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| Streatley Church, Bedfordshire where James & Ann Peck's children were christened and buried. |
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| Graveyard at Streatley Church, Bedfordshire where Ann & James Peck and family were buried. Photo taken 2007. |
The following extracts are from "The Family of Charles and Martha Olney" compiled by Keith R.Collyer Pages 61 - 62.
"Ann was the daughter of Charles and Martha Olney (nee Purser), born at Harlington in 1824.
Ann
was married to James PECK at Pulloxhill, Bedfordshire on 2 October 1846 and
lived at Streatley, midway between Luton and
Pulloxhill. This was about 35 miles north of London. They had a daughter, Sarah, when the
rest of her family migrated to Geelong
in 1849. Ann saved correspondence from her father and brother Charles, who not
only wrote but also sent bank drafts for five pounds (sovereigns), which on
many occasions were contributions from up to five family members.
Ann
died at the end of 1857. Letters to her husband James Peck up to 1861 have been
preserved. The International Genealogical Index (IGI) records christenings at
Streatley of:
Christening
|
Died
|
|
Sarah
|
10 October 1847
|
|
Phoebe
|
3 March 1850
|
|
James
|
5 October 1851
|
|
Charles
|
28 August 1853
|
1854
|
William
|
1855
|
1856
|
George
|
19 October 1856
|
1875
|
Henry
|
28 February 1858
|
The IGI also
records marriages at Streatley of Ann’s daughter Phoebe Peck to John Bradshaw
on 15 April 1879, and of James Peck junior to Sarah Ann Roberts on 2 November
1875, and of James Peck senior who re-married.
Grandmother
Martha wrote asking Ann’s daughter Sarah to look after her sister and brothers
in 1860. Henry Peck enquired about his uncles and aunts when he discovered the
letters after his father died on 3 September 1906. Replies from John Charles
Olney and Kezia Jessie Olney are preserved. In 1937 Henry's daughter Lil wrote
again to Kezia; her niece Mrs Jessie Lewis replied and corresponded until 1982.
Jessie also visited Lil in England.
Twenty
letters, mostly written from Victoria
1849-1861, were sent to Jessie after Lil's death on 5 May 1986 aged 97. These
were sent by a non-relative, Mr C. Finch, 160 New Bristol Road, Worle Weston-S-Mare
BS22 OBG England.
The letters
contain enquiries which link together the families in Pulloxhill and overseas,
and assist with interpreting the parish records.
Henry Peck could not identify George Flood who wrote from Toronto dated 12 January 1852. Mrs Flood was Ann's aunt, Phoebe (daughter of Francis Olney, chr. 5 April 1821). The letter says: "your daughter is growing older and so am I", and refers to "your aged father so near to eternity", which would be Francis Olney (1778-1856). More particularly, Flood enquires about the families of Francis' children remaining in or near Pulloxhill. The third mentioned was William, the eldest, who was a farmer at Hexton, Herts. His relationship had not been noted, but the 1851 census shows him as aged 48 years and born at Pulloxhill, (and Francis junior having died at Hexton). A. Gordon Keys had already listed John, Joseph and James Olney, Louisa married to James Neal, and Mary Ann married to Richard Gudgin. Both Francis and his father James had five sons with the same names.
George Flood had not heard from his mother or brother Jesse and asked to send a message to his brother John in London. The IGI records the christening of George at Bedford on 19 January 1821 and Jesse at Bedford on 11 September 1831. They were recorded as the sons of John Flood and Sarah (nee Bailey). The 1851 census records Jesse as 20 years of age at Pulloxhill.
George Flood returned to Pulloxhill and died there on 31 December 1854. Three more daughters were born in Toronto: Louisa, Jessica and Rebecca. The 1861 census shows Louisa in the family of John and Mary Olney in Pulloxhill.
The 1851
census record shows for Gudgin at Pulloxhill, (PUL signifies born in
Pulloxhill):
Richard 38 born Harlington, Mary Anne 39 PUL, Joseph 20 PUL, Hannah 13 PUL, Elizabeth 9 PUL, Frank 3 PUL.
Richard 38 born Harlington, Mary Anne 39 PUL, Joseph 20 PUL, Hannah 13 PUL, Elizabeth 9 PUL, Frank 3 PUL.
In 1854
Charles Olney wrote, "…tell Richard Gudgin I hope little Francis grows
well.".
In 1854 Charles
wrote to daughter Ann, “…tell my brothers John and Joseph they might do very
well here. Also you never tell us whether your mother's brother Thomas who went to America
arrived there safely.”
The census
record for 1851 for Silsoe (SIL) near Pulloxhill is: Joseph Olney 31 PUL, Ann
28 SIL, Mary B 5 London, Betsy 3 SIL and Mary Ann 1 SIL.
Also from
Matthew Rutland at Pulloxhill, father of William and George Rutland and their
sister Sarah Baker at Greenwich,
are letters to Ann Peck.
The English
families have been charted from church records and from census details of 1841
and 1851 for the book "From Codicote to Carievale, The Olney Family" written
by A. Gordon Keys in Canada.
The relevant extracts have been included by permission from his widow.
Note: The
'devil-devil' mentioned in the first letter is the aboriginal executioner who
declared the transgressor dead by pointing a bone".
Letter 1 – To Ann Peck from her father Charles Olney, senior, soon after arriving in Geelong, New South Wales in August, 1849.
The beginning of this letter has been lost.
... also so that you may have the better chance
of at least one to assure you that we are safe on firm earth again. We intend also in no long time to send
another, it will be to my father for him to keep in remembrance of us and we
trust that as soon as anyone of them finds you out, you will write to us, for
although far from you we have not forgot you.
We paid 1/7d for the last to go by the Government Mail by Sydney. This is only 7d to
go by Melbourne
and the wool ships - please do tell us what they cost you for we are not sure
how they do with them on your side.
You must now
have some of the odds and ends that we see and hear, beginning with the bush
life. You will understand that all the country beyond a mile or two from the
town is called the bush. Those that have
bought land are called Farmers and those that occupy it without having
purchased it are called squatters. These
pay 8 pounds per annum for a piece perhaps 8 or 10 miles long and sometimes
about as broad, but the size I think is regulated by the watering places
chiefly, for everyone must have a watering place and these are not at equal
distances. Some stock with sheep and
others with cattle and where they cannot manage their work themselves they hire
assistants.
..................aborigines
have been shot like dogs for stealing the sheep and sometimes for no offence at
all. The poor creatures have been tortured and put to death in the most cruel
manner by white men who have come out from a Christian country with all the
advantages of aliberal education and respectable character before they left
home. No doubt the blacks have committed many outrages both on the persons and
property of the whites but when one thinks of their complaint against the
whites, that they have taken their hunting ground and killed their kangaroos we
need not wonder that they should become revengeful. The blacks are certainly a very curious
people. They have no fixed dwellings although each tribe has a district, which
they keep within except when they go to war or to seek for a wife. It is not their custom to marry one of their
own tribe. So when they want wives they
go in a company to another tribe and steal away as many as they want. On such
occasions terrible battles sometimes ensue for they are not particular whether
they take married or single, provided they are pleased with them. The places they put up for shelter are just a
few branches or bark, they never remain long in one place, for they are afraid
of the devil-devil take away their (piccaninnies) children. This devil-devil is the ourang-outang-- a
very large animal 6' or 7' high, some of them, and resembling a man. The blacks have a name for it which the
English have translated `devil-devil' - the blacks have a determined aversion
to work, they say there are only two fools in this country, the white man and
the bullock, for both work. So they prefer hunting and going naked in the fine
weather. When they are cold they throw a kangaroo skin around them. It seems quite impossible to teach them
anything respecting religion. A priest
here was 11 years among them but without success except with some of their
children that learned the alphabet, but the older ones threatened to kill them
if they went any more to the school. The whites have learned them to drink rum
and smoke tobacco and swear in broken English and for sixpence they will give white
men their wives or daughters for prostitution.
So looking at both sides it is hard to say which is worst - Many white
men of the working class here are a disgrace to human nature. It is no uncommon thing for men to go all the
summer season to sheep shearing and reaping, then come to the town and give
from 30 to 60 or even 80 pounds for a week or two at hard drinking. This they
call knocking down so much- and there is no hope of these chaps getting much
better till they have kept money for their work - then poverty will be to them
a blessing and to all around them also for they are a dangerous set of men to
be near. Churches. Of these we have five
all within a mile, 1st the Church of England, 2 the church of Scotland, 3 the
Free Church of Scotland, 4 the
Catholic church, 5 the Wesleyan
Church, all pretty well
filled. There is also a sect called
Israelites, they keep both the law and the gospel except when they fall
short. They wear long beards and observe
for their Sunday one-hour on Saturday and another on Sunday - they have no
fixed place of worship yet. The graziers have commenced boiling down their fat
sheep and cattle. I was working a few
days at the boiling down station. It might very properly be called the knocking
down station, the poor creatures are deprived of life in a very cruel manner -
about 100 sheep are taken to the killing apartment then two butchers go amongst
them each having a hammer in his hand and to work they go just like a man
breaking road metal and knock down everyone of them before they bleed one, and
it often happens that the stroke is not deadly, then the poor thing goes
staggering about till it has its turn again - for the hammer man does not wait
to see whether he has done the job properly or not but just hits the next nearest
him. The boilers are big enough to hold
5 or 6 bullocks at once. The fat is run
off by steam then put into casks for shipment.
We are happy
to tell you that we did very well on the voyage. The children were as quiet as if they had
been playing about the moors at Pulloxhill.
We are all very well at present except Phoebe who has been taken with
the bowel complaint for some time back.
It is very common here to all new comers. We hope to see her better again soon. We have had letters from Frederick Taylor
& William Arnold. They are both at Melbourne and well and
busy, so that they cannot come to see us yet.
Eliza Mathers we have not heard of so you must mention in your letters
where she is and tell her where we are. Mr. Spendelow and family are close by
us and all well. Green pease and new potatoes and all garden produce are now in
the market.
Please to
write to Thomas Purser to say that brick laying is pretty good here and fair demand for farm
servants so that if he thinks of coming he will know where to find us.
Address -
Charles Olney, care of Mr. Paterson, Brothers Little Scotland, Geelong,
Port Phillip, Australia.
Letter
2
– To Ann Peck from Charles Olney, senior
Geelong,
28 December 1851
My Dear Ann,
I enclose an order for £20 Twenty pounds
sterling to be paid to you. I expect you will get it cashed at the bank at Luton or Ampthill or Dunstable. It is entered here payable to Ann Peck,
daughter of Charles Olney. I got three copies of the same order. This you will
observe is the FIRST and lest this should be lost I shall send the SECOND in
about two months after this but if you get the first all right you will not
present the second to the bank for only one is payable, and you see that if the
first be lost and you get the second you will get it cashed. This is the plan the banks have adopted for
safety. Please write immediately when
you have received this. Address
to me care of Mr. Hudson, Moorabool St. Geelong,
Victoria, Australia.
I suppose you
have heard of the Gold fields of Victoria.
The money I send you is the price of some of the precious metal. Many hundreds of people are at work digging
and I have had a turn at it too and done very well. The nearest to this place is 50 miles. It extends 50 miles beyond that in a
northerly direction with rich spots here and there all the way along. I am just about to start again with three of
the boys. We take a dray with four bullocks to carry our bedding, tools,
provisions etc. It is hard work but not harder than I have done in Bedfordshire
for 9 shillings per week.
We pay 30
shillings per month per licence to dig. Eight feet square is the ground allowed
for each man. He may dig as fast as he
likes and take out 20 holes if he can before next month - a body of armed
mounted police is stationed on the ground to protect all parties and an escort
of the same carries the gold in safety to town.
If you choose
to come out here let me know in your answer and I shall send you some more
money to help to fit you out, besides I will enter your names here and pay your
passage which will ensure you being the first on the list.
Elizabeth
is married to William Rutland and in good health and likes the country very
well. She would be happy to see Ann here
but she must not come until we have your answer so that we may find you some
more money to help you. Your mother is in good health and spirits - likes the
country well too, is also desirous that you will come out and share the gold
and other good things to be had here, besides giving us your company in the
enjoyment of them. The reason why the address is to the care of Mr Hudson this
time is because the party you addressed to before is removed to another place.
Postmarked Geelong, 3 January
1852. Postmarked Luton,
23 April 1852.
Envelope
addressed to Mr. James Peck, Streatley, near Luton,
Bedfordshire.
Letter 3 – To Phoebe’s
Father (Francis) and her Sisters and Brothers from her husband George Flood and family
Toronto,
12 January 1852.
Toronto,
12 January 1852.
Dear Father,
Sisters & Brothers,
With much
pleasure I received your letter and was glad to hear that you were all in
pretty good health, which is a very great blessing, how ought we to love that
God who gives unto us these great blessings. From your letter I perceive many
of your neighbours have fell a victim to death. O how frail is man Old and
Young are gone to their last resting place for us they sicken for us they die
how necessary is it my dear Father and all that we stand prepared that we have
our lamps burning ready to be welcomed into the presence of our glorious
Redeemer - what a terrible event to the sinner. But on the contrary what a
glorious event for the Christian he then leaves his tabernacle of clay to
moulder in the grave and is put in possession of a spiritual body the very
image of our Saviour.
1851 will be
remembered by many. It will be remembered by me and your affectionate daughter
and grandchildren why because death has taken one of our number that dear
little boy is gone whither is he gone to heaven that’s where I expect to meet
him glorious thought.
But a daughter
has been given us to fill his place so we have same number but not the
same. We have named her partly after her
Aunt Gudgin and partly after a young lady now in England one that has visited me and
your dear sister in our afflictions. She is now married to a Missionary they
left Toronto for Jamaica about 3 months ago but his health being bad instead of
going to Jamaica they are now in the North of England. So her name is Maree Anne Flood. She is a pretty little dear and is so very
quiet. She is admired by all who see her. She has a very bright blue eye and
pretty round cheeks. Our affections are
quite placed upon her. I am afraid I shall humour my children too much. I think
it is through losing Johny. Caroline is growing a fine healthy strong girl and
her little tongue is going from morning to night. Henry grows tall and slender, Sarah is a
great girl. Your daughter is growing older and so am I. O for a look at you all
by daylight but that wide ocean is the difficulty. We are all pretty well at
the present I have a very comfortable situation as foreman for Messrs Stovel
& Baines, 150 New Bond Street, London England. Mr. Stovel is now on his way to England.
I expect he will be in England
about the second week in February. I
would like some of you to see him as he can tell you what I cannot write. He
will be very glad to see you. He is a very pleasant gentleman and he will bring
any little thing you would like to send to your grandchildren. Your dear sister would like if you could
send her some plait for bonnets for the summer and a piece of neat ribbon. She
would be obliged to you to send her a bill of them the money shall be sent in
the fall the next time he returns. He told me he would feel great pleasure in
bringing anything. I would have wrote
before but I have been waiting to hear from my mother but I have not as yet
heard from her. I am afraid she is ill.
You will please let my brother Jesse know to send to my brother John in
London to call on him and to my mother as she perhaps would have something to
send back by him if she is alive. Your sister would be glad if you would send
her a handsome neat set of china tea service as those things are very expensive
here. You would get them for about one quarter the price we could here. Only
they would require to be well packed. The best way would be if one would go to London to get them there
and let them pack them up for you. Only be sure to have a bill of them and give
it to Mr. Stovel as they would have to pay duty on them and that could not be
done without the Bills. There are several other things we would like to get but
another time will do and I will send you the money back, by doing it you will
much oblige. There will be an
opportunity of sending two or three times in the year and any parcel could come
at any time properly directed and sent No 158 New Bond Street, London of Messrs
Stovel & Baines (for Geo Flood to the care of Mr Stovel, Toronto) Anything that you may want from Canada I
would be most happy to get for you. I am
glad to say that we are very comfortable, plenty of good beef and turkey or
anything else that man could wish for. I
hope if I should have my health & strength in 2 or 3 years to have a 100
acres of good land. I expect to have as soon as Mr. Stovel is back 100 pounds
year or more. If John or Joseph Olney
would make up their mind to come I would buy 100 acres directly for him he has
to please himself. It will be good times here next summer or rather spring for
the Labourer as there are railroads making. I wonder sometimes how you can bury
yourselves in Pulloxhill if you knew as much as I do you would take up thy bed
and walk. I am well known now in Toronto and you would have
some one to come to but I had no one. I
often think of Joseph Olney when he returned from London so down hearted and if he had come
with me he would now have had a good business and would have done well. But I must come to a close and I wish you all
a happy new year. I hope God will give
unto you all that is necessary to make you happy in time and happy in
eternity. We would like to have the news
you can send us. We like to hear of all
and all that is going on. Give our kind love to all enquirers. We send our kind
love to Father Sisters and brothers Uncles and aunts nephews and nieces. We
want to know how James Onley and his wife are getting on. What family they
have in fact we want to know about them
all. Mrs Neal and James Neal, Wm Onley and wife and family and John Olney wife
and family Joseph Olney and wife and
family Richard and Mary Ann Gudgin and
children. How often we talk you all over. But my dear friends our prayers
ascend every morning and evening for you all and particularly for our aged
father who is so near Eternity. I hope
you pray for us and yourselves is the
sincere wish of your affectionate friend
Geo Flood.
So no more at
this time from yours affectionate Son and Daughter and Grandchildren. G.&
P, S.P, H, C & M.A. Flood.
We expect to
hear from you by return of Post.
Letter 4 – To James
Peck from Elizabeth Rutland (nee Olney)
Geelong,
15 January 1852
James Peck will you peles (please) to keep this parcel for my sister til you see her yourself and will you please to check her later to her She is at Greenwich. So no more at present but remain your Brother and sister, Wm Rutland
Elizabeth
Come to Port
Pilip (Phillip) but don't starve
Gold for ever.
Geelong
Letter 5 – To unknown
friend from Sarah Baker, daughter of Matthew Rutland and sister of Wm and Geo
Rutland who married Olney sisters.
Geelong,
2 August 1852
Kind friend,
I received
your letter alright and was happy to here from you and to hear that you wear
all well. I should like to come down if
I could but I can't make it convenient to come at present so if you will send
it by Arnolds waggon I shal be much obliged to you and I will be shoure to meet
the waggon and let you know whether I received it all right. Give my love to
Ann and I think of going out to William as soon as we get an answer from him.
So no more at present from your wellwisher.
Sarah Baker
Ed: Sarah still living in Erith, Kent
in 1881 census.
Letters 6 and 6a – To Ann Peck
from Elizabeth Rutland
Geelong,
2 August 1852
Geelong,
2 August 1852
We received your letter this morning and I am
very glad to hear you have received the money, dear sister. Father is in the diggings. I send you this note to let you know that we
received your letter. Sister and Brother
come to Victoria.
Don't stop and be starved. Come in to a
country where you can get plenty to eat and drink. Come over.
Dear Sister,
We received your letter that you sent the day
before Christmas. Father and all our brothers have dun very well. They are
worth from 100 pounds to 300 pounds each and so have my husband. Thank God for
it. We are all quite well so no more at present but remain your affectionate
sister and brother –
Elizabeth and
William Rutland.
Letter 7 – To Ann and
James Peck from Charles Olney, senior
Chilwell,
31 January 1854
Chilwell,
31 January 1854
Dear Son and
Daughter,
I now with great pleasure take this opportunity
of writing these few lines to you.
Hoping they find your family and all enquiring friends in good
health. For myself I am rather poorly at
present but your mother and the rest of my family are quite well. I did think of coming to England but if I don't come I will send some
money by a Mr. Tyer who is coming to Luton in
a short time, and I hope you will come out with him when he comes back. I have left off digging now but I have four
cottages, one I live in and the rest I let which is sufficient to keep me, for
a cottage with two rooms here, brings in one pound per week, and if you come I
hope we shall be able to make you comfortable.
There is none of our family married at present except Elizabeth.
But we live in expectation of Charles committing matrimony every day. Wm
Rutland is gone out about fourteen miles, having bought land there. He is going
to set up farming. George West and wife are still at the Diggings and quite
well when we heard from them last. David
and Jeffrie Hallsworth are with them.
I hope my father is still hearty and well and
tell him I shall send him a piece of gold to make a ring for his wife. Tell my
brothers John and Joseph they might do very well here for there is a railway
going on here and they are paying labourers fifteen shillings per day. James,
John Billington and Richard Sharp would be able to go here - for they could
take a days shooting any time and not be frightened of a worker seeing them. I
am very sorry you have not heard anything about Flood but I hope you will do by
the time this reaches you, and that they are doing well. If he had come out
here when I did he might have been worth two or three thousand pounds by
this. You never let your mother know
anything about her brother Thomas who went to America
whether he arrived there safe or not.
Emma is growing up something like you did and is very much like you.
Young Martha gets very much like Anne Purser and talks very much like her too
for her tongue is going all day long. I
and your mother wish you would take the trouble to go to Harlington and see my
friends for you never let me know anything about them. Your brother John is at his trade again with
me. Wm Arnold and I am paying him
fourteen shillings per day for the first part of his time-bricklayers wages 30
shillings per day, carpenters from one pound to thirty shillings per day.
Give my best
respects to Mr. Payne and all old friends and I Wm. Arnold his godson send the
same to him. Tell Richard Gudgin I hope little Francis grows well and I hope
the suite fitts him well also. Tell Mary
Ann that the Publicans pay about one thousand a year rent here and then make a
fortune in two or three years.
Charles sends
his best respects to Edward Annewell and says he would never regret the day nor
the journey if he had come out with him, nor its not too late now if he likes
to come. He also sends his respects to
George and Charles Eavens and would be very happy to see them out here for this
is the place were they might do themselves some good if they would but
come. He tells John Parker that this is
the place for living and that he would not have to go into a barn here all the
week for seven bob per week nor with a dry crust and a halfpennyworth of malt
beer but with a good lump of beef and bottle of rum, although meat and other
things are rather dear at present. What's the odds, there is plenty of gold to
bye it with.
I, William Arnold are living within twenty
yards of Charles Onley, and me and wife are quite well.
We must leave the rest of the sheet blank for
it is bedtime. Wishing you a hearty good night. We remain your kind father and
mother.
C. and M. Olney.
Address Mr
Charles Olney,
C/ James
Sharpe, Chilwell
Geelong, Victoria
Please send
this to Pulloxhill
Letter 8 – To Ann Peck
from Matthew Rutland, father of William, Sarah and George
Pulloxhill,
22 August 1856
Pulloxhill,
22 August 1856
Dear Mrs Peck,
I have
received a letter from Australia
on the 20th of this month dated May the 23rd from your sister and she wished me
to send this small note to you.
I am yours
truly,
Matthew
Rutland
Dear Sister, you must excuse my writing for I am underneath the ground, always hot work and always water.
Mr.William Rutland, Ballarat, Victoria.
Letter 9 - To Ann and James Peck from Charles Olney,
junior
Geelong,
19 July 1857
Geelong,
19 July 1857
My Dear Sister and Brother,
For the first
time since I left England
I now take my pen to address you. Hoping these few lines will find you all
quite well.
We received
your letter on the second of July that you sent by Charles Deurke. He arrived
in Melbourne bay in February and went from there
to Moreton Bay and did not post it until he reached
there or else I should have written before. I was very glad to hear that you
and the rest of your family were well but was sorry for the loss of your two
sons.
Dear sister I
must now tell you a little concerning myself. My wife was confined of a
daughter on the 19th April and we have named her Ann Martha. I have two horses and carry to and from
Ballarat. One of the horses are worth 100 pounds and the other about 80 pounds.
I have a brick
cottage and a garden and are very comfortably situated. Things at present are
very dull, trades are slack. Labouring men are getting from 8 to 10 shillings
per day and mechanics about 12 shillings.
You would no doubt think it high wages but we think them low being used
from one pound to one pound five per day.
Father has
been about three months in the country thrashing wheat. He gets tenpence per
bushel for thrashing it. He comes in about once a month and he spends what he
earns at the public house. He drinks as bad as ever. Bill is out with him and he gets fifteen
shillings per week and rations.
Mother is
living alone and not very far from us and takes in washing and plaits for her
living. She is quite well. She often says she should like to see you all
again. Martha is living with us, she
does not grow very fast but she is an old fashioned thing. Betsy Emm David and John are all on Ballarat
and are all quite well. Betsy has 3
children, 2 sons and one daughter, her youngest is six weeks younger than mine.
Emma is
married to George Rutland and has got a daughter. David has 3 children, 2 sons
and one daughter in two years and a half.
Rather sharp work. William,
George and David are sinking on Ballarat and John is at work about nine miles
from Ballarat and he gets one pound fifteen shillings per week and rations.
Frances
is at work about 18 miles from town but we do not know what wages he gets. The
last time we heard from him he was quite well.
We received a letter from James Neal a short time ago, he is living at Adelaide and he was doing
very well. Spendelow and his family are quite well and are all married but
Eliza. Sarah has 3 children, Ann 2 Fanny 2 and Mary has had 5 but all dead.
Betsy is expecting 1 shortly, I think now I have told you all the news so it is
time for (me) to draw to a close with our kind love to you all and believe me
to remain your affectionate brother.
Charles Olney
PS Write as
soon as you received this and for the future direct to me.
Charles Olney,
Union Street,
off Russell St,
Chilwell, Geelong, Victoria
Australia
Letter 10 - unused SECOND
Bank Order for Five Pounds Bank of
Australasia Geelong,
12 December, 1857
Letter 11 – To James
Peck from Charles Olney, senior
Chilwell,
14 March 1858
Chilwell,
14 March 1858
My Dear Son,
I received your letter on the twelth of this
month containing the melancholy news concerning the death of my dear daughter
Ann. We have long expected one from you
but little thought of learning such sad news. It must, as you say, be a trial
to you being left with such a small family but we will assist you as much as we
can amongst us but being so far distant it is impossible for us do as we could
if you were here. If you have a wish to
come we will do all in our powers to assist you. That is if you could meet of an elderly woman
coming that might look after the dear little children there is not one that can
hardly do for itself. It gave me quite a
shock coming so sudden upon one for not hearing of any sickness before I did
not expect it but we must resign our selves to his will and his will be done
for blessed are the dead which die in the Lord, for he says though ye die yet
shall ye live and have everlasting life and I trust that it is the same with my
dear girl, hoping her end was peace.
You have
doubtless received a letter before this with an order for 5 pounds which we
sent to poor Ann and no doubt it came very acceptable at such a time. If you have received it let us know directly
and we will endeavour to send a few pounds more to help support the helpless
ones. Thank you for that lock of poor Ann's hair. I shall ever keep it in remembrance of her.
Having no more
to say at present all send their kind love to you and the dear little children
hoping the almighty will ever provide and protect them.
We remain your
affectionate father and mother.
Charles and
Martha Olney
We have sent
another order for the money in case you should not have received it. Please to direct as before.
Letter 12 – To James
Peck from Charles Olney, junior
Chilwell,
5 September 1858
Chilwell,
5 September 1858
My Dear
Brother,
We received
your long looked for letter about the middle of last August and was very sorry
to hear of the sickness you have had in your family but I trust that both you
and the dear little children will enjoy better health for the future. We quite expected to have heard from you
before but no doubt the delay was because the direction on the letter we sent
to you was wrong and you did not get it so soon as we expected. I must now tell you a little of all of us in
turn. First then I am still carting to and from Ballarat but it is getting
rather a dull game and it is likely to be worse instead of better as the train
between Geelong
and there was commenced last week. Father and Mother are hoeing on a piece of
land which he hired about 12 miles from town. It is very good land and I think
if he keeps steady in a year or two he will make a very good living off it but
of course there is great outlay and no return the first year. The ground
requires a great deal of grubbing as it is thickly timbered and Francis and
William are at present out there with him and mother. She likes the bush a
great deal better than we thought she would.
We have not seen John for some time as he is far in the country on a
station but we hear he is quite well.
David with Wm and George Rutland are still on the diggings sinking for
gold but am sorry to say without success at present. David has but the three
little ones nor more has Elizabeth
and poor Emma lost her little girl when she was 12 months old. Both George and
herself fretted very much about it but it was the will of the Almighty and his
will be done perhaps it was all for the best. Martha is still with us as she
does not like the bush. She does not grow much.
I must now
tell you poor old Mr Spendelow
is dead. He died on the 6th July and was a great sufferer before his death but
he gave us every reason to believe he is
gone where the wicked cease from troubles and where the weary are at rest. His
wife took it very well and she has only Eliza single so she is without much
encumberance to trouble her. I think now
I have told you nearly all the news and will close by saying we have sent you 5
pounds between us and we would have sent you more had it not been for Father
taking the land and not seeing John but he will be down I think at Christmas
when we will send five more, which doubtless will come acceptable at any time.
Perhaps you have made up your mind to come out since you wrote last, if you
have received the last letter I sent.
I must now say
good bye all join with me in love to you and the dear children and believe us
to remain, your affectionate brother and sister,
C. and A. Olney.
PS I forgot to say that I made a mistake in
spelling my name. I spelt it only instead of Olney but it will not make any
difference if you know it. I have enclosed a draft on the bank as before.
Good bye
Direct as
before. Write as soon as you receive this.
(This James Spendelow was Best Man at the wedding of Charles and Martha Olney).
Letter 13 - To James Peck from Charles Olney, junior
Chilwell,
9 May 1859
Chilwell,
9 May 1859
My Dear
Brother,
I once more take my pen to address you and must
ask forgiveness for neglecting it so long but we do not always do as we ought
or else we should be very different to what we are. We were all very thankful to hear by your
last letter that the dear children were all well and also you received the
money safe and if all had been as we anticipated we should have sent some more
before now but could not very well spare it amongst us for the produce from
father's farm has not realised as much as was anticipated by him. He has been enabled to get a living and to
pay his way thus far and I think if he is spared another year he will get on
pretty well. I must now tell you a little of my own concerns. The week after I sent the last letter I had
reached home within 18 miles, when one of my horses killed himself. He was running through the timber when his
head came in contact with a tree and knocked his forehead in and he dropped
dead instantly. His value was 50 pounds, too much to lose at once but have
since been enabled to replace him again so have 3 fine ones still.
John is in
Ballarat and has a nice horse and dray.
He has turned hawker in fruit around the different diggings and is
getting a very comfortable living. He
has sent you a little money with father and myself making in all five pounds
and mother has sent one pound out of her own earnings for you to get each of
the children a trifle with to think of her. They are often on her mind and she
sheds many tears on their behalf. She says if her pocket was as large as her
heart she would send more than she does for them but we must look to the great
searcher of all hearts to provide for them. He has promised and we know he will
fulfil in the time of trouble he will be with thee fear not his grace is all sufficient for thee
and when we can say that and feel there is one that cannot fail in what he has
promised we need nothing else. William and Frank are still on father's farm,
they are both well. Wm and Geo Rutland are still digging but without
success. They are in hopes of getting
gold soon. Emma has another little girl
since the death of her first but Elizabeth
has but the three and I have only one at present. David's wife has 4 in 4 1/2 years. They are
on the diggings close to the rest. Let us know in your next if any of the
Pulloxhill people come to see you.
I think now it is time to draw to a close so
must say farewell for the present. All
join in love to you and the children, trusting God's mercy may rest on them
all. Believe us to remain your affectionate brother and sister.
C. and A.
Olney
PS I should
have sent it by the first mail but was too late that is the reason the draft is
dated so much before the note.
Letter 14 – To James Peck from Charles Olney, junior
Chilwell,
23 January 1860
23 January 1860
My Dear
Brother,
We received your letter by the last mail and
was sorry to hear of the sickness in your family but hope by this time you are
all well again. We began to get uneasy as we had not heard whether you had
received the last Order that was sent but found by your letter it reached you safe
it set us easy.
Mother and
Father are still in the bush, he sticks to his farm firstrate and might make a
good living if he would keep steady but doubt if ever he will leave off
drinking. Mother has her health very
well and seems contented with bush life. She has been staying with us 2 weeks
but is gone home again. Mother with Frank, William, John and myself have sent
you five pounds which we hope you will lay out in making the little children
comfortable and Father says if his crops turn out well he intends sending 2 or
3 pounds himself but don't expect it till you see it. We have had distressing weather this last two
days. The heat has been so intensive
that it has dried almost everything up to a cinder. The apples and things that
hang on the trees are baked quite soft and grapes are dried up to a complete
cinder. It looks fearful to see the wreck it has made. We have not heard much from the country
farmers but expect something very bad. The barometer stood at 140 deg so that
will tell the intensity of the sun, we may never see the like again and hope we
never shall. Elizabeth and Emma are
still on the diggings, their husbands are doing nothing at present and they are
in very poor circumstances. They have been very unlucky indeed. Elizabeth has 4 little
ones, Emma has 1 and David has 4. They begin to tally up now. I have but the
first little girl living, my wife was confined on the 2nd of last November of
twin sons, both stillborn, was almost too much of a good thing. I still cart to the diggings but when the
railway is completed the carting will be done so must look out for something
else to do. Martha is in a situation, the first she has ever been to, she gets
four shillings and four pence per week.
She grows quite a woman. John
wished me to ask you to go to Pulloxhill and enquire his age as mother has lost
the certificate of his birth. He will be
much obliged to you. I must now draw to
a close with kind love to you and the children and believe us to remain, yours
affectionately
Charles and
Ann Olney
PS Send word
if all the children are at home with you. I have enclosed a bank order for five
pounds.
Letter 15 –To James
Peck from Grandmother Martha Olney
Geelong,
23 August 1860
Geelong,
23 August 1860
My Dear Son
and Grandchildren,
We received your letter by the last mail and
was very glad to heard you were all quite well and hope this will find you so
now. Your father and myself have been very poorly with the influenza but we are
getting on again first rate. We have made
up another five pounds for you amongst us, which I hope you will get safe. I
must now tell you that I expect Elizabeth and her children down from the
diggings tomorrow by Charles for change of air for they have all been very ill
with a complaint in the throat, they have lost their eldest boy with it. He was
a fine little fellow 6 years of age he was taken ill on a Thursday and died on
the Monday following. They both fret
very much about him. Their hole has not produced any gold yet they are badly
off.
Emma was
confined on the 2nd of this month of another daughter, making 3 she has had but
there is but 2 living and David's wife has got another girl, which makes five
in five years and 3 months. Charles has
but the one girl at present. All the rest are single yet but I cannot tell how
long they mean to keep so. There is nothing more I can find to say so must draw
to a close hoping Sarah is a good girl to her brothers and sister.
I remain yours
truly
Martha and
Charles Olney
I have
enclosed a Bank order.
Letter 16 – To James
Peck from Charles Olney, junior
Chilwell,
24 June 1861
Chilwell,
24 June 1861
Dear Brother,
I just drop a line to say we have sent you
another draft for five pounds, which we hope you will get quite safe. The mail closes this afternoon, a day sooner
than we thought it would so that there is not time to tell you anything
respecting the family, only they are all well but the next time the mail leaves
I will try and tell you all about every one. I hope the next letter you send
here will be a little more news in it than there was in the last letter you
sent. You never tell us anything about the old folks at home. Hoping you and
the children are well.
I remain yours
truly
Letter 17 – To Henry Peck, son of Ann and James Peck, from Kezia Jessie Olney
Fyans St,
Chilwell, Geelong.
11 October 1906
Mr. Henry Peck,
Dear Sir,
Your letter
dated Sept 6th 1906 and addressed to Chas and Mata Olney was delivered to me
last Tuesday 9th inst. My father's name
was Francis Olney, he was the fourth eldest child of Martha and Charles Olney
of Bedfordshire. Your mother Ann was the
eldest daughter of Charles and Martha Olney, and as far as we know my father's
sisters and brothers names ran as follows:
1st Ann Olney
2nd Elizabeth Olney (decd)
3rd Charles Olney (decd)
4th Francis Olney (my father)
5th David Olney (living)
6th Emma Olney
7th John Olney
8th William Olney
9th Martha Olney
Your mother's mother and father (Charles and
Martha Olney) died here in Geelong
and I am the grand daughter of Charles and Martha Olney they also were your
grandmother and grandfather and Ann Olney was my father's sister, therefore
your mother was my aunt so we must be cousins.
Francis Olney
died in August, 1899 and his wife (my mother) is an invalid and she has given
me this information concerning our relatives. The C. and A. Olney you mentioned was my father's brother and his
wife. Uncle Charles died in August last. I don't know where the other
relatives are at present. But I could find out if you wanted to know particulars.
Mother does not know anything about Mr. George Flood that you mentioned in your
letter.
Believe me to
remain Yours affectionately,
Kezia Jessie
Olney
Cousin
Miss Kezia
Olney
Fyans Street, Chilwell, Geelong, Victoria
Letter 18 - To Henry
Peck from John Charles Olney
Mount Moriac,
16 October 1906
Mount Moriac,
16 October 1906
To Mr. Henry
Peck,
Dear Sir,
I am in receipt of your letter dated Sept. 6th
received by me Oct 15th and I am pleased to say that you had reached the right
Olney for the C. and A Olney that refer to and also Eliz. and Wm Rutland are my
uncle and aunts. My father's name is
John brother of C Olney and
Elizabeth Rutland both of which have passed from this world.
Aunt Rutland
died about five years ago also her husband Wm. Rutland. He died about a year
previous and C Olney my uncle Charley died in his 76 year about three months
ago in Melbourne and his wife A Olney is still
living in Melbourne..
They have a large family of grown up sons and daughters. The girls all being married and most of boys
also the most of which are in good positions in Melbourne and the Martha Olney is now Martha
Capp her husband is a brother to the A. Olney referred above. Her name was formerly Capp. Both Aunt Martha and Uncle Fred Capp are
alive and well living in Ballarat, a city about 50 miles from here. They also have a large family of grown up
children.
There also
another brother of father's living in Ballarat named David he is the oldest
living at the present he has a extra large family 13 sons and 3 daughters all
of the sons are married and away from home.
His wife and two single sisters are home. Uncle is about 74 and hale and hearty. There
was another brother Frank, the oldest of father's brothers, he died several
years ago at Chilwell, Geelong. There is some of his family living there now
but I can't tell you anything about them as I never knew them. No doubt the
other letters that you addressed to Chilwell would fall into their hands.
There was
another sister married to George Rutland a brother of William Rutland. He also passed away a good many years ago but
aunt is still living with her married son.
Her family are all grown up and on there own. I don't know much of them
as they always lived a long way from us at a place called Rokewood a mining
district also fruit growing. Mr. William
Rutland also was most of his time fruit growing at a place called Warncoort.
His family of three sons and four daughters were all in the fruit growing line
up and around Uncle's old place about 26 to 30 miles from here.
I think I have
told you something about all of fathers's sisters and brothers and will now
come back to my own. My father is still
living and am thankful to say in good health. He is living in the north of Victoria about 200 miles
from here. He has his two step sons and
a step daughter and my step brother with him.
My mother died about 21 years ago leaving six daughters and one son,
myself. Four of my sisters are married and living in different parts of Victoria.
Two sisters
and myself (during my) bachelorhood are living together. I have a general store in a township twelve
miles out from Geelong
it is only a small place but a good sound district all farming and dairying
carried on about here. We have been here since I left school which was about 15
years ago, I am now in my 29th year and my sister is the baby of the first
family in her 22nd year and the other is cut out for an old maid as we always
tell her is in her 36th year. We are having a busy time here are present, the
local Methodist Church having been opened 50 years is holding a Jubilee and
several church choirs around the district are joining in with our choir and
having a real good turn out. It is to be held the first week in November. The
prospects of Victoria
are real good, this coming harvest we are having a good spring, which of
course, means a heavy yield of all sorts, if nothing out of way happens.
One thing I
forgot to say is that I have heard my father speak of a sister he left in England
named Ann which I think must be your mother, that being so it will turn out
that you are my cousin. Father, his brothers, sisters, father and mother came
out here in 1847. Father's father got shot accidentally in about 1867. His
mother died up at Uncle Rutland's about 1885. I expect Father down here about November
so will ask him all about it and will I hope be able to tell you more of family
history in the coming days.
I think I have told you about Father's
relations and hope that you will be also trace the relationship, which I think
must be as I have already stated. Hoping to hear from you in a short time. I
will get my Aunt Annie's address for you and any other that you would like if
you will write to them. Hoping this finds you all in good health as it leaves
us at present. I will expect to hear from you about Christmas.
I remain,
Yours very
faithfully
J.C. Olney
My address - Mount Moriac,
Geelong, Victoria,
Australia
Letter 19 - To Henry
Peck from Kezia Olney
Fyans Street,
Chilwell, Geelong Sth.
11 April 1907
Fyans Street,
Chilwell, Geelong Sth.
11 April 1907
My Dear
Cousin,
I was very pleased to hear from you again. I am
sending one of Father's photos and also one of Mother's as I have one of each
to spare. Father's was taken outside many years ago and I have had it copied
off since. Mother's was taken about two years ago. It is a good likeness of
them. I had mine taken about three weeks ago and I will send you one. I think you will like it. It is the very
image of me. In your letter you asked me
my age and I will be twenty-eight in June. I am glad to hear that the vessel,
which had the mail on board did not sink to the bottom of the sea. It was news
to me to hear that Cousin Jack is to be married. Although we live so near them
they never correspond. They come into town Tuesdays and Thursdays but never
find time to call and see us. When father died his two brothers came down, one
has since died and the other brother went away.
I have only seen him once since. I think they were afraid we will ask
them for help. They need not be afraid
of that for I would not ask help from any of them. For while I have hands to
work with and am able to work I will keep my mother as long as she lives. She
has been an invalid for eighteen months and the last eight months she has been
in bed. Father was an invalid for fifteen years before he died. He has been
dead eight years in August so you see Mother has had a hard struggle but we
managed to live without any help from father's relatives. All we care about is
to keep ourselves honest and respectable, that is all we want in this world. I
hope that you will receive the photos all right and let me know if you get
them. I would like very much to receive one of your photos. It would give me
great pleasure to receive one from the old country. Mother wishes to be
remembered to you. Hoping you are all well.
With love
I remain, Your
afft. cousin
from us all.
Kezia Olney
Letter 20 - To Henry
Peck from Jack C. Olney
Mount Moriac,
11 December 1907
Mount Moriac,
11 December 1907
Dear Cousin
Henry,
I really feel ashamed almost to write after
such a long silence. For a good while I was too busy about the time I was
married and then I thought to write when quite settled down and send you a
photo and didn't know the address, Ethel and Annie being away, and when I wrote
to them I always forgot to get your address. Last week we had Ethel home for a
week, she is living with Father, now up in the north of Victoria about 200
miles from here, it is rather a hot part much warmer than here as we are only
10 miles from the Coast. Annie is living in Melbourne now she went back to dressmaking
again. We bringing a new cousin of yours into the house made some alterations
didn't it, but it’s the way of the world. We are not having a very good season
in Victoria
this year. It has been altogether too dry. The farmers around here are busy
stooking just now it won't take long as the average crops are about 15 to 20
cwt to the acre and other years it generally averages 50 to 60 cwt per acre so
you see its rather a bad year but no doubt the ground is like ourselves, it
wants a rest some time and when the rains come it will make up for it.
I have just
had a change from letter writing, been out in the garden to dig some potatoes
for dinner. I have a small fruit garden and grow a few vegetables around the
fruit trees just for our own use. As far as business is concerned with me it
doesn't vary much from one year to the others. I employ one man to drive the
cart and my wife and I manage the shop between us. We are once more drawing
near to Xmas and of course before you receive this Christmas will be over and a
start will be made into its new year. However, I wish you all a Happy and
Prosperous New Year. I am sending you a newspaper also photo. You will see that
my better half is standing on a step to bring herself up on a level with me as
I a six footer. I hope you receive it all right. No doubt now are wondering
what has become of it as Ethel was saying that she told you we sent it but
better late than never. I hope to hear from you again soon and also would be
glad of a photo of you and any of yours at any time you can spare one and also
I will be pleased to correspond regularly and will promise not to be so long in
answering in future. We have not made any arrangements for Xmas as a rule we go
to the seaside and perhaps will do the same this year if fine weather. There is
not much exciting news to relate just now so will draw to close with fondest
love to all from your cousins Belle and Jack.
I remain yours
sincerely
Jack C. Olney
PS Many thanks
for post card, which you sent in March.
We received it the day we were married.
J.C.O.
Letter 21 - To unknown
Cousins (presumed in England)
from Jessie Lewis
13 Woodstock Street,
Chilwell, Geelong, Australia.
26 December 1937
13 Woodstock Street,
Chilwell, Geelong, Australia.
26 December 1937
Dear Cousins,
Your most
welcomed letter received on 20.12.37.
The Miss Kezia Olney you once wrote to died about 12
years ago. She married a Mr. William
Rosser. He also has died. There were no children to the marriage. Kezia Olney was my mother's youngest
sister. My mother's name is Martha Eva.
She married William Eldridge. There
were three children to the marriage. My sister, Mrs. Norman Young, aged 44
years, has six children, the eldest 23 years and the youngest 6 years. Her husband is a foreman at Robert Purnell's
carriers. There was only one brother,
his name was Frank. He died in 1919 at the age of 18.5. Now there is only myself left to be written
about. My name is Jessie. I am also married, to John Lewis. I am 31 years of age. My husband is foreman at the Albion Quarrying
Company's Tar Distillerys. I have one
child 13.5 years old. I live right next
to Mother's. Mother is 66 years old and Dad is 72 years on Jan 28th.
It seems real strange writing to you when we
have not met or even seen one another. I
wonder if ever we will. I would very
much like to keep up this correspondence you have opened.
There is nothing I like better than receiving
letters and writing them. My son, Frank,
is quite thrilled about your letter as he is a keen stamp collector. My husband's brother's wife came from England,
she was a Miss Clara Eden. I will find out what part she came from. The card
you got with Ethel signed on might have been my sister, her name is Ethel. We
will get some snaps taken and let you see what we are like. Although you might get too big of a shock
when you see our faces.
Well this is all I can think of at present so
will close with kind regards from Mother, Dad and myself.
Your sincere
cousin
Jessie Lewis
PS We will be
looking forward to hearing from you again soon.
You can order you own hard copy of "The Family of Charles and Martha Olney" by clicking on -
http://olneygenealogy.weebly.com
I acknowledge and give credit to the copyright work by Keith R.Collyer (desceased) in his book "The Family of Charles and Martha Olney". Pages 61 - 78.
Please note: Ross Olney was the keeper of the Olney family tree, but in 2020 he handed it over to myself. If you have an information that needs to be corrected or added to please contact Joy Olney on joyolney@gmail.com
You can order you own hard copy of "The Family of Charles and Martha Olney" by clicking on -
http://olneygenealogy.weebly.com
If you wish to contact the author of these Olney Family Archive blogs with corrections or further information please email Joy Olney - joyolney@gmail.com
These blogs have been written as another way of sharing the Olney family history with those interested. They do not cover all branches. My interest primarily is with the "David" Olney branch with parents Charles & Martha Olney.
Peter and Joy Olney were fortunate enough to visit England in 2007 and visited many of the churches, places, houses and villages written about in the books by Keith Collyer and A.Gordon Keys. More recent generations in Australia are also included in the Olney Family Archives blogs.
Peter and Joy Olney were fortunate enough to visit England in 2007 and visited many of the churches, places, houses and villages written about in the books by Keith Collyer and A.Gordon Keys. More recent generations in Australia are also included in the Olney Family Archives blogs.
