Fire and its Tragic Consequences!

Sadly, the three stories in my post today tell of the tragic loss of a paternal first cousin 3x removed in the Hukins family, and two paternal grand uncles in the Connors family; and the trauma that takes its toll on the other members of the family in the aftermath.

Story 1.

Cassandra Hukins (my paternal 2nd Great Grand Aunt) was the seventh child born to my 3x great grandparents James Hukins and Susannah Fullagar.  She was born in England, and lived there until she was almost 10 years old, when her parents made the decision to leave their homeland and travel halfway around the world to Australia.

Arriving in the year 1839, Cassandra was to spend most of her life in the township of Jamberoo, (to the west of Kiama) in New South Wales. She never married, but seems to have spent her days living close to her parents and siblings.  By the late 1880s / early 1890s it appears that Cassandra owned a combined cottage/shop in the village of Jamberoo, and was earning a living for herself.

Sabina Montgomery Hukins was a granddaughter of my 3x great grandparents James Hukins and Susannah Fullagar.  Sometime after the deaths of her mother, in 1878, and her father, in 1885, she moved in with her aunt Cassandra.

By 1901, Sabina, aged 55, had been living in her aunt's home (the combined shop and cottage) in Jamberoo for at least eight years and had apparently been an invalid and bedridden for all that time.  I have yet to uncover exactly what caused Sabina to become an invalid.  I have however found a newspaper item that gives the impression that she kept herself very busy with her creative sewing/crocheting skills.

Kiama Independent and Shoalhaven Advertiser
Fri 5 Jul 1901 p2

Transcript of the last Local and General Items:

"Miss Sabina Hukins (who perished in the late fire at Jamberoo), while the Duke and Duchess of York were paying their visit to this colony forwarded a present to the Duchess of a Nightdress Satchel.

Miss Hukins though bed ridden for many years, amid all her suffering was always busy at some dainty specimen of crotchet work, and it was one of these she forwarded to Government House.

Just a day or two previous to her death she received a kindly acknowledgement through a lady in waiting from the Duchess, and a present of a Testament.

These were also burnt with all her treasures.  Miss Cassandra Hukins who devotedly nursed her niece for many years suffers severely, having lost her home and possessions through the unfortunate occurrence".


I'm not sure what a crocheted "nightdress satchel" would look like, but it sounds quite dainty and exquisite.  Obviously Sabina considered her creation good enough to be sent to the Duchess of York as a gift.

The Duke and Duchess of York and Cornwall (centre) in Melbourne 1901,
with the first Governor General of Australia and his wife

The Duke and Duchess of York (and Cornwall at the time) were in fact the present Queen's grandparents, later to become King George V and Queen Mary.  They were visiting Australia to open the first Commonwealth Parliament in May 1901.


Sadly, Sabina's life tragically ended just a few weeks after receiving the lovely card and present from the Duchess.

Kiama Reporter and Illawarra Journal (NSW),
Wednesday 3 July 1901, page 2

According to the various news reports at the time, Cassandra checked on her niece around 10.00 pm that Saturday night.  She put out the lamp, but Sabina asked for a candle to be lit so she could read a little.

In the early hours of Sunday morning, Cassandra heard cries and some knocking sounds.  She opened the door of Sabina's bedroom and saw the bed and the room in flames.  She must have started screaming in order to alert the neighbours that she needed help, but apparently she attempted to rescue her niece by herself.

I'm not sure what she expected she would be able to do, given that she was 72 years old, but I imagine any concern she might have had for herself was far outweighed about her fears for her niece trapped in her bed.

It seems that Constable Clarke, who arrived shortly after the alarm was raised, had to rescue Cassandra but nothing could be done to save Sabina.

Cassandra must have suffered burns and smoke inhalation from the experience, and perhaps carried scars for the remainder of her life.

She did apparently go blind after the incident.  The cause of this was attributed to the fire.  

Of course, Cassandra also lost her home and all her possessions, and whatever business she ran in the shop which was part of the building she lived in.  Imagine how you would feel if you lost everything - your home, your income, all your possessions and your treasured niece - when you are aged 72 in the early 1900s!!!

Cassandra had obviously been supporting herself with a modest income and home for many, many years and would have been totally devastated by this tragic experience.

Whilst Sabina suffered a horrible end in 1901, Cassandra lived a few years longer.  Her community rallied together to help her get back on her feet.

Sabina had made a will four years earlier, leaving the farm she owned to Dr. Terrey to repay him for his "kindness and professional attendance shown her".  Dr. Terrey then decided to pay 10 schillings a week for life to Cassandra.



He also assisted Cassandra to apply for the old age pension, and the community held a benefit concert giving all the proceeds to help provide her with fresh deeds for her property and the things she needed to live a comfortable existence.





Story 2.
James Alfred Connors (my paternal Grand Uncle) was the sixth child of my great grandparents Thomas Edgar Connors and Susannah Fullagar Hukins.  He was born in the Shoalhaven District and spent his life in that region.  James was Sabina's first cousin 1x removed, and would have known about the fiery incident that took her life, as the extended Hukins family kept in close contact.  He would have been 17 years old when the news reached his family.  James's mother, Susannah Connors nee Hukins (my great grandmother), was Sabina's first cousin.

In 1906 James married Lillian Ruth Brown in Lismore when he was aged 22. That very same year James's brother George (my grandfather) married the sister of Lillian.  The brothers married sisters, and I imagine it would have been a very happy time for the both families.  

Sadly though, James was to die horribly in a fire the following year, when he was only 23 years old.  He was burned alive at his place of employment.

Transcript of the article printed in the Northern Star newspaper:

"The Fire at McDermott's Store.

JAMES CONNORS' DEATH.

CORONER'S INQUEST.

Mr. F. G. Adrian, P.M., district coroner, held an inquest yesterday concerning the death of James Alfred Connors, which occurred subsequent to burns received at the start of the fire at Mr. T. McDermott's bulk stores on Friday, October ll.

Dr. C. Franceschi said that on the Friday previous he saw the deceased at the public hospital. He found that he had been burnt pretty well all over his body, including the neck and face. There were only a few spots that were not burnt. Deceased died about 7 p.m., and the witnesses did not see him then. He saw the deceased first about noon, and then at about 5.30 or 6 p.m. The cause of death was shock resulting from burns.

John Connors said he was a grocer in the employ of Mr. T. McDermot. Deceased was his brother, and was also in Mr. Mc Dermott's employ. On Friday the 11th, deceased was at work in the morning as usual. Witness last saw him before the burning at 5 minutes to 12, when the deceased was leaving for his lunch, which he usually went home for, though at times he had it at the store, as on this day. Some few minutes past 12 witnesses’ attention was drawn to a cry of fire from the rear of the premises. Witnesses rushed out of the back and met deceased all in flames - in fact most of his clothes were then burnt off him. Some of the young fellows had hold of him. He would not stand quiet, but witnesses, with the assistance of some of the others, put out the fire and saw he was badly burnt. Witness had him conveyed to the hospital. All the rear of the bulk store was burning at this time. Witness called for someone to ring up the fire brigade before he went to the hospital. Witness subsequently asked his brother at the hospital, just after arrival, how the fire occurred, and deceased said he went out to the back to boil the can he had for tea. He also took his little methylated spirits' lamp. After filling the lamp with spirits, he turned to go away, and stood on a match which ignited and started the drip of the methylated spirit burning in a flash. He put down the spirit lamp in a hurry to put it out, and in doing so spilled some spirit, which made it worse. He then went to go away when the large cask of methylated spirits exploded. The size, of this cask was 36 gallons. It was the ordinary cask with iron bands. Deceased's life was not insured, and he had no property. He was born at Shoalhaven, and was 23 years of age. He was a married man and had one child.

Charles W. Deutescher, storeman, in Mr. McDermott's employ, said on Friday 11th. inst., he was at the back store about noon. He had previously seen deceased. Shortly after noon witness heard some cries as he was in that part of the main building. The cries were on the other side of the partition from where witness was. He heard cries of "Charlie" three, times, and recognised the voice as being that of deceased. The first two were in his usual tones, but the third cry seemed distressed. At the time of the cry witness had noticed no fire. Before witness could run round to the entrance to the store where the methylated spirits were kept, there was an explosion. The next thing he saw was the deceased apparently blown out of the door of the room one mass of flames. He did not fall. Witness then noticed that the whole of the back part of the building was on fire, including the spirit room and cases in the yard. The first thing witness did was to go to the assistance of deceased, who was screaming all the time, but before he could do anything he run past down the little lane to the main store. Witness, with other employees, attended to deceased, and did what they could to the fire on the premises. The rear of the bulk store was all in flames. Witness closed the front doors to stop the draught. The fire brigade arrived about 15 minutes after the fire started, and the fire was got under, in about 20 minutes.

Thomas McDermott, storekeeper, said he was at the store on the 11th, but had left it a few minutes previous to the fire alarm. He then went back to the premises. He went out, and saw the flames coming from the back store. The deceased had been removed before witness came. Deceased was an employee of witness and had been for about three years. Where the spirit is kept is in a back room at the rear of the bulk store and separated from the general bulk store by a galvanised iron partition. The store is divided into three compartments, and this is the rear one. Regarding the care of the spirit room, there are special instructions given that no one except Deutscher, the bulk storeman, must touch the methylated spirits. Deceased had no right at all to go there, and his duties did not take him there. He was employed in the grocery department. It was customary, to save going to the cask, to have a quantity of spirit bottled, which was kept ready for sale by the ironmongery department, and there was a quantity of the spirit in bottles on the shelves at this time. If the deceased went, as stated, to draw spirits for his lamp, it would be against all instructions. After hearing that deceased had taken a lamp into the store, witness and Sergeant Lewis opened the store, and found the remains of a lamp and billy can close to where the cask would have been. It was on a portion of the floor remaining, which was almost, directly under where the tap of the cask would have been. There was a little spirit lamp in the store kept by the millinery department for heating irons. The one in the store is missing, and these remains are similar to the missing lamp. The bulk store was insured for £100 In different companies; stock in the bulk store was insured for £350, and witness estimated his loss at about £7O0. The fire was got out in about half an hour.

Herbert. R. H. Smith, grocer, in the employ of Mr. D. J. Wilson, said on Friday 11th, he was in Mr. McDermott's employ, and deceased was also in the same employ, He saw deceased last run round the side of the bulk store from the main building. A few minutes later, witness heard him call out "Charlie." He called out a second time, and witness could tell there was something wrong and started to run round. He called out 5 or 6 times after wards, and every time it was more distressful. There was an explosion just as witness got to the corner of the building, and Connors was thrown into the yard - witness thought at the least 6 or 8 feet. Flames and spirits seemed to be thrown out 5 or 6 feet further. Deceased fell and got up and rushed up the yard until he struck the fence, when he turned and ran back, and witness caught him about the centre of the yard and pulled portion of his celluloid collar off and tried to take him down the lane to take his clothes off. The clothes were almost burnt off him, being apparently saturated with spirits. The cask in which the spirits was kept was a wooden one, and it was Deutcscher's duty to draw the spirits. Witness had never drawn any.

Sergeant Lewis stated that about noon on Friday 11th last, he heard the fire alarm, and went to the fire, which was at the rear of McDermott's store. After the fire had been practically put out in company with Mr. McDermott, he went to the Lismore hospital and saw deceased. Mr. McDermott said "How did it happen?" Deceased said he was in the back store room and trod on a match near the methylated spirits. The cask caught alight and burst over him. He said nothing then about the lamp, but witness subsequently heard that Mr. McDermott and witnesses went to the rear of the remains of the storeroom, and at the spot where the spirit cask stood, found the remains of a spirit lamp and billy can.

The coroner found that deceased, James Alfred Connors, died on October llth from the effect of burns, accidentally received on the same day. He added incidentally that the whole accident appeared to be deceased's own fault in going unauthorised to the spirit cask.

Something similar may have been used
by Jame to heat up his billy

So it was a decision to boil the billy to make a cup of tea that ended James's life. Going against explicit instructions from his employer and the usual practice, James decided to take some methylated spirits for himself and went to the store out the back where it was stored.

In his attempt to fill his spirit lamp (which may have looked similar to the one in the picture opposite), he spilt some of the spirits while drawing it out of the cask.  As he turned to walk away, he stood on a match which then ignited the spilt spirits.  He quickly put down his lamp to try and put out the flames, but split more spirits.

This resulted in a larger flame which ultimately resulted in an explosion that burst open the large case of spirits and the whole load ignited immediately.  James was enveloped in flames, but still managed to stumble out into the yard crying out for help.

It's inconceivable that a mundane task, such as making a cuppa, could end a life, but sometimes split-second decisions alter everything.


James's wife Lillian was only aged 20 when she became a widow, and was mother of a six-month old baby.  She re-married the following year and gave birth to another baby in 1911.  Tragically, Lillian died that year, not long after giving birth.




Story 3.

More tragedy was also in store for James's older brother, John, who was there to witness the events of 1907.  John Edgar Connors (my paternal Grand Uncle) worked as a grocer at McDermott's and was one of the people who rushed to put out the flames as his younger brother was staggering around in the yard whilst alight.  John also accompanied his brother to hospital and would have sat with him during the following hours as James clung to life.  He would have been there at the end when James's body gave up the fight.

We now know so much more about how trauma impacts a person's emotional, psychological and physical health.  Back in the early 1900s, I'm not sure people really recognised the full impact of trauma and the stress reactions and responses it triggers.  Whilst some people exhibit resilient responses, others suffer long-term anxiety disorders and far more destructive behaviours.

I do think the story of James's older brother, John Edgar Connors, in the years after the loss of James, tells of a person in a lot of pain and distress.  I am jumping to conclusions, but I think it was likely the result of the trauma suffered when watching his younger brother die in such terrible circumstances.

John Edgar was aged 31 when his brother James died .  At the time John was married and had three children.  Three years after the death of James, John also lost his father and mother in the same year, 1910.  His brother Erice was killed in action during World War 1 in France in 1916.  John and his wife had another two children, but by the time their last daughter was born, things were not going very well.

A warrant was issued for John's arrest in mid 1919, not long after the birth of his last child.  He was charged with wife desertion.

This excerpt from the Police Gazette states that by 1919, John appeared to have a drinking problem and was earning a living in a questionable (probably illegal) way.

He was working as a 'bookie', a registered bookmaker at the races, but it's likely not everything was done according to the letter.

Northern Star Thurs 29 May 1919 p2

John had left his family back in February 1919, and was subsequently found in Murwillumbah, much further north and close to the Queensland border.  He was remanded to appear in the Lismore Children's Court and was apparently allowed bail.  As I haven't found any evidence of incarceration, I'm assuming John somehow paid the money.

The next newspaper articles I found tell of his rather horrendous death.

On January the 10th 1923, John committed suicide on the platform of the Yandina Railway Station, which is near Nambour in Queensland.  He was aged
A magisterial inquiry into the circumstances of his death was held in

Witnesses stated that John had been seen in the train station waiting room waving his arms about, laughing and talking to himself as if "he was mad".  The local hotel keeper stated that John had had a drink in his bar that morning, and had appeared to be recovering from a heavy bout of drinking.


The station master stated:
"... his suspicions were aroused by the deceased's opening and shutting his suitcase a good many times, and looking around to see if any one was watching him.  By and by a shunter told him that the man was talking to himself, and asked if he would have a look at him.  Immediately afterwards, he was horrified to see the deceased deliberately cutting his throat ..."

Constable McAllister, stationed at Roma Street in Brisbane, deposed that he had known John.  He went on to say that "John had left the employ of the Brisbane Tramway Company.  He noted that John was a cheerful, well educated man, and exceptionally fond of women's society.  For some time John had engaged in bookmaking at Brisbane and country racecourses.  He had taken up a position with Charles Gilbert, but had lost the role through drink."  McCallister further stated that during the 12 months prior to his death, John had been "heavily addicted to drink."

Tragedy Strikes!

I'm joining the #52Ancestors challenge titled 'Water' with a post that tells of some of the heartbreaking drowning events that tragically ended the lives of a number of people on my family tree.

Story 1.    Edward William McCane

The first of these stories tells of the heartbreak and loss experienced by my maternal great grandparents Owen McCane (Muckian) and Margaret McCane nee Farrell, my maternal grandmother Sarah O'Donnell nee McCane, and my grand aunts and uncles - Susan Bidgood nee McCane, Thomas Owen, John Michael and James Patrick McCane - in the year 1905.

At that time my great grandfather Owen McCane, an immigrant from Ireland, and my great grandmother Margaret Farrell, an immigrant from England were living in Charters Towers.  They had begun their married life there in 1892 when Owen was aged 32 and Margaret was 26.  By 1905 they had a family of two girls, Susan aged 12, Sarah aged 10; and four boys, Edward William aged 8, Thomas Owen (known as Tom) aged 6, John Michael aged 4, and James Patrick (known as Jim) aged 1.

      

  

        

Burdekin Pumping Station indicated with the blue tag

Both the 1903 and 1905 census records Owen and Margaret living at the "Pumping Station".  The Burdekin River Pumping Station was located on the peninsula at the junction of the Burdekin River and Sheepstation Creek.  It supplied much-needed water to the gold mining town of Charters Towers, which was about 13 kilometres away. 

By 1905, a small settlement had grown up around the pumping station, with a collection of other buildings at the site. Close to the pumping station, there was an engineer's residence, some worker's cottages and a small school, all located on the north bank of the creek.  The school had opened up in 1897 to accommodate the children of the pumping station employees, as well as the children of pastoralists who lived and worked nearby. Owen and his family were probably living in one of the worker's cottages, but it would have been rather a tight fit for a family of eight. 

On the 5th of February 1905, tragedy struck.  Edward William, Owen's first-born son, passed away at the age of 8.  The details of the tragedy were reported in several newspapers of the time.

Drowning Accident - Northern Miner (Charters Towers), Monday 6 February 1905, page 4

Transcript of the article:

"A sad drowning accident occurred at the Burdekin yesterday, the victim being a lad named Edward McCane aged eight years. 


The boy, with a younger brother went fishing, and fell off a log into the water. His little brother ran to give the alarm, but first went to the pumping station engine-house, which was untenanted. He then ran home and told his father, who is one of the foremen at the station. 

The father rushed down to the spot, and others came to his assistance, but it was 45 minutes before the body was recovered under the bank in 8ft. of water. All efforts to restore life were futile."


The picture I have is firstly of Edward's little brother, searching wildly for his father immediately after the incident.  That little boy was Thomas Owen McCane, known as Tom.  He was only 6 years old when his older brother fell into the river.  I just can't imagine what effect the ordeal would have had on him ... at the time, and forever afterwards.  

He had run to the engine-house of the pumping station first.  I imagine he thought his father would have been working there, but this wasn't the case.  That meant little Tom had to then spend more time running in his search for help.  It must have been absolutely terrifying for such a young person.

The next picture I have is that of Owen during this ordeal. I can see a frantic father diving into the river, searching desperately for his son under the water.  I wonder if it was Owen who found Edward? Was he the one who spent 45 minutes trying to find the body of his oldest son?  I wonder if it was Owen who tried in vain to revive Edward? 

I would think that my great grandfather Owen and great grandmother Margaret suffered immensely for a long time in their own way after the tragic accident.  Both would have carried on though, as they had five other children to take care of, and thankfully a large close-knit group of family members on my great grandmother's side who would have supported them through the weeks and months that followed.




Story 2.    Hannah Susan Exton

In an eerie parallel, the next story is also of a family relative, on the paternal side of the family tree, who drowned when aged 8.  

My 3rd great uncle Thomas Exton (youngest son of my 3x great grandparents James Exton and Susannah Lancaster) and his wife, Eliza Silke Exton nee Hughes, had a family of six children by mid 1885 - Thomas Henry, Sarah Anne, Marietta, William James, Hannah Susan and George Walter.  They were living quite comfortably in Lismore, New South Wales, on the family property in the lower section of Molesworth Street that backed onto a tributary of the Richmond River.

On December 21st, around noon, Hannah Susan aged 8, was playing near the river and had jumped into a boat that she thought was tethered to the shore.  Unfortunately, it was not.

Northern Star Dec 24 1885

A transcript of the newspaper article tells of the inquest that was held the next day in the family home of Hannah's parents, Thomas and Eliza, whilst Hannah's body was laying in the next room.  It paints a picture of the unfolding events that had occurred the afternoon before.

"Fatal Accident:

An inquest was held before the District Coroner (Mr. L. Bernstein) and a jury of twelve, at the dwelling house of Mr. T. Exton, on Tuesday the 22^nd instant, on the body of: Hannah Susan Exton, who was drowned in the river on the previous day, when the following evidence was given-

Henry Sharpe deposed:  I am Sergeant of Police stationed at Lismore, from information I received about noon on Monday, the 21^st instant, I proceeded to the river bank at Lismore, near Mr. T. Exton’s residence; I found a number of people there engaged in diving and dragging the river.  I commenced to drag the river myself, and about 4 p.m. I succeeded to bring the body of the deceased, Hannah Susan Exton, to the surface of the water;  I carefully examined the body, but could find no marks of violence;  I viewed the body now laying in the next room and recognise it as that I brought to the surface.

By a juryman:  ODO drag is kept in the Police Office in fair order, no other in town as far as I am aware of.

Thomas Exton, deposed:  I am the father of the deceased, Hannah Susan Exton;  I was in Holesworth Street, Lismore, on the 21^st instant, and from information received I proceeded to my wharf at the river bank paddock;  after diving there a few minutes a number of people came who assisted in diving and dragging until about 4 p.m., when I saw the body of my child, Hannah Susan Exton, brought to the surface; life was extinct, she having been under water from about noon;  I don’t know how she got into the water, there did not appear any marks on the body, and I believe the death was purely accidental; the deceased was eight years of age; she was not in the habit of going to the river by herself, but usually in the company with her older sisters.

Katie Meares, deposed:  I am seven years old; I saw Hannah Exton getting into the boat yesterday; she thought the boat was fast, but it was not, and it got away from the bank; she called out to me to get hold of the boat, but I said I could not, then she jumped out and was drowned; I ran to Mrs Exton and told her Hannah fell into the river.

The jury returned a verdict that the deceased, Hannah Susan Exton, was in the Richmond River at Lismore, on the 21^st instant, accidentally drowned." 

Hannah Susan died just 4 days before Christmas that year, and her funeral was held on the day before Christmas Eve. It would have been a very sombre festive season for the entire family.



Story 3.   Sarah Emily Exton

Sarah Jane McGuiness nee Exton

There is yet another member of the Exton family who tragically drowned.  Hannah's father, Thomas Exton had an older sister named Sarah Emily.  

Sarah was the second eldest daughter of my 3x great grandparents James Exton and Susannah Lancaster (Sarah was in fact the first biological daughter of James, as Susannah's first daughter was James's step-daughter).

Sarah Emily Exton was born in Lincolnshire, England, and had emigrated to Australia with her family when she was aged 8.  She had married the convict James Hugh McGuiness when she was 23.  They had settled into their married life in the Richmond River district and went on to have a family of eight children.

Between the ages of 23 and 40 Sarah gave birth to Charles John Hugh, Mary Jane, Lucy Emily, Hugh, Amelia, Elizabeth Ann, Emma and James McGuiness.  Sadly, her daughter Elizabeth Ann died when she was 1, and her last-born died on the day he was born.  Sarah's husband James McGuiness died in 1882 when Sarah was only 47 years old.

Then, less than nine years later, in December of 1891, Sarah was found drowned.  There were no beaches where Sarah was living, but her home town of Lismore sat on the Richmond River.  Was that where she met her tragic end?  The answer is no.

The coroner's report that was published in the May-June 1892 pages of the Government Gazette shows that she had been found near Lismore, but does not mention the Richmond River.  (Her age was incorrect - she would have been 56 in December of 1891)

Her death certificate states that she had died at Blakebrook, near Lismore, but once again doesn't mention the big river nearby.  So where did Sarah actually drown?

This present day map shows there are many little creeks around the Blakebrook area that feed into the Richmond River, so perhaps she died whilst swimming in or crossing one of those creeks.  

Unsubstantiated oral family history tells the story that Sarah actually drowned at Hanging Rock Falls, which would have been a very long journey from Blakebrook back in 1891.

The exact details of her drowning death have eluded me up to this point, but it does seem like quite a dreadful way for a woman in her mid-50s to end her days.



Story 4.    Percival William Legge

Harriett Jones nee Lancaster-Exton

Sticking with the Exton family ... my 3x great grandparents James Exton and Susannah Lancaster had a daughter named Harriet Lancaster-Exton.  

Yes, I mentioned her in the last story.  She was my 3x great grandmother Susannah's first child, born out of wedlock, and became James's step-daughter.

After emigrating with the family to Australia, Harriet was to marry twice.  Her first marriage was to convict John Michael Jones, when she was just 14 years old.  Harriet and John went on to have 10 children, one of whom was named Oliver Jones. 

Oliver Jones (grandson of James Exton & Susannah Lancaster), with his wife Elizabeth Yabsley

Oliver married a lady named Elizabeth Yabsley, and they went on to have 10 children as well!  Their second-youngest child was Elizabeth Irene Jones, fondly known as Lizzie (my 3x great grandparents' great grandchild).

Lizzie would also marry twice, like her grandmother Harriett.  Her first marriage was to a man named Percival William Legge, known as Percy.  He was an immigrant, an engineer, coming out from England in 1909 to begin a new life in Australia. 

They married when Lizzie was 22 years old, in 1912, and went on to have three children over the following seven years.  Sadly their marriage ended within seven years, with the death of Percival.

Some of the known facts of Elizabeth Irene's and Percival William's story are these:

Percy and Lizzie began their married life working in dairies in Cawongla (very close to Hanging Rock Falls), north-west of Lismore.  It appears that, at that time, Percy's engineering background did not afford him a job in that field.  

By 1918 however, Percy was working for the river steamer company, Davis Bros. & Burgess Ltd, and was living in Coraki with his wife Lizzie and family.  Whilst he enlisted in September of 1918, he did not see any action. 

An interesting event that occurred in late 1918 however, seems to have been an ominous sign for Percy's future.  He was the engine driver on a steamship name 'Ballina' which had docked overnight in the town of Ballina.

According to this Northern Star article:

Northern Star Sat 28 Dec 1918

"Being holiday time, accommodation was most difficult, and it is averred impossible to secure at the popular seaside resort, and some people, it appears, went on board without authority to sleep.

The drowned men were, it is said, of these.  There were also on the vessel the engineer (Percy Legge), his wife and three children, and a deck hand named Felsh.

About 3.30 a.m. the catastrophe occurred, and in what manner it came about is a mystery.  The Ballina arrived at the owner's wharf at 11.30 o'clock in the morning and remained there all day, being viewed by a great number of people on holiday.  At 10.30 or 11 o'clock at night the boat appeared to be all right - there was nothing whatever to cause the slightest apprehension.  But there, to all human intent and purposes, safely moored to the jetty by the broad expanse of the Richmond River - something - the unexplained, so far undiscovered something - went amiss, and in the early cheerless, moonlight hours peaceful sleepers were rudely awakened to find a water grave threatening them, and alas for two the darkness of the waters to encompass them forever."


So it seems Percy (employed as the engine driver of the steamship) had taken his wife and family on the trip so they could enjoy a little Christmas holiday by the beach.  They, the deck hand, along with the two men who drowned, slept on the ship overnight, on Boxing Day night.  Whatever happened in the early hours of December 27th has remained a total mystery, but it resulted in the sinking of the steamship Ballina.

Thankfully, Percy, his wife and three children; along with the deck hand named Felsh, managed to escape and make it safely to shore.  At the time Lizzie and Percy's children were aged just 4, 2 and 1 year old.  It would have been a very scary experience for everyone.  

Lizzie and Percy returned to their usual day-to-day lives and were probably thankful each and every day that the whole family had survived.  They were no doubt looking forward to a bright future together.  Sadly, that changed in the blink of an eye almost a year later.

It seems that Percy and a couple of mates, including a young man named Felsch - who may have been the same deck hand who had survived the sinking of the Ballina - had spent a lazy Sunday at Evans Head.

At around 2.00 p.m. Percy and James Felsch decided to go in for a dip just as the tide was turning.  Percy was pulled into a dangerous undertow, and despite the best efforts of James Felsch, was taken out to sea.  It seems Percy could not swim at all, so had little chance of escaping the pull of the tide.

The crowd on the beach apparently gave no heed to Percy's cries, thinking he was just having a bit of fun!  But eventually the man on beach patrol was called upon to head out into the breakers to find Percy, and with the assistance of another man bought Percy's body back to shore.  Apparently attempts at resuscitation were kept up for over two hours, but to no avail.

Lizzie, his widow (my paternal 2nd cousin twice removed), was left with three young children and a baby on the way.  She gave birth to a baby girl the following month, in January 1920.

Map showing Ballina (where the entire family almost drowned in Dec of 1918) 
and Evans Head (where Percy did drown in Dec of 1919).
The town of Coraki is also indicated with a cross - that's where the family was living
at the time of Percy's death.

I'm joining Amy Johnson Crow's 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks 2020 project / challenge.

This time I'm catching up with the prompt for Week 14 of 2020 - ''Water".

You can join by blogging or posting on social media with the tag #52Ancestors.

Check out Amy's FB pages:  Generations Cafe  or  Amy Johnson Crow

The Story of the almost forgotten children of George Connors and Grace Brown

George Connors and Grace Brown were my paternal grandparents, both born in the early to mid 1880s ... George was born in 1880, while Grace was born in 1885.  I have told their individual stories here: The Story of George Thomas Connors  and here: The Story of Grace Olive Brown

My own personal memories of my grandfather George are very vague and sketchy.  I was aged 6 when he died and way back in my childhood years I lived a long train ride away from him, so I only met him a handful of times ... perhaps two handfuls!  My memories are all about his physical presence.

Grandad George

I remember him as a tallish, old man who stood up quite straight and had a quiet, reserved air about him.


My abiding memory is that of a gentle giant.  I suppose to a small girl that would make sense.


He was 86 when he passed.

Grandma Grace holding me as a baby

I have a few more memories of my grandmother Grace, but again, only as an old woman.

I remember her as a white-haired, softly spoken and gentle woman.

Towards the end of her life she would sit out on the top step of her house and quietly observe the world outside, appearing to be perfectly content just to be in the sunshine.  Grandma Grace survived her husband by eight years, passing in 1974 aged 89.

They married in mid-1906, and over the following 22 years went on to have 11 children.

Growing up, I only ever knew about 9 of those children
- my father Bede and his twin brother, my uncle Reggie;

- my other uncles, Colin, Tommy, and George Jnr.,

- and my aunts Beryl, Chris, Olga and Betty.

At some point in my teenage years I became aware that my grandmother had lost some of her children when they were babies, but it was not a topic of conversation during family get-togethers and it was certainly not something I ever wanted to bring up for discussion.  I don't remember quite how I became aware of this fact, but perhaps it was something I overheard.

Of course, over the last couple of years I've been deep in family research and questions started arising in my mind once again.

When I received a copy of my grandfather's death certificate, it was printed in black and white that 1 male and 1 female child of George's were deceased prior to his death.  Given that the list of living children contained the names of those 9 family members I knew, it was confirmation that there had been other children who had not survived childhood.

The information was similar on my grandmother's death certificate, although by that time one of my known uncles, Tommy, had died, so there were 2 males and 1 female listed as deceased when Grace died.

It's taken me a while, but I've now found out a little more about the two other children that my grandmother gave birth to, so I really wanted to leave a record of these two little ones to ensure they are not forgotten.

On July the 6th, 1921, Grace gave birth to a son named Leo.  At the time it appears George and Grace were living at Rosebank, near Lismore in north-eastern New South Wales.  Grace had however given birth at the Bonnie Doon Private Hospital in Lismore.  (Those of us who are Aussies would associate the name 'Bonnie Doon' with events in a wonderful 1997 movie called 'The Castle' ... definitely not the same place!)

Tragedy hit a mere 3 days after the birth of little Leo.  Information gleaned from his death certificate indicates that Leo died on the 9th of July 1921, and the cause of death was recorded as:

"cardiac failure through being accidentally overlain"

There are few other details, other than the notation that there was an inquiry - a coroner's inquest - conducted that day. I'm left with so many questions.  Was Grace still in hospital at this time?  If so, it's likely then that it would have been my grandmother who rolled over on top of her baby and caused his death.  If Grace had left the hospital, then I wonder who might have been the one who had "overlain" little Leo.  It's an absolute nightmarish situation to even think about and I can't imagine the emotional devastation that would result.  It would mark a mother's heart forever.  Of course, my grandfather George would have been completely devastated as well.

Within eight months Grace was pregnant once more.  She gave birth to a girl named Marguerite Josephine on December 28th 1922.  Sadly, this little one passed away a mere month later.

Marguerite died on the 29th of January in 1923.  The cause of death was listed as:

"multiple abscesses and septicaemia" which the baby had apparently been suffering with for about a fortnight.  I'm not entirely sure what "multiple abscesses" means, but I have visions of boils.  My father (Marguerite's brother) suffered with boils for many, many years as a grown man, so perhaps it was something similar.  For Marguerite though, it appears there was a severe infection and she did not recover from that battle.

Legume is marked with the red tag / Lismore with the red oval.

By this time George and Grace had moved from the Lismore area (the family moved around a lot as my Grandad found work wherever he could) and were now living at a place called Legume, in the Tenterfield Shire just inside the New South Wales border.  The nearest big town was Killarney, which was on the other side of the border, in Queensland.  That is where Marguerite was buried.

My grandmother went on to have another three children.  Amazingly, after losing two children in succession, Grace gave birth to her twin boys, my father Bede and uncle Reggie, in late 1924.  Then, five years later in 1929, my aunt Betty was born.

The remainder of her life was filled with love for her family and she was beloved by all her family.  She lived until her 89th year and I now wonder ... when she was sitting out on that top step in the sunshine, did she think about her two little angels taken from her too soon?