A significant link between the Gray family and the first white settlement and community at Yamba is that of Marie Perkins nee Gray’s husband Herbert ‘George’ Perkins (Schaumann) who was the great grandson of the first Pilot at Yamba, Francis Freeburn and his wife Elizabeth Freeburn nee McEvoy.
Francis Freeburn and Elizabeth McEvoy
Francis Freeburn was a Canadian Master Mariner, a Ship’s Captain, who was born in St John’s New Brunswick, Canada it is believed in 1812. His death certificate states he was 67 years of age in 1879.1 He travelled to the colony of New South Wales in 1840 . He worked as a Captain in the Coastal Trade and first came to the Clarence River on the ‘Bessie’ on behalf of his employer Dr Dobie, as part of the early trade. He next came on the ‘Susan’ bringing early pioneer Thomas Small and his family who settled on South Arm on Woodford Island which was originally known as ‘Small’s Island’.
Elizabeth McEvoy’s arrival record on the ‘Queen Victoria’ on 26 July 1841 gives some information about her and her family.
Elizabeth McEvoy was born in London in 1826, the daughter of Phillip McEvoy a ‘cooper’ (maker of wooden casks and vessels) and Bridget (death certificate states ‘Elizabeth’) who died before she travelled as an immigrant with her brother Thomas McEvoy and his wife Ellen. The immigration record lists her calling as ‘Servant’ a further record states her occupation as ‘house Servant’.
Francis Freeburn married Elizabeth McEvoy on 14 May 1842 at St Phillip’s Church of England, Sydney. Elizabeth marked her signature with an ‘x’ with her immigration paperwork stating she could read but perhaps she did not write. Elizabeth was 21 years of age. Francis Freeburn was 30 years of age.2
The 1849 Electoral Roll gives their place of residence as ‘Cumberland Street’ which is known as ‘The Rocks’ area of Sydney.
Francis Freeburn was appointed as the first Pilot at Yamba in February 1854, he along with his wife Elizabeth, children and crew arrived at Clarence Heads (also known as Wooli) and were the first settlers there. Their daughter Caroline Matilda Freeburn was born in Sydney on 20 Mar 1855.
Francis Freeburn and Elizabeth McEvoy had 5 children between 1847 and 1855 in Sydney, sadly three of their daughters died before the family settled in Yamba:
- Mary b 1847 d: 1847
- Elizabeth b: 1848 d: 1853
- James Phillip b: 1857 d: 1946
- Louisa b: 1853 d: 1853
- Caroline Matilda b: 1855 d: 1918
The three children born at Yamba were:
- Francis ‘John’ b: 1857 d: 1898
- Jane Frances b 1859 d 1936
- George Frederick b: 1869 d: 1919
Below are images if the original Family Bible Register for the Freeburn family.
Below are images from the Freeburn Bible and Family Register
The family set up camp on the hill on the present site of the Yamba Lighthouse in a tent which they lived in for the next eight years. The first white child born there was Frances ‘John’ and the first white girl born in Yamba was Jane Frances Freeburn. Jane Freeburn was George Perkins grandmother.
Elizabeth Freeburn died suddenly on 26 Jul 1873, an inquest was held into her death stating; ‘That Elizabeth Freeburn, of Woolli, died on the 16th of July, from natural causes, but in the absence of medical testimony, the jury could not say of what the specific complaint.’ … The deceased has left a kind husband and several children to mourn their sudden, though not unexpected, yet irreparable loss.’ 3 Her death certificate states she died of ‘natural causes’ with the duration being ‘3 days’.
Francis Freeburn continued on as the Pilot at Yamba with help from his family and crew, he died on 10 May 1879.
‘Hardy, powerful, bronzed and weather beaten with exposure to many a gale, he was the true type of a sailor, and brave as a sailor ever should be.
He had just the necessary amount of caution which distinguishes true bravery from recklessness; kind and obliging, he made friends of all who came in contact with him ; and, take him all in all, his place will not easily be filled, and to his old friends never.
He had gone through many perils, and in fulfilling the duties of his office was many times in situations of extreme danger ; his boats have been repeatedly swamped and stove (they were frequently quite unfitted for such service), and I well remember his steer oar once struck by a heavy sea and pitching him out to quickly scramble back by means of the same oar.
On another occasion with three oars broken by one sea and his boat nearly filled, a couple of spare oars, which were fortunately on board saved himself and crew from a watery grave.’ 4
Jane Frances Freeburn was the first white girl born in Yamba, her brother Frances ‘John’ was born in 1857 and was the first white child born at what was then ‘Clarence Heads’ or ‘Woolli’. Jane Frances Schaumann lived all her life in Yamba and died 27 January 1937 and her Obituary gives a sense of her life and the early life in Yamba. There are a few key errors in the obituary: Jane was not the only daughter of Francis Freeburn, she was the first white girl not child born at Yamba and Francis Freeburn was appointed the first Pilot of ‘Clarence Heads’ (Yamba) in 1854 not 1850.
Jane Frances Freeburn & Johann Friedrich Schuamann
On 21 June 1880 Jane Frances Freeburn married Johann Friedrich Schaumann from Elmshorn, in the Schleswig-Holstein region. Fred Schaumann was employed in the Public Works at Yamba and worked as crew in the Pilot Service. He was twenty years older than Jane who was 21 years and he was 41 years when they married. On his Naturalisation paperwork in 1911 Fred Schaumann states ‘resided at Sydney until 1879 employed in the coasting service both sails & steamer in August 1879 I came to reside in Yamba and have resided there ever since’.5
Fred Schaumann was born on 17 Mar 1839 and was baptised in St Nikolai Church in Elmshorn on 24 Mar 1839. At this time the Schleswig-Holstein region was under the Danish rule of King Frederick VII of Denmark and Fred Schaumann always considered himself to be Danish, it was after he left the region that war broke out resulting in the territory becoming German. Fred was the son of a Master Shoemaker Johann Diederich Heinrich Schaumann and his wife Anna Margaretha Riewersel.6 His father died on 8 May 1841 when he was just a small child, his younger baby sister Anna died on 23 Oct 1841 just 8 months of age. He had one living brother Claus Schaumann who was born 29 Jun 1837. The 1845 Census documents that his mother had remarried another Master Shoemaker, Johann Lüneberg after the death of Diederich Schaumann.7 Anna and Johann Lüneberg had six children together. In the 1860’s two of his step brothers, Jacob and Claus Lüneberg immigrated to Brisbane, Jacob was also a Master Shoemaker who operated a business in central Brisbane for many years. In his last years he fell on hard times and it appears he was working in the same shoe factory as Annie May Perkins second husband, Herbert Henry Russell. He died of dementia on 28 Aug 1915 at the Dunwich Benevolent Asylum.
Fred grew up alongside the Krükaü River where his stepfather lived and worked near the Mill. At this time Elmshorn operated a strong trade along the small river which flowed down to the massive Elbe River. Elsmhorn was known as the ‘little Hamburg’, it is north of Hamburg which was a major shipping port at the time. The Schleswig-Holstein region was a source of conflict in the time Fred lived there between the Danish King Frederick and the Germans.
Fred Schaumann became a sailor and sailed on many ships around the world. He stated on his Naturalisation papers that he made his first voyage to New South Wales on the ‘Klawitter’ in August 1859. Shipping records for the ‘Klawitter’ show that ‘C’ Schaumann aged 23 years of ‘Prussia’ arriving in Sydney on 5 September 1859. On his Naturalisation Paperwork he stated that he had ‘resided in Sydney until 1879 being employed in the coasting service both sail and steamer, in August 1879 I came to reside in Yamba and have resided there ever since’ 8
The family story was that Fred ‘jumped ship’ which an advertisement in the NSW Government Gazette shows is correct. Note the variety of spelling of his names which continued throughout his life. He was however not charged and it seems likely he returned to the ship.
He continued his life as a sailor including as part of the Coastal Service like Francis Freeburn until the 1879. He is recorded with a Gold Mine at Chambigne near Grafton in the 1870’s. Elmshorn/Elbe River was a big river with an Estuary system.
Fred Schuamann’s Obituary gives us a snapshot of his life first at sea. Of note is that the large vessel he sailed on was not the ‘John Duthie’ but records show he was employed on the ‘William Duthie’ in 1863.
After the death of her father Jane inherited the houses and land in Wooli Street Yamba that had been part of the original Land Grant to Francis Freeburn in 1872. The properties were on the corner of Wooli and River Street next to Allotment 10 Section 10 where the cottage at 3 River Street still stands.
Fred and Jane Schuamann lived in the cottage and raised their family of children there, they were:
- Annie Elizabeth ‘May’ SCHAUMANN – PERKINS – RUSSELL
- b: 5 May 1881 Yamba d: 14 May 1949 Yamba
- sp1: Walter Arthur PERKINS b: 1881 d: 19 Mar 1959 m: 1902 Maclean
- sp2: Unknown
- sp3: Herbert Henry RUSSELL b: 29 Feb 1884 d: 5 Aug 1951 Yamba
- Francis Mabel ‘Mab’ SCHAUMANN – PROSSER – BLACK 1872 – 1967
- Francis Henry ‘Frank’ SCHAUMANN – SHAWMAN 1884 – 1951
- Katrina Alice ‘Trina’ SCHAUMANN – PILCHER 1886 – 1969
- Friedrich ‘Fred’ John SCHAUMANN – SHAWMAN 1888 – 1980
- Evelyn Jane ‘Biddo’ SCHAUMANN – WELLESLEY 1890 – 1982
- Eleanor ‘Helen’ SCHAUMANN – MARKS 1892 – 1967
Annie Elizabeth May Schaumann
Annie Elizabeth May Schaumann was born on the 5th May 1881 at Wooli Street Yamba. her birth was announced in the local newspaper on the 14th May 1881. She grew up in Yamba with her siblings and cousins.
Cousins – Alice Freeburn – Vera Lillian Freeburn – Frank Freeburn (children of James Philip Freeburn)
Annie May Schaumann – Early working life
Annie May’s early working life is recorded in medical records from the birth of her daughter Myrtle Faith in 1904. These records state she was a ‘General Servant’ in Maclean working for ‘J J Eng? River Street Maclean’.9 Thank you to Carolyn Cameron for searching the obscure reference to in the records at the Maclean Museum and Historical Society and making the connection with J J Englert. The fact she was working for one of the well known and respected families of the district would have been of significance for Annie May. Mr J J Englert also owned property in Yamba.
John Justus Englert was a well known Tailor and Mercer in Maclean and his wife Sara Louisa (nee Bridger) employed general servants and nurse girls with advertisements appearing in local newspapers from 1898 to 1907. John Justus Englert also owned property and houses in Yamba. It is likely that Annie May met Walter Arthur Perkins whilst working in Maclean for the Englert’s as he was living and working in a Bakery in Ulmarra but from Court records he frequented Maclean.
Walter Arthur Perkins
The first records for Walter Arthur Perkins come in the form of newspaper reports of Court appearances and they are not encouraging.
Walter Arthur Perkins married Annie May Schaumann in 1902 in Maclean. To gain insight into Walter Arthur Perkins it is important to look at the lives of his parents who he states on his marriage certificate to Annie Elizabeth May Schaumann as ‘James Perkins – Professional Actor’ and ‘Sarah Ann Bishop’.
James Perkins and Sarah Ann Bishop
James Perkins was indeed a Professional Actor but his life both personal and professional is quite a story. James is the son of Samuel Perkins III who was born on the Lower Hawkesbury on 16 February 1834, the second son of Samuel Perkins II and Alice Wright. Samuel Perkins II was the son of Samuel Perkins I who was convicted of stealing and transported for seven years on the ‘Pitt’ in 1792. His partner Eleanor Williams was also transported for stealing in 1783 on the ‘Britannia III’. They never married but had three sons – Samuel II, William and John. Samuel I took up a position within the 102nd Regiment of the New South Wales Corps but died at Parramatta on 7 July 1806 from a heart attack. His eldest son Samuel II married Alice Wright at Sackville Reach on the Hawkesbury River on 30 August 1830 and sometime later in life moved to the Singleton district near his brother William who was living at Darlington. Samuel II died at Singleton on 20 February 1882. Alice Wright was the daughter of Mary Flanagan who was transported on the ‘Francis and Eliza’ from Ireland arriving on 8 August 1815. Samuel II and Alice Perkins had 12 children between 1831 and 1858. Their second son, Samuel III was born on 10 February 1834 in the Lower Hawkesbury. Samuel III married Jane Pintox (also known as Pinto, Pintox and Pinteaux) at St Joseph’s Catholic Church, MacDonald River. Jane Pintox was the daughter of Mary Madden and Emanuel Pintox and was born at sea on the ‘Anna St Luz’ in 1801. Samuel and Jane had eleven children:
- James Perkins – later known as ‘Arthur Elton’ James Perkins
- b: 24 Aug 1853 St Albans d: 11 Jul 1921 Dalby QLD
- sp1: Sarah Ann Bishop b: 11 Jan 1854 Patrick’s Plains d: 1 Sep 1948 Auburn
- m: 24 Apr 1872 Patrick’s Plains NSW Divorce: 21 Apr 1899
- sp2: Catherine Byrne RENDALL [RENDALLS] b: 28 Jun 1865 Mittagong NSW d: 27 Mar 1938 Dalby QLD
- m: 12 Nov 1890 Narrabri NSW
- Reuben PERKINS 1855 – 1919
- Richard Samuel Perkins 1857 – 1924
- Norbert Clyde Perkins 1859 – 1921
- Roener Jane ‘Rowena’ Perkins-Marriot (Mereatt) 1861 – 1931(?)
- Sommerville Matthias ‘Matt’ Perkins 1864 – 1942
- Elijah Harcourt ‘Mark’ Perkins 1866 – 1918
- Emily Clara Perkins-Hobbs 1868 – 1929 (Lloyds Circus)
- Miriam Metella Perkins-Dunne 1870-
- Louisa Perkins 1872 – 1872
- Wilhemnia Grace Perkins-Watts-Stockham 1873 – 1948
Samuel Perkins III and Jane moved to Grafton between February 1872 when Louisa was born at Patrick’s Plans and October 1872 when she died in Grafton. However tragedy struck the family in January 1874.
Samuel Perkins was working as a carter carrying tin down the Newton Boyd Road on 16 January 1874 when his dray cart tipped resulting in his leg being speared by a branch. It was Dr James Houison who later purchased the River Street cottage and properties who rode his horse out to give medical attention to Samuel. He was brought back to Grafton but the leg deteriorated and needed to be amputated. However he died on 22 January leaving his wife Jane who was aged just 37 years. The certifying Doctor for the Death Certificate is Dr Houison.
Jane Perkins married Henry Robert Ayres, a fisherman on 20 June 1882 at Christ’s Church Cathedral, Grafton but their wedding certificate has little detail recorded. in 1889 Robert Ayres attempted to rescue a boy who drowned. On 17 July 1915 ‘The elderly street vendor, Robert Henry Ayres, whom Dr T J Henry deposed to last week as being of unsound mind, was ordered to be sent to a mental hospital in Sydney, and he is to be escorted there on tomorrow’s steamer. Dr Page gave the necessary second doctor’s evidence as to the condition of the patient.’ 10 Henry Robert Ayres died 1 Mar 1916 in Grafton Hospital being listed by his son on the death certificate as ‘not married’.11
In 1891 Jane Perkins gave her approval for her daughter Miriam Martella Perkins to marry William Johnstone Dunne in Casino. There was a Jane Perkins (not Ayres) in Casino on the 1891 Census – recording 1 male and 2 female in her household. This appears to be the last record for Jane with as yet no record of death found.
‘Arthur Elton’ James Perkins
Jane and Samuel Perkins eldest son’s life story is rather more exciting, interesting, at times shocking and more complicated than that of his farming family’s past stories. He is their eldest son born on 24 August 1853 at St Albans on the MacDonald River. The next record we have for him is his marriage to Sarah Ann Bishop at Patrick’s Plains where his occupation is described as a Labourer at Maison Dieu near Singleton.
Sarah Ann Bishop was the daughter of Augustus Bishop and Susannah Williams whose story was recorded in the previous chapter about her step brother George Lacey.
James Perkins and Sarah Ann Bishop had three children all born in the Singleton area. Their fourth child has no birth certificate that can be found nor early records but was accepted within James Perkins family as his son.
- Arthur Edward [Edmund] James Perkins
- b: 16 Mar 1893 at Cheshunt Park near Singleton
- d: 17 Jul 1961 Cronulla
- m: 13 Jun 1904 Congregational Church 64 Crown St, Sydney
- Spouse: Gladys Wellington, domestic servant b: 1885 Clarendon
- Herbert ‘Bertie’ Samuel Perkins
- b: 14 Sep 1874 Menimbah (sic) near Singleton
- d: 13 Mar 1924 accident – death Balmain
- m: 14 May 1904 St John’s Church Balmain
- Spouse: Emily Edith Buckley b: 24 Jan 1849 d: 6 Jan 1950
- Emily Ada Perkins
- b: 26 Apr 1877 Haydonton
- Walter Arthur ‘James’ Perkins
- b: 1881 Windsor (no birth record found) then Goulburn 1927 marriage
- d: 19 Mar 1959 Castlereagh Hospital Drummoyne
- Sp1: Annie Elizabeth May Schaumann m: 11 Jul 1902
- Sp2: Mary Jane Bean nee Johnson (they were not married)
- Sp3: Hilda May Whiteley m: 8 Jan 1927 Bombala
An article in the Goulburn newspaper in 1877 tells us how James Perkins a builder became ‘Daziane’ the soon to be famous wire walker. ‘COMBINATION OF TALENT.– On Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings next one of the best travelling companies we have had here will appear at the mechanics institute. Professor Sinclair, who visited us about four years ago, re-appears with a fresh and startling lot of sensational feats in legardemain. Among them is the spirit trick, said to be marvellous during the performances of which he expounds his views on spiritualism. The inimitable Barlow will make his bow to a Goulburn audience on these occasions. Of him a great deal could be said ; but to sum him up in a brief way we must class him as an institution in himself. He is accompanied by an imitation giant of enormous size and activity. Last, but by no means least is Daziane, the Australian Blondin. As this journal was the first to bring be fore the public his performances, we may now give a brief account of his late career. James Perkins (his real name) is only twenty three years of age and is a native of Hawkesbury district, as were also his parents and grandparents. He is a builder by trade, and whilst erecting a building in December 1875 he ventured, to save trouble, to cross and re-cross a three-quarter inch bar of iron in the building fifteen feet from the ground. He did this so frequently and found he had such good balance power that he commenced to practice rope-walking, and three months after walked a rope forty feet high and ten feet long, then gave a private performance in the presence of Dr. Lawson and Messrs. Blake and E. O’Keefe of Merriwa, which proved highly satisfactory. His next appearance was on New Year’s Day on an inch rope at Merriwa ; then took a short trip on his own account to Muswellbrook, where he performed on a rope. He then took up the idea of the wire, and after five weeks practice on the smallest wire that would bear his weight, he made his first appearance on it at a benefit entertainment at Murrurundi ; and two days after started for Sydney. There he gave a few private and exceed ing clever performances (which were alluded to by us). His first public appearance in Sydney was at Chowder Bay on Queen’s Birthday, when he ascended a wire the twentieth part of an inch thick and forty feet from the ground, carrying a boy on his shoulders ; and immediately ofter he walked an inch wire seven hundred feet long and hundred and twenty feet high, simply using a three-inch baton as a balance. L’Estrange, who was present, is said by the Sydney press to have been most demonstrative at this feat. Daziane is a well conducted and temperate young man. A sample of the wire is to be seen in the window of this office. Daziane will walk on a similar wire the full extent of the mechanics’ institute hall on the above occasions, when no doubt there will be large audiences.12
James Perkins went on to become quite famous performing feats of wire walking from 1877 until the early 1880’s. He performed with circuses including Hayes and Benhamo English Circus in Sydney, Ashton’s Circus, St Leon’s Circus and Wilson’s Mammoth Circus along with performances at the Queen’s Theatre in Sydney. He toured around mainly New South Wales creating his own shows in a variety of towns like Inverell and Newcastle displaying his wire walking skills. One of his most famous feats of wire walking was when he firstly crossed Chowder Bay on Sydney Harbour and then Mossman’s Bay when he took up the challenge of another wire walker, Carl Grand. This contest involved a claim of ‘champion of the world’, prize of £400, much build up with the day included stalls and other entertainment and ferries employed to bring the crowds to watch. It was much publicised across many States and even a hint of scandal with accusations of a swindle over the prize money.
It is at this time that a darker chapter comes in the story of James and Sarah Perkins. on 23 May 1879 Sarah Perkins took her three young children to the Sydney Benevolent Society and admitted them. The records from the Benevolent Society include statements by Sarah: ‘my husband deserted me some six months ago and left me with three children with no means of support. I have since then managed to struggle along but I cannot do so on my wages and now wish them put in the Benevolent Asylum for the reasons that I am not able to control and watch my children and earn a living as well. I am dependent upon what I can earn at dressmaking which is only from 15s to £1 a week and that is impossible to maintain me and the children. I am already in arrears with my rent some 3 weeks. I am quite willing to contribute out of my earnings 7/6 per week towards their maintenance in the Institution – the children names are Arthur Edwin James Perkins aged about 5 years, Herbert Samuel Perkins aged 3 years, Emily Ada Perkins aged 2 years & 2 mths, Wesleyan Religion’
Further notes within the file at the NSW State Archives reveal more of the story: ‘May be admitted temporarily on the distinct understanding that Mrs Perkins pays 7/6 per week for the maintenance of her children.’ 25.5.79 Hon. Sec Ben. Asylum 23 May
‘Police report herewith. A warrant for wife or child desertion would not have filed in Victoria’ signed by authorities
‘Steps should be taken to compel Perkins to maintain his children.’ The Inspector General of Police 23 May ’79
Letter submitted by George read Esq Supt of Police. Sydney. No 2 Station. 26th May 1879 ‘Sir, I have the honour to report for your information that the three children named in the attached letter are now in the Benevolent Asylum Pitt Street South. Mrs Perkins their mother who now resides at a Mr Laceys of McDonald Street Balmain [address of her grandmother recently deceased] states her husband is a professional Wire Rope Walker and now in Victoria. She says “she does not think her husband has deserted her that he is not able to send her any money at present and if he was in this Colony “she would not take any proceedings against him, she states she will pay 7/6 per week for her children as long as they are in the Asylum and visit them every Friday. Mr Perkins is a respectable woman, and a dressmaker. I have the honour to, Sir, your obedient Servant, Jas Read Sub Inspt. George Read Esq, Supt of Police. Sydney’.
The children are transferred to the Randwick Asylum for Destitute Children on 24 September 1881. A damning note is contained within the file when Emily Ada Perkins was transferred to the Boarding out Committee to be placed in what was the early foster care program started about this time. It stated: ‘There appears to be no objection to the girl Emily Perkins being transferred to the care of the Boarding out [Committee]. This is evidently a case of deliberate desertion by mother as well as by the father. The woman Perkins never went to the [unable to read] to enquire for her children and never made any contribution towards their maintenance as promised. H.R.’.13
James Perkins ‘Daziane’ was performing with St Leon’s Circus in Victoria when Sarah took the children to the Benevolent Society, he even performed for the children of the home in 1879 but before his own children were actually there. After his wire walking career slowly became less probably due to his age and the difficulties of the career, James evolved his performances into dramas, singing and comedy. He travelled around much of New South Wales and adopted a stage name in the late 1880’s, he became ‘Arthur Elton’ with a variety of troops.
It is difficult to sort through the whole story with the snippets of information we can glean over 150 years later but a small report in 1881 indicates that it is possible Sarah went to perform with James which may explain why Walter Arthur Perkins, a fourth child, had no birth certificate.
James Perkins performed in 1881 in Crookwell near Goulburn in 1881 with ‘Clara’ Bishop and over the next couple of years ‘Mr and Mrs Perkins’ and his ‘dog Chip’ performed in Crookwell and south western New South Wales including as ‘Mr Perkins Happy Family’. In 1887 James Perkins was the Agent for a well known performing family, the ‘Payne Family’. In the late 1880’s he often performed with Frederick Hobbs with his stage name ‘Lloyd’ as ‘Elton-Lloyd’ troupes. Frederick Hobbs married James Perkins younger sister Clara Emily in 1892 and went on to perform and run along with their daughters the ‘Lloyds Circus’ and ‘Lloyds Sisters’. Their daughter Alma Hobbs married Vincent Golden ‘Micky’ Ashton of Ashton’s Circus in 1931. When James Perkins died the monument on his grave was erected by his second wife and his sister Emily Clara.
At some stage James continued performing and Sarah and presumably Walter Arthur, were again left behind. On 12 November 1890 he married Catherine Byrne Rendells, a musician, at the Registrar’s Office, Narrabri, there is little detail on the certificate except James claiming he was a widower. When their son Gordon Arthur Elton Perkins was born on 12 August 1891 in Cudal NSW, James stated his name as Arthur Elton James Perkins and that he was born in Calcutta. They had another daughter born in 1893 also in Cudal but sadly she died in 1893. Gordon Arthur Elton died in Rockhampton Queensland on 10 May 1961. There is a note on Gordon Arthur Elton Perkins NSW birth certificate (Ref 1891/22456) : By Deed Poll dated the ? March 1950, the within-mentioned Gordon Arthur Perkins renounced and abandoned the surname of Perkins and assumed the surname of Elton, G Blackmore, Deputy Registrar General, Sydney, 21st June 1950 .’14
‘Arthur Elton’ James Perkins died in Dalby Queensland on 11 July 1921. His death certificate lists his mother as Jane Pinteaux and his father as ‘Perkins-Elton, Grazier’. the only child listed is Gordon Arthur. Catherine Byrne Elton died in Dalby death on 27 March 1938 her death certificate includes the information about their daughter ‘Deceased, one female’.
Sarah Ann Perkins went on to eventually divorce James in absentia presumed dead in 1898, the case was reported in newspapers in Sydney, Maitland and Singleton. The divorce papers are in the NSW State Archives 15 and are interesting reading. At the time her address was a hotel in Sydney and her occupation was as a ‘needlewoman’.
Sarah made some statements regarding her children, listing only three children naming only her youngest Emily Ada who was under 18 years of age. Her Statement dated 29 October 1896, includes information that is at odds with the reports of the Benevolent Society and Randwick Asylum records: ‘ … I placed my children in the Government Asylum for children soon after my husband deserted me & officers of Asylum promised to make enquiries for my husband and I have frequently asked the said officers whether they had discovered the whereabouts of my husband but they have always informed me that they have not been able to hear anything concerning my husband … I have frequently asked my parents who live in Wellington NSW if my brothers who travel through the colony to try to find out where my husband had gone and they have informed me that they have not been able to find him … I have asked other people who knew my husband whether they knew or if they had heard anything about my husband and I have not been able to obtain any information from them … About 15yrs ago I received from an acquaintance an American paper in which it stated that a James Perkins has been killed through a fall at San Francisco. As my husband used to give public displays of rope walking I thought the James Perkins mentioned might be my husband. I therefore obtained a position and went as a stewardess on a ship going to San Francisco but I was unable during theduring the short time I could stay on shore to obtain any information showing whether or not the man killed was my husband nor have I since been able to obtain any information in regard to the same matter … My husband lived at Foveaux Street Sydney up to his time of leaving me in the year one thousand eight hundred and eighty.’ 16
Divorce was expensive and could be difficult so Sarah applied for the divorce as ‘in forma pauparis: My husband has not lived with me for sixteen years and I have no means of knowing his whereabouts or income. I am not worth £25 after payment of my just debts save and except wearing apparel and furniture. From other documentation Sarah had returned to her family eventually living with her sisters.
In relation to the desertion of her by James she states: My husband above mentioned [James Perkins] left me in the year 1880. My husband went away on the said occasion and has never communicated with me since he left me. At the time my husband left me and on various occasions since I have made enquiries with a view of discovering my husbands whereabouts but I have not succeeded in discovering the same nor have any idea where my husband is now living.
Court reporters provided an array of headlines and reporting on the case. Despite James Perkins being visible in newspaper reports as a tight rope walker throughout the time their children were in care it appears no link was made. There is inconsistencies within the stories but eventually Sarah was granted her divorce.
Sarah Ann Perkins also known as Sarah O’Connor & Clara Bishop
The grave of Sarah Ann Perkins revealed yet another chapter in the life of Sarah Ann Perkins and reveals a whole other chapter to her life which at first glance seemed like a lonely one after her divorce from James Perkins. There is another person also buried in Sarah Ann Perkins grave, Burwood O’Connor. It was a mystery that needed to be investigated.
The name Burwood Carl O’Connor is unusual enough to make searching a little easier and resulted in birth certificate for Burwood Carl O’Connor born 12 May 1892 whose mother was Clara Ann Bishop of ‘Harpers Hill near Maitland’ and father was George Henry O’Connor.
Sarah Ann Perkins nee Bishop had a sister Clara which is likely was the source of her use if this name on on the certificate and as we know ‘Clara Bishop’ also toured as a performer with James Perkins.
George Henry O’Connor was a cordial maker. Burwood Carl O’Connor’s birth certificate noted that there was another child previously ‘1 female deceased’. This led to another search and finding a sister for Burwood, her name was Eva Pearl O’Connor but there were two certificates, a birth and death certificate for little Eva Pearl O’Connor who was born on 1 January 1888 with the death certificate stating the same day of 1 January 1888 but that she was 4 days old. Her parents are listed as ‘Clara formerly Bishop’ aged 28 years whose birthplace was ‘Singleton’ and ‘Henry O’Connor’ whose occupation was a ‘cordial maker’.
These two children explain Sarah Ann Perkins Death Certificate in 1948 which states she had two children ‘None living, 1 male, 1 female deceased.’ It does however erase the records of her first three children, Arthur, Bertie and Ada.
George Henry O’Connor & O’Connor Brothers Cordials
George Henry O’Connor was part of a cordial making family known as O’Connor Brothers Cordials. Despite the BDM certificates stating that Clara and George Henry were married on 10 January 1886 there is no record of the marriage, nor of a divorce. It is likely the two were never married.
In 1889 George Henry O’Connor was partners with B Barnett with a cordial making manufacturing business in Parramatta. By 1891 O’Connor had sold the business and moved to Burwood.
By 1898 just five years after Burwood was born, George Henry O’Connor married someone else. On 12 February 1898 George Henry O’Connor married Mary Ann Brown in what seems to be quite a society wedding. They were to live in Burwood and had four children: William George, Joseph Charles, John Henry and Maria Sylvia (Wiltshire).
George Henry O’Connor died on 13 April 1932 there are probate records at NSW Archives – Deceased Estates Index
INX-15-98827 and Probate paperwork NRS-13660-14-1197-Series 4_181423 There is no reference to ‘Clara’ or Burwood O’Connor in the notice.
It is interesting that Sarah Ann Perkins address in 1899 as recorded in her divorce paperwork from James was ‘Parkview House, Burwood Rd, Burwood’ and her death certificate acknowledges just one son and one daughter. This is not however the end of the story of Sarah Ann Bishop.
Burwood Carl O’Conner died on 31 October 1945 aged 53 years of carcinoma of the larynx. He had been a ‘Printers Assistant’ with his father’s name of George Henry O’Connor and his mother listed as Sarah Ann Perkins not Clara Bishop. The informant was his uncle Daniel Herbert Jackson who had married Sarah Ann’s sister Esther Olive and owned 71 Mitchell St, Enfield which was the address given also for Sarah Ann Perkins. This document links ‘Clara Bishop’, ‘Clara Ann O’Connor’ and Sarah Ann Perkins nee Bishop as all being the same person. Burwood had never married and his mother Sarah Ann Perkins died on 31 Aug 1948 almost 3 years later and was buried with her son.
Joseph Bishop and Clara O’Connor
There is a more serious part of Sarah Ann’s story and involves her brother Joseph, a man who already been in gaol and had a record for cattle stealing, gaming in a public place, larceny and perjury. They were charged with administering abortions ‘more than once’. They escaped conviction.
Sarah Ann Perkins Death Certificate further states she was a ‘widow’ with the children of the marriage were: ‘None living, 1 male, 1 female deceased.’ 17
It has been difficult to find any records for Emily Ada after she was boarded out and the mention of her within the divorce records.
Bertie died in 1924.
Arthur in 1961
Walter Arthur in 1959.
It should be noted that the main documentation as the source of Sarah Ann Perkins nee Bishop being the mother of Walter Arthur is within his Marriage Certificate to Annie Elizabeth May Schaumann in 1902, although he was recognised by his Uncle Somerville Matthias Perkins, a brother of James, as his nephew in Court.
Walter Arthur Perkins & Annie Elizabeth May Schaumann
Annie Elizabeth May Schaumann married Walter Arthur Perkins at the Church of St James Maclean on 11 July 1902. Walter Arthur sated his father was James Perkins ‘Professional Actor’ and mother as Sarah Ann Bishop. The witnesses recorded on the certificate were Annie May’s father John Frederick Schaumann, and the Minister the Rev Henry Jobson’s wife Mary Evelyn Jobson. Mary Jobson’s obituary describes her as ‘She has won from us all more than our respect; she has won our love, and to be loved is the highest reward anyone in this world can hope to attain; and this she did solely by her simplicity and purity of intention, for she never sought notice or publicity, but was always doing little things that were hidden from the public gaze’ 18 The Rev Henry Jobson was described in January 1900 when a valedictory social was held on his leaving the Parish in Glen Innes to come to Maclean ‘the gathering ought to prove in no mean fashion how popular Mr. Jobson is with people of all shades of belief. He has been equally kind, helping and good to all’.19
Daphne Pearl Perkins was born in Wooli Street Yamba on 23 December 1902. The witness on the Birth Certificate was ‘Vera Freeburn’ who was May’s cousin and the daughter of the riverboat Captain, James Freeburn. James Freeburn was the brother of Jane Schaumann nee Freeburn.
Vera Freeburn and May Schaumann went to school together in Yamba and were obviously close.
However Annie May’s marriage to Walter Arthur Perkins did not last long, it appears he had deserted her by the end of 1903 when his name ‘Walter Arthur Perkins. Labourer’ appeared on first the Polling Place returns for the Federal Election held on 16 December 1903 and on the 1903-1904 Electoral Roll for Mullumbimby. His closeness to the family of James Perkins family can be noted in that the fist place he chose to go at this time was to his Uncle Mark and Aunt Sarah who were Hotelkeepers at Mullumbimby at that time. Another Uncle Sommerville Matthias ‘Matt’ Perkins was the hotelkeeper at Billinudgel and then at the Condong Hotel South Murwillumbah.
Federal Election held 16 December 1903 – Polling Place Returns.
Walter Arthur Perkins capacity to stay out of trouble did not last long and this time it was a bit more serious than riotous behaviour and swearing. He was charged and found guilty of stealing a cheque.
On 2 December 1905, Walter Arthur Perkins was again before the courts, this time he was charged and remanded for assault and robbery in Murwillumbah along with three others. The Court case was reported on 28 February 1906. Walter Perkins chose to defend himself and when cross examined we find that when asked about his fighting weight and sparing he replied; ‘I sometimes have a spar and take my own part.’ 19 Walter Perkins and one of the others were found guilty and sentenced imprisonment with hard labour for 18 months. Originally noted that he was to be sent to Grafton Gaol, on 22 April 1906 he was recorded, along with the only photograph we have of him, at Darlinghurst Gaol. When he was released on 13 April 1907 it was from Goulburn Gaol.
Of interest within the records of the court case is the fact that Walter Arthur’s Uncle Sommerville Matthias ‘Mat’ Perkins gave evidence and as part of this he stated; “He’s crying about my wife’s death” said Perkins, the hotelkeeper, when he lost her he lost a good friend. “This is my nephew.” 20 Sommerville Matthias wife Alice May Perkins nee Margetts, died 23 Aug 1905. So clearly Walter Arthur was considered to be a nephew. There are no other children within the Perkins family that could be a nephew named Walter or Arthur or for whom is not accounted with parents already aside from Walter Arthur, being a son of James Perkins.
The next records from 1909 to 1913 are again related to offences; Assault at Wyalong in 1909 (convicted and fined), riotous behaviour on 22 October 1912 ‘Walter Perkins, the other one, was well spoken of, and he was fined 10/-or two days’ 21 and in stealing flour under ‘False Pretences’ in 1913 when working as a Baker at Ardlethan. The newspaper reports of the Court Case show that he was fortunate in that the jury found not guilty on one charge ad could not reach a verdict which the Attorney General then declined to proceed any further with the case.
‘FALSE PRETENCES. Walter Arthur Perkins was charged on two accounts as above; and he pleaded not guilty … The Crown Prosecutor explained that accusced obtained guarantees from James Corner on two occasions for supplies of flour from Gillespie and Pardey, millers, Temora. He represented that he bought W. Rous’ bakery business, and the amount in all reached about £100. It transpired that his representations were false. James Corner, Ardlethan, stated the case in the box, and he tendered the letter that he wrote to the millers ordering two tons of flour for Perkins; also letter from the millers declining to supply the second two tons of flour on his recommendation as a customer. He kept no book accounts of the transactions. but trusted to his memory, and said he had guaranteed 12 tons in all. He had to pay the milled £69 odd. In a conversation after getting six tons, accused told him he then owed a balance to the miller of £15, that he paid his other indebtedness to them, and that his cheque book would show it. Other wise he would not have consented to order any more flour. He wrote to the millers, and obtained a reply stating that Perkins owed £50/13/6. Perkins, when accosted with this, said it was a mistake – he was certain he had sent a cheque that they had not given him credit for. He wrote again, and the millers replied that he still owed £50; he told that to Perkins, who persisted that it was a mistake; and that he would fix them up and send them a cheque by the end of the month; there was a good plant at the bakery, all ready to carry on the business. Accused had not paid him any part of this money. After voluminous evidence, the jury retired, and they had not re turned to court up to time of going to Press. Samuel Jeffrey Blackwell has given notice of appeal against his sentence.’ 22
On 26 Mar 1915 at 1 Lilyvale St in Helensburgh NSW Grace Mary Perkins was born, the daughter of Walter Arthur Perkins and Mary Jane Johnson. Her birth certificate provides some additional information about father Walter Arthur was lists his employment as a ‘Coal Miner’, aged 28 years placing his birth as 1881 and birthplace as Windsor NSW. 23
Significantly was gain insight into Grace’s mother who lists her name as ‘Mary Jane formerly Johnson, now Bean’, aged 34 years and birthplace as Redcastle, Victoria.
Despite both parents being the informants being present as the informants fro their daughters birth, she is still listed as ‘illegitimate’.
In 1876 Mary Jane Johnson was born in Redcastle, Victoria the daughter of Francis ‘Frank’ Johnson and Jane Ann Folwell. Mary Jane had an older brother Samuel Austen born in 1875. Her mother Jane was very unwell when she gave birth to a 6 month premature baby Caroline on 10 Sep 1877 with both dying this same day. Frank Johnson remarried in 1880 to Sarah Martha Butler and they had another daughter and four sons before the family moved to Western Australia. Mary Jane Johnson did not go with them as she had married William Parrington Bean in Narrandera NSW on 20 July 1895. They had seven children:
- Hephzibah May 1896 – 14 Jun 1978
- Valentina Myra 14 Feb 1900 – 11 Nov 1982
- Eric McCree 1903 – 1 Jan 1984
- Jane Lillian 19 Jan 1905 – 27 Sep 1932
- William Parrington (Jnr) (twin) 1908 – 1935
- Francis ‘Frank’ 1908 (twin) – unknown
- Sydney H Bean 1909 – 1920 (Ardlethan)
The 1913 Electoral Roll provides a link between Walter Arthur Perkins, William Parrington Bean and Mary Jane Bean nee Johnson. Both William and Mary Jane were in Ardlethan in 1913 with both William Bean and Walter Arthur Perkins working as bakers in Ardlethan.
Both William and Mary Jane were in Ardlethan in 1913 with both William Bean and Walter Arthur Perkins working as bakers in Ardlethan.
An AIF record for Walter Arthur Perkins who enlisted on 15 May 1915 tells us that his partner and next of kin at that time was Mary Jane Johnson ‘last address Helensburgh’ and that within three weeks, on the 2 Jun 1915, he was discharged ‘at wifes request’.
It is noted on the record that he had put down his age and after his physical examination that he was ‘fit as driver only’ 24 A link between Walter Perkins in Darlinghurst Gaol in 1906 and this Walter Arthur Perkins can be seen within his description which closely align.
On 27 April 1919, Walter Arthur James was born in Auburn St, Goulburn, his father Walter Arthur Perkins ‘labourer’ was the informant for his son’s birth certificate. This time, perhaps to avoid the label of ‘illegitimate’ for his son that occurs on his daughters birth certificate, Walter Arthur Perkins gives a Date of marriage: ’13 March 1902′ Place: ‘Maclean NSW’.25 There is enough truth but not quite the truth in this declaration. He was married in 1902 at Maclean NSW but it was on the 11 July to Annie Elizabeth May Schaumann, not to the mother of his new son Walter Arthur James.
This gives a clear link and documentation note linking the Walter Arthur Perkins who married May Schaumann and his next family with Mary Jane Johnson, alongside the very similar physical descriptions and the missing person report field by Annie May in 1911, there can be little doubt now this is the same man. There is no other Perkins in the NSW births deaths and marriages search who married in 1902 in Maclean except Walter Arthur Perkins and Annie Elizabeth May Schaumann.
Little can be ascertained at this point as to where the family was however by 1924 it appeared Walter and Mary’s relationship was strained. Mary ‘Perkins’ took Walter to Court for taking her property and selling it. ‘The P.M [Police Magistrate] gave an order for Walter Perkins to deliver up the articles or their equivalent value, as assessed by Mary Perkins.’ 26
The family of Walter Arthur James recall that Walter would often so off ‘droving’ and that some time in the 1920’s Mary Johnson left Walter Arthur for another man. She went to Western Australia and left both her children with their father. It is not clear whether Mary Jane Johnson ever went to Western Australia but her father and step family were living there. There is no evidence of ‘another man’ to this point. In 1931 Mary Jane Johnson is living at 91 Inkerman St, St Kilda in Melbourne, Victoria, she remained at this address and died there on 19 Jun 1961. Her death certificate gives bother her names ‘Mary Jane Bean also known as Mary Jane Johnson’. She is buried at the Springvale Botanical Cemetery, Springvale, Greater Dandenong, Victoria under her married name of Mary Jane Bean, she had not used this name on any electoral rolls between 1931 and 1961.
On 8 January 1927, Walter Arthur Perkins, ‘Baker’ aged ’36 years’ (actually 46 years) married Hilda May Whiteley aged 34 years in Bombala on the south coast of New South Wales. He listed his father as James Perkins ‘Music teacher’ and his mother as ‘Grace’ Bishop. He also stated he was a ‘Bachelor (sic)’.25 Hilda took on the care of Walter’s two children and they went on to have four sons whose names and ages are listed on his death certificate.
- John Darrell ‘Jack’ Perkins b: 1927 – 2021
- Lance Farrel Perkins b: 1931 – 1989
- Dallas R Perkins b: 1931 – unknown
- Brian Lexley Perkins b: 1935 – 2020
In the 1930’s Walter Arthur and Hilda were living in Queanbeyan until 1937, apparently Hilda eventually left Walter and took her sons to Sydney to raise them, the electoral rolls indicate they were both living together at 38 Wilford St, Newtown. Walter Arthur ‘James’ Perkins died on 18 March 1959 at Castlereagh Hospital, Wolseley Rd, Drummoyne. The cause of death was ‘chronic myocarditis’ and ‘cerebral thrombosis bronchial asthma’. His occupation was listed as ‘Bricklayer’ and place of birth as Goulburn as he had given on his marriage certificate with Hilda May. The informant for the original Death Certificate was his son Dallas Perkins, 16 Hurlstone Ave, Summer Hill. His children’s names include all his four sons with Hilda, along with his children with Mary Jane. It does not include his marriage to Annie Elizabeth May Schaumann nor his daughter Daphne Pearl Perkins. Originally much of the certificate stated ‘unknown’ but additional information was ‘furnished by L F Perkins, son, 18 Alfred Avenue, Five Dock’. This included the name of his ‘first spouse’ Mary Johnson, ages of his children, and his father and mother’s names as listed on his marriage certificate to Hilda Whiteley.26
Walter Arthur Perkins is buried at Macquarie Park Cemetery and Crematorium, North Ryde, Ryde City, New South Wales, Australia – CATHOLIC MONUMENTAL, E6, Grave 0049
He was buried on 20 Mar 1959, there is no headstone.
Walter Arthur’s wife Hilda May Whiteley was a devout Catholic which explains why he is buried in the Catholic section of the cemetery.
It has been difficult to piece together the life story of Walter Arthur Perkins and his parents. Many have spent a lot of time looking and family historian James White had actually found his death certificate in 2006 but without all the additional information that is now more easily available it was impossible for him to make the connections needed. This was not helped by some of the variations that Walter Arthur, much like his father James, used to help cover his previous ‘lives’. Always just enough truth to make a connection but then enough to question whether the connections were correct. It is also a reminder to check the sources, data and look for the small bread crumbs along the trail that provides a pathway between the stories of lives.
Annie May Perkins 1903 – 1909
One of the key pieces of data in unravelling the connections between Walter Arthur Perkins and his life with Annie Elizabeth May Schaumann came in the form of a small reference within a Queensland Police Gazette Index in 1911. It refers to a Missing Friends report filed by Annie May Perkins in which she tells in her own words how her husband left her and what she knew of what had become of him. ‘Information is requested, at the instance of Annie Elizabeth Perkins, Boonah, as to the present whereabouts of Walter Arthur Perkins, otherwise Wally, who left his home eight ears ago, was sentenced to six months’ for stealing at Mullumbimby about six years ago, and supposed to have gone to Wyalong, near Maitland ; he has relatives at Hawkesbury and Bangalow. He is 30 years of age, 5 feet 1 or 2 inches high, dark complexion, dark curly hair, dark moustache, dark eyes, regular nose, scar on one cheek ; a baker ; a native of New South Wales. Information to the Officer in charge, Criminal Investigation Branch, Brisbane … 3rd February, 1911.‘ 30
Queensland State Archives
Annie May had two more children, Myrtle Faith Perkins was born at the Home of Hope for Fallen and Friendless Women in Newtown in 1904 which was also a maternity hospital and in 1907 Herbert ‘George’ Perkins was born in the Lady Bowen Hospital at Bowen Hills in Brisbane, neither children’s father was recorded. Both Myrtle and George births were registered with the surname Schaumann but adopted their mother’s married surname. Although it is difficult to find records, it is likely that the reason Annie May left Yamba was the need to have her children in hospital rather than for any other reason.
A little insight into the story of the birth of Myrtle was discovered contained in records held by the NSW Nursing History Research Unit recorded in one of the few remaining records for the Hospital which were left at Tempe garbage tip, thankfully rescued and donated first the Nursing History Unit and then transferred to the NSW State Library. The Home of Hope for Friendless and Fallen Women in Newtown operated from 1883 until 1904 and the rare records that exist include those for Annie May’s birth of Myrtle.
At this point the reference is from a verbal notation from the Nursing History Unit, awaiting a copy of the written record. The record showed ‘Annie May’ had been employed working for the family of J J Englert the Tailor in Maclean as a maid. It stated her father was F Schaumann of Yamba and that they were ‘poor’. The referral to the hospital for the birth of Myrtle was the local policeman Constable Joshua Redman, a friend and neighbour of the Schaumann family. A referral meant that the cost of Annie May’s boat passage from Yamba to Sydney would be paid for by the government. They record she arrived on the 24 October 1904 a month before the birth. Annie May and baby Myrtle remained at the hospital for a month after the birth until she was discharged until 17 December 1904, This was noted by the keeper of the records as an unusual length of time to be in the maternity hospital indicating there must have been a reason for this including that Annie May had difficulty giving birth with her first child Daphne. She was apparently discharged on a boat going to the Richmond River.31
In 1904 Yamba was an isolated community, there were no bridges to take people out of the town to the larger centres like Grafton with the main mode of transport being by boat. Whilst they had midwives in Yamba to help with the delivery of babies there was limited help available quickly. At 8 months pregnant it is very unlikely that the whole very small town did not know Annie May was pregnant and most likely they knew who the father was.
The history of the Lady Bowen hospital and the Ladies Committee is very interesting: ‘From the outset, the Ladies’ Committee of the Lying-In Hospital sought to achieve three aims: firstly to improve midwifery standards in the state, secondly to change community attitudes toward accepting childbirth in hospitals and thirdly to promote moral reform in unwed mothers. To achieve the first aim, the training of midwives was conducted from the earliest days of the hospital in the 1860s.’ 32
No records remain for the Lady Bowen Hospital but there is a newspaper article of a report from the weekly report to the Ladies Committee that ran the Hospital.
It includes a report from Dr Lulu Ure who was the attending doctor fro the birth of Herbert George Schuamann-Perkins. Dr Ure reported: ‘Several serious cases had been treated during the week, and in one case, which necessitated the employment of a surgical nurse, the Lady Lamington Hospital authorities had most kindly lent operating instruments, &c., at very short notice.’ The other person on the birth certificate at George’s birth was Matron Ann Capner who is picture below and trained all the midwives/nurses at the Hospital.
Annie May Perkins is recorded on the Electoral Rolls as residing in Yamba from 1903 until 1909. Her eldest daughter Daphne remained in Yamba under the care of her parents Jane and Fred Schaumann, she was originally registered to attend Yamba Public School in May 1907 as ‘Daphne Schaumann’ with her Guardian as her grandfather Fred Schaumann but it is noted she left ‘too young’ as she was only 4 years and 1 month of age. In January 1912 Daphne was again registered to attend Yamba School under the guardianship of her grandfather aged 6 years and 4 months. Although no final leaving date is recorded the records show Daphne attended the school until ‘December 1916’ when the record state ‘left’ and ‘left district’. There is a school photo dated 1917 in which Daphne is in the middle row third from the left wearing a necktie.
Annie May Perkins 1909 – 1917
There are some missing years in Annie May Perkins life between the 1909 Electoral Roll listing her in Yamba and the enrolment of Myrtle and George at Dunellan State School on the 24 August 1914 where she stated that their parent’s name was ‘Walter H, Cedar St, Baker’ .33
The notice within Queensland Police Gazette dated 3 February 1911 referred to previously draws together all the details of Walter Arthur Perkins from Annie May’s perspective. There is no information as to why Annie May filed the report nor what transpired afterwards. There appears to be no divorce record for Annie May and Walter Arthur Perkins but after so many years and the Police report made, perhaps it was presumed he was deceased which is what Annie May stated on her children’s marriage certificates. From 1914 she stated she was a ‘Widow’.34
By the 26 October 1914 Annie May had moved, with the children now registered at Cooparoo State School with the record stating their parent as Annie May Perkins ‘Widow’ residing at ‘Milsom St,’ Coorparoo.35 Later records for more schools and Electoral Rolls indicate that Annie May Perkins between 1914 and 1917 was working as a ‘Charwoman’, ‘Laundress’, ‘Cafe Hand’ with the two children attending East Brisbane State School, Petrie State School and Windsor State School.
Herbert Henry ‘Herb’ Russell
In 1919 the Electoral Roll lists Annie May Perkins address as ‘Care of Russells’ and it is at this point that some stability returned to her life. She was living with the family of Herbert Henry Russell a recently returned WWI soldier who had been part of the Medical Corps Unit in England.35 He enlisted on 24 January 1916 listing his trade was a Bootmaker. He likely started his working life at likely a very young age at the ‘Mueller Shoe and Slipper Manufacturer’ Factory in Brisbane where he was apprenticed for 3 years.36
It is possible Herbert Henry Russell was one of the small boys in the photograph in 1896, he would have been 12 years of age.
Herbert Russell embarked on the Medical Corp Ship A33 “Ayreshire” on 24 January 1915, working in the Army Medical Corps in Tidworth and Parkhouse. He had medical issues and was eventually returned to Australia and was discharged on 8 February 1918. There was a marked physical change in Herbert Russell from when he enlisted at the beginning of 1916 and returned in 1918. The Army Medical Corps saw the worst of what men endured as they cared for the sick and injured. Perhaps this may explain the changes but there is little in his records to explain why.
Herbert Russell was the son of William Russell and Jane Casemore. William Russell was the son of Henry Russell (born East Lambrook Somerset, England 21 Dec 1828) and Mary Waldern (Porter) (born 22 July 1832, Kingsbury, Somerset, England) who were emigrated to Queensland on the ‘Phoebe Dunbar’ arriving on 10 May 1856. Henry Russell listed his occupation as a ‘Thatcher’ on the marriage certificate dated 6 September 1952 (Kingsbury, Somerset, England). When his son William was born at Kangaroo Point in Brisbane on 16 August 1858 his occupation was ‘Sawyer’. They had two daughters Elizabeth Russell born 12 January 1853 in Kingsbury, Somerset, England who married George Trueman in Brisbane on 22 June 1878. Sarah Russell was born on 5 November 1854 but died on 23 May 1856 just a few weeks after their arrival in Queensland.
Jane Elizabeth Casemore was the daughter of William Casemore and Elizabeth Casemore nee Sullivan. Jane was born in London England in 1862 arriving in Brisbane with her parents on the ‘Queen of the South’ on 8 December 1865 aged just 3 years old. When Jane Elizabeth Casemore married William Russel she listed her father William Casemore’s occupation as a ‘Carpenter’. Interestingly her mother’s name was listed as Jane Leak but her death certificate in 1944 states her mother as Elizabeth Sullivan.
William Russell married Jane Casemore on 22 February 1883 listed his occupation as a ‘Boot Finisher’ and when his son Herbert Henry Russell was born on 29 February 1884 their address was Thomas Street Brisbane. They had four children:
- Herbert Henry Russell
- b: 29 Feb 1884 Kangaroo Point Brisbane d: Yamba
- sp1: Annie Elizabeth May Perkins nee Schaumann b: 1881 d: 19 Mar 1959
- m: 5 Dec 1924 Brisbane Children: none but stepchildren
- William Percy Russell
- b: 7 Jul 1885 d: 11 Jun 1905 unmarried
- Arthur Stanley Russell
- b: 18 Jan 1888 d: 19 Feb 1935
- m: Martha Davies 19 Dec 1918 Children: Allan Douglas and Dorothy Myrtle
- Madeline Russell – Shyers
- b: 26 Jun 1892 d: 24 Mar 1920 Brisbane
- m: Frederick Shyers Child: Jane Anna Shyers
May and Herb Russell – Brisbane
Annie Elizabeth May Perkins on the 1919 Electoral Roll gives her address as ‘care Russell’s’ Redfern St, Woollongabba’. She married Herbert Henry Russell on 5 December 1924 37 at the Joyful News Mission Hall, Brunswick St, Valley, Brisbane.
In the 1920’s Herb Russell was operating Bakery at Edgar St, Woolloongabba and managed to get himself into a bit of strife, working out of approved hours and selling bread on Sundays. The family story was that Annie May had a cake shop, it seems likely that this Bakery was her cake shop.
Home to Yamba – 1930
In 1930 Annie May and Herbert Russell moved from Brisbane back to Annie May’s home town of Yamba, they lived in a little original cottage at 36 Wooli Street. Annie May’s father Fred Schaumann had died on 27 July 1926 at the age of 88 years. Jane who was 20 years younger was 67 years so by 1930 was 71 years and as the eldest daughter it was expected that Annie May would return to look after her mother. Henry Russell’s father had died on 29 September 1929 and electoral rolls indicate his mother remained in Brisbane, his sister Madeline had died in 1920 leaving his brother Arthur and wife Martha still in Brisbane. In 1935 Arthur Russell died leaving Henry as the last remaining child of William and Elizabeth Russell. Percy had died on 11 Jun 1905 of Dengue Fever, Madeline on 24 Mar 1920 of Chronic Nephritis and Cardiac Failure and Arthur on 19 Feb 1935 again of Chronic Nephritis, Cardiac Failure and Arteriosclerosis.
Herb Russell set up a Cobblers Shop on the corner of Wooli and River Street Yamba. The building was originally built by his father in law Fred Schaumann in 1906 and was known as Schaumann’s Fruit and Refreshments store. Herb was an active member of the community in Yamba including on committees such as: Yamba Chamber of Commerce, Yamba Urban Committee, Yamba School of Arts Committee, The Electric Light Committee, Aero Landing Ground Committee, the original Yamba Amateur Fisherman’s Association in 1931, the Yamba Sub Branch RSSILA as well as helping out at many community organisations such as the surf club, local dances, community working activities, and the Yamba P & C. Annie May was an inaugural committee member of the Yamba Women’s Bowling Club as well as actively helping out in the community. She was known in the family as an excellent card player and her name features in many of the local games and tournaments. Herb and May seemed to revel in the local community and living back in Yamba.
In 1935 Arthur Russell died leaving Henry as the last remaining child of William and Elizabeth Russell. Percy had died on 11 Jun 1905 of Dengue Fever, Madeline on 24 Mar 1920 of Chronic Nephritis and Cardiac Failure and Arthur on 19 Feb 1935 again of Chronic Nephritis, Cardiac Failure and Arteriosclerosis.
Electricity comes to Yamba – 1931
On 21 November 1931 electricity came to Yamba and ‘Amidst loud cheers, the tooting of motor- horns, and every manifestation of general delight, Mrs. Jane Frances Schaumann, the first white child born at Yamba, elevated a small lever and almost simultaneously the seaside town was flooded with light on Saturday night … Mrs. Schaumann then switched on the current, and immediately there was a blaze of light. Dr. Page then presented Mrs. Schaumann, on behalf of the citizens of Yamba, with an electric reading lamp as a memento of the ceremony. It was fitting, he said, that the first white child born in the town should be called upon to perform such an important ceremony. The citizens of Grafton paid his mother a similar compliment. She was brought to the district in arms, but Mrs. Schaumann was born on the spot.’ 38
Herb Russell made the suggestion to the Committee organising the Lighting up Ceremony that Jane Schaumann be the person to turn on the electricity.
‘The decision to invite Mrs. J. F. Schaumann, snr., to switch on the electric current at Yamba next month is enthusiastically approved by residents of Yamba. The Freeburn family have been closely connected connected with the history of Yamba for the past 74 years, and the father of the family arrived on the Clarence in one of the first trading schooners to enter the river.’ 36
On the 50th Anniversary George Perkins planted a Hakea Tree in commemoration on Saturday, 21 November, 1981 representing his Grandmother who pressed the lever to turn on electricity to Yamba in 1931. Unfortunately the tree did not survive. The year 2021 will be the 90th Anniversary of electricity coming to Yamba.
Death of Jane Frances Schaumann nee Freeburn – 1936
On 26 December 1936 Jane Schaumann nee Freeburn, Annie May’s mother, died at her home in Yamba. Her obituary gives an insight into the early life of Yamba and of her family.
The 1943 Electoral Roll records Elizabeth Russell in Yamba, she came to live with Annie May and Henry Russell in their little cottage on Wooli Street Yamba, next door to the Cobbler’s Shop. A small obituary records her death at Grafton Base Hospital on 20 May 1944. She was the last remaining member of Henry Russell’s family besides a niece, Jane Anna Shyers the daughter of Henry’s sister who had died in 1920. Jane Shyers had married George Ashman in Brisbane on 19 August 1936.
Life back in Yamba
When Annie May and Henry Russell returned to Yamba, Henry started up a Cobbler’s Shop in what had previously been Fred Schaumann’s and his daughters ‘Fruit and Refreshment Shop on the Corner of Wooli and River Streets, Yamba. He worked in this shop until not long before his death. May and Henry Russell were active members of the Yamba community thriving in the many town activities. Henry Russell in particular was on many of the town Committees.
Annie May Russell was a founding committee member of the Yamba Ladies Bowls Club attending the initial meeting on 4 May 1937. She held committee positions and in 1941 she was the President of the Club.
Annie May also was part of the Ladies Hospital Auxiliary Committee participating in their fundraising for the Lower Clarence Hospital. Both May and Herb Russell helped out at Surf Life Saving functions, School of Arts functions, dances, Yamba Public School functions and many community activities within the township of Yamba from their return to Yamba in 1930. May Russell was also a keen card player participating and winning various Euchre, 500 and card Tourney’s.
Herbert Henry ‘Herb’ Russell from their arrival was very active in many committees and activities in the town. He is often mentioned in activities such as an MC for local events, helping out by decorating halls, time keeper for athletics, ticketseller and doorkeeper for dances and social events. He was in the first meeting to inaugurate a branch of the Amateur Fishermen’s Association on 14 July 1931 and was part of a competition committee set up at that meeting. On the 16 July 1931 he met with other local returned servicemen to discuss forming a local sub-branch of the R.S.S.I.L.A and although initially it was decided to not form the sub branch by Armistice Day 1932 the new Sub Branch was formed. He was an active member throughout his life participating in many functions and held to committee positions of Secretary, Vice President and sub committee member for various functions. In 1948 Herb Russell was the President of the Yamba R.S.S.I.L.A, he was a made a Life Member.40
Herb Russell was on the School of Arts Committee from 1931 holding positions on the committee as well as positions in the Yamba P&C eventually becoming the President of the P&C. He was active in the Yamba Literary Association, the Yamba Chamber of Commerce, helping with functions at the School of Arts Hall whose Committee he also participated in. He spoke up for unemployment relief and worked on working bees including reclamation work on the inner Yamba bay.
Social historian and writer Dr Janet McCalman talks about the role of service to others during the wars and depression times; ‘Your sense of service to your family, your friends, to your neighbours and the community was the thing that was most important in life. That was the prevailing values of the time & that was very satisfying and got people through the wars as well. Looking back, we’re looking back at a society which in social terms & civil society is better than we are now.‘ 41
This is of note because we find May and Herb Russell as part of these committees and attending local meetings from 1930 onwards, involved in local committees and events as a members, helpers and and office-bearers in the Yamba community. We also find them caring for Jane Schaumann and later Jane Russell, helping with grandchildren and numerous examples of extended family coming to stay with them. They had very little in a material way but as evidenced in the local newspaper reports which is the equivalent these days of social media, they very much helped others and lived the life of service that Dr McCalman describes both within their family and within the community they lived in.
They often had family and guests come to stay with them and often recorded in small ‘personal notes’ in the local newspaper.They stayed in the little cottage on Wooli Street with the timber fence and frangipani trees out front.
By the end of the 1840’s their participation in Committees and activities was waining and on 5 August 1951 Herb Russell died at the Lower Clarence Hospital in Maclean.
Annie May stayed living in the cottage on Wooli Street Yamba until her death. Her younger brother Fred Schaumann (Shawman) who was a WWI veteran from the Western Front, who had never married and had worked in Ulmarra all his life as a ‘cream taster’ came to live with Annie May and Herb Russell in 1950. He cared for his older sister, looking after her in their family home.
This is one of the last photos of Annie May taken by her grandson Colin Perkins, the son of George Perkins. It is taken outside the little cottage and is the abiding memory the family has of the cottage, picket fence and frangipani trees.
Annie Elizabeth May Russell – Perkins nee Schaumann died on 14 May 1963 at Grafton Base Hosiptal aged 82 years. The death certificate stated she he had a fractured femur for months and died of pneumonia. The certificate was certified by her son George Perkins, River St, Yamba. Only her first marriage to ‘Walter Perkins’ is recorded on the certificate with her children; Daphne 61 years, Myrtle 58 years, George 56 years and ‘none deceased’. Her father is listed as Frederick Schaumann ‘Mariner’ and Jane Frances Freeburn. She was buried on 16 May 1963 in the Church of England section of Maclean Cemetery.
Fred Schaumann lived in the cottage until the late 1970’s when he moved to the Narrabeen RSL Veterans Home in Sydney so he could be close to his sister ‘Biddo’- Evelyn Wellesley nee Schaumann. The photo below of George Perkins with his Uncle Fred and Aunty Biddo is taken outside Biddo’s house in Manly.
References
- NSW Births Deaths and Marriages Francis Freeburn Death Certificate Ref: 5773/1879
- NSW Births Deaths and Marriages – MARRIAGE Freeburn & McEvoy Ref:16/1842 V184216 26C
- Clarence and Richmond Examiner and New England Advertiser (Grafton, NSW : 1859 – 1889), Tuesday 29 July 1873, page 2
- Clarence and Richmond Examiner and New England Advertiser (Grafton, NSW : 1859 – 1889), Saturday 24 May 1879, page 2
- National Archives of Australia – NAA: A1, 1911/3607 Certificate of Naturalisation: 10896
- Transcript of Certificate of Baptism Record obtained by Johann Friedrich Schaumann’s granddaughter Barbara Pilcher 4 Dec 1983 signed by Transcriber Karl Wunderlich
- 1845 Census Schleswig-Holstein, Pinneberg, Elmshorn – https://www.danishfamilysearch.com/sogn2431/census1845
- John Friedrick SCHAUMANN Naturalization – National Archives of Australia – NAA: A1, 1911/3607
- NSW State Library – Records from Home of Hope for Fallen and Friendless Women
- Grafton Argus and Clarence River General Advertiser (NSW : 1874 – 1875; 1879 – 1882; 1888; 1892; 1899 – 1922), Monday 19 July 1915, page 2
- NSW Births Deaths and Marriages Death Certificate – Henry Robert Ayres Ref 1916/3661
- Goulburn Herald and Chronicle (NSW : 1864 – 1881), Wednesday 18 July 1877, page 2
- NSW STATE ARCHIVES – Child Care and Protection index 1817-1942 – PERKINS Arthur NRS 13362 [3]; Reel 1867, Page 265, Number 3459 and PERKINS Herbert NRS 13362 [3]; Reel 1867, Page 265, Number 3460
- NSW Birth Registration Transcription Gordon Arthur Elton Perkins REF NO: 1891/2245
- NSW STATE ARCHIVES – PERKINS Sarah Ann – PERKINS James Divorce records Index 1873-1923 Year: 1896 | Divorce Number: 2328 INX-16-7902 and NRS-13495-29-[13/12485]-2328 | Divorce papers Sarah Ann Perkins – James Perkins 16-09-1896 to 22-03-1899
- NSW STATE ARCHIVES – PERKINS Sarah Ann – PERKINS James Divorce records Index 1873-1923 Year: 1896 | Divorce Number: 2328 INX-16-7902 and NRS-13495-29-[13/12485]-2328 | Divorce papers Sarah Ann Perkins – James Perkins 16-09-1896 to 22-03-1899
- NSW Death Registration Transcription – Sarah Ann Perkins REF: 1948/17899
- Glen Innes Examiner (NSW : 1908 – 1954), Saturday 4 January 1936, page 5
- Clarence River Advocate (NSW : 1898 – 1949), Tuesday 30 January 1900, page 2
- Northern Star (Lismore, NSW : 1876 – 1954), Wednesday 28 February 1906, page 4
- Northern Star (Lismore, NSW : 1876 – 1954), Wednesday 28 February 1906, page 4
- Cootamundra Herald (NSW : 1877 – 1954), Tuesday 22 October 1912, page 1
- Cootamundra Herald (NSW : 1877 – 1954), Friday 27 March 1914, page 2
- NSW Birth Registration Transcription – Mary Grace Perkins REF: 16128/1915
- National Archives of Australia – NAA: B2455, PERKINS WALTER ARTHUR
- NSW Birth Registration Transcription – Walter Arthur James Perkins REF: 19035/1919
- The Albury Banner and Wodonga Express (NSW : 1860 – 1938) View title info Fri 23 May 1924 Page 18 ALBURY POLICE COURT.
- NSW Registration Transcription Marriage Certificate – Walter Arthur James Perkins & Hilda May Whiteley REF: 1927/3679
- NSW Death Registration Transcription Death Certificate Walter Arthur James Perkins REF: 1959/3360
- Queensland State Archives – Queensland Police Gazette page 64 Missing Friends Report Walter Arthur Perkins 3 February 1911
- Records – Home of Hope for Friendless and Fallen Women – NSW State Library TO BE ADDED
- Lady Bowen Hospital Complex (former) 497-535 Wickham Terrace, Spring Hill – Queensland Heritage Register https://apps.des.qld.gov.au/heritage-register/detail/?id=601798
- Register of Dunellan State School Queensland State Archives – 1914 – 24 Aug – Myrtle & George
- Register of Coorparoo State School Queensland State Archives – 1914 – Oct 26 – Myrtle & George Perkins – Milsom St ‘Widow’
- RUSSELL Herbert Henry : Service Number – 16372 : Place of Birth – Brisbane QLD NAA: B2455, RUSSELL HERBERT HENRY – National Archives of Australia
- Apprenticeship: ‘3 years to Mullers Brisbane’ National Archives of Australia – Herbert Henry Russell Service Number – 16372 NAA: B2455
- Queensland Births Deaths and Marriages – Marriage – Herbert Henry Russell & Annie Elizabeth May Perkins – Registration details: 1924/B/36086
- Daily Examiner (Grafton, NSW : 1915 – 1954), Monday 23 November 1931, page 2
- Daily Examiner (Grafton, NSW : 1915 – 1954), Wednesday 21 October 1931, page 2
- Information from John McNamara, Research Officer, Port of Yamba Historical Society – History of Yamba RSL at Yamba Museum
- Social historian Dr Janet McCalman https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/from-the-great-depression-to-coronavirus-how-australians-survive-hard-times-20200402-p54gaj.html & The Drawing Room Podcast with Patricia Karvelas https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/drawingroom/janet-mccallum/12272824
A Cottage By The Sea 