John Senior was born
1833 in Newcastle
on Tyne. He was working as an cabinet maker at age 16. His son
John
was born to his second wife in 1865 (his first wife had died).
In the
1871 census John senior is described as a Temperance Missionary
and
a Local Preacher Methodist. He died in 1896.
John Junior was born in Newcastle on Tyne in
1865, the eldest of
five known children. The other four children were girls. John
(Jnr)
at age 15 was a draughtsman and the older three girls were
scholars. When he married in 1887, his profession is
draughtsman. His
wife Mary Louisa Turner had lived in Newcastle on Tyne all her
life
as well. In 1891 the couple are living not far from John's
parents
with their two young children. John is now working as a
Lithographic
Artist. Sadly, in March 1893 John died (of "Empyaema Asthemia").
Four months later Mary Louisa and the boys (Norman aged 5 and
Fred
3) came to Melbourne to join her parents who had come to
Victoria two
years earlier. It was a very brave thing to do but she probably
had
little option. Her younger brother (J W Turner) came with them.
Mary
died when the boys were 11 and 13, but we do not know who looked
after them.
Norman married Winifred Farr in Northcote in
1918. Winifred was
Australian born, having descended from families that come to
Ballarat
in the gold rush days. Norman and Winifred lived in Thornbury.
He
worked as a carpenter. They had three children, Gwen, Win and
Norma.
Norman was a member of the Manchester Unity Lodge IOOF and later
the
Masons. Norman died of heart problems in 1932 leaving Winifred
with
three young girls to care for. This was in the depression so
things
were tough. There were no widow's pensions in those days.
Winifred
took in boarders to make end and the family helped as well. One
of
her highest priorities was to continue with a good education for
the
girls, which she did. Winifred lived to the ripe old age of 102.
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| Norman Thompson |
Winifred Farr |