Sepia Saturday 405

COUPLES : TEA : HUSBAND & WIFE : BEARDS

Tea anyone?  In Australia tea is the evening meal, dinner; it is also a beverage.

1888 'Advertising', Bendigo Advertiser (Vic. : 1855 - 1918), 21 November, p. 1. , viewed 10 Feb 2018, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article88557014 (note W.Ebbott is the son of John Ebbott)

Members of the Independent Order of Rechabites(I.O.R.) signed a pledge not to drink alcohol, so tea (of the liquid variety) becomes an important beverage option at functions.

John Ebbott married Margaret Thomas 12 Nov 1868 in the Forest St Wesleyan Church, Sandhurst, Victoria, Australia.[i]

Photographer unknown, The Family of John & Margaret Ebbott, circa 1892 possibly in Chewton, Victoria Australia; Ebbott family. From the left : Back Row Alfred “Alf” Ebbott 1875; Elizabeth Ebbott 1872,  John  Ebbott 1868; William Ebbott 1870,  Percy Frederick Ebbott; Middle Row Gertrude Emma Ebbott, Margaret Ebbott nee Thomas, Beatrice Alma Ebbott, ; John Ebbott 1840,  Eveline Mary Ebbott; Front Row; Gilbert Henry Ebbott  1890, .Edgar Stanley Ebbott 1888-1968; Ada Helena Ebbott 1884 [Ebb019]

John was an active member of the Independent Order of Rechabites(I.O.R.). His children all followed in his footsteps and the entire family were staunch members of Methodist church and the temperance movement.

 Edited excerpts from Mount Alexander Mail in 1916  from 'CHEWTON RECHABITE TENT', 13 July, p. 2. , viewed 10 Feb 2018, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article119635310

Events hosted by Rechabites were often described as interesting, “code” for alcohol-free. So when John remarries in 1908 we know from the newspapers that the reception was alcohol-free:-

1908 'ITEMS OF NEWS.', Mount Alexander Mail (Vic. : 1854 - 1917), 28 April, p. 2. , viewed 10 Feb 2018, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article199807199

Afternoon tea with scones jam & tea (or coffee) is known as a Devonshire tea in modern day Australia. Delicious! 

Photo by Alysa Tarrant on Unsplash (cropped)

This post is part of SEPIA SATURDAY 405 : Saturday 10 February 2018

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[i] Marriage certificate of John Ebbott and Margaret Thomas married 12 November 1868, Registrary of Births, Deaths & Marriages. 3927/ 1868

The Ebbott Family Farm in the Parish of Fryers

The Ebbott Family owned property in the parish of Fryers, Victoria from 1858 to 1867. They were living in nearby Glenluce (sometimes spelt Glenluse) at the time only 3 miles away. Where they lived in Glenuce is not clear, but when John Ebbott purchased his fourth property in 1859 he was still identified as “John Ebbott of Glenuse” in the paperwork.[i]

John Ebbott purchased the first three lots of land from the crown for the sum of £38-26s-3p near Fryerstown.[ii] The three properties highlighted in yellow were purchased in 1858.

Purchasing an adjoining property

In 1859 John advertised the sale of 50 head of cattle.[iii]

Soon after selling 50 head of cattle he purchased his last property in 1859 marked on the above map in orange.[iv]

The Challenges of Developing his property

As the purchaser of Crown land John Ebbott would have secured uncleared land. His first task would have been to clear the land, and fence it before deciding the type of farming he was going to conduct. The struggle to develop the farm must have been great as we see him going into debt possibly buying equipment from McMillan & Padley.

Perhaps it was a case of misunderstanding as a month later he became “one of the trustees of the land reserved for the use of the Wesleyan Church in Chewton”[v]

Farming life was very harsh as alluded to in his biography after his death “a great trial of affliction, when the plague devoured his cattle, and fire consumed his homestead”[vi] It must been heartbreaking to survive the death of his cattle only to have the fires come through in 1865. Not alone he was “among those who were burned out on the “Black Monday” of 1865.[vii] In a letter sent to the Mount Alexander Mail concerning the Black Monday Fires in 1865 the author talks of Mr J Ebbott’s farm, “seven years' hard labor in improving a farm, ..... fences, stockyards, hay-stacks, corn, &c.,”[viii]
Sadly John died two years after the fires. In spite of his hardships John Ebbott was a much revered figure in the community and “has been mentioned before as a class leader and spiritual father, at Chapel Hill” in Frysterown.[ix]

It is difficult to know whether John Ebbott and his family ever lived on this property although once the farm became established after a few years they may have moved from Glenluce onto the property.

After the sale and settlement of the land his widow Sarah "Sally" moved to Eaglehawk and purchased property allotment 116 Section M in California Gully, Eaglehawk.[x]

Links

This story is part of the NFHM Blogging Challenge - Week 4

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[i] Victorian Crown Land Purchases, County of Talbot, 1859/50915, John Ebbott
[ii] Victorian Crown Land Purchases, County of Talbot, 1858/50914, 1858/50908 & 1859/50915, John Ebbott
[iii] Advertising (1859, May 27). Mount Alexander Mail (Vic. : 1854 - 1917), p. 1. Retrieved August 27, 2016, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article199049272
[iv] LAND SALE AT CASTLEMAINE. (1859, July 22).Mount Alexander Mail (Vic. : 1854 - 1917), p. 5. Retrieved August 27, 2016, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article199050151
[v] GOVERNMENT GAZETTE. (1861, October 5).The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), p. 5. Retrieved August 28, 2016, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article154899510
[vi] Biography Mr John Ebbott, (1867) The Wesleyan Chronicle for the Year 1867,: 2^nd Series:Vol. VII. Vol.X. from the commencement. P.unkn
[vii] MONTHLY LETTER (1865, March 24). Mount Alexander Mail (Vic. : 1854 - 1917), p. 2. Retrieved August 28, 2016, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article207001730
[viii] CORRESPONDENCE. (1865, March 28). Mount Alexander Mail (Vic. : 1854 - 1917), p. 2. Retrieved August 28, 2016, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article207000884
[ix] THE GAZETTE. (1861, October 5). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), p. 5. Retrieved August 30, 2016, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article5704750
[x] Annette O'Donohue & Bev Hanson, Eaglehawk & District Pioneer Register Volume 2 -D~I (Maiden Gully, Vic. : A.M. O'Donohue, 1995<1998>), Pioneer #2342 p.330. .... Victorian Land Title, Volume 238 Folio 12 Jul 1873.

Bibliography

Advertising (1857, May 20). Mount Alexander Mail (Vic. : 1854 - 1917), p. 3. Retrieved August 30, 2016, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article197085718
Advertising (1859, May 27). Mount Alexander Mail (Vic. : 1854 - 1917), p. 1. Retrieved August 30, 2016, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article199049272
Advertising (1867, July 1). Mount Alexander Mail (Vic. : 1854 - 1917), p. 3. Retrieved August 30, 2016, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article198647987
Annette O'Donohue & Bev Hanson, Eaglehawk & District Pioneer Register Volume 2 -D~I (Maiden Gully, Vic. : A.M. O'Donohue, 1995<1998>), Pioneer #2342 p.330, John Ebbott
Biography Mr John Ebbott, (1867) The Wesleyan Chronicle for the Year 1867,: 2^nd Series:Vol. VII. Vol.X. from the commencement. P.unkn
COUNTY COURT. (1861, September 27). Mount Alexander Mail (Vic. : 1854 - 1917), p. 5. Retrieved August 30, 2016, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article197096893
CORRESPONDENCE. (1865, March 28). Mount Alexander Mail (Vic. : 1854 - 1917), p. 2. Retrieved August 28, 2016, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article207000884
F.E. Hiscocks & Co. 1874, F.E. Hiscocks & Co.'s new Victorian counties atlas, 1874 together with map of Victoria, indicating roads, distances, relative position of counties, &c G. Robertson, Melbourne page 14, viewed 27 August 2016 http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-231008711 (Original Image - Public Domain; cropped & Annotated to highlight Glenluce, Chewton & Fryerstown) (CC BY-SA 4.0)
GOVERNMENT GAZETTE. (1861, October 5).The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), p. 5. Retrieved August 28, 2016, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article154899510
LAND SALE AT CASTLEMAINE. (1859, July 22).Mount Alexander Mail (Vic. : 1854 - 1917), p. 5. Retrieved August 27, 2016, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article199050151
MONTHLY LETTER (1865, March 24). Mount Alexander Mail (Vic. : 1854 - 1917), p. 2. Retrieved August 28, 2016, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article207001730
Parish Map of Fyers, source not known, cropped and annotated
Victorian Crown Land Purchases, County of Talbot, 1858/6166, John Ebbott
Victorian Crown Land Purchases, County of Talbot, 1858/50908, John Ebbott
Victorian Crown Land Purchases, County of Talbot, 1858/50914, John Ebbott
Victorian Crown Land Purchases, County of Talbot, 1859/50915, John Ebbott
Victorian Crown Land Purchases, County of Talbot, 1859/50915, John Ebbott
Victorian Land Title, County of Talbot, Volume 238 Folio 47448, Sarah Ebbott

Wagga Wagga Voluntary Aid Detachment

Was Grandma a member of the Wagga Wagga Voluntary Aid Detachment?

My grandmother, known to most of her friends as Rita, was born Margaret Edith Jacka in the year 1900 to parents Edwin Knight Jacka and Elizabeth Ebbott.[i]  Margaret married John (aka Jack) Williamson at the age of 22 (he was eight years her senior)  in 1922 at The Methodist Church in Hamilton, New South Wales.[ii] By 1937 the couple were living in Wagga Wagga, NSW.[iii]

World War II began in 1939, and although not confirmed, it is thought that the couple were still residing in Wagga Wagga with their 3 children, John, Margaret and Dorothy who ranged in age from 7 to 14.

She “was active in the Methodist Church, despite her husband’s protestations.  In fact, a lot of what she did seemed to be in spite of Jack.  In the Second World War she joined the Voluntary Aid Detachment, and he wasn’t too keen on that.”[iv] Maybe the call is what inspired Rita join the VAD.  It was certainly reported and advertised widely in the press.

Did she answer the call for volunteers in 1939 to support the local war effort?

Figure 2 Excerpt from the Daily Advertiser, 1939

The photo below shows a street parade of marching women that includes my grandmother. The photo indicates that she might have been a member of the Voluntary Aid Detachment (VAD) in 1939 as not all the women are in strict uniform.

Figure 1 Photographer Unknown, Street Parade, possibly in Wagga Wagga, c1940, scanned image

What was the Wagga Wagga VAD?

“The Wagga Wagga VAD was strong and valuable with 143 members in total over the World War II period.  It was a military based organisation carrying out medical assistance at the various military camps and bases as well as Wagga Wagga hospitals (including the public Wagga Base Hospital and the private hospitals, Welwyn and Lewisham). They were also active in non-medical voluntary activities and in fundraising, with most proceeds going to the Australian Red Cross Society.”[v] “The Wagga Wagga VAD also raised funds for the Mayor’s Patriotic and War Fund and the Australian Comforts Fund, along with other local organisations.”[vi]

What was Grandma’s role in the Wagga Wagga VAD?

Often we think of war as being at the battle fronts, and perhaps this is why it is so difficult to find out what Rita’s role was in the VAD. But she, along with other volunteers2, made a world of difference to those training and preparing to leave, and those away or returning. 

It is these unsung heroes and heroines that I admire, the ones whose stories we struggle to tell. It is their strong steadfast support that makes everything else possible.

Links

This story is part of the NFHM Blogging Challenge - Week 3

Sources

Images
Figure 1 Photographer Unknown, Street Parade, possibly in Wagga Wagga, c1940, scanned image
Figure 2 Excerpt from STRIKING RESPONSE BY WOMEN OF WAGGA (1939, September 19). Daily Advertiser (Wagga Wagga, NSW : 1911 - 1954), p. 2. Retrieved August 21, 2016, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article144244315

Documents

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[i] Victorian Birth Certificate, District of Brunswick, 1900/1238, Margaret Edith Jacka

[ii] NSW Marriage Certificate, district of Sydney, 1922/11616,  John Aaron Palmer Williamson & Margaret Edith Jacka

[iii] Ancestry.com. Australia, Electoral Rolls, 1903-1980 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010. Subdistrict: Wagga Wagga, Year 1937 Entries #8241 John Palmer Williamson & #8245 Margaret Edith Williamson Citing Original data: Australian Electoral Commission. [Electoral roll].

[iv] Christine Filliamundi, Memories of Grandma Williamson 20150108v2, unpublished essay, 2015; Helen Condon, personal communication with the author, 2006

[v] Kathleen Linder, 'Serving our King and Country' VAs in Wagga Wagga 1939-1946, Charles Sturt University Regional Archives Summer Scholarship Report 2006-2007

[vi] Kathleen Linder, 'Serving our King and Country' VAs in Wagga Wagga 1939-1946, Charles Sturt University Regional Archives Summer Scholarship Report 2006-2007 

Photo 14 - Workers at the Garfield Mine

When I first started studying mining in relation to my mining ancestors who include both maternal lines (John Bassett) & my paternal Lines (John Ebbott) I heard about how the miners were sent over to Australia to set up English mining companies however those back in England were slow in getting organised so the miners took things into their own hands and pushed so that it would be more difficult for large companies/monopolies to come in and push the little miners out.
It  made for a great story but it wasn't until today that I found a reference to the events in the newspaper talking about the surveys taken in 1845, 25 years earlier.

"SURVEY - A few days ago we extracted from one of our country contemporaries an account of intended operations to develop resources of the estate known as the Tungkillo Special Survey, purchased by an English company in 1845" (1870 'THE INDUSTRIAL SCHOOLS OF VICTORIA.', South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), 29 June, p. 5, viewed 14 February, 2013, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article39195123)

and later in the same article refers to a similar report commissioned from the Argus Reef that was sent to Messrs.  Johnson & Matthey, assayers, of London.

Argus REff is in Chewton, Victoria, Australia and is where the very profitable Garfield Mine was built and the one, amongst other mines, that John Ebbott was heavily involved in.

Workers at Garfield mine

Note John Ebbott standing in amongst the men near the middle

The above photo was given to me by Silas Ellery, one of John Ebbott's decendants when I went to Chewton to visit him many years ago, Silas has now passed away.

Photo 8 - The Church where the Ebbott family worshiped

The first photo was given to me by a distant cousin who still lives in Chewton, imagine living in the middle of all that history!

Congregation outside the family church date & details unknown

Unfortunately I have no further information or the people but I do know that this is the church where the Ebbott family worshipped.
Today the church is now the Chewton Community  & Senior Citizens Centre the Methodist Church.  The original Sunday school is on the right of the church behind the pine trees.  This photo was taken in 2005.

Chewton Community  & Senior Citizens Centre

Plaque on the front of the  Sunday School Hall/Building

Rear of the old Sunday School Building

Photo 5 - An aerial shot of the first Ebbott farm

I was trolling the web, as all family history do and I found this site will the following information including a photo of what is supposedly one of the first Ebbot Farms in Australia.

It is amazing what you can find on the web.
The following information was provided:-

Ruin site. Remnants of granite and brick hearth/chimney in situ and there is possibly some granite foundations. The area is marked by a low mound adjacent to the wayside stop and a large cypress tree. There are two old fruit trees to the east of the site. The area if the site is approximately 50 x 50 metres./n/n
Heritage Inventory Significance: High local historical significance. This building was one of earliest houses in Faraday, and served as the Faraday school before the construction of the Faraday School in 1869.

Unfortunately there are no contact details either for the local historical society or for the person who put up the details and I don't know quite where to start to find more information but someone out there knows something and I'm on their trail.

The data behind 1851 Census story for the Ebbott family

Earlier today I posted another up date  for the Family history writing challenge entitled  The Ebbott Family in 1851 Census to see the full story, but behind that story is a lot of supporting data.  It takes a lot of data to build a story without which the story is just a myth or so I'm lead to believe, which is why I try to document all before beginning to write the story. Before I begin I thought it would be timely to show how I am connected to the person that I am writing about on my associated Blog "The Life of John Ebbott"

Living in Cornwall within a 5 mile radius of Tresmeer

Philip & Mary Ebbott were living in the same place where they had been in 1841 in Trerummer, Tresmeer, Cornwall, England as they were in 1841 (Cornwall Online Census Project-1851) 

(Transcript of Piece HO107/1899 (Tresmeer & Tremaine); Enumeration District 3 & 5; Civil Parish of Tresmeer accessed http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~kayhin/51899a.html#ED3 on Friday 22 July 2005). )

1.  Philip Ebbott aged 76 a Retired Farmer

2.  Mary Ebbott, Philip's Wife aged ,68

3.  William Ebbott aged 21, their youngest son is unmarried and working as a Farm Servant was still living at home with his retired father.

Philip Ebbott has moved from his in-laws house in Trengane, Warbstow and is now living on the same property to his retired father.  In 1841, Philip had been living with his wife’s widowed mother  as a newly married couple, in Trengane, Warbstow.  Grace’s mother has retired and come with them to the farm.

(source: Cornwall Online Census Project-1851 (Transcript of Piece HO107/1899 (Tresmeer & Tremaine); Enumeration District 3 & 5; Civil Parish of Tresmeer accessed http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~kayhin/51899a.html#ED3 on Friday 22 July 2005))

1.  Philip Ebbott,Head,M,41,,Farmer 90 Acres 4 Labs

2.  Grace Ebbott,Wife,M,,40

3.  Elizabeth Ebbott,Dau,,,9

4.  Philip Ebbott,Son,,3

5.  Grace Ebbott,Dau,,,1

6.  William Reed,Servnt,U,18,,Farm Servant

7.  Philippa Jenkin,Servnt,U,,16,House Servant

8.  Elizabeth Piper,Ma-Law,W,,66,Retired Farmers widow

Next door in the home of Mr & Mrs Daw there is an Elizabeth Ebbott who is 5 months old, a nurse child although to which Ebbott she belongs has not yet been established.

Margery (Bluett) was living with her family in Congheale, Alternon, Cornwall, England

(1851 Cemsus of England and Wales; digital images, The Generations Network, Inc., 2005, "HO107/1899," Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com/search/rectype/census/uk). )

1.        William Bluett  38 farmer of 100 acreas

2.        Margery Bluett 29

3.        Mary Ann Bluett    12

4.        Lydia Bluett     10 scholar

5.        William Bluett  8  scholar

6.        Elizth Bluett     7  scholar

7.        John Bluett       4 scholar

8.        George Rice     21 farm servant

9.        Jame Cobbledick              17 farm servant

10.     Jane Robert      17 farm servant

Gregory Ebbott’s wife and child has returned to Tresmeer without him, possibly in 1849.

Church Town, Tresmeer and living a few doors away from Philip and Grace Ebbott.

(Cornwall Online Census Project-1851 (Transcript of Piece HO107/1899 (Tresmeer & Tremaine); Enumeration District 3 & 5; Civil Parish of Tresmeer accessed http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~kayhin/51899a.html#ED3 on Friday 22 July 2005).)

1.        Uriah Mathew,Head,M,73,,Farmer 120 Acres 1 Lab

2.        Catherine Mathew,Wife,M,,59,,Tresmeer Cornwall

3.        Thomas Mathew,Son,U,28,,,Tresmeer Cornwall

4.        Uriah Mathew,Son,U,24,,,Tresmeer Cornwall

5.        Catherine Ebbott,Dau,M,,33,,Tresmeer Cornwall

6.        Caroline Ebbott, Grndau,,,5 who was born in West Leonia America Overseas Brit. Subj

7.        Mary Luxton,Servnt,W,,43,House Servant)

Preparing to leave Australia

Still living in Cornwall but slightly further afield having moved since 1841 is John and Sarah Ebbott who are possibly preparing to leave we Australia which he and his family finally do a year later.

John & Sarah Ebbott are now living in West Gate, Launceston St Mary, Cornwall, with their young family

(Ancestry.com, "1841 England Census," database online, Ancestry.com Operations Inc, Ancestry.com.  (www.ancestry.com.au : accessed 27 Dec 2009), entry for Family of John & Sarah Ebbott, Badharick, Lines 7- 9, Civil Parish: Egloskerry; County: Cornwall;; PRO HO107/134/6; Page: 7.)

1.  John Ebbott aged,42 and a Farmer

2.  Sarah Ebbott,Wife aged 33

3.  John Ebbott aged 11

4.  Emma Ebbott aged 4

5.  William Ebbott aged 11m

Phillip, their youngest son is living with his Uncles Julius  Bone who is living next daughter to William Bone at Polhilsa, Stoke Climsland, Cornwall some 6.5 Miles (10.4 Kms) away to the North West

(Cornwall Online Census Project—1851, Transcript of Piece HO107/1899 (Part 8) (Folio 559 Page 8, Enumeration District 4a, Civil Parish of Stoke Climsland, Eccl. District of - ; Transcription/Checking Team was Mike Beck (UK), Paul Brewer (UK) and Andy Chenhall (UK); accessed at http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~kayhin/51899g.html). )

1.  William Bone,Head, single, 34, Jointly Farms 70 Acres 4 Men

2.  Julius Bone,Head,single, 33,,Jointly Farms 70 Acres 4 Men

3.  Philip Ebbott, Nephew, 8

4.  Mary Ann Lemon, Servnt, single, 23, House Keeper

Both of John’s uncles are single and jointly farming the property however according to the 1851/52 Voters List for Stoke Climsland, in the Polling District of Callington it is Julius BONE who has rents the Polhilsa  house and land as occupier[i]

Already Living Abroad

Henry Ebbott had migrated to Canada in 1846 as a Methodist Minister. (mentioned in The Canadian Almanac and Directory 1852-1853 page 41 accessed at http://www.archive.org/details/canada18525300unknuoft on 5/2/2013)

Gregory Ebbott had migrated to the US in 1845

(but his wife had returned and was living back in Cornwall with her father

Mary (Uglow) had migrated to the USA  with her husband possibly as early at 1844 to Sullivan, Jefferson, Wisconsin, United States[ii]

1.        Edward Uglow 47  farmer on quite a large property

2.        Mary Uglow     46

3.        Wilmar Uglow  18

4.        Wm Uglow       18

5.        Edward Uglow 4

6.        Ellen Uglow     4

7.        Elizabeth Uglow   20

Passed away

1.        Wilmot had already passed away

2.        Elizabeth (Reed) died in 1843, the family that she left behind in Tregathman, Sithney, Cornwall with only the eldest and youngest girls leaving home, the youngest girl Charlotte has gone two doors away to live with her uncle’s family Joseph Reed.

3.        Mary Jane Fryan had died on 15 Apr 1847 and was buried in Badharlick, Egloskerry, 4 years after her only son died.

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[i] 1851/52 Voters List for Stoke Climsland, in the Polling District of Callington http://www.cornwall-opc.org/Records/parishes/Q-T/stoke_climsland_voters_list_1851_52.php

[ii] (Ancestory.com  Seventh Census of the United States, 1850; Year: 1850; Census Place:  Sullivan,  Jefferson,  Wisconsin; Roll:  M432_1000; Page:  184A; Image:  365.)

Photo 4 - the Ebbott gravestone in Chewton, Victoria, Australia

Taken on a field trip with Joy Manners in November 2004

Transcription of the gravestone

“In

Memory

Of

MARGRET EBBOTT

Died 28 Dec1906

A True Wife

Devoted Mother

Also

JOHN EBBOTT

Died 29^th Aug 1920

Aged 80

At Rest

Peace Perfect Peace”

& Further below

“Also JOHN (Sen)

1808 -  1867

Wife SARAH

interred Kew (Vic)

1814 – 1898”

This photo was taken at Chewton Cemetery in 2004, so quite some time ago, a later one was taken in 2010 and it was sad to see the letter deterioration, but it’s not really that surprising given the dry conditions and the extremes in temperature particularly when the sun can be so fierce.    

Australian Country cemeteries are quite different to the ones that I visited in Cornwall.  The cemeteries in the golden triangle in Victoria are dry, in summer the grass is brown and there is usually a lot of dust in the air.

In 2006 I was involved in organizing a small family reunion, as you can imagine there were lots of activities to organize and one of those activities was a cemetery tour of on one of the local cemeteries near Bendigo.  We all gathered, the youngest person was in their 20s the eldest person was over 80.  It was hot and the ground was uneven and it was sometimes hard to hear the local tour guide and ants that crawled across our shoes were disgusting, but of course I wouldn't have missed it for the world. 

But what we hadn't taken into account was how the eldest amongst us were faring.  That was the first reunion since then we have got better at organizing them and people know to put on a hat and sun screen and take a bottle of water.  And John who has since passed away, did recover from his heat stroke, we only wanted to visit the dead not join them!

Photo 3 - The grave of Catherine Ebbott nee Mathew

Tresmeer church is situated down a little dead-end road that runs into someone’s farm.

It was very peaceful wandering around reading the gravestones, the church as you would expect was sitting on top of the rise looking down over the country side, we could even see the kids playing football in the adjacent back yard

I was very excited when we located an Ebbott grave in the yard; however I had no idea who Catherine Ebbott was.  But I was soon to learn that she was the wife of my third great granduncle!  It was the only grave that I could find that had any connection to my family, in that particular churchyard, there may have been others but after a while it becomes overwhelming trying to remember all the possible connections.

Transcription of the grave of Catherine Ebbott nee Mathew.

 “In Loving Memory of

Catherine Ebbott

of this Parish

who died 24th May 1902

Aged 85 years. Thy will be done”

The person behind the gravestone of Catherine Ebbott nee Mathew

After a little research I was able to find the following - Catherine was born in 1817 as Catherine Mathew and christened in 6 Apr 1817 in Tressmeer.

In the 1841 Census I found her living in Tresmeer Church Town with her parents.

(Ancestry.com, "1841 England Census," database online, Ancestry.com Operations Inc, Ancestry.com.  (www.ancestry.com.au : accessed 3 Feb 2013), entry for The Mathew family; Parish: Tresmeer; County: Cornwall Class: HO107/14/:; Page: 7)

1. Uriah Mathew,65, Farmer
2.  Catharing Mathew, 50,
3. William Mathew,25
4.  Catharine Mathew, 20
5. Thomas Mathew,15,
6. Sally Mathew, 15,
7. Uriah Mathew,13

Living not very far away from the Ebbott family in Trerimince, Tresmeer, Cornwall, England

(Source:- Ancestry.com, "1841 England Census," database online, Ancestry.com Operations Inc, Ancestry.com.  (www.ancestry.com.au : accessed 1 Jan 2010), entry for Philip & Mary Ebbott & family, Tressmeer, line 19 - 24, Parish: Tresmeer; County: Cornwall; PRO HO107/134/14/: ; Page: 7.  )

1. Philip Ebbott aged 65, Farmer 
2. Mary Ebbott aged 55 
3. Wilmit Ebbott, aged 85, Ind 
4. Henry Ebbott, aged 20, Tailor 
5. Gregory Ebbott, aged 20 
6. William Ebbott, aged 11 
7. William Congdon, aged 20, Male Servant 
8. William Cory, aged 15, Servant 
9. John Reed, aged 11, Male Servant 
10. Elizabeth French, aged 15, Female Servant 
11. Mary A. Rundle, aged 20, Female Servant 
12. Henry Harris, aged 7, male servant

The Ebbott family has had a long association with the Tresmeer Church of England.  Looking through the parish records it looks as through there were several generations Gregory Abbott who was buried in the churchyard according to the parish records on the 19 May 1778 (source OPC site), unfortunately I didn't find a headstone marking any of the graves that I saw.  Gregory Abbott father in law Paul Upton was also baptised in that very church as well on 3 Nov 1679 (source OPC site). 

It was probably through this church in which Gregory Ebbott from Tremaine, met Catherine Mathew, the two churches were only 1.4 Miles/2.2 Kms travelling distance apart, if not in the church perhaps in Tresmere town centre while picking something up or visiting the tailor, Thomas Ferrett, perhaps some sort of relation of his mother(?).

The couple's marriage was announced in The West Briton And Cornwall AdvertiserF on Friday 4 April 1845 

“At Northpetherwin, on Tuesday last, Mr, Gregory EBBOTT, of Trerummer, in the parish of Tresmeer, yeoman, to Miss MATTHEW, of the same parish.” 

the church in which the event took place has yet to be identified.

The couple migrated to America sometime shortly after, and their first child Caroline was born in 1846 in Wisconsin, United States of America in the first year of their marriage, both mother and child returned possibly sometime in 1849 to England.  Catherine may have been pregnant with her second child, Elizabeth Ann (although I am unable to verify this) when she returned. It would appear that Gregory never returned to England, as he applied for a divorce in 1854.

The divorce however may not have been common knowledge back in England, as Catherine is still listing herself as married at least up until 1871.

• In the 1851 Census Catherine is living with her parents and eldest daughter, Carolene who was 5 years old. Carolene was listed in the census as being born in America. Although Catherine is listed as married her husband is not present. 

Cornwall Online Census Project-1851 (Transcript of Piece HO107/1899 (Tresmeer & Tremaine); Enumeration District 3 & 5; Civil Parish of Tresmeer accessed http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~kayhin/51899a.html#ED3 on Friday 22 July 2005).  

• In 1861 Catherine appears to be living by herself in the house next to her parents. 

Cornwall Online Census Project—1861 Transcript of Piece RG9/1518 (Part 2) (Folio 49 Page 8, Enumeration District 4, Civil Parish of Egloskerry, Eccl. Parish of -).

• In 1871 Catherine is still listed as married but is living by herself and listed as an annuitant 

Ancestry.com. 1871 England Census[database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004.  Original data: Census Returns of England and Wales, 1871. Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives of the UK (TNA): Public Record Office (PRO), 1871.  Class:  RG10; Piece:  2223; Folio:  62; Page: 12;

• In 1881 - Catherine is living by herself next to the Bluett family still married but still no husband listed and she is listed as retired. 

Ancestry.com and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 1881 England Census[database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004. 1881 Class:  RG11; Piece:  2275; Folio:  47; Page: 1

• In 1891 Catherine is 73 Living On Her Own Means

Cornwall Online Census Project—1891, Transcript of Piece RG12/1802 (Folio 43 Page 7 Enumeration District 1, Civil Parish of North Petherwin, Eccl. Parish of North Petherwin).  

• In 1901 Visiting John & Elizabeth Fryan and listed as single.

Ancestry.com. 1901 England Census[database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005.  Original data: Census Returns of England and Wales, 1901.  Class:  RG13; Piece:  2182; Folio:  6; Page: 3

I wonder how the extended Ebbott family felt with their kinsman’s wife leaving him behind in a foreign land – I am sure they were happy  about the state of affairs, but they must have known, as Catherine and her daughter moved back to her home town.