Who was the Frankston Hermit? There has been much speculation to why John Maddox became a hermit.
It was said that John Maddox was the Captain of a Ship that wrecked, killing many passengers. It was also said that a wealthy brother from Wales, came to Australia to persuade John to return to Swansea with him.

The Argus, Monday 26 November 1917
FRANKSTON HERMIT'S DEATH.
FRANKSTON, Friday: - At the Homoeopathic Hospital, St Kilda road, yesterday morning, there passed away an eccentric man, John Maddox, who for 20 years has haunted the seashore. For eight years he occupied a primative cabin near the beach at Elwood, where he was well known amongst the yachtsmen. He nexted camped on the Government reserve between the Nepean Road and the sea, about two miles out of Frankston. It is over 12 years since he first came to Frankston, and during that time his camp has been inspected by thousands of visitors. During his residence in Frankston he refused all monetary assistance.
Every day at 9 a.m and 4 p.m he used to call the birds, and hundreds of birds of all sort would fly around him, while he fed them. Maddox has left no relatives here but he is supposed to have a sister somewhere in Wales. He was receiving the old-age pension for some little time before his death, and the public are to be asked to contribute towards his funeral expenses. Donations may be sent to Mr. Mark Brody, Frankston

The Lloyd's Captain's Registers - John Maddox born 1846 at Fishguard, Pembroke, Wales and received his certificate of competency at Liverpool in 1873.
http://www.history.ac.uk/gh/capintro.htm




Saturday 12 June 1897 (Source: TROVE)

"At the Newcastle Police Court to-day Captain Maddock, of the barque Mary Moore, was fined 2 pound and one guinea professional costs, in addition to costs of Court, for having assaulted John Webber, boatswain of the barque."

The boat was sold in 1906, the owner at that time being a Mr A. Sweet.

Sydney Morning Herald, Friday 3 August 1906

"SALE OF THE MARY MOORE. The barque Mary Moore, a composite vessel built in 1868 by Messrs. A. Stephen and Sons, of Glasgow, and owned by Mr. A. Sweet, was yesterday sold, though Messrs. Nelson and Robertson, of this city, to the Melbourne Steamship Company, Limited, to be used as a coal hulk..."

Source: UK National Archives
Covering dates 1891 Jan 1 - 1891 Dec 31
Held by The National Archives, Kew

"Ship: Mary Moore; Official number: 48615.

John Maddox; rank/rating, Master; age, 44; place of birth, Fishguard; previous ship, Inverness of Swansea.

Amongst the crew, a Llewellyn Maddox, same place of birth (?)

Llewelyn Maddox; rank/rating, Boatswain; age, 47; place of birth, Fishguard; previous ship, Llandaf City of Bristol."

'Welsh Mariners Index' also has an Enoch Maddox, born Fishguard.

"MADDOX Enoch Fishguard 1848 13183 00/00/35 om71 OC75 PEM 122/15&84
1876 address: 35 James St., Swansea. C/70899/Taurida/1880-2, M, For. C/78767/Livadia/1882-4. C/86260/Norseman/1884-7, US. C/91164/Roman/1887-8, US. Dead - Journal of Commerce (recent wills) 16 November 1935.
I think this is enochs family on Roman 1890
http://www.immigrantships.net/v4/1800v4/roman18900702.html
112 Mrs Maddox F Wife England Visitor
113 John Maddox 9 M England Visitor
114 Daisy Maddox 7 F England Visitor
115 Eohel Maddox 6 F England Visitor
116 Winner Maddox 2 F England Visitor

MADDOX John Fishguard 1846 88713 om68 1m71 OC73 PEM 122/58&60
2m/51113/Golconda/1869-71, Valparaiso. m/38968/Isabella/1871-2, Mataro?, Bona. m/51116/Powhaltan/1872-3, Valparaiso. m/63580/Silurian/1873-4, Valparaiso. 1m/47854/Alpha/1874-5, Valparaiso. m/51107/Delta/1875-6, Valparaiso. m&C/51117/Iota/1876-9, SP. 2m/76521/Balcarres/1879, NA, Med. C/58076/Ocean Rover/1880-7, SP. C/63519/Inverness/1887-8, Cp, SP. C/48615/Manymore/1895. (BT122/85)."

The Sydney Morning Herald Monday 9 March 1891 (Source: TROVE)

"The composite barque Mary Moore has been sold. She is 565 tons register, was built at Glasgow in 1868, and carries 890 tons deadweight."

From the info below, was it a transfer of ownership from W. Montgomery to Maddox & Co. ??

LONDON b90 W.Montgomery: b98 Maddox &Co: SYDNEY b02 G.J.Robertson:

From a Sydney Morning Herald report, Robertson (Messrs. Nelson and Robertson)had ownership by January, 1900."

It looks like the Llewellyn Maddox who was listed as Boatswain on the 'Mary Moore' with Captain John Maddox in 1891 may have been his brother.

Llewellyn (born Fishguard: Mariner Mercantile), his wife Mary, and brother John (born Fishguard: Mariner Mercantile) are listed on the 1891 Swansea census under 'Maddex'

The "Mary Moore"