Trove Tuesday – Utilising Advertising

Unless, like me, you’re slightly obsessed with vintage advertisements, you may find yourself dismissing ads as a source to further enhance the stories of your ancestors’ lives. While searching through pages of ads may at times be cumbersome, often the gains far outweigh the inconvenience.

So, what can you find by exploring advertising in relation to genealogy? In this blog post I share with you a variety of different ways I’ve utilised historical advertising in order to add depth to my ancestors’ stories.

Businesses

If your ancestor owned a business there’s a good chance that at some point in time they would have paid to advertise it in the local newspapers.

Enoch Pearson Barratt established the first nursery in Perth and continually advertised in the Western Australian newspapers. The ads varied throughout the years and have provided me with examples of the types of plants he sold as well as how the business progressed; from simply selling plants, to stocking seeds and eventually moving into floristry. From a larger perspective, such ads also contribute to the history of Western Australia as a whole; illustrating what plants the settlers could purchase at a particular point in time. This ad from 1875 shows the variety of fruit trees that were on offer at Enoch’s nursery.

Farm Notices

Farm notices could relate to a variety of things but the ones I’ve commonly found concern animals wandering onto the farmer’s property or people trespassing on land. The notices are generally placed in the newspapers as a warning and, in the case of the animals, to give notice to the owner to come and collect them. Failure to collect the animal could result in the advertiser having the right to sell it to recuperate costs associated with caring for them.

These notices (which are often dated) allow you to place your ancestor at a particular location at a certain point in time. They also give insight into the types of issues which affected farming ancestors and how they went about overcoming them.

Employment

While initially this could mean simply searching for your ancestor to see if they placed an advertisement in ’employment wanted’ ads, more information could be obtained if you think broadly. After having ascertained through the Western Australian Government Railway Records that my Pop, Reece Nicholson, started working as a ‘Junior Worker’ on 17 July 1944, I turned to the historical advertising to see what would’ve been required of him when sending in an application. In no way does this ad mention my Pop’s name and while I have no way of knowing that this was how he find out about the job, the likelihood is that these were the requirements he had to fulfil.

Land

If your ancestors owned land, there’s a good chance you may find details in the advertisements relating to either the land they acquired or of its sale. Such ads enable you to pinpoint where your ancestor was living at a particular point in time or give greater insight into the properties they owned (especially if they owned several). These ads are also useful for the fact that they may give you greater details such as land locations (i.e. Wellington Location 48). This information could then lead you to broaden your research by obtaining land related documents such as Certificates of Title. The below advertisement from 1889 illustrates the type of information that may be obtained including specific details relating to the boundary of the property.

Announcements

Our ancestors did not have mediums such Facebook or Twitter to make various personal announcements to the world. They mostly relied on newspapers which, generally, were read by a majority of people. If you wanted to tell the world that you weren’t responsible for your spouse’s debts from a particular point in time, place an ad in the paper. If you wanted to thank a particular group of people, place an ad in the paper. If you wanted someone to make a public apology, induce them to place an ad in the paper.

The latter was the method my 2nd Great Grandmother, Edith Attwood (nee Theakston), decided to employ when faced with “false and defamatory slander” spread by Mrs F Elsegood. While finding historical advertising such as this is extremely interesting, it is also rather frustrating as it raises many other questions. How did she manage to convince her to place the ad? And what in the world was said?

Wanted Notices

Wanted notices could relate to anything (boarders, particular items etc.) but the notices that I’ve come across in the course of researching my family history usually related to wanting to hire someone.

Finding your ancestor as an employer looking to hire particular staff (cooks, servants etc.) is often an indicator of wealth. There are not many within my family tree but during the height of the Barratt family’s business success, Maria Barratt (Enoch’s second wife) on occasion used the newspapers to find staff. Her ad for a “good cook” (below) can be seen sandwiched between two other similar ads.

If your ancestors weren’t wealthy enough to hire staff but you have the name of their employer, perhaps you could try to locate advertising which may have induced them to apply for a particular job (similar to what was mentioned previously under the heading ‘Employment’).

While transcribing the Hurst Farm Diary I came across an entry stating that Nellie Clifton Hurst had gone to Mrs Burcham. By searching for Mrs Burcham and using the advanced search function (narrowing down the results to around the date listed in the diary) I came across the following ‘Wanted’ notice. There is a good chance that this was the ad that Nellie saw when she decided to apply for the job.

Immigration Notices

The arrival of immigrants in any State was often met with great enthusiasm and, in the early years, a list of names was often printed in the newspapers. These lists were generally found in the advertising section.

Not only can these lists give you the name of the ship your ancestor travelled on but they also give you an accurate date of their arrival as well as the possibility of finding other relatives. Look further afield and you may find connections with other passengers who weren’t related. The below passenger list for the ‘Strathallan’ lists my 3rd Great Grandfather, Patrick Grady, as well as his wife, children and siblings. Genealogical gold.

Think outside the box…

My last tip with regards to historical advertising and how it can be applied to genealogy is to think outside the box. By all means search for your ancestors’ full names but also try searching for their surname on its own, or their surname combined with the area they lived in. Perhaps try searching specifically for their address (i.e. “111 Hay Street”) or the name of the property they lived on. You may also wish to try searching for their occupation. You may not find anything relating to them, but similar ads can give you an indication of what they may have looked for in the papers.

Furthermore, utilise Trove search functions. Use the advanced search function to search between specific dates. If you’re searching using only a surname and would like to specifically find advertising relating to that name, try refining your results by clicking on the state where your ancestor lived and then click on ‘Advertising’. This will remove all newspaper articles so that you can concentrate only on historical advertising.

In this blog post I’ve provided you with seven examples of how historical advertising can help enhance your family history but I’m sure there’s many more that I’ve missed. If you have any other suggestions or would like to share how historical ads have helped you with your research, please feel free to leave a comment.

Happy searching!

Sources:

• 1875 ‘Advertising’, The Inquirer and Commercial News (Perth, WA : 1855 – 1901), 2 June, p. 2. , viewed 01 Sep 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article65962599
• 1882 ‘Classified Advertising’, The West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 – 1954), 20 January, p. 2. , viewed 02 Sep 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2986249
• 1889 ‘Advertising’, Southern Times (Bunbury, WA : 1888 – 1916), 18 June, p. 7. , viewed 10 Jan 2017, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article164854148
• 1944 ‘Advertising’, Kalgoorlie Miner (WA : 1895 – 1950), 11 October, p. 3. , viewed 02 Sep 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article94793401
• 1889 ‘Advertising’, Southern Times (Bunbury, WA : 1888 – 1916), 16 July, p. 4. , viewed 02 Sep 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article164854295
• 1906 ‘Advertising’, The Daily News (Perth, WA : 1882 – 1950), 21 September, p. 6. , viewed 10 Jan 2017, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article82457142
• 1886 ‘Advertising’, The Daily News (Perth, WA : 1882 – 1950), 28 August, p. 3. , viewed 10 Jan 2017, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article76212367
• 1894 ‘Advertising’, Bunbury Herald (WA : 1892 – 1919), 21 February, p. 2. , viewed 10 Jan 2017, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article87084606
• 1862 ‘Classified Advertising’, The Perth Gazette and Independent Journal of Politics and News (WA : 1848 – 1864), 7 February, p. 2. , viewed 10 Jan 2017, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2933675
  

Family History & Food

It is inevitable that bound with the stories of our lives is also the story of food. Most of us eat three times a day. When we visit people, we eat. When we celebrate, we eat. Family recipes are treasured and passed down through generations. Even ordinary, mundane moments involving food in our lives, for whatever reason, can become imprinted in our memory for a lifetime.

My Grandparents were vastly different. I often considered Nan and Pop to be more modern while Grandma and Grandpa were more old-fashioned. Never have I associated either of these descriptors as something negative. In fact, I believe that the contrast between the two meant that I received the best of both worlds; I grew up with totally different experiences. And of course with both Grandparents come memories of food.

It’s a little harder to pull forth memories of food associated with Nan and Pop. A lot more time has gone since they both passed away and, due to the distance, we didn’t visit as regularly as we visited Grandma and Grandpa. My memories of food are often fragmented with other memories.

Nan and Pop lived in Safety Bay and Nan often walked to the deli which was located on the corner of Safety Bay Road and Malibu Road. About a 15 minute walk, she was regularly accompanied by her grandchildren if they were staying over. Visiting the deli often meant that we’d be bought a treat of some kind such a small bag of lollies for 20c (I don’t think such a thing exists anymore!). On hot days she’d buy us an icy pole. Usually picking out a Twin Pole (it no longer exists but you can see an image here), Nan would buy one and, much to my disappointment, would split it in half; half for me and half for my brother.

The same complex also boasted the local fish and chips shop and, if we were having fish and chips for dinner, this was where Nan and Pop would buy them. Potato scallops were a favourite!

The old deli circa 2008. Image courtesy of Google Maps.

Eating at a fast food restaurant was a rarity and generally a treat. I can remember once during school holidays a group of my cousins and I went ice-skating at Mirrabooka and then had Hungry Jacks for lunch afterwards. Having eaten our meals we were bought a 30c ice-cream cone each. My little cousin (who was the youngest there) wound up receiving a cone with the most gigantic swirl of ice-cream imaginable. Nan took one look at it, said, “You can’t eat all that,” and then took a great big bite off the top of the ice-cream, leaving less than half of it behind. Understandably, my cousin was not happy at having lost a considerable chunk of her ice-cream.

There are flashes of memories of me sitting at the breakfast bar in Nan and Pop’s house with my brother or cousins on either side. Eating out of a brightly coloured plastic bowl, it was Nan who told me to eat my hot soup from the sides and to blow on it first so it wouldn’t burn my mouth. Into the same bowls were placed spoons of ice-cream and I’d eat it with custard; watching curiously as the custard began to solidify against the cold. Sometimes ice-cream wasn’t even necessary and Brownes custard was generously poured straight from the carton into a bowl for eager children to messily gulp into their mouths with a spoon. Brownes no longer make custard anymore and I’ve found no other brand really compares to the runny, pale yellow mixture which once existed.

Pop didn’t cook all that much but he was well-known for his delicious pumpkin scones. I don’t remember eating them regularly but the memory of him making pumpkin scones has become so ingrained in my mind that the mere mention of pumpkin scones reminds me of him.

Certain condiments also remind me of Pop. Mint sauce was a staple on the table as well as salt. Pop simply could not eat a meal without salt and I’d watch in fascination as he sprinkled a considerable amount of it over all his food. Even when I thought he’d finished, he’d sprinkle a little more.

The cousins at a birthday party. I’m on the far right in white.

I was also lucky that I grew up surrounded by cousins. There were so many of us that birthday parties were regular events throughout the year. And you can’t have a birthday party without party food. Party pies, party sausage rolls, mini frankfurts (with a bowl of sauce and a container of toothpicks nearby) were all party staples. A variety of sandwiches cut in triangles generally rounded off the savoury food selection. Bowls filled with chips or Cheezels were placed on tables for eager hands to help themselves. Cheezels in particular were stored on fingers and popped into your mouth one by one.

Sweet foods may have included fairy bread, chocolate crackles (right) or honeyjoys and there was always a birthday cake. Once the party was over, we would be given a lolly bag to take home. Digging through the bag to see what was in there was always an exciting end to the day.

When I think of my Grandma and Grandpa, food is always a part of my memories. We saw them regularly and often at their home on Wasley Street. Sometimes the visits were planned and we’d go for lunch, dinner or morning tea. Sometimes my Mum took my brother and I to Hyde Park to play and then decided to pop in to visit them afterwards (they lived a couple of minutes away from the park). Even these random visits included food.

Though perhaps surprised to see us, never were they annoyed by an unexpected visit. We all piled into the kitchen (which was also the dining area) and Grandma would start preparing; putting on the kettle for tea, digging out biscuits or cakes (which she nearly always had on hand) or creating a snack: Sao biscuits with butter, cheese and perhaps tomato or gherkin.

Sometimes these visits occurred in the morning and we’d end up staying for so long that Grandma would suggest we stay for lunch. Depending on what they had in the fridge, she’d send Grandpa up to the shops on Fitzgerald Street with a shopping list and, on occasion, his grandchildren in tow. I don’t know why, but I always felt slightly important to be going to the shops with Grandpa.

The planned visits and the food consumed is something I’ll never forget and likely something I’ll never be able to replicate. And to be honest, I don’t really want to. Though I could try, it’ll never be exactly the same. Not because of me not following a recipe or getting a flavour correct but because a crucial part would be missing, my Grandparents. No matter how hard I try, the memories will always be sweeter.

If, for whatever reason, Grandma asked me what I’d like for dinner when we came over, the answer would always be, without question, a roast. Grandma probably spent most of the day preparing it and when we arrived that evening, dinner would nearly be ready but not quite. The kitchen table would be covered with a tablecloth and set with the good crockery and silver cutlery. Salt and pepper and any other condiment was also served out of silver accessories (below) which were a gift from my Dad.

Roast meat, potatoes, pumpkin, sweet potato (except for me – I was a bit of a fusspot when I was little), peas with mint and cauliflower cheese (my favourite!) were laden on the plates and finished off with gravy. Heaven!

Having gobbled up everything in record time, we’d wait patiently as Grandma finished eating. She was always last to finish but that was probably because she was eating and chewing properly.

Dessert was usually a much lighter affair; two-toned jelly with peaches suspended in the middle and accompanied with ice-cream or cream. Much to my Mum’s horror, I liked to eat cream by the spoonful, referring to it as ‘my medicine.’

On days where it was too hot or as Grandma got older and making a roast dinner was too much strain on her, we’d come over for dinner and eat cold meat and salad. Despite eating simply, the table was always presented in the same way.

After we’d eaten everyone would help with washing and drying the dishes and the job of putting everything away was often given to my brother and I. Having done the dishes we’d sit in the lounge room for a while and watch TV which was usually whatever Grandpa wanted to watch. If it was boring (A Current Affair – yep, boring) my brother and I would play cards with Grandma.

You’d be forgiven for thinking that surely we’d be done eating after all this but, nope, there was still supper.

It wasn’t much though, a cuppa for Mum and Dad, Milo for my brother and I and, the best of all, a Milk Arrowroot biscuit (or two!) slathered with butter.

Again there are flashes of smaller memories. Picking out sultanas from the little cakes Grandma made (there’s that fusspot again) so much so that she ended up always making some without sultanas. The satisfying crunchy crumble of a cornflake biscuit or the familiar, comforting flavour of Grandma’s chocolate cake. Sitting at the kitchen table and writing out the chocolate cake recipe in handwriting that was decidedly primary school in its style (I can picture it in my mind but that copy has sadly disappeared). There are memories of home-made sausage rolls and of going home with leftovers in an ice-cream container (even our dog, Blackey, received leftovers or bones). And then there were goodbyes when (even after all that eating) we’d ask if we could go home with a Kool Mint.

I’m by no means a food writer but I could literally go on and on and on about the food that I grew up with and how it played a part in my childhood and life in general (I’m sure anyone could). I haven’t even touched upon stories of my Mum’s cooking (she’s by far the undisputed queen of rissoles and corned beef) and when thinking about family history and my memories of food it’s of no surprise that those that are fondest and those that are easily recalled, are those that generally occurred whilst surrounded by family.

If you have any special memories relating to food or if there’s a particular food which reminds you of a loved one, please share and leave a comment below. I’d love to read about your stories.

Image Sources:

• Chocolate Crackles – The Australian Women’s Weekly; 24 June 1953; Page 64.
• Sao Biscuits – The Australian Women’s Weekly; 21 September 1966; Page 84.
• Milk Arrowroot Biscuits – The Australian Women’s Weekly; 2 August 1967; Page 55.

A Tale of Two Brothers

Charles Masters and Samuel Edward Masters were the two eldest sons born to Samuel Masters, a builder from Northampton, England. My 3rd Great Grandfather, Charles, was the first born and was baptised on 13 March 1831. Samuel arrived in the following year and was baptised on Christmas Day in 1832. Both were baptised in the St Sepulchres Church in Northampton.

It’s fair to say that the brothers were most likely close. As they grew, Charles went on to learn the building trade from his father while Samuel became a carpenter. They both resided with their family on St George’s Street in Northampton up until 1851.

Samuel was the first to marry. He met Maria Kippin and on 29 August 1852 the couple (both aged 20) were married in the St Giles Northampton Parish Church. Charles Masters was one of the witnesses along with their sister, Catherine.

Samuel and Maria’s first child, a son named Edward, was born in the second quarter of 1853. Their second son, Samuel, arrived in the last quarter of 1854.

By 1856, Charles Masters had met his future bride to be. On 28 January 1856, at age 25, he married Mary Smith (aged 22) in the same Parish Church. Like Charles had done for him four years previously, Samuel witnessed his brother’s marriage.

That same year, Charles and Mary’s first child (named Charles Henry Masters) was born. Both families were still living in Northampton and both may have heard talk about Australia and, in particular, Western Australia.

Three years earlier, the Northampton Mechanics’ Institute obtained the services of Mrs Caroline Chisholm to give an address on emigration to Australia. The room was crowded with many individuals interested in hearing the talk. The reporter was a little woeful at what this fact meant.

Certainly, it was impossible to disassociate a feeling of sadness from the contemplation of the gay voices and sparkling eyes around us, when the main object of the meeting was considered, and we reflected that so many of whom the country might be proud were inquiring how to leave it.

Mrs Chisholm (who was herself a native of Northampton) spoke briefly about the history of the colony of Australia, touched upon the difficulties she’d encountered with regards to emigration and then explained the work that she’d done to promote it. She gave humerous anecdotes as a way to illustrate the differences between the United Kingdom and Australia which further served as hints for when they did emigrate. She read from a letter she’d recently received which stated:

…brickmakers, carpenters, and limeburners, were the most in request…

While I have no way of knowing whether Charles and Samuel attended the talk there is no doubt that they would’ve heard about it from others or read about it in the paper. Perhaps it was Mrs Chisholm’s words and the opportunities she spoke of which first planted a seed of thought within the minds of the Masters brothers.

With both Charles and Samuel having trades and family support behind them, it’s not known what would’ve drawn them towards a new land. Perhaps there had been a downturn in work and they were concerned about the future. Perhaps the lure of making one’s fortune in a Colony which was crying out for skilled tradesmen was too much to pass up. Perhaps they simply longed for adventure and wished to escape the town which their family had lived in for generations. Whatever the reason, both brothers decided to embark on the adventure together.

Though it appears they did not receive free passage to Western Australia, it is likely  that their passage was subsidised under an emigration scheme. Charles, Samuel and their families made the journey from Northampton and travelled south to London where, in late March 1857, they boarded the ship ‘City of Bristol’.

The voyage took 94 days with the ship arriving in Fremantle on 8 August 1857. Unfortunately for Samuel and Maria, any excitement felt at the prospect of starting a new life would’ve been short lived. Sometime during the passage, their youngest son, Samuel Jnr (aged 2) passed away and was buried at sea. His death was recorded on the passenger list.

From Fremantle, most of the immigrants travelled to Perth to the Immigrant Depot where they awaited to be engaged by the settlers. A notice printed in the Government Gazette (right) further helped to advertise the types of trades in which the men were proficient. Under the column ‘Married and with Families’, Charles would’ve been marked as a ‘bricklayer’ while Samuel marked as a ‘carpenter’.

Initially, the people of Perth were thrilled with the new arrivals with the newspapers reporting that the immigrants “appear to be a well-selected and superior class“. Months later however they lamented “The proportion of immigrants with families was much too large for this place.“

Unfortunately I have been unable to ascertain where Charles and Samuel went after their arrival and it is not known whether the brothers kept in touch. Despite not knowing the finer details, it is obvious that the brothers, whether they liked it or not, had been separated. One website states that Charles took up a tillage lease in Dandaragan in 1858 but the Western Australian Biographical Index lists a contradicting date of 1868. Furthermore, up until 1860, Charles’s next two children were recorded as born in Perth. It would seem Charles may have remained in Perth for a short time before eventually moving to Gingin by 1862.

Samuel is much the same. There is not a great deal of information about what happened after his arrival. It would appear however that he and his family moved north to Geraldton and when he next appears (likewise in 1862) it was under unhappy circumstances.

As Charles was setting up his growing family in Gingin and was offering his services as a builder, Samuel on the other hand was preparing to leave Western Australia.

On 4 March 1862 Samuel (noted as being a carpenter residing in Champion Bay) handed over all his property to George Shenton “for the benefit of all his creditors“. It’s likely he’d been in Geraldton for some time and over that time he’d purchased several lots within the town. Perhaps his debt became far too much for him. By 26 November 1862 everything he owned (including his carpenter’s and joiner’s tools which were vital for his work) was advertised for sale by auction.

In Gingin, Charles and Mary welcomed their fourth child, Richard, who was born in October 1862. It’s not known whether Charles knew of the troubles which had befallen his brother but the town would’ve eventually received copies of the papers and it may be that Charles found out via the advertisements (if he even found out at all).

Samuel stayed in Western Australia for the rest of 1862 and into at least the first half of 1863. For a time he resided in Fremantle and it was there in 1863 that his wife Maria gave birth to another son who they named Charles Henry Masters; perhaps in a nod to his brother and nephew.

On 18 May 1863 an ad was placed in The Inquirer and Commercial News giving notice to Samuel’s creditors that a General Meeting was being held in June at Mr Stone’s office with a view to winding up the Estate.

Despite having been unsuccessful within Western Australia, Samuel was unwilling to give up on the country altogether. He left Western Australia after 1863 and moved to Adelaide, South Australia. On 21 February 1866 Maria gave birth to another son who they named Jesse Walter Masters. Sadly, Jesse did not thrive. A month later he was Christened and the day after his Christening he passed away.

Nothing seemed to go right for Samuel. Charles meanwhile was still in Gingin and had extended his children to five.

This may have been the breaking point for Samuel and around this time he decided to leave Australia for good. His wife decided to stay.

One can only speculate what this fact meant and, really, it could’ve been a myriad of different reasons. Perhaps Maria was still hopeful of the opportunities while Samuel was not. The couple may have had marital problems and simply decided they’d both had enough of being together; one leaving and one staying. Either of them could’ve met someone else. Or, it could simply have been Samuel, in absolute grief and depression from his limited success and the loss of his children wanted to go back home; back to where his family were.

While I have not found when he left, his departure would’ve taken place sometime between 1866 and 1871 as by the 1871 English Census, Samuel was back in Northampton and living on St George’s Street with his parents. He had resumed working as a carpenter.

Back in Western Australia, Charles (age 40)  was still in Gingin and had recently completed building the Methodist Church. He now had seven children with my 2nd Great Grandmother, Priscilla, arriving in 1869.

Ten years later, when the 1881 English Census was taken, Samuel was still recorded at St George’s Street in Northampton with his parents. Now age 48, he was the only child living at home.

Charles’s life had also changed in the ten years. No longer in Gingin, he and his family moved to Guildford where Mary gave birth in 1874 to their final child, Cornelius. He was still working as a builder and had done quite well, with the wealth he had built enabling  him to purchase several properties within the town.

Samuel however had not been faring well. Perhaps grief stricken at the loss of his wife and children and depressed at how his life had panned out, he had turned to drink. He was reported to have done little work (perhaps because of the drink) and was supported by his parents. This resulted in the occasional fight. Having had enough, on 23 November 1882, Samuel Edward Masters committed suicide.

On Thursday afternoon a young man, while in the Cow Meadow,* observed a man, whom for some minutes previously he had noticed loitering near the canal, jump into the water at the locks. He at once raised an alarm, and P.S. Bursnell and others proceeded to the spot; but the body was not recovered until life was extinct. It was removed to the mortuary, the remains being identified as those of Edward (or Samuel) Masters, who followed the occupation of a mason, and lived in St. George’s-street.

*Cow Meadow is today known as Becket’s Park.

Becket’s Park (Cow Meadow) Lock as it is today.

Charles and Samuel’s younger brother, Daniel, was a witness at the inquest. He provided information about Samuel’s circumstances and mentality, stating that he did not think he was “low-spirited.” He also advised (albeit partly incorrectly) that the “Deceased had spent twenty years in Australia, where his wife now was.” The Coroner ruled the death to be ‘felo de se’ (felon of himself).

The news of Samuel’s death may never have reached Charles in Guildford but, if it did, it would’ve taken quite a long time to arrive.

While many people often recognise the early settlers and celebrate the success of their pioneering ways I think it’s also important to recognise those who emigrated but struggled in their endeavours. Stories such as Samuel’s illustrate that it was not an easy task to undertake and I know he’s not alone in the list of people who emigrated to Australia and, for whatever reason, left again.

My 3rd Great Grandfather persevered in his endeavours but also seemed to have had luck on his side. I’m sure Samuel also persevered but was continually faced with bad luck, perhaps starting with the death of his son en route. It is a tale of two brothers; both starting at the same spot and both ending up on completely different paths.

Charles went on to live for about 40 more years. When he died on 16 September 1920 at age 89 the cause of death was recorded as senility. In the end, much of the wealth that he’d built was gone but as his time drew near I wonder if he thought often of the brother who originally shared his journey with him.

Sources:

• Northamptonshire Record Office; Northampton, England; Register Type: Bishops Transcripts. Northamptonshire, England, Church of England Baptisms, 1813-1912. Obtained via Ancestry.com.au.
• Northamptonshire Record Office; Northampton, England; Register Type: Parish Registers; Reference Numbers: 233P/20. Northamptonshire, England, Church of England Marriages, 1754-1912. Obtained via Ancestry.com.au.
• Image of the St Sepulchres Church in Northampton courtesy of Ancestry Images (www.ancestryimages.com). Northampton, St Sepulchres Church, 1811.
• England & Wales, FreeBMD Birth Index, 1837-1915. Obtained via Ancestry.com.au.
• Northampton Mercury; 5 March 1853; page 3 (obtained through Findmypast).
• Evening Mail; 4 May 1857; page 2 (obtained through Findmypast).
• SRO of Western Australia; Albany Passenger list of Assisted Emigrants showing names of emigrants and from which countries selected; Accession: 115; Roll: 214. Accessed via Ancestry.com.au.
• 1857 ‘THE INDEPENDENT JOURNAL.’, The Perth Gazette and Independent Journal of Politics and News (WA : 1848 – 1864), 14 August, p. 2. , viewed 25 Nov 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2930183
• 1857 ‘Classified Advertising’, The Perth Gazette and Independent Journal of Politics and News (WA : 1848 – 1864), 21 August, p. 2. , viewed 25 Nov 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2930193
• 1857 ‘Local and Domestic Intelligence.’, The Inquirer and Commercial News (Perth, WA : 1855 – 1901), 28 October, p. 2. , viewed 25 Nov 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article66005788
• 1862 ‘Advertising’, The Inquirer and Commercial News (Perth, WA : 1855 – 1901), 30 April, p. 2. , viewed 26 Nov 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article69136254
• 1862 ‘Classified Advertising’, The Perth Gazette and Independent Journal of Politics and News (WA : 1848 – 1864), 28 November, p. 2. , viewed 26 Nov 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2934141
• 1863 ‘Advertising’, The Inquirer and Commercial News (Perth, WA : 1855 – 1901), 20 May, p. 2. , viewed 26 Nov 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article69137414
• Australia Birth Index, 1788-1922; Obtained via Ancestry.com.au
• Australia Death Index, 1787-1985; Obtained via Ancestry.com.au
• 1871 England Census; Class: RG10; Piece: 1481; Folio: 131; Page: 30; GSU roll: 828792. Obtained via Ancestry.com.au
• 1881 England Census; Class: RG11; Piece: 1545; Folio: 16; Page: 30; GSU roll: 1341373. Obtained via Ancestry.com.au
• Northampton Mercury; 25 November 1882; page 8. Obtained via Findmypast.
• Image of Becket’s Park Lock courtesy of Nicholas Mutton (© Copyright Nicholas Mutton and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence).

Cousin Emmie

When my 2nd Great Grandmother, Elizabeth Maud Holt, left England in 1877 at the tender age of 15, she may have expected to never see or hear from her siblings again. Bound for Western Australia, losing contact would hardly seem surprising when considering the vast distance between the two countries. As it turns out, she didn’t completely lose contact after all. While I am unsure whether she kept in touch with all her family, a connection with her sister, Eleanor, was maintained and ended up lasting throughout generations.

Eleanor Louise Holt married Harry Ashford in New Forest, England in 1890. The couple set up their home in Lyndhust and on 12 May 1891 their first child, Harry Charles Algernon Ashford, was born. A year later, on 26 April 1892 (also in Lyndhurst) their second child and only daughter, Emily Louise Ashford, came into the world.

Emily became known to everyone as Emmie. She grew up with her parents and elder brother, Harry, until a younger brother,  Albert Edward Nathaniel Ashford, was born in 1899. At six years of age, perhaps Emmie doted on her new baby brother.

On 31 March 1901 the English Census was taken and Emmie was recorded as living in Bank (a small hamlet southwest of Lyndhurst) with her Dad, Mum and brothers. She was eight years old.

As she grew she would’ve had some schooling but it’s likely it would’ve ended as she reached her teenage years. Being the only daughter in the household, her place may have been within the home, helping her Mum with the housework.

Ten years later Emmie was 19 when the next Census (1911) document was completed. The household (apart from an increase in ages) remained unchanged. The family was living in a house named ‘The Beeches’ in Bank near Lyndhurst. It was a relatively large house as it was noted that there were eight rooms (not including the scullery, landing, lobby, closet or bathroom). Like her mother, no occupation was listed next to Emmie’s name. It can be assumed that she was helping with home duties.

By 1914, everything changed. WWI began on 28 July 1914 and Emmie’s older brother, Harry, enrolled in the Royal Army Service Corps. Perhaps Emmie also tried to help the soldiers in some way from home.

While I am not certain whether Eleanor (Emmie’s Mum) was corresponding with her sister, Elizabeth, in Western Australia at this point in time, it would appear there was a strong chance that they were. Despite the distance, the families had managed to keep in touch. Emmie had many Australian cousins (the Flynns) and one, Ernest (Ernie) Holt Flynn, enlisted in the Australian Imperial Forces on 5 September 1914.

Ernest Holt Flynn (left) with his friend, Daniel Cocking.

He was present at the Gallipoli Campaign and spent several years fighting in France. On 5 January 1918, Ernie left France and travelled to England for training. He took advantage of his time in England and paid a visit to his relatives from the Holt side, the Ashfords. Both aged in their mid-twenties, it was the first time the cousins met and it would seem Emmie and Ernie got along fairly well.

Ernie eventually went back to France to fight but was soon discharged on 8 October 1918. While he returned to Western Australia, Emmie and her family remained in England.

Emmie never married but throughout the years she continued to maintain friendships and close relationships with her family. They remained living in Lyndhurst and sometime after the war her parents bought the house ‘Park View’.

‘Park View’ – Courtesy of Audrey

Her brother, Harry, married Hilda Blunden in 1927 and their daughter, Mary (born in 1930) was probably a source of great joy for the family. She was the first grandchild for Harry Snr and Eleanor and was also Emmie’s first niece. It would appear that Emmie doted on her.

Emmie with her niece, Mary – courtesy of Audrey.

Two years later it would’ve been quite a blow to the Ashfords when, on 7 February 1932, their father passed away and then 16 days later, on 23 February 1932, their mother passed away.

After the death of her parents, Emmie remained living in Lyndhurst. Her younger brother Albert married Bessie Stiggers in 1935 and the birth of two more nieces, Margaret in 1935 (to Harry and Hilda) and Elizabeth in 1937 (to Albert and Bessie) would’ve been welcome happy news for the Ashford family.

By 1939, at age 47, Emmie was recorded in the 1939 Register as still living in ‘Park View’ with her sister-in-law, Hilda and her two nieces, Mary and Margaret. Her brother, Harry, was recorded as living elsewhere and the reason for this, so far, is unknown. Perhaps he was simply absent from the home when the Register was recorded.

Emmie with her brother Albert’s wife, Bessie Ashford (nee Stiggers) and Harry Ashford in the late 1930s.

Many years passed and it would seem that Emmie was still in touch with her Western Australian cousins. Perhaps after her mother’s death she continued corresponding with her Aunt Elizabeth who was still alive. It also seems she reconnected with her cousin Ernie. Since that first time she saw him in England as a young man, he’d married Grace Wallace (in 1920) and subsequently had five children.

By 1948 many of Ernie’s children were adults, married and starting families of their own. Perhaps Emmie heard of Ernie’s continuing health problems from his wife, Grace, and wanted to make sure she saw him again before the inevitable happened. Perhaps she had a desire to visit her Aunt Elizabeth; quite possibly her mother’s last living sibling. Or, maybe she simply wanted to go on a holiday. Whatever the reason, Emmie decided she’d take a trip and would visit her Flynn cousins in Western Australia.

On 23 December 1948 she boarded the ‘Mooltan’ and departed London. Just under a month later, on 21 January 1949, she arrived in Fremantle, Western Australia. It was perfect timing. Ernie’s daughter, Audrey, had given birth to a son a few weeks earlier and Emmie would get to meet the brand new addition to the family.

P & O’s Mooltan

In the official British Outward Passenger List, Emmie was listed as travelling in ‘Tourist’ class and gave her last known residence as ‘The Briars’, Broughton Road, Pikes Hill, Lyndhurst. She was no longer living at ‘Park View’.

The Briars – courtesy of Audrey.

Even more interesting, in the document, the country of her last permanent residence was recorded as ‘England’ but the country of intended future permanent residence was noted as being ‘Australia’. Was Emmie actually planning to make Australia her permanent home?

Like the British Outward Passenger Lists, Western Australia had its own passenger lists which recorded those who arrived. Cousin Emmie is listed at the top and while most of the data is the same, in this document, she gives her address in Australia as 39 York Street, North Perth – the home of Ernie and Grace Flynn.

It is not known what Emmie’s intentions actually were and the laws and regulations according to residency during this era are unknown to me. While on appearances it seems she was planning to live exclusively in Australia, perhaps extended holidays were classed differently back then and anything lasting over a year meant you were recorded as a resident. Indeed the document itself has a star (*) after country of intended residence and the fine print states “By Permanent Residence is to be understood residence for year or more.”

As an interesting side note, a search on Trove indicates…

Of these passengers on the Mooltan, 112 (which included Emmie) were bound for Fremantle with 30 receiving free passage and 28 receiving assisted passage. Perhaps Emmie didn’t intend to live in Western Australia but, she was nevertheless surrounded by many people who did.

She soon settled in with the Flynn family and five days after her arrival, they celebrated Australia Day by having a picnic at Perth Zoo.

Emmie (front) and Grace (behind) in 1950

Emmie stayed in Western Australia for a year and a half and she did many more ‘touristy’ things throughout that time including travelling to the east of Australia via the train. She certainly took advantage of her long holiday and made sure to see as much of the Country as she could.

She finally returned to London on the P & O Liner ‘Strathmore’ on 30 July 1950. While the country of last permanent residence was recorded as Australia, this time, the country of future intended permanent residence was marked as England.

Emmie in the 1950s with her dog, Remus.

In any case, her return home was a good idea. A year later, on 18 August 1951, her brother, Albert, passed away.

Emmie continued living at ‘The Briars’ on Broughton Road in Pikes Hill throughout the 1950s. She would’ve eventually heard from her cousins of the death of her Aunt Elizabeth on 30 May 1952 and then the death of her cousin Ernie on 3 February 1959.

Perhaps it was Ernie’s death in early 1959 that got Emmie thinking about the possibility of taking another trip. She was 67 years old and despite having a few health concerns, she was determined to see her Flynn cousins again.

On 28 November 1959 Emmie boarded Orient Line’s ship ‘Oronsay’ and said goodbye to England. This time the Outward Passenger List showed something different to the previous one. Country of citizenship, last permanent residence and future permanent residence were recorded as England. Emmie was definitely not staying for over a year this time. The WA passenger list also showed that, once again, she was staying at 39 York Street in North Perth with Grace, Ernie’s widow.

Emmie arrived in Fremantle on 20 December 1959. She was just in time for Christmas and, knowing the Flynn family, it would’ve been a big family affair. Whether she was unwell after her arrival or during the early part of her trip is not known but it’s possible that she simply felt tired. On 29 December, nine days after her arrival and four days after Christmas, Emmie woke up feeling unwell. She got up but then decided to go back to bed. Some time later Grace thought to check on her to see if she was okay and found her unresponsive. In the time that she’d gone back to bed she’d suffered either a stroke or fatal heart attack. Emmie had passed away at the Flynn family home on York Street.

Emmie & Grace in 1950

It must’ve been devastating for the Flynns. And, after losing her husband earlier that year, it must’ve been devastating for Grace who appeared to have been quite close to Emmie. They most likely also had to break the news to Emmie’s remaining family back home in England. A telegram no one would want to send.

Emmie was not buried in a Western Australian cemetery. Her remains were cremated and her details recorded in the Metropolitan Cemeteries Board’s database. Her ashes were noted as being “Taken by Funeral Director at Karrakatta Cemetery” but it’s likely they were then handed over to Grace to look after.

Family oral history states that Emmie’s ashes were sent back to England to her family but I’ve often wondered whether Grace played a more personal part in having them returned.

In approximately April 1961 Grace left Western Australia and travelled to England. It was to be an extended trip (she stayed for five months) and during that time she saw a good deal of the country, visited tourist locations, and, she visited the Ashford family.

Grace (seated on the right) with Emmie’s brother, Harry, standing behind her.

Grace returned to Western Australia on 17 September 1961 but the connection to the Ashfords didn’t end there. Harry’s daughter, Margaret, and Grace’s daughter, Audrey began writing to each other. The two (second) cousins became pen-pals which continued well up until Audrey’s death in 2008. Each year Margaret sent Audrey a calendar from the UK and each year my family would sit around the kitchen table and flick through it, looking at each month’s photo with her.

The connection began with two sisters, it continued with cousins and was strengthened by the love, kindness and friendship between the Ashfords and the Flynns. There’s no doubt that a good deal of all that came from cousin Emmie.

Emily Ashford photographed in Perth

Sources:

• England & Wales, FreeBMD Marriage Index: 1837-1915; Name: Harry Ashford; Registration Year: 1890; Volume: 2b; Page: 1179; Registration District: New Forest.
• England & Wales, FreeBMD Birth Index, 1837-1915; Name: Emily Louise Ashford; Registration Year; 1892; Registration District: New Forest; Volume: 2b; Page 68.
• 1901 England Census (online via Ancestry); Class: RG13; Piece: 1050; Folio: 11; Page: 13.
• 1911 England Census (online via Ancestry); Registration District Number: 98; Sub-registration District: Lyndhurst; ED: 4; Schedule Number: 27; Piece; 5907.
• The National Archives of the UK; Kew, Surrey, England; WWI Service Medal and Award Rolls; Class: WO 329; Piece Number: 1999.
• England & Wales, Marriage Index: 1916-2005; Name: Harry C A Ashford; Date of Registration; 1927; Registration District: Dorking; Inferred County; Surrey; Volume Number: 2a; Page Number: 476.
• England & Wales, Birth Index: 1916-2005; Name: Mary P Ashford; Date of Registration: 1930; Registration District: Willesden; Inferred County: Oxfordshire; Volume Number: 3a; Page Number: 571.
• England & Wales, Death Index: 1916-2005; Name: Harry Ashford; Registration District: New Forest; Inferred County: Hampshire; Volume: 2b; Page: 1297.
• England & Wales, Death Index: 1916-2005; Name: Eleanor L Ashford; Registration District: New Forest; Inferred County: Hampshire; Volume: 2b; Page: 1299.
• Details of the 1939 Register obtained from Findmypast (Ref: RG101/2384C/014/13 Letter Code: EEMI).
• Image of the ‘Mooltan’ courtesy of the State Library of Victoria (Accession no(s) H91.325/979). http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/29867
• Ancestry.com. UK, Outward Passenger Lists, 1890-1960 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012. Original data: Board of Trade: Commercial and Statistical Department and successors: Outwards Passenger Lists. BT27. Records of the Commercial, Companies, Labour, Railways and Statistics Departments. Records of the Board of Trade and of successor and related bodies. The National Archives, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, England. [Emily Louise Ashford; Official Number: 79866].
• Ancestry.com. Fremantle, Western Australia, Passenger Lists, 1897-1963 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014. Original data: Inward passenger manifests for ships and aircraft arriving at Fremantle, Perth Airport and Western Australian outports, chronological series, Dec. 1897–Dec. 1978. Series K269. National Archives of Australia, Queen Victoria Terrace, Parkes ACT 2600. [Emily Louise Ashford]
• 1949 ‘MORE BRITISH MIGRANTS ARRIVE’, The West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 – 1954), 22 January, p. 12. , viewed 24 Mar 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article47640052
• Images of Emmie on a picnic at Perth Zoo courtesy of Jo Flynn.
• The National Archives of the UK; Kew, Surrey, England; Board of Trade: Commercial and Statistical Department and successors: Inwards Passenger Lists.; Class: BT26; Piece: 1263; Item: 65.
• England & Wales, Death Index: 1916-2005; Name: Albert E N Ashford; Registration District: New Forest; Inferred County; Hampshire; Volume: 6b; Page: 271.
• Ancestry.com. UK, Outward Passenger Lists, 1890-1960 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012. Original data: Board of Trade: Commercial and Statistical Department and successors: Outwards Passenger Lists. BT27. Records of the Commercial, Companies, Labour, Railways and Statistics Departments. Records of the Board of Trade and of successor and related bodies. The National Archives, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, England. [Miss E L Ashford]
• National Archives of Australia; Queen Victoria Terrace, Parkes ACT 2600.; Inward passenger manifests for ships and aircraft arriving at Fremantle, Perth Airport and Western Australian outports from 1897-1963; Series Number: K 269; Reel Number: 173
• Image of the ‘Oronsay’ courtesy of the State Library of Western Australia (Call Number: D134a). http://purl.slwa.wa.gov.au/slwa_b3165265_1
• Death and cremation details courtesy of the Metropolitan Cemeteries Board database (Application Number: KC00015548).

Dear Thomas…

Dear Thomas,

I write to you from the year 2016. We’ve never met but I hope you know that I think about you all the time. Your sister, Kitty, is my Great Grandmother which makes you my 2nd Great Uncle.

As I write this letter, the anniversary of your disappearance steadily approaches. On the 16 September 2016, it will be 122 years since you disappeared without a trace in the bush near Collie. I’m currently sharing the details of your story each day, I guess in the hope it sparks something somewhere.

It’s now been six years since I first learned your story. Six years of research, transcribing, family history trips, exploring and help from the most wonderful people. Six years of painstakingly putting the puzzle back together, a puzzle which remained hidden from the world for so long. From a vague beginning, I’ve edged ever closer to finding the bigger picture of what happened. But I still haven’t found you. I’m still looking for you.

I have so many questions I want to ask you.

I often wonder what happened that day. I know that you were off playing with your older sister, Daisy, but when she wanted to go home, why didn’t you go with her? Were you simply having too much fun?

What happened afterwards? Did you try to make your way home but became lost?

I hope you know that your father, Thomas, never gave up trying to find you. He searched for hours. He searched for days. Other settlers eventually gave up but he never did. He marched straight into Bunbury and convinced them all to have another go. They all searched for miles around Ironstone Gully. The Police were also there searching and an Aboriginal tracker tried to find your tracks. How is it you left no trace? They would’ve been calling your name. Why did you not respond? Were you frightened that you’d get in trouble? Were you hiding in a hollow log and too scared to make yourself known?

Eventually they had to stop searching. Too much time had passed. There was no hope that you’d be found alive. You’d disappeared without a trace, like ‘the earth swallowed you whole’ as Archie Fowler described it.

I hope you also know that even though they stopped looking, no one ever forgot about you. The aforementioned quote from Archie Fowler came from when he was interviewed in 1940 – 46 years later. Of all the topics he spoke about, you were one of them.

I also haven’t forgotten about you. I’ve got no idea if your remains were ever found since 1894 but it seems likely that they weren’t. It pains me to think that you’re still somewhere out there in the bush, and all my research and work stems from a desire to find you. To find your remains and have you buried in Bunbury Cemetery with the father who searched high and low for you.

There are some stories in this world which go deeper than others; they pierce your soul and consume your thoughts. Your story is one of them, little Thomas. I will think of you for the rest of my life. I will continue to dig around and to search for more pieces of the puzzle. As long as I live, I will tell your story.

‘Lost’ by Frederick McCubbin

Image courtesy of the National Gallery of Victoria: http://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/explore/collection/work/5976/

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Read more of Thomas’s story here: The Mysterious Disappearance of Thomas Lisle Crampton