Hephzibah HULME nee LAND of Horseshoe Creek, Milawa

Hephzibah HULME nee LAND was my 3 x Great-Grandmother.

Hephzibah Land was born in 1814 in Norfolk, England, the eldest daughter and first born child of Mary Bush and Joseph Land. She was baptised on the 14th of August at Guist, Norfolk.

She married William Clough/Cluff Hulme on the 4 of  March 1841 in St. James, Westminster, London, England. 

They had eleven children in 18 years. 

Hephzibah died on 26 July 1887 in Oxley, Victoria, at the age of 72.

MILAWA. (1887, August 6).
Ovens and Murray Advertiser (Beechworth, Vic. : 1855 - 1918), p. 2http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article198652087

Transcription - On Thursday the last remains of Mrs Hulme, wife of Mr W. Hulme, of Horseshoe Creek, Milawa, were interred in the Oxley General Cemetery. Mrs Hulme was very much respected by a large circle of friends, and at the time of her death had almost reached the allotted "threescore years and ten." The funeral train was attended by a large number of persons, who thus testified to the great respect in which the deceased lady was held, the Rev. A. Macfarlane conducting the funeral


Milawa CemeteryMilawa Cemetery (from http://milawa.vic.au/town-history/)

"The cemetery at Milawa is often known as the Oxley Cemetery. It was established in 1864, after considerable discussion about a suitable site. It was expanded in area by approximately two acres towards the west within the first twelve months – Robert Snowdon being the first interment there. The different denominations have their own areas, and all the graves face the east. The cemetery contains a number of European settlers, Aboriginals and Chinese, although the burial places of the Aboriginals and Chinese are not known, many early records having been lost, damaged or destroyed.” from Memories of Oxley, p. 46

Sapper George William HULME

George William HULME, eldest son of John William HULME and Alice Morgan REID, was born on the 10th of August 1884 at Edi near Wangaratta in North East Victoria.

George enlisted at Sydney in the No 1 Field Company engineers on the 19th of August 1914.  He had been apprenticed at a power house in Hawkesbury, New South Wales and later trained and employed in mechanical and electrical engineering at one of the New South Wales Government workshops.

On the 3rd of March 1915, his unit embarked to Alexandria.  After 3 months service at Gallipoli George was admitted to hospital with Influenza.  He soon became jaundiced and was transferred via the hospital ship Neuralia to Malta in August and by early September he was in hospital in London.  The Neuralia had also taken on board soldiers who were rescued from the troopship Southland on the 2nd of September.

Men rescued from the troopship Southland after it was torpedoed in the Aegean Sea near Agistrati Island while it was carrying Australian troops to Gallipoli. 

The men are removing lifebelts after reaching the deck of the hospital ship Neuralia.Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain

 This item is in the Public Domain

George had served in the A.I.F for one year and 84 days landing at Gallipoli on the 25th of April 1915,  His time at the Dardanelles was spent making bombs.
Due to an ongoing foot problem and after much corresponding back and forth with the Australian military office, George was officially discharged as unfit in January 1916.

Rather than return to Australia where he felt employment opportunities would be in short supply George had applied to do Home Service in England.  He was given a position doing munitions work at the Royal Dockyard at Woolwich.

http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/NameSearch/Interface/ItemDetail.aspx?Barcode=7031878

It seems George was having difficulty in later being repatriated to Australia.

In 1919 he sent a letter to Andrew Fisher, the High Commissioner at Australia House requesting his help.

By 1922 George had returned to Australia and that year he married Clarice Jane BENNETT (known as Cassie).  There is no mention in his records about how he got back to Australia, whether he returned under his own steam or the A.I.F repatriated him.

I have found no record of children for George and Cassie and as it appears no-one else has either (a search of ancestry trees) I will assume the couple remained childless.

In the 1949 electoral roll George and Cassie were living at the Hawkesbury Agricultural College where he was employed as an engineer.

In 1967 George wrote a letter to the Army Records Section in Melbourne applying for his Anzac commemoration medallion and badges.

George passed away at the good age of 93 years on the 9th of November 1977 at Tamworth, New South Wales.

Cassie had predeceased him in 1971

Tribute page for our Servicemen

52 Ancestors Week 23 - Wedding - Daisy Morgan and Archie Fleming 1932

My maternal grandparents were married on the 8th of October 1932.

A quiet but pretty wedding was celebrated at the home of the bride's parents "Willow Bank" Moyhu, on Saturday, October 8th, when Daisy Marion, second daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Morgan, became the wife of Mr. Archie W. F. (third son of Mrs. D. Fleming "Valley View", King Valley, and the late Mr. D. Fleming).

The Rev M.C. Day of Wangaratta officiated.  The charming bride, who was given away by her father, was tastefully gowned in ankle length white satin with a yoke of silk lace.  A fitting bodice and slender skirt with fullness given by inlet pleated flares.  Her beautiful veil of embroidered tulle (lent by her sister Mrs. D. Jones) was worn cap fashion, and held by a wreath of orange blossom.  She also wore a necklace of crystal beads, and carried a bouquet of semi-sheaf arum lilies, intermingled with maiden hair fern and white satin streamers.  The bride was attended by her sister Miss Mavis Morgan, whose pretty ankle-length frock of powder blue  satin, with puff sleeves, looked very attractive with her head band of satin and flowers.  Her pretty posy was of arum lilies, maiden hair fern and pink satin streamers.  Mr. H Fleming was best man.  Immediately after the ceremony satin horse shoes were placed on the arm of the bride by her little brother Bert, and little Graeme McLaren (nephew of the bridegroom) and Caroline Jones (neice of the bride).  After the ceremony a reception was held at the home of the bride's parents.  The tables looked charming, the central decoration being a tiered wedding cake.  The bride's travelling frock was of maroon crepe-de-chene with hat to tone.  The bride's gift to the bridegroom was a travelling rug and that of the bridegroom to the bride a xylonite toilet set and to the bridesmaid a xylonite clock.  Many beautiful presents were received, including many cheques.  The future home of Mr. and Mrs. Fleming will be at "Greenfields" King Valley.

52 Ancestors week 19 - William Cluff HULME's sticky situation

In 1854, my great-great-great grandfather, William Cluff HULME, was in the sticky situation of Bankruptcy.

William was born on the 24th of March, 1811 at St. Pancras, Middlesex, England.  

He was the eldest son of seven children of Daniel HULME and Mary nee WOOD.  

Along with his sister Caroline, William was baptised on the 18th of April 1813 at St. Pancras Old Church.

St Pancras Old Church 1915
This file has been identified as being free of known restrictions under copyright law, including all related and neighbouring rights.

On the 4th of March 1841 William married Hephzibah LAND at Westminster, London. Between 1841 and 1859 they had eight children.

William was a grocer at High Street, Putney.  

On the 10th of March, 1854 his bankruptcy was mentioned in the London Gazette.

 

According to the U.K. National Archives, very few bankruptcy case files survive. 

"Insolvent debtors and bankrupts are different. Bankrupts were supposed to be traders, making their living by buying and selling.  Insolvent debtors were individuals unable to pay their debts. Only after 1861 could insolvent debtors apply for bankruptcy."

Bankruptcy procedure:
Chancery commissioners dealt with bankruptcy before 1832.
In 1832 the court of bankruptcy was established and creditors could petition the Lord Chancellor for a commission of bankruptcy or a fiat. Commissioners decided if a debtor was eligible to be declared bankrupt and would oversee the distribution of assets.
Official assignees were appointed and were responsible for depositing the proceeds from the sale of a bankrupt's estates into the Bank of England. When sufficient creditors were satisfied and had signed a request for a Certificate of Conformity (a statement that the bankrupt had satisfied all the legal requirements), the Commissioners could issue the certificate which effectively discharged him, although dividends might continue to be paid.
After 1849 creditors petitioned for an 'Adjudication in Bankruptcy.' The Commissioners took statements from the bankrupt and his creditors. The creditors would then elect trustees to value his assets and distribute them as dividends.
From 1849 to 1861, there were 3 classes of certificate of conformity which distinguished between

• blameless bankrupts
• bankrupts partially at fault
• bankrupts fully at fault

After 1861, orders of discharge were issued instead. 

Possibly on the recommendation of other family members who had already emigrated, and to make a new start, William, Hephzibah, and six of their eight children, the eldest, William junior and the five youngest, Arthur, Jessie, Albert, John and Jeremiah, sailed for Australia on board the ship "Blue Jacket". 

The second, Mary, and third eldest (my great-great grandfather, Joseph HULME)  followed later.

William and Hephzibah settled in North East Victoria where all but two of their children continued to live.  

Hephzibah died in 1887 and William in 1895, both at Oxley.

  52 Ancestors Challenge 
  by Amy Johnson Crow at "No Story Too Small"

52 Ancestors Week 15 - How do you spell that?

BARTSCH OR BARTSH?

My maternal great-great grandmother, Anna Dorothea BARTSCH was reputedly born in 1855 on board the Danish ship "Acmel".  Her parents, two older sisters, grandparents, cousins and Uncles and Aunts were bound for Australia from Prussia. 

Another family researcher has claimed Anna was not born on the ship.  I have yet to look further into the claim.

The Bartsch/Bartsh family, Johann Heinrich (John Henry) and his wife Anna Dorothea nee NEBEL, settled in the Beechworth area of North East Victoria.

Anna's maternal grandparents, Georg NEBEL and Anna Dorothea nee SCHULTZ, settled in Westgarthtown (Thomastown) near Melbourne where there was a large Prussian community.

Anna Dorothea BARTSCH married Joseph HULME on the 16th of March 1865 at Beechworth. They went on to have ten children who all lived to adulthood.

Anna pre-deceased her husband by twelve years.  She passed away on the 5th of August 1908 at Oxley, Victoria.

 52 Ancestors Challenge 
  by Amy Johnson Crow at "No Story Too Small"

52 Ancestors Week 14 - Favourite photo

My favourite photo is of my maternal grandmother, Daisy Marion MORGAN 
and her sister Clarice May MORGAN.

Clarice was born in September 1905 and Daisy in August 1908.
I think this photo would probably have been taken in about 1910 or 11.

Clarice and Daisy were both born at Moyhu, Victoria, the eldest and second eldest of four daughters of William Thomas MORGAN and Ada May HULME.  All four daughters had boys nicknames.

Clarice, (nickname Tod) married David JONES in 1930.  They had two children.  Clarice died at Wangaratta, Victoria in January 1998.

Daisy, (nickname Billy) married Archie FLEMING in 1932.  They had four children.  Daisy died at Shepparton, Victoria in December 1998.

 52 Ancestors Challenge 
                                         by Amy Johnson Crow at "No Story Too Small"

52 Ancestors week 9 - Close to Home - W. F. FLEMING

The ancestor who lived closest to where I live now would by my great great grandparents William Findlay FLEMING and his wife Ann Jane, nee KNIGHT

The ancestor who lived closest to where I live now would by my great great grandparents William Findlay FLEMING and his wife Ann Jane, nee KNIGHT.

I currently live at Bunbartha, William and Ann Jane FLEMING settled at Kotupna, Victoria in around 1873 where he purchased 185 acres.

Kotupna is 30 kilometres (18 miles) North West of Bunbartha.

In 1900 the Fleming's left Kotupna, Northern Victoria and moved to Edi in the King Valley , North East Victoria.

Ann Jane and William Findlay FLEMING. 

52 Ancestors Challenge 
by Amy Johnson Crow at "No Story Too Small"

My 52 Ancestors challenge list

Family stories - William and Hepzebah HULME - Ned Kelly country.

In many families, a story will often be passed down over the years that may never have been proven one way or another.  

My great great great grandparents were William Cluff  HULME and Hepzebah nee LAND who emigrated to Australia from Putney, England in 1862.  

They came out to join other family members.  Their son, my great great grandfather, Joseph HULME, who had arrived with his maternal uncle Arthur LAND, two years earlier and William's brother, Edward HULME who was married to Hepzebah's sister, Jemima nee LAND.

They had all settled in the Oxley/King Valley area of North East Victoria,  which is where the Kelly Gang was based.  Many of the people of the district were sympathisers as they saw first hand the police harassment and persecution of the Kelly family.  

Some years ago a fellow HULME family member was extremely generous in sharing with me, his research, and that given to him by an earlier HULME family historian.  Thank you Peter!

I hadn't heard it before but the family story passed down his line was that William and Hepzebah HULME had paid the fine for Ellen Kelly, mother of Australian bushranger, Ned Kelly, after the Fitzpatrick incident.

I am assuming the word 'fine' would mean bail but am open to correction.

A book I have just finished reading about Ellen Kelly, written by Noelene Allen, Ellen- A woman of spirit (pg 114), states that Greta farmers William Dinning and his brother in law Robert Graham paid Ellen Kelly's bail in Winter of 1878.

This detail was also stated in the book Ned Kelly written by Peter FitzSimons,   These authors had done their research so I thought I would try to find some evidence.  

The Public Records Office of Victoria came up trumps with the following document.

If  'fine' means 'bail' then this document appears to disprove the family story.

PROV, VPRS 4966 Consignment P0 Unit 1 Item 4 Document: Ellen Kelly – Recognizance of bail 21/05/1878
Reproduced with the permission of the Keeper of Public Records, Public Record Office Victoria, Australia. 

RECOGNIZANCE OF BAIL.BE IT REMEMBERED, That on the thirty first day of May in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy eight Ellen Kelly Of Greta, in the Colony of Victoria, and William Dinning Farmer of Greta, in the said Colony and Robert Graham Farmer of Greta, in the said Colony personally came before the undersigned, one of Her Majesty’s Justices of the Peace for the Northern Bailiwick, of the said Colony, and severally acknowledged themselves to owe to our Lady the Queen the several sums following:the said Ellen Kelly the sum of Fifty pounds, and the said William Dinning and Robert Graham the sum of Fifty pounds each of good and lawful money of Great Britain, to be made and levied of their several goods and chattels, lands and tenements, respectively, to the use of our said Lady the Queen, Her Heirs and Successors, if she, the said Ellen Kelly fail in the condition endorsed.Taken and acknowledged the day and year first above mentioned, at Beechworth in the said Colony, beforeW. Foster P.M. J.P.

PROV, VPRS 4966 Consignment P0 Unit 1 Item 4 Document: Ellen Kelly – Recognizance of bail 21/05/1878
Reproduced with the permission of the Keeper of Public Records, Public Record Office Victoria, Australia. 

The condition of the within-written Recognizance is such,That whereas the said Ellen Kelly was on the 17th day of May instant charged before R. McBean and W. Little Justices within mentioned, for that she, the said Ellen Kelly on the Fifteenth day of April, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy eight, at Greta in the colony aforesaid, did aid and abett one Edward Kelly in an attempt to murder one Alexander Fitzpatrick at Greta in the Colony aforesaid.if therefore the said Ellen Kelly will appear at the next Court of Assize to be helded at Beechworth, in and for the Northern Bailiwick of the Colony of Victoria, on the Ninth day of October, and there surrender herself into the custody of the keeper of the common gaol there, and plead to such information as may be filed against her for and in respect of the charge aforesaid, and take her trial upon the same, and not depart the said Court without leave, then the said Recognizance to be void, or else to stand in full force and virtue.

I would love to know what my fellow HULME family researchers think.

William Thomas Morgan

Today my post is a memorial to my mum's Grandad Morgan.

William Thomas Morgan, known as Bill, was born in 1872 at Euroa, Victoria, the fourth son of Thomas Fitzherbert Morgan and Mary Ann/Marion nee Pike.

Bill married Ada May Hulme on the 20th of April 1905 at Oxley in North East Victoria and they lived for many years in the Moyhu area where they raised four daughters and a son.

I am told he was a very gentle and kind man.

Bill left this life on the 19th of December 1950 at the age of 78.  

Family Friends Friday - Pratt and Pigram families of Edi Upper

These photos are in the photo album of my maternal grandmother, Daisy Fleming nee Morgan and I am so thankful that my mum went through and named all the photos with her, even though those stickers are probably not the best idea.

The Pratt and Pigram families were neighbours and friends of my maternal grandparents, Daisy and Archie Fleming

They were farmers living at Edi Upper in the King Valley, North Eastern Victoria.

They were still listed as living there in the 1980 electoral roll.

I'm fairly sure that Laurel and Dudley were brother and sister.

Laurel married Charles Alexander Pratt and they had a son named Carl John Pratt about 1952.  

I remember mum telling me that Carl was killed in a car accident.  He died in 1969.

There are two other photos, one of Billy Pratt with his car, what looks like an EH Holden, and one of Louise Pratt.  I haven't added those photos as they could be still living.  

I think they are Carl's brother and sister.

I'm not sure if the photo below is the same Billy Pratt or not.

Sunday's Obituary - Donald Fleming

Wangaratta Chronicle, Saturday December 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.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My great grandfather, Donald Fleming, was born on the 16th of December, 1860 at Spring Hill.  The third child of eleven and second son of William Finlay Fleming and Ann Jane nee Knight who settled at Kotupna, Northern Victoria in the 1870s and in 1901 moved to the King Valley in the North East.

Sibling Saturday - Fleming/Morgan wedding

On the 8th of October 1932 my maternal grandparents, Archibald William Finlay Fleming and Daisy Marion Morgan were married at Daisy's parents home, Willow Bank, Moyhu in North East Victoria.

The best man was Archie's younger brother Harold Fleming and the bridesmaid was Daisy's younger sister Mavis Morgan.

Adult children of Finlay Fleming and Jessie nee Splatt

Adult children of Finlay Fleming and his wife Jessie nee Splatt

William Finlay born 1893 Barwo (Kotupna/Nathalia) Victoria died 1974 Wangaratta, Victoria.

Elizabeth Ethel Linda born 1900 Nathalia, Vic died 1976 Clayton, Vic married first Dudley Norman Porter in 1920. They had six children.  Dudley died in 1945 and Elizabeth remarried Albert Ernest Cameron.

Jane/Jean Margaret born 1895 Barwo died 1981 Armadale, Victoria married Nelson Burns in 1917.  They had four children.

Vera Finlay born 1901 Moyhu, Victoria died 1992 Wangaratta, Victoria married Leonard Forge in 1921.  They had five children.

Mary Ann Sarah "Maisie" born 1904 Moyhu, Victoria died 1996 in New South Wales married Walter T Edwards at Mosman in 1930.  He died in 1960 and she remarried Jim O'Grady in 1966.

David Claude born 1897 Barwo, Victoria died 1978 Sorrento, Queensland married Agnes Frew Johnston.  They had two daughters.

Ethel Maude born 1899 Barwo, Victoria died 1976 Mildura, Victoria married John Lewis Burrell in 1918.  They had ten children.

Jessie Madeline "Madge" born 1903 Moyhu, Victoria died 1978 Parkville, Victoria married James Frederick Murphy at Wangaratta in 1929.  They had two daughters.

One daughter deceased so missing from the photo is Christina Florence Fleming born 1898 Barwo died 1953 at Mildura.  She married Garret Lyons in 1917 and they had two sons.

Their father, Finlay Fleming was the son of William Finlay Fleming and Ann Jane nee Knight.  He was born in 1864 at Spring Hill, Victoria and died in 1910 at Wangaratta.

He married Jessie Splatt at Echuca, Victoria in 1893.  Jessie was the daughter of William Edgar Splatt and Jane Margaret Simpson.  She was born in 1867 at Rokewood and died in 1942 at Whitfield, Victoria

The Fleming's had settled at Kotupna, near Nathalia in Northern Victoria, in the 1870s and in 1901 they moved to the King Valley in North East Victoria where the boys followed farming pursuits.

Finlay/Finley and Jessie are buried at the Whitfield, also known as the Hyem cemetery in North East Victoria, with their young grandson Phillip Burns who died in 1927

Wangaratta Despatch, August 6th, 1910 - Death of King Valley Farmer

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The death of Mr. Finlay Fleming, a well known and much respected farmer of the King Valley, caused surprise and regret in the district on Wednesday.  The deceased was in his usual health last week, excepting for a cold to which he did not give much attention.  On Saturday, however, he became ill, and was brought to the Wangaratta hospital, where it was found he was suffering from pneumonia, he gradually got worse, and died about midnight on Tuesday.  The late Mr. Fleming, who was the fifth son of Mr. W.F. Fleming, of Edi (who celebrated his hundredth birthday in January last) was born at Creswick, but spent most of his life at Kotupna, where Mr. Fleming senior, settled after he gave up mining.  About eight years ago the parents and several of the sons moved to this district,  where they secured farms, and Mr. Finlay Fleming's residence on the King River dated back to that time,  he was a very industrious man, a good farmer, and possessed of excellent personal qualities that made him very popular.  His death at the early age of 46 years has been heard of with great regret for the deceased had many friends,  who regarded him as an acquisition to the Edi district.  His unexpected death comes with crushing effect, too upon his wife, who is left with a family of nine children, the eldest of whom is 16 years of age, and the youngest 5, the great sympathy has been expressed for her and the other relatives on this untimely bereavement,  Messrs. James, Donald, and Henry Fleming of Edi are deceased's brothers, another being resident in New South Wales, while Mrs. Lawrence (Whitfield), Mrs. Thomas (Albury), Mrs. Tuckett and Mrs. Worrall (Melbourne) are sisters.  The remains of deceased were interred in the Whitfield cemetery, the coffin being taken by train to Hyem stopping place on Wednesday afternoon.

Sepia Saturday - Horses and carts

My paternal grandfather, Jim Forsyth (born James Richard Musson).  Written on back of photo is "Jim at Mooroopna" so possibly taken mid to late1940s.

My maternal grandmother, Daisy Marion Fleming nee Morgan probably taken in the Wangaratta, Myrtleford area of North East Victoria.

Written on the back of this photo that belonged to my paternal grandfather is "Mac's whare", Mac and Fat, which were nicknames of his brothers, Eric and Ian Musson and a couple of other illegible names.  

A whare is a maori hut or dwelling but I'm also told was also a name for a relocatable type of dwelling.  This one was used when the men went out doing harvesting or hunting I think. Possibly taken early to mid 1930s around the Christchurch or Rangiora area.

A photo from New Zealand, possibly Rangiora, of my paternal grandfathers young niece, Lynley Barker with a chap named Ted Walls or Wallis.  I haven't found his connection to the family.  This photo was possibly taken around 1934 or 5.

Taken in New Zealand, possibly Forsyth or Musson family members

You can read more Sepia Saturday posts here

Young Ronald Lee Lowry bushfire victim

Ronald Lee Lowry was born in 1924 to William Lowry and Edna nee Laurence. 

Edna was a first cousin of my grandfather, Archie Fleming. 

I haven't found if William and Edna Lowry had other children but they tragically lost their young son Ronald in a bushfire in North East Victoria in January 1939.

TWO BURNED TO DEATH Buckland Valley Victims. (1939, January 16). The Argus(Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), p. 2. Retrieved August 3, 2014, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article12086549

Local news story in the Wangaratta Chronicle Despatch.
Wednesday, January 18, 1939 page 2

Man & Boy Hurt - Former Cheshunt Residents Fire in Buckland Valley

Failing to reach safety by a few seconds, a man and his nephew were burnt to death in a fire which destroyed 6 houses in the Buckland Valley, near Porepunkah, on Friday afternoon.  Their bodies were not recovered until Saturday afternoon.

The men were Messrs. James Charles Lowry, aged 41 years of Buckland Valley and Ronald Lee Lowry, aged 15 years, his nephew.  Frantic attempts to save their home led to the deaths of the two Lowrys.  Only 100 yards separated them from a creek, but when they realized that their fight was hopeless and made a dash for safety, three fires had converged and practically cut off their retreat Ronald Lowry collapsed when only 100 yards from the creek and James Lowry became entangled in blackberry bushes, both were overwhelmed by the flames.  Before attempting to save the house Mr. James Lowry, his wife and their nephew had been crouching in the safety of a tunnel.  The two men went to the house during a lull in the fire.

When the road from Porepunkah to Buckland Valley littered with scores of burning logs, First Constables Miller and Duncan of Myrtleford and a doctor, had to cut away for their motor truck along the bush tracks to recover the bodies on Saturday.  They succeeded in driving to within a few miles of the township.  The 30 mile journey occupied 9 hours.

Left Whitfield 2 years ago - Messrs William and James Lowry had been prospecting in the Buckland Valley for the past 2 years, having previously been engaged for 9 years in tobacco growing at Cheshunt, Mr. William Lowry's wife and son had been staying at Whitfield with Mrs. Lowry's mother, Mrs. Laurence, and only on Monday last week went to reside in their house at Buckland Valley.

Messrs Lowry had struck a good patch but poor supplies of water had forced them to go in for more development work in the way of building a larger race.  They saw the fire coming on Friday afternoon.  Mr. William Lowry placed his wife and son in a tunnel covering the opening with wet bags.   During a lull in the fire his brother said he would rush to the house to see if he could save anything, and the lad, although called back, rushed there also.  Suddenly three fires converged and the man and his nephew were trapped.  Mr. Lowry did not get very far from the house, but the lad got within 12 feet of the river when he was succumbed.  The grief stricken brother and father later found the body of his brother and son.

Situated 6 miles from the Lower Buckland post office, Mr. Lowry had no means of getting help until 2 men came along with a bicycle.  He placed his wife on the bicycle and wheeled her to the post office.  A man came along and left at daybreak to obtain assistance and later Constables Miller and Duncombe with Dr. Beaumont arrived from Myrtleford, to where Mr. and Mrs. Lowry were conveyed.  Mr. Lowry speaks appreciatively of the assistance given his wife and himself.  In addition to his house and mining equipment, 800 feet of piping was lost.

The late Mr. Lowry had 2 other brothers, Alfred and Harold, who reside in Melbourne.  Mr. and Mrs. Lowry left Whitfield 4 years ago for Buckland.  The funeral of the two victims left the home of Mrs. S. Laurence, Whitfield, for the Hyem cemetery on Sunday, a large number of people gathered at the graveside.  The Rev. J. Priestly read the burial service and the arrangements were made by Messrs. Bowden and Diggle.  In each case the coffin bearers were Messrs L. Bennett, J. Burrows, A. Owens, and A. Simmonds and the pall bearers were supported by Messrs. H. Thomas, A. Peipers, W. Fleming, H.H. Smith, W. Peipers and R. Lay.