An update - What happened to Maureen D HALL. Born 1930, Young/Koorawatha NSW

This is an update (finally!!!) on my search to find what happened to Maureen D HALL. 

 Among my HALL ancestors, William HALL (1843-1912) and Eliza BLISS (1852-1925) had 15 children from 1868-1896 all registered in Yass NSW. They later relocated to Koorawatha NSW, and from time to time I update this post series on the fate of each HALL child: https://thehistoryofmatt.blogspot.com/2018/03/the-children-of-william-and-eliza-hall.html (on that page my ancestor is Alfred Ernest HALL),

One of those 15 was Walter Henry HALL (1893-1950). In WW1 he served in B Company of the 45th Battalion AIF and was wounded in France. Afterwards he returned to Koorawatha and became a postman, dying in Concord Hospital (a suburb of Sydney, and a hospital for returned servicemen) in 1950 after finally losing his leg, and is buried in Rookwood Cemetery nearby. 

Walter married Marjorie A DONGES (1902 Young - 1930 Young) in 1928. Frank Hall (my grandfather's brother and a chemist at Wollongong University) dove into both the records and drove around NSW finding relatives to compile a HALL family history. The marriage for the pair was reported in the local papers:

 The Young Chronicle

Tue 18 Sep 1928

Of Walter he wrote the following (name of wife not correct, as noted above). Keep in mind this was written by in the 1980s by someone born in the 1920s, so the word choice is not up to 2020 standards:

"Walter H. He married Madge Dawson of Young quite late in life. He lived much of his life in Koorawatha of course operating at one time as a postman. His wife died at childbirth having a sub-normal daughter Maureen. To my knowledge she was still in a mental home at Stockton Newcastle in 1987."

Ever since reading this over 15 years ago I've wondered what happened to Maureen. It appears that almost immediately after birth, Maureen was placed in 'care'. This is a complex set of institutions at a time in Australia when 'mental hospitals' and institutionalization was standard practice, when the Indigenous stolen generation mechanism was well underway, as was the forced emigration of English orphans into Australia.

In 1987, aged 57, Maureen was still alive. But what was her fate? Who visited this only child after her father died in 1950? What was Maureen like? Where is she buried? I have a lot of questions.

Maureen's birth certificate isn't available, as she was born in 1930 (and there's a 100 year restriction in NSW). But I could confirm her name from her mother's death certificate:

NSW Death Registration 1930/17029
Name: Marjorie Alma Hall
Date of death: 7 Oct 1930

Place: Sacred Heart Hospital, Campbell St, Young ; late of Koorawatha

Sex: Female
Age: 27

Place of birth: Monteagle NSW

Father's name: John Christopher Donges, Farmer

Mother's name: Emma Simmons

Place of Marriage: Cowra NSW

Age at Marriage: 25

Name of Spouse: Walter Henry Hall

Children of Marriage: Maureen D, 9 days, living ; None deceased

Informant: W H Hall, Widower, Koorawatha

Cause of Death, length of illness: Chronic nephritis, myocarditis (12 days)

Medical attendant: A J Maurice Purchas
Date last seen: 6 Jan 1930 (I suspect this is mis-transcribed)

Date of Burial: 8 Oct 1930

Place of Burial: Church of England Cemetery Young

Minister and Religion: K L McKeown, Church of England

Undertaker: Patterson Bros

Witnesses: Frank Leach, Cecil T

Registered: 8 Oct, 1930 - Young

So Maureen was 9 days old when her mother died, and if the narrative is correct, she was placed in state (or religious) care. Possibly this was initially in the Young area, but the 'Stockton Mental Hospital for Children' was well established by 1941. My heart breaks thinking of Maureen, alone, and far from the HALL family base in Koorawatha (there were none in the Sydney or Newcastle areas), but clearly some extended family awareness of her location in 1987.

Newcastle Sun, 6 May 1941

In Jan 2020 the Property Officer - Cemeteries at City of Newcastle kindly checked the burial records for Stockton Cemetery, Wallsend Cemetery, Minmi Cemetery, and Sandgate Cemetery but no record of a burial for Maureen Hall could be found. 

As time has gone on I've continued to search all records each year as records are released - death certificates in NSW are released after 30 years. I've now found Maureen's likely death. The certificate in transcribed below. It doesn't reveal a great deal, but ties back to Maureen - father Walter, and born in Koorawatha. It states that Maureen passed away in late 1993, and lived at "Fairlegh Park" in Armidale NSW. Armidale is on the far north coast on NSW, a very long way from Koorawatha. Note that Maureen died in December 1993, but her death wasn't registered till February 1994.

My next job is to understand what 'Fairleigh Park' was. It now appears to be a Crematorium and memorial park.

NSW Death Certificate 4125/1994

Name: HALL, Maureen

Date of death: 8 Dec 1993

Place of Death: "Fairleigh Park" Uralla Rd Armidale NSW 2350

Sex and age: Female, 62 years

Place of birth: Koorawatha, NSW

Period of residence in Australia: Life

Place of residence: "Fairleigh Park" Uralla Rd Armidale NSW 2350

Usual occupation: Home duties

Marital status: Never married

Children: Not any

Mother's name: Maureen

Mother's maiden name: Not known

Father's name: Walter HALL

Cause of death: Carcinoma vulva 17 months

Name of certifying practitioner: Dr. B. H. Connor

Burial or cremation, Date: 9th December 1993

Place: Lawn cemetery Armidale

Informant: M J Field, "Fairleigh Park", no relation

George Bliss' family in Kent - their fate?

My ancestor George Bliss (1819 Otford, Kent, England - 1915 Yass, NSW, Australia) was a convict transported to New South Wales for life.

I've previously written several posts, including:

• Confirmation of George's name and origins in Kent
• George's FIFTEEN children and their fate.

One topic I haven't had a chance to explore was that of George's family - who were his parents and his siblings? Did any other family come to Australia? We know there were others named BLISS transported to Australia, for example. I did identify George's parents and siblings in a post, showing they were from Otford and Seal in Kent (two adjacent villages). 

In this post I'm going to outline George's parents and siblings, highlight what I don't know (and can't solve) about George's family, and introduce an exciting new discovery: George Bliss had a brother who was also a convict. I've also tried to display as many of the primary records as possible in this post, to make it clear what I have documentary evidence for.

Based on what I've pieced together, here is George's family and what I've determined so far. I've intentionally shown George's mother Elizabeth nee HOLLOWAY to highlight that she married a second time.

George's Parents

Richard Bliss (1770-1824) was born about 1770, origins unknown. The first record of Richard is his marriage on 2nd Dec 1810 in the village of Seal, Kent, England, to Elizabeth Holloway. The parish entry does not record whether Richard was a bachelor or widower, but it is estimated he was 40 years of age at marriage.

Seal, Kent marriages, 1810

Richard Bliss of this parish and Elizabeth Holloway of this parish were married in this Church by Banns this second day of December in the year 1810 by me William Humphrey Vicar. This marriage was solemnized between us Richard Bliss (Mark of) Elizabeth Holloway (Mark of) in the presence of William Austen (Mark of) R Walter.

Over the next nine years Richard and Elizabeth had four children, all baptized in the villiage of Otford, Kent (immediately adjacent to Seal):

• Ellenor Bliss, baptised 22 Dec 1811
• John Bliss, baptised 20 Feb 1813
• Eliza Bliss, baptised 1 Dec 1816
• George Bliss, baptised 21 Feb 1819

All four children were born to Richard and Elizabeth BLISS. The latter three entries in the parish records (using new standard parish books implemented ~1812) list the Bliss abode as 'Otford'. Richard's occupation was baker in 1813 but changed to labourer for 1816-19.

In the first cold weeks of 1824, Richard died aged 54, and was buried at Otford. Is is this parish entry for Richard that establishes his year of birth around 1770.

Otford, Kent burials, 1824 - 1824 Richard Bliss, Otford, buried Jany 14th 1824, aged 54

Richard does not appear to have a headstone. About nine months following Richard's death, his widow Elizabeth BLISS nee HOLLOWAY married again at Otford church. Of note, her daughter Eleanor Bliss (aged ~13) was a witness:

Otford, Kent marriages, 1824

John Austin of this parish widower and Elizabeth Bliss of this parish widow were married in this Church by Banns this 27th day of September in the year 1824 by me Thomas Hayman. This marriage was solemnized between us the x of John Austin the x of Elizabeth Bliss in the Presence of the x of John Owen the x of Eleanor Bliss.

Elizabeth and John AUSTEN do not appear to have had children, unsurprising given that Elizabeth was ~40 when she entered this marriage. The Seal, Kent parish register shows that John AUSTEN was buried on 1st June 1845, aged 66 (so John AUSTEN was born abt 1779), with his abode being listed in the burial register as 'Seal Chart'. Seal Chart is a distinct village immediately to the east of Seal. At the time, Seal Chart church was established in 1868, so it seems likely that Seal was the parish for burial. John's death in 1845 also opens a window to possibly find John and Elizabeth AUSTEN in the 1841 England census ; while there is a John AUSTEN living in Godden Green near Seal, I haven't found a good match yet for John and Elizabeth in 1841.

I have had better luck in the 1851 census, where Elizabeth AUSTEN appears, in the census entries for Seal, Kent. Elizabeth AUSTEN, living at Seal Chart, the head of a household, a 65 year-old widow, and occupation listed as Char Woman. In the entry for 'where born', Elizabeth's birthplace was listed as "Hampshire, M...?", but I cannot identify the village listed. Living with Elizabeth was Olly Gasson, a 74-year old widow and pauper originally born in 'Ockenden, Essex'.

   1851 Census, Seal, Kent

Elizabeth appears again in the 1861 census, now living in the hamlet of Godden to the immediate south of Seal. Elizabeth was entered as a lodger and widow aged 76. Elizabeth's occupation was listed as 'formerly labourer's wife' and her place of birth was entered as 'N.K.' (not known). 

   1861 Census, Seal, Kent

Elizabeth's burial is recorded in Seal's parish records, buried on 21 Mar 1865 aged 81 (so born about 1784) with her residence at death recorded as The Union Workhouse. Workhouse records - probably the Sundridge workhouse that served the Sevenoaks district - may reveal more.

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The children of Richard and Elizabeth BLISS. What became of each of the four children? One of course is George BLISS my ancestor, who was transported to Australia, but I've recently spent some time trying to determine the fate of George's siblings. There's a lot more work to do, but I had a major breakthrough with George's brother John, was also a convict, bit with a very different fate!

Ellenor BLISS, baptised 22 Dec 1811

Ellenor was born 1811, and was a witness at her mother's wedding to John AUSTEN in 1824 (aged around 13). This is the last definite record I have for Ellenor. On 26 Sep 1836 an 'Eleanor Bliss' married William TURNER at Cudham, Kent, but I am yet to further trace Ellenor and confirm her marriage.

John Bliss, baptised 20 Feb 1813

John was born in 1813. The first we hear of John is a note in the 'Maidstone Journal and Kentish Advertiser' of "Prisoners Committed to the County Gaol.... John Bliss felony at Otford". The Criminal Register for Kent indicates that John was tried at the Michaelmas Session for 'Larceny by a Servant' and sentenced to 6 months. While there is an eight-year gap  

South Eastern Gazette - Tuesday 24 September 1839 

HORSE STEALING - APPREHENSION OF THE THIEF - On Thursday night last a horse was stolen from the farm-yard of Mr. B. Wickham, Goodhurst. Information having been received that a horse which had been stolen from Mr. Mannering, about a fortnight since, had been seen in Essex, in the possession of John Bliss (alias "Sevenoaks Jack"), a desperate character, Mr. T. Wackham and several other persons, thinking it probable that his horse had been similarly disposed of, went in pursuit, and found that a man had crossed the ferry with a horse answering the description of his own. Mr. T.Wickham traced him about thirteen miles, and found that it was as he expected - "Sevenoaks Jack" with the stolen horse. He seized the robber by the collar, and told him that he was his prisoner. "Jack" replied "Oh then, I'm done now." He had when taken a loaded pistol in his pocket. He is now in Chelmsford gaol.

Chelmsford is in Essex, north across the River Thames from Kent. For this reason, record searches had not identified this John Bliss as being from Seal, Kent. However, the articles above makes the connection between John committing a crime Otford, and in time becoming "Sevenoaks Jack". He was retained in Essex, and there tried and found guilty. John BLISS' defense received detailed coverage in a newspaper, and provided a great deal of detail about the crime.

Chelmsford Chronicle - Friday 06 March 1840

John Bliss, aged 26, described as a tanner, but having the appearance of a labourer, and who evinced considerable shrewdness in cross-examining the witnesses, was indicted for stealing a mare, value 34 pounds, and a set of harness, the property of Benjamin Wickham, of Goudhurst, Kent - Mr Espinasse stated the case for the prosecution.

West Kent Guardian - Saturday 14 March 1840

Horse-stealing.—At the Essex Lent Assizes last week, John Bliss, (26) described as a tanner, and well known by the cognomen of "Seven Oaks Jack," a shrewd and daring character, was indicted for stealing a mare, value 34 pounds, and one set of harness, the property of Mr. Benjamin Wickham, farmer, of Goudhurst, Kent. Mr. Espinasse stated the case, and called Mr. B. Wickham. I am a farmer at Goudhurst; the 19th of September last I saw the mare in the stable between six and seven at night. It was missed the next morning, and I saw it again at Rainham, together with a set of harness which I knew to be mine. 

    Thomas Wickham.—l am the son of the prosecutor, and on the 20th of Sept. I went in pursuit of the mare to Gravesend, where, in consequence of information I received, I crossed into Essex, and went into Rainham; Mr. Travers was with me; we went to the Bell, and found the prisoner and the mare there; they were both in the stable ; I saw a set of harness there, which I thought belonged to father. I knew the mare directly I saw her, for my father bred her ; she is about seven years old. I had known the prisoner before, and when I saw him in the stable he asked if I first heard of him at Cobham, and whither I walked to Rainham. 

    Prisoner: Did I ask you whether you came through Cobham , or whether you heard of me at Cobham ?—Witness: You said—Did I hear of you at Cobham.—When you saw me was in the stable, or standing half in and half out ?— You had one leg in and the other out. —How many people were there my company ? —There was not any one in the yard; I collared you, and said, " You are my prisoner."— Who put the mare in the stable ?—I cannot say ; I didn't see her put the stable; the ostler was just coming with a feed of corn for it, and you were at the stable.—Could you see all over the stable?—lt was a small one, and I think I could. —How many stalls were there ?—I think three or four.— Then could you see all over it ?—I think I could—the mare, I think, was in the centre.—Now upon your oath, was I the man that put it there ? There was a man who put it there in the stable.—l did not see him.—You could not see all over the stable. There was a man lying under the manger.—l don't believe it; I didn't see him.—Who ordered the corn? —That I cannot say.—Where did the ostler Come from?— From the back part of the house?— The man that belonged to the horse, was he in doors, then, order this feed of corn ?—I cannot say; you are the man described to along the road.—Who described me ?—The man at the Ferry. 

    Edward Travers.—l keep a public-house at West Tilbury ; on the 20th of September I went to Rainham, I and the last witness, taking different roads; I saw the prisoner at Rainham, and he had the mare with him ; I saw him in the yard of the Bell, the head of the horse being in the stable, and he was in the act of driving it in; I saw no other person with her she had harness on. Mr. Wickham then came up, and we went and collared him. 

    Prisoner: Have you stated the same as you did before the magistrates ?—Witness : I have to the best of my knowledge.—Prisoner : l am sure you have not. You stated about the same as Mr. Wickham, if you recollect. The depositions were then read over to the prisoner, and he declined putting any other question. 

    John Everett.—l am constable of Rainham ; and on the 20th of September I saw the prisoner about half a mile from that place, with a horse and harness, going there; it was about one in the afternoon. I afterwards saw him at the Bell, and a horse was shown to me, which I believe I can positively swear was the same horse I saw him with before. The horse and harness were afterwards shown to Mr. Wickham in my presence. I took the prisoner into custody. I asked him if he had any unlawful weapons about him, and he said he was sorry he had one—it was a pistol, and was loaded with slugs. He said it was a bad job, and he was sorry for it. I asked him how he came to take the mare away, and he said he was persuaded to do it by another man he had been drinking with him at a beer-shop two days before he took it. He added, that the night he took the mare away he laid in the shed in the yard where the mare was, till morning, and that another man harnessed the mare and brought it out of the yard; but he then took it of the man, and they parted. It was between twelve and one when he left Goudhurst; and he had to go a great way round to avoid the turnpikes. 

    Edward Apps. I live about a mile from the prosecutor, and have known the prisoner five or six years. About seven or eight o'clock on the evening of the 19th of September, I met him going from the turnpike-road, in a direction to Mr. Wickham's stable he was about half a mile off.          

    Prisoner : Where was it you met me ?—Witness: Just by the water-mill.—Prisoner : Was it light ?—Witness : Not very, but it was light enough to know you. Mr. Wickham, sen., re-called, and identified the harness. The prisoner in defence said, he was a watchman on the railway, and having a holiday, he took the pistol with him from the station-house in the morning; he had to fire it off at 6 o'clock every morning, and the gentlemen of the railway knew he had it. The pistol was not meant for destruction at all. 

    Mr. Justice Littledale : The pistol has been introduced incidentally, but you are charged with stealing a mare—do you wish to say anything on that? 

    The prisoner said no. 

    Mr. Justice Littledale summed up the case, and said if the charge was that highway robbery or attack, the pistol might have something to do with the case, but it was not the sort of thing a person who meant to steal a horse usually took with him. 

    The Jury found the prisoner guilty. 

    The sentence was deferred, and when brought up the next morning the prisoner begged for mercy, observing that if he had been sentenced the night before he could have had a two years' character, but the gentlemen who would have given it were compelled to return to London. 

    His Lordship said, formerly persons were actually executed for this offence, but it was now reduced to ten or fifteen years' transportation ; he felt it be his duty in this case to inflict the full punishment. 

    The prisoner, in an affecting manner, implored for mercy. His Lordship paused, and then said—Well, the sentence is that you be transported for ten years. The prisoner expressed his thanks for this lenity.

The map above highlights the locations mentioned in the articles above. John Bliss was from 1. Seal (and committed his first recorded crime at Otford). The horse was stolen from 2. Goudhurst, then ridden north avoiding turnpikes, till arriving at 3. Gravesend (and passing through Cobham). At Gravesend, John Bliss took the horse across the Thames River on the ferry into Essex, then headed west till arriving at the Bell hotel in 4. Rainham. This is where the horse owners eventually caught up with him.

And so, John Bliss was convicted to 10 years transportation. This sentence was not to New South Wales like his brother, nor any other Australian colony. Instead, he was transported to Bermuda. Bermuda was an entirely different punishment ; it was not a penal colony, with convicts living aboard anchored hulks, and employed in building the Royal Naval Dockyard on Ireland Island. Those transportees that survived their period of punishment were returned to England.

John was placed on the prison hulk HMS York (at Portsmouth), and he is recorded in the York Hulk Register:

No. 9083, John Bliss, age 26

Convicted of horse stealing, sentenced 2nd March 1840, Sentence 10 years

Trade: Tanner, Gaoler's report: Not known

How disposed of: P Horatio, Bermuda, 18 July 1840

After a brief period in the hulks, John appears to have sailed to Bermuda in July 1840. Others on the same page of the Register were transported to New South Wales or Van Dieman's Land, but young & strong convicts were reputed to be selected for the back-breaking construction tasks of Bermuda. Once in Bermuda, John was transferred to the hulk Dromedary:

John was based on the hulk by night, and moved to land to build the dockyard by day. 

John survived two years in Bermuda. The prison hospital records in Bermuda show that John suffered from dysentery in July 1841 (as did many convicts in Bermuda), and 'made a good recovery'. A year later, on 3rd August 1841, John again entered the hospital (based on land), and died on the 24th August

UK, Royal Navy Medical Journals, 1817-1856, Bermuda Royal Naval Hospital, 1842

1848 Woodcut of HMD Bermuda, Ireland Island, Bermuda showing prison hulks (Dromedary at right) and Naval Hospital at left. 

Eliza Bliss, baptised 1 Dec 1816

Eliza was born 1816. Eliza appears to not have married, and her burial was recorded at Seal, Kent on 29 Oct 1843, aged 28, abode Seal Chart. This all matches her age, and where we know the BLISS family were living. No headstone identified.

George Bliss, baptised 21 Feb 1819

See the MANY posts on this blog for information about George's life.

Four children, and two sons, each of whom were transported. John died after only two years in the appalling conditions of life on a hulk in the tropics, while George ultimately established a successful farm, had 15 children and lived to be 96. I often wonder if Elizabeth AUSTEN nee HOLLOWAY formerly BLISS ever learnt of the death of her son John in Bermuda, or of the life her son George lived in New South Wales.

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Addenum: Where did Richard and Elizabeth come from?

So where did Richard BLISS come from? While I don't have the clinching evidence yet, I think I've managed to trace Richard back some way. I'm not ready to call this as 'solved' but want to share the pieces I have. 

There is no obvious baptism for a Richard BLISS in Kent

The first record I have of Richard BLISS is his marriage - he was 40 years old when he married Elizabeth HOLLOWAY. His marriage entry in the parish records of Seal, Kent don't mention whether he was a bachelor or widower. It's reasonable to assume a 40 year old man was previously married, so that was one line of inquiry. The second clue is that Richard's wife Elizabeth HOLLOWAY stated in the 1851 census that she was born in Hampshire - the town/village of birth is not clear. Did Richard meet her there?

The following leads seem tenuous. They are struck out as I think they are unlikely to be a match.

Look at Hampshire, a set of children born to a Richard Bliss are evident in Portsea. Portsea encompasses the royal dockyard of Portsmouth, a stepping-off point for ships, and for the movement of people.

• 31 Jul 1799, Portsmouth, St Thomas (Hampshire), Richard Slaney BLISS, parents Richard and Ann BLISS, born Oct 16 1798
• 26 Sep 1800, Portsea St Mary (Hampshire), Robert BLISS, parents Richard and Ann BLISS

This couple can be traced to a marriage in London at St Andrew, Holborn, by Banns, between Richard BLISS and Ann SLANEY around May 1791. Ann's maiden name being given to their child Richard Slaney BLISS clinches the connection.

Is this Richard BLISS the right one? Did Ann die in Hampshire? Did Richard meeting Elizabeth HOLLOWAY there afterwards? More research is needed, but this is a promising lead!!!

Finding Freda: Winifred MAUDSLEY nee FORD (1913 Reading Berks - 1994 Birkenhead, Cheshire)

This is an updated version of a previous post (https://thehistoryofmatt.blogspot.com/2014/07/finding-freda.html). The primary additions are photos we've unearthed, and some further memories from my Aunt Liz.

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My grandmother Jean nee STANILAND had an English relative - a 'cousin' - with whom she corresponded, named Freda. They wrote to one another, and later in life met when my grandmother travelled to England on holidays. I never met Freda, but heard all about her, and my aunt Liz spent a lot of time with her when she moved to England. Given that my grandmother was born in Australia and had Australian parents, I wanted to know how distant this relative was. It is impressive that she was maintaining a family link back in England after so long.

My Aunt Liz shared some memories of what she knew of Freda such as: "I don't know how Mum and Freda came to know each other but they were writing as far back as I can remember. I thought it very odd that Mum sent her packets of sultanas and raisins at Xmas (it was later upped to those baskets of glace fruit) but of course England was still rationed for years after the war and exotic fruit was unobtainable. I can remember Mum being shocked when Freda's husband Eric died relatively young (in his 50s?) of a heart attack. When I stayed with Freda in the late 70s/early 80s, I remember her saying Eric had been dead for twenty years and she couldn't always remember what he looked like. They didn't have any children. At one point Freda lived in 4 Ullswater Avenue, Birkenhead, Merseyside, in an area known as The Wirral, which is a peninsular between North Wales and Liverpool."

"Freda came out to Sydney twice for a holiday and stayed with us in Croydon {12 Burns St, Croydon, Sydney, NSW}. The photo I've attached was taken in May 1974 at Croydon (they used to print the date on the back of photos back then!) - left to right Jean, Clare, Jack, Freda, Liz."

Photo of Freda visiting her extended family when Freda visited Australia May 1974. Photo taken in the back yard of my grandparent's house 12 Burns St, Croydon, Sydney. Left to right:, Jean HALL (1917-2003, nee STANILAND, my grandmother), Clare HALL (nee BORDER then YOUNGER, my mother), John ‘Jack’ HALL (1920-1996, my grandfather), Winifred ‘Freda’ MAUDSLEY (nee FORD), Elizabeth ‘Liz’ HALL (my aunt, later married Mark UNDRILL).

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What was the relationship between my grandmother Jean, and Freda? They evidently corresponded for 50 years or more.

After corresponding with (cross-examining) my aunt Liz, I have traced Freda, born Winifred FORD, back to my SNAPE family in Burslem, Staffordshire. Here is how, with the details my aunt provided in italics. What confused things was that Freda lived and married and died in Birkenhead area of England - a distance from where any of my ancestral lines lived, so I have to keep searching backwards trusting that a connection would emerge.

Freda and my mother worked out they were second cousins, though I don't know how exact that was. Freda was some years older than Mum {ed: Jean STANILAND born 1917}. They were related through Jim Staniland, my mother's father. I don't know the exact lineage. Mum and Freda's grandparents must have been siblings (?). Jim's sister Ethel CRANE, who lived in Lane Cove, and Freda looked very alike.

I can remember Mum being shocked when Freda's husband Eric died relatively young (in his 50s?) of a heart attack. When I stayed with Freda in the late 70s/early 80s, I remember her saying Eric had been dead for twenty years and she couldn't always remember what he looked like. They didn't have any children but were close with a friend's daughter Helen. Freda's married name was MAUDSLEY and she died in the early to mid 90s. No idea what her maiden name was. She had a sister but I can't remember her name. Actually, it might have been Ella.

Freda lived in Ullswater Avenue, Birkenhead, Merseyside, in an area known as The Wirral, which is a peninsula between North Wales and Liverpool. I'm just telling you this in case you come across the name. She lived there all the time that Mum was writing to her until the mid to late 80s (?)  when she moved to the nearby village of Upton, Merseyside. With the help of Google maps I think she lived in Slingsby Drive. To complicate things slightly, Merseyside was a county (like Somerset) which used to be called Cheshire until the 60s or 70s. It has recently gone back to being Cheshire. I stayed with Freda quite a lot over the years.

I was standing washing up and thinking of Freda and suddenly it was as though a voice said it out loud. I think Freda was Winifred Maudsley. Still don't know her maiden name. It is very difficult to find things in English records. I couldn't even find much on any Eric Maudsley - but of course they used middle names etc.

Anyway she died in late Sept/early Oct 1994. How do I know? I couldn't go to the funeral as it was on the day we set off for the Galapagos Islands AND in one of my carefully compiled scrapbooks is the itinerary showing start date 19th October 1994.

And so I used this information and turned to the records:

Death:
England & Wales, Death Index, 1916-2007 about Winifred Maudsley
Name:     Winifred Maudsley
Birth Date:     12 Aug 1913
Date of Registration:     Oct 1994
Age at Death:     81
Registration district:     Birkenhead
Inferred County:     Cheshire
Register Number:     A20B
District and Subdistrict:     0371A
Entry Number:     196

OK so using this I can check on marriage - believe it or not in England they never developed a system to search for the two partners together in a marriage!!

So here they are:
Winifred Ford, Maudsley, married Jul-Aug-Sep 1939, Birkenhead Cheshire
John E Maudsley, Ford, Jul-Aug-Sep 1939 Birkenhead Cheshire

I assume the 'E' is for Eric. Knowing this I can now find his death:
Deaths December 1966
Name:     John E Maudsley
Birth Date:     abt 1900
Date of Registration:     Dec 1966
Age at Death:     66
Registration district:     Birkenhead
Inferred County:     Cheshire
Volume:     10a
Page:     31

While there is no suggestion J E Maudsley is the blood relative - he was from the Liverpool area:

Liverpool, England, Baptisms, 1813-1906 
Name:     John Eric Maudsley
Baptism Date:     22 Jul 1900
Parish:     Edge Hill, St Nathaniel
Father's Name:     John Maudsley
Mother's name:     Sarah Maudsley
Reference Number:     283 NAT/2/4

Well that doesn't solve it all of course. How is Freda related? So I looked into her birth... English birth indexes are useless as they tell very little - don't even show parents, but at any rate, many Winifred FORD's were born at the time so there are no obvious answers.

Her marriage certificate would be the most informative (British registrations ask for far less information than elsewhere). But then probate searching for Eric gave a stroke of luck:

England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1966
1966
MAUDSLEY or MAWDSLEY John Eric of 4 Ullswater Avenue Noctorum Birkenhead Cheshire die 2 October 1966 at St Catherines Hospital Annexe Birkenhead Probate London 20 December to William James Threlfall local government officer. 1475 pounds.

This is important because I have found the marriage of an Ella FORD, and the implication is that Freda's brother-in-law (her sister's husband) was executor of Eric's will, and the THRELFALL's had moved to London area by 1966:

Marriages Jun 1939
Ford      Ella      Threlfall      Birkenhead      8a     1447
Threlfall      William J      Ford      Birkenhead      8a     1447

They had one child registered:
Births Dec 1940   (>99%)
Threlfall      Shelagh A      Ford      Birkenhead      8a     1264     
(Shelagh married in Birkenhead in 1963 to Lionel M HOWARD according to the records)

Ella's death:
England & Wales, Death Index, 1916-2007 about Ella Threlfall
Name:     Ella Threlfall
Birth Date:     6 Nov 1916
Date of Registration:     Jun 1983
Age at Death:     66
Registration district:     Birkenhead
Inferred County:     Merseyside
Volume:     37
Page:     0674

Now I can use the birth dates (from death reg) of Winifred and Ella to find a common birth district, or a common maiden name for their mother, to tie the two together, and identify other children. Only the two girls match, registered in very different parts of England:

Surname      First name(s)      Mother      District      Vol      Page
Births Sep 1913   (>99%)
Ford      Winifred      Giblin      Reading      2c     696   
Births Dec 1916   (>99%)
Ford      Ella      Giblin      Wolstanton      6b     161 

Now that I know the father's surname FORD and the mother's maiden surname GIBLIN I can look for any marriages between these two parties, presumably prior to 1913. There is a marriage in 1889 (Sunderland), and one in 1912:

Marriages Sep 1912   (>99%)
FORD      Ernest      Giblin      Wolstanton      6b     287
Giblin      Kate      Ford      Wolstanton      6b     287      

I think this is a Burslem connection to SNAPE. The region WOLSTANTON fits, and I can  ignore GIBLIN as it is an Irish name, and the 1911 census indicates Kate was born in Ireland.

Looking at Ernest as a younger man born abt 1887:
1911 Census
7 Riley St, South, Burslem
William Ford     51 - born Burslem
Mary Ford     54 - born Burslem
Ernest Ford     24 - born Burslem, gas fitter
John Ford     21 - born Burslem
William Ford     19 - born Burslem

1901 Census
11 Riley St, South, Burslem
All five boys and parents alive, entered as above.

1891 Census
4 Barnes St, Burslem
William Ford     31 - born Burslem
Mary Ford     33 - born Burslem
Henry Ford     8 - born Burslem
Fred Ford     6 - born Burslem
Ernest Ford     4 - born Burslem
John Ford     1 - born Burslem

Ernest's parents:
Marriages Sep 1882   (>99%)
FORD      William            Stoke T.      6b     253  
SNAPE      Mary            Stoke T.      6b     253  

Mary SNAPE was born abt 1858 in Burslem. In 1861 and 71 she is living with parents John SNAPE and family, along with my ancestor, her sister, Ann SNAPE. Ann SNAPE came to Australia with another sister Lucy, Mary stayed behind (in fact she was married when the left).

Cracking this was pleasing - it took several years of occasional searching to get there. It was worth it. Freda and my grandmother's common ancestors were John SNAPE (1828 Yoxall, Staffs) and his wife Mary ROBINSON (1830 Newport, Shropshire - ??) - they were married 25 Nov 1850 at St. John's Parish Church, Burslem, Staffordshire where the SNAPES lived, ad John was a sawyer while several children worked at the potteries in Burslem. Sisters Ann (my great great grandmother) and Lucy emigrated to Australia together in 1883, following beaus to Australia (In Australia, Lucy married William SIMMONDS who was a boarder with the SNAPE family in 1881). Freda is descended from Mary SNAPE (1858 Burslem Staffs - ??), and Freda and my grandmother were therefore second cousins.

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Finally, my Aunt Liz unearthed three photos that had Freda (MAUDSLEY nee FORD 1913-1994) had sent to my grandmother in the 1960s. I think these are valuable because they also show Eric MAUDSLEY (1900 Edge Hill, St Nathaniel, Liverpool - 1966 Birkenhead, Cheshire). In each case I overlaid the handwritten note on the back.

June 1961 - Freda and Eric on the Riviera (I think)

The "I think" refers to the Riviera, not the identify of those in the photo.

Freda and Eric, Lake Gywnant, North Wales, September 1958

Eric is at left, Freda leaning against car. Identify of friend at right not known.

Freda and Eric, Lake Gywnant, North Wales, September 1958

Freda is at center, Erica at right. Identify of friend at left not known.

Obituary of Edwin 'Ted' BANFIELD (1909-1998) of Lake Cargelligo

Ted BANFIELD was a mysterious legend in my childhood, a bachelor farmer living in far-flung Lake Cargelligo in rural NSW. Ted was the cousin of my great-grandmother Mary Ellen HALL nee BANFIELD, and so was related to my paternal grandfather Jack HALL. From time to time, Ted visited my grandparents, or they visited him. I have one strong recollection of Ted visiting - deeply sun-tanned, thin, sinewy arms and working hands, with a thin face.

Ted emigrated to Australia with his parents (see my post on the Banfield 'Coffin House' in Kent, England: https://thehistoryofmatt.blogspot.com/2008/09/coffin-house-west-peckham.html ). As an only child, his only blood relatives in later life was my  grandfather's family. From Frank Hall's notes:

"John (1876-1948) was born at West Peckham Kent. He worked on the railways in Britain and married Elizabeth Harrison at Stoke on Trent. They had two children, the second a daughter dying in infancy. Their son Edwin John was born at Bagworth, Leics in 1909 and because of his asthma the family migrated to Australia in 1912. After five years in Hay (no doubt with brother Thomas Uriah) and nine years at Goolgowi near Narrandera the family settled on a 1450 acre property "One Oak" in 1927. This property, later extended to some 3000 acres was situated at Bootoowa some 30 km south west of Lake Cargelligo and 500km west of Sydney. The property was a wheat-sheep affair of good standard. Both John and Elizabeth are buried in Lake Cargelligo cemetery alongside the grave of my grandfather Thomas Uriah. Thomas died in 1942, John and Elizabeth in 1948. Their son "Ted" never married but was a very competent sober responsible Christian (not Catholic). In 1987 Ted's only relations in Australia were my family."

Ted and his parents actually appear in the UK 1911 census in Bagworth, Leicester,  Ted aged 1.

Ted is buried with his uncle (Thomas Uriah BANFIELD - my great great grandfather) and aside his parents in Lake Cargelligo Cemetery. Two of these photos come from my second cousin Juliette HALL (daughter of Edward 'Ted' HALL, my grandfather's brother).

Lake Cargelligo Cemetery, Methodist Section

In loving memory of

THOMAS URIAH BANFIELD

Departed this life 17th March 1942

Aged 75 Years

Edward (Ted) John Banfield

Departed this life 19th April 1998

Aged 88 years

PEACE PERFECT PEACH

Ted's parents also at Lake Cargelligo Cemetery, Methodist section

Lake Cargelligo Cemetery, Methodist Section

In  Loving Memory Of

My Dear Mother 

ELIZABETH BANFIELD

Laid to Rest 10th Jan 1948

Aged 64 Years

She looked well the the ways of her household and ate not the bread of idleness

My Dear Father 

JOHN FREDERICK BANFIELD

Laid to Rest 1st Nov 1948

Aged 73 Years

Now the labourers task is over

My aunt Elizabeth HALL provided my with a copy of the eulogy read out at Ted's funeral. I have placed a scan here, and a transcript. There are some handwritten cursive notes on the copy, written by my paternal grandmother Jean HALL nee STANILAND (1917-2003) - who was not a blood relation but knew him being married to my grandfather Jack HALL (1920-1996). My grandmother Jean was a Methodist, like Ted, and as such they had a religious connection that wasn't present elsewhere in the family. I have added my grandmothers small notes in parentheses. There are quite a few terms used in this country NSW eulogy that already (22 years later) require a searching to clarify (e.g. tin Lizzie, copper, auger, etc.).

Eulogy for Ted Banfield ('Uncle Ted'), read at his funeral.

Compiled by Gwen Brown.

This is just a small tribute to Ted by some of his friends and neighbours who knew him well. Amongst other things it touches on his generosity, his ingenuity and his sense of humour.

Ted was a great church man who was extremely generous to his church. Mrs. Hazel Cannard recalls the old days of the Methodist church ; money of course was scarce and if anything was needed and there wasn't quite enough money Ted always dipped into own pocket to help.

For many years he was treasurer of the parish and kept the books in perfect order.

Every year at showtime he supplied the wood for the copper and made sure the ladies always had boiling water for the catering. In those days the luncheon pavilion was down near the horse stables, there weren't any electric stoves or hot water laid on. Ted used to transport the crockery from the church to the showground and back again every year.

Ted had the most incredible memory, he could remember in detail anything that happened many years ago. He also knew the Bible from cover to cover and could have lengthy discussions on it. He had a very deep faith and trust. 

If you had forgotten something he told you, Ted soon reminded you where you were, what you had been talking about and on what day he had told you.

Ula Fair remembers as a young girl the family drove to Banfields in the horse and sulky and then went with them to church in their old tin Lizzie at either Fairfield or Bootawa. Mrs. Fair also said that a few years ago while on holiday in the South Coast she met some people there who knew Ted. They said that Ted had bought a car for their parish and they showed her the plaque they had engraved with Ted's name on it thanking him for his generosity.

When the Methodist church bought the present residence in Grace St. Ted donated $3,000 towards the purchase of it. Only two or three years ago the refrigerator in the residence broke down. Ted said, "I think it is time for a new one" and so donated a new refrigerator.

These are only some of the generous donations Ted has given. He also gave a generous donation each year to the local hospital. I'm sure there are many more we will never know about.

At the farm Ted was very proud of 'the big dam', as he called it, which when sunk was one of the biggest if not the biggest in the district. He had ingenious ideas on how to manage to do things alone on the farm.

Neil Golding remembers a few occasions on the humorous side. Ted could always have a laugh at himself and see the funny side of things. Once he asked Neil would he come and help him pull an engine out of the dam which had gone under water. Perhaps he thought Neil was a little long in arriving because when Neil arrived Ted was already at the dam with one end of a rope around his waist and the other end around a post. He told Neil "That's just in case I slipped and went under".

Another time he called for Neil's help to come and auger some oats into a silo to 'top it up'. When Neil arrived Ted was already on the top of the silo with quite a long rope tied to himself and the ladder, "Just in case" he told Neil. If Ted had slipped he would have been dangling half way down the side of the silo.

Another day Ted fell off a ladder which was on top of a drum while he was putting a new bearing in an auger. He told me, at a later date, that when he got himself up off the ground and looked at his broken arm with the bone protruding through the skin he though, "Hmm, I think I'm going to need a doctor". Well on this occasion Ted's phone wasn't working and the two-way radio was out of order. He didn't know what he would do, in desperation Ted tried the two-way and it worked! "Someone" was surely looking after Ted ! Neil came to Ted's rescue and drove him to the hospital in Griffith.

One of the most frightening times Ted endured was when he fell into the sheep dip. It was one of those rotary dips with a deep tank. Ted was in the tank for nine hours, eight of these hours he tried to haul himself out but couldn't. I'm sure a lesser person would have given up with exhaustion long before, but not Ted. He decided to rest for an hour and build up some strength then he gave one last haul and was out. Ted was very ill for a long time after that. {Jean HALL notes: I remember this incident & I think Jack thought was would die.}

Ted's faith and determination brought him through many adverse times during his life. Ted was unique. He will be missed by many in this community. Over the last ten years he spent most Christmas' with our family. With the large crowd we have at Christmas we may have been a little overwhelming at times, but I think Ted enjoyed himself. I know our family loved to sit and listen to Ted tell of his past life in 'the old days'.

Yesterday I had a phone call from an old friend of Teds, Mrs. Phyllis Fox, formerly Chapman. She told me of the times when they lived at "Merrilands" Brewer. The Chapmans were very good friends of the Banfields. Mrs. Banfield was known as 'Banny' by them; Ted was "Teddo" and Mr. Banfield as "Pop". Phyllis has kept in touch over the years as has the rest of the Chapman family. She asked me to read this little poem she wrote for Ted on hearing of his passing.

First though I want to read you a message from Val Drummond who is Phyllis' sister. In Val's own words:-

"Ted has always been an important part of my life. When I was little he and his mother and father (Banny and Pop) and Uncle Tom managed to make me feel special and cherished. When both his parents died within a year my family tried to be his family. We admired his scientific mind, and his tenacity and enjoyed his quiet humour. Though we all moved out of the district, we still kept ties with Ted and it was sad we were not with him at the end of his life. I am sorry I can't be with you all today to celebrate Ted's life. I am sure that right now he is welcoming new life with enthusiasm and will make a great go of it". Val Drummond.

Phyllis' Poem

(Jean notes: I think really he would have liked to marry Phyllis)

Dear Teddo, sadly I heard you died today

Quietly alone, early in the day

Because of the past you've already trod

I know that now you've met your God

Dear Teddo, down my childhood memory lane

Sometime joy, sometime pain

Always in friend ship tried & true

There's been Banny & Pop, Uncle Tom, & you

Dear Teddo 'tis said, later rather than never is better

 So please accept this letter 

Alone you lived, lonely at the end

But in my mind & heart you'll ever be my friend

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