You were previously introduced to my English great-grandmother as mentioned in “The Arrivals – 1912” on board the “Waipara“. More about what happened continues.
Hopton, Suffolk.
My name is Jane Garnham. I was born in Hopton, Suffolk, England on 11 May 1877. My parents were Frederick and Elizabeth Garnham (nee Wiseman). We were all living in Hopton.
I was the sixth child to arrive. (4 brothers and a sister – with one dying before I was born.) Our family continued to grow as another brother arrived in 1879.
Not that I can remember too much about my early years but I was told that in 1881, we were all recorded in the census with mother, father, my four brothers, a sister and myself all counted. I would have been around three years old. We were listed as living in Fen Street, Hopton.
Another brother arrived in 1883. Mother was always busy caring for the family. She was keeping house plus cooking for all of us. I don’t think she even had much time to herself. There was joy again in 1885 when another sister was born. However, she wasn’t with us long. She died in the same year.
Fen Street.
There were about 20 houses along Fen Street. There were many other Garnhams living along the street. I do remember spending time at my grandfather’s house and at one of my older brother’s house. I vaguely remember there being an Inn along the street.
Over the next few years, I was taught how to sew, cook and clean. I would help mother as much as I could.
I was 12 when my brother Albert left England to live in Australia. He settled in Mackay, Queensland. I had thought in 1889 that I would never see him again.
1891.
We were still living in Fen Street when the 1891 Census took place. Besides father and mother, my brothers Charles, Frederick, and William and myself were counted. We were living next door to Mrs. Wolsey.
I do remember regularly attending the local Chapel at the Hopton Rooms. I prayed every night for Jesus.
English Weather.
I cannot recall much about most of the 1890s. I vaguely remember doing some type of domestic duties
I do remember the weather was damp and miserable most of the time. Winters were usually very cold. My life would be changing soon as the new century approached. 1899 was an eventful year and much snow.
On 9 April 1899, I was married to Albert Edward Austin at the Thetford Registry Office. Father was there and witnessed my marriage certificate. Our first son Albert Edward Junior arrived on 7 September 1899.
Another war was happening in Africa and continued into the new century. I prayed to Jesus to keep the soldiers safe from harm. I vaguely remember celebrations of the new century.
Strange Year.
Our first daughter Mary Jane arrived on 28 December 1900. 1901 was a strange year. Queen Victoria died on 21 January and King Edward VII took the throne. At the time of the census, we were living near the church in Barningham. My husband was busy with helping out on the local farms.
It wasn’t long before our family increased with the addition of two more children – Florence May born 11 June 1903 in Hopton, Suffolk and Ethel Maud on 16 November 1904 in Rushford, Norfolk.
Moved.
As you can see we moved when my husband found work but I was never too far from mother and father. Husband was always very busy with the harvest. I used the skills I had learnt from my younger years to keep our home in order. It was hard at times with the children starting out on their journey through life. In 1910, the King died and King George V came to the throne.
1911.
In 1911, I was with child when the usual counting of the population occurred. Our children were all in school. We were living in a three-room house on Blo Norton Street near Garboldisham.
My husband and I were discussing where our lives would be going into the future. Times were difficult in England. We wanted our children to have a good life and we had another addition to the family. Alfred Frederick was born on 13 October 1911.
A Secret.
We decided to head to Queensland where my brother Alfred was living so in 1912 we departed England for the long voyage by ship. I know it was a difficult choice to leave my family behind but we had to think about our own lives but secretly I didn’t want to go.
The journey was long and hard for me since I had a one-year-old. I was scared for our health and safety on board.
We arrived in Mackay, Queensland just before Christmas in 1912. My husband has told you the story so I will not repeat it all again.
God.
Christmas in 1912 was very different – so hot but we still celebrated with all the trimmings – a new country – a new home. Sadly mother died in the English summer of 1913.
In 1914, communication was difficult as all mail services stopped. It was a sad time for the world. Again, I called on God to help us all get through this horrible event. Then, in 1918/1919, a Spanish influenza descended upon us. There was much worry as it spread around the world.
The Daily Mercury newspaper gave us updated details regularly. We had some good news on 18 September 1919 when our Australian daughter Dorothy Fortune was born. Again, I was worried about our health in these times. Many times, I wished I was back in England. I may be selfish but it was how I felt.
1920’s.
As my husband mentioned the next decade was strange with the ending of the war and uncertainty over the coming years in the 1920s. I did my best to keep our home in order. We did have happy celebrations as four of our children married between 1921 and 1927 so lots of grandchildren on the way.
Letters Home.
I would write many letters home. I remember being at Rose Hill Farm at Bakers Creek on one occasion where I wrote to my niece Daisy.
I told her this place is not like England. It is always hot, never cold and we never see no snow. The wet season is harsh. We got lots of rain. Then, we get no rain for months. And then, there are the fires – houses burnt, people burnt to death and even horses, sheep and cows. It’s a funny world but I know Jesus is soon coming. All these things is a sign of end of this world.
By the turn of the decade, the world was having an economic turndown. There were many unemployed within the country and it was very difficult to have enough to survive.
I miss letters from home. No one seems to want to write to me so many thousands of miles away from them. I hope they do not forget they have a sister.
In 1935, our youngest son, Alfred married and we began to have even more great grandchildren around us.
Three Kings.
There was a lot of Royal news coming out of England in 1936. Three Kings in one year. King George V died in January. King Edward VIII abdicated in December and was succeeded by King George VI.
Pray.
Our children were now making their way in the world, even in these difficult times. Sometimes you need to just get on with your life and let it be. I do pray to Jesus to keep them safe. I do vaguely remember visiting the Chapel on most Saturdays in Mackay.
Jane died in April 1939. She was 61 although the death certificate shows 60. She died in the District Hospital in Mackay. She was buried at the Mackay Cemetery on 3 April. She was survived by her husband Albert (61) and her children Albert Edward (38), Mary Jane (37), Florence May (35), Ethel Maud (33), Alfred Frederick (28) and Dorothy Fortune (19). She had been married to Albert for about 40 years and had lived in Queensland for about 27 years.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
Hopton Church: own collection – taken in 1983
Fen Street: own collection – taken in 1983
Garnham Cottage, Fen Street: own collection – date unknown
Letters: originals – own collection – written late 1920s & early 1930s
Jane & son, Albert: own collection – date unknown
Others: WordPress
Ancestor Family 