50. Atkinson's of Newry, Co. Down & Ballarat, Victoria, Australia

Atkinson's of Newry Co. Down Ireland - Ballarat, Victoria, Australia

For the past few months, I started to get a little more involved with my Maternal Grandmother's Atkinson family. See, my Grandmother (Dorothy Wendy) was born as an Atkinson.
Her Father - William Thomas, was alive when I was knowledgeable enough to know of him. However, after repeated calls to see him or atleast meet him, my Grandmother kept his life away from mine. At the time, I was bit disappointed of my Grandmother then and still am now. But I understand why she did it.

Around 1992, William passed away and was within a week or so of my Paternal Grandfather passing away too, so it made it all a bit more difficult to come to terms that I would never get to meet him.
The reason for my disappointment, was because my Grandmother never really spoke "why" she would never allow me to visit or see him. She kept a lot of "Family stuff" hidden away, never to be talked about (on both sides). I had to learn of the real reason, many years later from my Great Aunt. William apparently wasn't really wanting to know of other people or even talked a lot to his children. That's sort of the impression I got. If my Grandmother had of sat me down and explained it that "he's not the sorta guy you want to get to know" type of conversation, I would of have understood that maybe, somethings in Families just don't work. As I've grown older (and the colloquial wiser), I see it very clearly, that being a Family or indeed a closely-knit family that enjoys being together, is very hard to have these days. We are so very busy and diverse these days, that what was family life 50-60 years ago, has a different meaning today.

So with that in mind, I am rekindling a lost contact - The Atkinsons of Newry, Co. Down, Ireland.

After many years of delving into Family History, I had a tough time in researching this Atkinson family line, simply because I found it too hard to find correct information at a very close level.
If I get the close level stuff wrong, then the whole tree will be out and the potential for many many hours to be wasted, would be very difficult to get back.
I tried to use DNA, but I kept running into a lot of deadends, simply because I didn't have enough family names, to work out links or connections.
I lost interest a few years ago, because I was getting nowhere, that is, until I used a bit of willpower to understand these Atkinsons.

Probably my first fatal flaw, was to "assume", that my Atkinson lineage, was British. Indeed, it is, but something was different to my line. I couldn't pick it. They just didn't match where I wanted to match.
I had more connectivity to the British Atkinson name, via my Father's DNA, rather than my Mother's.
What the...... My hands went up in the air in frustration, had to walk away from the monitor before it got smashed - type of thing. It just kept coming up with deadends.
This is where I had to come back to basics, this is where I went to ground, with that lovely page called Trove and using the BDM in the State of Victoria (Birth's-Death's-Marriage's) to work out legitimate links that can be proven.

This was my "eureka" moment (pardon the pun). As I got more in depth, I realised that I had found a Geelong/Ballarat connection. Not long after that, I found out that these Atkinson's came over to Australia (as a large family), from Newry Co. Down Ireland. Directly after the Famine.
As soon as I found this connection to Newry, it blew my mind, as it wasn't what I had expected, I thought they had come from England, not Ireland.
Time went on and I found that my Grandmother, descended from an Arthur Atkinson with his wife Maria  Atkinson (nee Clough). Arthur was born in Newry Co. Down, but Maria was born Manchester England. Somehow, Maria ended up in Newry.
This Atkinson name, is of Northern Irish stock and from what I understand of it, to be a product of the "Planter Era" (1590's +), however I have no source to confirm this (yet). However, when you have a lot of Planter families and you know the history of 1590-1650 era, you would see what dark history it ties to. What I am trying to understand, how many generations does this Atkinson line, survive in Northern Ireland for (is it Pre 1650 or Post 1650).

Some of the details given by various documents (the Australian sources), has some parts either missing/covered over by tape and or had loose ages. So a lot of maths had to be involved.

Arthur was born in c.1810 in Newry Co. Down Ireland. Arthur and Maria were married in Newry Co. Down at a very young age.
Going by my maths, I can somewhat pinpoint, that Arthur and Maria were married around c.1829/1830.
Maria was approx 16 and Arthur was 20 going by Maria's Death Certificate. Arthur's Death Certificate shows he was 18 at the time of their marriage.

Straight away, they went on to have 13 children - before they moved to Australia, in a very important era - 1852.
From what I can ascertain, the children are as follows in Birth order as best as I can decipher : Richard, William, Arabella, Mary Anne, Peter, Sarah, Elizabeth, Marie Mary, Charlotte, James, Arthur, Joseph, Maria.
Of the 13 children, only 2 had died young in infancy - Richard and Peter. Most possibly buried in Newry. Richard's death details cannot be 100% confirmed, as some details are covered over by tape.
2 other's had died in early adulthood - Mary & Charlotte, in their early 20's in Australia.

They stayed in Newry Co. Down till 1852, where they all hopped on to a Boat and headed for Australia. I think they came here as Free Settlers. Arthur is noted as being a prospector/miner when they are located in the Ballarat district of Victoria.

A confusing part, is that on Arthur's Death Certificate (dated 1879), we find him spending 2 years in South Australia, then 27 years in Victoria (total of 29 years in Australia). Maria's Death Certificate (dated 1869), shows that she has been only in Victoria for 17 years - No South Australia?
Did Arthur go to South Australia after Maria's death or before?
The "maths" of both Death Certificates, show that 1852 is the the year they landed here in Australia, but Arthur shares a South Australian stint somewhere's.
On the shipping details of the family, it looks like Arthur came over to Australia on a different ship, as I can't see him on the manifest with the family. There is still a lot to find on this matter, due to the unknown South Australian "2 years". But as of yet, I haven't found that piece of information.

So, one of my questions that I mulled over sometime with, how does a large family survive the Famine and leave almost intact when the Famine is considered over?
One thing I can't find evidence of, is money. No evidence of any Castles or major land holdings either. So it starts to rule out a "well off family". Arthur's occupation listed on his Death Cert was a Gardener, no hints here there either.

Until I came across a document (2015 Famine Pamphlet), that showed a greater aspect of the answer, that I was looking for. It was marked as the Annual Commemoration to the Famine story - from the Newry, Mourne & Down Council. When you read on further, it shows an Arthur Atkinson, who was a tennant under the "Earl of Kilmorey" (Francis Jack Needham) ......This landlord seemed to do what ever they could, to help or assist the tennant staying on his lands during the famine. I suppose for obvious reasons, so that Lord Kilmorey didn't lose any rental income.
It has listed Arthur, of the townland "Ballynacraig" and it shows he emigrated to Australia, due to rent arrears.
More details on Lord Kilmorey Newry, Mourne & Down Council Webpage

Now it baffles the mind to think, in one of the historical atrocities that is known as the 1845-1849 Famine (The Great Hunger), a family of atleast 11 children, survive this 4-5 year period almost intact, they survive a boat trip to Australia and they don't own a lot of money. You could place a lot of their success of living to that point, from their landlord's attitude to keeping them on his lands.
Using this story, as against other Irish families that had wealth and lands (of Planter Stock), this is one of a few stories that intrigued me, as a large family survived the famine, as against many families that were wiped out by the effects of the famine (Bad Food / No Food / Thrown off lands / Rent Arrears / Poor Health / No Government Assistance except Workhouse / Selling good food back to England)

I am very fortunate to think that we could've been so easily wiped out.

Arthur Atkinson and his wife Maria, are now buried in the Ballarat Old Cemetery.
Their child, Charlotte is also in their grave.

GPS Coords  -           -37.546483°      143.849633°

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49. Dear Cousin Michael

Dear Cousin Michael,

(Written over a few months)

On the 25th of June 2018, I had just gotten in to my workplace and settled into the flow of Monday Morning's work. I had just started talking to my Supervisor, on how to plan for the day's adventure. Half way though our discussion, about 8am, I had received a message, from a friend that revealed some very sad news. It was to inform me, of the day you died.

As I read the message, my heart and stomach sank. My supervisor was still talking to me, but I wasn't quite listening. My mind went completely haywire, thoughts of our recently made plans to meet up and discuss matters, completely dissipated into thin air. I was lost into a daze for about a minute.

I came back down to earth, with my boss still talking and then waited for his pause. I interjected that I had received some sad news of a death of a relative. Wasn't quite in the mind to absorb a days work instructions, all at that moment. But pulled myself together and proceeded to work through the day as best as I could.

When I got home from work, I decided to trawl through the plans we had made and the conversations we had discussed in the recent weeks, in particular, to that meeting we had scheduled for.
As you would be aware, the conversation would have included a Clarence Pitman. I was quite surprised that you knew of him and the proceeded to tell me he was a former student at Geelong Grammar. That was a wow moment, as I did not know that.
I wanted to know more about Clarence's early life and his history tied up with Geelong Grammar and in particular, if the school had a photograph of him.

Marysville Cemetery Plot of Clarence Pitman

My main interest with Clarence, was of his marriage to a distant Aunt (Caroline Anne Blood Newenham) and their children. Their children's lives, filtered down into my Family History and it's where I learned about them (and in particular, their tragedies involved).
I wanted to know, if you knew of his connection to teaching the "Pitman Shorthand" phonetic system? You got me indelibly hooked, on to learning more on Clarence.

A few weeks have gone by since that day and on the 27th day of August, a very special day was held in your honour. It was your memorial, held at the Geelong Grammar Chapel. Jo Ann and myself, drove 2 and a bit hours, to make sure we were there for it.
When we arrived at the carpark early, the sense of a well organised day was apparent. We had ushers, showing us were to go / how to get there, very well respected people greeting you at the chapel.
I told Jo Ann that we were to head to the chapel early, as I really wanted a seat, or atleast be in the chapel for the service. When we got to the chapel, we were greeted in the very same manner, as you would greet us at your home.

Geelong Grammar School Clock Tower and Chapel (right)

It was a very cold morning, maybe about 8-10 degrees Celsius, with a slight 5 knot breeze. We were seated at the very back of the chapel. With the cold stones of the chapel combined with the breeze, it made the chill factor quite a bit.  I was dressed for it, but the chill factor got to me. I had to warm up by holding Jo Ann's warm hands.
My photographer friend and of course, one of the fellow students you had once known - Noni, had messaged me and asked where I was, as she was in the choir. I told her that I was in the Chapel at the back, watching. Because there was quite a bit of time before the service, I looked around and studied the chapel building. The ornate stained glass windows captured my imagination for a bit of the time.
I looked around and the Chapel was full to the brim, with people, people were filling the back part of the entrance way. 

Now, even though we share ancestors of "the church", I must say on a personal level, I am not so much of a religious person.
But if I can add, that the service was very welcoming. The hymns and music was performed very well. I did feel at ease being there, knowing your "aura" was about.

The part that I really enjoyed, was the speeches, with trying to understand your Ancestry.
It gave me quite a giggle, because trying to explain it, was quite a mathematical equation. And hearing of other people's logic of trying to break it down (in laymans terms), was very humorous. And the feeling I got, was that I sat there thinking of how you'd be smiling down at the speeches, when they got to this bit. There was even a mention, of how easy it was for you to explain it (because it was so 2nd nature). *Note - If you were related to Michael, there is a very high probability that you would be related in a multiple of ways.

Then the service ended. It was time to say a final goodbye.

But before I departed, I wanted to make sure I made contact with your Brother - Jonathan.
I found him in the crowd, with his nephew (Tony) by his side. I had all of about 3-5 minutes with Jonathan and a few extra minutes with Tony. I knew that day for them, was going to be very busy.
I got straight to the point of how we were related and how you and I, discussed our Family lineages, coupled with a very entangling historical connections.
Johnathan mentioned that "I must go to Ireland", I said that "I haven't been yet, but it is on agenda".
It was about then I had to say my goodbyes, as people wanted to talk to Johnathan.
Tony, helped me see a much stronger connection to Geelong Grammar than I had ever imagined, via his family connections too, as he was pointing to a portrait of a family member on the wall.
This was only the start of a huge learning curve of "family connections" to Geelong Grammar.

A few months have passed now, it took me that long to pen something, because I didn't know what to write. My time to sit down and mentally think about our conversations was short, as the last 6-12 months had me working quite a bit. Personal time was very thin.
In the last 5 odd years, you helped me understand our family links well beyond what I had imagined.
And most importantly, it helped me to see or open my mind, to a world of how history can be told 2 ways. Sometimes the real truth is never told, particularly if it's being told by someone that doesn't want you to know the real reason "why things happened the way they did".

In these last few weeks, I've been accustomed to another connection to Geelong Grammar, that is your Cousin, Sir Cyril Brudenell-White, also attended the School and gave some speeches.

It is here I must say goodbye to you. Thank you for giving me your personal time and sharing information with me. Your power of conversation and involving people into your conversation, is by far, one of your greatest gifts.
May we share another cup of tea from the Moyode Teapot one day...Oooh and a couple of TimTams too......Till then,


Your multiple Cousin Brett.

(Michael Dudley de Burgh Collins Persse - MVO OAM  -  1931-2018)

Myself & Michael Persse (Oct 2013)

Johnathan Persse & Myself
(Michael's Memorial Aug 2018)

Michael's Paternal Persse's of Moyode (Michael's Father, Grandfather & Great Grandfather De Burgh Fitzpatrick Persse)
I am connected to Michael through De Burgh's Maternal Persse's of Roxborough, Co Galway
and also his wife Mary (Minne) via the Blood/Davies Families of  Applevale Co. Clare.

Face Similarities with my Maternal Persse Lineage
My Mother (Far Left) - Lady Gregory *Isabella Augusta Persse* (Middle) - Annie Hasler-MacNevin (Mum's Great Grandmother) (Far Right)
(Cousin Relatedness is listed on the photo's to Lady Gregory)

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48. Why I blog!

Why I blog!

So, I'm now officially overwhelmed (and yes...infatuated) with a Maternal historical connection to the Founding Father's of America.
It has now completely changed how I see history, in particular with - how it's been taught today.

The story and its never ending continuance, revolves around that fella again - Sir Edward Newenham.
He is,  here, there and everywhere. Everytime I research something out of the way, he somehow always seems to come into the fray at some point. I cannot escape him and his dealings with history.

Lets get one thing right from the start and I'll be blunt - in Sir Ed's earlier days, I'll admit, he was a champion of the people of Ireland. Though as time went on - around the early to mid 1780's, Sir Edward got a bit more centered on protecting his Protestant social standing / beliefs and had much different opinions with the Catholic community.
As time went on, he became more into debt, distanced himself from his direct family and by 1800 ended up in debtors prison in the infamous Kilmainham Gaol (A prison he had dealings with the building of). Understanding that, along with Irish Politics and his patriotic drive with the Irish Volunteers, you get quite a mixture of drama. As I said, I'll be blunt.
The hardest thing for me to understand, was his views against Catholics and their rights in Ireland, during the late 1700's and very early 1800's. This was a turning point, in my thinking of how history was written and how it played out.

So, with this history and learning of his life, coupled with the history of his eldest male child and heir - Edward Worth Newenham, I've seen quite the 2 sides to how history played out for this Father and Son. Some good, some bad.

Many references to Sir Edward, in these recent times, are mainly based on his communication with the Found Father's of America. That is, George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams and John Jay. There are many others involved in this story - including Lafayette, but I'll keep to the these 4 men.

Among many websites using Newenham as a historical point of reference, 2 website blogs recently wrote about Sir Edward's story on "communication with Washington".

Edward Lengel's Blog on Sir Edward and Washington's communications.

Robert O'Byrne documents on the Newenham Family of Coolmore - Co. Cork and Sir Edward

Now, on a recent part of my research, one letter by John Adams - dated in March 1780, has totally blown my mind.
I believe it is the first known document by any of these 4 men, to reference Sir Edward Newenham.
It wasn't addressed to Sir Edward, but rather the President of the Congress at that time - Samuel Huntington.
At the time he wrote this letter, John Adams was in Paris, France with Benjamin Franklin. If you know part of John Adams's story, this is the period where John was in discussions of a Peace Treaty with England. And just a few months before his discussions of a "loan" from the Netherlands.

This letter shared some very strong and deep thoughts on how history could have played out.
In particular with, the Volunteers and their will power to overcome a dominant force.
It depicts, Adams learning of a scene in Dublin, Ireland in what I think is Feb 1780. He does not tell the year, but if it' is 1780, he writes this letter about 4-6 weeks after the event.
He writes that this event could have ended, just like the Boston Massacre. I suppose, it's maybe almost his own lament, on what the resultant could have been and what he learned from the "Boston Massacre" episode. The irony of writing this letter, basically marks the 10 year anniversary of the massacre in Boston. This would explain why, Adams was so animated on his letter back to the Congress.

He describes "3 bodies of Irish Volunteers" in Dublin City, that they were marching along Barrack Street (after their review), where these Volunteers met with the Royal Guards, coming from the opposite way. Adams, names one of these commanding "Volunteers" as Sir Edward Newenham.

The Guards and the Volunteers, entered a standoff between who "owned" the pavement - defining on who had right of way to march - without any deviation and who had to give way.
Both parties said that they had "right of way" and weren't giving in.
Both sides had firearms and were affixed with bayonets. The commanders or captains, went into a discussion with the Royal Guards. As this was happening, the Volunteers went into "prepare for battle" mode. They were at the ready and very much prepared for a standoff and what may have ensued. They also armed themselves with stones. With this determination on board, the Royal Guards stood down (because they didn't want a "scene of blood" - very smart choice) and allowed the Volunteers to proceed with out any deviation.
Adams remarked that owing to America's experience with the Boston Massacre, the Dublin Volunteers showed some "great confidence in their strength", to put themselves up for a fight that could have ended, just like it had in Boston.

I don't know how Adams got this information, but he was in France at the time of writing this letter.  Was the knowledge of this event strictly from verbal sources and Adams was the first one to document it? Either way, this event struck a huge chord with how Adams deconstructed the event and filed it in the "More Blood Split in Ireland" history" folder.

As far as I am concerned, if this had of gone just like the Boston Massacre and "Blood was split - on Barrack Street", would the history be noted as the "Volunteers gallantly defending Ireland's Freedom / Liberty". Or would no-one batter an eyelid?

It isn't known if Sir Edward's eldest son - Edward Worth Newenham was there as well.
This son, was also a Captain of the Dublin Liberty Volunteers. If he was there on this day, he would have been approx 17 years of age. But I think Edward Worth was either in, France or Switzerland at this time (school studies).

This letter of John Adams to Congress, can be found here at the "John Adams Papers" :
John Adams Letter about the stoush with the Volunteers & Royal Guards

The New Annual Register: Or General Repository of
History, Politics, Literature 1780 (Pg. 27) 

As a 2nd source to this story, this image paints the picture.








On a 2nd note, my wife has connection to West Point (being Born there), her relatives worked just a few hundred metres away (Water Street) from George Washington's Newburgh Headquarters. Also, there maybe a suspected family connection (by marriage) to a tavern near Blooming Grove, owned by a George Galloway, where George Washington stayed at.

Why I blog!

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47. Bards - Lady Gregory & the ANZAC

Bards - Lady Gregory & the ANZAC (Initial Writeup 12-03-18)

Well, I am at a point in my research that has taken me to, far deeper levels of my ancestry than I had expected. A connection to 2 relatives, that have given me a "library of information", much more than anyone could've given me at school or even at an academic level.

This is an initial post with very basic details - but gives an insight to where research has taken me.
It is again, another interesting family story that crosses between my Paternal & Maternal lineages, that go between Ireland and Australia.

The whole concept of this blog post, is to touch on these 2 people's lives, showing a complete "juxtaposition" of each other during the exact same time. Each person's story carries pure passion and patriotism but also carries the issue "which side are you on". I cannot emphasize enough, the importance of these 2 people, into understanding ones allegiance to ones country and how sometimes the real meaning of "patriotism" can lead you astray.

I cannot emphasize enough, if ever you are researching the WW1 era with an Australian perspective, you must research the Easter Rising, Dr Daniel Mannix (Archbishop of Melbourne) and the Australian / Irish Catholic perspective on the conscription/plebiscite debacle.
These items are absolutely essential, to understanding the motives of people's "agenda's" and explains how the Easter Rising, dramatically affected Australia, both politically and personally, 1/2 a world away. Anything to do with the above history, is always provocative, depending on your viewpoint.

• Lady Gregory - Maternal 2nd Cousin - tells us a lot of WW1, The Easter Rising and how history has been told about her son - Major Robert Gregory, with how he served and died in WW1. Robert's legacy is immortalised in the W.B Yeats poem "An Irish Airman Forsees His Death". Her poem's and plays are very deep in culture. Born in Galway, under a Protestant upbringing, she changed her Anglo-Irish ways and went into a nationalist mode, the Easter Rising period is essential reading. In 1892, her husband - Sir William Gregory died and I believe this is the point where she found herself in books and cultured into the native Irish ways, including her way of expressing the English language in Gaelic form, by usage of "Kiltartanese". This form of nationalised culture (maybe coined as Romantic Nationalism), extended into the Easter Rising period.
  
• Paternal Great Great Uncle - James Sebastian Sheehan, an Australian born Catholic, tells us a lot during the initial phase of the WW1 Gallipoli campaign, from an Australian perspective. He served in the 1st Australian - Light Horse Brigade Train as a driver, but then went on to other areas. It is hard to define what other jobs he did (Camel Corps come up), but in numerous newspaper articles, that he is mentioned in, shows he was right in the middle of the battle zone. He laments about a young boy, who died in his arms on the battleground and how he heard the boy asking about the welfare of his mother, just before he passed. James came back to Australia, affected by shell shock. He put his hand up for being a "recruiter" and soon became acquainted with the British Born - Australian Prime Minister - Billy Hughes. It was then, we see a change in James, for what I can interpret, it's almost as if he was being groomed as a Politician, with supporting the Empire. He became quite the writer of poems, recitals and some were performed in a choir like voice. His pen use, was "mightier than the sword". One of his poem's, was based on "The Blind Poet" - Thomas Skeyhill

This insight and complete "juxtaposition", to these 2 Bard relatives, is unparalleled.
More later!

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46. Mystery of the Marysville Pitman's - Part 5

Mystery of the Marysville Pitman's -Newenham Pitman

(Not written yet - just a placeholder)
Hoping to write this in a few weeks.

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45. Mystery of the Marysville Pitman's - Part 4

Mystery of the Marysville Pitman's - Gwendoline's Tragic end (Updated 22-03-18)

GWENDOLINE

DE BURGH

PITMAN

LOG CABIN - Marysville, Victoria






It's been a while since I posted another story. I've been working quite a bit since the middle of last year, which has taken its toll to my research time and thoughts. I have been writing this post since I think November. There was a lot of detail to Gwen's story, which I had to write down and come back to it later. And just this past few days, I've had to re-edit this story (again), because I had just received an email, with the details of the inquest into Gwen's tragic end. Thanks again to the Marysville Historical society, who helped me out with Gwen's story.

Since learning of Gwen's Sister - Olive's untimely death, I found more details to the siblings lives, that shares such a similar sad ending. From a research point of view, it's hard to not feel for this family, because they all could have lived a lot longer.

As from the previous post on Olive's disappearance, Gwen took over the reigns of the Kooringa Guesthouse in Marysville. Around the same time, Newenham (brother) had been running a Metal Manufacturing company (Minerva Metal Products) in Melbourne City.
The published change of "Hostess" at Kooringa, following the disappearance of Olive, was quite slow. Olive's name, had still continued to be published as the "Hostess" of Kooringa, even to well after she had disappeared.  Maybe they were waiting for official confirmation of her death? Though that never happened until many years after her original disappearance, a court case was held in 1929, declaring her dead.

Gwen was single (from what I know of) and ran the Log Cabin across the road from her Sister's Guesthouse "Kooringa". The Log Cabin was her residence and was also listed as a Business, selling Trinkets or the like and had also catered for Photographer's needs as well.
I haven't been able to establish, if the Log Cabin was owned by Gwen or just a place of residence, as by Inquest details, it could be that her business partner owned the cabin and the "trading business".
So Gwen, may have been just residing there as a home/storekeeper, but not as an owner.
 
By various news articles, both Olive and Gwen shared some sort of mental health issues, where I believe, contributed to their untimely deaths. Reporters of the news, must of felt that it was also of a contributing factor to note about it. It also took it's toll on Newenham as well, or atleast played a part on him. It is one of the reasons, why I have documented these Pitman's, to find out if there was any Family medical history that I needed to know about.

On a side note, just to add a bit more drama to the mix, the only sibling to be unscathed by such a tragedy, was sister - Rosalind Stringer (nee Pitman). Well, so I thought. I was so hoping Rosalind escaped this family tragedy. But there was one twist to Rosalind's story. She lived to be in her early 70's and mental affliction was not the case here, but she was involved in a car accident that killed an elderly man - no fault of her own. Just unfortunate, that Rosalinda was driving along the road as you do and a man walked on to the road. He wasn't watching where he was going and stumbled into the path of her car.

Various news articles suggest that Gwen also was a bit of a "folklorist" and was into old stories of mythology, which also hints to an ancestral Irish family link.
The family was connected to the Persse family of Co. Galway, via their Mother Caroline and by both Caroline's Parents - Henry Hood & Annie Persse Newenham.
This connection leads to a close cousin relative, who also had a similar story of mythology and folklore. This cousin was the Co-Founder of the Abbey Theatre in Dublin - Isabella Augusta Persse (Lady Gregory).
I am pretty certain, that Lady Gregory's stories and her eventful life, was known by this family and I believe that her eventful life transpired into the minds of this Pitman family. In particularly from events both here in Australia and Ireland during the 1916 Uprising.

Notice the similarities between Gwen and her Maternal 2nd Cousin (1x removed) Lady Gregory -

I don't have much details of Gwen's life - outside of what is written about her eventful death. Her death is where the details come from and discusses her family ties both here in Australia (Melbourne, Blairgowrie, Marysville and Geelong) and Ireland (relates to the Persse / Newenham lineages and their related families of Galway, Cork & Dublin)

So we come to the part of, Gwen's tragic death. There are several news articles about her death. The details of this tragedy, went nationally - in an almost same fashion of her Sister's disappearance (Olive). I think the newspapers seen that this was quite an eccentric story, as it was very mysterious and difficult to explain.

27th Nov 1931- The Argus

          26th November 1931

The basic story of her death, is that she was found outside of the Log Cabin, in her garden about 20 metres (or another report of 100 yards?) from the Log Cabin and in a very badly burnt state from fire. The reporter assumed that she was using the stove, but the inquest findings were quite different.

20th Dec 1931 - The Sun

I will list the details of the inquest, rather than some of the news reports, as the reporter's slightly misinterpreted the findings. In the recent few days, I found an article, which is probably is the best "reported" interpretation  of the inquest, which I'll show here.
The inquest findings, did change my thoughts on what actually happened, from previous details.
So obtaining the inquest, took many questions out of the equation.

By the findings of the inquest :

• Gwen suffered from a lot of mental stress (maybe today's version of "anxiety")
• Gwen had been handed, some of her Brother's estate, just prior to her death
• A family heirloom was handed to her, just prior to her death - a George Washington letter - addressed to Gwen's 3rd Great Grandfather - Sir Edward Newenham
• Her business partner of the Log Cabin - Peter from Melbourne, visited her the day before her death and the day of her death. Peter noted on the day before her death, that Gwen was in "normal appearance and good health"
• News reports had published that a person had left Gwen's residence in a hurry, on the night before her death. They assumed that "dinner for 2 was set at the table" and placed a scene where someone else was involved, maybe of romantic nature. The person that was there on the night, was her business partner, Peter (as noted by him at the inquest). No mention of an romantic interlude, but it was just purely on business terms.
  (The inquest dilutes some sensationalised news reports that their may have been a romantic interlude or tiff of sorts)
• Peter arrived back in Marysville on the morning of the 26th November and noted that Gwen wasn't there. He assumed that she was out, possibly taking photos and maybe back in a short while. He put the stove on and made 2 cups of tea. He realised she was nowhere to be seen and odd that she wasn't around.
•  Peter went out and started to look for her, he went and visited a neighbour and noticed that no-one had seen her.
• Peter then went to the Police and reported her missing, where a search was undertaken.
• Police Constable found Gwen about "100 yards" from the house, on a bank of a creek. He noticed that she had been badly burnt from the waist upwards 
• Gwen was found alive but very badly burnt. She was taken to the house and then off to hospital
• Gwen was asked a few times, on what had happened - she did mention "Petrol" and that "it was the only way out". It had now highlighted the fact, that it was of her own doing
• Gwen was badly burnt about the face
• Gwen died of her injuries (shock from burns), just a few hours of being placed at the hospital (1:30am on the 27th November 1931 - aged 40) 
• It was noted by the Medical Doctor, that he had seen Gwen on the previous week and noticed that she was in a very nervous state

22nd Dec 1931 - The Herald (Melbourne)

23rd Dec 1931- The Age

Gwen seemed a very highly strung individual. And her Brother's recent news regarding her standing - of his estate, was the most probable cause of her being too stressed and it ended in such a tragic way.

The one thing that I've learnt through these multiple stories of different lineages and I suppose, in my own family, is that storing or handling of "wealth", has not been a forte. It seems to be, that my DNA didn't inherit the "Wealth Gene", but most of all, how to handle wealth.

20th Dec 1931 - The Sun - Sydney

26th Dec 1931
Healesville & Yarra Glen Guardian

By some news reports and a key part to this whole tragedy, I am trying to identify "why" a letter of a very historical nature, has some apparent bearing to her death. I have done extensive research on this letter, to find it's history and most of all, why it landed here in Melbourne.
This letter had been passed around the family a few times but had been kept by the Pitman Family when it was handed to Gwen. The letter was indeed genuine and was written by the one and only George Washington in 1789. It was addressed to Gwen's 3rd Grandfather - Sir Edward Newenham MP and was a "letter of introduction", advising Sir Edward of Gen Montgomery's Widow and her future visit to Ireland.
The family had kept this letter as an heirloom and for some reason, Gwen's tragic death, promoted the fact, that this letter may have had a "curse" about it?
As far as I know and have tried many hours to interpret, if there ever was something in the letter, that suggests a curse to the family. However it doesn't.

I think it may relate to the "handling" of such a letter and it's historic nature, where care is needed. Just to add more to such a story, another news report mentions or assumes, that there may have been some form of family tension (involving a few families), into the safe keeping of this letter. Either way, it looks like the "possession of the letter", was key to understanding Gwen's anxious nature.

Around the late 1930s or early 1940s, it is believed that the letter became part of a US collection, due to it's historical nature. Unsure how or if it was sold off or not.

Unfortunately the Log Cabin was destroyed in the 2009 Bushfire's that ravaged Marysville.

Google Earth Image of Post 2009

My image April 2017

My image of the Garden April 2017

Information Sign at the Site of the Log Cabin

What the Log Cabin used to look like (Pictures are via the State Library of Victoria)

http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/81583

http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/61436

http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/61005

http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/62225

http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/59789

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44. Mystery of the Marysville Pitman's - Part 3

Mystery of the Marysville Pitman's - The Missing of Olive Pitman and details of Marysville.

It is believed that the story is something as follows. Info was put together from News Reports, Family Stories and also info supplied from the Marysville Historical Society. This I suppose, could be the Pitman's real life version, of Joan Lindsay's "Picnic at Hanging Rock".

A small town nestled in some hilly territory, about 78KM's North East of Melbourne, lays the township of Marysville.

The 6th Child of Clarence & Caroline Pitman, was Olive Pitman.
The 7th and youngest child, was Gwendoline Pitman.
These Pitman's were known to Marysville during the early decades of the 1900's.

Olive managed a property called "Kooringa" and it was located about 180 Metres South of the Main road from Melbourne. It was a guest house property, offering a "Get Away" for all those city dwellers to escape the pressures of the city grind. Gwendoline lived in and managed a property called the "Log Cabin", just metres away from Kooringa.
They were only separated by a road's width, so even though they were independent of each other, they were still "a stone's throw" from each other.

Parts of the family also moved freely about, between Melbourne and Marysville over the years.
The Pitman's were the 2nd owners of the Kooringa property.
Because of the travel time to get there and the road conditions, it would have taken hours, maybe half a day to get there. I think people travelled up there for a week at a time, not just like day trips like we do today (as the below map shows).
 

GOOGLE Aerial Map of Marysville

12th July 1926

Disappearance of Olive Pitman

Sometime in the morning of 8th of July 1926, Olive walked out of the Kooringa property. No-one knew at that time, it would be her last "walk".
It's been suspected and told as a history, that she may have taken a walk to visit her Father's Grave at the local Cemetery, which is approx 1.3Km's away.
Her Father - Clarence, just passed away in March of that year. So his death was still quite raw.
When Olive did not return to Kooringa for Lunch, the alarm was raised to find her.
Olive must of been quite affected by her Father's death, to visit him on a cold July day.

What is known from that point, is that Olive never returned to Kooringa and was declared "missing".
What is unknown from that point, is where Olive ended up and what happened to her.
Search Parties went out looking for her for days on end, to no avail of finding her. After 2-3 weeks of frantic searching, with no known sighting, the search patrols realised that Olive could not have survived out in the bush for that long. She apparently wasn't dressed for cold weather, nor was it known that if she took food and drink with her.
The approx daytime temperature was around 10-12 deg. C, dipping to about 4-6 deg. C overnight.
The news reports of her disappearance, went as far as Interstate.

6th December 1929

The Age

After this lengthy rescue/search period had ended, her body was still never found or recovered and she was declared dead about a few years later (by a Court Case). But there were stories of later sightings of what was believed to be "Women's Apparel" and a Shoe in the area where Olive was thought to have ended up. And some bones were found as well, but it was never established or proven, that it was indeed the remains of Olive. Only today's world of DNA technology could prove that - if evidence still survives?

Things go through the mind what might have happened to her.
Did she slip and fall or maybe twist an ankle? Did she have a drink before going out?
A snake bite maybe - snakes are normally in hibernation mode in Winter, but some types of Australian snakes do tend to venture in the cold.
In any case, Olive had to be found, in the first 1-2 days of going missing.
In today's world, she would have been found within in that time, but back in 1926, with no phones, beacons or EPIRB's, walking and searching in dense hilly bush land, she had next to no chance, if she couldn't raise her voice to oncoming rescuer's.

It seems that since Olive was never found, Gwen took over the Kooringa property.

Bringing the story to a much later date, unfortunately, on February 7th 2009, known as "Black Saturday", a large firestorm ravaged the Marysville township, bringing it to it's knee's. The firestorm all but destroyed Kooringa and the Log Cabin, along with many other properties.

Kooringa was never rebuilt, but the land now lays bare of this majestic Guesthouse. Apart from the information sign put up by the Historical Society, the "Red Dirt", is now just a poignant reminder, of what was there.

To this day, Olive's "remains" still have not been found or formally identified.

Initial Takeover - October 1918

(3rd Oct 1918 - Table Talk)

Local Distribution of Leaflet. circa 1929

April 2017 - Kooringa Property

Aerial Map showing the Southern side of Marysville and relation to the Town Cemetery

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43. Mystery of the Marysville Pitman's - A Prelude to Part 3

Prelude to - The mysterious deaths of the Marysville Pitman's.

On discovering the Pitman's of Marysville, I was told about how 2-3 of the kids, met untimely deaths.
I learnt a lot more about this sad story online, using "Trove" and a bit of assistance from the Marysville Historical Society.

This is a prelude or back story, in understanding why things may have happened the way it did for
                                                            3 Pitman children.

Part of my research with the Pitman's, was to understand what information was out there, that could help assist, in learning about the Children & Grandchildren of Henry H Newenham & Annie Persse.
Their eldest child (and my 3rd GGM) Eliza, died in 1891 and of course, all info related to the family partially stopped and that the surviving family had moved to Adelaide at the turn of the century-which didn't help.
So in order to understand many living people around that time, who directly descended down from Henry and Annie, I had to learn about their lives, to bring out our story and how we connect, to put my thoughts back on track.
As Eliza was the eldest but a female, inheritances may not have favoured her. I know she had holdings in a Gold Fund, maybe to assist her wealth, but it seems it that it went a bit awry as it looks like she gave up the "shares" or were forfeited. Her husband - Frederick J Hasler, also had shares in a Gold Fund as well, but it didn't take off either and I think he forfeited them as well.

Since Eliza died in 1891 and knowing of the inheritances and the family history connection back to Ireland via Henry and Annie, I believe the family's inheritances were mainly split between younger siblings - Caroline and her twin brother Edward - when their Father Henry had passed away in 1895.
My interest was the mining lands or mining business prospects back in Ireland. It goes back to Caroline / Edward's Paternal Grandfather (Edward Worth Newenham 1762-1837) and centres itself in Tipperary and surrounding areas.
So many questions I wanted to know - How long did they keep the lands for? Did they sell it? Did they still mine it? How did it affect the economy of Ireland? Were they good at it or was it a failed venture? And part of my questioning, how can you run a mine successfully, whilst outside of Ireland?
Were the locals happy with the mine? What exists today? etc etc etc.....

By news reports, it looks like Caroline had some mining interests and that her Nephew - Edgar C Hasler (aka Dr K. R. Moure) also had a hand in proceedings.
For Edgar, this was his forte, his bread and butter, learning of mining and the business of it. But it was very late in his life. Now at this exact point of the story, everyone has their "hand in the pie" and learning each other's story is absolutely crucial to understanding the Marysville Pitman's and what happened next.

But by 1937, only 1 person was left standing - 2nd child and eldest Daughter of Clarence and Caroline -  Rosalind Persse Pitman (married name Stringer).
I'm in belief that Rosalind inherited a residual of her Brothers estate, when he died.
I was hoping for Rosalind to survive without any drama but just days ago, I learnt that she too, had a major drama to contend with, but in a different way. She was involved in a car accident and the person died. It was just an unfortunate accident of the "Pedestrian vs Motorcar" type. Rosalind was driving a Car and a Pedestrian stepped on to the road with out looking properly - the pedestrian also was noted to have bad vision. You can see what happened next!

I believe the Pitman lineage may only survive via Rosalind Pitman's "Stringer" family.
Newenham M Pitman had a child - Constance. She married an Edward Kelso, but unsure if they had a child.

I'm hoping that their Mining history can be found, to help explain a bit more on the family's dealing with Mining in Ireland - including with the one and only Edgar Hasler - "Dr. Moure".
Simply because the mines that the Family were involved with, were of a large size and in full production in around the early 1800's.

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42. The Pitman's of Marysville - Pitman's Part 2

The Story of the Pitman's of  Marysville.

I was told the story of the Marysville Pitman's, many years ago.
I didn't know their story to well, so I found it hard to learn their lives and how they fitted in with my Maternal story. As I didn't fully understand the connection, I wanted to search their story and help "connect the dots".
I decided to visit Marysville a few months ago, to find out more details, on who they were.

Ironically, after learning what I did, there is so much mystique to their story, along with Family connections and stories. But, also knowing their circumstances of fate or tragedies that befell them, they still carried a lot of history with them, which also ties up with me and is the reason, why I write these blogs.

As I am just putting the list of the kids down, it shows in great detail on the true reality of tragedy.
But Clarence and Caroline kept plowing on, knowing that one of their children, would survive to Adulthood or even survive them.

Father     - Clarence died in 1926 (Buried in Marysville Cemetery)
Mother    - Caroline died in 1937 (Cremated and Scattered at Springvale "Necropolis" Crematorium)

• Henry Newenham Pitman        - b1872-d1873 -infant
• Carrie Rosalind Persse Pitman - b1874-d1948 -approx 74
• Alice Burton Pitman                 - b1875-b1875 -infant
• Clarence Edward Pitman         - b1877-b1877 - infant & buried with GM Annie Persse Newenham
• Newenham Mueller Pitman                  - b1880-d1933 -approx 53
• Olive Dora Blakeney Pitman    - b1885-d1926 -approx 41
• Gwendoline De Burgh Pitman  - b1890-d1931 -approx 41
  
  The children share quite a few names from the Galway/Dublin Persse/Newenham ancestry
  
  (Persse / Burton / Edward / Blakeney / De Burgh)

Carrie, was the only child to survive both Parents. It also shows that out of the first 4 kids, she was the only one to survive infancy. Ironically, the last 3 children who survived infancy, struck tragedy later in life.

What is really interesting in the above table, is when Newenham Mueller Pitman was born in 1880, Newenham and the 2 successive children survived infancy.
It begs the question, did medical technology - intervene on the health of Melbourne's citizens?
Just shows quite the "juxtaposition" where death in infancy was quite high vs infancy survival rates after 1880. I haven't researched why this is, though the table hits right on the plausibility of better health / medical practices, after around 1880.
What is interesting, is that after Gwen, they didn't have anymore children. Even though they were older than 40, the Bank Crash of 1892 probably would have sealed the fate of no more children, as Clarence lost quite a bit of money (Over 5,000 Pounds).

It is also believed that all children died in Victoria.

I don't know much about Carrie, as she got married to Reginald Stringer (of Perth origin), but there is some details of her (or what I think is of her line), that pertain to hereditary inheritances.
Because I don't know enough of this line, it is the reason she isn't included with much details.
Part of my main aim of this blog, was to learn about the last 3 kids of Clarence and Caroline.
I am looking at the 3 untimely and very unfortunate deaths, that must of taken it's toll on Caroline and Carrie.
I don't know much about the children's early lives, other than living in Marysville.
Their earlier days would have been spent around Albert Park / St.Kilda districts and Blairgowrie.
I am certain that they would have known, their Maternal Grandfather - Henry Hood Newenham.
But it does seem that the 2 girls had to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life.

In their later part of their lives, Olive and Gwen resided in Marysville, Victoria.

Marysville, was quite an isolated part of Country Victoria back then.
Weather could have really hampered the access to the hills surrounding the town, during certain times of the year. Snow, and the bad rains, could have really made the town inaccessible for a few days at a time, before the roads were of any good standard. Summer would have been stiffling hot, in amongst the trees, bushfire's would have been as deadly to the town (as per the 2009 "Black Saturday" firestorm).

When Olive and Gwen moved to Marysville, they had a sort of a partnership, with a Guesthouse called "Kooringa" during the 1920's. Gwen lived across the road from the Kooringa Guesthouse, in the property known as the "Log Cabin".
Brother - Newenham, had business relations with a Steel company (Minerva Metals - Spencer Street) in Melbourne and lived around there, but most probably frequented Marysville from time to time, to see his Sister's.

Images of where Marysville is, in relation to Melbourne and the details of the 2 properties, with Olive & Gwen, in Marysville. The 2 properties, are around 250 metres South East, of the main road roundabout.

Travel Time to Marysville - In Today's World

February 7th 2009, known as "Black Saturday", was a major bushfire / firestorm.
It ravaged the township of Marysville and burned down, both the Pitman's residences - Kooringa nd the Log Cabin.

 3rd Oct 1918 - Table Talk Melbourne

Local Leaflet - depicting "Winter" and the snow.

Kooringa, was Olive's residence, until she went missing (covered in the next blog)
This is a local leaflet, approx dated in 1929

The Log Cabin, was Gwen's residence.

Details of the later lives of the 3 Pitman children, will be in the next blog.

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