#52Ancestorsin52Weeks Week 35/52 George ELLIS 1838-1916

Church of St Marty the Virgin Swineshead by Captain Smurf on Flickr Img 4896 https://flic.kr/p/7WfKH

Ahnentafel Number  30

Context for discovery:

George Ellis was my 2^nd great-grandfather on my mother’s side. 

This biography was written as part of the 52 ancestors in 52 weeks exercise devised by Amy Johnson Crow.  You can join in too here.

Amy Johnson Crow says

Week 35's theme is "Free Space." I intended for this to be a week for you to choose whatever you want to write about. (Though that's true every week!) But also feel free to riff off of the theme -- maybe an ancestor who went West for land, going to a family vacation spot, or a bingo-playing ancestor? Have fun with this theme!

 

1837 reign of Queen Victoria begins

1838 Darwin’s theory of evolution

Childhood

Birth Date/Place:

George was born on Wednesday (Wednesday's child is full of woe) 

14 February 1838[i] presumably at Swineshead where his parents lived.  He was the third of four children, having an older sister Mary and an older brother Charles and a younger sister Catherine according to the 1841 Census.[ii]

Baptism Date/Place:

George was baptised 17 May 1853 by J Holmes, Vicar in the parish of Swineshead. George’s parents were described as James Straw Ellis Farmer of Swineshead and Esther. George would have been 15 years of age at his baptism.  

I’m not sure why George was baptized so late in life.  His sister Mary was baptized 11 January 1832 by Wm Bolland Vicar.  Her father James Straw Ellis was described as a farmer and grazier. [iii] His older brother Charles was also baptized close to his supposed birth on 17 September 1835 by T Ratcliffe, Curate.[iv]

My best guess is that James Straw Ellis by this time was unwell and with three children, Esther probably had enough on her plate looking after a sick husband and three children.  James was buried two years after George was born on 28 May 1840.[v]  And, spoiler alert, George's mother died 8 years later so perhaps it was just one of those things that got dropped off the "To Do" list.

 

Swineshead

There is a very good local history website for Swineshead here.  Swineshead is most famous for being where King John was supposedly poisoned by a monk in 1216.  Thanks to this great website I found the mother of my ancestor, Esther, listed in the 1842 William White’s History, Gazetteer & Directory of Lincolnshire.  She is recorded as living at 3 which, according to the directory, means Drayton together with John Dean.  When I looked at The Genealogist  (courtesy of my membership with QFHS) I found that the Lincolnshire Directory of 1826 showed James Ellis and John Dean at Drayton. John Dean is described as a farmer. In the Directory it advises that:

The market is on Thursday, but it is now nearly deserted, and very little business is done at it, except in the evening, when the principal farmers generally assemble at the Griffin Inn.  A large fair is held here on the 2n of October, for cheese, onions, &c.

At the time Swineshead had no less than 9 inns – the Black Bull, Golden Ball, Golden Cross, Green Dragon, Griffin Inn, King’s Head, Red Lion, Swan and Wheat Sheaf.  There were also 8 beer houses. Not bad for a population of just over 2,000!

There were 4 blacksmiths, 4 bricklayers, 5 butchers, two druggists, two gardeners, 7 grocers & Drapers, 6 joiners, 8 bakers, 2 milliners, 2 saddlers, 8 shoemakers, 2 surgeons, 4 tailors, 4 wheelwrights, and 2 carriers.  There were four academies and free schools for the poor boys and girls of the parish.

I found a new-to-me-word in the 1831 Directory – wapentake – from Old Norse vapnatak – which is an administrative division of English counties – a bit like the term “hundred” used elsewhere.  Swineshead is in the wapentake of Kirton.

I looked up Swineshead on Genuki too and it tells me that locals pronounce the name as “Swoines-ed”.

Googling James Straw Ellis Swineshead I found an entry in The Gentleman’s Magazine from 1852, Volume 38, page 411 the marriage of Rev. T.S. Hartley, Curate of Marcham, Berks, to Mary, eldest dau. Of the late James Straw Ellis, esq. This has also been confirmed in British Newspaper Archives.[vi]

Boston Library in Lincolnshire would seem to be the place to go to look for local history materials. There is a local company called Sovereign Ancestry that seems to offer research services in Lincolnshire.

After James died, Esther re-married John Cartwright in 1843.

I have to say that British Newspaper Archives really come into their own in this research.

When I searched James Straw Ellis, I found the following:

Friday 29 May 1840 Page 3 of the Lincolnshire Chronicle

“On Friday last, aged 38, Mr James Straw Ellis, Swineshead, eldest brother of Mrs Cartwright, on Cherry Willingham, whose death we lately recorded. His unassuming manners and conscientious integrity had long endeared him to a large circle of friends by whom he is deeply regretted.”

We also discover a bit more about Esther and James ...

The Stamford Mercury 11 March 1831 British Newspaper Archives

In a very tangled tale indeed, Mrs. Cartwright formerly Maria Ellis, James Straw Ellis’ sister who had married John Cartwright in 1830, dies in 1840. Mr Cartwright goes on to marry Esther herself in 1843. But unfortunately, Esther dies just five years later.

In the 1851 Census[vii] we find George living with his siblings and his uncle John Cartwright and his uncle’s children Mary, Maria, Catherine, Charles, Elizabeth, and Henry.  Poor John Cartwright has ten children to look after!

George was an orphan by the age of 10 and at the bottom of a long line of children for John to raise.

On the 1851 Census it is recorded that John Cartwright was born in Liverpool,so perhaps he encouraged George to go there and find his fortune 

 

Lincolnshire Sheet CXVII.NW Surveyed: 1887, Published: 1888 National Library of Scotland

Emigration

A George Ellis aged 23 is found on the Great Britain leaving Liverpool 16^th February 1861.

Married Life

Marriage Dates/Places:

George marries Isabella Sinclair on 18 May 1861 St Peter’s Melbourne[viii] This is also announced in the Inverness Courier and the Greenock Advertiser.[ix] Given that Isabella arrived in Australia on 24 April on the “Red Jacket” this was an extraordinarily quick betrothal.  She was 22 and George was 23.  A whirlwind (2-week) romance or had they met in the UK before they both left from Liverpool?

Children’s Birth Dates/Places:

1. George Birrel Straw Ellis 1862 at Fitzroy
2. Paul Ellis 1864 at Carlton died 1864[x]
3. Charles Peter Ellis 1864 at Carlton died 1914[xi]
4. Isobel Blanche Victoria Ellis 1866 at Fitzroy died 1868[xii]
5. Esther Isobel Ellis 1868 at Collingwood
6. Henry Victor Ellis 1870 at Bark
7. James Sinclair Ellis 1870 at Bark
8. Kate Emilia Ellis 1872 at Tootgarook died 1905
9. Egbert Laurence Ellis 1874 at Tootgarook
10. Albert William Ellis 1876 at Ararat
11. Isabella Ellis 1878 at Ararat died 1881[xiii] at Caramut 
12. Eva May Ellis 1880 at Ararat died c 1881[xiv]
13. Beatrice Sarah Louise Ellis 1883 at Ararat died 1911[xv]

 

Occupation

According to George’s will, he was a retired teacher but on his marriage certificate, he was described as a farmer. He was also appointed Inspector of Nuisances at Woollahra in 1886 but I guess he must have been more proud of being a teacher.

I have been meaning to research George’s teaching record in Victoria but have been unsuccessful to date – probably because of his very common name. However, I seem to have struck gold. It’s all about what search terms you put in isn’t it? At first, I put in “George Ellis” but the two George Ellises that came up didn’t seem like candidates.  So, I just put in Ellis and trawled through them.  Just as well I did because I came across Isabella Ellis too, so I flagged her, and guess what? The places one George Ellis served as a teacher matched her places, so I reckon both of them taught together. I have drawn up a map of the schools where George and Isabella taught

                              

             

Here is my transcription of Isabella's teaching record.  For some reason George's doesn't want to play ball.

Isabella  (George R 745)[xviii]

Roll No	Classification	Authority		Year		Remarks
727	Glenvale			68	344	??mistress 1 Jan 1868
		31	12	68	69/764	Resigned 31 Dec. 1868
985	Barkstead	1	6	69	70/5216	Appd W.M 1 July 1869
						Resigned 31 Dec 1890
1068	Opossum Gully	1	1	71	5422	Appd W.M. 1 Jan 1871
				71	74	Resigned 31 Dec 1871
623	Tootgarook	1	1	72	11462	Appd. Workmistress 1 Jan 72 to 31.3.72
						W.M. 1.10.72
					74/16821	Removed from 30th June 1874. Reduction of A lot:
	Baldwin	21	10	73	30158	Competent
1168	State (Chapman Glenelg)			75	28348	Apptd.W.M. from 7th July 1875
	Holland	4	2	76	6498 H.	Fair
	Shelton	31	10	77	43005H	Competent
				78	4977	Transferred 31 Jan y. 1878
1569	Shelton Lexton Primary School			78	4977	Appt. Tempy. W M from 1 Feby 1878
		11	4	77	15573H	Pays proper attention to the needlework
				78	7042	Granted 3 weeks leave from 25 Fey 1878 (Confinement)
					10949	Resumed duty 25 March 1878
					12795	Again about this illness from 15 April 1878
					14615	Resumed duty to May 1878
					17695	Additional C leave granted no sub was forwarded
	Holland	22	4	79	15458H	Teaches sewing satisfactorily
				80	26114	Protest against the appt of E Gray pt – Informed that her letter considered very unbecoming – she must be aware that the appt of a pt is one with which a WM has no right to interfere and her remarks re pt betray a want of good taste & failing
				80	34415	Assistant Insp Summons forwards letters from correspondent of B. of A. as to conduct of W.M.
				80	34415	Mrs Ellis informed that it has been intimated that her conduct in the school has of late been of such a character as to seriously interfere with the instruction of the pupils and that unless she desist from such behaviour it will be necessary to request her to resign her appt in the school.
	Holland	3	10	79	39137 H	Competent
		7	7	80	25383H	Simmons Does not take a sufficiently active part in the work of the school
		“	“	81	8	Resigned 31 December 1880
		“	“	81	12141	Informed that any application from Mrs Ellis for the position of W M cannot be entertained

 

Research To Do list – see if we can find correspondence relating to those teachers records if we ever visit Melbourne again.

 

Comments on George's Teaching record were as follows:

1876 - Inspector Holland

appeared only a moderate teacher judging from the work seen on the day of inspection. The school was seen under disadvantages in circumstances so soon after the holidays. Many of the children were still kept at home for the holidays. Organization somewhat faulty and confused and classification incorrect instruction fair programme work not satisfactorily followed in 5^th and 3^rd classes. Notwithstanding the work is carried out with a very fair amount of energy – children appear to be making progress.

1881 

Temp permission to act as teacher extended to the termination of the sittings of the court at Hamilton, but he must distinctly understand that should he fail to get his cert on this application his connection with the Dept will cease

 1882

Certificate of discharge under insolvency received. Mr Ellis reinstated in the service.

An ineffective teacher. His teaching lacks life and interest. 

I cannot say that Mr Ellis work is satisfactory. 

1883

Does not appear to be improving

 

I am indebted to the following sites for clarifying what schools belong to what school numbers and to differentiate inspectors from schools.

https://guides.slv.vic.gov.au/education/histories

https://datastudio.google.com/reporting/6e4a2ff3-e17e-400e-a9eb-ad7c9743d877/page/XpiWC

chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://justlovehistory.files.wordpress.com/2016/05/vicschoolsnumbervols2-3.pdf

Victoria celebrated 150 years of education recently and so has been profiling the history of their schools. This site advised:

The 'free, secular and compulsory' Education Act (of 1872) cast primary education in a mould that would last for over one hundred years: it created a department of education under a minister of the crown, withdrew effective power from local authorities and parents, withdrew State aid from church schools, centralised recruitment, training and dispersal of teachers, separated secular from religious instruction, abolished fees and mandated attendance for children between the ages of 6 and 15.

 I found this page for Hoddle Street State School. I learned that the school opened in 1855.  George started teaching there ten years later and then it closed in 1877. 

I also found this page about Glenvale Primary  School. It would have been a pretty new school when George joined it as it only opened in 1865 with 27 students. 

This site also gave me some information about the Caramut Primary School:

State School 728 began as a Common School in 1861, moved to a new building at 11 Palmer Street in 1869, and became a State School in 1872. 

And about Lexton Primary School

State School 1569 opened at 14 School Lane in 1875. Enrolments reached 93 in 1912 but had declined to 12 in 2001 and the school was closed at the end of the year.

I wrote to the Ararat School a while ago but unfortunately their records don’t go back quite as far as my ancestors.  There’s a nice website here to checkout.

courtesy of Trove

courtesy of Trove

courtesy of Trove

Family Notices (1881, December 16). The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), p. 1. Retrieved September 10, 2022, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article201989361 courtesy of Trove

Following up on one of the children’s death places at Caramut unveiled a lot of useful information to me about insolvency and other interesting things.

1879 08 26 Avoca Mail page 2 lecture on intellectual pursuits courtesy of Trove

1881 04 23 Advocatee Insolvent courtesy of Trove

1881 12 1 Hamilton Spectator insolvency jurisdiction courtesy of Trove

1881 04 14 Hamilton Spectator Insolvent courtesy of Trove

For example I found that George wrote a prize-winning essay on flowering plants indigenous to Australia which you can read in its entirety here.

Sydney Years

1922 05 12 Inspector of Nuisances with a man in the doorway of a cottage Camperdown courtesy of City of Sydney archives

The family moved from Victoria to Sydney in about 1885.

One can imagine that George was by now rather peeved about the effect that School Inspectors had on his career.  Perhaps he resolved to turn the tables and be an inspector himself. After all the best form of defense is attack, no? 

In 1886, at the age of 48, George is appointed inspector of nuisances for the Woollahra City Council.[xix]

The first evidence of the Ellises arrival in Sydney is the following announcement in the Police Gazette. 

9 December 1885

Sydney - A warrant has been issued by the Central Police Bench for the arrest of William Attenburgh, charged with fraudulently taking away Esther Ellis, an unmarried girl under the age of 21 years, out of the possession and agains the will of her parents with intent to carnally know her, on the 21st November, 1885.  Offender is about 24 years of age, tall and slender build, light moustache, and small whiskers; had the appearance of a larrikin.  Esther Ellis is about 17 years of age (looks older), tall and handsome, fair hair and complexion.  Complainant, Isabella Ellis, 6, Brougham - street Glebe.

Sydney - A warrant has been issued by the Central Police Bench for the arrest of Elizabeth McEvoy, charged that she did, at Sydney, abet with one William Attenburgh in taking away Esther Ellis out of the possession and against the will of her parents, she , the said Esther Ellis, being under the age of 21 years, with intent to carnally know her.  Description of offender - About 26 years of age, short and thin; has a delicate appearance; wears short black hair.  Is supposed to be in company with William Attenburgh (for whose arrest a warrant has been issued) and the girl Esther Ellis.  Complainant, Isabella Ellis, 6, Brougham-street, Glebe.

 

Esther must have survived the abduction because she went on to marry John Thomas Floyd in 1889.(2)

They were married in All Saints' Church Woollahra which looks like a lovely place for a wedding. John was a chemist from Callan Park.

They had one son, Sydney, born 1890. (3)

George continues to wage war on various nuisances as outlined in news articles found on Trove:

29 April 1891 Evening News courtesy of Trove

1890 selling milk after licence cancelled

1891 charging blacksmith with noisome offensive trade and impounding horse from Centennial Park

1892 charging a grocer with bacon unfit for human consumption and impounding another two horses from Centennial Park

The Police Gazette reported the following on 3 February 1892. (4)

Missing Friends

 

Missing from her home, Point Piper Road, Woollahra, since

8 p.m. the 25th ultimo,-Kate Ellis, 19 years of age, about 5

feet high, rather thick set, dark hair and eyes ; dressed in white

bodice, dark skirt, sealskin jacket, cloth top shoes, and was

wearing either a white hat with black velvet band or black hat

with flowers and cream trimming . She had in her possession,

when leaving home , a large black silk umbrella , ivory handle,

and a bundle of clothing.

 

George undeterred continued to wage war on nuisances:

1893 noted Paddington corporation carts dumping waste near Begg’s tannery

1894 impounded cows from Centennial Park

George Birrell Straw, George and Isabella's eldest son, married Ada Barton in 1894 (NSW BDM Index).  He refers to his wife Ada in his Will (257062).  He describes himself as a Chemist.

15 November 1895 The Sydney Morning Herald courtesy of Trove

In 1895 George charged two men with furious driving and straying animals

George and Isabella's daughter Kate married Alfred H Doe 4 April 1896 at the Congregational Church at Woollahra at the age of 24. (5)

2 June 1900 Evening News courtesy of Trove

In 1899 George charged Mrs Love with dumping rubbish on a vacant block and  two others with supplying adulterated milk

In 1900 he charged two people with keeping premises in a filthy condition, reported on tips, pointing out defects in drainage and sanitation to occupiers, encouraged residents to use galvanized iron dust boxes rather than wooden to prevent spread of plague

His daughter Kate and husband Alfred were granted a divorce in 1902. What is interesting is that by that time Kate already had two children with Walter William Forfar and the twins (one of whom was my grandmother) were on the way.

George and Isabella moved to Hurstville in 1905. Maybe George had run out of puff.   TO DO IN FUTURE - search Woollahra council archives for employment record or similar

Their daughter Kate died of premature confinement and syncope on New Year's eve 1905 at Denison Street Arncliffe. (9)She was buried in the Independent section of Rookwood Cemetery on 2 January 1906. 

Shortly afterwards her children were placed into Randwick Asylum for Destitute Children by their father. (10)

7 April 1906 Walcha News courtesy of Trove

In 1906 George and his wife were observed visiting their son in Walcha. 

Their son Charles died in 1914 and I don't think, judging from the funeral notice, that he married.

 

Senior Years

Date and place of Death

George died at Drummoyne on 18^th February 1916 aged 78. This was at his daughter’s house, Mrs. Floyd, Stawell, Thompson Street Drummoyne. So, I calculate that he had ten years of free time in retirement I imagine playing with grandchildren and perhaps doing a spot of gardening.  

George died during the first world war. His son Lawrence is recorded as being at Mena House Hospital Egypt. 

Date and Place of Burial:

George was originally buried at the Field of Mars Cemetery on 19 February but his body was then exhumed and he was buried with his wife at Waverley Cemetery Section 15 Ordinary Row 26 when she died in 1918.

Estate

George bequeathed his estate to his wife Isabella Ellis and after her death to his children:[xx]

George Straw Ellis

Esther Floyd of Drummoyne

James St Clair Ellis

Henry Fairfax Ellis

Lawrence Edward Ellis and

Albert William Ellis in equal shares. 

Lawrence Edward Ellis Medical Practitioner and James St Clair Ellis were appointed executors. 

The total value of his estate was £623. Not bad for an orphan.  It included Lots 20 of St Georges Parade Hurstville, Lots 17 & 18 St Georges Parade Hurstville and Lots 6 & 12 of the Turinett Estate at Bayview Pittwater. Other effects included a silver watch and a gold ring. 

Conclusion

I doubt that George had much free space or time in his life.  He started out life as the second son of a farmer so probably had no real chance of inheriting any property.  He then quickly became an orphan and the eighth in the line of a large family. 

I reckon he made a rapid assessment of his prospects in Swineshead, threw caution to the wind, and decided to seek his fortune in Australia. 

He joined the Education Dept in Victoria probably at a time of great growth and gave them nearly twenty years of service. 

He and his wife attempted to raise a family of thirteen children during a time of no contraception and challenging health conditions.  Most of his appointments with the Education Department were in country schools and while George obviously took a keen interest in nature, good fortune did not seem to be smiling on him, particularly in the 1880s. 

He took life by the throat again and relocated his family to Sydney in search of better luck.  Six of his thirteen children survived him and by all accounts, did well for themselves. 

George would have been very aware of the dangers lurking in life having lost both parents early in life, and several children in infancy and adulthood.  He pursued his new career as an Inspector of Nuisances with some understandable zeal.  George got nothing for free and was a stickler for rules me thinks.

It is hoped that in his retirement he was able to enjoy the fruits of his labours and some free space and time.

 

References

 

---

[i] FindMyPast, Lincolnshire Baptisms, Lincolnshire Archives, page 11

[ii] Ancestry.com, 1841 England Census, Class: HO107; Piece: 611; Book: 11; Civil Parish: Swineshead; County: Lincolnshire; Enumeration District: 2; Folio: 21; Page: 11; Line: 6; GSU roll: 438753

[iii] FindMyPast, Lincolnshire Baptisms, Lincolnshire Archives, page 157

[iv] FindMyPast, Lincolnshire Baptisms, Lincolnshire Archives, page 192

[v] FindMyPast, National Burial Index for England and Wales.

[vi] British Newspaper Archives, Oxford University and City Herald - Saturday 28 August 1852  p3

[vii] Ancestry.com, 1851 Census, Class: HO107; Piece: 2099; Folio: 599; Page: 20; GSU roll: 87728

[viii] Ancestry.com, Victoria, Australia, St Peter’s Eastern Hill, Marriages, 1848-1955, Description: Series 02, Register 1861-1863; Reference Number: M2/7

[ix] British Newspaper Archives,

[x] Ancestry.com. Australia, Death Index, 1787-1985 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010.

[xi] Family Notices (1914, July 21). The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), p. 8. Retrieved September 10, 2022, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article15524138

[xii] Trove, The Argus, Tuesday 31 March 1868 death notice

[xiii] Ancestry.com. Australia, Death Index, 1787-1985 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010.

[xiv] Ancestry.com. Australia, Death Index, 1787-1985 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010.

[xv] Ancestry.com. Australia, Death Index, 1787-1985 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010.

[xvi] Public Record Office Victoria, Teacher Record Books [refer to microfilm copy, VPRS 13718] (VPRS13579)Teacher Record No. 601-1000A https://prov.vic.gov.au/archive/3AD4CF65-F7E4-11E9-AE98-6517940DFA17?image=144

[xvii] Trove, The Argus, Tuesday 31 March 1868 death notice

[xviii] Public Record Office Victoria, Teacher Record Books, VPRS 13579/P0001, Teacher Record No. 2801-3100A, Date of registration 1863 Registration number 2966 Volume 10 Image 168 https://prov.vic.gov.au/archive/37EC06F9-F7E4-11E9-AE98-DBA7E56809FF?image=168

[xix] BOROUGH OF WOOLLAHRA. (1886, October 15). New South Wales Government Gazette (Sydney, NSW : 1832 - 1900), p. 7037. Retrieved September 10, 2022, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article222439387

[xx] NSW State Archives and Records, NRS-13660-7-214-Series 4_73238 | George Ellis - Date of Death 18/02/1916, Granted on 28/03/1916 https://search.records.nsw.gov.au/permalink/f/1ebnd1l/ADLIB_RNSW110997531