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D/C - 2991/1938 - Richard Mortlock parents Thomas and Catherine West Wallsend, NSW [BDM – Index] M/C - 936/1896 - Jane H Higgs and Richard Mortlock, reg. Cooma, NSW. [BDM – Index] B/C – 10132/1876 - Jane H Higgs parents George and Hannah M, Cooma, NSW. BDM Index. D/C - 4257/1949 - Jane Hannah Mortlock parents George Thomas and Ann, West Wallsend, NSW.
Richard Mortlock declared his age as 26, a Laborer and a Bachelor of Bredbo, when he married Jane Hannah Higgs his father was John Thomas Mortlock [Thomas Mortlock] a farmer, Mother’s maiden name Catherine Herbert. Jane Hannah Higgs of Big Barper [Badgar] age 19 was given consent by her father George Higgs of Big Barper [Badgar] mother Mother’s maiden name Mary Stevens. Married in C of E Church, Cooma. Richard Mortlock and J H Higgs duly signed signature of Parties, Witnesses were E A Turner and C M Higgs. Minister R J R Edwards
B/C - 3496/1876 of Jane Hannah Higgs states that she was born in Umeralla, Monaro, NSW on the 7th May 1876, daughter of George Thomas Higgs, Farmer aged 38 years of Queanbeyan, Married 29th October 1865 at Cooma 3 males living 1 female living 1 male deceased Mother Hannah Mary age 31 years formerly Stevens of Buckinghamshire England. Informant certified by George Higgs, father of Numeralla Monaro signing with his X Mark. Witness was Mrs. Lacy - Registrar George H Smithers 7th June 1876, Cooma.
Richard liked to be called ‘Dick’ in the early years of their marriage Dick and Jane lived in Numeralla, Cooma and Goulburn with Dick working on the roads and railroads around the area. It was here that their first 5 children were born; Dick followed work wherever he could find it. The photo below was taken at their home during this period of time with four of their children.
Tired of traveling long distances to work, he decided to make a new life for his family at South Seaham, obtaining work in the mines in the area. His family followed him to South Seaham in 1905, where his 6th daughter Gladys Pearl and son George were born. Dick had begun work as a miner at Seaham No.2.
Dick and his family lived at South Seaham from 1905 - 1914. He purchased a block of land on the 6th of August 1914, he negotiated for a block of land at Fairley, this became a reality for him when he successfully purchased that block, situated on the corner of Third Street and The Esplanade, facing the North Bank of the Creek.
He built his house at Fairley, where his last child Richard Herbert Steven Mortlock was born in 1915. Dick lived at that house with his wife and family until the closure of Seaham No 2.
His son in law Thomas Alfred Lord married to Gladys Pearl also purchased a property at Fairley.
Another son in law William 'Bill' Stone who was a miner - farmer, married Catherine Ivy 'Dolly' Mortlock in 1915 also bought a block of land at Fairley in Langwill Avenue to build a house for Dolly, this proved convenient for Dolly as she was in walking distance to her sister Gladys who lived in the same street as well as being close to her Mum and Dad who lived in the next street. Note - When the Blocks of land at Fairley were released for sale in 1905 the going price was 2Pounds to be repaid over 2 years at 2% interest.
The Title of Richard Mortlock's block reads:
Richard Mortlock of Fairley Township Mine Employee Transferee under Instrument of Transfer from Seaham Colliery Company Limited No. A 122257------- is now the proprietor of an Estate in Fee Simple, subject never the less to reservations and conditions, if any, contained in the Grant hereinafter referred to, and also subject to such encumbrances, liens, and interests as are notified hereon, in. That piece of land situated in the Shire of Lake Macquarie, Parish of Teralba, and County of Northumberland containing ...One rood four and one half perches as shown in the Plan hereon, and therein edged red being Lot 19 of Section C on a Plan deposited in the Land Titles Office, Sydney, No. 4977 and part of Portion 96 delineated in the Public map of the said Parish in the Department of Lands originally granted to. William Austin Horn by crown dated the Third day of July One thousand nine hundred and two. Registered in the Land Tiles Office Sydney Volume 1418 Folio 47
Richard Herbert Steven Mortlock was born at Fairley on the 1st March 1915, his brother George eldest son of Richard and Jane Hannah followed his father into the mines at the age of 14 much against the wishes of his Mother. George informed his father, that they couldn’t teach him any thing anymore at school, which his father had reminded him quite often off. George had a warm nature and a great sense of humor, just like his Dad, his loyalty to his family was unequalled.
Jane Hannah Mortlock nee Higgs was confirmed with her daughter Catherine Ivy on the same day and took their first communion together. The confirmation certificate for Catherine Ivy has her name as Ivy Catherine.
Jane Hannah Higgs and her sister Caroline Mary were the grand daughters of a Sarah Hopkins who was born near Campbelltown, NSW in 1799 to convict parents John Hopkins and his concubine Hannah Birmingham Sarah’s first husband was a convict and second husband George Higgs, who was Caroline and Jane Hannah’s Grandfather was also a seven-year convict. Sarah's sister Mary married Convict William James Mary's daughter Maria married Convict John Welsh he later murdered Maria’s sister Caroline Mary's daughter Caroline married William Collits the son of a convict Pierce Collits Jane Hannah's sister Elizabeth Mary married Peter Freebody who was a grandson of convicts Sions Clarkson and Mary Wells. Jane Hannah's father-in-law Thomas Mortlock was a convict
Jane Hannah's brothers Sidney John Higgs and Alfred Albert Higgs are buried in the grave next to her and her husband Richard at West Wallsend Cemetery.
Sydney John Higgs was born 19 October 1878 in Numeralla, reg. Cooma, NSW, d. 22nd of July 1936 in Seaham No. 2, [Fairley]West Wallsend, NSW, brother of Jane Hannah and Caroline Mary, he lived with Richard and Jane Hannah; he is fondly remembered by his nieces, nephews and their children as dear old ‘Uncie’ who always had specials for them. Sydney John Higgs is buried in West Wallsend General Cemetery row Q3 Plot 34
Albert Alfred Higgs never married his occupation was a farmer. Albert Alfred Higgs was born on the 3rd of June 1870 in Numeralla, reg. Cooma, NSW, and died 29th of January 1938 in Wallsend District Hospital, NSW, late of West Wallsend. He was buried on the 31st January 1938 at West Wallsend General Cemetery, NSW in Row Q3 Plot 33 - He was born as Albert A and died as Alfred Albert, his sister Caroline’s husband James Joseph Flakelar who passed away on the 3rd July 1946 joined
Alfred Albert Higgs in his plot at West Wallsend General Cemetery on the 4 July 1946. Dick’s birth was not registered, nor was his sister Susan's birth, no records have been found for them to date Richard and Jane Hannah Mortlock were hard workers and will always be remembered by their family.
Son - Richard call me ‘Dick’ Mortlock then Snr. put pen to paper and wrote of his family; We were what is termed a close family. We dearly loved our parents and each other and grew up in an atmosphere of affection and mutual understanding’
George Mortlock’s daughter Sylvia wrote this of Richard Mortlock her Grandfather. There were quite a few tales about my Grandfather, a great many were exaggerated, most of the time he was a hard workingman, a devoted husband, and a loving father to his 8 children. His life was very hard and although his end was painful and difficult, Grandfather never lost his sense of humour.
Richard and Jane lived the early years of their marriage in Numeralla, Cooma and Goulburn, with Richard working on the roads around the area. It was here that their first five children were born. Grandmother and Grandfather’s love of dancing saw them regularly attending dances in the Monaro district. At those dances one of Grandfather’s favourite dancing partners, was the notorious, Ned Kelly’s sister, Kate Kelly.
When Grandfather worked building roads, they slept in tents. On one particular stormy night he and his workmates were asleep in their tent, when there was a noise outside that woke them up. To their horror, the flap of their tent opened… In walked a very damp bushranger and his gang, to seek refuge from the storm.
The gang held them at bay with guns armed and ready to shoot them. The bushranger said to Grandfather “You’re going to shelter us for the night, and you’re not going to report to the authorities that you have seen us, or that we have been here, or we will shoot you all here and now.”
Grandfather said in a calm voice “ We won’t report you ” with that they all went back to bed. True to his word he did not report them.
Grandfather was a lovely man and made time to spend with us: warm, loving, and caring person, was he. I shall always remember him with love. Grandfather had a soft spot for animals, everyday when he was having his lunch break, he would keep some of his lunch, to bring home.
He would leave at the end of his shift at the coalmine, carrying his lunch bag and there to greet him, at the fence, was his pony, his dog, and pet rooster, whom he had named “ Cock Lemorrham”. Grandfather, had something for them all in his lunch bag. His pony was used for the Sulky, which took them shopping at West Wallsend.
We lived in a coal mining area and the beginning of the Great Depression. Our life changed then, when one is young, days seem like years. My father was away working a lot of the time, Mum and I missed him, we often found times difficult without him, but during my Father’s absence my mother took me every Sunday when I was a very young girl, via a bush track, through the scrub to visit my Grandparents home at Seaham No 2, to that wonderful village of Fairley. I always enjoyed those Sunday visits very much, as most of my cousins, were there also.
Grandfather enjoyed a few drinks, not very often fortunately, my mother told me a few stories about him. One day Grandfather was chopping wood for the fire when Grandmother went to call him for his lunch no Grandfather, three days later he arrived home.
He had enjoyed his great escape, telling his entertaining stories, in the pubs which were situated around the “Hamlet” of West Wallsend. So amazing were his tales that the miners at the various pubs, supplied him free drinks, he enjoyed a few to many one evening at ‘Westy’ and it was common in those days for two Policemen to be on the beat, as it was called then.
Their job was to see that all was quiet and serene in the area; low and behold Grandfather was arrested for being found drunk in Wilson St, West Wallsend. When Grandfather went to court.
The Judge stated ‘Richard Mortlock’ found drunk in Wilson St., West Wallsend. How do you plead!!!
Grandfather replied… Your Honour… I was never lost.
Judge...Richard Mortlock fined 2 Pounds for contempt of Court !!! Which was a fortune in those days
There were quite a few tales about Grandfather a great many were over exaggerated most of the time he was a hard working man, a devoted husband, a loving father to his eight children. His life was very hard and although his end was painful and difficult Grandfather never lost his sense of humour.
Patricia Redriff recalls with amusement, a story her mother told her. Patricia’s mother was very young, when Grandma and Grandfather Mortlock lived at Seaham, her father used to walk to Westy, carrying the Billycan to get butter for her mother. When the weather was hot, he would call into the hotel for a drink, he would soon become sidetracked, as he was renowned for telling stories. His mates would continually buy drinks for him, so he would tell yet another, and by the time he returned home the butter in the Billycan would be oil, much to the disgust of her Mother.
Grandfather worked very hard to keep his family together and had very little time for himself. One Saturday he went to town to buy a rocking chair for Grandmother’s birthday and he called into the hotel for a quick ale, and got cornered “YET again”, telling yarns to his mates, and Grandfathers mates enjoyed his company so much, that they kept on buying him drinks, to keep him entertaining them all afternoon until closing time.
On his way home. a little under the weather, he became exhausted carrying that special rocking chair, so much so he had to rest, nearly on every corner of Westy. For lack of somewhere to sit he thought he would try the rocker out, he was spotted by the resident’s of Westy, and those that saw him, retold that story many times, of seeing him sitting on every corner, resting and rocking in his wife’s new rocking chair.
Note – Richards son George Mortlock used that Rocker regularly, watching, the world go by, and remembering his Mum and Dad, until he presented it to his brother, Richard, who lovingly had it restored.
Pat continued I remember when Grandmother Jane Hannah visited us at Warners Bay; We lived about ½ kilometre from the bus stop and as we did not have a car, we would meet Grandma at the bus stop and walk with her to our home. On arrival at our home she would roll her stockings down to her knees, undoing her suspenders and would lie down on the lounge for a rest.
She would then produce a snow white handkerchief smelling of Eau de Cologne and fan herself with it. Every time I smell that Cologne I think of Grandma. She always wore black and had beautiful clothes, hat, handbag and gloves to match. Her hair was a mass of beautiful curls, which she rubbed with bay rum to stop it from going grey. “A real lady” was she.
Jan Maunder remembers; We lived so far from Newcastle, we only saw Grandfather and Grandma 'Lockie' Mortlock about once a year in school holidays, we would catch a train to Broadmeadow, then a tram to Wallsend and Johnson's bus to Westy. I guess we walked from there to the "Shaft” Seaham No.2—Fairley. I barely remember Grandfather Mortlock, as I was only twelve years old when he died. Grandma 'Lockie' I do remember, especially when she used to cook biscuits for her brother who had suffered a stroke and lived with Grandma and Grandfather, we called him Uncie he used to pretend to spit on the biscuits, which he kept in a brown paper bag, so we young ones wouldn't eat them.
Richard D. Mortlock wrote of his Grandmother Jane Hannah. Grandma was a loving, caring, woman, who lived by her Christian beliefs and passed those belief’s down through her children and grandchildren, the Mortlock’s have always had a great sense of humour, and with this sense of humour, one can face the good times as well as the bad. I know that the era my Grandparents lived in was really hard and tough, but they survived by helping each other through thick and thin.
He clearly remembers his Grandmother Jane Hannah. For a short period of my life, when I was very young, I was sent by my parents to live with my Grandmother and Grandfather, Oscar and Annie Wakeman who then lived at Holmesville. I was in need of constant medical attention that I could not receive in Griffith. I attended school at West Wallsend Public School and on the way to school; I always called in to see Grandma Mortlock, Aunty Glad and Uncle Tom.
Where upon, Grandma greeted me with a fresh orange juice, and a very special chocolate this special Chocolate was behold a Laxet!!! On the way home the same treatment was repeated and on weekends too!!! I can honestly say that I did “NOT” suffer with constipation then, because Grandma Wakeman gave me similar treatment.
I did not reveal to either one, what the other was doing for fear of being deprived of my specials. I liked that orange juice and those “ SPECIAL CHOCOLATES ” and did not realize, what they were for. I now know why I spent so much time on the Dunnie!!
Whilst, getting my treatment, to and from school with Grandma Mortlock, I was privileged to sit on her rocking chair she would always put a record on the gramophone, for me to listen too. Aunty Glad was the overseer to make sure that I behaved myself in the lounge room, whilst Grandma Mortlock prepared for me my specials.
I am now the proud owner of that gramophone and listen to it on very special occasions with my family and I have been known to tell my grandchildren the story of the orange juice and chocolate Laxet.
I remember Grandma telling me many stories but one in particular stands out; Grandad and I were just newly wed and living at the time in Numeralla when we met Grace Kelly, in conversation with her we found out that she was a sister to one of Australia’s most wanted and Notorious Bushranger Ned Kelly. We became friends with her but we were shocked to see Ned and his gang knocking on our door, whenever they were in the area, he with his gang, would require a meal and a rest. We became were concerned by “Ned’s untimely Visits”
Grandad and I were scared if found out people they would think that we sheltered Ned as well as his gang. Ned would always make sure that his men, behaved their selves and after they had their meal, they would quietly leave. When I was clearing up the table, I would find a piece of silver gracing it that Ned had secretly left behind, which he and his gang had stolen from some rich person in the area, I would quickly pick up that piece of silver and wrap it in my apron, run down to the creek as fast as I could and throw it in, in the hopes that it would be swept downstream.
We hoped and prayed that there would be no more, “surprise visits,” we lived in constant fear, not only that the neighbour’s would find out about them, but of reprisals from the authorities for sheltering them and also from Ned Kelly and his gang if we refused them.
Richard said; I have often wondered, over the years, how Ned and his gang, found out that Grandma Mortlock was such a “good cook ” I remember many stories that were told amongst the family about the happenings, in the Mortlock clan and wondered whether it was fact or fiction, or whether it was just a follow on from Grandfathers famous story telling.
Note—Later as I grew older one of Grandma’s stories bit the dust. Ned Kelly’s Last Stand was in 1880 and he was hung on the 11th of November 1880. Grandfather was born in 1870 and Grandma was born in 1876, they were married in 1896. Far to young for this to have happened to them, well there goes my story. As a child I did like hearing this story from Grandma but now realize that perhaps Grandma told stories just as good as Granddad.
Three children settled in West Wallsend, George Thomas in Wallsend Road, Catherine Ivy ‘Dolly’ Laidley Street, Gladys Pearl, Renwick Street. They were all active members of the community. Florence Eileen May lived at Speers Point and Caroline Jane Hannah at Fairfax Road, Warners Bay. Doris Mary and Richard Herbert Steven were the only children to leave the area
Richard and Jane never forgot their heritage and often spoke about of it to their children and grandchildren there is no denying that their generation and the generation before them were proud to call Australia home. Richard and Jane Hannah if alive today would be very proud of their children’s achievements, we must never forget the legacy that they left and the best was their honesty and loyalty to their family and family members likewise. One cannot have a say in ones heritage, it is what we make of ourselves that we can change the past, they were both from convict heritage, but this did not stop them or their families from moving on.
They enjoyed family gatherings but like all families never seemed to get together for a full family photo due to some reason or another. Like most families the children are christened one name but are known to the family as another, which can become confusing to the children and grandchildren when looking at photos years later. They both kept family bibles, with records of where they were born and who their ancestors were. Jane Hannah wrote very special obituaries of family members and kept others on the ones she loved and lost. She lived by her Christian beliefs, left a heritage of her personally designed, hand written copies of those obituaries. They have been handed down through the years and after reading them one feels that the clock has turned back in time, and you are with her during this sad period of her life.
She really was ‘A very special loyal loving lady.’ She wrote of her daughter Elizabeth;
In loving Remembrance of our dear little Elizabeth who departed this life on the 13.4.1901 Aged 16 months. Gone but not forgotten. Once we had a forgotten blossom, full of sweetness full of love. But the angels came and plucked it, for the Beauteous Realms above. Dear is the spot where our loved one sleep, but o’er the tomb our spirits soars, Why should we weep in sorrow deep. For those not lost but gone before, Little baby was our darling pride of all our hearts at home. But the angels floating lightly came and whispered baby home. To let us stride with hearts and minds to reach that - happy golden shore. Where friends are joined and dear ones find they are not lost but gone before. Our darling baby our only pleasure is now with Jesus, in love may all good angels guard our treasure, In that happy home above. 0ur darling gone but not forgotten,
Children of RICHARD MORTLOCK and JANE HIGGS are: 49. i. CATHERINE IVY4 MORTLOCK, b. 5 September 1896, Numeralla, NSW; d. 14 July 1970, Wallsend Hospital, Wallsend, NSW.
50. ii. CAROLINE JANE HANNAH MORTLOCK, b. 31 August 1898, Numeralla, Cooma NSW; d. 30 May 1979, Teralba, NSW.
iii ELIZABETH MORTLOCK, b. 18 December 1900, Numeralla, reg. Cooma, NSW; d. 13 April 1901, infancy, North Goulburn, reg. Goulburn, NSW.
51. iv. MARY 'DORIS' MORTLOCK, b. 26 November 1901, Chantry St., North Goulburn, NSW; d. 16 June 1978, Mayfield Nursing Home, NSW.
52. v. FLORENCE EILEEN MAY MORTLOCK, b. 15 April 1904, Cooma, NSW; d. 18 January 1983, Riverview Rest Home, Cooranbong, NSW.
53. vi. GLADYS PEARL MORTLOCK, b. 18 March 1906, South Seaham, NSW, reg West Wallsend; d. 8 July 1991, Nursing Home, Carey Bay.
54. vii. GEORGE THOMAS MORTLOCK, b. 9 July 1908, South Seaham, NSW reg West Wallsend; d. 3 February 1984, West Wallsend, NSW.
55. viii. RICHARD HERBERT STEVEN MORTLOCK, b. 1 March 1915, South Seaham, Fairley, reg. West Wallsend, NSW; d. 23 December 1994, Wagga Base Hospital, Wagga Wagga, NSW.
Submitted by Richard Mortlock, Cecilie Mortlock, Robyn Young |
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