e-newsletter Issue 2 2024

From the President

                                             Diana McGarvie – President    

Chandos Wyndham Mystery

Chandos Wyndham, a young man from an an aristocratic English family had a short, and interesting life which ended tragically at “Pirron Yaloak” in 1858.

Mystery surrounds Chandos’ death which was recorded as an accident caused by “the falling of a tree”. It appears that the death was not reported to authorities at the time and no inquest was ever held to determine the exact circumstances.

It was several months before the death was registered and the informant, Charles Pike, overseer at the Roadknight Stony Rises Station, was not able to recall the exact date in June that the accident had taken place.

Chandos’ name was recorded as “Thomas” on the death certificate - was that what he called himself or was that perhaps another memory lapse?

This 1857 pen and inkwash drawing of the Stony Rises by Eugene von Guerard indicates the terrain where Chandos worked, died and was buried.   Image is from the National Gallery of Victoria collection.

The burial took place in June 1858 somewhere on “Roadknight’s Station at the Stony Rises” with Thomas Ritchie reported as the witness.

Robert Wuchatsch has spent many years researching the history of the Stony Rises and the people who lived there. He has generously provided his story about Chandos Wyndham and you can read it here by clicking on the button below.

Resources at the Family History Group

Did you know that each year thousands of new records are added to the Family History Group database? Also, through “Almost Forgotten” pre-1900 burials in the Colac Cemetery and other projects, hundreds of local family histories are researched and recorded.

If you are new to the group - welcome - and if you are an existing member who hasn’t used the group’s resources for a while, we invite you to - and recommend - that you attend the upcoming information session.

There will be an overview of the records that are held, how they can be accessed and the equipment available for your use - including a new book scanner and dual screen computers to make it easy to transcribe any information that you find.

INFORMATION SESSION

Colac & District Family History Group

Tuesday 30th April at 11am to 12pm

Colac History Centre, COPACC

To reserve a place, please contact Norma on e: volunteer_coordinator@colacfamilyhistory.org.au, or ph: 52315736 or call into the History Centre during opening hours.  

If you are unable to attend on a weekday, please let us know and we will determine if there is enough interest to organise another session for a Sunday afternoon.

Les and Sandy Shanahan find where their ancestor lived

A few months ago, Les and Sandy Shanahan visited the Colac History Centre. They had read an article about the death of Les’s grandfather, Nicholas Shanahan, in Colac in 1896.

As he was collecting chaff in Colac, Nicholas had fallen off a cart because the horse moved. His relatives wanted to know where the accident had happened.

You can read about what they were able to discover with the assistance of Robyn, a family history group volunteer and our librarian.

Interstate Trip Reaps Rewards

The Winchelsea group was able to give David information on the exact location of River Station and he also found that a small remnant of the original building was there.

At Colac David spent some time checking the rate books and the database for school, church and other records of interest.

We also showed him how easy it was to obtain certificates from the Victorian Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, which is very simple compared to some other states.

After obtaining Thomas King’s death certificate, David was able to finally confirm his cause of death, the number of children that he had and that he was buried in the Winchelsea cemetery

Robyn, our librarian, is also a member of Birregurra and was able to help fill in some gaps using resources from both groups. It was delightful meeting David and a good experience all round.

Mothers’ Day Raffle

All local members have been provided with a raffle book for the 2024 Mothers’ Day raffle. This has been a major fundraiser for the group almost since it’s inception and has assisted with the day to day operations of the group, it’s resources and projects. Your ongoing support is appreciated.

Almost Forgotten

Tragedy and the Millar Turnbull family

Researchers on the Almost Forgotten project often come across families that experienced more than their share of tragic and sad events. That was the case recently when Jill was researching the Millar/Turnbull family who were were victims of the 1879 bushfires in the Otways.

Perhaps a timeline of Mary Doyle’s life is the best way to illustrate the sad history.

Mary Doyle was born in Melbourne in 1848 - parents are Francis Doyle and Mary Purtel

Ten year old Ellen Millar was the only family member to survive. Incredulously, the day after her father’s death, Ellen was still in a perilous state, being cared for at the home of neighbours, James and Catherine Dowling when their son Phillip, aged 14 was killed at the Colac Common by a lightning strike.

10th February, 1879 Phillip Dowling struck by lightning and died.

Seven consecutive deaths registered with Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages, all connected.

18 February 1879 The Colac Herald reports:

“We are glad to be able to state that the only surviving member of the Turnbull family, Ellen Miller, is progressing rapidly towards recovery. The child, who is very intelligent and patient has improved wonderfully during the last two or three days, so much so that Dr Foster thinks she will be able to leave her bed at the end of the week”.

1889 20 year old Ellen Millar was the informant for the death of her grandfather, Francis Doyle

Ellen Millar married Robert Ferguson in Richmond when she was 28 years old and died in Kooweerup in 1951, aged 82. There were two children from the marriage.

Dates to Remember