Reuben Wheeler

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Week 5 (January 29-February 4): In the Census

Reuben was born around 1801/2 in Gloucestershire, England, and christened on 14 November 1802 in All Saints church, Bisley, Gloucestershire, England.[i] 

Photographer Philip Halling, Bisley Church, 3 May 2008. Gloucestershire, England  [CC BY-SA 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3ABisley_Church_-_geograph.org.uk_-_786952.jpg 

His parents are thought to be Thomas WHEELER and Hannah EAGELS who married on 11 Nov 1800 in the same Parish the previous year.[ii]

Photographer Jongleur100 The village of Bisley, Gloucestershire, England with the church spire in the background, 2018 [https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3ABisley%2C_Gloucestershire%2C_a_village_in_the_Cotswolds.jpg] 

Reuben married Elizabeth THOMAS on 27 Jan 1833 in Pitchcombe, Gloucestershire, England.[iii]  Pitchcombe is the parish were Elizabeth was baptised on 28 July 1804.[iv] Where she and her two sisters grew up.^[v] It appears that the newly married couple moved to Rueben’s home town of Bisley to live. It is difficult to know what it must have been like for the Wheelers living in Gloucestershire. Although it does appear that time were difficult economically: 

“Bisley is situated in the County of Gloucestershire, England, on the Cotswolds plateau, approximately four miles east of Stroud. The decline of the wool industry in the nineteenth century caused great hardship throughout the Cotswolds.”[vi]

Census details for 1831 for the Stroud area according to the [Census] returns

Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge (Great Britain), ‘Penny Cyclopaedia of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge’. C. Knight, 1842 p.127 [online] Available at: Google Books https://books.google.com.au/books?id=Ad9PAAAAMAAJ&vq=bisley&dq=how+far+is+pitchcombe+from+bisley+in+gloucestershire&source=gbs_navlinks_s [Accessed 23 Jan. 2018].

The 1831 in Gloucester helps to give a sense of place for our ancestors from the size of the place, to the number houses and the number of people.  Reuben Wheeler came from a much larger town than his wife whose town had only 224 people compared to Bisley which was much larger in area and had 5859 people in 1264 houses. Rueben must have seemed very worldly to his intended wife Elizabeth Thomas whose small country town of Pitchcomb only had 43 houses.

Census Entry in 1841 for Reuben Wheeler's family

Ten years later in 1841 Reuben & Elizabeth appear in the census with two children in Gloucestershire, living in Bisley with a notation of Burley underneath which could possibly be referring to the name of house that they lived in.)[vii] They are listed as shown below including Peter Aldridge who appears to be living with them

1.  Reuben Wheeler, aged 35 no profession listed
2. Elizabeth Wheeler, aged 35
3. Selina Wheeler, aged 7
4. George Wheeler, aged 5
5. Peter Aldridge, aged 14 also born in Gloucestershire, England [how or if he is related to the family is unknown, however he is the only breadwinner in the household]

At the end of 1841 the family migrated as assisted passengers to Australia. They left at Plymouth on the 30 Oct 1841 aboard the Himalaya and arrived on the 26 Feb 1842 in Port Philip, Victoria, Australia.[viii]

The Ship records show that

1. Reuben was aged 38 and a labourer and the government paid a bounty of 19 pounds.
2. Elizabeth was aged 37, a housekeeper and the government paid a bounty of 19 pounds.
3. George was 5 and the government paid a bounty of 5 pounds.
4. Selina was 7.5 and the government paid a bounty of 10 pounds

Rueben died when he was living Napoleon St, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia in 1873.[ix]

Photographer Sandra Williamson,  Gravestone Reuben & Elizabeth Wheeler in Boroondara Cemetery, Kew, Victoria, Australia, circa 2003 [B024]

He died on 19 Jul 1873 in Victoria, Australia

Research notes:-

[On his son Reuben's death certificate his father was given as William. However although WHEELER is a common enough Gloucestershire, the name Reuben is unusual, therefore when I found a Reuben Wheeler baptized in Bisley, Gloucestershire on the 12 Nov 1802 whose father was Thomas. I came to the belief that this is my Reuben and he is the son of Thomas rather than William, it is unlikely that any of Reuben's children met their grandfather as adults and may have given the wrong name on the death certificate by accident.]
In 1834 Stroud was "a parliamentary borough in Gloucestershire. It includes an extensive district, comprehending the parishes of Stroud, Bisley, Painswick, Pitchcombe...”[x]

WikiTree Link for Rueben Wheeler's Family Tree on WikiTree on WikiTree (@WikiTreeOfficial)

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[i] Baptism of Reuben Wheeler Baptised 14 November 1802, Bisley Gloucestershire England Ancestry.com. Gloucestershire, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1538-1813 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014.

Original data: Gloucestershire Anglican Parish Registers. Gloucestershire Archives, Gloucestershire, England. Gloucestershire Archives; Gloucestershire, England; Gloucestershire Anglican Parish Registers; Reference Number: P47 IN 1/3

[ii] Ancestry, Marriage of Thomas Wheeler & Hannah Eagles married 11 November 1800 after Banns, Bisley Church Parish Register 1800-1812,  Gloucestershire England. 'Gloucestershire, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1754-1938'. Citing: Gloucestershire Anglican Parish Registers; Reference Numbers: P47 IN 1/9  [page 6/image 8 of 64] Gloucestershire Archives; Gloucester, England.  Accessed 22 January 2018 [Transcript of Register entry - “28th and Oct 5^th Thomas Wheeler of this Parifh Batchelor and Hannah Eagels of this Parifh spinster were married in this church by Banns with confent of [blank] this 11th Day of Novb in the Year One Thoufand Eight Hundred by me John Green Curate.

This Marriage was foleminized between Us The mark of Thos Wheeler  The Mark of Hannah Eagels,

IN the Prefence of The X Mark of Wm Eagels  [&] Thomas Barradoll[?]”

[iii] Marriage of Rueben Wheeler & Elizabeth Thomas on 27/01/1833 Pitchcombe, Gloucestershire England Parish Church Register, page 16 entry #47. Ancestry.com. Gloucestershire, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1754-1938 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014. Original data: Gloucestershire Anglican Parish Registers. Gloucestershire Archives, Gloucestershire, England. [Transcript of Register entry - “Banns of Marriage between Thomas Wheeler and Hannah Eagels were published Sep 21st Marriages solemnized inthe Parish of Pitchcombe in the County of Gloucester in the Year 1833. Reuben Wheeler of this Parish and Elizabeth Thomas of this Parish were married in this Church by Banns this 27th Day of January in the Year One thousand eight hundred and thirty three By me George Grimstead Curate. This Marriage was solemnized between us Reuben Wheeler X [signed using his mark] [&] Elizabeth Thomas X [signed using her mark] In the Presence of Danl Estcourt [&] Ann Mills [signed using her mark]”

[iv] Ancestry, Baptism of Elizabeth Thomas baptized 28 July 1804 Pitchcombe Church Register #3 'Gloucestershire, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1538-1813' Gloucestershire Archives; Gloucestershire, England; Gloucestershire Anglican Parish Registers; Reference Number: P250 IN 1/3 Year Range: 1778-1808 unpagination [image 17 of 33]

[v] Ancestry, Baptism of  Ann Thomas baptized 14 December 1806 Pitchcombe Church Register 'Gloucestershire, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1538-1813' Gloucestershire Archives; Gloucestershire, England; Gloucestershire Anglican Parish Registers; Reference Number: GDR/V1/183 Year Range: 1639-1813 unpagination [image 260 of 276]; Ancestry, Baptism of Hannah Thomas baptzied 3 February 1812 Pitchcombe Church Register #3 'Gloucestershire, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1538-1813' Gloucestershire Archives; Gloucestershire, England; Gloucestershire Anglican Parish Registers; Reference Number: P250 IN 1/4 Year Range: 1778-1808 unpagination [image 3 of 9]

[vi] Glosgen.co.uk. (2018). GlosGen - Bisley Genealogy. [online] Available at: http://www.glosgen.co.uk/records/bisley.htm [Accessed 22 Jan. 2018].

[vii] Ancestry, 1841 Census entry for Rueben Wheeler & family. 841 England Census. Original data: Census Returns of England and Wales, 1841. Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives of the UK (TNA): Public Record Office (PRO). Class: HO107; Piece: 362; Book: 7; Civil Parish: Minchinhampton; County: Gloucestershire; Enumeration District: 8; Folio: 24; Page: 9

[viii] Ancestry, Shipping record for the Wheeler Family #35 on the Himalaya, February 1842 ‘Assisted Immigrant Passenger Lists, 1828-1896’. State Records Authority of New South Wales; Kingswood New South Wales, Australia; Persons on bounty ships arriving at Port Phillip (Agent's Immigrant Lists);Series: 5318; Reel: 2144; Item: [4/4814] Vessel Himalaya, p.236  [image 4 of 7] Accessed 25 January 2018. Accessed 25 January 2018.; Ancestry, Alphabetical entries #101-104 for Bounty Immigrants of the Wheeler family from the United Kingdom on the Himalaya 1842. ‘Victoria, Australia, Assisted and Unassisted Passenger Lists, 1839-1923’ Register of Assisted Immigrants from the United Kingdom. Microfiche VPRS 14. Public Record Office Victoria, North Melbourne, Victoria. p213 [image 420 of 753].

[ix] Death Certificate Rueben Wheeler died 19 July 1873, Registrar of Birth, Death and Marriages, Victoria, Australia. 6484/1873

[x] Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge (Great Britain), ‘Penny Cyclopaedia of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge’. C. Knight, 1842 p.127 [online] Available at: Google Books https://books.google.com.au/books?id=Ad9PAAAAMAAJ&vq=bisley&dq=how+far+is+pitchcombe+from+bisley+in+gloucestershire&source=gbs_navlinks_s [Accessed 23 Jan. 2018].

SEPIA SATURDAY 403 - INTERIORS

I have hundreds of photos in my collection, but very few of internal spaces that are not focused on clusters of people around a dinner table or people talking in groups.  Very few of these photos expose the interior design styles or quirks of the era. Below is a series of 3 photos taken circa 1959 that give a little bit of an idea of that period, at least for the working class.

The Context of the Images

Judy Todman & John Williamson’s first home together in Hamilton, Victoria, Australia. The couple moved initially to the Grampians in country Victoria and lived in a caravan while John took on odd jobs close by in Stawell and Judy worked as a nurse in the local hospital. The photos were probably taken to send home to Judy’s family back in Melbourne. The furnishings came with the house.

John fancied himself as a serious amateur photographer and may have developed the photos himself after taking them. The originals photographs are black and white, 3 inches by 2 inches and have sustained quite a bit of surface damage from light scratching.

The photos are staged which probably explains why the bookcase ornaments in one photo are found relocated to the mantelpiece in the following photograph.

A Panoramic View of the living room

Figure 1 Photographer John Williamson, Interior of Lounge room in Hamilton Victoria Australia viewpoint 1, circa 1959 [T318]

When did indoor plants become a thing? I was surprised to see the small indoor planter stand with a single plant in it. The bookcase holds boxes of slides reflecting mostly Johns but also Judy’s interest in photography.

Figure 2 Photographer John Williamson, Interior of Lounge room in Hamilton Victoria Australia viewpoint 2, circa 1959 [T319]

The room is mostly bare with solid furniture and very light curtains. The vinyl records are sitting on top of what could be a stereo player or the speaker to the stereo player on the other wall.  The photos on the wall in a cluster of buildings.

Figure 3 Photographer John Williamson, Interior of Lounge room in Hamilton Victoria Australia viewpoint 3, circa [T320]

There was no TV in these days, listening to the stereo; sitting in front of the fire and/or reading were ways to fill in the evenings after work and dinner.

This post is part of  SEPIA SATURDAY 403 - 27 January 2018 

Mary Ann Dutton nee Edwards

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks (Jan 22-28): Invite to Dinner

Mary Ann Dutton nee Dillon aka Edwards is my 3x Great-grandmother

In 1858 Mary was 28 years old at the time of her daughter’s birth; her maiden name was listed as Dillon.[i] By 1859 it appeared that Mary was struggling to care for her daughter. The newspapers reported the following incident:-

“on Sunday evening her husband, after having given her £3 in notes, tried to get the money back from her for the purpose of spending it in drink, which she resisting caused the brawl in the street”.[ii] 

Three years later Mary herself seems to have fallen under the demon drink herself as she is convicted as a drunkard and fined 5s.[iii]

Then it would appear that she became employed by Mrs Canovan who ran a house of ill repute.[iv]

Things do not appear to have gotten easier for Mary as the following incident also reported in the papers indicate:

“A woman named Mary Ann Dutton afforded the visitors at the central police court yesterday considerable amusement. She was plaintiff in a case of illegal detention of property, and defendant in abusive language case. On being asked several times whether she had any questions to put, she replied—" Yes, sir," and immediately poured forth a volume of words with such rapidity and in such a   loud tone of voice that everybody in court was convulsed with laughter. For the offence of making use of abusive language the bench imposed a penalty of 10s, with the alternative of 48 hours contemplation in goal, upon hearing which decision the woman folded her arms across her breast, looked defiantly   around the court, and with determination expressed on every feature of her countenance, exclaimed loudly—" I'll do it", and walked into what is facetiously termed the reception room”.[v]

The following year her precious child Kate, now known as Catherine is taken away by the authorities and it becomes apparent that Mary’s father has left them, whether by choice or design has not yet been determined.

Soon after her daughter is taken way Mary marries again to John Edwards, a fisherman. Was it love? Was it someone she met at work?

Mary married John Edwards at the age of 39.[vi]   Three years later she died in 1871.[vii]  There were no recorded offspring for this marriage.

Mary seems to be a strong woman trying to cope with the circumstances of her life in an environment that was not very supportive of single women. I would love to know more about her life and why she made the choices she did – if indeed there was any real choice.  Her daughter Kate grew up and lived a successful life raising many healthy children, but she never spoke of her past or what had happened.

I am intrigued by the newspaper quote 

“upon hearing which decision the woman folded her arms across her breast, looked defiantly around the court”.[viii] 

There seems to be more to the story than we will ever know. What a privilege it would be to sit down to dinner with her and share stories.

WikiTree Link Mary Ann Dillon's family tree  on WikiTree (@WikiTreeOfficial)

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[i] Birth Certificate Kate Dutton born 21 December 1857, Registrar of Births, Deaths & Marriages Victoria Australia. 2541/1858

[ii] CENTRAL POLICE COURT. (1859, December 20). Geelong Advertiser (Vic. : 1859 - 1926), p. 3. Retrieved December 10, 2015, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article146567635

[iii] CENTRAL POLICE COURT. (1861, March 19). Geelong Advertiser (Vic. : 1859 - 1926), p. 3. Retrieved December 10, 2015, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article148697136

[iv] POLICE COURT, TOWN HALL. (1866, December 4). Geelong Advertiser (Vic. : 1859 - 1926), p. 3. Retrieved December 10, 2015, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article148787531

[v] CURRENT TOPICS. (1867, September 7). Geelong Advertiser (Vic. : 1859 - 1926), p. 2. Retrieved December 10, 2015, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article147773272

[vi] Marriage Certificate of Mary Ann Dutton & John Edwards married 15 October 1868. Registrar of Births, Deaths & Marriages Victoria Australia. 4619/1868

[vii]  Death Certificate of Mary Edwards died 2 October 1871 Registrar of Births, Deaths & Marriages Victoria Australia. 8391/1871

[viii] CURRENT TOPICS. (1867, September 7). Geelong Advertiser (Vic. : 1859 - 1926), p. 2. Retrieved December 10, 2015, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article147773272

SEPIA SATURDAY 402 GRAVEYARDS : DEATH : MEMORIALS

In 2002 descendants of John Bassett & Martha Carbis came together to celebrate 140 years Of Family History in Australia!!!

Figure 1 Bassett Family Reunion in January  2002 Eaglehawk RSL Hall, Eaglehawk Victoria, Australia [b401]

The reunion helped to raise funds to place a plaque on their unmarked grave

Figure 2 Photographer Sandra Williamson, Plaque placed on the burial site of Martha & John Bassett. Eaglehawk Cemetry Eaglehawk, Victoria, Australia [b201]

It also helped descendants share their research and findings.

Figure 3 Photographer unknown, Participants filling out missing details from the family tree, Family Reunion in January  2002 Eaglehawk RSL Hall, Eaglehawk Victoria, Australia Sandra Williamson’s Private photo Collection [b462]

A good time was had by all thanks to the hard work of members of a group called BassettByLines.

BassettByLines is a Yahoo Group whose members are related to Martha Carbis & John Bassett.

WikiTree Link for Martha Carbis & John Bassett's family tree on WikiTree (@WikiTreeOfficial)

This post is part of Sepia Saturday 402 - 20th January 2018

Shaping up my Genealogy Research in 2018

Photographer Sandra Williamson, Watching as we navigate through uncharted territory in outback Australia,  June 2015 [It felt a little like researching family history]

I did a post entitled setting my blogging intentions for 2018 and then I realised when prompted by the January Genealogy Blog Party question “How are you going to “Shape up” your genealogy research this year?” that I should think more broadly about my genealogy goals – which I have now formulated and listed below

Participate in the following Blog Challenges

1. “52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks” Challenge by Amy Johnson Crow
2. Sepia Saturday

Education

1. Attend the 15th Australasian Congress on Genealogy and Heraldry, at the International Convention Centre, Darling Harbour - Friday 9 March – Monday 12 March 2018
2. Continue to improve my skills in Family Legacy Tree

Memory Keeping

1. Organise my mother’s photos into a scrapbook and add in stories [already begun up to 2^nd album]
2. Begin to write my mother’s life story

Continue to contribute to WikiTree on a regular basis [no less than once a fortnight]

Living through the generations - The Ring

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Week 3 (Jan 15-21): Longevity

Myrtle May Bassett married Lincoln James Todman on 21 Sep 1929 in Balaclava.[i]

Figure 1 Photographer Unknown, Wedding portrait of Lincoln and Myrtle Todman the day after their wedding. Location unknown possibly Caulfield or Balaclava, Victoria Australia, 22 September 1929, Myrtle Sharp's Private Photo Collection currently held by Sandra Williamson [B039]

The ring that Lincoln gave Myrtle on their wedding day had two round brilliant cut diamonds with a row on each shoulder of the setting of 3 small diamonds.[ii] Unfortunately Lincoln died in 1938 leaving his wife Myrtle with two young children.[iii] Although there is no clear picture of the ring an image does survive as part of a portrait of Myrtle in her wedding gown.

Figure 2 Photographer Unknown, Cropped depiction of Myrtle Todman’s hands to highlight her engagement ring, location unknown possibly Caulfield or Balaclava, Victoria Australia, 22 September 1929, Edited by Sandra Williamson [B049e-ring]

Next generation

When Myrtle’s daughter Judith married John Williamson in 1962 they did not have an engagement.[iv] Myrtle was upset to see that her daughter didn’t have an engagement ring, so she decided to give Judith the ring that her father had given to her when they were married. When Judith received the ring she had it reset as she explained, “I wanted something different and a bit more modern than my mother’s original ring design”.[v]

John had given Judy an industrial emerald-cut sapphire that had a small chip in one corner. Judy had two larger diamonds set either side of John’s sapphire, dispensing with the 6 smaller diamonds preferring a more streamlined design.

Figure 3 Photographer Lang Williamson, ring originally owned by Judith Williamson nee Todman, digital image, 2017, Sandra Williamson’s Personal Collection.[W148]

On learning that Judy had not incorporated all the diamonds in the ring she took the remaining diamonds and had an eternity ring designed on a thin band to sit beside Judy’s more modern engagement ring.

Figure 4 Photographer Jesse Page, Eternity ring, 14 January 2018 [w149]

Judy wore the engagement ring, the eternity ring and the wedding band as a set, even after John left her for his third wife in 1964.

The Third Generation

When Judy’s daughter Sandra turned 40 the ring was passed to her.

Sandra’s daughter is now impatiently waiting until she turns of age (40) so that she can be the wearer of the ring.

This post is part of 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge hosted by Amy Johnson Crow

Sources

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[i] Marriage Certificate of Lincoln Todman & Myrtle May Crump Bassett, married 21 September 1929, Registrar of Birth, Death and Marriages, Victoria, Australia, 9531/1929.

[ii] Judy Williamson conversation with Sandra Williamson(author), Regis Frankston, 13 January 2018.

[iii] Death Certificate Lincoln James Todman, 11 June 1938, Registrar of Birth, Death and Marriages, Victoria, Australia. 15005/1938

[iv] Certificate of Marriage for John Palmer Williamson & Judith May Todman, (23 November 1962, Presbyterian Church Mentone.

[v] Interview of Judith Williamson with Sandra Williamson, Frankston, 13 January 2018

SEPIA SATURDAY 401 Modes of transport

Modes of transport that my grandfather, Lincoln Todman, experienced during his lifetime.

He grew up living behind his father, Walter Todman’s cycle shop.

Figure 1 Photographer Unknown, Walter Todman’s Shop at 360 Chapel St., South Yarra, circa 1916, Digital copy held in Sandra Williamson’s Private Photo Collection[T082], From Left Apprentice, Lincoln Todman (boy on bike), Hazel and Alma Todman, Ivy? Todman (Taller girl) and Walter Todman on far right.[T082]

Figure 2 Advertising (1910, August 27). Advocate (Melbourne, Vic. : 1868 - 1954), p. 10. Retrieved January 14, 2018, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article170916868

As he got older, he worked with his father in his shop.

Figure 3 Photographer Unknown, Lincoln working with his father Walter Todman in his father’s workshop at 360 Chapel St., South Yarra, circa 1916, Myrtle Sharp's Private Photo Collection currently held by Sandra Williamson [T080]

Before he had children he drove a Singer Sports Car.

Figure 4 Photographer Unknown, Lincoln Todman with his new “Singer” car, circa 1929, unknown location Myrtle Sharp's Private Photo Collection currently held by  Sandra Williamson [T074]

He became a mechanic/chauffeur/driver working for Shell Petroleum, a position he held until his untimely death 1938.

Figure 5 Photographer Unknown, Lincoln Todman at work with his truck. Location unknown possibly Footscray, Circa 1935. Digital copy held in Sandra Williamson’s Private Photo Collection [T085]

This post is part of Sepia Saturday 401 : 13 January 2018 401 : 13 January 2018 

Norman Herbert Crump

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks (Jan 8-14): Favourite Photo

My favourite photos are those that on close inspection reveal more about people and their lives.  Below is a photograph from my grandmother's collection.

Photographer Unknown, The house that Norman Crump built, Circa 1941, Brucknell [B160] on the far left is Judy Todman with brother Warwick Todman sharing the same horse.

         

My mother Judith Todman moved with her widowed mother and older brother to live on Norman Crump’s farm in Brucknell, Victoria, they lived for 5 years from 1939 until 1943. Norm first occupied the land in 1931 initially with a permit for occupation and then with a conditional purchase of land. I don’t much about “Uncle” Norm (everyone referred to him as Uncle Norm).  The background of the photo hints at the work that was being undertaken to clear the land and build the house. Researching the details of the land particularly when my mother was living there revealed some very interesting stories about Norman Herbert Crump [who had been born Herbert Norman Crump]

Details of Norm Crump’s Background gleaned from the files

1931 – Application for Land

VPRS-5714-P0000-242-269-12 Letter of Reference from David Charles for N.H. Crump, 18 March 1931 [Part of the Applicant for Conditional Purchase of Farm Allotment or Agricultural Labourer's Allotment.

Transcription: "N.H. Crump, Mr. D Charles called today and stated that he has known Crump for last 14 years when he took the latter in to his employ & had him for 6 years without a break & again recently has employed him.  Mr Charles has 1200 acres in Pamandera district N.S.W. & carries on mixed farming, wheat, sheep & a few cows.  Mr Charles states he can thoroughly recommend Crump in every way & had give complete satisfaction. Crump was recommended to Mr Charles by the later’s father in law for whom he had also worked.  The capital owned by Crump represents amount saved from wages." [signed] "This is correct David Charles Glwelyon Grong Grong"

VPRS 5714/P/0000 / 242 269/12 Excerpt from the “Declaration by Applicant for Conditional Purchase of Farm Allotment or Agricultural Labourer's Allotment. submitted by Norman H. Crump, 1931

Transcription: “I was brought up on a small farm near Eaglehawk & when 13 years of age went to Riverina & worked on various farms for about 5 years & after driving & motor delivery wagon in Melbourne worked 6 years for Mr Charles [of] Grong Grong N S.W, and will provide a reference from him.  I am particularly anxious to obtain allot 74, I intend to get married when I obtain a block.” [signed in Melbourne on the 16 March 1931 by N.H. Crump]

1933 – Trouble with Rabbits

Some of the challenges faced by the local farmers including to Norm Crump included controlling the controlling the local population of rabbits.

VPRS 5714/P/0000 Unit 247 Letter to Lands Department, 8 July 1933

1937 – Application for Funding for funds to build a new house

VPRS 5714/P/0000 Unit 247 Norman Herbert Crump [Application for wire netting]  Letter from JL Christies & N Robilliard to The Chief Inspector, “With reference to Mr Crumps application for a house" (the application was approved after special consideration and an advance of £320 was made)

Transcription: “Whilst making a revaluation of the area, Crump did not give us the impression that he intended getting married, and we considered that the two rooms now occupied by him would be suitable for a single man until the block became fully self-supporting.  We would point out that the two rooms now occupied by him would be suitable for a single man until the block became fully self-supporting. 

We would point out that the two rooms mentioned is actually portion of his machinery shed, and also adjoins the cow shed etc. 

We agree that this two rooms would be very suitable as a chaff house and store-room, and although serving as quarters for a single man would be quite unsuitable for a woman.”

Titbits were gleaned from the following sources

1. ·         The land files for Norm Crump concerning Allot 74, in the parish of Brucknell, in the County of Heytesbury, in the state of Victoria, Australia.[VPRS-5714-P0000-242-269-12 Norman Herbert Crump - concerns the lease, purchase details of the allotment]
2. ·         The Wire netting Advance File for Norman Crump, in the Parish of Brucknell, in the District of Geelong. [VPRS 5714/P/0000 Unit 247 Norman Herbert Crump concerns the borrowings of money to build rabbit proof fencing on the property un Wire netting grant scheme
3. ·         Photograph of the house that Norman Crump built, Circa 1941, the collection of Myrtle Sharp currently held by Sandra Williamson
4. ·         Personal conversation and interviews by Sandra Williamson with Judith Williamson, 2017 & Myrtle Sharp 1980s.

WikiTree Link for Norman Herbert Crump's family tree on WikiTree (@WikiTreeOfficial).

Image created from Norm Herbert Crump's WikiTree profile on 19 January 2018