. The lady proprietor thanked me for my letter and said she had forwarded it to the Ulster-Scot Historical Society!! Of course if I had known what I knew later I should have visited the areas where the Fagans lived when I visited Ireland in the 1950s.

I was intrigued and amused that you had promoted Sarah to hotel keeper as I always assumed she kept what was called a shanty and had no proper licence. I expect the Cobb & Co coaches changed horses there and travellers were able to get a snack (she was famous for her savoury delicacies) and the drivers and those in the know were given something strong to drink.

It was Margaret Clarke and her brother John who suggested that their parents should emigrate, and Sarah and the young ones came out before Alexander who remained behind to settle their affairs. I do not have a date for the arrival of the Clarkes in 1849 but you have provided a clue in regard to the birth of Mary Ann. I can tell you that Agnes (pet name Nancy) was born in County Down on 11 July 1839 (Nelson family bible) and I believe I have a correct birth date for Sarah Hall. I agree that the different dates are confusing. John Fagan never married and is buried in the same grave as Agnes and James Nelson at Lang Lang. I was told William Fagan did marry but they went to make their fortunes in Boulder City in WA and lost touch with their family in Victoria.

Dr Niel Gunson passed away on April 10, 2023 and he was always an inspiration to me. I had first learnt about Mrs Fagan from his book, The Good Country: Cranbourne Shire. This is what he has to say about the Fagan family in his book -
Another buyer [of land in the Cranbourne area] in 1852 was Colin Crillie Clarke of 'Beaulieu'(1807-1880) who had arrived in the late 'forties. A man of some education; he is said to have been either a remittance man or a school teacher. At 'Beaulieu' he experimented with viticulture and made his own wine. In later life, he was regarded as a somewhat eccentric recluse, and a story widely held, is that on his deathbed he was unable to tell his wife or family where his cache of sovereigns was hidden. Margaret Fagan, his wife, was a North of Ireland woman. Her father and brother, John, had arrived several years earlier and they sent for Mrs Fagan at Clonvaraghan to bring out the remaining members of the family. Mrs Fagan came out by the Earl of Charlemont which was wrecked off Point Henry [sic] in June 1853. All the passengers were saved and no personal property was retrieved. Alexander Fagan died at Lyndhurst in 1857; the sons farmed Algernon Lindsay's property. The widow occupied the block adjoining, known locally as Fagan's Hill (Lyndhurst Radio Station). Here she is said to have dispensed the 'water of life' to the coach drivers who stopped at her house. A colourful character she was known as Granny Fagan and William Greaves (d. 1935) remembered receiving 'many a tasty portion from her kindly hands' when on messaged for his mother. Both she and her other daughters, Mrs George Hall and Mrs Nelson shared a reputation for two things: generosity and kindness to the deserving stranger and fearlessness in rebuking injustice or cruelty. These good women were also marathon walkers, Mrs Hall walking from Narre Warren to Dandenong (at the age of 80) shortly before her death. Part of Clarke's 'Beaulieu' was leased to George Hall and James Henderson and later bought by the Facey family. Colin Clarke's daughter Jane was a talented artist and her paintings of Western Port and Gippsland scenes were at one time exhibited in Melbourne. (2)

Just a note on location names -  Dr Gunson wrote -  Alexander Fagan died at Lyndhurst in 1857; the sons farmed Algernon Lindsay's property.  As we will discover, Sarah Fagan died in 1879 at  Eumemmerring, where she was living with her son William. This is actually the same property, as the Cranbourne Shire Rate books show that John and William Fagan were still leasing the Lindsay property until the 1879/1880 rate year; and the property was in the part of the Eumemmerring Parish which is in the Shire of Cranbourne. The other part of the Eumemmering Parish is in the Shire of Berwick.

Entry for John and William Fagan in the Cranbourne Rate books, 1878/1879; 279 acres leased from Algernon Lindsay.

Click on image to enlarge.

Alexander Fagan died on March 8, 1857 aged 65. His death certificate lists his birth place as County Down in Ireland and his parents as John Fagan, a farmer, and Mary Gatt. The certificate also notes that Alexander had married Sarah in 1826 in County Down; and had lived in Victoria for two and half years at the time of his death (3). Sarah Fagan was born Sarah Jones in Northern Ireland. On her Death Certificate her father is listed as Evan Jones, a farmer, and her mother as Sarah (with no maiden name listed). (4)

Sarah died at the age of 89 on January 12, 1879 at Eumemmerring and her son, William, also of Eumemmerring was the informant. Her occupation was grazier. Alexander and Sarah are buried at the Dandenong Cemetery and in both cases the service was conducted by the Reverend Alexander Duff, the Presbyterian Minister. (5)  Their children, as listed on Sarah's death certificate were Mary Ann, aged 58; Margaret, 56; John 54; William, 52; Sarah 50 and Nancy (also known as Agnes) 48. According to the shipping records at the Public Records Office of Victoria Sarah was 58 when she arrived in 1853 on the ill fated Earl of Charlemont. If this age is correct then Sarah was born around 1795, even though her age at death makes her birth date 1790. Also on the ship were three of her children - William, aged 17; Sarah, aged 16 and Ann aged 12. (6) As you will see below there are a lot of discrepancies in the birth dates of the Fagan family, depending on what source you use.

Entry for Sarah Fagan and her children

Earl of Charlemont passenger list

Unassisted Passenger lists, Public Records Office of Victoria VPRS 947/P0000, Jun - Jul 1853.

Click on image to enlarge.

We will have a look in detail at the children of Sarah and Alexander -
Mary Ann - born c. 1821, if the age as listed is correct on Sarah's death certificate. This is, however, five years before 1826, the date of Sarah and Alexander's marriage, as listed on his death certificate. I have no other details at the moment. I wonder if she came to Australia?

Margaret - born c. 1822, died on December 15, 1889 aged 67. Once again, Margaret's birth took place a few years before her parents stated 1826 wedding date, so this does throw doubt on the veracity of the 1826 date. Margaret was the wife of Colin Crillie Clarke (1807-1880) who as we saw before, had arrived in Victoria in the 'late forties'. We can actually narrow this date down to 1849 as their daughter, Mary Ann, was born 'at sea' in 1849. Mary Ann died in 1866 aged 16. They had one other daughter, Jane, who was born in 1868 at Cranbourne and died at the age of 25 in December 20, 1893. She was the 'talented artist' that Dr Gunson refers to in the excerpt, above. (7)

Death notice of Margaret Clarke (nee Fagan)

South Bourke and Mornington Journal December 18, 1889 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article70396871

Funeral notice of Margaret Clarke (nee Fagan)

The Age, December 17, 1889 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article197501225

John - born c. 1826, died in June 1, 1917 aged 90 at Bay View, Lang Lang.  John never married and he is buried, as noted by Dr Gunson, in the same grave as Agnes and James Nelson (sister and brother-in-law) at Lang Lang. (8)

Obituary of John Fagan

Lang Lang Guardian, June 6, 1917 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article119514446

William - born c. 1827 according to his mother's death certificate or 1836 according to the shipping record. William was living on the farm he and his brother rented in  Lyndhurst in 1879 as  his mother died at this property, but as noted by Dr Gunson in his email -  I was told William Fagan did marry but they went to make their fortunes in Boulder City in WA and lost touch with their family in Victoria. As the brothers are not listed in the rate books after 1880, it is possible William moved to Western Australia at this time.

Sarah - died  on June 11, 1915 aged 80, which means she was born c. 1835 or 1829 according to her mother's death certificate or 1837 according to the shipping record. Sarah was the one who used to walk from Narre Warren to Dandenong! Sarah married George Hall in 1855. They were the first name on the Cranbourne Presbyterian Church Marriage Register, as noted in  history of the church published in the Dandenong Journal in December, 1935. (9)

George Hall (died 1883, aged 48), and his son George, were pioneer bullock teamsters with teams of magnificent bullocks who made their own roads through the light timber county of the ranges, through to Scotty creek, now known as Emerald, and its vicinity. (10)  George and Sarah lived at Narre Warren North and their children were - Margaret (1856), George (c. 1858), Mary Ann (1863), Susan Emily (c. 1865), Annie (1869), Jane (c. 1870), William John (1871), Alexander (1873), and Herbert Henry (1876). (11). Jane married William Cadd of Clyde in 1887 and they lived on Patterson's Road. Sarah married, firstly, Thomas Williams, and when he died she operated the general store at Clyde. She married for the second time to Thomas Ridgway and they lived at Clyde. Thomas had been born at Clyde in 1860 to Anthony and Sophia (nee Cadd) Ridgway. (12)  

Obituary of Sarah Hall (nee Fagan)

South Bourke and Mornington Journal,  June 17, 1915 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article66187891

Agnes - died on June 17, 1914 aged 74, at Bay View, Lang Lang. As we saw, Dr Gunson said that Agnes was born in County Down on July 11, 1839.  Agnes married James Nelson (1831 - 1916) in 1855 when she was 16 years old. James was a blacksmith and his family had arrived in the Eumemmerring area in 1854; their property was where the General Motors-Holden factory was built in the 1950s (13).  In 1868 James, Agnes and their family moved to Bay View at Lang Lang. Dr Gunson writes that James Nelson  took to Lang Lang a modest library of theology and general works which he used to support his arguments with visiting clergymen. (14).  They had eleven children - Alexander (1856), Sarah (c.1858), James (1860), William (1862), John (1865), David (c. 1866), Elizabeth (1868), Mary (1871), Margaret (1875), Henry (1877) and Agnes (1879). (15) Sarah married Daniel Gunson (1847 - 1915) in 1882. He was a Methodist Minister whose parish went from Yannathan to the Powlett River (Wonthaggi) - it was fortunate for him that he was an experienced bushman (16).  Sarah and Daniel are the grandparents of Dr Gunson.  

The Bay View property is on the Cardinia Shire Heritage Scheme.(16)

Obituary of Agnes Nelson (nee Fagan)

Lang Lang Guardian June 24, 1914, p. 2

Trove list: 

I have created a short list of articles connected to the Fagan family on Trove, access the list here. 

Footnotes

(1) Report of ship wreck - The Argus, June 22, 1853, see here;  Bell of the ship in the Geelong Botanic Gardens -  The Age, April 28, 1934, see here; Centenary of the ship wreck The Age, November 14, 1953, see here. Information about the wreck of the Earl of Charlemont   https://environment.gov.au/shipwreck/public/wreck/wreck.do?key=6131 

(2) Gunson, Niel The Good Country: Cranbourne Shire (F.W Cheshire, 1968) pp, 57-58.

(3) Alexander Fagan - death certificate.

(4) Sarah Fagan - death certificate.

(5) Death Certificates of Alexander and Sarah. I have written about the Reverend Alexander Duff at the end of this post https://kooweerupswamphistory.blogspot.com/2021/12/cardinia-tree-plantation-in-honor-of.html

(6) Earl of Charlemont passenger list - Unassisted Passenger lists, Public Records Office of Victoria VPRS 947/P0000, Jun - Jul 1853

(7) Indexes to the Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages; Margaret Clarke death and funeral notice -  South Bourke and Mornington Journal December 18, 1889, see here; The Age, December 17, 1889, see here. Jane Clarke death notice - The Australasian, December 30, 1893, see here.

(8) Lang Lang Guardian, June 6, 1917, see here.  

(9) South Bourke and Mornington Journal,  June 17, 1915, see here;  Dandenong Journal, December 19, 1935, see here;  

(10) Early days of Berwick and its surrounding districts - Beaconsfield, Upper Beaconsfield, Harkaway, Narre Warren and Narre Warren North, complied by Norman Beaumont, James Curran and R.H Hughes. It was first published in 1948. 3rd edition, p. 98.

(11) Early Settlers of the Casey Cardinia District researched and published by the Narre Warren & District Family History Group in 2010

(12)  Campbell, John A. Clyde history: Public Hall and Mechanics’ Institute Jubilee (Clyde Public Hall Committee, 1978)

(13) Uhl, Jean Call Back Yesterday: Eumemmerring Parish (Lowden Publishing, 1972), p. 91.

(14) Gunson, op. cit., p. 187.

(15) Indexes to the Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages

(16) Gunson, op. cit., p. 115

(17) https://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/places/67353

This is an updated and longer version of a post, which I wrote and researched, which appears on my work blog, Casey Cardinia Links to our Past.