Thomas Smalley and Emily Marshall

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Parents     James Smalley and Martha Goode        John Marshall and Thirza Davis

Thomas Henry Smalley (b 1851 At sea SS Constance, m Emily Christina Virginia Marshall 1876 West Melb Vic, d 1939 Ballarat Vic)
                                                                                    m Eliza Champion 1927)
Emily Christina Virginia Marshall (b 1858 Winterbourne Dauntsey (or Steeple Langford?), d 1923 Preston Vic)
      Frederick William Smalley (b 1877 Fitzroy, Vic, m Rose Simpson 1900 Church St Hawthorn, d 1942 Randwick 1942)
      Herbert Oscar Smalley (b 1878 Brunswick, Vic, m Annie Tippett 1908 North Fitzror, Vic, d  1960  Preston Vic)
      Arthur James Smalley (b1880 N Fitzroy,  m Ada Agusta Nichols 1904, d 1968 Preston Vic)
      Edith Thirza Smalley (b 1882 Fitzroy, d 1886 Clifton Hill Vic)
      Sydney Clarence Smalley (b 1884 Fitzroy, d 1891)
      Florence Martha Smalley (b 1885 Fitzroy,  m William Orloff 1910, d 1972 Cheltenham Vic)
      Henry Victor Macedon Smalley (b 1887 Caulfield,  m Helen Irene Tench, d 1970 Caulfield Vic)
      Frank Marshall Smalley (b 1889 Brunswick? Brighton?,  m Mabel Mumford 1914 Vic, d 1946 Parkville Vic)
      Eva Mary Smalley (b 1891 Brighton,  m Walter Voss 1914 Vic, d 1982 Reservoir, Vic)
      Amy Catherine (b 1892 Cranbourne,  m Charles Roy (Roy) Stacey 1913 Vic, d 1980 Kew, Vic)
      Allan Ernest Smalley (b 1894 Cranbourne  m Margaret Burke 1917 Vic, d 1933 Preston Vic)
      Percy George Smalley (b 1896 Bendigo,  m Rose Hayden 1920 Vic, d 1984 Geelong)
      Doris Bertha Smalley (b 1899 N Fitzroy,  m Gordon Churchill 1920, d 1985 Vic)
      Roy Norman Smalley (b 1901 N Fitzroy, d Gower St Preston 1923)

Thomas' story starts with a mystery. The family came to Australia on the Ship Constance, sailing from Plymouth on the 15 July 1851 and arrived Hobson's Bay 27 October 1851.
The shipping list shows:
    Smalley, James Age 46 Farm Labourer Newton P. Methodist, could neither read nor write.
    Martha (wife) Age 39 Native place Wisbeach could read
    Harriet Age 4
    Infant born on board (Thomas Henry)
Listed separately,
    Mary Ann Smalley Age 18 From Newton, P. Methodist, could both read and write.

Of four infants born on board, Thomas Henry was the only one to survive to Australia. The other three all have the mother's surname and Christan name recorded. In Thomas' case, only the mother's surname was given, leading to speculation he might actually have been Mary Ann's child.
And that is all we know.
Thomas married Emily Marshall and they had 14 children. The photo below shows the whole family except for Sydney who had died.
The rest of the story is told by Bryan Davis in the article below.
 


Family of Thomas Smalley
Back:       Henry , Frederick, Amy, Frank, Eva, Herbert
Centre :   Florence Thomas. Emily.  Arthur                  
Front :     Percy, Doris, Roy,  Alan     
                Taken 1908                  
Photo from Noelene Anderson

The following article is by Bryan Davis

     Here is a romance, the motif of which would be too far-fetched and extravagant to be used in a magazine story.
    It began when a small girl, Eliza Wooldridge, came to Ballarat with her parents just one day after the famous fight between the military and the diggers on the slopes of Eureka. A few years later Eliza went to the Pleasant-street Wesleyan church which was built by the many Cornish miners, who each Saturday night handed over a fixed proportion of their week's earnings. Here Eliza got herself a sweet-heart, young Tom Smalley, who had been born at sea while his parents were making the seven months' sea voyage to the golden fields of Ballarat in 1852. The course of true love ran smoothly till in 1868, tall, handsome, well-to-do mining manager John Champion came courting pretty Eliza, and won his suit. In the succeeding years Eliza presented her husband with eight young Champions. Tom Smalley did not break his heart. He went to Melbourne, found another lady to share his love and fortune, and became the father of fourteen children.\   
     That is the end of the first chapter of the romance. Now fifty years must have skipped. And here comes the second chapter. The Pleasant-street Methodist Church was celebrating its jubilee. The energetic pastor, the late Rev. J. Palamountain, went to a lot of trouble to get in touch with everybody who at any time had been a member of the church. Among the names handed to him was that of Tom Smalley. So it came to pass the when the grand reunion took place in the old church Mr. Thomas Smalley, now a sturdy widower of 79 was present. And there he met his old sweet-heart, Eliza Champion, now a cheerful widow, also 79. The old couple chatted and laughed together as they reminded each other about gay doings 60 years ago. And the story ends, as all good romances should, with a very happy wedding ceremony. For ten years the reunited couple lived like a pair of young lovers at 20 Pleasant-street south. Less than a year ago Tom Smalley died aged 90, leaving behind a very sad old widow.
The Good Old Days
    A few weeks before his death I paid a visit to the old couple. As we drank our tea, the two sat very close together, and I got then talking about the days when Ballarat was very young. Mrs. Smalley's father was mining manager of the famous Kohinoor mine, from which a quarter of a million pounds' worth of gold was obtained. In 1860 the valuable Leg of Mutton nugget was discovered in one of the drives of the Kohinoor. With his share of the 3386 pounds obtained from the sale of this nugget, Mr. Wooldridge took his wife and family for a trip home to his native place, the Duchy of Cornwall. Mrs. Smalley showed me a ring that had been made from some of the gold of the Leg of Mutton nugget. With pride she told me the she was one of the 6000 children who sang together at Plymouth to do honour to the marriage of the Prince of Wales to Princess Alexandria of Denmark on March 10 1863. In 1865 Mr. Wooldridge brought his family back to Ballarat and built himself a fine home in Eyre-street. Old Tom interrupted the old lady's story with a laugh. "Yes ! That's when Liza and me became sweethearts ! Eh ! old girl ! But-------" Along came tall, fine looking John Champion and carried off the pretty Eliza. He made a fine nest for his bride at 20 Pleasant-street, and there she has lived ever since. That's 72 years ago. Mr Smalley broke in again to tell me that he had seen many corrobories of the blackfellows on the flat where to-day is the City Oval. He described how the half-naked aborigines, 50 or more of them, with their red and white painted bodies, yelled their war songs and danced madly around their big camp fires. The old lady shuddered and murmured, "They nearly frightened the life out of me!" Tom gave his old lady a protective pat on the shoulder and an affectionate smile. "We were sweethearts in those days, and we are sweethearts still!" His rheumy old eyes glistened as he told me of things he had seen in far of days. "That same day that Liza was singing in Plymouth, because of our Prince of Wales was being married, I was a young chap in Sturt-street, By George ! There was a a lot of people there ! Thousands of them ! And no wonder ! A bullock was roasted whole in the middle of the street. And when the animal was true and properly done, there was half a dozen butchers with their big knives cutting of the hot, juicy meat and handing them out to the cheering people. "I got more than one slice ! By George ! I 1did !" And the old chap smacked his lips. The he gave his old wife a gentle dig in the ribs "Say, Liza, do you remember the Sunday school picnic in 1866 ? We had it up at the Swamp. They were trying to make a lake of the Swamp, and they talked about making gardens on the other side. I remember what folks said about it. 'A lake without water; a garden without flowers.' " "Yes !" interrupted Mrs. Smalley. "There was a big eagle chained to a post that scared the wits out of me !" "But say, Liza. Do you remember that picnic ?" I am sure there was a blush on the wrinkled old face of Mrs. Smalley as she gave her husband a playful push. "Oh ! Go along with you, you silly old fellow !"
Cabbage Tree Ned
    What interesting things the old couple talked about ! They had seen Cabbage Tree Ned drive his team of fourteen horses in the Leviathan coach with more than 100 passengers in 1861 from Geelong. They remembered the great flood of 1888, when Bridge-street was a swift flowing river, and boats were used to rescue the residents. They told how they had seen the armed body of police, every Thursday, leave Ballarat for Melbourne, escorting the carts containing thousands of ounces of gold. They remembered the time when hundreds of stampers in the quarts batteries went bang, bang, bang, all through the night. For a fascinating hour I sat and listened to this merry old couple, each 89 years of age, tell their stories of the days when Ballarat was only a mining camp, a place of tents and lots of very easily won gold. Then Tom Smalley came to the door to see me off. I shook hands with him and said "Goodbye !" "Don't say Good-bye! Come again and have a cup of tea with us ! She'll be glad to see you ! You know we were sweethearts sixty years ago, and we are sweethearts still. So long !" When I got to the gate I looked back at the smiling old chap waving his hand to me. I went back to the world of strife, feeling a better man because I had met these big hearted survivors of the days when Ballarat was very young,
Reproduced from an unnamed news paper cutting by Bryan L Davis - Aug 2000

This story came down as "oral tradition" on our side of the family. It had been romanticised a little, having Eliza's family disapproving of the match (Quite probable; the Smalley's were working class, the Wooldridges probably better off). The Wooldridge's were said to have taken their daughter to England to prevent the match. (Less likely, it seems). The story also has 76 year old Thomas annoucing to a stunned  family that he wanted a white shirt ironed because he was going to Ballarat to get married.

Emily Marshall


Thomas

 


Frederick Smalley

Extensive family tree information is in the Woodorth tree in Ancestry. This tree looks as if it was built from direct family contact, even has photos.
A son David died in Singapore in 1942

Percy Smalley

Two Smalleys, including one of his children died on the Montevideo Maru on 1 July 1942
695. VX30116 Pte SMALLEY, Leonard Percy; Aged 21; 2/22nd Infantry Battalion.  <<< son of Percy
696. VX30100 Cpl SMALLEY, Percy Thomas; Aged 23; 2/22nd Infantry Battalion
    His mother was Margaret Burke. She died in 1945. His father Alan Ernst died in 1933
    Service Record gives: Date of birth - 23 Jul 1918 : Place of birth Preston: Next of kin Smalley E

Notes from Claire and Christine's Researches

Thomas Henry Smalley

1899 - For the Federal Referendum (electoral role) in 1899, Thomas gives his address as 21 Batman Street Fitzroy (numerous period houses stand in the street, however it is unclear which house exactly is the house-2013) and his occupation as carpenter. The 1899 referendum passed a constitution to federate the states of Australia as a country and as a constitutional monarchy.
1912 - In the 1912 Electoral Role, Thomas gives his address as 74 Clauscen street North Fitzroy, with his occupation as carpenter.
1914 - In the 1914 census: Thomas Henry-Carpenter, 74 Clauscen Street NF.
    Emily Christina Virginia- Home Duties, "
    Eva May- tailoress- ""
    Frank Marshall- Carpenter- "
    Henry Victor Macedon- Carpenter " "
Also listed is Herbert and Annie living at 32 Birkenhead Street North Fitzory. Hebert is listed as a carpenter.
1915 - At the time of Percy's enlistment, Thomas' address is given as 74 Clauscen Street, North Fitzroy, Victoria. (House Still stands at that address December 2013).
1919 - In 1919, the information is the exact same, except that Henry Victor Macedon is the only one living at home. Eva and Frank both married in 1914 presumably after the census.
1924 - By 1924 Thomas Henry and Henry Victor Macedon are living together on the corner of Gower and Mutimer street in Preston (no house number is given)
1931 - In 1931 Thomas is listed living at 20 Pleasant Street, South Ballarat. No occupation is listed. Eliza is not listed. He is still living there in 1936 and 1937. Eliza is still not listed. However Eliza was listed on previous censuses (1919, 1903) in that house under Eliza Champion with two of her sons.

Emily Christina Virginia Marshall

In 1912 she was listed in the electoral role in North Fitzroy as living at 74 Clauscen Street in North Fitzroy (house still existing in 2013) and listed home duties as her occupation.
She died in Gower Street Preston. 0n the 17/9/1923 she was buried at Fawkner Cemetery. The grave contains herself and Thomas Henry

Eliza Champion

Eliza Champion (nee Woolridge) is buried at the Old Ballarat cemetery, in the Woolridge grave

Frederick William Smalley

Served in WW1 .

Arthur James Smalley

Arthur took part in both world wars.
W W 1- He is 36 and one month when he enlists with the Permanent Guards. He gives his address as 12 Johnson Street, North Richmond (the house still stands). He lists his wife as Ada Smalley. He is only considered fit for home service.
WW2- His address had changed to 5 Crimea Street, Burnley (The house still stands). He now lists a child as a dependant as well as his wife. He enlists with the civil constructional corps register and has 45 years experience as a carpenter and joiner, with a specialty in Leading Hand. His previous service of 15 months is also noted.

Edith Thriza Smalley

Edith is buried at Melbourne General Cemetery with her grandparents (James and Martha Smalley) and her nephew (Leslie, son of Arthur).  The grave is unmarked, without a head stone or any form of a remits of a grave

Henry Victor Macedon Smalley

In 1912 he gives his address as 74 Clauscen street North Fitzroy and his occupation as a carpenter.
Enlisted in the Labour Corps Register as a Carpenter with 30 years experience on 31/7/1942. He states that he is a widower and lives at 17 McBean Street in Parkdale (the street is now called Birdwood, the original house no longer stands). He was stationed in Townsville, Queensland.

Eva Mary Smalley

Her husband also served in W W 1 Giving their address as Townhall avenue in Preston- it is unclear which number exactly. He listed his occupation as Carpenter.

Amy Catherine Smalley

Her husband enlisted at Lonsdale Street in the Civil Constructal Corps Register in 1943, listing 32 years experiences as a plumber. His He listed Amy Catherine as his wife and residence as 40 Miller Street, North Fitzroy (A 1920's House still stands at 1 address)

Allan Ernest Smalley

Was enlisted on the 20th August 1914 into the 6th Battalion. He listed his occupation as a carpenter. He had previously spent 6 months senior cadets and 4 and a half years in U.T service before and two years in junior cadets. He was part of the Gallipoli Campaign. He was also made corporal.
 He was admitted to hospital for 18/9/1915 for influenza in Cornwall.
27/10/1915 for sickness in Tooting.
On the 8/5/1916 returned to Australia.
He received the 1914-1915 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory medal.
His Son Percy died on the Montevideo Maru on 1 July 1942

Percy George Smalley

Was enlisted on the 13/12/1915 in the 8'" Battalion at Town Hall in Melbourne. His occupation was listed as Carpenter. He had previously spent 1 year with the citizens force and 3 years with the Service Cadets. He was wounded in action (shelled hands) on the 3/8/17 but was to stay on duty, he spent time in England. He was wounded again on the 12/10/14. His religion was listed as Church of England and required parental permission to enlist, both his parents signed the form, indicating they were literate. He was discharged 14/11/19 for medically unfit. He was awarded the British War Medal, the Victory Medal and the 1914-1915 Star. In 1924 the couple are living in Roseberry Avenue, Tatara. Percy's occupation is listed as Carpenter.
 His son Leonard died on the Montevideo Maru on 1 July 1942

Acknowledgement:s

Thanks to Bryan L Davis for the above article and photos of Emily and Thomas, and Noelene Anderson for the family photo
Thanks to Claire and Christine for their painstaking work reflected above
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