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The
Story of Henry Power of Wyndham and Jane Murphy of Tumut, NSW
and their
family
The other stories supplied by Bryan Power [bryanp2-at-bigpond.com]
John Power Snr | Thomas Power | Mary Ann Power | Jane Power | Honorah Power | Elizabeth Power | John Power Jnr | Edward Power | James Power | Henry Power | George Power | Ellen and Charles Power | Bridget Power | Patrick Power |
Foreword
This is the sixth story in Stage Two of my project to record the lives of the children of John and Mary Power, pioneers of Creewah on the Monaro and Wyndham whose story is available on www.monaropioneers.com.
The other twelve stories in stage two are also now (2009) on that website and they tell of the lives of Henry’s brothers and sisters: William, Thomas, Mary Ann, Jane, Honorah, Elizabeth, John, Edward, James, George, Ellen, Bridget, Charles and Patrick.
Acknowledgements
I am very grateful to Mrs Jeanette Barton of Mullamuddy near Mudgee for much of the information about the descendants of Henry and Jane. Jeanette is the youngest child of Henry and Jane’s youngest child, Edward Placid Power.
I also gratefully acknowledge the information about Jane’s parents provided on pages 2-3 by another descendant, Marilyn Williams.
Bryan Power
P.O.Box 610
Gisborne Vic 3437 (03) 5428 2795
bryanp2@bigpond.com
Henry Power was born on 10 November 1847 at “Creewah”, a 16,000 acre property near Bibbenluke north of Bombala on the Monaro tableland of New South Wales. He was the tenth child (of an eventual 15) of John and Mary Power. John was the manager of the Creewah property (a squatter’s run) for Conlon & Ryan. John was an Irishman and almost certainly an ex-convict who had arrived in the colony in about 1822 and obtained his ticket of leave before marrying Mary Donovan at Parramatta in 1837.
John was at that time a farmer at nearby Pennant Hills but in about 1840 he and Mary set off with two babies, Thomas and Mary Anne, into the unknown hinterland of the Monaro which was well outside the “limits of location” laid down by the Governor as areas that could be occupied by settlers.
Their family grew at the rate of almost one a year and when Henry was born the eldest child, Thomas, was only aged nine. (The first-born of the family, William, had died as an infant in 1838). Life must have been very difficult for the parents of such a large brood, far removed as they were from neighbours let alone a town. Feeding, clothing and accommodating the children in their primitive squatter’s hut would have been a taxing daily task at the best of times but during the severe Monaro winters John and Mary must have been sorely pressed to keep the children fed, warm and free of illness.
Still, survive they did despite a severe drought that gripped the Monaro from 1846 to 1848.
The Family Moves to Wyndham
By the time Henry was nine the family had moved down from the Monaro to farm at Lochiel near Pambula.
In 1859 the family moved to Wyndham where John and Mary were to finally settle on a small farm on the western edge of the village. They died there - Mary in 1862 (when Henry was aged 15) and John in 1872 - and both parents are buried on their farm in graves on the south bank of the Mataganah Creek.
Henry did not have the opportunity to attend a school and, as both of his parents were illiterate, neither he nor his brothers and sisters were taught to read and write. (On his wedding day Henry “signed” the marriage register with a cross.)
Henry Marries Jane Murphy
I have no records at all of Henry’s life as a young man until his marriage on 12 July 1876. Henry married Jane Murphy of Count-a-guinea (now known as Countegany) at St Patrick’s Catholic Church in Cooma. Henry was 28 and Jane 22. Henry’s occupation was recorded as “servant” and he was living at Bibbenluke although he gave as his usual place of residence Umaralla (Numeralla) where two of his sisters, Honorah (Mrs James Agnew) and Bridget (Mrs James Scullin), were also living. The two witnesses at the wedding were Mary Agnew and Edward Agnew.
I met Henry’s niece, Mrs Mary Ann Strangwidge (nee Power) at her home in Hurlstone Park in Sydney in 1967 when she was aged 92. She had a wonderful memory and over the next three years before her death she passed on a great deal of information about the family to me. She said that Henry was also known as Harry. She remembers him as being about 5 feet 9 inches (175 cms) tall with dark hair and a dark beard. The four of his children she could recall were “Jack” (real name Vivian), Ted and two girls: Ida and “Midge” (Amy Kate).
Jane Murphy was a teacher and she is probably the Mrs Power recorded as the first teacher at the Numeralla school as Jane became Mrs Power three months before the school commenced in October 1876. (See “in those days…” Numeralla-Countegany-Peak View and Surrounding Areas by Elaine Schofield page 22.)
Jane’s Family
Jane was the daughter of Edward Murphy – a trooper – and Bridget Mary O’Dea of Tumut. She was born at Tumut on 29 November 1852 and her baptism is recorded in the Parish of Yass on 10 July 1853.
The following edited information about Edward and Bridget has been provided to me by Marilyn Williams, a great-great granddaughter of Henry Power and Jane Murphy.
“Jane’s father Edward Murphy was born in 1806 in Ireland. After coming to Australia he was sent in 1839 with another trooper one D Patton to a place called Cockatoo, near Tumut which is where the police were stationed at that time. They were the first police stationed in the area. Cockatoo was about six and a half miles down river from the township of Tumut, NSW. At that time the police were under the supervision of Henry Bingham, Commissioner of Crown Lands. These officers had to accompany Bingham on his tours of the Murrumbidgee area from Yass to the junction of the Murrumbidgee and Murray Rivers. Bingham insisted upon decorum and the officers had to travel in full dress uniform with white bandolier, a sword and a revolver. Constable Murphy had been a member of the first Water Police Squad. After serving for 25 years in the police at Tumut, a good amount of that time as Chief Constable, he retired and bought a grazing property near Wyangle where he died on 6 September 1882. His widow sold the property to Patrick Geary, and with her son Harry went to live in a cottage in Newtown near Tumut on land now occupied by and Old Peoples’ Home. She died on 19 July 1915.”
Taken from the Gundagai Times 12 September 1882:
“On Wednesday last the news reached town of the death of Mr Edward Murphy of Wyangle. On that morning the deceased, who during his illness had been assiduously attended by the Rev. Father Curley, departed this life at the advanced age of 76. He leaves a widow, five grown up sons, and two daughters. In early days at Tumut Mr Murphy, who was known as the “Chief” was a very useful man in our town. He was the head of the Police here, and proved himself a very efficient officer. The population of the place was of course comparatively small and much scattered, but Mr Murphy maintained excellent order suppressing crime and quickly bringing offenders to justice, he had few equals in the service of the Crown. He was a good disciplinarian though his manner was quiet and unobtrusive. In the execution of his duties he had many encounters with desperate characters, but his cool determination ever brought him safely through. The stirring adventures in which he shared would be well worth recording. The deceased enjoyed a robust constitution, which was taxed by hardships of his early life. His death resulted from a general decay of the system. As an example of his cool courage we may state that some years ago, when the deceased resided in Tumut, he was gored by a cow. The furious beast rushed Mr Murphy and one of her horns entered the pit of his stomach, his innards were protruding from the wound, but the Chief replaced the parts, and then holding his hands over the place, coolly walked fully 200 yards to get the wound dressed and attended. His friends thought his life was in danger, but the veteran speedily was about again, though ever since he has suffered from the effect of the disaster.”
“Jane’s mother Bridget Mary O’Dea arrived in the colony as an Irish famine orphan. She arrived on the Thomas Arbuthnot which left Plymouth in October 1849 and arrived in Sydney on 3 February 1850. Dr Charles Strutt brought 215 girls of which 194 were Irish famine orphans, between the ages of 14 and 20 (72% were aged between 16 and 18). Dr Strutt looked after the girls very well. The book A Decent Set of Girls: the Irish famine orphans of the Thomas Arbuthnot 1849-1850 by Richard Reid and Cheryl Mongan is taken from the diaries of Dr Charles Strutt; it is a very good read. References to Bridget are on pages 52, 54, 86, 91, 93 and 103.
Bridget O’Dea went to work for Henry Bingham, Commissioner of Crown Lands; he had a property called Wallangawa in Tumut. Bridget held the position of house maid; her term was 12 months and she was paid eight pounds a year. I assume this is how she came into contact with Senior Constable Murphy. They married on 10 October 1850 in Tumut; witnesses were John Madigan and Jane Liddy. They stayed in the area for the rest of their lives, both died there and they are buried in the old pioneer cemetery in Tumut.
Edward and Bridget had nine children of whom Jane was the second eldest.”
Children of Edward Murphy and Bridget Mary O’Dea:
1. Mary Murphy born 1851 Tumut NSW; died before 1882.
5. James Murphy born 1858 Tumut.
8. John Stanley Murphy born 1865 Tumut; married Louisa E Francis in Cudal NSW in 1888.
9. Henry Murphy born 1869 Tumut.
Obituary taken from the Tumut and Adelong Times 22 July 1915:
“It has become our very sad duty to record the demise of one of our oldest pioneers in our district viz Mrs B M Murphy widow of the late Mr E Murphy who for years acted as the Chief Constable in the Tumut district. The venerable old lady can be classed as having been one of the oldest residents of our district, having been located here for over 60 years. Her husband who went under the sobriquet in those days of Murphy the Chief, was the first officer placed in charge of the neighborhood, and he had an immense area of country under his supervision, at that time the distinction of Seargent was not available for country parts at any rate, or he would certainly have gained such an appointment. After a lapse of about 25 years he left the force and took up an area of land at Wyangle, where he and his wife resided until the death of the husband, about 30 years ago. Shortly afterwards the widow and family decided to come and live in Tumut, and the property was sold to a Mr Patrick Geary. Mrs Murphy has been residing at Newtown Tumut ever since, and her son Harry lived with her up until her death, exhibiting constant affection towards his mother that reflects the highest credit upon him as a dutiful son, and setting an example to us all. He was seldom from her side except when on duty. During her illness which was not long, he took care of her every want and need. The age of the old lady, who was universally respected was 82 years. Her remains were interred in the Catholic portion of the old cemetery, along side her departed husband. Obsequies at he grave being performed by the Rev. Father Griffen, and Mr J Elphick carried out the undertakers duties.”
The Children of Henry and Jane Power
Henry and Jane
had six children:
Place of Birth Date of Birth Reg No
1. Ida Mary
Power Wyndham 25 April 1877
11393
2. Irene Cecil Power Lochiel 31
January 1879 12987
3. Vivian Andrew Power Tumut
1881 27615
4. Amy Kate Power Camden
1884 15376
5. Lucy Claire (“Inez”) Power Campbelltown 18
February 1888 17661
6. Edward Placid Power Campbelltown 6 January
1891 9657
Edward had a twin brother who, sadly, was still-born.
An indication of the family’s movements are given by the records of where the children were born. As an unskilled labourer Henry would have taken work where he could have found it and no doubt Jane would not have continued to work as a teacher once she began her family.
Wyndham and Lochiel were places familiar to Henry while Tumut was Jane’s birth place and she still had family living there in 1881. An examination of the children’s birth certificates would reveal more details. For example, Lucy’s certificate shows that her father was employed as a quarryman in February 1888. She was born at Lithgow St, Campbelltown, probably in the family home. Jane provided the information for the registrar and for some reason gave her husband’s age as 38 when in fact he was 40. I have not seen the other five birth certificates but they too, doubtlessly, would yield snippets of interesting information.
Again, I have no information about the lives of these six children as they grew up but much, I am sure, could be provided by their descendants.
What follows is not much more than a catalogue of names and official records. It needs to be filled out to become a story that can adequately transmit the family’s history to future generations.
See a fuller account of this family from pages 6.
Ida died on 1 February 1968 at Parramatta .
Irene died in Ashfield in 1955.
Ruby (known as “Tanti”). Vivian died in Yass on 1 August 1917 (Reg No 10038) and is buried in his father’s grave.
Some years later in 1923 Mary married Thomas Reidy at Petersham.
Edward.
Ernest’s marriage to Amy Kate was his second marriage.
He had been born at Lismore in 1883 (Reg No 29599). He died at Auburn in 1931.
Midge died in 1957 in Ryde.
5. Lucy Claire (“Inez”) Power was born in Campbelltown in 1888 (Reg No 17661) and was baptized on 19 March 1888 at St John’s, Cordeaux St, Campbelltown with the name of Inez Claire and was always spoken of as “Inez”. Inez did not marry. She died on 4 September 1917 in Yass (Reg. No 10043).
As you can see, Inez and Vivian died within the space of little more than a month of each other: a double tragedy for the family.
6. Edward Placid Power was born in Campbelltown on 6 January 1891. Edward married Myrtle Elizabeth Phyllis Heinke at Auburn on 24 May 1935 at Granville (Reg No 6238). Myrtle had been born in Forbes in 1903 (Reg No 29877), the daughter of Herbert and Mary Heinke (nee Geddes) who had married at Parkes in 1899 (Reg No 4081).
Edward and Myrtle had four children:
1. Nita Marie Power (Mrs Ken Irving),
2. Herbert Donald Power (married to Joanne Bartlett),
3. Henry Vivian Power (married to Pauline Plenty) and
4. Jeannette Mary Power (Mrs John Barton).
Edward died at 74 Alice St, Auburn on 15 December 1962 and is buried at Rookwood.
Myrtle died at Auburn on 15 May 1993 and is buried with Edward.
Edward provided the information for the death certificates of both of his parents and recorded his address - Deakin St, Auburn - as their place of death. (Edward had bought this house for his parents to live in during their retirement.)
Henry Power died on 2 September 1926 of chronic bronchitis at Auburn and was buried at the Roman Catholic division (Grave No 503, Section L) Rookwood.
His wife, Jane, died almost exactly three years later at Auburn - on 8 September 1929 - of acute bronchitis and was also buried at Rookwood. Jane’s death certificate showed that her father, Edward Murphy, was a farmer and her mother was Bridget Day.
The children of the marriage were recorded as Ida M 52, Irene C 50, Amy K 45 and Edward P 38 living; 1 mail (sic) and 1 femail (sic) deceased.
1. Children of Ida Mary Power and Thomas Joseph Carlysle Gillett
1.
Leon Austin Wyndham Gillett
was born at
Picton in 1900 (Reg No 25499). He married Phyllis A Davis at Burwood NSW
in 1933 (Reg No 1710).Their children are:
1.
Thomas Gillett,
2. Paul Gillett,
3. James Gillett and
4. Kathleen Gillett who married Roger Hogan from Crookwell.
Leon died in Sydney in 1976
2. Irene Mary Vivian “Mimi” Gillett was born at Camden on 22 January 1902. Mimi married an Italian named Alfrado Bagnato at Corrimal N.S.W. In 1948 he changed his name to Bagnat. They had four children:
1. John M Bagnat married Patricia M Barton 1950 at St Francis Xavier Church, Wollongong. Their two children are:
1. Marilyn P A Bagnat married Allan Williams Their two
children are:
1. Cassandra
2. Gareth
2. Thomas J Bagnat married Linda B 1975 at the Botanical Gardens, Keraville NSW. Their two children are:
1.Patrick
2.Misty
2. Keith A Bagnat married Rosemary Bell 1956 at Wollongong; died 9 February 2005 in Port Kembla Hospital. Their two children are:
1. Deborah
2. Susan
3. Neville F P J Bagnat married (1) Elaine Hobson 1957 at Wollongong. Their two children are:
1. Lee
2. Graham
Neville married (2) Marie Brazier 1974 in Sydney and
(3) Judith Crookshank 1985.
There are no children of these two marriages.
4. Marina F Bagnat married Ian Dudley and their three children are:
Children are:
1. Gregory John Dudley. Gregory married Wendy in Burnie Tasmania and their three children are:
1. Naomi Gail
2. Erin
3. Kieran
2. Terrence Dudley whose children are:
1. Amanda
2. Warren
3. Tanya
3. Gail Irene Dudley born 1964; died 1 January 1981 as a result of a car accident.
Mimi died at Wollongong Hospital on 14 August 1976.
Marilyn Williams, daughter of John Maxwell and Patricia Bagnat, grand daughter of Alfredo and “Mimi” Bagnat and great granddaughter of Thomas and Ida Gillett (nee Power), has provided the following recollections:
“My Dad was told that his Great Grandmother Jane Power was a very tall woman with lovely hands.
I remember as a child being told that when Great Grandma Ida was a young girl she would play the piano at house parties in the district where she lived. On one occasion she had to stay the night at the homestead. The room she stayed in must have been detached from the main house as she was locked in for the night. During the night she heard rattling under her bed. Not knowing what it was she stayed awake all night. In the morning when they came to let her out they discovered an escaped prisoner under her bed; apparently he was so frightened of being captured that he didn’t move all night.
When she was about three she learned to read from the Sydney Morning Herald, so I was told. She attended school and was a very clever child.
Great Grandma Ida was a little women, but commanded a great deal of respect. Her husband, Thomas Gillett, died at the age of 54, quite young when you think about it. Great Grandma died at the age of 91 in 1968. She was at that time at a Nursing Home in Sydney. Up until she went to the Nursing Home she was living with my Grandparents in Wollongong.
As my Grandmother was the only girl in the family it was considered her job to look after her mother. I think Great Grandma Ida was in her 80s when she had a hip replacement and came through the operation with no problems. As time moved on it became too much for my Grandmother so Great Grandma had to go to a Nursing Home. She was only there for a few years before she died. Her mind was still clear but her body had given up. She often told me she had lived too long.
I always found her very interesting to talk to; I got the impression she was a very strong woman. I was 16 when she died. I didn’t go to the funeral. She is buried with the Nuns in a closed cemetery. I don’t know if Great Grandpa Tom is there as well. My Mum did look for the graves at one time but with no luck.
I was told that Great Grandpa Tom was very involved in the Trade Union Movement. My Grandmother said as a child she remembers a lot of men coming to the house in Epping to talk about Union Business. I am also told that there is a photo of him in the Trade Union Offices in Sydney.”
3. Neville Henry Gillett was born at Campbelltown in 1905 (Reg No 2245). Neville did not marry.
Neville died in Sydney in 1976.
4. Thomas Carlysle “Snowy” Gillett was born at Campbelltown on 10 June 1906 (Reg No 22626). On 31 December 1937 he married Agnes Doreen (“Dorrie”) O’Toole at Concord West (Reg No 5568). Their three children are:
1. Carol Elizabeth Gillett b. 13 July 1939 m. Kevin Richard Bennett at Concord West on 16 February 1968. Their three children are:
1. Peter Anthony Bennett b. 13 December 1969,
2. Gregory John Bennett b. 9 January 1972 and
3. Sally-Ann Elizabeth Bennett b. 5 February 1974;
2. John Joseph Gillett b. 17 June 1943 m. Robyn Annette Stacey at Tamworth on 13 October 1973. Their two children are:
1. Danial Carlysle Gillett b. 8 August 1977 and
2. Emily Raye Gillett b. 2 July 1979;
3. Warren Thomas Gillett b. 26 April 1945 m. Kathleen Marr at Concord West on 13 May 1976. Their three children are:
1. David Kane Gillett b. 9 December 1977,
2. Andrew Thomas Gillett b. 3 July 1979 and
3. Amanda Elizabeth Gillett b. 22 July 1982.
Thomas died on 13 September 1989 at Concord.
Agnes died on 11 October 1978 shortly before her 68th birthday.
5. William Hillary “Bill” Gillett was born at Parramatta in 1908 (Reg No 17505). He married Zara Mary “Marie” Kennedy at Waverley in 1941 (Reg No 12401). Their children are:
1. George William M Gillett and
2. Pamela Gillett who married Brian ??. They had a daughter named Allison.
Bill died at Glebe in 1982.
6. Edward Keith Gillett was born in 1910 at Waverley (Reg No 21556). Keith did not marry. He died at Toukley, N.S.W.
7. Cyril Dermott “Jimmy” Gillett was born in 1918 at Ryde (Reg No 49401). In 1943 he married Eileen May Levy at Ashfield (Reg No 1129). Their children were
1. Pegyanne Gillett who married David ?? about 1971/72,
2. Nola Gillett. Married Brian ??.
Jimmy died at Kogarah in 1971.
2. Children of Irene Cecil Power and Thomas J Rixon
1. Wendy Laughlin b. 1 October 1935 m. Leslie Neil Bignell on 23 December 1958. Their two children are:
1. Allan Murray Bignell b. 16 July 1963 m. Lisa Patricia Ryder on 13 September 1986 and
2. Suzanne Maria Bignell b. 9 April 1967.
Wendy died on 20 May 1984 and Leslie on 23 May 1984;
2. Kenneth Noel Laughlin b. 15 June 1944. Kenneth has not married.
Olga died on 12 January 1982 and Noel on 19 August 1997 aged 91.
1. Catherine Francis Kerr b. 15 April 1946 m. Ian John Robinson on 8 November 1968. Their two children are:
1. Sarah Louise Robinson b. 17 December 1974 and
2. Marcus James Robinson b. 2 May 1978.
John died on 25 January 1947 aged 43 and Norma on 18 August 1989.
John died in August 1988 aged 80; Edna died on 23 November 1995.
3. Daughter of Vivian Andrew Power and Mary M M Fahey
Ruby M “Tanti” Power was born at Ashfield in 1911(Reg No 24620). She married Francis Heyhoe in Sydney in 1932 (Reg No 9047). Their son is also named Francis Heyhoe.
4. Son of Amy Kate Power and Ernest E Minter
Their only child was Edward Minter who was not known to have married.
Ernest’s marriage to Amy Kate was his second marriage.
He had been born at Lismore in 1883 (Reg No 29599). He died at Auburn in 1931.
5. Lucy Claire (“Inez”) Power did not marry.
6. Children of Edward Placid Power and Myrtle Elizabeth Phyllis Heinke
1. James Kenneth Irving b. 27 August 1950 m1. Rosalyn Barbara Coady on 2 December 1972. They had one child,
1. Matthew James Irving b. 27 December 1973.
Rosalyn died on 27 December 1980. James m2 Robyn Gai Jones on 20 February 1982;
2. Ronald Edward Irving b. 16 July 1953. Ronald has not married.
Nita died on 4 October 1981.
1. Rayleen Power b. C1970
2. Laurel Power b. C1974
3. Toni Power b. C1976
1. Peter Wayne Power b. 30 January 1961 m. Deborah Ann Hauber on 12 March 1983. Peter and Deborah’s three children are:
1. Bradley Peter Power b. 10 March 1986,
2. Aaron Norman Power b 28 July 1987 and
3. Hayden John-Henry Power b 18 August 1993;
2. Carol Louise Power b. 21 October 1962 m. Joseph Peter Franchi on 16 November 1985;
3. Jason Edward Power b. 31 October 1966 m. Melissa Irene Curby 19 June 1997 Their three children are:
1. Joe Graham Curby-Power b. 19 April 1987 and
2. Molly Ursula Curby-Power b. 21 December 1995
3. Gemma Kathleen Power b. 2 October 1974.
1. Deborah Ann Barton b. 23 July 1969 m. David Francis Richards on 4 December 1993. Their children are:
1. Nikolas Luke Richards b. 11 May 1995,
2. Joshua Adam Richards b. 17 September 1996 and
3. Thomas James Richards b. 27 August 1999;
2. Scott Anthony Barton b. 26 July 1972;
3. Brett Andrew Barton b. 19 December 1976 m. Monika Kozinski on 17 July 1999. Monika had been born in Warsaw, Poland.
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