4. Edgar Claude Hasler - Part 1

 

Edgar Claude Hasler    -   1874 -1946

 

Eldest surviving child of Frederick John Hasler & Eliza Persse Newenham.
2nd Great Grand Uncle to me.

When I was young, my Nan used to talk about him a lot, but not in the way I would understand as I was only 5 odd years old. And as years went on, she would not elaborate to great detail, but she would keep hinting about stories and it kept my interest for many years.
When I visited my Nan over the years, I read a lot of books, particularly a set of historic encyclopedia's. I found out many years later, that these books were his and was passed down to my Nan, when he passed away. And that a legacy from his estate, in the form of money, came to my Nan's family, that helped buy shoes and clothes when they were struggling. My Nan visited him in Sydney around in the early 1940's, whilst on a family trip with her mother (Dorothy May MacNevin).
She remembers him quite well. So about 3 years ago, my inquisitiveness got the better of me and when I questioned her about him (after I had learned who "he" was), my Nan eventually and quietly acknowledged "Ahhh, so you know".

And here is the real story that I learned : 

Edgar was born 7th Aug 1874 in St.Kilda, Melbourne, Australia & became a 1st Generation Australian.
Edgar died on 23rd Aug 1946 in Narremburn, Sydney, Australia, under the pseudonym of Dr Kelwylyn R Moure.

Father Frederick was originally a Professional Photographer from Galway, Ireland but seemed to drift to the East Coast (Dalkey  - Dublin) after his father's death. Mother Eliza was apparently French Born, to Irish Parents. Both Edgar's parents settled in Melbourne.

Edgar had some very historical Irish heritage, some of his ancestors were :

1. Great Great Great Grandson of Sir Charles Burton (Dublin City Lord Mayor)
2. Great Great Grandson of Sir Edward Newenham (Irish MP)
3. Great Grandson of Edward Worth Newenham (Magistrate/Mining Magnate)
4. Great Great Grandson of Sir John Hasler (Chamberlain in the suite of the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland)
5. Great Grandson of John Hasler (Deputy Chamberlain in the suite of Lord Lieutenant of Ireland)
6. 2nd Cousin - 1 x removed from Lady Gregory (Isabella Augusta Persse)

Now, not much is known of Edgar until 1903. Any notes on him, is a blank canvas until then. Only a few photos survive pre-1903.

1874 till about 1897-1898 : Edgar's family was based in Melbourne, from what I know of. His mother's agonising death in 1891 would obviously have an impact on him and his family.

1897-1898 : (Dialogue back story)
Death of his Photographer Uncle George (George Henry Massey Hasler).
George was a phenomenal photographer. Working in his own business in Melbourne, was "Johnstone O'Shannessy" with his wife Emily O'Shannessy.
Edgar's Father - Frederick, did not have a position in this company as such and would of been more like, he had an association with his Brother's business.
Frederick was a phenomenal photographer as well, even back in Ireland, he also took photos from his business in Elizabeth Street, Melbourne and at home in Gurner Street, St.Kilda.
When George died, it seems the photography firm did not take hold of Frederick's skill, rather a twist was involved. It is unclear if one person made the decision or it was by mutual consent on what was to happen.
It seems that the reigns of the "Johnstone O'Shannessy" firm, were given to George's son-in-law : Rupert De Clare Wilks.
In a twist, which took many months to research, was that the "Johnstone O'Shannessy" firm also had 'satellite' businesses as well.
1 being named "Eureka Photo Studio" in Adelaide.
A business decision was made and that Frederick was to relocate to Adelaide (Rundle Place - Now as Gawler Place and North Terrace), working for the "Eureka Photo Studio". Mostly as a Photo Enlarger.
This meant that Frederick and the kids (including Edgar), were to move with him.

1897-1903 : Quite a blank canvas, but only information about Eureka is known, it ties his Father in Adelaide, but does not tie Edgar as such, no references to Edgar.
 
1903 : What was to be like a Caterpillar morphing into a Butterfly, 29 year old Edgar surfaces under the pseudonym of K.R Moure.
Initially as Kelwylyn Rawson Moure or simply Kel R Moure.

How he came up with the name or this persona of K R Moure, is unknown, but what adds a twist, is that his Grandfather (Henry Hood Newenham) plays somewhat of a part in his ideologies about the Coal / Oil / Shale Gas industries. I'll lead into that a bit later. But I also have a hunch that his brother-in-law, "Phillip MacNevin" may have also played a part on the "knowledge" of the law side of things.

This is a dawn of a huge beginning, as Edgar now drops his whole life as it is and decides to push the K R Moure persona to the next level.
*Note : Both names will be referenced in this blog and they mean the 1 person*

The K R Moure persona, leads into the following stories :

• Coal / Oil / Shale / Gas industry, the mining part.
• Patents arise
• Many business ventures that centre on mining apparatus
• Many stouches with the Government/Politicians on Fuel Prices
• A Federal Government Job as a Oil / Boring expert in P.N.G (that lasted 1 week)
• A steam / alternative fuels car concept
• Constant letters, to I suppose "harrass" the recipient, of a reply
• Became involved with some well boring activities in Australia
• Became a Gold Miner with his brother during WW1
• Police had numerous interrogations on "who" he really was
• Numerous contacts with a young girl with "coded letters",
  and that the Police thought he was commiting "a treasonable offence" (WW1 era)
• Was a Research Engineer

On a last note, he had great knowledge of the Coal / Oil Industry and being a Research Engineer, yet he had no accolades to justify his position, but he subjected his theories or his communications with people who had proper certifications of their professions, to such a level, it almost annoyed them. It is one of the most intriguing parts of Edgar that I cannot fully understand.
But with one thing in mind, that his "ancestors" played a huge role in his K R Moure persona, as such, that I truly believe he was channeling his ancestors lives into his.
In a nutshell, I think he had to live up to an expectation of his Ancestors and that is what I think he was doing. I don't know why it comes across as that, but it's the only 'logical' explanation that I can come up with, to define why he created K R Moure,
As Part 2 will explain a bit more.

#Genealogy #Heritage #Ireland #Irish #History