LOFTUS, John, Mary and Family

[judyatk]

I am hoping someone can help with John and Mary (Marie) Loftus who came to Rockhampton,Queensland on the Landsborough  in OCt 1873. Any info on them or their family would be appreciated.

[PrueM]

Hi Judy,
Do you have any other information about the couple?  I may be able to help but I need to know what you know already.
Cheers
Prue

[judyatk]

Sorry but have been away for awhile. They came from Jersey in Channel Islands where they married and had their family before coming to Aus. The last two sons were born in Aust. John worked on the railway at Stanley Creek Qld. He had a son John Hardwick Loftus also of Stanley Creek, other family, were Mary jane, Alice Mary Jane, Sussanah Emma, Albert George and James John (my grandfather) he was brought up by his sister Alice (Hill) and they changed his name to James Richard Hill - whether by adoption is not known. He came to NZ and married Violet Moss, they died in 1919 in the flu epidemic. I belived he was named in his mother's will as the  trustee!! His mother died in early 10.1.1902.
Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks

[benko]

I am new to this chat forum but I have been recently working at Stanley Creek, Queensland and viewed the grave and headstone of John Loftus who died in 1899.
This seems to correlate with other info I have read  that John , born in 1837 died in Qld in 1899 , as shown on the headstone. His spouse is also recorded as Marie Eugenie Henriette Le Fevre, so it looks like the same John rests in an historical cemetery at Umolo,  ( Stanley Creek ). The Rockhampton Council has responsibility for the maintenance of this declared historic cemetery.

The Loftus children are also recorded in Dingo School centenary handbook attending school in the 1880's at Dingo School, near Stanley Creek.
I have photographs of the headstone if interested. Interestingly, the headstone is inscribed " John Loftus from Nottingham "I also have found records of Johns employment with the railway during the late 1890s.

[judb]

Welcome to Rootschat, benko

What a great find.  I note, though that judyark hasn't been on R'chat since 2011, so I hope she gets the email letting her know there is a reply.

Cheers, Judith

[sarah]

Hi Benko,

Welcome to RootsChat, yes what an interesting find to make..

I am sorry but judyatk emails are not working at the moment (I think she has a new one) but I have done some searching and think I may have found her - Just sent a message to say of your new reply to her post.

Regards

Sarah

[Aussie1947]

Hi,

The Intestate Notice for John Loftus, farmer of Stanley Creek near Rockhampton was gazetted for the Rockhamptobn Court on 20th January 1900.

Gerry

[Trudy Lloyd-Harding]

My husband was recently working on a remote cattle property halfway between dingo and bluff in central Queensland. He found a grave and headstone in the bush. He took a photo of it. It reads... In loving memory of John loftus of Nottingham England who died December 29 th 1899 aged 62 years and ? Months. Rest in peace. We googled him and it led to a request from this site. We hope this information is helpful to you. All the best, Trudy and Robert. We have a photo of grave also.

[Catsflap. J]

Thank you both, benko & Trudy Lloyd-Harding, for your accounts regarding the grave of John Loftus.
John from Nottingham was my great-grandfather and I am delighted at long last, to know where his grave is sited. I would be most grateful to either of you if you could possibly sent me a photo of his headstone. Thank you both for this interesting news.