Remembering two Wedding Anniversaries
(For my 'Family Anniversaries' page)
Today is the anniversary of my maternal Grand Aunt Susan McCane's wedding day,
and my maternal Great Grand Aunt Helen Ann (Annie) Farrell's wedding day.
These two women were related. Helen Ann was Susan's aunt. They both married on August the 13th, but their wedding days were 29 years apart.
Helen Ann Davies nee Farrell
(Sadly, I have no photos of Helen Ann or her husband to share).
- Helen Ann (known as Annie) Farrell was born in north-eastern England in July of 1871.
- She was the fourth of nine children born to Irish-born immigrants Michael Farrell and Susan Muldowney (Downie).
- Her parents had left Ireland years before Helen Ann's birth, and had moved firstly to Scotland (where they had married) and then to England, where all their children were born.
- Helen Ann emigrated to Australia with her older sister Margaret in December of 1885. Helen Ann (Annie) was only 14 years old when she left England, arriving nearly two months later in Townsville, north Queensland.
- Helen Ann and her sister travelled to Charters Towers, west of Townsville, where they both worked as servants. The remainder of their family, their parents and siblings, all emigrated in late 1887 and travelled to Charters Towers to be with Helen Ann and Margaret.
- Helen Ann met her future husband, David Davies, whilst living and working in Charters Towers.
- They married in August of 1890. Helen Ann was aged 19 at the time, and required the permission of her father to marry (as she was under the age of 21). This permission was given and the wedding was conducted at the Catholic Presbytery, as the Church itself (St Columba's) was a building site where major extensions and alterations were being carried out at the time.
- Helen Ann and David were married according to the rites of the Roman Catholic Church.
- One of the witnesses to the marriage was Margaret Farrell, Helen Ann's older sister.
- The other witness, identified as a 'sponsor' was likely someone known to David. The name originally recorded was "Mary Agnes Tippett", but then there has been a correction made and a note recorded beside the last column that the name should read "Henry James Tippett". I have no more information about who these people might have been. Perhaps Henry Tippett was David's employer.
- Helen Ann and David went on to have nine children, including twins daughters. Sadly their daughter Eileen Monica Davies, who was born in 1903, passed away aged just one week old.
- Tragically, the marriage of Helen Ann and David only lasted until March of 1911, when David was lost at sea during the sinking of the S.S. Yongala. This was just five months before they would have celebrated their 21st wedding anniversary.
- Helen Ann was widowed at the age of 39 with eight children to care for. Susan was 19, David was 18, the twins Helen and Margaret were 15, Elizabeth was 12, Mary was 9, Thomas was 6, and Rita was just one year old.
- Helen Ann never re-married.
I have previously shared Helen Ann's story with many more details and for those who are interested in reading more, please follow this link: The Story of Helen Ann Farrell
For anyone interested in reading a little more about David's sad demise, please follow this link: Shipwreck! Townsville's Titanic.
Susan Mary Bidgood nee McCane
- Susan Mary McCane was born in November of 1892, in Charters Towers, Queensland.
- She was the eldest of seven children born to Irish-born immigrant Owen McCane (Muckian) and English-born immigrant Margaret Farrell (mentioned above as the sister of Helen Ann). Sadly, one of Susan's younger brothers, Edward William McCane, died as a result of a drowning accident in 1905, when Susan was 12 years old.
- Susan began her teaching career around the age of 20. She initially taught in Charters Towers, but then became the head teacher at Molongle Creek Provisional School (later named Gumlu State School) in Gumlu in 1914.
- By 1914, Susan's entire family, her father Owen, her mother Margaret, and the five surviving children including Susan (aged 21 at the time), had all moved to a property that Owen had purchased on the south side of Molongle Creek, in the area around the small township of Gumlu.
- This is where Susan met her husband-to-be, Frank Alexander Bidgood. He was a farmer who had also purchased property in the area, although his land was near the Wakala railway siding.
- Susan and Frank's courtship was interrupted by World War 1. Six young men from the area went off to serve their country, including Frank, who enlisted in mid-1916 when he was 32 years old. He saw action in France and was captured by the Germans, becoming a prisoner of war in April of 1917.
- Thankfully, Frank survived, after being a prisoner of war for over two years. He was repatriated to England in January of 1919, and then shipped home to Australia in May of 1919. Three months later, he and Susan were wed.
- Susan and Frank were married according to the rites of the Roman Catholic Church, even though Frank was not a baptised Catholic. (He was Church of England).
- The witnesses recorded on the marriage certificate were Sarah Mary Josephine McCane (Susan's only sister) and John Lennane (who I assume was a good friend of Frank).
- As recorded on the marriage certificate, Susan and Frank married at "the residence of Owen McCane (Susan's father), Gumlu" on the 13th of August, 1919. There was no Catholic Church in the area at the time, so weddings were usually conducted at the home of the bride's parents.
- In the photo above you can clearly see that the wedding portrait was taken outside at the family farm, where two large mats had been laid down on the ground.
- An item printed in a local newspaper gave more details about their special day:
On 13th August, a wedding of much interest was celebrated at "El Rita," Gumlu, the residence of the bride's parents, when Miss Susan McCane was united in the bonds of holy matrimony to Mr Frank A. Bidgood, Toowoomba (late A.I.F.).
The Rev. Father Morley (Bowen) officiated.
The bride wore an exquisite frock of ivory crepe de chine, beautifully hand embroidered and trimmed with orange blossoms. She also wore a lovely veil, which was kindly lent by Mrs. W. S. Gordon, Proserpine (a recent bride).
The bride was attended by her only sister Sarah, as bridesmaid.
The bridegroom was supported by Mr John Lennane, late A.I.F., as best man.
The happy couple received many congratulatory telegrams, and the presents, which included many cheques, were numerous and costly.
After the ceremony a reception was held at the residence of the bride's parents.
Previous to her marriage, Miss McCane, who has been head teacher of the Molongle Creek State School, Gumlu, for over five years, was presented with a beautiful silky oak duchess by the Gumlu residents.
The school children, at an afternoon tea, presented their teacher with a handsome eight-day clock, suitably inscribed.
- Interestingly, the school Susan taught at closed down upon her marriage until a new teacher could be found. In the early 1900s women were not allowed to continue teaching once they had married.
- Susan and Frank were married for just twelve and a half years until sadly, Frank passed away at the age of 48 in early 1932. I think that the conditions he endured during his years as a prisoner of war would likely have impacted his health and perhaps contributed to his shortened life span.
- Together Susan and Frank had seven children. At the time of Frank's death, the children's ages were: Leonard 11, Ernest 9, Lorna 7, Irene 5, Alfred 3, Frank 1 and Neville 5 months old.
- Susan never re-married.
I love your stories ! You are a great Genealogist. Love Doreen
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Doreen. Your comment means a lot. My hope is that future generations will discover these stories and understand their ancestry just that little bit more.
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