NFHM2017 Blogging Challenge Week 3 - River Lodden Victoria

One river in my family history that comes immediately to mind is The River Loddon which, after the Goulburn river, is the second longest in Victoria.  It begins near Musk, just East of Daylesford and travels North for nearly 400 kilometres to merge with the Little Murray River around Winlaton near Swan Hill.

A map of the river can be seen HERE at Bonzle.com

My great-great-grandmother, Mary Ann (Marrian/Marion) PIKE was born at River Loddon on the 10th of May 1847, youngest daughter of Isabella nee BEATON and John PIKE.  Loddon District covers a wide area and the exact location seems to be unknown, although likely somewhere near the Murray River.  

Her Obituary in the Euroa newspaper in 1933 had an interesting snippet about her memories.

THE EUROA ADVERTISER, FRIDAY, AUGUST 11, 1933.

MRS MARRIAN MORGAN

The death occurred at her residence, Euroa, on Friday last, of Mrs Marrian Morgan, one of the oldest and most highly respected residents of the district. The late Mrs Morgan was one of the earliest residents, coming to this district in 1851, with her widowed mother, at the age of four years, and has thus resided here for 82 years. She was born in Loddon district, and had a good recollection of the early days, recalling an occasion, when she resided in the north, her mother had to leave her children and cross the Murray, a mile wide in flood, in a frail boat, to obtain provisions. They did not expect their mother to return safely.  After her marriage she resided for many years on a farm a few miles from Euroa, near Mr G. Harrison’s. She raised a large family, four of whom, with her husband, pre-deceased her. Her eldest son, John, was drowned in the Seven Creeks, near the Sydney road bridge, in flood time. For many years the late Mrs Morgan had resided in the town. The possessor of a kindly and genial nature, she held the affection of a large circle of friends and relatives. She leaves an adult family of one daughter (Mrs A. McNay, Yarrawonga), and eight sons, all of whom are well known here and held in high respect. The funeral took place on Sunday last. The graveside service was read by Rev. L. Hume. The pall bearers were Messrs, H., Edward, George and Arch Morgan, S. T. McNay, G. McCoomb and N. McCoomb; the coffin bearers were Messrs G., R., A., J., E., and F. Morgan, and Messrs T., J., and George Morgan jr., acted as flower bearers. Mr T. G. Ferguson carried out the funeral arrangements.

Wikipedia - electoral district of Loddon

http://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/585809

Created/Published Melbourne : Surveyor Generals' Office, Dec. 8 1855

#NFHM2017 Blogging Challenge - Week 3 - All the Rivers Run

John Pike/Pyke - my first Aussie arrival

John Pike/Pyke was my 3rd great grandfather.
He was the son of Joseph Pike and Elizabeth nee Cartwright of Rathangan, Kildare, Ireland.  John was a Bounty Immigrant on the ship Coromandel arriving in Australia on the 10th of July 1840,  occupation listed as farmyard clerk.

His sisters Eliza, Rebecca and Sarah had already arrived here in February of that year in the company of their other sister Marian, a school teacher, and her husband John Armstrong.

John Armstrong was a schoolmaster and he kept a diary with regular daily entries.  This diary held the only mention or record of John Pike's death in 1847 as for some unknown reason no death registration or certificate has been found.

John Pike had become an Overseer at two Aboriginal Protectorates in Victoria.

In 1840 the Aboriginal Protectorate at Mitchellstown was re-located to the future site of Murchison township, with William Le Souef in charge.  Murchison or Goulburn was one of four Aboriginal Protectorates.

On the 7th of September, 1842 John married Isabella Beaton at St. James Cathedral Melbourne.

They went on to have 3 daughters.
Jane born 9 Aug 1843 at Goulburn River, Murchison.
Eliza born 17 Nov 1844 at River Loddon
Mary Ann (my great great grandmother) born 10 May 1847 at River Loddon

Eliza and Mary Ann weren't baptised until January 1848.

In 1843 Isabella was appointed school mistress or matron of the Aboriginal establishment , for this situation it was said she was well qualified with her clean habits and general good conduct.

The protectorate system was abolished in 1851, and the remains of the Murchison site have not been established.

John Pike left the Goulburn Aboriginal Station on the 6th of May 1844 for the River Loddon Aboriginal Protectorate.  The Assistant Protector of Aborigines there was Edward Stone Parker.

Loddon River Protectorate photo from Wikimedia commons

An entry in John Armstrong's diary for January 1848 reads as follows:
"Had a letter from a Mr. Bicknell, Aboriginal Station, River Loddon, Port Phillip district, containing intelligence of the death of John Pike on the 10 Nov.  He has left a wife and 3 daughters under 4 years.  His disorder was Tympanitis and was preceded by influenza which he got while on a visit to Melbourne.  He had returned from there in the beginning of Nov.  Mrs P was living at Mr Parker's - Head of the station"

John Pike's widow remarried in November 1848 to George Harrison ............ and there lies a whole other story.