Tuesday 27 March 2012

Tombstone Tuesday - George Kellam Bird

George Kellam Bird was my great-great-grand Uncle - the brother of my great-great grandmother Catherine Bird. 
Like his father before him, George Bird was a wheelwright.  Actually George was a Master Wheelwright.
He was born in 1820 at Foston, Lincolnshire, England, the eldest son of Mark and Mary Bird nee Kellam.  Mark and Mary died young, both in 1834 aged  about 45 and 38 years respectively.
Their seventh and youngest child, Mark, was only 2 years old.
George would have been about 14 so probably already out earning a living.

His maternal grandfather, George Kellam was also a Master Wheelwright.
This could be how George's parents met.

George would have been taught his trade by his father and following his father's death his grandfather would have continued to teach him the trade.. Young Mark was living with his grandfather in the 1841 census at Waltham-on-the-Wolds and then with his big brother, George at Corby in the 1851 census.

He moved to Corby Glen in Lincolnshire and lived there for many years until his death in 1885.
In 1847 George had married Ann Loughter.  They had one son in 1849, also named George and this George Bird junior also became a wheelwright.

The cast iron grave marker for George's grave at St. John the Evangelist churchyard at Corby Glen is rather impressively painted black with gold lettering.

My cousin Cathy is currently about to visit Lincolnshire where our Bird family originated.



This photo is from the website   http://www.churchmousewebsite.co.uk/Cast_Iron.htm#corby
but I don't know how long ago it was taken.  Perhaps Cathy will visit the resting place of our relative, George Kellam Bird.


Monday 26 March 2012

Private Robert Forsyth - 1st Gordon Highlanders

Private Robert Forsyth, service number 817, enlisted in the 1st Gordon Highlanders at New Maud, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.
Robert Forsyth was born on the 3rd of February 1895 at Aberdour, Aberdeenshire, Scotland to John Gill Forsyth and Jane nee Birnie.
He was the younger brother of  George Forsyth who also died in WW1.

Photo of Robert’s memorial card courtesy of Gael Thomas in New Zealand from her mother’s collection.
Gael’s mother Inez evelyn Florence Butcher was Robert’s niece.
Printed and published by Wm. Duncan, 19 High St., Kirkcaldy (only address).  No.5. Reg.D (on the back.).
Thankyou Gael x

Both Robert and George are commemorated on the War Memorial at Rathen.


Photo from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/217714

Robert was killed in action on the 20th of November, 1914 at Flanders, most probably the infamous first battle of Ypres where the British were outnumbered by seven to one.

A note from Robert’s cousin Patrick Forsyth who lives in Fraserburgh gives headstone inscription “from the Kirkyard of Aberdour, Fam/Hist/Soc….number 262…..Erected by JANE BIRNIE in loving memory of her husband JOHN FORSYTH d.at Hillfoot,Cortes,Lonmay,22 sept 1927 aged 66.Their family John d.1 July 1889 aged 17 mths……Jessie d.3rd July 1896 aged 13…Isabella d. 6 may 1899 aged 11 mnths……ROBERT d.of wounds France 20 Nov.1914 aged 19…..GEORGE killed in action in France 9 Aug.1916 aged 26……Jean died in New Zealand 24 Oct 1928…….Edward d. Canada 20 Oct.1935…..The above JANE BIRNIE d.8 Sept.1946”

I don’t know if his war service records exist as in 1940 there was a World War Two bombing raid on the War Office in London where the records were held. During this raid, a large portion (approximately 60 per cent) of the 6.5 million records was destroyed by fire. The surviving service records have become known as the ‘Burnt Documents’.
On the 4th August when the Germans struck through Belgium the shock had to be met at the fields of Flanders and France and within a few days the `contemptible little army` as the Kaiser called it had been thrown across the channel and by the 22nd of the month had reached Mons. The 1st Battalion as part of the 8th Brigade in the 3rd Division helped to line the Conde-Mons canal near Nimy Bridge and it was here on the morning of the following day that the brunt of the German onslaught fell and two days later, after the longest march of the retreat, they made their famous stand at Le Cateau. At last after 8 days of retreat and with only one company left they reached a line behind the river Marne and it was from here that General Joffre struck at the German flank and turned the tide of invasion away from Paris.  http://www.thegordonhighlanders.co.uk/History.htm
By late November 1914 the old British army had virtually disappeared.



Robert Forsyth’s medal card
is where Robert Forsyth is buried.

Thursday 22 March 2012

Thankful Thursday - My Australian First Families

I am extremely thankful to my ancestors for all making the daunting journeys to Australia and New Zealand in the mid 1800s.

ADAMS - my great great grandfather George Adams arrived in Australia from Saffron Walden, Essex, England around 1852.
BARRY - his wife, Catherine Barry arrived in Fremantle, Australia in 1853 on board the ship "Travancore" She came from Limerick, Ireland, daughter of John Barry and Mary Boyle.

BEATON - Isabella Beaton from Edinburgh Scotland ( my ggg grandmother) arrived in Australia with her brother, William and his wife Mary, in 1840 on the ill fated ship "The India"
PIKE - Isabella Beaton married John Pike.  He arrived here in 1840 from Ireland on the ship "Coromandel"

FLEMING - Andrew Fleming and his wife Ellen/Helen nee Findlay arrived in Australia in 1848 on the ship "William Stewart".  They came from Penninghame, Wigtonshire, Scotland with their six children to start a new life here.  Their eldest son William Findlay Fleming was my gg grandfather.

KNIGHT - William Findlay Fleming married Ann Jane Knight.  She came to Australia from Gloucestershire, England in 1847.

MORGAN & BLOUNT -  My ggg grandparents, John Morgan and his wife Sarah nee Blount sailed on the ship "Lady Fitzherbert" from England in 1842.

MORGAN -  I had another gg grandfather whose name was also John Morgan.  He came from West Armagh, Ireland in 1855 on the ship "Calliance"
KELLY - In 1858 he married Margaret Alice Kelly who came from Dualla, Tipperary Ireland some time around 1852.

HULME & LAND -  William Cluff Hulme and his wife Hephzibah nee Land were my ggg grandparents.  They came out on the ship "Blue Jacket" in 1862 from Surrey, England.

BARTSH & NEBEL - Johann Heindrich Bartsh and Anna Dorothea Nebel arrived from Prussia on board the ship "Acmel" in January 1855.

MASON & CARSTAIRS - GGG grandparents Peter Webster Mason and his wife Margaret Leslie Carstairs arrived in Australia in 1848 on the ship "Cheapside".  They were from Largo, Fife, Scotland.

HART -  Peter Hart married their daughter, Agnes Mason in 1870.  Peter came from Huntingdonshire, England about 1854.

FORSYTH, FARQUHAR,  MUSSON & BIRD - My grandfather, James Forsyth (born James Musson) was the latest arrival to Australia in the early 1930s.  His grandparents all migrated to New Zealand from the UK.
William Musson in 1861 from Leicestershire, UK on the ship "Royal Stuart"
Catherine Bird in 1863 from Lincolnshire, UK on the "Lancashire Witch"
Robert Forsyth and Jessie Farquhar in 1874 from Aberdeenshire, Scotland on the ship "Crusader"









Wednesday 21 March 2012

Wedding Wednesday - Esther Helen Musson

Esther Helen Musson and Edward Leslie Breach were married in Rangiora, New Zealand in 1929
Esther was born in 1911 at Belfast, Canterbury, New Zealand.
She was the sixth child, the 3rd daughter, of James Christopher Musson and Margaret Ann Hay Forsyth.

Edward Leslie Breach was born in 1898 at Rangiora.  He was a school teacher.



Bridesmaids are Muriel Breach (left) and Betty Stevenson (right)
Groomsmen are Esther's brother, Jim Musson (my grandfather) on the left and Alan Shaw on the right.

Tombstone Tuesday - Farquhars at Rathen Aul' Kirk


My 3 x great grandparents Alexander Farquhar and his wife Margaret nee Yule are at eternal rest with some of their children at the Old Kirkyard, Rathen, Aberdeenshire,Scotland


Erected by Alexander and Margaret Farquhar Quarryburn, New Aberdour in memory of their children Margaret and Elizabeth Jane twins b 11 April d 16th and 21st April 1859, George d 18 Feb 1868 aged 2, Alexander d 26 May 1872 aged 14, Alick W Farquhar grandson d 22 Aug 1891 aged 7,  Above Alexander Farquhar b 21 April 1820 d 28 Feb 1899, his wife Margaret Yule b 23 Oct 1822 d 15 May 1907.  Their daughter Ann b 20 march 1849 d 2 April 1908, Mary their eldest dau d 31 Oct 1932 aged 87
Two Farquhar headstones at the Auld Kirkyard

Auld Kirkyard at Rathen, Aberdeenshire, Scotland

Many thanks to Wayne Easton of Tyrie for taking these photos for me.




Monday 19 March 2012

Military Monday - Private George Forsyth

George Forsyth enlisted in the 47th Infantry Battalion of the Australian Imperial Forces on the 24th of January 1916.  His rank was Private and his service number was 1654.
On his attestation paper George stated he was born in the Parish of Pitsligo near Fraserburgh, Scotland.
He was 25 years and 3 month of age, single and gave his occupation as labourer.

George's parents were John Gill Forsyth and Jane nee Birnie of Hillfoot, Cortes, Lonmay, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

Thanks to Sandra Playle on the Australian genealogy facebook page I just now got this further information.
George enlisted at Charter's Towers in Queenlsand. His mother states on the Honour Roll form that he was 18 years of age when he came to Australia.
George was living in Friezland, via Cloncurry. (more research for me, thanks Sandra :)

His younger brother, Robert, had also enlisted but he was with the Gordon Highlanders in Scotland.
One question George was asked on his enlistment in Australia was "had he ever been rejected as unfit for His Majesty's Service and if so for what reason?"
His reply .... Yes, defective teeth.

George was 5 foot 7 and a half inches tall.  He weighed 136 pounds, chest measurement 36 inches.  Complexion fair, eyes blue, hair colour dark brown and his religious denomination was Presbyterian.

The attesting officer who signed his enlistment form was Fred Johnson.

20 - 4 - 1916    Embarked at Sydney per H.M.T "Hawkes Bay"
27 - 5 - 1916    From 12th training Btn, allotted to 47th Battalion at Tel-el-kebir
  2 - 6 - 1916    From H. T "Caledonia" proceeded to join B.E.F at Alexandria
  9 - 6 - 1916    Disembarked at Marseilles.

The 47th Battalion was raised in Egypt on the 24th of February 1916.  About half its new recruits were Gallipoli veterans and the rest were fresh reinforcements from Australia, the majority being recruits from Queensland and Tasmania.
Arriving in France on 9 June 1916, the 47th entered the trenches of the Western Front for the first time on 3 July. It participated in its first major battle at Pozières. Initially, the battalion provided working parties during the 2nd Division’s attack on 4 August, and then, with its own division, defended the ground that had been captured. The 47th endured two stints in the heavily-contested trenches of Pozières

 Transcript of Battalion war diary:
 5 - 8 - 1916    Battalion moved from Tara Hill and took up position near Pozières as reserves to front line.

 7 - 8 - 1916     at 6.30 am received message to reinforce front line occupied by 48th Battn.  despatched C Coy at 6.40am. Three platoons returned at 7.15 am and the other remaining.
At 2.30 pm commenced relief of front line occupied by 48th Battn. Relief was completed by 4.30 pm.  A  and D companies occupying front line.  O, G, I and B Coy in close supports in Tramway Trench.
One platton of C Coy which reinforced the 48th Battalion at 6.40 am was sent back to join up with remainder of C Coy at Sunken Road.  C Coy remained in support.
The relief of the 48th Battalion was carried out under a heavy bombardment by the enemy and considerable casualties were inflicted on the Battalion.

On the 9th of August 1916 Private George Forsyth was killed in action at Pozières, although his sister, Jean Butcher of Taupo, New Zealand had received notification of his death on dates in both August and November 1916.  She wrote to the war minister In Nov 1917.

She received a reply in December.

On his war service record it states that he is buried "500 yards N.E. of Pozières".
Underneath are location co ordinates 57D SE X5A R35C Martinpuich.

I am told the coordinates may be taken so they can go back and retrieve the body for burial.
Sometimes the bodies cannot be found and that is when the soldier's name and details are put on the memorials.  I've yet to work out if George's body was found for burial.

Martinpuich village is about a mile north-west of High Wood,and like the wood was captured on September the 15th, 1916.
It is ironic that troops of the 15th (Scottish) Division took the village.

Military historian Matt Smith of  http://www.australianwargraves.org    says "Martinpuich is the village NE of Pozieres. The name refers to the trench map, not where he was buried. George would have been killed and buried on the old German Line OG1 and OG2, probably attacking the Windmill site. It is the site of the current 2nd Australian Division memorial."

George's name is included on the Villers-Bretonneux memorial at Somme, France.


Both George and his brother Robert are also commemorated on the War Memorial at Rathen, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.








Tuesday 13 March 2012

Travel Tuesday - Crusader to New Zealand

In December 1874, Captain Renaut sailed his ship The Crusader into Lyttleton Harbour, New Zealand with 374 passengers on board.

Photo A Large Sailor's Woolie of the Clipper Ship The Crusader at Anchor in New Zealand
Circa 1875-85
courtesy of Paul Vandekar  
 http://www.vandekar.com/archives/details.asp?inventoryNumber=NY07221
The Crusader departed from Plymouth on the 25th of September and made the passage in 97 days with very little illness reported.  The surgeon superintendent was Dr. John Guthrie who settled in Christchurch.  On the voyage Dr Guthrie found it necessary to appoint two nurses, Mrs Cleaver and Mrs Lindon.


My great great grandparents, Robert Forsyth and his wife Jessie nee Farquhar were on board the Crusader with their little son Alexander.  


Robert and Jessie Forsyth went on to have a large family once they settled in New Zealand
The Press newspaper reported the Arrival of the Crusader in its edition on the 1st of January 1875.

Everyone spoke most highly of the Captain  "The passengers and Immigrants alike testifying to his unwearying care and devotion during the passage".


Click here to read a story, recorded in the "Lyttelton Times" of February 3rd 1925.  It is the recollection of John Henry Timms who, in 1874 at the age of 8, sailed to New Zealand on board Crusader with his parents John and Caroline and two sisters Ann and Mary.


The Crusader developed a hole and the well was taking in water.
The water was successfully pumped out throughout the voyage but the pump kept breaking down and not too much water continued to come in.  It is said that on arrival at Lyttleton harbour a fish skeleton was found in the well and so it was thought that the fish body had blocked the hole thus stopping the ship taking on more water and sinking!




















Monday 12 March 2012

Private Morgan Adams

Morgan Adams
1895 - 1923

My grandmother's older brother, Morgan Adams was born at Essendon, Victoria on the 4th of March 1895 to John Adams and Mary Agnes, nee Morgan.

In 1915 he was a labourer living at 78 Walter Street, Ascot Vale with his mother.  His parents were separated and his father was living elsewhere at that time. Morgan was in the Citizens Military Force 58th Battalion.



Sincere thanks to my second cousins Tricia and Annette for the photo of Morgan and for allowing
me the honour of having his framed portrait from the family collection















Morgan enlisted as a private to the 5th reinforcements, 7th Battalion on the 14th January 1915 and embarked on the HMAT Hororata on the 17th April 1915.  His service record number was 1903.



Troops on board HMAT Hororata (A20) prior to departure.
Maker Barnes, Josiah
Place made Victoria, Melbourne, Port Melbourne
Date made 17 April 1915
Conflict First World War, 1914-1918
Copyright expired - public domain



On the 13th July 1915 he arrived at Gallipoli where on the 8th or 9th of August 1915, he received a gunshot wound to the forehead at Lone Pine and on the 11th of August he was admitted to the 15th Stationary Hospital at Mudros.
Morgan was transferred to the convalescent camp at Mudros on the 21st of August.

He rejoined his battalion at Gallipoli on the 25th of August 1915.


7th Battalion colour patch

From here on in his service records are fairly basic but I bet what he experienced wasn’t basic.

7-1-1916 Disembarked at Alexandria

26-3-1916 Embarked to join B.E.F (British Expeditionary Forces). ex Alexandria

31-3-1916 Disembarked at Marseilles

30-1-1918 To U.K on leave.

16-2-1918 Rejoined Unit from leave.

10-6-1918 With Unit

12-1-1919 Marched out for R.T.A

17-1-1919 Marched out to England - 1915 personnel

18-1-1919 Marched into No. 1 Com. Depot, Sutton Veny from France

19-2-1919 Transferred out to 2nd Tng? Brigade - Codford

19-2-1919 Transferred in from No. 1 Com. Depot - Sutton Veny

21-3-1919 Left England from Devonport to Australia on “Kildonian Castle”

7-5-1919 Disembarked at Melbourne

6-7-1919 Discharged from the A.I.F. at Melbourne, Termination of Period of Enlistment.


The family story was that Morgan died young due to being gassed in the war.
This must-have occurred somewhere in France as the Turks had no gas weaponry at Gallipoli.
There was no mention of it anywhere in his war service records.

This excerpt is from the 7th Battalion war diaries:

Dec 26, 1917, enemy shelled reserve coy - Denys Wood - during night with gas shells putting about 300 shells over, covering an area of about 500 sq yards
Nearly all men in Coy. suffering from the effects of the gas. Coy. relief, C Coy in frontline.

I don't know if Morgan was in that Company.

After his discharge from the army, Morgan married Isabelle O’Brien in 1920.
Isabelle was born in Beechworth in 1895 to parents Henry O’Brien and Caroline nee Methven.

In 1922, now a railway employee, Morgan and his wife Isabelle were living at 44 Erskine Street, North Melbourne.

On the 22nd of August 1923, Morgan Adams died at the Caulfield repatriation hospital.
Cause of death was Pyelonephritis - 3 years and Uraemia - 1 week.
One notable cause of this type of kidney disease is toxins.
These were most likely toxins from the gas he was subjected to in France.

He was buried at the Fawkner cemetery on the 23rd of August 1923.
Isabelle was buried there with him 55 years later on the 30th of November 1978.
She had married Henry Ernest Toll in 1926. Henry died in 1950 and is buried at Coburg cemetery.

Sunday 11 March 2012

Sunday's Obituary - Donald Fleming


My great grandfather, Donald Fleming.  (1860 - 1921)

Every time I look at his photo I see his son (my grandfather) Archie's smiling eyes.

Wangaratta Chronicle, Sat Dec 24th, 1921.

Mr. Donald Fleming died suddenly on Thursday afternoon, Thursday 22nd December, 1921, at his home in King Valley.  He appeared to be in his normal state of health that day but about 4 o'clock he collapsed and died.  The occurrence was reported to Constable Harry, of  Whitfield, and an inquiry was held by J.J. Stephens, J.P. of Whitfield when a verdict of death from natural causes was recorded.

The late Mr. Fleming was a son of Mr. and Mrs W.F. Fleming of Edi and 62 years of age.  Born at Castlemaine and after some years residence in the Goulburn Valley district he settled at King Valley about 30 years ago, and there with Mrs. Fleming and members of his family carried on mixed farming, dairying receiving most of his attention.

Mr. Fleming took an interest in many district movements and was an active worker towards their success.  He was a member of the King Valley school committee and a trustee of the cemetery.  He was well respected in the district and the news of his sudden death was heard of with deep regret by the residents.

Mr. Fleming, who was married at Echuca to Margaret Hart is survived by his wife and grown up family of 10 children.  Members of the family are:-  Messrs Alf (Melbourne), who was the 14th man to enlist in the A.I.F. rising to the rank of lieutenant.; Donald; Archie; and Harold Fleming (King Valley)

Mesdames H. Crockett; Black; and Routledge (of Albury); Mrs A Barry (Myrtleford) and Misses Nellie and Myrtle Fleming (King Valley)

Brothers and sisters of the deceased are:-  J.K. Fleming (Wangaratta); W.J. Fleming (Northcote) and M. Fleming (Wyalong NSW)

Mesdames Tuckett (Kensington); Worrall (Brunswick); and Thompson (Nth Melbourne)

Interred at King Valley ? (Edi) cemetery yesterday.  G.V. Steele in charge of arrangements.

Saturday 10 March 2012

Surname Saturday - Morgan

The surname Morgan features prominently in my family history.



Some Morgan crests show the Griffin while others have the Lion.

There is much information on the name but it is beyond me to sort out what would be correct if any.

Morgan is quite a common Welsh surname and it may be that the name originated in Wales and later Morgans spread out to Ireland, Scotland and England.

On my maternal side my 3rd great grandfather, John Morgan, was born about 1806 at Grosmont or Grysmwnt, Monmouthshire.  He came to Australia in 1842.

On my Paternal side my 2nd great grandfather, John Morgan was born in 1829 at Derrynoose, West Armagh, Ireland.  He came to Australia in 1855.

The surname Morgan is Celtic in origin and pre-dates Christianity and may have originally been "Morcant" possibly meaning "sea defender" or "sea chief".

In Wales the first recording may be Thomas Morgaine, Knight of Monmouth, in 1538
In Ireland the name is popular in Leinster and Ulster, and in some cases is an Anglicization of Merrigan and Morahan, the first recording being that of Edward Morgane, of Dublin, on April 26th 1654. Not only does the name indicate a sea warrior, it is with the sea that the Morgan name has won most renown.

Read more: http://www.surnamedb.com/Surname/Morgan#ixzz1ogxDTmJ3


There are some varying opinions.

http://www.4crests.com/morgan-coat-of-arms.html

http://www.houseofnames.com/morgan-family-crest

http://hausegenealogy.com/morgan.html

Thursday 8 March 2012

Wedding Wednesday - The Old Manse

The former manse in Low Street New Aberdour, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

It was in this manse on the 6th of March, 1847 that my 3rd great grandparents, Robert Forsyth and Helen Thomson married.
This photo of Robert Forsyth and his wife Helen, nee Thomson, taken possibly early 1870s.



Then on the 8th of February 1873 
their son (my great great grandparents) 
Robert Forsyth jnr and Jannet 
(Jessie) Farquhar were also married at the manse.

side view of the old manse from Low Street.
I have only just found out that the current sign "The Old Manse" near the door was made by Patrick Forsyth of Fraserburgh who is the grandson of Robert Forsyth Senior and nephew of Robert Forsyth Junior.

Wednesday 7 March 2012

Tombstone Tuesday - Forsyth's at New Aberdour

Aberdour Graveyard, Aberdeenshire, Scotland

There are more graves around behind the old building and that is where my Forsyth family headstone is situated.  My 3rd great grandparents, Robert Forsyth and Helen nee Thomson, are buried here with their second youngest son, Edward Gerrard Forsyth and his family.  The following two photos were taken a couple of years ago for me by Robert and Helen's grandson, Patrick.  As this is in Scotland and I am in Australia I am extremely grateful to have these photos.




FORSYTH
Errected by Edward G Forsyth, Mid Cowbog, in loving memory          of his wife Helen Y Jamieson b. 1871-d. 1918; 
Also their sons Henry Alexander died in infancy;
Gnr Edward Gerrard b. 1894 d. in France 1916 - interred in St. Sever, Rouen;
John b. 1896 d. 1918. 
His father Robert Forsyth b. 1824-d. 1886;
And his mother Helen Thomsonb. 1825-d. 1917; 
His grand daughter Elizabeth Ingram b. 1907- d. 1914. 
His mother in law Elizabeth Thom b. 1838- d. 1915; 
His daughter Annie b. 1911- d. 1953 
The above Edward G Forsyth b. 1863-d. 1956.
Also their daughter Georgina who died 22nd June 1986 aged 77 years.
Also their daughter Jane Helen who died 8th Sept 1988 aged 87 years.


Monday 5 March 2012

Sunday's Obituary - Ann Jane Fleming nee Knight


My great great grandmother, Ann Jane Knight, was born about 1832 in Gloucestershire, England.  Her father was John Knight.
I have no further details about her life there or her parents or any siblings apart from what is written in the following obituaries.
I'm at a bit of a loss as to how to find more information such as who her mother was, where in Gloucestershire they came from etc.

UPDATES in September and November 2016


Ann gave birth to thirteen children, four of whom didn't survive childhood. The photo below is Ann and William Fleming with five of their children.



Wangaratta Despatch, Saturday, November 13, 1920 - Death of an Old Colonist - Mrs Ann Jane Fleming

A very old colonist in the person of Mrs Ann Jane Fleming, relict of the late William Finlay Fleming, died at her daughter's residence, (Mrs M Worrall, Brunswick) on Wednesday, November 10th, 1920, and the remains were taken to Whitfield for interment on Thursday.  Deceased who was aged 88 years, sustained an injury to her leg in February and was confined to her bed since, during her illness she was nursed by her daughters whose kindness to her was a comfort and consolation in the autumn of her life.  Born Gloucestershire, England, the late Mrs Fleming came to Australia in 1847 with her parents, and two sisters, since deceased.  After her marriage to Mr. Fleming 68 years ago, she went to the Goulburn Valley where they carried on farming for many years.  About 21 years ago they went to reside at Edi and her Husband died 9 years ago.  She is survived by 3 sons: Donald (King Valley), Moses (Wyalong) and J.K. Fleming (Wangaratta) also 5 daughters: Mrs. J. Thompson (Wangaratta) A. Tuckett (Kensington) M. Worrall (Brunswick), S. Laurence (Whitfield), W. Jones (Northcote) numerous grandchildren.  The funeral arrangements in Melbourne were carried out by J Allison and in Wangaratta by Irvings Pty Ltd.  Rev J.T. Piercey conducted the burial service.

FLEMING [KNIGHT] Ann Jane (1832 - 10/11/1920)   [EDI]
Wangaratta Chronicle, Saturday November 13, 1920
DEATH OF EDI RESIDENT.- Mrs Ann Jane FLEMING, widow of the late Mr Wm Finlay FLEMING, of Edi, died on Wednesday morning at the home of her daughter at Brunswick with whom she had been living since February last. Some time ago Mrs FLEMING fell and injured the bone of one leg, and since then she had been unable to leave her bed. Death was due to affects arising from this injury and also to heart weakness. The late Mrs FLEMING was a native of Glochestershire, England, and was 88 years of age. With her parents she came to Australia in 1847, and after their marriage in Melbourne Mr and Mrs FLEMING went to the Goulburn Valley where they engaged in farming, and 12 years ago sold out to come to Edi to live. There Mr FLEMING died nine years ago. Mrs FLEMING was respected by all who knew her. In time of sickness or trouble amongst her neighbors she was always anxious to help them, and in this way she rendered very helpful services to many sufferers. She is survived by eight of her family of 13, namely, Mrs J THOMPSON, Wangaratta; Mrs A TUCKETT, Kensington; Mrs M WORRALL, Brunswick; Mrs S LAURENCE, Whitfield; Mr Wm Jones FLEMING, Northcote; Mr Donald FLEMING, King Valley; Mr Moses FLEMING, Wyalong, NSW; and Mr John K FLEMING, Wangaaratta. There are 77 grand-children, 45 great grand children, and one great-great grandchild. The remains were brought from Melbourne on Wednesday night, and the cortege left the residence of Mr J K FLEMING on Thursday morning for the Whitfield cemetery. The burial service was read by Mr PIERCEY. The funeral arrangements were conducted by Mr J ALSTON (Melbourne) and Mr G V STEELE, Wangaratta.