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Research in Other Countries => Australia => Topic started by: shazza181 on Monday 20 December 10 01:34 GMT (UK)
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Hi,
Trying to find out where the nearest Childrens Home was to Bright, Victoria in the 1880's. My great great grandmother, Jane HUGHES was left a widow in 1879, with 7 children and another on the way. I have been told by my mother that Jane left 3 of her sons, or possibly even all 6 of her sons in the care of a lady - when Jane didn't return for the children the lady put them in a Childrens Home. The children were all born in Bright and Jane is supposed to have left her sons in 1884 when her youngest daughter Maud Jemima JONES was 3 and a half. I know that one of the boys that was put in the Childrens Home was Joseph JONES, born 1878. The Childrens Home may have had a connection to a farm, as some of the boys ended up working on a farm. I have the names and years of birth for all of the children if that will help. Apparently, there was an article in a newspaper about the boys being made wards of the state. Would be grateful for any help or a point in the right direction.
Thanks in advance,
Sharon.
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Hi Shazza,
I think you might mean Brighton rather than Bright - many hundreds of kilometres apart in Victoria.
I have found the following children for James Jones and Jane Hughes:
Margaret Jane 1867 Horse Creek (I've never heard of that one)
William 1869 Brighton
Isaac Hughes 1870 Brighton
George 1872 Vrig (I expect it should be Brig ie Bright/on
John 1874 Brighton
Samuel James 1876 Br Ig (Bright/on)
Joseph 1878 Br Ig
Jemima 1880 Brighton
The Melbourne Orphan Asylum opened in Emerald Hill (South Melbourne) in 1856 and moved to Butler Street Brighton around 1883 so that looks a very likely prospect. You might find further information through the State Library of Victoria.
Good luck.
Sandra
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Bright was formerly known as Morses Creek which is noted as the place of birth for Margaret Jane in 1867 Reg#16993 Some of the transcriptions of place names on the indexes do at times leave a lot to be desired. Brighton = BRN and BRIGHT Bright = BRIGHT, BRIG, BRG...and there are probably many more. Abbreviated place names often include typing errors and abbreviations may NOT be abbreviations. Only one of the JONEs births actually names Brighton as the place of birth and that could be an assumption by the transcriber to the indexes.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morses_Creek
Sorry I can't assist with your other request.
Cheers
Cando
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Hi,
Their place of birth was definitely Bright, not Brighton. Jane and her husband, James JONES lived at Porepunkah, near Bright. James JONES was killed when his horse rolled and fell on him. I am guessing that as Jane had 7 children and she was pregnant with her 8th, that she left the boys with a lady in the local area and that the boys may have ended up in a Childrens Home/Foster Home that was close to Bright.
Any suggestions or advice welcome. Thanks Sandra and Cando for your input. Very much appreciated.
Sharon.
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Bright was formerly known as Morses Creek which is noted as the place of birth for Margaret Jane in 1867 Reg#16993 Some of the transcriptions of place names on the indexes do at times leave a lot to be desired. Brighton = BRN and BRIGHT Bright = BRIGHT, BRIG, BRG...and there are probably many more. Abbreviated place names often include typing errors and abbreviations may NOT be abbreviations. Only one of the JONEs births actually names Brighton as the place of birth and that could be an assumption by the transcriber to the indexes.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morses_Creek
Okay so it must have been Bright after all. I know that there was a convent at Beechworth as my Grandmother and her sister were placed there at sometime between 1910 an 1929. They weren't orphans but their mother was apparently a lousy excuse for one! No idea what it is used for now - either a museum or restaurant?? Check for "Beechworth Convent" online and you might be lucky enough to find something.
Sandra
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Thanks, Sandra. That's just the sort of clue that could help me. Much appreciated.
Sharon.
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Hi
Beechworth is a very historical town, a lot of their tourism business is based on their history.
Try the Bourke Museum for research
http://www.beechworthonline.com.au/pages/family-history-research-at-the-burke-museum/
I found Adam Wyne-Jenkins at Beechworth Ghost tours very helpful and I see he is involved in the local Historical Society.
http://www.beechworthghosttours.com/
I did find the other day that Bright also have their own Historical Society,
http://www.bdhs.org.au/
I tried to contact the first email contact and the message was returned so you could try the contact for Malcolm Millar or the phone number.
mum mum
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hi
this link may be useful as it seems to lsit orpahages in Victoria at that period.
http://www.pathwaysvictoria.info/browse_1870s.html
Robyn
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Hi ,
I live in Beechworth.
The place you are referring to was the Bridgidine Convent and school in Ford Street which has now been turned into our first 5 Star B&B " Freeman on Ford". It was first used as a convent/school in 1887.
The Convent next to St Josephs church in Priory Lane { It is now used for Accomodation, weddings and conferences and called " The Old Priory"} was built in 1888 and was used to house the Nuns and boarding students.
mum mum has given you the correct places to search for information on this place.
Amazingly Beechworth does NOT have an Historical Society ??? :-[
regards
Alison
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Here is Isaac's death:
Isaac Hughes JONES d 1956 aged 85 Maffra- James JONES and Jane HUGHES # 18930
and Margaret's:
Margaret Jane ROWE d 1927 aged 60 Richmond - James JONES and Jane HUGHES # 12177
and Maude's:
Maud CATHCART d 1973 aged 93 Melbourne- James JONES and Jane HUGHES # 10900
regards
Alison
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Here is MAUDE's burial.
She is with with JOHN CATHCART who was aged 84 -12/7/1952.
At Fawkner Memorial Park
Name-Maude Cathcart
Location-Methodist Compartment E Grave 3928.
Aged 93
Date 15/5/1973
Sue
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Hi Alison,
Amazingly Beechworth does NOT have an Historical Society
Maybe it's time to start one. I saw Adam's name mentioned in regard to Historical something on one of the web pages I found. A tourism one I think, it wouldn't load for me.
There must be a lot a families who had realatives in the area at one stage or another. There is always someone looking for some local knowledge.
mmum mum
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Hi,
Trying to find out where the nearest Childrens Home was to Bright, Victoria in the 1880's. My great great grandmother, Jane HUGHES was left a widow in 1879, with 7 children and another on the way. I have been told by my mother that Jane left 3 of her sons, or possibly even all 6 of her sons in the care of a lady - when Jane didn't return for the children the lady put them in a Childrens Home. The children were all born in Bright and Jane is supposed to have left her sons in 1884 when her youngest daughter Maud Jemima JONES was 3 and a half. I know that one of the boys that was put in the Childrens Home was Joseph JONES, born 1878. The Childrens Home may have had a connection to a farm, as some of the boys ended up working on a farm. I have the names and years of birth for all of the children if that will help. Apparently, there was an article in a newspaper about the boys being made wards of the state. Would be grateful for any help or a point in the right direction.
Thanks in advance,
Sharon.
Hi Sharon
I wonder if the staff at the Burke Museum would have a look at the newspaper archive for you.
http://www.beechworth.com/burkemus/
Family History Research Service
Records include:
* Rate books for the Municipality of Beechworth from 1856; Local court records; Mining registers - including: water rights, mining claims, Mining Warden's reports; Electoral Rolls and Directories - including: 1857 Ovens Directory, 1866 Beechworth Directory; Indexes to Beechworth pioneers; Photographs of Beechworth's pioneers; Street directories;
* Local newspapers from 1855 - present - (The Ovens and Murray Advertiser; The Constitution and Ovens Mining Intelligencer and The Ovens Register).
Freelance Museum staff are available to assist with family history research. Please contact the Burke Museum for more information.
I would love to spend a some time in the Museum as one of my ancestors was the Government Surveyor for the Beechworth Mining District from 1858 to 1865 when he transferred to Stawell.
Cheers :)
Cando
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Hi Shazza
The Ovens and Murray Advertiser is available at the NLA, from 1855-1920. I'll have a look at it for you and see if I can find anything. Do you have the death date for Joseph? There may be some mention of his death. Will have a look at 1884 also. How much I get to read depends on how much there is to look at. i doubt i'll get to it before next week or even the week after!
Cando, if you want me to have a look for your chap let me know his name - email, or PM is fine ;D Perhaps names of his family might be worth looking at also, just in case they are mentioned in the social pages :P
Judith
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Perhaps names of his family might be worth looking at also, just in case they are mentioned in the social pages :P
Judith
;D ;D ::) :P
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Thankyou everyone for the suggestions and information. I don't think the boys were left at the Brigidine Convent in Beechworth as Jane left them in 1884 and the convent opened in 1887.
Judith, Joseph died 27th May, 1944. Thanks so much for your offer :)
Thanks for your suggestion, Cando. I will contact the Burke Museum and see if they can help me.
Poor Joseph, history repeated itself and his wife deserted him and his sons, taking the daughters with her, just like his own mother had done. :(
Sharon.
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Hi mum mum,
I have thought about starting an historical Society but it might lead to grounds for divorce. the other half thinks I have enough obsessions lol ;D
Cando,
Was your ancestor Michael Herbert, Henry Grimes or Thomas Dalziel ? You know you have a place to stay and a personal guide if you ever come here ;) ;D
I could go to the Burke Museum and look up the papers ;)
Regards
Alison
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Hi,
Have found out that the newspaper was The Alpine Observer and the Victorian State Library have it on microfiche so I have been there today and looked it up. There were three boys, John Jones age 9, Samuel Jones age 7, Joseph Jones age 6, were all sent to the Royal Park Industrial School. So I am off now to try and find out what I can about that institution.
Thanks once again everyone for your help.
Sharon.
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A little here -
http://www.pathwaysvictoria.info/biogs/E000514b.htm
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Thanks very much, Cando, for that link. John was charged with being a neglected child and was sent to the school for 5 years, Samuel and Joseph were sent there for 7 years - poor kids, makes you feel sad and you hope that they were treated well.
Sharon.