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The Woodhouse line

My mother was a Woodhouse so  feel I should include their line as well

 

 There are a lot of Woodhouses around but we will keep to the direct line that relates to Rita. There was William 1st born approximately 1797 and his first born was William 2nd. Followed by his first born William 3rd who was Rita’s stepfather.  William Woodhouse 1st. arrived in Sydney on 17 August 1820 aged 22 years aboard the Earl of St. Vincent, which was mastered by Captain Samuel Simpson. William had been convicted at York (East Riding) Quarter Sessions on the 12 th January 1819 and sentenced to seven years ( unconfirmed report that his crime was stealing two handkerchiefs) .This was later disproved as he with two other chaps stole from their employer the ingredients for making grog. His description is as follows, Native place Yorkshire, aged 22 years, 5ft 71/2 inches in height, fair shallow complexion, brown hair and hazel eyes. His calling: Farm hand. born 1798. Married Ellen 21 December 1829  2 years after his sentence was completed.

Ellen McLoone arrive in Sydney on 7Th February 1827 aboard the ship Brothers,  from Ireland, this ship was skippered by Captain C Motley. Ellen had been tried at Fermanagh on 11 March 1826 and sentenced to 7 years. Her description is as follows: Native place Fermanagh Ireland, aged 17 years, 4ft 10 1/4  inches in height, brown hair, ruddy complexion, hazel eyes. Religion Catholic, no education. Her calling: Government Servant. Born 1809 died 12-8-1866. The trial stated that she was in company of other females that lured a man into their rooms and stole a large sum of money,  I am not sure but believe that Ellen was not involved but was in their company, when they were apprehended. I have read a report on the trial transcripts which gave me this impression. But now I cannot remember who showed it to me and cannot believe I did not take a copy of this important piece of information.

William was a Constable at Camden N.S.W. and after his release from servitude, worked as a stockman, first for John MacArthur, of Merino sheep fame, and later for Kiss Bros. until Boyd's financial collapse. Boyd being a financer who employed the Kiss Brothers, who in turn employed William. He married Ellen, the service preformed by Samuel Marsden, who was known as the flogging parson, a funny occupation for a man of the cloth. William and Ellen then settled at Ingebyra,  near Moonbah in 1830.

 

William Woodhouse 1 This headstone is made from local granite  and is at the Family graveyard at Ingebyra.

 The Graveyard at Ingebyra

William died in his bed, and Ellen could not move him and as the ground was covered in snow  she could not bury him,  so she  took the children and went to the Jacobs ladder and camped there, under a piece of canvas, until a pair of travellers came along. The Jacobs Ladder was the path used in those days to come up from the Snowy river to the area of Ingebyra , a climb of about 9 miles. They went with her to her hut and buried William. The only ground not under snow was a small hill 200 yards away from the house. They stripped the bark from a  large tree and rolled him in it and buried him. The grave has a natural headstone and is on the property of Milton Golby at Ingebyra.  William was buried 10 days after he died,  so giving a day to decide she could do nothing and a day to go to Jacobs Ladder and a day to return she must have camped there for 7 days at least. What a week that must have been for the poor lady.  The two travellers , one was a Chinese man stayed for a time and helped Ellen for a while and there is talk that is why some of the Woodhouse line has a Chinese influence in their looks. I have heard this story a few times. But the only child that could have done this was Ellen's last,  who was Henry James born after William died, but he was killed in an accident chasing brumbies aged 25 years and never married so he could not have been the cause of the Chinese influence, and it must have come from further back, which is quite possible, if the story has any substance.

EXTRACT FROM THE MONARO MERCURY 1866

August 21 AWFULLY SUDDEN DEATH. We regret to have to announce the sudden death of Mrs. Woodhouse of Ingebyra Station, near Snowy River. Mrs Woodhouse has been unwell for some time past, suffering greatly from pains in her side and the region of her heart. On Friday last she came into Cooma and took passage on the Saturday coach, for the purpose of obtaining medical advice in Goulburn or Sydney. On the way down, somewhere between Queanbeyan and Bungendore, the deceased was attacked with her old complaint, and before the coachman could render any assistance, she ceased to breath. The driver at once gave notice to the Authorities, and Dr. Morton proceeded to Bungendore where he held an inquest on the body, the only evidence being that of the mailman, a verdict of accidental death was returned. Mrs Woodhouse has been a resident of Monaro district for many years and leaves a large family to deplore her untimely end.  Monaro Mercury.  Ellen is buried at Bungendore  cemetery  near Canberra.

16-08-1866  THIS SECOND REPORT IS FROM A CANBERRA PAPER 2 DAYS AFTER ELLEN'S DEATH.  NO EVIDENCE OF HER MEDICAL CONDITION WAS OBTAINED BEFORE THIS WAS WRITTEN::

Awful Death of a Drunken Woman in a Mail Coach:-One of the most shocking instances of the death of a drunkard and, what is worse, that of an aged woman dying whilst drunk which it has ever been our task to chronicle, occurred last Saturday night on the Bungendore road.

The wretched victim of the bottle in this instance was a woman about sixty years of age, a passenger by mail coach from Cooma to Boro, and thence to Goulburn. She booked at Cooma on the morning of the day of her death, and gave her name as Mrs. Woodhouse. Eight miles along the road from Queanbeyan, deceased was heard to Snore, and the other passengers (two women) heard her say Where is the light? That was all the deceased said from the time she left Queanbyean. All this while she was lying with her hips and legs on the floor of the coach and her head on a cushion against the side of the coach. At Sparrows one of the passengers called for a light as she thought something was wrong as the deceased did not move. She was then discovered to be dead. She was lying perfectly free and could not have died from suffocation.

In evidence both of the other passengers stated that they never  saw Mr.Land lift her or drag her  to the coach, and one said she was not fit to go on. He replied she was drunk when she came and should go on.  Mr Lands denied giving her any drink, but did not tell his wife not to do so, and she was in a room where liquor was sold. He said he led the deceased to the coach by hand and no passengers objected to her going on. This statement was also borne out by Mr McNerny. The deceased was taken to Bungendore and handed over to the senior constable Griffin who had her body  removed to the lockup. She had six pounds nine shillings, two wedding bands and a letter addressed to C.Soloman and a bundle of clothing.    The only drink she was seen to take was the two glasses of rum at the inn. Because of her condition they assumed she had received more, but no one saw or admitted giving her any.

Ellen's Headstone at Bungendore cemetery

What a terrible death she must have experienced. Suffering heart attacks and everyone thought she was drunk, and being bounced around in a horse drawn coach!!! Having suffered heart attacks I, for one, would have drunk sheep dip to stop the pain

There was some more tragedy in the Woodhouse line as is related in an article in The Adaminaby Advocate dated 16th February 1917.

Drowning Fatality at Rocky Plains

Early on Monday morning first class Constable Bentley received a phone message stating that Mr. Henry Woodhouse, a very well known resident of Rocky Plains had been missing since the previous afternoon. It appears that the deceased and his two sons aged 11 years and 13 years had left home on Sunday afternoon intending to fish in the  Eucumbene River. They went to a spot about 3 miles from their home,  where they fished together for about two hours, when the deceased told them he would go to a spot about 150 yards away, telling them to await his return. They last saw him fishing at some rocks and waited for 2 hours , and then became worried and shouted and coo-eed, but got no reply. They returned home leaving the deceased’s horse behind. After tea the family became anxious and informed their nearest neighbour, Mr. Fred Blyton who accompanied the two lads to where they had last seen their father, they searched and coo-eed with out success. On Monday the neighbours formed a search party and Constable Bentley communicated with Constables Smeade and Ford of Berridale and Jindabyne, who joined in the search which was continued through the day and into the night and again on Tuesday, but it was not until midday that the body was found entangled in his fishing line by Constable Smeade and a man called Pritchley who was on a raft in the river at a spot about 25 yards below where he was last seen alive. At the point that the deceased was last seen fishing the current runs between two rock walls, very fast and the water is about 12 ft deep. It was assumed that he slipped and was sucked under by the current.

Mr. J.H.Montague. Deputy Coronor held an enquiry on Wednesday at the residence of the deceased and a verdict of accidentally drowned in accordance with the evidence of Dr. Utber, who found that death was due to asphyxia caused by drowning. The remains were conveyed to Moonbah for burial. The deceased was a member of one of the oldest families in the district, leaves a widow, two sons and two daughters, to who we extend our deepest sympathy in the terrible loss they have sustained.

Here we will add another story I was given, by Milton Golby of Ingebyra written by his Father. I have a copy of the handwritten story and also a copy of the newspaper story. It is said that the Bushranger, Connelly was in fact Dan Kelly who escaped from the shoot out at the Glenrowan Hotel with the Police, when it was set on fire. He ran away to the Snowy Mountains. Connelly was a blacksmith and said he made the armour for the Kelly gang.

I was running dog traps with my grandfather. I was about 15 years old. He showed me the remains of an old hut at the head of the Kings arm creek. He told me that this was Connelly’s hut. Then he told me that Connelly claimed to be the man that made Ned Kelly’s armour. Connelly had lived here for years and interfered with no one. My grandfather told me that Connelly used to get his supplies from him. Connelly used to  pay with small pieces of gold about the size of a match head. Connelly died about 1912 at his hut. He was found by Charlie Woodhouse who rode to Granddads. They gathered a few men and went back to bury him.  They dug a hole near his hut and rolled  him in a blanket and dropped him in.  Peter Pender, who had drunk the best part of a bottle of rum, thought they should say words like may he rest in peace.  But the smell got the better of him, so he finished the rum, threw the bottle in the hole and shouted Bugger it! Let him rip. they then gathered a few books and letters and personal belongings and put them in an old suitcase. They burnt down his hut. As we rode away Grandad said  Connelly’s real name was Dan Kelly, but don’t ever tell anyone.   Later my Dad told me he could remember Connelly coming to get his supplies about daybreak. As a kid he would jump out of bed trying to get a look at him.

He could not see much but remembers that Connelly’s voice was rough and sounded like a dog growling.   (I have not  seen this grave but believe  its still in a reasonable condition.) Dooley Pendergast said he saw a pair of leggings made from tin which were a beautiful job, shaped and riveted, which came from his camp.

 There is no doubt that someone did in fact escape the fire at the Kelly shoot out and it could well have been Connelly There is no doubt that Connelly was also a very good blacksmith .

William 1 parents were William and Francis Woodhouse nee. Butchcroft

Ellen's Parents were Michael and Rosie McAloone.

William and Ellen:

Headstone of William Woodhouse 11 buried at Moonbah cemetery

Elizabeth Woodhouse second wife of William 11 buried at Moonbah cemetery

William 11      Married   Elizabeth Cooper 1857    second wife   Elizabeth McKenna        1863

James                 Married            Isabella Robinson        1854

Benjamin            Married            Catherine Spellman        1860

Richard               Married            Caroline Spencer           1870

Robert                Married            Mary Spellman               1865

Charles                Married            Elizabeth A. Crisp          1874

Ellen                     Married            David Crawford            1868

John Born 1837 and died 06-09-1879 never married.???????

  

The home of William 111 in very bad repair, it was later burnt to the ground

A painting done by my sister Carmel from an old photo of William 111 home

Henry James was not William’s son, and was killed in a horse riding accident when he was aged 25 years. He never married          

 

Ellen and David Crawford had a daughter and David was killed just after the birth. Ellen remarried.  David died when his horse backed into a tree crushing his hip. He was carried out on a home made stretcher and stopped just before Ingebyra asking for his wife. She arrived before he died. Buried at Ingebyra.

William 11 children:: To 1st. wife Elizabeth Cooper who he married in 1857.

Henry J.                      Born 1859      Drowned in the Eucumbene River whilst fishing with his sons.

Ellen A.                      Born 1860

Elizabeth E.               Born 1862.  

Elizabeth Cooper died  on the Pinch river in childbirth. The grave has been lost in time. The child survived, This was Elizabeth Ellen  Born 1862.  Elizabeth is  buried in an unmarked grave to the right of the bridge. The area now has been extensively graded and a new bridge put in. The old grave which had white granite rocks around it has now been lost, but as far as I can find out she was buried under a large tree in the paddock. I have found the corner posts for the yard and there is only  one large tree in what could have been the paddock so I have to assume that the grave is there.

In November 2000 a group of people went to the Pinch where Brian Pendergast pointed out the area where he believed the grave was, which was no where near where I had guessed it to be, but I feel that Dooley could be right

     

I had a plaque made and with the help of Keith Clarke who fixed it to a slab of granite, we installed it on the site

 Keith Clarke on left and myself at the laying of Elizabeth's headstone 

She now has one after 140 years

Elizabeth’s death certificate states she was buried on 15-04-1862 at Ingebyra by James Woodhouse.  I would expect that Ingebyra was the nearest map reference to the Pinch River in those days.

            It also states her marriage as 1857 not 1855 which does tally with her age, so the earlier reference of 1855 was incorrect. The baby was called Ellen Elizabeth and she later married  on 02-05-1883 to Thomas Conners who was listed as a labourer and a widower  of Ingebyra. ??There are many ways of finding a grave, one is to thrust a crowbar into the ground and when it is a grave the bar will do down a fair way as the dug up soil, does not pack back like untouched earth. Another way is to take about six inches of earth off and the outline of the grave will show up, for the same reason. On the November trip I saw the use of divining rods, the same as looking for water and it was a most impressive display. Something I would have laughed at 10 years ago, but not now.

This is a big job if you do not know just where it is and I did not really wish to disturb the site, so we will never really know. The old people that would know are now all gone.

I believe that a lady who lived about 10 miles up the road used to walk down each year and put flowers on the grave. She did this every year for many years. I feel that the new site for the grave is correct.  

While at the site with the Cooma Historical Society

Which was a very beautiful place to spend a weekend we also shared the site with some Brumby Runners, these people come down into the mountains with their women who enjoy a campsite, and children who enjoy anything, and their horses in floats that enjoy the wild riding through the mountains chasing wild brumbies. They were a nice group of people and very friendly.

There were quite a large group, many more than shown in the picture

On driving out of the Pinch River area the next morning about 6 am I had a Wallaby hop across the road and then stop in the scrub. I stopped and he was looking at me and I knew if I moved he would be away in a flash. I grabbed my camera in my left hand and held it up at the open window and took a one handed shot. When developed I was surprised to find an excellent shot which is now blown up and on my wall at home

 

William then married Elizabeth McKenna, in 1863 and had 10 more children.

William 111                Born 1864

Elizabeth                    Born 1865 died 1865

Annie A.                     Born 1866

Charles                       Born 1869

Mary Jane                   Born 1872

Joseph M.                   Born 1875

James Patrick             Born 1878

Florence M.                Born 1884

Myrtle Christine            Born

William 11 had 2 wives both called Elizabeth and they had 13 Children

Headstone of William Woodhouse 111 at Moonbah cemetery

William Woodhouse 11 the Stone House he built

In excellent condition today and used for visitors accommodation. It has a full size loft inside, all original.