______________________
|
_Ernest Holmes BALDWIN _|
| m 1956 |
| |______________________
|
|
|--Daniel Ernest BALDWIN
|
| _Harold Edgar BIENKE _+
| | m 1930
|_Thea Margaret BIENKE __|
m 1956 |
|_Dorothy May LUXTON __
m 1930
[1326] living - details excluded
_Charles Victor CAFE _____+
| (1884 - 1957) m 1911
_Ronald Nicholas CAFE _|
| m 1935 |
| |_Alice Catherine NICOLAS _
| (.... - 1949) m 1911
|
|--Geoffrey Ronald CAFE
|
| __________________________
| |
|_Edna Olive HOPF ______|
(1912 - 1983) m 1935 |
|__________________________
[1762] living - details excluded
_________________________
|
_Leslie Francis LOCKWOOD _|
| |
| |_________________________
|
|
|--Peter Raymond LOCKWOOD
|
| _Clarence Rowe MEDHURST _+
| | (1907 - 1977)
|_Daphne Loreen MEDHURST __|
|
|_Muriel Dorothy MERRICK _
_Joshua James MEDHURST ___+
| (1872 - 1929) m 1893
_Jonas Robert MEDHURST _|
| (1893 - 1955) m 1928 |
| |_Ada Martha MERRICK ______
| (1874 - 1960) m 1893
|
|--Gordon Barry MEDHURST
| (1941 - 1941)
| _Jonathon James MEDHURST _+
| | (1860 - 1938) m 1888
|_Dot Isamene MEDHURST __|
(1910 - 1985) m 1928 |
|_Eliza CAFE ______________+
(1873 - 1938) m 1888
[520] Death Reg No.17646/1941
[519] died after 5 weeks
[517]
[S14]
Alan Murphy =email 6 Sept 2001
_John MEDHURST _____________
| (.... - 1838) m 1799
_John MEDHURST ______|
| (.... - 1887) m 1833|
| |_Elizabeth Rawlings PIGGOT _
| (.... - 1852) m 1799
|
|--John MEDHURST
| (1832 - 1905)
| _William SHAW ______________
| | (.... - 1815) m 1796
|_Catherine SHAW _____|
(1799 - 1894) m 1833|
|_Catherine NEAL ____________
(.... - 1813) m 1796
[65]
A MEDHURST STORY.
John and Sarah Ann Medhurst's Children
By Jean Sykes
From Medhurst Pioneers family History
Pioneers and Settlers at Greigs Creek, nowdays known as Martindale Creek, via Denman, N.S.W. in the Hunter Valley district, came about in 1882.
After leaving their parent's selection on the Howes Valley, Putty Area, taking with them, horses and stock during a disastrous drought in their home area.
The venture taken was the only means left to them to save their stock from starvation, hopefully to keep them alive, feeding them tree loppings as fodder, and hunting animals for pelts or scalps. Shrubs were also plentiful and water could be to hand at the bottom of steep descents to the valleys or creeks below. Spring water also proved to an asset to both man and beast.
Jonothon, Walter, Laban and George had ventured forth through these rugged mountains of the Greigs Creek area, previously hunting animals. The sale of pelts, crows heads, dingo scalps brought a welcome bonus from the Government. The pelts were tanned by the Wattle Bark Method, dingo scalps at one shilling each, crows heads at six pence each, sold at Maitland Markets. Other settlers from Putty and Howes Valley often accompanied them on these hunting trips, adding the extra money to their meagre livelyhood, from their parents selections too.
The drought continued and these four young men, seeking more feed and water drove their stock further afield than usual, finding the hills more rugged and steep, ledges of high sandstone cliffs impossible for one to descend to the rugged valley below, and having to return to their former tracks for their stock to follow. On many such occasions both men and stock found they were in difficulty, choosing to descend on foot, the men had already been unhorsed by vines and low hanging limbs. Much of their time, strength and horse-power wasted as they found they were stranded once more on sheer rocky ledges, instead of the much needed grassy bed below. Water was also badly needed on these hot days, and most essential for the stock on dry feed.
On finding a creek with running water fed by underground springs, the stock were rested, and a rough camp set up. It was then that some of the men should do some scouting for further stock feed before moving their stock on. Thus it was decided that Laban and John should follow the creek in a Northern direction, using their saddle horses and leading a pack horse. Walter and George would stay at the camp till they returned.
Leaving the camp site early next morning, following the direction agreed upon, Laban and John, after two hours of riding through heavily timbered virgin country, often having to dismount and lead the horses around or over huge creek boulders and stony beds of the creek, it flowed on and to their delight becoming quite deep in places. To John and Laban it proved to be an oasis beyond their expectations. Finally this creek, now known as Cowpailour, and a tributory of Black Creek flowed into Greigs Creek in a Northern direction. Greigs Creek was named after John Greig, the original Government Grantee of this parcel of land surrounding the area. John Greig was later killed by the Aborigines. However history has it that he brought about his demise by his own cruel actions towards these tribes.
The source of Greigs Creek is the Munundilla Ranges situated in a Southerly direction from Denman. "Munundilla" means "like a canoe" in the Aboriginee language, this district was inhabited by the Kamalori tribe. Munundilla is reported to be the second highest range from sea-level at 4,000 feet.
Edward and James White had purchased 20,000 acres of land from Bettington Bros., who had bought the land from the original grantee Reverend Wilkinson. White Brothers moved to the district soon after purchasing this land. The first homestead was built in the early part of the 19th Century, other additions were added later. The called their property "Martindale" after their parent's home in England. Later the Whites' employees and new settlers renamed the creek "Martindale", however the local maps still have the name of Greigs Creek. The rich, picturesque valley surounding the properties with well timbered slopes and high mountains with scenic views and sandstone rocks and caves add to the beauty of the cascading creek to the Hunter River, near Denman. However in the year 1882 the arrival of the four Medhurst brothers to Upper Greigs Creek, the history of Martindale was unknown to them, they had found new selections and intended to stay put. This was no "pipe dream" to them.
John and Laban returned to Howes Valley to their parent's selection with the good news, Walter and George moved the stock to their new oasis.
The long trip to Parramatta Lands Department by horseback, via the New Windsor Road, built by convicts, was a tiresome long journey, even to such hardy men as the Medhursts. The trip undertaken proved to be most benificial and worth their while as they learned a lot about grant selection etc. Governor Bourke had passed an Act in 1825 that for £10 per annum, one of good character and a law abiding citizen, one could squat on a parcel of land not already granted to another. They also learned they had neighbours, the White Brothers a distance of eight miles from their intended selection which would be 25 miles to the nearest village of Merton.
Other families from Howes Valley and Putty made arrangements to select near the Medhursts at Upper Greigs Creek.
A track through the rugged hills for a bullock waggon to follow was made and humble abodes built from local timber, stringy bark and clay, soon came into being. All had creek frontages and water was plentiful for their needs. It was noe only a two day ride by horseback, leading a pack-horse to putty and Howes Valley.
After the selections were occupied, they often had visits from the Kamalorie tribe on their "walk abouts", They proved to be unoffensive, inquisitive and a humourous race. They would watch the settlers ploughing, felling trees, carting water by aid of bullock power. Many caves, primitive stone pools, drawings, stone carvings are still to be seen in the area, proof of the Aboriginees existance. Charcoal, red, yellow and white Ochre were used for the drawings within the sandstone caves.
The White Brothers did not welcome the new arrivals. When they learned of the arrival of the settlers, they offered them money to move out again, However having spent many hours of hard labour to build a track and abodes for their families, they like many other pioneers decided to "give it a go" and stay put.
The Medhurst men were still single, they occasionally had a visit from their mother, Sarah Ann, bringing with her, her youngest son Clarence. He later decided to move in with his brothers. Rohan and Azel Medhurst had left their parent's selection at Howes Valley to drive bullock teams in the cedar forests in Queensland. Edward, Jonathon and Josua stayed at Putty on their selections.
It was in 1905 that their father John Medhurst passed away and is buried in Boggy Swamp Cemetry. His wife, Sarah Ann, with their daughter, Ada, moved to Greigs Creek to live permanantly with her four sons, bringing with her many fruit trees, limes. lemons, stone fruit, quinces and pommergranites. Many of these trees still bear fruit today in 1988 at or around their first selection.
Sarah Ann became a midwife or nurse to the Pioneers' wives as well as to the employees at the White Brothers Martindale Station. She was a small energetic loveable person known to all as Granny Medhurst.
The settlers existed by growing grain and reaping it by a sickle, then taking it by bullock waggon to Merriwa flour mills, the surplus sold. They also sold Cattle, pigs, poultry, hides and pelts, which were tanned by wattle bark method, as well as bullock yokes, plaited green hide whip falls. The women folk worked with their menfolk as well as stripping and drying cabbage-tree leaves to make hats from, crochet sashes were added for variety, a good market was to be found at Singleton or Maitland for the last mentioned Items.
[66]
Dr.Greigson was the first Doctor to Denman about 1909, the nearest hospital was at Muswellbrook, a long tiresome trip for a patient to endure by horse drawn vehicles from Upper Creigs Creek. Granny Medghurst was alway called upon to accompany the patient, this she did without hesitation, till her death in 1911, at the age of 73 years. She is buried in the Curch of England Cemetery, Denman.
In 1885 Laban married Emily Wells at St. Martins Church of England, Denman. There were three children to this union, all born at Howes Valley, the mid-wife was Mrs. Jackson. Names of the children were Litoria May, Leila Maud and Hosea Ferdinard.
Litoria May is the writer, Jean Sykes, mother.
Laban and Emily's first selection was situated on another tributory of Greigs Creek called Glen Gallic.
Walter married Emily's sister, Sarah, They both were daughters of another Creigs Creek settler from Howes Valley, Putty district. They moved to another selection called "Quince Trees". They were also married in 1885 at the same church in Denman by Rev. Mills. To this union there were eight sons and four daughters, two of the daughters passed away whilst living at the "Quince Trees", namely Gertrude aged 19 years from scarlet fever and Albertina aged 4 years from eating green fruit fallen from a tree after a bush fire had scorched same. Both died at Muswelbrook Hospital and are buried in the Anglican Cemetery, Denman.
John still single, left the selection to work as the White Bros., axeman and sawyer, he built the first stockyards there and they were still in use in 1956. He later moved to the North Coast, Married Marie Eleanor Neal, they returned to Martindale to live at "The Lakes". The had a family of eight children, two infants passed away during their stay at The Lakes and are buried there. The sorrowing family then returned to "Bottle Creek" near Casino, and lived there on their property untill John's demise. Mary Eleanor then moved to Casino to live with an unmarried son until her death. She is buried near her husband in the Church of England Cemetery, Old Casino.
Laban and Walter worked on the Pikes Gap, near Denman and the railway line from Muswellbrook to Denman. After these jobs were completed they purchased a parcel of land from the White Bros., the creek separating the two properties. Laban caled his new acreage "Homedale" and Walter his "Springdale". These properties are still known by these names, both men commenced dairying and growing lucerne.
The Medhursts were well known for their skill with horses and bred many trotters, they were also good atheletes, foot runners and high jumpers were their speciality. Cricket matches were played once a month by the settlers and White employees, both keen on the game. George, John and Laban played musical instruments, Gran Medhurst played the Zither. Many house parties were held, also Euchre and five hundred card games played by the light of fat lamps and candles.
Church services were held at Homedale for many years by Rev. Mills or the district Curate, Marriages and Baptisims also till the local Church Hall called St. Martins was built in 1925, about 8 miles from Homedale.
The Medhurst family had received an education from their Grandfather, Joh, and also their father John, they both had been lay-readers at Wollombi and Howes Valley/Putty Districts. The family had been blessed with Biblical names, but in their teenage years they had nicknames, certainly not authorised by their parents. For instance Laban became "Bob" and Jonathon was named "Jim".
By 1900 George and his mother, Sarah Ann, had vacated their original lease and purchased a large area of land from White Bros. They commenced to dairy, and breed horses for the Indian Army. Cream from the milk was delivered to the Denman Butter Factory, situated on the bank of the Hunter River. George was responsible for building the first Sale Yards and Butcher Shop in Denman, he also owned the first "T model Ford, Cylinder Phonagraph and batteries and was a wealthy man.
Laban became a Church Warden for St. Martins, and one of the first Directors of the Denman Butter Factory. All the brothers took a keen interest in the betterment of Martindale. Laban was 18 years of age when he first arrived at Greigs Creek and lived in the same district till his death at 86 years of age. A few days before his death he was capable of mustering stock and working on the farm, he had endured a full and healthy life. Emily his wife passed away at 73 years of age.
Unfortunately I never met my Great Uncle or Aunt, but knew them all by name, however, when the Medhurst Story Book is on sale, Iam looking forward to reading their relative life stories. From John's arrival in Hobart (Sydney ?) in 1825 their "Epitaph" should read "We Sowed and They Reaped". My mother Litoria May was widowed at the age of 26 years, my father was killed at the war 1916 and she sure had inherited the courage and determination from her pioneering parents when she was left with three infant daughters to rear alone.
I now live a mile from the Medhurst's first selection, the country is cleared now, modern machinery is doing the work that the bullocks and horses were used for. The hill, mountains and rock formations are the same, the pioneering spirit has gone. There is one other reletive living at Martindale, Mrs Valerie Myers - nee Medhurst, grand-daughter of Walter and Sarah Medhurst.
A bridge errected and named after the Medhurst Pioneers many years ago was burned down by bush fire, this is now being rebuilt, bigger and better than ever.
Iam only sorry not one member of the pioneering Martindale/Medhursts died without recording the history of their trip from Howes Valley to Greigs Creek, and watching the town and district expand. We as citizens should encourage the senior citizens to contibute their knowledge of life as they experienced it for future generations to learn something of their past. Vaughan, the poet wrote, "Oh' how I long to travel back and tread again that ancient track."
Let us recall, hoof beaten tracks of their yesteryears, humble old dwellings, the only carpet they knew were provided by natures leaves and flowers from the trees, trodden on by weary feet, the prattle of kids romping around, sitting beneath the old pepper-corn trees in the shade, or carving innitials into the bark of big gum trees or sandstone rocks. Iam sorry it is beyond me to write in detail all the happenings my grandfather, Laban told me of his childhood days, the family togetherness, their arrival at Greigs Creek, the happiness and sadness they had to endure.
Iam proud to be one of their Grand-daughter. Jean Sykes
[63] Reg No.11170
[64] Boggy Swamp Private Cemetery Putty
[1877] by Banns.
_John MEDHURST ______+
| (.... - 1887) m 1833
_John MEDHURST ______|
| (1832 - 1905) m 1854|
| |_Catherine SHAW _____+
| (1799 - 1894) m 1833
|
|--John Jeremiah MEDHURST
| (1855 - 1933)
| _Jeremiah DIPLOCK ___
| | (.... - 1885) m 1831
|_Sarah Ann DIPLOCK __|
(1836 - 1911) m 1854|
|_Sarah PEPPERILL ____
(.... - 1860) m 1831
[93]
John Jeremiah Medhurst - Mary Eleanor Neal
John Jeremiah Medhurst married Mary Eleanor Neal at the age of 22 years.
As a small child Mary went with her parents to "Koreelah Station" and then to "Wooroowlagan Station", Casino, where her father was the manager.
Her father selected a portion of the station and ran his own cattle. He was killed at Beaudesert, Queensland, whilst driving a bullock wagon loaded with iron. The load shifted and rolled on top of him.
John Medhurst and Mary Neal were married on Woodenbong Station and went to live at Emu Vale for two years, later moving to Legume. The young couple, now with a child, then moved to Moree. The journey, of at least 200 miles, was made mostly on horseback with Mary carrying the baby on the horse infront of her. Sometimes she rode in the wagon, as she was an accomplished horse-women she prefered to ride on a horse.
At Moree, John contracted to draw wool from Moree to Narrabri. His wife often made the sixty mile, week long, journey with him. However when the weather was wet it would take much longer.
Their next move was to Muswellbrook, another journey of about 200 miles, and it was made in the same way and they now had two children. They would camp by the wayside at night and would pick up provisions whenever they came to a township. Although Bushrangers were known to be about, they never saw any, nor did they have any mishaps on these long treks.
At Muswellbrook, John took up a selection and stayed there for several years. Six children were born at Muswellbrook, two died in infancy and are buried on the property named "The Lakes". They later decided to return to the Clarence District.
John and Mary with family moved from Denman to the Coast. They travelled to Byron Bay and worked on a dairy farm owned by Mr. Junor and work was very hard. In 1910, John selected land at Bottle Creek. When Mr. Junor was aware of this, he gave them notice to leave. A horse team was hired to take all their possessions to Bottle Creek.
The family left Casino with three horses, a buggy, a few fowls, a dog and a cat. Five of the family travelled in the buggy drawn by one horse called "Dolly" and apart from this, John Medhurst had Fifty pounds £50 in cash.
On reaching the selection of 700 acres a space was cleared and the family lived in tents and a cook-house was built of stringy bark. John and his son Clarence obtained work fencing. The work was very hard for little money. Later on John and his sons cut timber, boards were sawn to build a three roomed house. More rooms and two verandahs were built on a few years later.
The property was called "Roxton" and consisted of good scrub to forest, the country was heavily timbered in both hard and soft woods.
John Medhurst had been a teamster for many years and was noted for the fact that he neither used a whip, raised his voice or swore at his bullocks. He hauled logs to Hewetson's Mill at Mallangee as well as the old Bonalbo Saw Mills. They moved sawn timber and other goods to and from various district localities. Dairying was commenced in 1911 when the Bonalbo Dairy Co-op was opened. Mary and some of the children milked up to seventy cows at a time by hand in bails ererected close to what is now Benton's Dipyard. Cream was worth five pence a pound. Life was busy and hard and Mary baked and sold bread to local timber cutters, surveyors and their chain men.
Neighbours were few. Ernie Campbell saw the need for an Accomodation house in Bonalbo and when it was built in 1911 he placed Ethel Medhurst in charge. Ernest Medhurst had become the Butter Maker at the Bonalbo Butter Factory, and was a permanent lodger.
Their eldest son, Clarence, enlisted in the A.I.F. soon after the outbreak of war in 1914. As a Corporal in the 26th Infantry Battalion, saw action at Gallipoli and is thought to have been the first Bonalbo man to be killed in action. He died at Pozierres, France in 1916 at the age of 23 years.
The younger members of the Medhurst family grew with Bonalbo. They recall the first village shop "Donnell's" built of slabs and packing cases, the first butcher shop, built of bark, a funeral on the banks of the Peacock Creek (no headstone marks the grave). The Bonalbo Hotel was built 1915 and the Bush-Nursing established and subsequently the Hospital.
Bill and Maude Medhurst, foundation pupils of Bonalbo School, walked four miles each day to attend school. When the scholl opened in 1913 they were among the first to enroll and later their younger sister Rachel joined them. John Medhurst eventually gave up his bullock team and ran fatteners (young cattle for the food markets).
He was born 1857 and his life terminated suddenly in 1933 and he is buried in the Old Casino Cemetery. Mary Medhurst and Bill moved to Bonalbo where Bill worked as a carpenter and builder until he joined the RAAF as an Aircraft Fitter during World War 2. When the war was over, he returned to the village where his mother died in 1946 at the age of 96 years. She is buried beside her husband in the Old Casino Cemetery.
In 1915 there was a very severe drought and the Medhurst's lost all their cattle except for just one calf and they almost lost their home by fire.
The site of the original house is marked by an immence Morton Bay Fig Tree close to the gully and in almost every season, memories of the garden still remains, roses, hippeastrum and carnations.
In the Anglican Church in bonalbo is an Organ, a gift from Mary Eleanor Medhurst in memory of her son Clarence, killed in World War 1. An ever burning lamp donated by the family of Mary Medhurst, and a candle stick in memory of William Medhurst, donated by his brothers and sisters, and in 1982/83 a chalice and paten was donated by the family of Rachel Farrell. Ernest George Medhurst died at Biloela, Queensland in 1984 aged 88 years. He is buried beside his wife who died at Biloela in 1977 age 77 years, in Biloela Lawn Cemetery.
Nowdays Roxton is owned by a Mr. Ramsey, Auctioneer.
Eileen Holder and Fred Medhurst.
[92] Casino Cemetery
_Jonathon James MEDHURST _+
| (1860 - 1938) m 1888
_Herbert Barwin MEDHURST _|
| (1899 - 1970) m 1918 |
| |_Eliza CAFE ______________+
| (1873 - 1938) m 1888
|
|--Mona May MEDHURST
|
| __________________________
| |
|_Edith May SIMPSON _______|
(.... - 1970) m 1918 |
|__________________________
[465] living - details excluded
_Hosea Ferdinard MEDHURST _+
| (1893 - 1946) m 1918
_Donald Clifford MEDHURST _|
| m 1941 |
| |_Pearl KIRK _______________
| (1890 - 1968) m 1918
|
|--Tony MEDHURST
|
| ___________________________
| |
|_Shirley SMITH ____________|
m 1941 |
|___________________________
[661] living - details excluded
_William John MERRICK _+
| (1871 - 1938) m 1908
_George Cecil MEDHURST _|
| |
| |_Lillian May MEDHURST _+
| (1889 - 1971) m 1908
|
|--Reg MERRICK
|
| _______________________
| |
|_Kathleen O'CONNELL ____|
|
|_______________________
[311] twin to Jodie
_Donald Norman WALL _+
| (1897 - 1921) m 1920
_Desmond Ralph WALL _|
| |
| |_Rose Annie HANLEY __
| (.... - 1977) m 1920
|
|--Gloria WALL
|
| _____________________
| |
|_Alma CROFT _________|
|
|_____________________
[1142] living - details excluded
_Donald Norman WALL _+
| (1897 - 1921) m 1920
_Ventry James WALL __|
| |
| |_Rose Annie HANLEY __
| (.... - 1977) m 1920
|
|--Jeffrey John WALL
|
| _____________________
| |
|_Lorna CASSON _______|
|
|_____________________