Sepia Saturday: Warrington's pub

Warrington's Inverleigh Hotel

The bluestone hotel at Inverleigh was built about the 1860s where the road from Geelong, the Hamilton Highway, crosses the Leigh River. It's still there, still standing sturdily. I photographed it in the 1980s and again last year after it had been purchased by several locals and refurbished. It is now a funky country pub.

Inverleigh Hotel c1980

Inverleigh Hotel 2015

The above photos are all in my family album because it was owned for about twenty years by my husband's great-aunt Hannah Warrington and her husband John. I presume John and Hannah are in the first photo but we have no way of proving it.

Hannah ANDREW and John WARRINGTON were married in Huntingdon, England in 1851 and migrated to Geelong, Victoria in January 1853 on the 'Six Sisters'. They lived in Geelong and Mugheboluc near Geelong before moving further west to Ondit. I think they were farming but there is also a record of John working as a mail contractor so he was probably finding work where he could. Hannah's parents and siblings also migrated in the 1850s and by 1856 they were all living in the Inverleigh area. 

Colac Herald 28 October 1878

In 1878 Hannah and John sold up at Ondit and moved to Inverleigh when they took up the licence of the Inverleigh Hotel. The publican's licence was in Hannah's name. 

The Warringtons are mentioned several times in the local newspapers over the next twenty years. The first is when their stables were deliberately destroyed, but they are also mentioned in several newspaper reports because they were caught serving alcohol after hours

Colac Herald 21 Feb 1882 

Colac Herald, 6 May 1887

Camperdown Chronicle 1 October 1887

Hannah and John had 14 children but only four daughters survived. And only two of those daughters had families of their own but their descendants live in the area today.

Hannah died in 1900 and  John in 1901 and the hotel was sold.

This post is in response to the Sepia Saturday theme photo of Chittenden Hotel in Ohio.

Voyage to Australia: the ship 'Violet'

A newspaper report indicates that the ship 'Violet' sailed from London on November 6, 1856 and then another report states that it was moored at Southampton until 20 December on demurrage.

Demurrage refers to the period when the charterer remains in possession of the vessel after the period normally allowed to load and unload cargo ). By extension, demurrage refers to the charges that the charterer pays to the shipowner for its extra use of the vessel. Officially, demurrage is a form of liquidated damages for breaching the laytime as it is stated in the governing contract (the charter party). The demurrage sometimes causes a loss to the seller as it increases cost of the total freight. Reference: Wikipedia

South Australian Register, 3 Mar 1856

South Australian Register, 7 Apr 1856

The Violet arrived at Port Adelaide, South Australia on 13 April 1856 after a voyage of about 122 days. On board were 237 emigrants including some of my husband's ancestors. John and Susannah ANDREW, their son John and his wife Rhoda with their young daughter Mary Ann, and John and Susannah's other son Daniel. (They are first on the list of passengers, below.) The captain of the ship was Henry Hall and the surgeon-superintendent was T R Tumner.

South Australian Register, 14 Apr 1856

The surgeon-general reported that three births and six deaths on board and that the immigrants were 'generally a well-selected class of persons'. The six passengers who died were James Williams (10 months), Joseph Richards (11 months), Thomas Strange (1 year), Johanna Healey (45 years), Alfred Ward (10 years) and Mary Ann Harper (2 years). Their dates of death and causes of death can be found at www.shipslist.com and you can also find there a full and detailed list of the passengers (including the maiden names of the wives).

There is a newspaper report of a number of the passengers being violent, drunk and disorderly on board the Violet. Some were taken into custody and fined - a good start to their new lives in the colonies.

South Australian Register, 16 Apr 1856

The Violet also carried cargo. Before she arrived the Adelaide newspapers published a list that must have been in one of the London papers, and another list after the ship docked.

South Australian Register, 4 Mar 1856

South Australian Register, 14 Apr 1856

John and Mary Ann (nee Andrew) Leed. Mary Ann was a child on the Violet.

The Andrew family had been living in Oundle, Northamptonshire when they decided to move to Australia. Their oldest son, William, was already living in the Geelong area of Victoria, and so was their daughter Hannah who had migrated with her new husband, John Warrington. It's a mystery why the Andrews decided to go to Adelaide rather than one of the Victorian ports because they certainly didn't stay in South Australia. They moved immediately to Inverleigh near Geelong, probably on a coastal ship, and later lived near Pyramid Hill in central Victoria. But that's a story for another day.

There is a certificate (the original is in the Pyramid Hill museum) that states that "Mary Ann Andrew, 13 months old, is free from measles and able to emigrate." It's dated 27 November 1855. So I think young Mary Ann must have had a bout of the measles that could have prevented them from sailing.

The Violet left Adelaide to sail for Singapore on 30 April. She carried mail for England.

The South Australian Register, 30 April 1856

Trove Tuesday: Rhoda, Rhoda and Woodlands

I've blogged about Rhoda Andrew before. She lived a quiet life on her father's farm in country Victoria. For about a year in 1888, when she was 18 or 19, she wrote a diary that has now been transcribed. The diary has provided a number of useful clues in my family history research. Rhoda died of influenza when she was 30 and her mother died a few days later. Her father, who was also ill with the influenza, survived.

On 21 January 1888  Rhoda wrote about her mother, also called Rhoda.

Saturday Jan 21st [1888].This afternoon Kate took Mother out for a drive, the first time since her illness, I am so glad dear Mother is getting better and is able to get out a little; I do hope she will improve, I am sure.

 I was wondering what her mother's illness might have been but then I remembered that I had a copy of a newspaper cutting that someone in the family had kept. It was an obituary of Rhoda's mother that had been published in a church magazine. I've yet to find the source but I think it would have been Wesleyan Methodist or Methodist because the Andrew family were active members of their local church community. The obituary describes in quite a bit of detail the long-term ill health of Rhoda.

In Memorium (Mrs. Andrew)Since I knew the late Mrs Andrew she was somewhat of a recluse, through delicate health, mainly. During her whole life she was a fond and kind mother, a most devoted wife, very charitable and good to everyone; would divide her loaf with any who needed. Several of her babies died in infancy, and she grieved over the lost ones. She often seemed at death's door, from frequent attacks of asthma. Then another complaint gradually grew on her, which disabled her from walking much and getting to God's house regularly, also the necessary change of scene and fresh air. And being unwilling to let a doctor advise and help her she consequently suffered most severely in late years. Though the change of climate into the north improved her so much that there was little trouble with her chest, until that severe attack of influenza some years ago which weakened her so much that she never quite got over it. Not many knew how easily fatigued and how unfit for work she was. But patient and persevering how she would do the part when felt it her duty to do in the home. Through feeble health she did not in the outside public shine as brightly as many. She will, I feel sure, have stars in her crown. She leaves a good name to her children and grandchildren. May they through grace Divine follow in her footsteps and meet at God's right hand.
 M.A. Midgley[Church publication]

So what facts was I able to glean from the obituary?

• She was sad because a number of her children died. I'm not surprised. She had ten children and only two of them survived childhood. After Rhoda's death at the age of 30 her sister Mary (my husband's direct ancestor) was the only surviving child.
• She had frequent attacks of asthma
• She had a severe attack of influenza 'some years ago'
• She had another 'complaint' but refused to see a doctor
• The family attended church

From other family information I know that the church they attended was the Woodlands Wesleyan at Central Mologa. The church was just up the road from the Andrew's farm that Rhoda's father and grandfather selected in the mid 1870s. I searched Trove for mentions of Woodlands Wesleyan church and found several articles. In 1877 the church was badly damaged in a wind storm - I think the community must have rebuilt it - and in 1887 they celebrated an anniversary.

McIvor Times and Rodney Advertiser (Heathcote), 22 Feb 1877

Kerang Times and Pyramid Hill Gazette, 8 Feb 1887

And the last one I found was about a bazaar to raise funds for a parsonage (possibly at Kerang).

Kerang Time and Swan Hill Gazette, 29 May 1888

Because the last newspaper item coincided with the year of Rhoda's diary I was able to check to see if she had written about the family's involvement in the fund-raising. And sure enough...

Friday May 4th. 

Mrs Hare and J. Wood came today, and of course the baby too, bringing their bazaar things.  

Friday May 11th. 

Mary went to Pyramid in the afternoon, Miss Baker came in the evening. We sat up till late at night, doing Bazaar work. 

 Thursday May 17th 

.Mary had Jane Hiscock over today, to help with some Bazaar work. Jane brought over her contribution.  

Friday May 18th. 

We went to Mrs Innocent's this afternoon for some fruit, and she was not at home, so went on for Miss Baker. We called again as we came back, found her at home this time, but could not get fruit tonight. Mrs I. is coming over tomorrow, so she said she would bring the quinces with her. Miss B. and Mary are working away tonight, for the bazaar, of course. Now I must go and help them, so no more for my "Diary", tonight.  

Saturday May 19th. 

Mrs Innocent came over in the afternoon. We were very busy, finishing baking cakes for the Bazaar. We got cleared away and swept up by night, so that's one good thing done.  

Monday May 21st. 

We washed today. In the afternoon Louisa Hare came up with the dolls she dressed for the Bazaar. 

Thursday May 24th.

Queen's birthday today, Bazaar opens today.  

Saturday May 26th. 

The Bazaar was a great success and I'm so glad. It is nice when a thing is a success.

And finally, for this blog, an entry where Rhoda again mentions her mother.

Monday June 4th. 

Mary and I took Mother for a drive this afternoon. Just up to the Church, we made a Catalogue of the books in the Sunday School Library. We moved the organ, to the other side of the Church, because it is warmer there for the winter, and swept out the Church. So we did a good afternoon's work. No more for tonight. Goodnight.

 And goodnight from me too. 

Trove Tuesday: In which Uncle is dangerously ill

Saturday August 4th, 1888

We have had bad news today, had a telegram from Sale saying that Uncle is dangerously ill, that Father is to go at once if he can. So Father went this afternoon. He can only get as far as Melbourne tonight, so he will not reach Sale till Monday. I do hope poor Uncle will soon be better I am sure; poor Auntie will be in trouble. Father has a long journey before him. I do hope he will not take colds. I trust he will have a safe journey down, and find them all better than expected, and a safe journey home.

Thursday August 9th.

We received a letter from dear old Dad, at last. He arrived safely on Monday, found Uncle very much better. All the rest are well. What a blessing. I am glad Uncle is better, I'm sure it is a good thing. Mr Hampton arrived the day after Father; poor Auntie would be glad to see her Father.

Monday August 13th.
Dear Father came home today, Mr Hampton came with him, Mary went down to the railway station to meet them.

Rhoda ANDREW was 19 years old and living with her parents and her older sister on a farm near Pyramid hill north of Bendigo when she wrote the above entries in her diary. Her 'dear old dad' is John ANDREW and her uncle is Daniel ANDREW.

I was somewhat surprised to find a newspaper report about the cause of Uncle Daniel's illness.

Gippsland Times, 10 Aug 1888

PS We're very lucky to have Rhoda's diary. She only wrote it for about a year but it has provided me with quite a few clues for my family history research. Sadly both Rhoda and her mother died within a few days of each other 11 years later in an influenza epidemic.

Daniel ANDREW, son of John Andrew SHAWLEY and Susannah RAY was born on 25 Mar 1845 in Great Gidding, England. He died on 04 Aug 1913 in Longford, Victoria, Australia. He married Elizabeth HAMPTON, daughter of George HAMPTON and Pamela FRANKLIN on 27 Jul 1868 in Geelong, Victoria, Australia. She was born on 29 Aug 1847 in Bath, SOM, England. She died on 27 Mar 1917.