Around the end of December 2014 I decided to take on the 52 Ancestor Challenge looking at my 4x great grandparents as I had already proven all of my 3x great grandparents known to me. I knew a number of them fairly well because my parents talked about their ancestors many times when I was a child, plus my paternal grandfather lived with us and my maternal grandmother lived in the same city. Thus stories about my ancestors were often heard on a daily basis. Since three of my grandparents were born in England, and lived there into adulthood, that is the only way that I became familiar with my great grandparents and great great grandparents. My father was also born in England coming to Canada as a child of nine with his parents.

The choice of (Unknown) Buller for this particular 52 Ancestor Challenge was a novel thought. Initially, I had planned to leave him out of the Challenge since I really do not know anything about him, other than he “may” or “may not” have been the father of my 3x great grandfather – Christopher Buller. The “may not” could have occurred if Christopher was illegitimate, something of which I am still unaware of at this time of writing.

In 2013, I undertook some research at the London Metropolitan Archives, looking at one of the Parish Registers for St Olave Bermondsey not online at Ancestry.ca, but I wasn’t able to find a baptism for Christopher Buller although it was the same church in which he was buried. I then decided to follow a new path looking at this unknown 4x great grandfather. I know quite a bit about his son Christopher Buller, or Christy Buller as he was often referred to in various documents. Christopher was possibly born in London, or Greater London, but even that detail is hidden to me. I had found two burial records for a Christopher Buller – one at St Olave Bermondsey and the other at Saint Mary Magdalene Woolwich – and both in a time period to be my 3x great grandfather.

The first Christopher Buller died May 1832 at the Workhouse Infirmary in Bermondsey. This is not particularly unusual as there were hospitals in the Workhouses that people in the community used. I am not sure where he lived his last days but he is identified in the will of his step mother-in-law as living in Long Lane in Bermondsey in 1819. In this burial record for Christopher it states that he was 69 years of age when he died and the burial itself was at St Olave Bermondsey, 13 May 1832, thus giving him a possible birth year of 1763.

The second burial record for a Christopher Buller was at Bromley on 23 Nov 1839, and his age was listed as 82 in the burial record at St Peter and St Paul Woolwich, yielding a possible year of birth of 1757. I have the death certificate for this Christopher Buller and it states that he was 81 years of age and a decayed gentleman. It is possible that this certificate pertains to the Christopher Buller, married to a Jane (unknown), with sons Thomas Christopher and John Christopher. The baptisms for these two children were at Woolwich, Kent, where the Christopher Buller who died in 1839 was also buried. Thomas Christopher Buller was baptized 25 Sep 1814 at Saint Mary Magdalene Woolwich (although he was born at Charles Street, Bermondsey) and John Christopher Buller was born Jun 1819 at Woolwich and buried 21 Jul 1819 at St Mary Magdalene Woolwich. I believe I have managed to separate out these two burials and the second burial at Bromley is not my Christopher Buller since mine was living on Long Lane in Bermondsey in this time period.

Jane (Blakely) Beard, the step mother of Christopher Buller’s wife Mary (Beard) Buller, was buried 13 Jan 1819 at St Saviour Southwark having died at Crosby Row King Street Southwark. She had married Henry Beard, widower, on 8 Feb 1785 at St Mary Magdalen Bermondsey. My 3x great grandmother Mary was 18 years of age at the time of the marriage and her youngest sister Sarah was eight years of age. Their mother, Elizabeth (Hemsley) Buller, had been dead for about three and a half years at that time.

The author pointing to the area on Tooley Street, Bermondsey where Christopher Buller had his Slop Shop in the late 1700s and early 1800s. This is a set of large granite plaques in the walkway area under the London Bridge.

The will of Jane (Blakely) Beard mentions that Christy Buller was living at Long Lane in the Borough. We walked the length of Long Lane when we visited Bermondsey a couple of years ago. This area was heavily bombed and other than St Mary Magdalen Church there doesn't appear to be many buildings left from the 1800s. At the time of Jane’s death, Henry Christopher Buller (son of Christy Buller and Mary Beard) would have been 14 years of age. Also at that time, he had three sisters living: Martha Sarah who married George Caswell, 29 Oct 1831; Elizabeth Jane who married Edward Churchyard, 31 Oct 1827; and Emma Hemsley who married Isaac Debnan in 1827 at the Independent Church and again on 2 Jan 1840 at the Anglican church Saint Dunstan.

The forenames of these siblings may or may not be helpful in my pursuit of the father of Christopher Buller. However, Elizabeth Jane's forenames are the forenames of the two wives of Henry Beard. Obviously, in the case of my 2x great grandfather Henry Christopher, the forename Henry comes from Henry Beard and Christopher from Henry's father. A brother to Henry Christopher, who had died, was named Robert Hemsley/Hucksley and could this be from Mary Beard’s family? Emma Hemsley carries the surname of Henry Beard's first wife Elizabeth Hemsley but the Emma is a mystery. Martha Sarah I have not yet determined but could they be the forename(s) of Christopher's mother/grandmother etc? Looking for a Buller marrying a Martha or a Sarah has not yet been productive. But I shall try again as one of the points of doing this 52 Ancestor Challenge is to look once again at these particular individuals to see if anything new has appeared in the records or been missed in prior searches.

One interesting find was a transcription from Boyd's Marriage Index. It is the marriage in 1794 of Christopher Buller and Sarah Beard (actual name was Mary). The marriage was celebrated at All Hallows Barking. The records are not available online at Ancestry and were only deposited at London Metropolitan Archives recently. I know Christopher and Mary were married by September 1795 because they are mentioned in the will of Henry Beard dated 19 Sep 1795.

The first child of Christopher Buller and Mary Beard was Elizabeth Jane who was born 13 Feb 1796 while they were living at St Thomas Street in Bermondsey. By 1 Dec 1797, when Elizabeth Jane had died, the family were living at Charles Street in Bermondsey. One can note that I mentioned earlier that Thomas Christopher Buller (son of the other Christopher Buller) was born at Charles Street, Bermondsey. This is somewhat of a confusion but I think I have successfully separated out the two Christopher Bullers. It is perhaps just a coincidence that they lived on the same street but 16 years apart. Since I know the age of both of these Christopher Bullers, in as much as one can know the ages, my Christopher Buller was born circa 1763 and the other Christopher Buller buried at Bromley was born circa 1758. They are not likely brothers but they could be cousins.

The next child born was Martha Sarah on 16 Aug 1797 at St Thomas Street. The third child, Elizabeth Jane, once again, was born 26 Apr 1799 at St Thomas Street. Emma Hemsley was born 21 Jul 1800 but no address given. Henry Christy Buller was born 16 Oct 1803 at Tooley Street but died mid November 1803 – no street address given. Then followed the birth of my 2x great grandfather Henry Christopher Buller on 30 Jan 1805 at Bermondsey Street. The last child born to this couple was Robert Hemsley/Hucksley Buller on 6 Nov 1806 with no address given. He died and was buried 18 October 1807. His mother had died shortly following his birth (14 Dec 1806) and was buried at St Olave Bermondsey as was Robert. Christopher Buller was buried 13 May 1832 also at St Olave Bermondsey. These graves would have all been moved to Bunhill because the grave yard at St Olave Bermondsey was closed and moved during the building of the ramps for the London Bridge.

Looking again at the marriage of Christopher Buller and Sarah Beard at All Hallows Barking, it is easily within walking distance of Bermondsey. None of the Beard girls married in their home parish (all run-away marriages?). I have had a glimpse of the Beard girls in the marriages that they made and they appear throughout their lives to have been comfortable for the times. They all left descendants with most remaining in England but a few ventured off to Canada, the United States, South Africa and Australia. Until my grandmother arrived in Canada her line had remained in England.

All of the children of my great grandfather Edwin Denner Buller. My grandmother is the first on the right and they are in decreasing order of birth. All of these pictures were taken in the 1916 to 1917 time period and I have produced the resultant image.

London was always a mix of people. I consider that my Buller family may have had links with Birmingham because Henry (Christopher’s son) appears there by 1837 as a provision dealer and then a restaurant owner on Bull Street. His first wife had died in 1836 in Lambeth and a daughter had died in the Covent Garden area in 1835, so one thinks perhaps they moved to Lambeth for better air. A son George had also died as an infant in the Covent Garden area. Henry continued to have a pork butcher shop in Covent Garden as he and his second wife lived there for about ten years although they travelled back and forth between London and Birmingham where Ann's father was a restaurant owner. They were part of the slowly growing middle class of store owners in that time period.

But still Christopher Buller eludes me in terms of his parentage. I cannot find in the large Buller families in London a Christopher Buller although while researching at the London Metropolitan Archives (as mentioned the registers for St Olave from 1731 to 1778 are not on Ancestry) there was another Buller family at St Olave Bermondsey but their children did not include a Christopher and they were baptizing children in this time period.

The other item that comes to mind for the parents of Christopher Buller is the many emigrants to London from the Continent, particularly in the time of the King George’s of England. Many people came from the Germanic States and particularly in the confectionary industry. Eventually my Henry Christopher Buller also became involved in the confectionary industry. Is that a link that is significant? Add to that my atDNA results which, for me, show a northern continental European component both at Family Search and at Ancestry. Is that what is showing up for me – a German component? Is my Christopher Buller the son of a German emigrant at least on his mother's side? Christopher is not a common forename in the Buller family. Perhaps his name is not Buller after all but Buhler or some other similar Germanic surname.

There are twelve results on Find My Past for a Christopher Buller born between 1723 and 1853. The first record is the burial of Christopher Buller at Bromley, Kent. The second is the Westminster Rate Books in 1786 for a Christopher Buller living at Cross Street South, St James Piccadilly. The third is the entry in Boyd's marriage index of the marriage of Christopher Buller and Sarah Beard at All Hallows Barking in 1794. The fourth is another listing in the Westminster rate books at Cross Street South, St James Piccadilly in 1806. The fifth is a listing in the Westminster rate books again at Cross St South, St James Piccadilly. Numbers six and seven are a repeat of number 5 except Carnaby Street South, St James Piccadilly. Number eight is the death registration for Christopher Buller at Bromley, Kent. Number nine is the marriage of Christopher Buller in 1856 at Clitheroe, Lancashire. Number ten is the marriage of Henry Christopher Buller in 1838 and Ann Welch (my 2x great grandparents) at Kings Norton, Worcestershire. The eleventh is the marriage of John Christopher Buller in 1865 at Bermondsey. The twelfth is the marriage of John Christopher Buller in 1875 at St Olave Southwark.

Am I further ahead with the father of Christopher Buller? Perhaps, an answer from London Metropolitan Archives might just provide me with something to further my research. Finding this item on Boyd's Marriage Index is certainly a step forward in that search. Has it crossed my mind that he could be illegitimate? Absolutely, but I did not find any Buller lines at St Olave Bermondsey that would have worked to have a Buller female having a child in that time frame (nor at St Mary Magdalen Bermondsey where he and his family worshiped). I have not found any illegitimate Christopher Buller children born in the London area in this time period so far. Who was the Christopher Buller living at Cross Street South, St James Piccadilly in 1786 and 1806? This is an area where the known Buller family of London was living. How does Christopher fit into this family or does he? The Christopher Buller living in 1786 could possibly be my Christopher Buller because he would be about 23 years of age but he could also be the other Christopher Buller who would have been 29 years of age. Interestingly, my 2x great grandfather was visiting in this same area when he died in 1862 (the home of Sarah Barnett who had been born in Staffordshire). I continue working on that possible connection.

Ancestry of (unknown) Buller:

1. Myself
2. Helen Louise PINCOMBE (b 18 Oct 1916) – Westminster Township, Middlesex County, Ontario, Canada
3. Ellen Rosina BULLER (b 20 May 1886) – Birmingham, Warwickshire, England
4. Edwin Denner BULLER (b 8 Apr 1850) – Birmingham, Warwickshire, England
5. Henry Christopher BULLER (b 30 Jan 1805) – Bermondsey, Surrey, England
6. Christopher BULLER (b c1763)
7. Unknown

Elizabeth Kipp, PLCGS
Member 1004

Margaret MURCH as Helga

On 2 December 1907, The Prodigal Son opened in the prestigious Coronet theatre in Southwark, London.

Hugh Montgomery played the elder son, Magnus ‘with rugged manliness’, as the London Standard put it. Herbert Hewetson made Oscar (the prodigal son of the title) seem attractive, but innately weak. And the temptress, Helga, was played by Margaret MURCH.

The story is based on the parable from the Bible – adapted, of course, for the modern audience of 1907. In the Bible, the elder son stays home and helps his father, while the younger son takes his inheritance and wastes it all in ‘riotous living’. He later regrets his actions deeply.

In the twentieth-century version, however, it begins in Iceland, where the younger brother marries his sibling’s sweetheart, Thora. He then leaves her to die in childbirth while he enjoys himself in Monte Carlo, but he too later deeply regrets his actions.

The Prodigal Son was written by Hall Caine, one of the most popular and well-paid authors of his day. The play moved from Douglas, Isle of Man via Drury Lane to Margaret’s performance in Southwark. She later reprised her role at the celebrated Northampton Opera House.

She was described as “charming as the temptress Helga”. Of course, a temptress would have to be ‘charming’, wouldn’t she, in order to be able to tempt?

Ros Haywood
Member 1324
Murch One-Name Study – http://murch.org

Thomas Williscroft was the oldest known son of John & Margery christened on the 22 Jan 1601/2 at St Michael's, Stone. On 27 August 1638 he married Anne Till the daughter of Thomas at the parish church in Stone. The couple lived in Aston by Stone but do not appear to have had surviving children. Thomas is listed on the 1640 Muster Rolls for Walton and Barlastone, Staffordshire as one of the 'trayned bond' (SRS XV 1894 p210). He wrote his will on the 10 March 1659. From a later document I think he died on the 16 March. His will was proved in London on the 20 June 1659.

Thomas' will was one of those gem's of genealogical information that enabled me to piece together odd bits of information. His wife was the main beneficiary and executrix of the will. He left his home in Aston and land in Eccleshall to Ann with the fee farm rent of 20s from his property in Podmore. On Ann's death this was to pass to his brother John but for lack of heirs the land was to pass to his brother James and his son John.

St Michael’s Church, Stone, Staffordshire.
The present church dates from 1758.

He also mentions the five children of John Botham and two children of John Bennet, these I later found were his nieces and nephew's. He also mentions John and Ann the children of James Wollascroft who was living at Coton near Milwich in 1665. James was made overseer of the will which was witnessed by John Bevington and John Till.

Thomas' sister Elizabeth married John Bennitt at Eccleshall in 1639 and his sister Ellena had married John Botham in 1636 at Stone. I assume that his other sisters had died by 1659 and not had issue as they are not mentioned.

His brother John most likely married Margaret Pole at Stone in 1628. On 31 December 1630 he was described as a husbandman leasing a cottage in Aston by Stone from the Hevingham family. I think that John was the John who was buried at Baswich in Staffordshire on 21 April 1664. His wife Margaret died in 1655 and was buried at Sandon, Staffordshire on 4 December. 

John does not appear to have had any surviving children and had passed away prior to Ann’s death. After the death of Thomas' wife, Ann, the property mentioned in his will passed to his nephew John, the son of James of Milwich, Staffordshire. Ann died Intestate in September 1683 and was buried at Stone on 29 March. An Inventory of her estate was taken on 26 September 1683 by Richard Younage, Jonathan Astbury, George Senton & Siemon Wright. It was valued at £3 16s 7d. Administration of her estate was granted to her brother William Tyll, yeoman, of Stowe two days later.

Coton, just outside Milwich, Staffordshire in 2013 where James Wollascroft was living on the Hearth Tax Returns of 1665. In 1665 there were 18 households in Coton. This isn’t so today.

Thomas' brother James married Joanne Wright, the daughter of Thomas & Margaret, on 4 November 1640 at Milwich, Staffordshire. The couple lived in Coton just outside Milwich, Staffordshire according to the Hearth Tax returns of 1665. They are known to have had five children christened at the parish church in Milwich. John b.1648, Margreta 1642-1654, Alicia 1644-1655, Anna 1647-1650 and Ann b.1652. Joanna died soon after the birth of Ann and was buried at Milwich on 2 April. James was buried on 23 January 1676 at Milwich. He didn't leave a will and the estate including the land at Podmore passed to his son John.

Jill Dixon
Member 1278
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~williscroftonename/index.html

William Ernest Moxon, born in Ramsgate Kent in 1863 and Thomas Frank Moxon, born in Charlton Kent in 1865, followed their elder brother Robert Julius to Australia in 1887. Initially, William and Thomas worked together, establishing a service of small steamers along the Queensland coast. However, William was headhunted by the Adelaide Steamship Company in 1890, and became its first Queensland manager and inspector.

Adelaide Steamship Company Wharf in Brisbane early 1900s

William then moved with the company to Western Australia and raised a family there, before returning to his former position in Queensland in 1918. He took an active interest in industrial, commercial and shipping interests in both states, and in the days preceding Federation, he worked hard in Western Australia for the formation of the National Parliament.

In his younger days, he played cricket, soccer and hockey and was an enthusiastic fisherman.

He died at his home in Southport, Queensland in 1946, aged 82. He was survived by several children. His children were Philip, Janet, Thomas and Nora.

Meanwhile, Thomas Frank Moxon, having served time as a seaman since 1880 when he was 14, joined the Australasian United Steam Navigation Company Ltd as a first officer and then ship's master on steamships plying the east coast. He and his brother joined forces in 1891 and established Moxon & Co, working on their own account. But after 1893, he carried on the shipping business on his own, and increasingly became attracted to the timber industry. In 1903, Moxon & Company Pty Ltd was incorporated.

At the time of his death in 1936, he was the chairman of a prosperous group of companies based in Cairns, Brisbane and Sydney.

The family lived at Camden, Toowong in Brisbane.

Margaret Moxon
Member 1103
http://moxonsdownunder.blogspot.com.au/

Edward Tivey, stocking weaver by trade was born in the town of Melbourne, Derbyshire 6 Feb 1782. His birth is mentioned in the registers of Melbourne Baptist church though no parents were listed – it was usual for the children to be baptised in early adulthood and unfortunately, records for the late 1790s/early 1800s have perished. Edward married Sarah (Sally) Dolman, 27 Apr 1800: Edward and Sally had 6 children that survived infancy:

Ann 1801, Edward 1804, Joseph 1809, Sally 1812, John 1813 and Samuel 1814

Edward’s wife Sally died at a young age. Although Edward probably found it hard to cope with bringing up his children and working, unlike many men of his era, Edward chose not to remarry until years later.

Apprenticeship papers confirm that at the age of 14, eldest son Edward was apprenticed out to Joseph Dolman, a stone mason of Loughborough, Leicestershire, while second eldest son, Joseph, was apprenticed out to John Perry, a steel toy manufacturer of Aston, Birmingham at the tender age of 12. Edward also married off his daughters as soon as it was possible to do so: Ann marrying John King aged 16 and Sally marrying John Elsey on her 16th birthday. It is thought that John, the second youngest child, was also apprenticed out at a young age, as by the 1841 census he was residing in Birmingham, a shoe maker by trade.

Samuel (left), the youngest child of Edward, became a lace maker, he married in Derby in 1833 to Phoebe Wilde (right). By 1841 Samuel was residing in Nottingham St Peter. Family rumour has it that Samuel and Phoebe inherited part of a lace manufacturing business, John Wilde & Co, in Nottingham from Phoebe’s side of the family during the 1840s, though the author personally hasn’t seen any evidence of this. It is thought that once mass industrialisation of lace making was being introduced, they sold their shares in the business to help pay for passage to Australia.

In 1848 the family travelled to London and set sail from Deptford bound for a new life in Australia. Samuel and Phoebe’s eldest child Joseph, aged about 14 at the time, wrote a diary of the voyage which is now kept at the State Library of New South Wales. The following is a word for word transcript of the diary – the spelling and grammar has not been altered in any way:-

This account of the voiage to South Australia is written by Joseph Tivey, a passenger in the Ship called the Bermondsey which started from Deptford on Wendsey August 23rd 1848 at ½ past four Oclock she was toed down the Thames by the Steam Packet the Fairy and a merry crew we are dancing and singing. There is 200 of us to say there is so many of us I never saw such good regulation in my life. The beds are buettiful she is 600 tons Burthen. There are fowls and pigs on Board. We stopt at Gravesend all Night. Thursday August 24th at Anchor all day at Gravesend. Friday August 25th still being at Anchor at Gravesend nothing of particular account. Saturday August 26th we heaved Anchor at 3 Oclock in the Morning and we are going at a good rate. Stopt at Deal for the Night. Sunday August 27th tremendous rough winds but we were tacking about all day but did not sail three miles. Monday August 28th. Nothing remarkable to day. Tuesday August 29th heaved Anchor at four Oclock and are sailing buetiful between Dover and Calais. Wensday August 30th still sailing along the Kentish Coast. We have been out of sight of Land Once to day but came in sight again about 4 Oclock and past Brighton at ½ past 6 Oclock, we are sailing delightfully to night. Thursday August 31st we have been sailing fast all night, there are but 15 English on board they are all Scotch. I have heard of sunrise at Sea I have seen it this Morning it is Grande we have been Sailing fast all night we Sailed about 100 Miles to Night. Friday September 1st we have taken our Last Farewell of Old England we left it at 5 Oclock this Morning we shall not see Land again for a Long time. We are sailing slowly. September 2nd. This morning we entered the Western Ocean and are going at a good rate we have seen neither Land nor Birds this day or two. We are sailing at a good pace to Night. Sunday September 3rd. We are sailing at a extra good pace to day. Monday September 4th. Sailing Moderately. Tuesday September 5th in the Morning the sea was very calm till about 10 Oclock and the wind rose and the Sea was very Boisterous the remainder part of the Day. We sailed very fast all the Day. Wensday September 6th. Sailed Slow all the Day. Thursday September 7th. Sailed Slow all the Day. Friday September 8th. Sailing very Slow all the Day. Saturday September 9th the Sea being very calm we Sailed very Slow all the Day. Sunday September 10th to day there has been several Porpioses and a Shark 12 feet long. Sailing Slowly all the Day. Monday September 11th Sailing faster to day. Tuesday September 12th. In sight of the Island of Madeira from 7 Oclock-A.M. till 4 Oclock P.M. There is a Buetiful Bresse to Day we are sailing Delightfully to Day. Wensday September 13th. A strong wind and Sailing very fast all day and night. There has been several large fishes caught to day merely by a strong hook and a piece of white rag fastened to the hook and a Strong rope. They were cooked and were very good not much unlike Salmon. Thursday September 14th. Sailing faster to Day. Friday Septem 15th. Sailing at a good pace to day. Saturday Septem 16th. We Overtook a Vessel that had been six weeks coming from London bound for Port Adelaide. She is a very Slow Sailing Vessel. We soon got past her. Sunday September 17th. The Wind is very rough to day and a heavey Sea Sailing About 10 miles an hour and raining all day. Monday September 18th. Sailing at a middleing rate to day. Tuesday September 19th. In the Afternoon we saw 2 large Whales both together twas a buetiful sight to see them spirting the water into the air. Sailing Slowly today. Wensday September 20th. Sailing rather faster to day. In sight of one of the Cape de verd Islands. Thursday September 21st Sailing at a good pace to day. Friday September 22nd. Sailing at a good pace to day. Saturday September 23rd Sailing Slowly to day. Sunday September 24th. Sailing Slowly in the Morning but in the afternoon there was heavey rain and sailing faster. Monday Sepr 25th. Sailing at a good pace to day. Tuesday Sepr 26th to day there has been a many large Porpises playing about the head of the Vessell. Wensday Sepr 27th. Sailing at a good pace to day. Thursday Sepr 28th. The Same. Friday Sepr 29th . The Same. Saturday Sepr 30th the Same. Sunday October 1st. Sailing Slowly to day. Monday October 2nd. There has been a many large porpises near the head of the Vessell the Mate struck two of them in the Back with the harpoon one of them very bad when the last was struck they all disapered. Tuesday October 3rd. This Morning a little girl died at 5 Oclock and was buried at 12 Oclock on the day. Sailing at a good pace to day. Wensday October 4th. Another little girl died at 7 Oclock in the Morning and was buried at 4 Oclock in the Afternoon at night there was a many large Grampus[4] near the Vessell. Sailing rather Slower to day. Thursday October 5th. Sailing at a good pace to day. Friday October 6th. To day we have crossed the Line. To night there have been a good deal of Merryment with throughing water as it is a general custum at crossing the Line. We carried it on from about ½ past 7 till 10 Oclock almost all were wet to their Skin both Men and Women it was all done on Deck. Satury October 7th. Sailing at a good pace to day. Sunday October 8th. The Same. Monday October 9th The Same. Tuesday October 10th The Same. Wensday Octr 11th The Same. Thursday Octr 12th. Rough winds and rather Squally. Friday Oct 13th Rough winds and very Squally. Saturday Octr 14th Sailing Slowly to day. Sunday Octr 15th. Sailing at a good pace to day. Monday Octr 16 The Same. Tuesday October 17 The Same. Wensday October 18 The Same. Thursd Octr 19th The Same. Friday Octr 20 Sailing at a very good pace to day. About 6 Oclock P.M. There was a heavy Puff of wind which sent the Vessell upon her beamends but she was soon recovered again. Saturday Octr 21st. We have now got into the Cape Weather it is very rough and heavey Sea the waves almost every 2 or 3 minutes coming over the bulwarks on to the Deck. This Morning we came in sight of a Ship but the Wind being so rough we could not speak to them. Sunday Octr 22 To day there are many Cape pigeons and Cape hens flying about some of them[5]are all black and some are black and white[6], the latter are very pretty. Monday Octr 23 About 9 Oclock A.M. The Vessell struck on a sand bank which shaked the Ship very bad and it caused a curious sensation throughout the Ship, but as she was going at a good pace it did not stop her. Tuesday Oct 24th. Sailing at a good pace to day. Wensday Octr 25th The Same. Thursday Octr 26th The Same. Friday Octr 27th The Sea is Calm to day and very little wind so we are sailing slowly to day. Saturday Octr 28th The Sea being calm a line was put out at the stern of the Vessell with a hook bated with a piece of Pork to caught Cape Hens. A bird took the bate and was hauled into Vessell. It was larger than a full grown goose it was Measured across the wings and was 6 feet 8 inches it was webfooted and its feathers were very thick it did not seem at all frighted at being caught when it was hauled up it was followed up to the Stern by all its other Companions it was killed and eat and was very good. Sunday Octr 29th. Sailing at a good pace to day. Monday Oct 30th. The Same. Tuesy Oct 30th. There has been 4 Cape Peigens caught this Morning the Sea being Calm. We are in sight of 2 Vessells one ahead of us and one astern the one ahead of us we have been in sight of for 2 or 3 days now and then the Breese has freshened again about 7 Oclock and are sailing at a good pace still in sight of the Vessells. Wensday November 1st To day there is a very heavy Sea, and have lost sight of both Vessells. Thursday November 2nd. Sailing at a good pace to day. Friday Nover 3rd This morning there is a Vessell ahead of us and about 12 Oclock we began to Signalise her her name is Sarah Ann Wallace from Liverpool and we have been 4 days longer out at Sea than them in the Afternoon we passed her and we came in sight of another Vessell. Saturday November 4th Very heavey Sea to day and a rough wind. About 6 P.M. Oclock we saw 2 large Whales not many yards from the Vessell. Sunday November 5th. We are in sight of a Vessell by the side of us going the same road as us but at night She got Ahead of us and got out of sight. Monday Novemr 7th Another Child died this Morning and at Sunset was slung into the deep. Wensday November 8th. Sailing at a good pace in the Morning but in the Afternoon and night the sea was very Calm. Thursday November 9th Sailing at a good pace to day. Friday November 10th Nothing remarkable not till Wensday November 13. To day there has been a large Albatross caught with a line put out at the stern bated with a piece of pork it was measured across the wings was 10 feet 6 inch. Thursday November 16th today there has been 4 large Albatross caught today there has been 9 large hooks broken the Albatross one that was hauled up very near the Vessell and it broke the hook and got off and it was so very much fatigued it sunk in the water and was drowned. Friday November 17th--- Saturday November 18th --- Sunday Novembr 19 --- Monday November 20th to day the Sea is very Calm and we are not sailing above 2 miles to the hour. Tuesday November 21 the Sea being Calm we are Sailing very Slow. Wensday November 22 The breeze has freshened up to day and we are sailing very well. Another Albatross has ben caught this day. Thursday November 23rd. Sailing at a good pace to day. Friday Novr 24 Sailing at a good pace to day. Saturday Nover 25th The Same--- Sunday December 4th Another Child died this Morning and was buried at 4 Oclock. Monday December 5th. To day about 5 Oclock we entered the Straits with a fair wind. To day we have had a very heavy Sea and about 6 Oclock P.M. we had a very heavey Sea gale of Wind and had a Thunder Storm. The Sea rooling almost Mountains high. Tuesday December 6th This Morning we were Surraunded by large and Small Islands or Rocks there were 7 of them. Several of them we passed within about 50 yards it was a bueitiful sight to see them. About 10 Oclock we lost sight of them and came in sight of another Island called hog Island lost sight of it about 11 Oclock a very heavy sea to day. Sailing at a good pace to day. Wensday Decr 7 To day we are sailing along the Australian Coast called Long Beach this morning we saw the Masts of a Ship but lost sight of it again it being a misty day. Thursday Decr 8th. To day we came in sight of Twofold Bay Lighthouse about 3 Oclock we entered the Bay at 4 Oclock and a pilot came on Board and we droped Anchor about 5 Oclock and we were soon surrounded by small Boats full of men to look at us. Wensday December 14th Landed at Eden at Twofold Bay. Stoped at Eden all day and Night and started with the bullock drays for Maneroo[7] we Travelled 14 Miles and stopt at Pambula for the Night.

The family arrived in Eden, Twofold Bay, New South Wales on 8 Dec 1848 and proceeded to Menare to take up land at Nimmitabel. The family became one of the pioneering families in the Australian district of Monaro, New South Wales. Their house at Mole Station is picture right.

Joseph Tivey (below), diary writer and son of Samuel and Phoebe moved away from the family home in the 1850s and joined the hunt for gold in the state of Victoria. He married Tasmanian, Margaret Hayes, and set up as a shopkeeper and victualler in Brooke Street, Inglewood, selling food and drink to the gold prospectors. The business soon blossomed and Joseph became quite wealthy, settling in the town where he brought up a reputed 14 children (I have so far only found records for 10 of them). In 1879 he purchased three plots of land in Inglewood, and hired a local builder named William Garland to build him a property which would accommodate his large family. The house, which cost a total of £1300 to build still stands today and, in 2006, The Inglewood and District Historical Society erected a Blue Plaque outside the Tivey Mansion on Verdon Street, Inglewood:

TIVEYS HOUSE 'NIMMITABEL'. After having purchased three allotments of land in 1879, Joseph Tivey contracted local builder W, Garland to build this fine home in 1881 at a cost of £1300. the house was built with thirteen rooms to accomodate the fourteen Tivey children and had a lavish and extensive garden. Joseph was the proprietor of a general merchandis and liquor store in Brooke Street. Following his death the house was occupied by his son, Sam Tivey.

Joseph was a Justice of the Peace in his later years and was also Mayor of the Borough of Inglewood on several occasions. Sadly, Joseph committed suicide when he lost quite a lot of his fortune on land deals. The Argus of Thursday, 22 June 1893 reported:

THE SUPPOSED SUICIDE AT INGLEWOOD, DISCOVERY OF MR. TIVEY'S BODY.
Inglewood, Wednesday. All doubts as to the cause of the disappearance of Mr Joseph Tivey, which was noticed in The Argus of this morning, were set as rest today, by the discovery of his body in the Columbian dam. Numbers of towns-people were out searching the scribe last night by means of lanterns until a late hour and the search was resumed at daybreak this morning. It was not, however, until the close upon 11 o'clock that the hat of the missing gentleman was discovered floating in the dam. A shooting punt was obtained from town, and Thomas Healy commenced to drag the dam, but without result. Attention was then called to a peculiar object in the centre of the dam, and upon investigation it was found that this was the crown of the head, the body being apparently in an upright position in from 5ft to 6ft of water. The body was quickly brought to the bank, and removed to the deceased residence. A Coroner's inquest will be held tomorrow.
The deceased carried on a very large business as a general storekeeper and wine and spirit merchant, in conjunction with three of his sons. He leaves two other sons besides a widow and three daughters. The deceased was always looked upon as exceedingly well off financially, and he undoubtedly was so, but he lost heavily by land and in connection with different financial and other ventures, though not to such an extent as to financially cripple him. He had been in weak health lately, and suffered from sleeplessness. He was a justice of the peace and a borough councillor, and was several times mayor of the borough. The flags in the town have been flying half mast all the afternoon.

Joseph left quite a legacy despite his failing stock with newspaper’s reporting his estate was valued at £15,477.

Joseph’s youngest son, Edwin, was born 1866 in Inglewood and as a youngster he helped out in his father’s shop. He was educated at All Saints Grammar School, St Kilda, and at Wesley College, Melbourne. He chose not to go to university, instead opting to return home and study while working to eventually become an accountant; and later joining the military becoming lieutenant in the Inglewood detachment of the Victorian Rangers in 1889. He was soon promoted to captain in 1891. In 1894, Edwin was elected to the Inglewood District Council where he served for 5 years.

In 1900, Edwin served in the Boer War in South Africa as a captain in the Victorian 4th (Imperial) Contingent. His regiment was involved in many operations and he was mentioned in dispatches on several occasions. Edwin was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for leading forty troops on a forced march to Philipstown in February 1901. His men drove back over 300 opponents, occupied the adjacent kopjes and held them there until reinforcements arrived.

After the war he returned to his hometown of Inglewood becoming a member of the Melbourne Stock Exchange in 1906 dealing in stocks and shares, he then married a Melbourne native, Annie Bird Robb, and two children Violet and Edwin Peter naturally followed. By this time Edwin was captain of the new 9th Light Horse Regiment of the Victorian militia and in 1906 he was appointed brigade major of the Victorian 3rd Light Horse Brigade becoming the regiment’s commander in 1911. He received the Volunteer Officer’s Decoration in 1910.

During World War 1, Edwin was appointed temporary brigadier general and, in 1916, he and his regiment were involved in the Battle of Fromelles. He continued to fight on the Western Front until the war ended in 1918, despite being wounded in action in 1916. He was apparently renowned among his men for his sincerity and concern over their well being and, in December 1916, his unit was responsible for the Suez Canal defences where his men were dubbed “Chocolate Soldiers” because they marched for two days through heat and sand to reach their destination. The Brigade was then fondly known as “Tivey’s Chocs”.

He temporarily commanded the Australian 5th division and was again wounded in Westhoek Ridge, Belgium, as well as suffering from a gas attack in May 1918. He was mentioned in dispatches six times during the war and appointed CB in 1917. In August 1918, in the great ally offensive his brigade captured over 800 prisoners and over 80 machine-guns and in 1919 he was awarded a Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George (CMG) – an award used to honour individuals who have rendered important services in relation to Commonwealth or foreign nations.

Between 1921 and 1926 he commanded the 2nd Cavalry Division of the Citizen Military Forces, later returning to his stockbroker role and residing in Toorak a suburb of Melbourne, Australia. There are several streets in Melbourne named after the gallant General Tivey. He died in his 81st year at the family’s small mansion in Toorak, reputedly leaving over £75,000 to his spinster daughter Violet. Sadly his only son Edwin Peter – a war hero in his own right – died in Italy in 1943 after being captured.

And so we end the Tivey family’s journey from humble beginnings of stocking makers in the market town of Melbourne, Derbyshire to rich pickings and tales of military honour of the family members who settled in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

Researched and written by Janet A Tivey (Member 1146), admin@tiveyfamilytree.com

Thanks to Monaro Pioneers, The Argus (Newspaper, Victoria), State Library of New South Wales, Roger C. Thompson (for information on Edwin’s Military Career). www.tiveyfamilytree.com