The Family Tree – John
Derwent
The second of a series we will present
with details of the family tree.
John, the first Australian born Derwent and 4th child
of James and Mary was born at Lords Forest (Hurstville) on 10th February
1854, Attending Lords Forest
school, he was presented with a novel, “The Clockmaker of Lyons” on
30 May 1866. It is still in good
condition and would make challenging reading for today’s 11 years
olds.
John was a fettler for the railways at Yerong Creek
when he met the love of his life Jane.
Jane was born Jane Watson, daughter of Sarah Jane Watson (also Whatson)
in 1860 at Largs, Morpeth NSW.
Jane’s father’s name is not shown on her birth certificate,
but on her marriage at St John’s church, Wagga Wagga in 1881 her father
is shown as William Blackford, a carpenter. One account has it that William
Blackford, also a railway man, had been killed by aborigines at The Rock (near
Wagga Wagga). At age 19, Jane’s
mother married John Diedrich Kohne in 1862 at Maitland . The Derwents have
maintained close contact with the Kohne side of the family, including the
Wilsons and Larsons through the generations.
We understand that Sarah and Jane were employed with the railways at Albury when they met John. John and Jane stayed at Yerong Creek until 1884/86. A recent newspaper report shows that rails dated in the 1880’s are still in use in southern NSW! Records show their first child John Percival (Percy) was born at Kogarah and their second born, Sarah Ellen (Nellie) was born at Yerong Creek. Their home in Salisbury St., Kogarah (Sth. Hurstville) was named ‘Yerong Creek’. Family anecdotes note that when the family used to visit James and Mary Derwent, also at Salisbury St, on Sundays the children were ‘seen but not heard’ and were only allowed ‘quiet pursuits’. The boys played cricket but the girls had to be "young ladies" and were not even permitted to engage in sewing! Many of the family will still recall how, in later years the ‘girls’, Nellie, Isa and Dot, loved to get together for a game of cannasta.
John and Jane had eight children. Their fifth, daughter Edith died at 5
months. Their final home,
“Yerong’ at 20 Bruce Street, Bexley was owned for some time by son
William (Frank) but was demolished about 20 years ago. Daughter Sarah (Nellie) owned the home
next door that became the home of Shirley and Doug Littlejohn.
It seems that John and Jane had a contented but hard
working life. He became a head
ganger on the railways and would be required to work at night and in all
weather. We understand he
died on 21 August 1905 of pneumonia contracted as a result of such conditions. John left Jane a widow, with six
children still at home. Sarah
(Nellie) left home and lived in working at the Church of England Manse at
Sutton Forrest. The remainder stayed with Jane, the younger ones still
attending school. At this time
Jane was living at 20 Bruce Street, Bexley and continued to live there until
her death on 23rd April 1920.
Son, John Percy James (Percy) who never married,
became the family’s first war fatality (and gratefully, the only one we
know of). Percy attended
school at Hurstville (travelling through Lords Forest after which Forest Rd is
named), been a farm hand and engine driver and joined the Volunteer Regiment,
Old St George Rifles before enlisting with the AIF. He was killed at Houplines near Arzentiere, France on 26
February 1917 at 35 years old, while fighting with the 37th
Battalion. In submitting details
for the Roll of Honour for Australia his mother reported ‘The
ingenuity of he Lewis Gun became a love to him and hence the position of No. 1
gunner was his start in France”. In a letter sent home through the Red Cross, one of
his battalion described how after bomb hit there was nothing remaining of
Percy.
Both John and Jane are buried at Woronora Cemetery.
Thanks to Frank Derwent, Evol Derwent
and Beth Hayes for their contributions towards the above account.
John and Jane's branch of the family tree together with the information we have on the rest of James and Mary Derwent’s further children is attached. We hope you will find it interesting. We apologise for any errors and if there are any alterations or additions please let us know asap. The complete tree will be available at the re-union.
Corrections:
Thanks to those who
have let us know about amendments to Andrew Binns Derwent branch of the family
tree. We note Leslie Clement
Derwent worked for David Jones. He was not a commercial fisher. The family a Milton was the
‘Garrad’s’ not ‘Garratt’.
Notices:
Please let us
know if you have any Special Requests, Announcement or Suggestions.
Get Well Wishes: Diane Derwent of Barraba, we hear has been fighting an extended illness. We trust Eric and the family are taking good care of you.
Enter our Competition
1.
Name the Bride and Groom in
this Derwent Family wedding
2.
Name the location where this
photo was taken.
3.
Name as many of the guests as
you can.
Post Entries or Lodge them at the Reunion
Winners Announced Sunday 6 October 2002
Steering Committee: Derwent Family Reunion, 7 Dinjerra Crescent, Oatley, NSW 2223
Beth Hayes (02)
4981 0246 (h) beth37@nelsonbay.com
Laurie Derwent (02) 9580 2664 (h), (02) 8437 4973 (w)
mderwent@optushome.com.au
Ian Frames (02)
9525 4926 (H), 0403 064 864 ian.frames@bigpond.com
Margot Derwent (02)
9579 5214 (H)
Website: derwent.poweringon.com
TICKET ORDER FORM
To help us with catering arrangements[1] please complete this form.
Name: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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Address: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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Phone: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . Ph. During Reunion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..
Please contact other members of your
family – we have not been able to send this note to everyone.
Please book the following people for the
Derwent Family Reunion.
Name Dinner Lunch
5/10/02 6/10/02
Adult
/ Child Adult/ Child
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The estimated cost is $30 per person for the Dinner
(3 course meal) and $30 for the Luncheon (buffet style) – Children half
price[2]. Yes we will serve oysters with
both meals.
We are still making inquiries about special
‘DERWENT’ wines.
Return to: Derwent Family Reunion
7 Dinjerra Crescent
OATLEY NSW 2223 or mderwent@optushome.com.au
Please do not send money for the meals at this
stage.
However, a small contribution towards postage,
printing etc would be appreciated.
_______ Please indicate if you are not
interested in receiving further
information.