GEORGE YOUNG, THE MYSTERIOUS PIONEER OF DROMANA, VIC., AUST. :: FamilyTreeCircles.com Genealogy
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GEORGE YOUNG, THE MYSTERIOUS PIONEER OF DROMANA, VIC., AUST.

Journal by itellya

In A DREAMTIME OF DROMANA, Colin McLear discussed many of the pioneers of the 5 280 acre Jamieson's Special Survey, today's Safety Beach, but also extending east to the line of Bulldog Creek Rd. Petronella Wilson's GIVING DESTINY A HAND mentions several more. One of these was George Young Junior.
I am guessing that Thomas Oliver Young was his nephew or great nephew.

YOUNG.-On the l2th May, at 33 Nelson road, Newport, Thomas Oliver, third beloved son of Mary and the late W. W. Young; brother of George,Frank, Andrew, Joe, Elsie and Grace Young. Aged 30 years 6 months. Atrest. Funeral Notice. YOUNG. - The friends of the late Mr Thomas O. Young are respectfully invited to follow his remains to the place of internment, Williamstown Cemetery. The funeral will leave the residence of his mother, 33 Nelson-road, Newport, at 3 p.m. THIS DAY (Saturday), May 14. -Thomas Lonsdale; Undertaker, Williams town and Newport. (P.2, Williamstown Chronicle, 14-5-1910.)

I make this wild guess because there is so little else (from trove)to indicate that George Young junior ever existed and there are several possible links. The first link is that George Young junior died at Williamstown in 1916. The second is that Thomas had a brother named George. The third is that the second given name of Thomas was Oliver. The fourth is that Thomas had a brother named Andrew.

The first two links need no explanation. Oliver was the name of George's father in law, who died about four years before George's first marriage in 1855. Andrew might have been the name of the father of Janet White, George's second wife who bore him 10 more children. Now these given names were fairly common but you never know!

GEORGE YOUNG'S STORY.
I'll give you the ending before the start!

YOUNG.-In loving memory of my dear husband, George Young, who died 29th September, 1916, in his 86th year, at his son - in - law's, James Johnson, jun , 5 Garden street, Williamstown, leaving a wife and a large family of sons and daughters.-Inserted by his loving wife.(P.2, Williamstown Chronicle, 29-9-1917.)


WHAT MAKES GEORGE YOUNG MYSTERIOUS.
The presence and location of many pioneers is made known through parish maps and ratebooks. If somebody was not a grantee, it can usually be worked out,with great difficulty, where they were living. However, George Young and probably many other pioneers (especially tenants on Jamieson's Special Survey and those leasing crown land)have slipped under the radar because they have moved on before Road Boards were formed and started assessing residents.

The first Kangerong Road Board assessment in 1864 just caught a Connell involvement on the Survey; somebody called Connell had his rates paid at the last minute by somebody called Wilson. George Young had already moved
on,probably to 16 acres in the parish of Balnarring but that was in the future Flinders Road District, where the first assessment was in 1869. If it had been in 1870,we would not have known he was there either.(See the Flinders RoadBoard assessments below.) It is a rare stroke of luck to pinpoint where a pioneer was living from trove. This information is more likely to come from family folklore or an old title deed.

I initially suspected that George Young might be related to Robert Coxen Young or Henry Young. The first was granted 21B Kangerong of 121 acres(Melway 161 E 10-11)and was assessed for a few years, possibly selling out or leasing to the Counsels. The latter owned or leased the 249 acre Gracefield (Melway 159 H9 to the Seahaze Estate at G12.) I think both were men of means and the following, from GIVING DESTINY A HAND, makes it unlikely that George was related.

George's father, also George, was born in Birmingham and, convicted of stealing brushes at the age of 16 was transported to Van Dieman's Land in 1820. Having served his time, he married Charlotte, who had been convicted of highway robbery, in 1826 and George Junior was born in 1828. Charlotte was murdered by being pushed into a fire when the boy was about 7 and his father later married Elizabeth Jones (who had been transported for stealing a purse.)George's father and stepmother were recorded as passengers to the Port Phillip District (Victoria) in 1848. Petronella Wilson speculated that George (junior)worked his passage across and mentioned no siblings (which surely there were unless there was a reproduction problem.)

George Young junior married Jane Wilson at Sarah Wilson's house on the Survey on 18-4-1855. Jane had been born in 1834 to Oliver and Sarah Wilson and had been about 7 when the family arrived on 12-1-1841. George was now 25 and his occupation was given as carpenter. On the same day, possibly simultaneously, Jane's sister, Matilda, married William Johnson. The two couples later moved to Melway 255 H-J 1 with George Wilson, brother of the brides.George and Jane had five children:Jane Ann, George, Mary Jane, John and Sarah.

Jane died at 29 shortly after Sarah's birth on 12-8-1863 and the baby was taken in by Matilda and William. On 2-1-1866,George married Janet White, an orphaned 18 year old from Mt Martha. George Wilson and his fiancee, Mary Jane Connell were witnesses; Mary Jane's father, Anthony, had been granted a huge area of land across three chain road from the grants of Andrew White, who may have been Janet's father.

IN the SUPREME COURT of the COLONY of VICTORIA : Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction.-In the Will of ANDREW WHITE, late of Tubba Rubba, In the parish of Moorooduc; In tho County of Mornington, in the Colony of Victoria, Farmer, Deceased. -Notice Is hereby given, that, after the expiration of 14 days from the publication hereof, application will be made to tho Supreme Court of the colony of Victoria, in its Ecclesiastical jurisdiction, that PROBATE of tho LAST WILL and TESTAMENT of Andrew White, late of Tubba Rubba, in the parish of Moorooduc, in tho county of Mornington, in the colony of Victoria, farmer, deceased, may be granted to Archibald White, of Tubba Rubba aforesaid, farmer ; William White, of the same place, farmer ; and William Armstrong, of Mornington, in tho said colony, clerk of petty sessions, the trustees and executors named in and appointed by tho said will.
Dated this sixteenth day of January, A.D. 1865.
GEORGE JOHN SIMS, l8 Collins-street east, Melbourne, proctor for tho said Archibald White, William White, and William Armstrong, the above-named trustees and executors.
(P.6, Argus, 17-1-1865.)







I have no way of knowing if the G.Young, grazier of Moorooduc, was our George, but I have a fair suspicion that he was. I also suspect that his unfortunate son was named after one of the executors of Andrew White.

MORNINGTON, Tuesday.
A young man named William Young aged 26, a son of Mr G Young grazier of Moorooduc and considered to be one of the best horsemen in the district, met with a fatal accident whilst out riding on Sunday breaking in a young horse. It appears that the horse by some means got its tail entangled in the crupper of the saddle and commenced to buck, ultimately coming down and falling heavily upon the rider, who was severely injured about the head. The services of Dr. Reed were promptly called in, and on examination that gentleman pronounced the injury to be concussion of the brain of a serious nature, and in spite of all that could be done for the sufferer he remained in a partly unconscious state until Monday afternoon, when death put an end to his sufferings. An inquest or magisterial inquiry was not deemed necessary, Dr Reed having given a certificate that death resulted from concussion of the brain, &c.(P.6,Argus, 24-2-1892.)

In GIVING DESTINY A HAND, Petronella Wilson stated that, after his first wife died, George Young had married 18 year old orphan, Janet White of Mt Martha in 1866 and they lived on 16 acres in the parish of Balnarring. This description made me think of Andrew White, whose grants were across three chain road from those of Anthony Connell in the parish of Moorooduc. But first I had to find the 16 acres in Balnarring.

A snatch of the first Flinders Road Board assessment (8-6-1869) is reproduced below.
33. Thomas Bullock house and 59 acres; 34. Hamilton Allen 115 acres; 35. George Young house and 16 acres;
36. William Johnson house and 5 acres; George Wilson house and 32 acres; 37. Edward Grey house and 53acres.

On 7-6-1870,the following were assessed.
49. Thomas Bullock 59 acres; 50. George Wilson 48 acres; Edward Gray 54 acres. (George Young and William Johnson were no longer there! George Young's 16 acre block was obviously part of George Wilson's property.)
I checked every parish up to 1874 and the first Shire of Flinders and Kangerong assessment, and there was no sign of either. I had suspected that if Janet White was related to Andrew White, George and Janet would have been likely to settle in the parish of Moorooduc (which was in another Road District, being north of Ellerina Rd.
And about the grazier's son being named William: William White, executor for Andrew White (Law notice above in italics) was probably related to George Young's second wife, Janet. George had five children from his first marriage and added ten more with Janet including William Henry and Charles Albert.

George Young (1828-1916)b.Launceston married (1855) Jane Wilson (1834-63.) Their children were:
Jane Ann (1856-1938) who married (1880) James Connell. (See the Connell journal.)
George (1857-?) who married Jane Clout and had a son,George.
Mary Jane (1859-?)
John (1861-1947) who in 1888 married Martha Ellen Andrews and had seven children.(Names available.)
Sarah (1863-1943), raised by Aunt Matilda, who married Dromana carpenter, James Matthews, in 1882; no issue.


DEATH OF OLD MORNINGTON IDENTITY The Mornington district has lost one of its oldest pioneers in the person of Mr. Jack Young, who had resided in the locality for many years. The late Mr. Young was the son of the late Mr. George Young, who lived near Tuerong Creek in early days. Mr. Jack Young was born in the district, and can therefore be claimed as Mornington's oldest resident. The funeral took place at the Mornington Cemetery.
(P.1, Standard, Frankston,29-5-1947.)
Jack was probably John (above) born in 1861. I have seen the Andrews family described as an old Moorooduc family.

From E. Young, Tuerong, mentioning that the road between Messrs Pitt and Young's properties was impassable. -Referred to the engineer. (P.3, Mornington Standard, 19-9-1903.)

E.Young was most likely Edward Young, woodcutter, brother of Charles Young and brother-in-law of Jack Skillen.
(P.2, Mornington Standard 6-1-1906.) Charles and Edward would have been among the 10 children of George Young and Janet (nee White.)Charles was accused of stealing a slaughtered pig.

The following tenders were accepted : Street sweeping and lamp lighting Charles Young, 30s per week. Supplying 150 yards of metal (spalls) from Tuerong quarry-W. White, 5s 6d per yard. (P.5, Mornington Standard, 21-1-1905.) William White would have been related to Janet White, George Young's second wife. I presume Charles was performing his work in Mornington itself.

George Young's last child with Jane, nee Wilson, was Sarah. She was raised by her aunt, Matilda Johnson, and married James Matthews of Dromana. James was a carpenter and arranged funerals for Hector Gamble of Frankston. He also did the Dromana, Cape Schanck, Flinders mail run.

OBITUARY JAMES MATTHEWS Mr. James Matthews passed away at Bush Nursing Hospital, Mornington, on Monday, September 24 at the age of 85 years. He was born at Dromana, and lived there all his life. His parents were early settlers of Dromana. His wife predeceased him. The funeral was to the Dromana Cemetery. The coffin bearers were: Cr. Rudduck, Mr. J. F. Cross and Mr. A. H. Cross (nephews), Mr.F.Debney. Rev. E. Shackell read the burial service. Messrs. Hector Gamble and Son conducted the funeral arrangements.
Standard (Frankston, Vic. : 1939 - 1949) Thursday 4 October 1945 p 3 Article.

DROMANA Mr. J. Matthews, a well-known identity, died at Mornington Hospital recently. He is survived by a wife. The deceased had resided in Dromana for many years. (P.2 same paper and issue!) Sarah died in 1943 so the first report is right and the second is wrong! They had no children.

James Matthews served as President of the Dromana Sports Club, was a trustee of the recreation reserve and supplied materials for the maintenance of the mechanics' institute. Like many, he suffered from the 1939 fire at Dromana.

The local undertaker Mr. J. Matthews who is aged 79 years was almost trapped in his workshop. His home and workshop were destroyed and tools worth ?300 and six coffins were lost.(P.2, Argus, 10-1-1939.)



ANOTHER 10 FOR GEORGE.
George and Jane's first child, Jane Ann married James Connell in 1880 at the age of 24, by which time her father would have provided her with a collection of half brothers, two of whom are mentioned below.
After marrying Janet White on 2-1-1866, George had ten more children including William Henry and Charles Albert who were working with Jane Ann's 14 year old son, Anthony Connell, in the Tuerong quarry when the lad was killed.

THAT'S THE YOUNG HORSE!
Mr. J. Oldfield had a narrow escape from a serious accident on Monday. A horse and trap belonging to Mr. Young, of the Three Chain road, bolted from Mornington with the winkers off and without a driver, and ran into Mr. Oldfield's jinker at Mr. Monk's corner, breaking the shaft, and doing other damage. The same day a horse belonging to Mr.Connell bolted in the main street, breaking the shafts also.
(P.2, Mornington Standard, 12-1-1902.)

WAS THIS CHARLES ALBERT YOUNG'S HOUSE?
During a thunderstorm on Monday, a five roomed house owned by Mr C. Young at Tuerong, was burnt to the ground. The chimney was struck by lightning, and the whole place set on fire. The building was uninsured.
(P.2, Mornington Standard, 24-8-1912.)

Surnames: ANDREWS CLOUT CONNELL MATTHEWS WHITE WILSON YOUNG
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by itellya Profile | Research | Contact | Subscribe | Block this user
on 2013-04-29 04:16:13

Itellya is researching local history on the Mornington Peninsula and is willing to help family historians with information about the area between Somerville and Blairgowrie. He has extensive information about Henry Gomm of Somerville, Joseph Porta (Victoria's first bellows manufacturer) and Captain Adams of Rosebud.

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user steve74 deactivated
by itellya on 2013-05-19 06:10:52

Jack Young, whose obituary is in the journal, was a witness in the Schnapper Point Murder case, so-named because the initial hearing was held at Mornington;the actual murder took place at Tubba Rubba. I had guessed that his father, George's property was on Tuerong Rd, but young John's evidence shows that they were on Three Chain (Old Moorooduc) Road, possibly on Anthony Connell's "Nag Hill". The boy had been working for the murder victim,Moriarty. Anthony Connell was John's grandfather. It is also possible that the grandfather referred to was the father of his stepmother (Janet,nee White) whose family was granted land on the west side of three chain road, directly opposite Nag Hill.

John Young a boy of about 12 years -I live with my father George Young on three chain road. I was in the employment of Moriarty and left him about three months ago. The shingling hammer now produced belonged to my grandfather. I put the handle in it while I was living with Moriarty. When I left Moriarty's employment I left the hammer with him. (P.6, Argus, 21-9-1874.)

by itellya on 2013-05-19 06:25:45

Janet White,George Young's second wife, was probably the daughter of Andrew White.

IN the SUPREME COURT of the COLONY of VICTORIA : Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction.-In the Will of ANDREW WHITE, late of Tubba Rubba, In the parish of Moorooduc; In the County of Mornington, in the Colony of Victoria, Farmer, Deceased. -Notice Is hereby given, that, after the expiration of 14 days from the publication hereof, application will be made to the Supreme Court of the colony of Victoria, in its Ecclesiastical jurisdiction, that PROBATE of tho LAST WILL and TESTAMENT of Andrew White, late of Tubba Rubba, in the parish of Moorooduc, in the county of Mornington, in the colony of Victoria, farmer, deceased, may be granted to Archibald White, of Tubba Rubba aforesaid, farmer ; William White, of the same place, farmer ; and William Armstrong, of Mornington, in the said colony, clerk of petty sessions, the trustees and executors named in and appointed by the said will.

Dated this sixteenth day of January, A.D. 1865.
GEORGE JOHN SIMS, l8 Collins-street east, Melbourne, proctor for tho said Archibald White, William White, and William Armstrong, the above-named trustees and executors.
(P.6,Argus, 17-1-1865.)

by itellya on 2013-05-20 02:34:38

OBITUARY THE LATE MRS. JAMES CONNELL. The death occurred of Mrs. James Connell at her residence, Main Street, Mornington, on Saturday evening last. Mrs. Connell was in her 83rd year, and had resided on the Peninsula at Tuerong all her life until the death of her husband, 12 years ago, when she went to live at Mornington. The coffin-bearers were Messrs. G. Turner, J. Connell, E. Young, W. Bidgood. Pall bearers: Messrs. H. Downward, J. Turner, E. Turner, G. Connell, E. Thorne, J. McNaulty. The Rev. H. O. Watson conducted the service and Mr. James Wilson had charge of the arrangements. (P.4,Frankston and Somerville Standard,2-9-1938.)

Jane Ann,the oldest child of George Young and Jane (nee Wilson) had married James Connell in 1880. She was born on the Survey in 1856 and had probably moved from Red Hill to Tuerong in 1870; her widowed father had married Janet White in 1866.

by itellya on 2013-08-18 10:36:02

George Young was on the Survey at the time the electric telegraph line went through it. He would have been near the 12th fairway of the Safety Beach golf course.

The map, shows the length of each zig-zag on the line and only the mouths of the three creeks, but it lists all the pioneers near the line.The map is on page 22 of Rosalind Peatey's PINE TREES AND BOX THORNS.The book is at the Rosebud Library and is not available for loan. If you'd like to photocopy the map,check at the information desk to make sure the book has not been archived.

On P.23 is the following text related to George. George Young, Brownley's*,Marshalls appear to be the first, andsoon were added the families of McLears, Peatys and Clydesdale.

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