JONES children & Childrens Home near Bright, Victoria

[shazza181]

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.

[SandraAust]

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

[cando]

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

[shazza181]

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.

[SandraAust]

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

[shazza181]

Thanks, Sandra. That's just the sort of clue that could help me. Much appreciated.

Sharon.

[mum mum]

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

[regross]

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

[alison2763]

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