S is for Stonemason

Stonemasons prepare stone to construct specific structures. These structures may be buildings, monuments and also headstones.

Robert Jennings was a stonemason, born in 1815 in Ormby Lancashire, son of Robert Jennings 1786-1843 and Ellen nee Cook. In 1838, Robert married Eliza Wright, daughter of John Wright and Mary Ann Shaw, at the Parish Church, Manchester.  It reveals that Robert was Stonemason at the time of  his marriage and his father, also named Robert, was a mason.

Robert and Eliza Jennings marriage certificate 1838.

Robert arrived as an Assisted Immigrant with his wife, Eliza nee Wright, on the 'Ayrshire'  in 1841. He was listed as a stonemason. His two young sons, Edward and William were also onboard. 

He was listed as stonemason in 1858 but the following year he was listed as a Gold digger with goldrush happening in Araluen. You can read more about that here.

It is not known what sort of stonemason he was but it appears there is one example, presumedly carved by Robert, in the Mortis Street Cemetery in Goulburn. There are a few mentions of Jennings interest in land in the Goulburn district in the 1850s and 1860s. At the time he was living in the Araluen area.

Headstone showing Jennings as the stonemason.

Robert died 27 January 1885 but his death certificate still recorded him as a stonemason. His will records he was a farmer.

Robert's father Robert died in England in 1843, while his older brother Cooke, died in 1892 in Portland Victoria. Both his father and brother, were stonemasons.

This is my contribution to the Blogging from A to Z Challenge (#AtoZChallenge)

R is for Railway Employee

John Allen Belshaw was employed by the NSW Railways as a truck examiner, when he was accidentally killed in a terrible workplace accident, 17,000kms from his place of birth. 

       John Belshaw's death certificate, 1902

A truck examiner inspected the rolling stock in the railway yards, to make sure it was operational. Tragedy struck when John was killed, aged 45, on the 29 August 1902. He was run over by a locomotive at the Redfern Railway Station and died of his terrible injuries. The Sydney Morning Herald newspaper reported at the time of his death:

The City Coroner…at the inquest on Saturday morning concerning the death of John Allen Belshaw, a truck examiner, who was run over by a locomotive at the Redfern Railway station on the preceding day. Evidence was given to the effect that on Friday morning, deceased was the line behind two cars, when an engine came out from one of the platforms. Someone called out and  deceased looked round, seemed to hesitate and was immediately knocked down and run over. The fireman of the engine stated that when deceased was first seen he was only a yard or two from the buffers. The whistle was blown and the brakes applied, the engine being brought up by its own length. A verdict of accidental death was returned.

An Inquest was held at the Lloyd’s Hotel the following day and the Coroner was  J. C. Woore. The Daily Telegraph article was a little more revealing. It stated that the “shocking fatality” happened about 8am and that the body was “fearfully mangled.” It also reported that Belshaw was “picked up in a terrible condition, his head being badly smashed and his right thigh crushed. The Civil Ambulance Brigade was summoned and the man removed to the Sydney Hospital where Dr. Webb pronounced life extinct.”  Belshaw was employed at the Darling Harbour yards. At the time of the accident the Belshaw family were residing at Prospect Street in Surry Hills & Roger was only four years old. 

There are over 50 accounts of John's accident published in the newspapers all over the country.

    The Daily Telegraph 30 August 1902 p. 10

Life would have been tough for Georgina and one wonders if the family received any compensation.

John's story ended a long way from his original home. Born in Magheralen a small village in Northern Ireland in 1856, he was the son of William Belshaw and Jane Allen. He married Georgina Ferguson/Hill in 1882 and the couple had four children. During this early period, John was noted as a farmer.

Sometime following their marriage, John and Georgina migrated to Australia. They travelled in 1888 on the steamer 'Orient' via Adelaide arriving in Sydney in 1889. Their youngest child, at the time, Jane Allen Belshaw, died at sea, she was only eight months old.

The family settled in Sydney, first living in Bondi and then mostly in the vicinity of Redfern and Surry Hills. Several more children were born to John and Georgina in Sydney, Muriel was born in 1890, at the time, John was recorded as a general labourer living in Chester Street Redfern but by 1898 he was recorded as an Examiner of Railway Trucks, when his last child, Roger was born.

At the time 1902 the family were living at 7 Prospect Street, Surry Hills. 

This is my contribution to the Blogging from A to Z Challenge (#AtoZChallenge)

P is for Paperhanger

Albert Bonney was recorded as a paperhanger when he passed away in 1916.

Albert John Bonney was born in Norwood in South Australia in 1857 to William Bonney and Joanna nee Powell. In 1880, Albert married Johanna Taylor in Adelaide. At that time his occupation was listed as 'painter'.

Bonney marriage certificate 1880

The couple had several children but only my great grandmother Lillian, born in 1882, survived childhood.  The Bonney family was burdened with personal tragedy, including the untimely death of Johanna in 1889 with Albert being charged with the murder. The event was known as the Bonney Case. Albert was eventually acquitted but the scars remained for both father and daughter. 

Throughout his life, Albert was recorded as a painter and paperhanger. Often people performed both jobs, usually painting interiors, as well as hanging wallpaper. In some cases paperhangers hung the paper and finished off the room by painting the architraves and ceilings. 

In late November 1916, Albert was admitted to Adelaide Hospital. Two weeks later, he passed away on  10 December 1916 and was recorded as a paperhanger.

Albert Bonney's death certificate 1916.

This is my contribution to the Blogging from A to Z Challenge (#AtoZChallenge)

O is for Oil Colourman

Ernest Nichols was my great grandfather. Born in London in 1875, he migrated to Australia after his marriage in 1910.

As a young man, he was recorded in 1891 the Census. It records the Nichols family as living at 5 Hutton Grove, in Finchley. The family were recorded as William aged 42, Sgt Metropolitan Police; Jane aged 47; William aged 20 and John aged 19 both single and employed as clerks. Ellen aged 17, Ernest aged 16 employed as a Colour Oilman's Assistant, Jane aged 14 and Wilfred aged 11 a scholar and obviously still at school.  

1891 Census [PRO RG12/1057]

From what I can find, an Oil Colour Man was someone who manufactured paint, mixing the required colours. 

Not long after the Census, Ern went into the Bakery trade, and by the next census in 1901, he is listed a baker and bread maker. You can read more about that here.

N is for Nanna

Florence Muriel Leach was my mother's mother, my grandmother. Her grandchildren, all ten of us, fondly called her Nanna.

Born in 1910 in Sydney, Her parents were Robert Belshaw and Florence Amelia nee Ponting and she grew up in a happy environment.  One of eight children, her eldest sister Doris died from complications of appendicitis in 1915 when Flo was just five. Years later she lost her beloved baby brother 'Artie'  

Fave photo of Bill and Flo when they were first courting

Known as 'Florrie' and 'Flo' she married John William ‘Bill’ Leach a labourer, in 1933 after a quick courtship. Bill had a motorbike and Flo's father was originally not happy with the relationship but that changed after the marriage. The above snap was taken when they first started seeing each other. He was a bit sentimental, and carried this photo for many years in his wallet. They lived in Alexandria until they purchased land along the railway line in Edwards Street Riverstone and built their modest home. The couple had three children Joyce Mary, Fay Cecile and John William Robert. 

Flo with her eldest daughter Joyce, my mother in 1933.

It was always fun to visit Nan and Pop's place. Nanna always had lollies on hand. She had a record-player with kids records, which was a treat. She had a hearty laugh, was fun to be around, and was very very kind to her grandkids. My sisters and I often stayed on the weekends and holidays, we found it very unusual to have our tea at 4.30-5pm, however we were allowed out to play again afterwards. My two cousins and their parents, lived with my grandparents during the 1960s, so there was always something always happening. 

The house was situated along the rail line and had views across the meatworks paddocks. We didn't venture much into the front yard but played mainly in the backyard or in my cousins above ground pool.  My grandparents downsized in the early 1970s, moving to a small house in Grace Ave Riverstone. This was a great location as it was only 50m across the road from us. My cousins moved into a house in Riverstone.

During the 1970s, I began my interest in family history. Both my Nanna and Pop shared lots of photographs, documents and of cause, stories. I loved listening to these and was always over their place asking questions!!!

Nanna centre with her two sisters, Edna left and Lily right, 1977.

Sadly Flo died in 1979, she was only 69, which is young when I think about it now. She is buried at the Rouse Hill Lawn Cemetery with husband Bill, who died in 1981.

This is my contribution to the Blogging from A to Z Challenge (#AtoZChallenge)

M is for Mechanic

The letter M was easy. M stands for mechanic. Both my father and grandfather, plus my uncle, were mechanics.

William Robert Nichols was born in London in 1903 and migrated to Australia with his parents, as a young boy, eventually settling in Richmond NSW. Known as 'Bill' - he was apprenticed to Wally Heap who was an Auto Mechanic in Richmond, after he left school. When he finished his apprenticeship, he continued his studies, by completing correspondence courses.

Bill's certificate for Petrol Motors, 1921

Bill became interested in the potential of Riverstone and leased an old stable building opposite present Post Office in Garfield  Road and established a motor repair shop. In about 1927 he moved to a workshop partly occupied by Harry Williams a blacksmith, corner of Garfield Road and Carlton Streets besides Riverstone Park. He worked long hours and built his business and established the first purpose built garage, Nichols Service Station in Garfield Street in Riverstone, opening in 1935 the moved the business further up Garfield Road, opposite the Uniting Church. Read more about the Service Station here. Early on, Bill also drove hire cars, but that is another story. 

Bill’s eldest son, Geoff (born 1930) started work at the garage and then commenced his apprenticeship in 1946. As part of his training he attended Ultimo Tech. Geoff later worked at the Hunt Bros Ford Dealership in Parramatta.  

My father Ern (born 1932) named after his Grandfather, commenced in the workshop in 1947 with a pay of £1 per week. The following year he began his apprenticeship and attended Granville Tech, a mechanic’s apprentice at this time was over a period of 5 years. His apprentice pay increased to £1-7-6 per week. Working conditions were fairly basic in those days and Ern remembered having to do repairs under cars on shale and ash covered yards. 

L to R: Bill with Geoff, his father Ern and son Ern

Bill's father Ern, was a Baker by trade. When Bill had to serve World War 2, he managed the business, selling petrol and doing small jobs, to keep the business afloat for his son. The above image shows three generations working in the late 1940s.

Following the passing of Bill in 1958, Ern managed the service station. Geoff returned in the 1960s and the business expanded and continued in the family until 1986, when it was sold and the two brothers retired.

Nichols Service Station expanded opening larger premises in 1974

This is my contribution to the Blogging from A to Z Challenge (#AtoZChallenge)

L is for Librarian

I could not find any occupations starting with L, so I decided to be a bit creative. I thought I might like to be history teacher when I left school but my life went down a different path and I gravitated towards working in a library.

My own occupation starts with L and over the past 45 years, has had many versions of Library Assistant, Library Officer and for the past 30 or so years has been Local History Librarian.

Working in a Library has changed over the last 4 decades but fundamentally stayed the same. Customers, reading, writing, listening and watching have stayed the same, but how we do things is vastly different.

When I first started, everything was done manually. Every book had a card, which had to removed when someone wanted to borrow, their membership was handwritten on the card and at the end of the day, all of these cards were put in order.  The average price of a book purchased by the Library was $9.72 for hardbacks and $2.24 for paperbacks. Membership cards, overdue & reservation notices was were all typed up on a typewriter and the catalogue searching through hundreds of cards in drawers.

Card catalogue drawers bring back memories. Photo: M. Nichols.

In 1984 our library joined the Australian Bibliographic Network and we began entering our holdings on a computer to the National Library of Australia. In the following two years our service was computerised. The card catalogue removed and replaced with public access computers (OPACS) to access the collection and new smaller style borrower's cards issued. The first public PC (an Apple IIE) was introduced for use by the public in 1988. Technology in libraries had begun. 

Who would have thought, when I started work in the 1980s, we would be reading or listening to books via online platforms on our phone or tablets? Today the average price of a book purchased by the Library is about $50 for hardbacks and $25 for trade paperbacks.

Family history in those days involved accessing pamphlet files, microfiche and microfilm. These days we still have the pamphlet files and some fiche and film but the majority of the searching is done online. We have more access to original documents online, digitised with more and more collections such as photographs and manuscripts  Research in some ways, is more thorough as more and more material becomes available online, but I think those people who have been researching for pre-2000s have more appreciation of where we are today.

Over the years, libraries have been reinventing themselves, and continue to play an important role in my life, as well as many others. Where else could I combine my passion for reading and history, in the one occupation?

This is my contribution to the Blogging from A to Z Challenge (#AtoZChallenge)