The Sommerville Clan |
CHARD'S WESTERN DISTRICT NEIGHBOURS The Sommerville's from Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland.
James Chard's first encounter with the Sommerville family took place at the Bryan O'Lynn station when, as a 22 year old, he was introduced to Jane Tozer, his then part-time employer's wife of seven years. He soon became acquainted with Jane's father George Sommerville and the extended family when, in 1853, George became the owner of Woody Park, a 200 acre property on the Merri River just north of Woodford. George Sommerville Snr. (1799-1862). George was born in Glasgow Scotland, the eldest son of John Sommerville (1771–1816), a master letterpress printer and Isabella (aka Isobel, nee Moffat, 1774–1861). Married [1] in his late teens to 26 year old Jean Cherry (1792–1830), George lacked the enthusiasm to follow his father's profession and with the Cherry family influence he slowly established a reputation as a West Port (Glasgow) tavern and public housekeeper [2]. George and Jean raised five Glasgow born children Margaret (1819–1906), Isabella (1821–1861), John (1823–1893), Jane (1827–1874) and George (1829–1921). Tragically George Jnr.'s birth resulted in his mother's death. With a handful of youngsters, George sought support from his wife's second cousin, Mary Cherry (1811–1859), a 19 year old Stirling lass, who had been employed at the hostelry. Mary married [3] George three years later and bore daughters Mary (1834–1862) and Euphemia (1836–1868). In 1838, at the age of 39, George sold the family business and emigrated to Australia aboard HMS James Pattison arriving in Sydney, Port Jackson on 11th December the same year [4]. The passage from Clyde, Glasgow had taken 108 days under Captain Cromarty - an ordeal for the Sommerville party of 10 - particularly his 64 year old ailing mother Isobel/Isabella. Of the family's ongoing travails George Sommerville Jnr. (1829-1921) tells us [5] in his journal; “By February the following year the Sommerville family, accompanied by another family, had purchased bullocks and a dray team and set out for Melbourne Port Phillip arriving in May 1839. Here my parents and siblings settled in a cottage at the north end of Queen Street, near the corner of Lonsdale Street. Father found immediate employment taking a contract to build a cottage for the government doctor, Patrick Edward Cussens (1792-1849). This construction was the first residence built on the north side of Lonsdale Street.” Having fulfilled his contract by the spring of 1842, and now with the wherewithal and a significant reputation, George sought to reprise his publican's bent when he applied for, albeit unsuccessfully, the licence [6] of the St Andrews Hotel in Bourke Street, Melbourne. |
| In May 1843 George took up a freehold site [7] north of Melbourne along the road to Sydney. Located in an area then known then as Merri Merri Creek (aka Pentridge), George set about constructing a two story dwelling which he hoped might double as a family residence and licenced hostelry. During this time George continued to pursue a publican's licence, this time for the Hiberian Hotel [8] in Elizabeth Street Melbourne. Again, he had no success. Finally in 1844 George became the governor [9] of the Bush Inn (Corner of Elizabeth and Little Bourke Streets Melbourne) with the family immediately taking up occupancy whilst waiting for the completion of their Pentridge residence. In the next four years George acquired victualler licences for the Wheatsheaf Hotel (Sydney Road, Coburg) [10] and the family's Pentridge residence which became known as the Young Queen Hotel [11]. It was probably the marriage [12] of his daughter Jane to Englishman Francis Tozer in 1846 that totally changed the direction of George's life and indeed that of his children. The young Tozers had speculated on a rural enterprise, taking ownership of a mail outpost and livery stable called Bryan O'Lynn station on the Drysdale run outside of North Warrnambool. George and his wife Jane, on one of their visits to see their grandchildren, fell in love with the countryside and when Mark Nicholson's Hopkins Falls and Mount Garvock runs were subdivided in the early 1850's, George and his son-in-law bought up substantial grazing allotments [13] in both areas. The first electoral roll for the citizens in the colony of Victorian occurred in 1856 and duplicate entries were commonplace. George Sommerville and his son George were a case in point being registered in the first instance in the shire of East Bourke; senior as a freehold farmer of Warrnambool and freehold owner of the Young Queen Inn at Pentridge whilst junior was listed as a freehold farmer of Campbellfield. At the same time the shire of Villiers registered both Georges' as freehold farmers at Wangoom. The Tozers were also recorded on the same roll as residing in Wangoom, but in fact, had already moved to their Garvoc estate at Mount Warrnambool. Local journalist and historian Charles Sayers in his History of Warrnambool wrote [14] that George Sommerville had purchased a substantial number of properties in the Warrnambool district; a township freehold in Kepler Street as well as farming and grazing allotments on the Murai (aka Merri) River (Woody Park), on the Hopkins River (Donovans Lodge) and on the shores of Lake Wangoom (Mount Pleasant). At Woody Park, Sayers recorded that George - the elder - was the first landowner in the district to harvest wheat. George was also heavily involved in civic matters [15]. |
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| Although Mary Sommerville was only 36 at the time, the death (in infancy) of their fifth daughter Agnes (1847–1847), brought with it a medical warning for future childbirth. Nevertheless, in striving for an elusive son, a sixth daughter Anne (1849–1871) arrived. Death soon became a constant for George with Mary ultimately succumbing to her chronic health problems in 1859. Two years later, at the grand age of 87, his mother Isabella passed and was closely followed by the sudden death of Isabella (Mrs William Jones), his second eldest daughter (to his first wife Jean). Isabella was only 40. The ensuing two years George farewelled daughters Mary aged 28 and Louisa aged 20. All of George and Mary's six daughters had shorter than average lives, the average barely reaching 23 years. Perhaps the only brightness in George's life at this time was his third marriage; to his wife's nurse and housekeeper Anne Meara (1821–1870). The couple enjoyed three years in retirement at the Sommerville's Mount Pleasant Estate, Wangoom, before George died on the 4th April 1862, aged 62. Anne survived him by eight years, passing at her East St. Kilda residence. |
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| THE FIVE (Jean Cherry) SOMMERVILLE SIBLINGS |
| Margaret Sommerville (1819 - 1906) Twenty-one year old Margaret married twenty-six year old Englishman Henry Baker (1814–1877) at the Presbyterian Church, Campbellfield in 1840. Life for the young couple began on Merri Merri Creek - land that Henry had secured on his arrival in the colony. In 1842, at about the same time that Margaret's father was applying for various publican licences in Melbourne's city centre, Henry Baker was granted a licence for the Imperial Inn in Collins Street, and although the Baker's initially had insolvency issues, by 1847 the business was highly regarded. It was Margaret's parents move to Warrnambool that triggered their move from inner city Melbourne back to Pentridge taking control of the family's residence and the Young Queen Hotel. The couple had seven children, Daniel (1841–1918), Jean (1843–1928), Isabella (1845–1933), Mary Ann (1848–1935), Georgina (1850–1935), John George Sommerville (1853–1928) and Margaret (1856–1914). In 1864, after the Young Queen was sold, the couple moved to Brunswick East where Henry died aged 63. Margaret lived until she was 87, surviving her husband by nearly thirty years. |
| Isabella Sommerville (1821 - 1861) 19 year old Isabella married William Jones (1807 - 1886), a 33 year old school teacher, at the Presbyterian Church Campbellfield in 1840. The couple made Box Forest their home raising four children, Jane (1841–1893), Isabella (1843–1922), John (1848–) and Mary Ann (1853–1927). Isabella also persued a teaching career before succumbing to a serious illness resulting in her death aged 40. |
| John Sommerville (1823 - 1893) The gold rush of 1851 saw thousands of speculators descend on the Golden Point diggings and 27 year old John, George's eldest son, was no exception. For a short period of time he worked from a campsite in neighbouring Mount Pleasant but found little reward for his toil. When his father decided to exchange Melbourne city life for the rural western district, John happily reunited with his family and his father's property speculation in Wangoom saw John happily return to his farming upbringing. Whilst his parents took up Woody Park on the Murai (aka Merri) River at Warrnambool, and his sister Jane (now Mrs Francis Tozer) in residence at Purnim's Bryan O'Lynn, John broke ground on a Lake Wangoom allotment which he called Mount Pleasant. Joining him in his endeavours was Agnes McFarlane (1835–1920), an 18 year old Scottish lass from Alloa, Clackmannanshire, who having arrived with her family in the colonies just 4 years earlier, had found employment as the Tozer's housekeeper at Bryan O'Lynn. Apart from the arrival of the couples first child Jane (1855–1932), the early years on their Mt Pleasant Estate were shrouded by death. Firstly John's step mother Mary passed in 1859 and the following year their next two babies, sons George and Peter, died aged 3 and 1 respectively, taken within a fortnight by diphtheria. 1861 saw his 87 year old grandmother's passing. For the Sommerville clan these tragic events heralded some residential adjustment. George relinquished his interest in Woody Park handing over it's management to the Tozers while George and his new wife Ann moved into the Mt Pleasant Estate - John, wife Agnes and daughter Jane relocating to a 140 acre neighbouring property on the Hopkins River called Donovans Lodge. Here the couple raised three more children, John Jnr. (1861–1932), William Tozer (1863–1913) and Ann Robertson (1866–1937). Whilst their nine years living on the shores of Lake Wangoom may not have been his family's happiest John maintained the steadfast interest in civic affairs being involved with the building and subsequent management of the Wangoom Presbyterian Church. |
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| The years immediately following his father’s death were difficult for John with government probate issues on his father’s extensive estate dragging endlessly through the courts and when Woody Park was finally bequeathed to his younger sister Jane and her husband, John and his young family abandoned Wangoom and moved further east to the Garvoc / Panmure district. There they purchased nearly 500 acres of semi-cleared scrubland and on it constructed a substantial homestead and dairy. This property was named Craigieburn [17] and became highly regarded in the district for it's quality livestock and produce. |
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| Like their forefathers John and Agnes provided leadership in their new community ensuring that the building of schools and churches became a priority. In Garvoc John steered the acquisition of land [18] that became the parish common and the site for a small Presbyterian Church and state school. The school opened in 1870 and the Church two years later. During their time at Craigieburn, Agnes gave birth to five more children Charles Clifford (1868–1933), Margaret McFarlane (1870–1874), Agnes (1872–1874), Henry Baker (1874–1942) and Lewis Cameron (1878–1931). Whilst John actively managed a significant dairy herd and a balanced crop farm he was not a healthy man and in 1878, the fifty-five year old - whilst riding in the Panmure township - suffered a severe concussion when he fell unexpectedly. The incident reported in the Warrnambool Guardian relates [19] that upon attendance from the local doctor it was determined that John had experienced an acute apoplectic seizure (aka stroke) – an occurrence apparently not uncommon in his case for his condition was later ascertained to be hereditary; his mother having been struck down in her early thirties. Although severely restricted by spinal dislocation resulting from the fall John lived another 15 years eventually succumbing to his affliction in 1893. Agnes and her three sons continued working the Craigieburn land until 1911 before retiring at the age of 76 to Warrnambool to live a further nine years with daughter Jane at Alma Boarding House [20]. The Sommerville and Chard families travelled a very similar pathway in their lives from the early Bryan O'Lynn days of the '50's to retirement in the Garvoc / Panmure / Keilambete district. For over 40 years they were the closest of neighbours without quite sharing the same boundary fences. |
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| Jane Sommerville (1827 - 1874) Jane was nineteen when she married 26 year old Devonshire farmer Francis Tozer at the Presbyterian Church Campbellfield on May 16th 1846. Neither Jane nor Francis were inner city lovers, so enthused by the newspaper proclamations of Governor La Trobe’s grand plan for a port and exciting new settlement at Lady Bay (aka Warrnambool), they gathered their chattels and headed west ultimately taking up land on the Murai (aka Merri) River in the spring of 1847. Their neighbours included Grassmere squatter Thomas Manifold; the Bostock brothers, George and Augustus; innkeeper John Hollins Craig; and graziers James Jellie and Gilbert Nicol. Apart from consolidating their own wellbeing the Tozers and their neighbours were leaders in establishing a viable and sustainable community. As has been documented previously [21] this group were instigators of the first race meeting in Warrnambool with their own cherished horses participating in the first event held in the township. |
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| Whilst the Tozer horse Black Bess might have been beaten in both heats of the inaugural event the Tozer stables - initially at Bryan O'Lynn and subsequentially at Wangoom Park - produced many fine thoroughbreds and hurdlers including the highly acclaimed Mariner [22]. Even Jane's brother John, riding steeplechasers, greeted the judges on a few occasions. During his life the Tozer name became synonymous with horse breeding and racing in Victoria but little is told of his family's journey and the effect it had on the colony's history. The brief Bryan O'Lynn years in Purnim were in fact an entrée for what was to follow, for in the spring of 1853 Francis and Jane, together with their two young sons George Sommerville (1848–1912) and William Pitt (1852–1908), headed east across the Hopkins River in search of a swathe of flat land on which they could construct a steeplechase track. On a small leasehold (part of the Nelson Run) just north of Mount Emu Creek and under the shadow of Mount Garvoc(k) - now know as Mount Warrnambool - the beginnings of a racecourse began to take shape and with it the humble beginnings of a township named Garvoc. It was during the family's time in this area that they experienced many close encounters with the local aborigine tribe, recognizing the significant social problems associated with white colonization. During their five years at Garvoc Jane gave birth to their first daughter Chrisabel Jane (1855–1928). In 1858 the family returned to Warrnambool and briefly resided in Kepler Street [23] before transferring to a substantial portion of Framlingham land they called Wangoom Park. Here they sired Francis Thomas (1861–1921), Lucy Cherry (1865–1935) and Charles Edward (1867–1926). The Tozer's positive interaction with the indigenous population had not gone unnoticed and dispatches tabled at Government level resulted in Francis being appointed to the Central Board for the Protection of (Framlingham) Aborigines [24, 25] in 1868. Jane died in 1874, struck down by the familial “Sommerville curse” (a stroke that had already claimed six of her eight sisters before they reached the age of 40). Now 54 and with the responsibility of 9 year old Lucy and 7 year old Charles, Francis still found time for the community, the Warrnambool Racing Club and his beloved thoroughbreds, becomming an acclained trainer Australia wide. A widower for over 30 years, Francis lived most of his remaining years at Wangoom Park cared for by his daughter Lucy and son Charles. |
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| George Sommerville Jnr. (1829 - 1921) In 1853 George married Irish lass Harriet Fanny Farange (1835-1903) at the Presbyterian Church Campbellfield. George was 24 and his bride 18. As a wedding gift the couple were handed the family's business interest - shared control (with his sister Margaret) of the Young Queen Hotel; the Sommerville elders seeking retirement and a more leisurely lifestyle in Warrnambool. Although George had grown up in licenced premises most of his life, he was now a publican and landlord in his own right. The problem for George was he also had a Campbellfield farm to run - Cloverdale. |
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| This situation was resolved when his sister Margaret and brother-in-law Henry Baker took control of the Young Queen. In 1853, following the death of his father the previous year, the hotel was sold [26], allowing the the Bakers to retire to Brunswick East. George and Harriet remained on their Cloverdale farm for over 20 years raising 11 children; Henry George (1853–1890), Jane Teresa (1855–1882), Elizabeth Mary (1857–1945), John Farange (1859–1929), Francis James (1861–1918), Thomas Cherry (1863–1922), Harriet Ellen (1865–1867), George Henry (1867–1868), James (1869–1869), Annie Louisa (1871–1903), Herbert Macartney (1873–1885). At the age of 45 George decided to retire purchasing 40 acres of land [27] in Corowa which they named Hillside Station. George and Harriet's time in the bush was brief preferring a small city dwelling in Lesney Street, Richmond. It was here that Harriet died in 1903, aged 68. George survived his wife by 20 years living until he was 92. Note: As an ancestor, this author is extremely grateful for the information contained in the recollections (George Sommerville's earliest memories as a 10 year old) of his family's arrival in Australia and their subsequent journey from Sydney to Melbourne in the summer of 1838. It was indeed fortunate that previous members of the family had the foresight to pass this documentation into library archive. |
| THE SIX (Mary Cherry) SOMMERVILLE SIBLINGS - All Females |
| Mary Sommerville (1834 - 1862) Mary was 27 when she died in the Sommerville family's Mount Pleasant residence at Wangoom. A signed (with her mark) statement to the coroner given by her sister Louisa attested that Mary died - seemingly of natural causes - in her sleep. |
| Euphemia Sommerville (1836 - 1868) Euphemia was barely of age when she married twenty-six year old Warrnambool wool auctioneer Adolarius William Henry Humphrey Oates Lascelles (1826–1879) at St Johns Presbyterian Church, Warrnambool in 1852. Euphemia birthed five children Mary Ann (1856–1857, born in Warrnambool), Jane Tozer (1858–1945, born in Warrnambool), Florentina Louisa (1861–1861, born in Numurkah), Annie Isabella (1863–1864, born in Campbellfield) and Thomas Allen George (1864–1876, born in Pentridge) but only Jane reached adulthood. When their mother died Jane, Thomas and their father emmigrated to New Zealand, Adolarius remarrying Ellen Horne in 1870. |
| Janet Sommerville (1840 - 1876) Twenty six year old Janet married 33 year old Englishman William Finnes (1832–1913) at Pentridge in 1866. The couple settled in Colac, William being a land agent. Their marriage lasted 10 years producing three children William Herbertson (1867–), Mary Louisa Maud (1869–1934) and Robert Fitzgeorge (1871–1912). Janet was just 36 years old when she died. |
| Louisa Sommerville (1843 - 1863) Louisa was only 20 when she died at the Sommerville family's Young Queen Hotel at Pentridge, one year after her elder sister Mary had passed. |
| Agnes Sommerville (1847 - 1847) Agnes died before her first birthday during the Sommerville's residency at The Bush Inn Hotel Elizabeth Street Melbourne. |
| Anne Sommerville (1849 - 1871) Whilst her elder sisters had elected to relocate to Melbourne - to live with their step-brother George - after their father had died in 1862, 12 year old Anne was taken in by her other step-brother John who was a grazier at nearby Panmure. Anne died at her brother's Craigieburn estate just after her twenty-first birthday. |
| THE SOMMERVILLE FEMALE “CURSE”
George Sommerville sired 11 children - 9 girls and 2 boys - in two marriages. His sons John and George Jnr. were by his first wife Jean and, together with their first-born daughter Margaret, lived full lives to 87, 70 and 92 years respectively. The lifespan of the remaining seven daughters were the complete opposite. Isabella and Jane (Jean's daughters) died relatively young at 40 and 47. The trend for Sommerville daughters continued with wife number two Mary. All six of her children were female and all died before the age of 40, the average being 23. What should probably be considered is the fact that second cousins Jean and Mary Cherry also both died young, Jean - who had a chronic heart condition - died giving birth to George Jnr. during her 38th year whilst Mary only lived until she was 47. Was it an early death sentence to be born a Sommerville female? |
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