His surname was recorded as 'Connor', not 'Connors', as was the surname of his father, William. It's likely that the original surname was 'Connor' back in Ireland, the birthplace of Thomas's father.
Over time, the surname then morphed with usage here in Australia. Various birth / death / immigration records show varied combinations - Connor, Connors, Conners - but then by the time Thomas passed away, the family surname was 'Connors'.
At the time of his birth, Thomas's parents were living in an area known as 'the Cooley Camp', a hilly area located in central New South Wales that would later become known as Woodville.
Farms in this area were quite small at the time, and it appears that Thomas's father William and mother Ellen decided that it would not be possible to continue to live on such a smallholding and support their growing family.
By the time Thomas's sister Margaret was born, the family had moved down south to Kiama, and the Gerringong region on the south coast of New South Wales.
Margaret was born in 1852, when Thomas was aged 2.
Patrick was born in 1853.
Mary Ann was born in 1855.
Bridget came along in 1857.
James was born in 1859, when Thomas was 9.
Ellen Sabina was born in 1861.
William was born in 1864. Thomas was now14.
Benjamin (known as Ben) was born in 1866.
John came along in 1868.
Elizabeth, known as Lizzie, was born in 1870, when Thomas was 20 years old.
Michael was born in 1873, when Thomas was aged 23, and was the last of his siblings to be born in Kiama.
During these years, Thomas grew up on the dairy farm worked by his father William.
In 1873, just a month after the birth of his brother Michael, Thomas married Susannah Fullagar Hukins on the 30th of September, at the Roman Catholic Church, St. Peter's, in Kiama.
Thomas was aged 23 and Susannah (known as Susan) was 22.
Thomas's parents were both Irish-born and Roman Catholic, whilst Susannah's parents were English and she had been baptised in the Anglican Church. Perhaps the marriage of a Catholic and Anglican was the cause of some angst between the families at the time!
Relationships might have improved though as Thomas and his new wife Susannah settled in to farming life and began a family of their own.
Their daughter, Mary Ellen, was born the following year in 1874.
It then seems that towards the end of 1875 or the beginning of 1876, Thomas's father, mother and siblings were on the move again, and Thomas joined his parents and went along, with his wife and young daughter. That probably didn't bode well for improving his relationship with his new in-laws.
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| from S.T. Gill’s Australian Sketchbook of 1865. |
That must have been an amazing journey ... frightening no doubt, but also exciting as they headed off to what they all no doubt hope for ... a better life.
I wonder what they encountered along the way?
The entire party does seem to have arrived safely though. Thomas's second child, his son John Edgar, was born in June of 1876 in Wagga Wagga. Thomas's last sibling, his youngest brother Edward George, was born in Wagga Wagga in July of 1876.
There was an outbreak of what was known at the time as 'colonial fever', but would become reliably diagnosed very soon after as 'typhoid fever'. In colonial times, overflowing cesspits, polluted rivers and creeks, and very casual use of bedpans, were commonplace.
There was generally very poor water quality and poor sanitary conditions in these settlement areas, and all this combined with the very hot temperatures led to increasing cases of typhoid fever.
Three of Thomas's siblings passed away in late 1876 as a result of contracting this disease. So, when he was aged 26, Thomas lost his brothers Patrick, aged 23, and John, aged 8. and his sister Ellen Sabina, aged 15.
It's conceivable that Thomas was closest to his brother Patrick out of all his siblings, as they were closer in age and were the two eldest boys. I would imagine that this loss, along with the loss of his two other younger siblings, would have caused Thomas great heartache. The losses would have left Thomas's parents absolutely heart-broken.
It was not long after this event that Thomas broke ties a little with his father, mother and other siblings.
When Thomas's father, William, re-located yet again to Tumut, Thomas did not join them.
He and his family returned to the coast and into the Shoalhaven region, where Susannah's family were still living.
Thomas settled at a place named 'Far Meadow', not far from the township of Broughton Creek, (which become known as Berry from 1889 onwards).
One of the very close neighbouring townships was Jasper's Bush, which is the place where Thomas's wife Susannah grew up.
Three of Thomas's siblings passed away in late 1876 as a result of contracting this disease. So, when he was aged 26, Thomas lost his brothers Patrick, aged 23, and John, aged 8. and his sister Ellen Sabina, aged 15.
It's conceivable that Thomas was closest to his brother Patrick out of all his siblings, as they were closer in age and were the two eldest boys. I would imagine that this loss, along with the loss of his two other younger siblings, would have caused Thomas great heartache. The losses would have left Thomas's parents absolutely heart-broken.
It was not long after this event that Thomas broke ties a little with his father, mother and other siblings.
When Thomas's father, William, re-located yet again to Tumut, Thomas did not join them.
He and his family returned to the coast and into the Shoalhaven region, where Susannah's family were still living.
Thomas settled at a place named 'Far Meadow', not far from the township of Broughton Creek, (which become known as Berry from 1889 onwards).
One of the very close neighbouring townships was Jasper's Bush, which is the place where Thomas's wife Susannah grew up.
Thomas was now back living close to his in-laws.
While living at Far Meadow, Thomas and Susannah went on to have eight more children over the following fourteen years. Many of these children had Shoalhaven listed as their place of birth though, which probably meant that Susannah gave birth to most of her children at her mother and father's home, rather than on the farm at Far Meadow.
William Adolphus was born in 1878. Thomas was aged 28 at the time.
Thomas George (my grandfather) was born in 1880. He was known as George Thomas throughout his lifetime though!
Alice was born in 1882.
That same year, in 1882, Thomas lost his father, William, who died in August.
Another son, James Alfred, came along in 1884.
This photo of the local cricket club, the Berry Agricultural Cricket Club, taken sometime around 1884/1885 reportedly shows Thomas as he is a member of the team. There is some conjecture about exactly which fellow might be Thomas.
While living at Far Meadow, Thomas and Susannah went on to have eight more children over the following fourteen years. Many of these children had Shoalhaven listed as their place of birth though, which probably meant that Susannah gave birth to most of her children at her mother and father's home, rather than on the farm at Far Meadow.
William Adolphus was born in 1878. Thomas was aged 28 at the time.
Thomas George (my grandfather) was born in 1880. He was known as George Thomas throughout his lifetime though!
Alice was born in 1882.
That same year, in 1882, Thomas lost his father, William, who died in August.
Another son, James Alfred, came along in 1884.
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| Photo courtesy of Mark Connors |
This photo of the local cricket club, the Berry Agricultural Cricket Club, taken sometime around 1884/1885 reportedly shows Thomas as he is a member of the team. There is some conjecture about exactly which fellow might be Thomas.
It seems the Cricket Club's records indicate that Thomas is second from the left, standing in the back row (although they had his name recorded incorrectly!), while a family descendant suggests Thomas is second on the right in the back row. I wonder which would be correct, given that he would have been in his mid-30s at this time?
In the mid to late 1880s, Berry was a flourishing town with a population of around 1,500. It was now a main centre in the region, providing services for the surrounding district and its saw milling and dairying industries.
Thomas and Susannah's family continued to grow.
Percy was born in 1886.
Cyril Ernest was born in 1888.
Frederick Augustus was born in 1890.
Erice Sylvester was born in 1892.
During these years, it seems that Thomas was enjoying a comfortable lifestyle on his farm at Far Meadow, albeit whilst working quite hard. He also participated in many community events and obviously enjoyed being a part of the rural community.
One of his favourite community events appears to have been the Annual Ploughing Contest! His name featured in many newspaper items between 1885 and 1887 as a competitor and winner in the 'Third Class - Swing Plough' event.
Swing ploughs had no wheels and allowed the ploughman to control the depth and width of the furrow as he was working. They were much better for use on uneven ground than the wheeled type of plough.
The swing ploughs were also very popular with farms on small plots as they were cheaper to buy.
The following ten years or so, after 1898, included some tough and heart-breaking times for Thomas.
Many of his children grew wings and moved far away from home. Between 1900 and 1906, three of his sons, John Edgar, my Grandfather Thomas George (known as George) and James Alfred, had married and had left the farm to begin lives of their own.
At the end of 1906, son William Adolphus died at the age of 28. He had been suffering with pulmonary tuberculosis for at least three years, according to his death certificate, and had died at home on the farm.
In 1907, son James Alfred was to die a horrible death. He was burned alive at his place of employment in Lismore. Thomas's son John Edgar, who worked at the same place, was the first person to come to the aid of his brother James while he was burning. John Edgar never fully recovered from this experience and suffered a terrible demise years later.
Then in May of 1910 Thomas's wife Susannah died. They had been married for 37 years.
He was survived by eight of his children - Mary Ellen aged 37, John Edgar aged 35, George Thomas aged 30, Alice aged 28, Percy Jerome aged 24, Cyril Ernest aged 22, Frederick Augustus aged 20 and Erice Sylvester aged 18. Even though Margaret was listed as one of Thomas's children, she was the daughter of Mary Ellen and was in fact the granddaughter of Thomas.
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In the mid to late 1880s, Berry was a flourishing town with a population of around 1,500. It was now a main centre in the region, providing services for the surrounding district and its saw milling and dairying industries.
Thomas and Susannah's family continued to grow.
Percy was born in 1886.
Cyril Ernest was born in 1888.
Frederick Augustus was born in 1890.
Erice Sylvester was born in 1892.
During these years, it seems that Thomas was enjoying a comfortable lifestyle on his farm at Far Meadow, albeit whilst working quite hard. He also participated in many community events and obviously enjoyed being a part of the rural community.
One of his favourite community events appears to have been the Annual Ploughing Contest! His name featured in many newspaper items between 1885 and 1887 as a competitor and winner in the 'Third Class - Swing Plough' event.
Swing ploughs had no wheels and allowed the ploughman to control the depth and width of the furrow as he was working. They were much better for use on uneven ground than the wheeled type of plough.
The swing ploughs were also very popular with farms on small plots as they were cheaper to buy.
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| Shoalhaven Telegraph (NSW), Thursday 13 August 1885, page 2. |
In August of 1885 Thomas was competing in the Third Class Match for Swing Ploughs, and according to a report in The Shoalhaven Telegraph, dated August 13 1885, he competed with an "iron plough with knife coulter, made by F. Hamick, Nowra"; with a "bullock team".
The aggregated points for Thomas were: "packing 8, backing and formation 8, straightness 4, even furrows 12, speed 7, finish 4, style 2"; for a total of 45. He won second prize, which was the princely sum of £2! The first prize winner won with 47 points.
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| Kiama Independent, and Shoalhaven Advertiser (NSW), Tuesday 3 August 1886, page 2. |
In August of the following year, 1886, Thomas returned to competition and improved his score. Again, he competed in the Third Class Swing Plough Match.
According to the Kiama Indpenedent and Shoalhaven Advertiser, dated August 3 1886, he won first prize with a "plough made by F. Hammick." His scores: "packing 12, backing and formation 10, straightness 3, even furrows 7, speed 8, finish 5, style 3." His total score this time was 48, and he won £4!
Obviously he had been working on improving his speed, finish, style and packing!
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| Kiama Independent, and Shoalhaven Advertiser (NSW), Tuesday 3 August 1886, page 2 |
Thomas must have been riding on a high that day, as he also won the Sack Race!!!
He added an extra 15s to his prize tally!
Unfortunately in August of 1887, Thomas came in second once again in the Third Class Swing Plough competition.
According to the Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser, dated August 20 1887, his scores were:
"packing 12, backing and formation 8, straightness 6, even furrows 7, speed 5, finish 4, style 4." His total was 46. The winner's total was 48.
It seems his speed, backing and formation, as well as his finish, just weren't good enough on this occasion!
Life on the Far Meadow farm appeared to have been good, but Thomas had further ambitions. In 1893, when Thomas was aged 42, his tender for the lease of No. 4 farm, of 19 acres, was accepted by the trustees of the Berry Estate.
Unfortunately in August of 1887, Thomas came in second once again in the Third Class Swing Plough competition.
According to the Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser, dated August 20 1887, his scores were:
"packing 12, backing and formation 8, straightness 6, even furrows 7, speed 5, finish 4, style 4." His total was 46. The winner's total was 48.
It seems his speed, backing and formation, as well as his finish, just weren't good enough on this occasion!
Life on the Far Meadow farm appeared to have been good, but Thomas had further ambitions. In 1893, when Thomas was aged 42, his tender for the lease of No. 4 farm, of 19 acres, was accepted by the trustees of the Berry Estate.
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| Landscape around Broughton Creek, near Berry |
By 1898 Thomas had a much larger holding of 94 acres, a dairy farm named 'Broughton Villa' about four miles out of Berry, located at a place known as Moeyan Hill.
According to my family relative Mark Connors (descendant of Frederick Augustus Connors, my Great Grandfather's second youngest son and my Grandfather's brother):
You would hope at this stage of Thomas's story that he would go on for many, many years enjoying the fruits of his hard work. As has happened in so many of my ancestors' stories though, life was about to throw a few curve balls.
According to my family relative Mark Connors (descendant of Frederick Augustus Connors, my Great Grandfather's second youngest son and my Grandfather's brother):
"Thomas had twenty-five milking cows, a further nineteen 'dry' cows, one bull and four horses. He employed four people and had both a cart and a buggy. An inspection by the authorities under the Dairies Supervision Act, prior to his registration as a dairy farmer, noted that the situation of his mill store was 'good'. In December of 1900 we know that Thomas acquired an Ayrshire Bull, sired by 'Rob Roy' and 'Princess 11', for six guineas at Dr. Hay's Pedigree Bull sale at Nowra Stockyard. The bull would no doubt have been put to use siring further calves for Thomas's dairy farm."In all my family tree research so far, Thomas appears to be the one and only ancestor who established an enormous rural enterprise. The 94 acres of 'Broughton Villa' was apparently sub-divided into four large paddocks all principally used for dairy farming. It was a substantial concern!
You would hope at this stage of Thomas's story that he would go on for many, many years enjoying the fruits of his hard work. As has happened in so many of my ancestors' stories though, life was about to throw a few curve balls.
His daughter Mary Ellen had given birth to an illegitimate daughter in 1898, and Thomas and Susannah made the decision to raise their granddaughter Margaret as their own daughter. Other members of the family and the community thought of Margaret as the child of Thomas and Susannah for many, many years.
The following ten years or so, after 1898, included some tough and heart-breaking times for Thomas.
Many of his children grew wings and moved far away from home. Between 1900 and 1906, three of his sons, John Edgar, my Grandfather Thomas George (known as George) and James Alfred, had married and had left the farm to begin lives of their own.
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| 1903 Electoral Roll Record for the Illawarra District |
The Electoral Record for 1903 shows only Thomas, aged 53, his wife Susan, their son William and daughter Alice Adelaide still living on the farm 'Broughton Villa'.
Daughter Mary Ellen was living and working in the township of Berry and wasn't living on the farm at the time. Mary Ellen did marry the following year, in 1904, and she and her husband remained living in Berry for many years.
At the end of 1906, son William Adolphus died at the age of 28. He had been suffering with pulmonary tuberculosis for at least three years, according to his death certificate, and had died at home on the farm.
In 1907, son James Alfred was to die a horrible death. He was burned alive at his place of employment in Lismore. Thomas's son John Edgar, who worked at the same place, was the first person to come to the aid of his brother James while he was burning. John Edgar never fully recovered from this experience and suffered a terrible demise years later.
Then in May of 1910 Thomas's wife Susannah died. They had been married for 37 years.
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| 'Berry Bulletins' in Shoalhaven Telegraph (NSW), Wednesday 7 September 1910, page 1. |
Thomas died about three months later, on the 31st of August 1910, aged 60.
The cause of death was listed as a heart attack. Perhaps heart break would have been more accurate.
The cause of death was listed as a heart attack. Perhaps heart break would have been more accurate.
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| Headstone Inscription for Thomas and Susan |
It's a testament to his standing in the community that his passing was mentioned in several newspapers of the time: The Albury & Wodonga Express - Sept. 9, Evening News (Sydney) - Sept 2, The Sun (Sydney) Sept 2, The Daily Telegraph - Sept 2, and The Shoalhaven Telegraph - Sept 7.
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| Shoalhaven Telegraph (NSW), Wednesday 7 September 1910, page 2. |
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| Daily Telegraph (Sydney), Friday 2 September 1910, page 4 |
He was survived by eight of his children - Mary Ellen aged 37, John Edgar aged 35, George Thomas aged 30, Alice aged 28, Percy Jerome aged 24, Cyril Ernest aged 22, Frederick Augustus aged 20 and Erice Sylvester aged 18. Even though Margaret was listed as one of Thomas's children, she was the daughter of Mary Ellen and was in fact the granddaughter of Thomas.
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Thomas was buried at the Harley Hill Cemetery in Berry, New South Wales.
After his death, Thomas's executors began the disposal of his estate assets.
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| Shoalhaven News and South Coast Districts Advertiser (NSW), Saturday 22 October 1910, page 5. |
The preliminary notice of a 'clearing out sale' appeared in late October.
It appears that none of Thomas's sons were prepared to take on the farm after their father's death.
They had left the farm and were never to return.
According to this notice in the Shoalhaven News and South Coast Districts Advertiser, at the time of his death Thomas owned:
71 Milch cows,
10 springing heifers,
7 yearling heifers,
7 poddy heifers,
6 horses - including one special chestnut mare, 2 bay geldings, 2 brown geldings and a roan gelding,
2 sows,
1 boar, 9 store pigs,
6 half fat pigs,
and 1 bull.
It appears that none of Thomas's sons were prepared to take on the farm after their father's death.
They had left the farm and were never to return.
According to this notice in the Shoalhaven News and South Coast Districts Advertiser, at the time of his death Thomas owned:
71 Milch cows,
10 springing heifers,
7 yearling heifers,
7 poddy heifers,
6 horses - including one special chestnut mare, 2 bay geldings, 2 brown geldings and a roan gelding,
2 sows,
1 boar, 9 store pigs,
6 half fat pigs,
and 1 bull.
There was also quite an assortment of farm equipment and tools, including ploughs, chaff cutters etc.
He also had a buggy and a sulky.
Information provided by my relative, Mark Connors, states that:
Comments from my relative, Mark Connors:
Now for some family photos:
Thomas's mother, and some of his siblings.
Some of Thomas's sons, including my Grandfather George (whose name was recorded on his birth certificate as Thomas George, but he was known as George Thomas).
(Just as an interesting sideline: There's a street named 'Connors View' that overlooks the town of Berry. I wonder if it was named after someone in our family?)
Special Note to any family members: If you have memories to add, photos or information to share, can I graciously ask that you do so. Please use the comments box below or email me. It may prove to be invaluable to the story and provide future generations with something to truly treasure.
Information provided by my relative, Mark Connors, states that:
"A family friend, John Britain Taylor, together with Thomas's bank manager, Alexander Colley, provided an affidavit in support of their application for probate by which they declared the net value of Thomas's estate to be £670 16s. 4d. consisting of the following: livestock £472 5s.; crops (40 bushels of corn) £4; farming implements £16 2s.; carriages (cart, buggy and sulky) £8 10s; harnesses and saddlery £3 10s.; furniture £2 17s. 6d.; a watch and silver ring £1; cash at the bank £142 2s. 6d.; life policies and bonuses £111 16s. 6d.; debts due to estate (Berry Central Butter Factory) £35 13s. 3d.; debts payable by the estate £147 0s. 5d."Whilst it was not an incredibly rich estate, it was certainly comfortable for the times.
Comments from my relative, Mark Connors:
"Not long after his death, Thomas's executors set about disposing of his estate assets. These would principally have been the cattle and other goods on the farm as the majority of his sons had long since moved to the Northern Rivers or further north and had no use for it, or perhaps were not inclined to follow in their father's footsteps.
The executors don't appear to have had early success, with buyers having stood off at the first auction, probably on account of the dry weather then affecting the area. The dairy cattle were entirely withdrawn from sale once four head had been quitted. A subsequent auction was held in January the following year."It does seem like rather a sad end to the story of my Great Grandfather.
Now for some family photos:
Thomas's mother, and some of his siblings.
Some of Thomas's sons, including my Grandfather George (whose name was recorded on his birth certificate as Thomas George, but he was known as George Thomas).
(Just as an interesting sideline: There's a street named 'Connors View' that overlooks the town of Berry. I wonder if it was named after someone in our family?)
Special Note to any family members: If you have memories to add, photos or information to share, can I graciously ask that you do so. Please use the comments box below or email me. It may prove to be invaluable to the story and provide future generations with something to truly treasure.
