Telford Family of Ellinbank
Docker Family in Australia
The story of Joseph Docker and his family is recorded in several publications viz:
Saddle at Bontharambo by H.Samuel ,
The Two Lives of Joseph Docker by J. M. McMillan,
The View from Docker’s Hill by J. M. McMillan,
Aunt Spencer's Diary by Mary Spencer
The Docker Family by George Lissant
and various online forums contributions by Merilyn Pedrick.
Valerie Kamman has written an excellent 56 page booklet "Matt's Story" in 2013 covering the life of Matthew Betham Docker.
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Pictured at right is the Docker homestead on the Ovens River near to Wangaratta. It is there that Matthew B Docker joined his uncle Joseph and family in 1849 and which is most associated with Joseph Docker but first we will review the voyage from England and his stint as chaplain at St Matthews, Windsor.
When Joseph Docker and his wife Sarah sailed for Sydney in 1828 on the small 294 ton 3-masted barque the “Adams” the voyage from England took 5 months ( 148 days) going initially south-west across the Atlantic and then due east via the Cape of Good Hope under the force of the “Roaring forties” westerly winds to the south of the Australian mainland. After about 1852 the route was modified to follow the great circle route going far south of the Cape and progressively reducing the time to e.g. 78 days for the James Baines which Henry Johnson took in 1856 and a similar time for Matt's voyage back to Liverpool on the ss Great Britain in 1872.
The early emigrant ships of the 1800s were based on the design of the convict transports which had been used since 1788; the majority of passengers were housed below decks in a dormitory arrangement allowing as little as 18 inches ( 45 cm) per person for sleeping. The first class passengers like Joseph and Sarah however had the benefit of comfortable private cabins on deck and meals at the captain’s table. No doubt the conditions in steerage improved in time.
Small sailing ships like the Adams were of course vulnerable to the effects of rough weather and Joseph and Sarah Docker suffered severe storms shortly after leaving Gravesend until Sarah gave birth to their first child, Mary Jane just off Lands End. Their journey is described in the book “The Two Lives of Joseph Docker”. This newspaper report below details the passengers on the ship which also carried cargo for Sydney and food including live animals to feed the passengers and crew on the long voyage. In total there were 11 passengers and 15 crew including Joseph Docker’s nephew William Docker and niece Jane Workman.
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The photos below (taken in 2009) show the rectory of St Matthews, Windsor - quite large enough to accommodate Rev. Joseph's growing family, and the church which was completed in 1821 being designed and supervised by Francis Greenway, the prolific convict architect. Rev. Joseph's 5 year stint as rector of St Matthews was not without its challenges. He was an enthusiastic minister to and advocate for the poor and underprivileged and he was able to make good use of his experience as an educator by establishing a boarding school at Windsor. However he was not popular with the local magistrates and others of influence. In consequence he resigned his post in 1833 after a dispute with the church hierarchy. He maintained his strong Christian ethos and practice throughout his life but never again became involved with the established church. He had purchased some land in 1832, the 300 acre property "Clifton" between Windsor and Richmond. So for next 5 years he supported his family by farming this property.
But Joseph had much more ambitious plans. In 1838, having heard reports of Major Thomas Mitchell's journey through good largely unoccupied country across the Murray, he decided to take his family overland and take up land there. At this stage he had 6 children - Mary 10, William 8, Stanley 6, Sarah 4, Frederick 3 and Matthew 1.
This was an epic journey taking a great deal of meticulous planning and must have taken a strong commitment by both Joseph and Sarah to firstly endure a 6 month period of living in wagons and tents and then to undertake the task of creating a home from scratch in the country. The journey from Clifton took 6 months and involved taking 3 loaded bullock wagons carrying supplies for the family and workers for the journey and for some months after arrival, 4 horse-drawn drays and carts and a gig plus 20 dairy cows, a mob of horses and a variety of goats, chooks, ducks, dogs and cats, from Clifton and collecting 3000 sheep on he way at Queanbeyan. The whole exercise was a logistical challenge and required meticulous planning and preparation.
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Joseph Docker with wife Sarah and children arrived at Bontharambo Plains on the Ovens River on 12th September 1838, together with numerous livestock and servants / employees. Since then Bontharambo has been a place of iconic significance to the descendants of Joseph Docker and of Matthew Betham Docker, his nephew.
It was here that Joseph established himself as a pioneering pastoralist, raised his 11 children built the impressive Italianate styled home for Sarah and their family, completed in 1859, and successfully transferred the management of the enterprise to his son (Frederick) George Docker, and where Docker descendants still work the property, albeit somewhat reduced in size. George is pictured above together with his parents Joseph and Sarah.
It is also where Matthew Betham Docker and Helen Wemyss McArthur raised 3 children, Lottie, William and Gordon, after marrying in 1874 in Melbourne.
The pastoral run was of 100,000 acres (400 sq. Km ), bordering the Ovens River and mostly flat country. The homestead was built about 8 Km from the "Ovens Crossing Place" where Wangaratta became established.
The painting below by Frank Gilbert is of the bark hut which was waiting for them on arrival at Bontharambo and which had been recently constructed by George Faithfull. Frank Gilbert was employed as tutor to the Docker children. The brothers William and George Faithfull were young friends of Joseph Docker and they had discussed together the opportunity to become pastoralists ( or squatters) in the Port Phillip District after reports of Major Thomas Mitchell's journey in 1836 when he crossed the Murray ( then known as the Hume River) at Howlong. The Faithfulls left the Richmond (NSW) area on their journey some weeks earlier than Docker and travelled considerably faster so arriving 4 months ahead of the Dockers with plans to take up land at Oxley Plains south of Wangaratta.
There has been a story, originating with Mary Read from her recollections as a 10 year old, that the Faithfulls had built the hut with the intention of settling at Bontharambo Plains but moved on because of serious conflict with the local aborigines. J.M. McMillan disputes this interpretation and believes the hut had been built by arrangement with Joseph Docker as a means of substantiating a claim to the land some 4 months earlier than Docker himself could do, remembering that there were other potential squatters around.
The documented clash between the Faithfulls and the aborigines did not take place at Bontharambo but at Broken River (Benalla), some distance away and 5 months earlier.
Much of the detail given here is taken from J.M.McMillan's excellent book "The two Lives of Joseph Docker" which draws on primary sources, in particular, recollections of the eldest Docker daughter, Mary Read, as first recorded by George Lissant, from working diaries left by Joseph Docker and copies of his correspondence in the Docker Collection in the Latrobe Library, Melbourne.
Pictured at right ( with Alan Telford in 2009) is the cairn in Merriwa Park, Ryley St. Wangaratta acknowledging Joseph Docker and others as pioneers of the district. The inscription reads:
A Tribute to the first pioneers of the Wangaratta District - Rev. Joseph Docker, Geo.Faithfull, Wm. Faithfull, Dr. G.E. McKay, J.W. Chisholm, W. Bowman, David Reid, Wm.H. Clark, Geo. Gray, Jos. Bould, Chas. Cropper
Wangaratta Centenary 1838-1938
Once he was settled Joseph was able to apply for a "Depasturing Licence" which enabled him to raise sheep and cattle for sale and to grow crops for his own use (but not for sale). This licence was renewable annually for a fee of 5 pounds. A copy of the 1840 licence is shown at right. Of course this meant there was no real security of tenure but in 1847 new regulations were introduced which allowed for longer leases for pastoral purposes and for the lessee to have the option of purchasing the freehold at an "upset price" ( minimum price) of 1 pound per acre. Note the name Borrowambu which later evolved into Bontharambo - based on the Aboriginal name for the area.
He had previously been issued with a similar licence for the very much smaller property at Clifton - and paid a similar fee! In July 1848 the details of 83 claims to "Leases of Crown Lands beyond the settled districts" in the Murray District, signed by C.J. La Trobe, Superintendent. The claimants included Joseph Docker for Bontharambo, 100,000 acres , estimated carrying capacity 1500 cattle, 20,000 sheep; also John Chisholm for Myrhee 96,000 acres - this run is south of Wangaratta and was later purchased by the Docker family; W.F. and Geo. Faithfull for Oxley Plains 92,000 acres; Thomas Clarke for Saintfield 25,000 acres ( married to Mary Docker in 1849); Brown and Clarke for Gooramadda 35,000 acres.
There were some challenges to the claimed boundaries of the Docker run which took some months to be resolved but ultimately was granted. At some stage Joseph Docker paid the 1 pound an acre to obtain freehold over a part of the run, in particular around the Bontharambo homestead and at Bontharambo Hills Station (now Springhurst). I have not found details of what area was purchased but over subsequent years the size of the property has been progressively reduced; during our visit in 2010 we were advised that the property now consists of some 2,000 acres. Joseph Docker was clearly determined to make a success of his venture into farming; in order to improve the productivity of his sheep flock and quality of the wool in 1846 he imported 6 pure bred merino rams and 10 ewes as breeding stock which were apparently particularly suited to the conditions at Bontharambo - by 1850 he had 26,000 sheep.
The photo above shows the eastern Boorhaman Rd boundary of the Bontharambo property as it was in 2009; the road sign says
“Docker Plains Memorial Avenue of Trees 1914 - 1919”.
In 1839 land came up for sale at Richmond on the outskirts of Melbourne. As the regulations did not yet allow Docker to purchase freehold at Bontharambo, he decided to invest in Richmond, buying 50 acres for 975 pounds. He initially fenced and cultivated the land, growing crops, fruit trees and for grazing. Once established, he rented out parcels of the land. Later, in 1853 had plans drawn up for a subdivision which he called Clifton Village.
The subdivision consisted of 236 building blocks (averaging about one-fifth of an acre each) along streets named Docker St, Clifton St, Stanley St and Lennox St., Bontharambo St and Wangaratta St. with cross streets, Richmond Terrace and Gipps St. These street names have remained and this area of Richmond is now a fully developed residential precinct.
Most of the blocks were sold as vacant land but Joseph Docker organised the building of a number of houses representing a range of prices, until by 1857 he owned 57 houses in the area. This venture is discussed in detail in the book "The View from Docker's Hill" by J.M. McMillan. It is thought that few of the original homes remain, although there are many houses in the area which clearly date back at least to the early 1900s ( an example at left)
However he also bought property in Elwood to the south of Melbourne and the rather elegant house he built there is still standing. It is known as "Elwood House" at 28 - 30 Vautier St. (at left)
In April 1857 tenders were called for "Erecting a large VILLA at Bontharambo, Wangaratta, for Joseph Docker Esq. , plans and specifications available at the office of Thos. Watts, architect." The house is built of pink granite brought over from Beechworth but likely much of it originally imported from Inverness, Scotland by the supplier William Fiddes. The front entrance hall is comfortably wide and furnished with beautifully fashioned great cedar doors leading to 4 large downstairs reception rooms and 5 upstairs bedrooms. Around the back is the working areas of kitchen, larder etc and a second stairway leading up to the servants quarters, and a cellar below.
The front of the house is shielded from the sun by a pillared verandah, as can be seen from the photo above, taken in 2010.
Living with the original inhabitants
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It must be noted that the Bontharambo run was previously occupied by an indigenous population. The displacement of aboriginals by the British settlement (which was in fact an invasion) of Australia was the source of much conflict and distress to the original occupants which continues to the present day. The Waywurru clan who occupied the land around the Ovens River could not have been happy that white men and their numerous sheep had come to disrupt their lives. Nevertheless Joseph Docker managed to develop a harmonious relationship with the local indigenous men and was well known for his kind and understanding attitude to the Aboriginals and was rewarded by their friendship and help; for many years they held corroborees on the island in the lagoon not far from the house. According to McMillan (The Two Lives of Joseph Docker), Joseph Docker began employing aboriginal shepherds in 1840 .
To quote: "Paddy Welsh had been unable to supply him with shepherds to replace those overlanded, and were now leaving at the end of their contract. Unable to attract any working men to these positions, he approached the local Aboriginals, arranging for some of them to take the positions. Some time later he was able to engage an Aboriginal overseer, Mole-le-min-ner, or Joe as he was known, who came well recommended by his previous employers as shown by the crescent shaped metal plates he wore round his neck."
The previous December Mole-le-min-ner (Joe) was arrested on suspicion of being part of an altercation that took place at George MacKay's station. Docker believed Joe to be innocent and wrote a letter to Governor Gipps - an extract as quoted by McMillan follows: " ... a police officer, in company with a blacksmith and a stockman of Mr. MacKay's, both intoxicated, seized at my door, a fine, intelligent, and well-behaved young man named "Joe". After much unnecessary rough usage, handcuffed and neck-tied he was dragged to Mr. Faithfull's station, whence on the oath of a stockman alone he was forwarded to Melbourne to his trial, for being present when Mr. MacKay's station was attacked. I have strong reasons for believing him to be innocent."
Mole-le-min-ner was married to Kone-ner-roke who was the sister of Merriman, Harlequin and Simon and their father was "King Billy Elengeist, all members of the Waywurru clan, or "Ovens Blacks". Their country ran between Benalla, Corowa, Albury and the Alps ( would include Wangaratta, Beechworth and Bright). For this latter information I am indebted to Megan Carter of Sydney, a descendant of this clan. Harlequin, Merriman and Simon are believed to have been involved in some altercations with the settlers, or as Megan says, “they were the men who took exception to Faithfull’s presence in Benalla”.
In the Port Phillip Patriot and Melbourne Advertiser of Monday October 4, 1841, the following report appeared:
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From Minutes of Evidence taken before the Emigration Committee. (concluded) The Reverend Joseph Docker, Melbourne, 3rd August, 1841.
Sir,— In reply to your letter of the 23rd ultimo, in which you request me to communicate to you, for the information of the Committee of the 'Legislative Council appointed to consider the subject of Immigration generally, whether the Aboriginal natives formerly employed by me are still in my service, I have the honour to state, that, in the month of March last, having had occasion to visit Melbourne, 1 received a letter when there, acquainting me that the blacks were committing outrages, and that several heads of the sheep under their charge had been discovered near some water-holes ; on my return to the Ovens they had all fled, from a consciousness, I suppose, of their misbehaviour and an apprehension of my displeasure, and 1 have not seen a black since. This circumstance, however discouraging it may he to the expectation of their being rendered permanently useful, does not alter the opinion I had formed of a grcat many of them ; were a few of the worst characters weeded out, and summarily punished on the spot when detected in the act of committing offences, by solitary confinement or otherwise, and could the great body of the different tribes be kept at a distance, and not permitted to mix with the well behaved, I still think a certain number of them might be safely and usefully employed as shepherds; but to keep all right, it would be requisite that a judicious overseer should constantly live among, and be himself one of them. At the time I expressed my opinion to His Excellency the Governor, I felt justified in describing them as good shepherds and honest men, for, with their assistance, under the guidance of one white man, 1 had from a flock of 1,200 ewes, an increase of not less than 96 per cent; and what induced me to believe them to be honest was, that when I left my tent in the midst of them at the distance of three miles from my head station, I never found that any thing had been stolen ; I also felt at all times secure from danger; they were always glad to see me ; I never carried fire arms. There are other traits in their character, which exhibit them in a very favourable light, which prove that when well treated, they have a regard for the safety of their master's property. I recollect on one occasion, when alarmed by a report that on the following day they were to have a hostile visit from some of their white neighbour, they brought each man his flock (6,000 and upwards) within sight of my hut, and then went away, saying, "we will return in two or three days, when cooler (white man's wrath) is all gone." This they did, and I again employed them, although suffered much from the mixture of the different flocks.You wish to know how I remunerated them; I gave them as much as they could eat; - to each shepherd a ration of beef or mutton, and that "of the best quality, for there are epicures even among the blacks, viz : 4lbs. per diem, or 28 lbs. per week, also 8 lbs. of the best Sydney flour; 1/4 lb. tea, 1 1lb. sugar, and 3 or 4 figs of the best tobacco — ' 'baal (not) Colonial '—to several I gave blankets, but the number I do not recollect. Having replied to the queries contained in your. letter, which I received this evening, I must defer answering the circular to 'a 'future day,' although from my imperfect knowledge of the Aboriginal character and brief experience of the bush life, I fear 1 shall not be able to furnish you much information that will be found to be practically useful.
I have the honor to be, Sir, your most obedient servant, .
JOSEPH DOCKER.
Joseph Docker died on 10th April 1864, aged 72 years; he is commemorated on this plaque in Holy Trinity Cathedral, Wangaratta.
Sarah Docker had died just 11 months earlier on 17th May 1864. They are buried in the burial ground at Bontharambo along with 2 of their children and other relatives. Pictured here is their eldest daughter Mary Read at age 81.
Descendants of Rev Joseph Docker
This summary of the Docker offspring and their marriages is from Ted Marr’s database on rootsweb.com
George (Frederick George) Docker, took over the running of the business.
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His elder brother Stanley who had been groomed for this role tragically drowned while attempting to cross the swollen Black Dog Creek in 1851.
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Mary and Thomas Clarke had 2 children— Emily Josephine (married Alex. Smith) and Thomas George. Emily’s granddaughter, Merilyn Pedrick of Aldgate, Sth.Aust. has researched and published online extensive genealogical information on the Docker and Betham families.
Thomas Clarke held the lease on the Gooramadda run together with Lindsay Brown who remained there after Thomas's death and subsequently married Josie Docker - a portion of this (488 acres) came into the possession of Lottie Docker in 1896 when she married.
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Mary and James Read initially lived at Wahgunyah but in 1867 this pastoral run was substantially reduced by the encroachment of gold diggings and the imminent break up of the run for free selection. They took up Bontharambo Hills Station from Rev. Joseph Docker and subsequently renamed it “Springhurst”. Mary and James Read had six children—Margaret Charlotte, George Frederick, John Docker, Louisa Martha, (Dr) Stanley James Docker and Jane Mary.
John Docker Read married Mabel Robinson - their daughter Mary Docker Read married Gordon Bonfield McEwan in 1926. The McEwans lived for some time at Lardner, near Warragul and were well known to the Telford family at Ellinbank.
The home property was passed on through Frederick George Docker and his wife Alice to their grandson Stanley Spencer Docker. Stanley and wife Patricia both died in 2007 aged 87 and are buried at Bontharambo after managing the property for many years. Their son John and his sister Mary Paul and husband were still living on the property when I visited in 2010.
John Bristow Docker was the last of Rev. Joseph’s children to die in 1929 at the age of 83. He and wife “Aunt Lillie” gave their copy of George Lissant’s Docker book to my grandmother Lottie Telford at Christmas 1919. He was also the executor of Matthew Betham Docker's will. They had 2 sons - John Bristow and Frederick George who together bought property in the Wagga Wagga area while maintaining a connection with Myrrhee station for some time.
The gravestone at right is in the Beechworth cemetery.
Charlotte Docker married John Reeves Whitehead and Charlotte’s father Joseph purchased “The Hermitage” at Barnawartha from David Reid in 1865 and gave it to Charlotte and John as a wedding present.
From letters in the possession of Marsha Watts we know that Matt and Helen Docker and Lottie kept in regular contact with this family. This photo of the Hermitage (from the Knight family collection), is apparently showing members of the Docker family, probably around 1880.
MATTHEW BETHAM DOCKER came out to Australia on the “Pakenham”, a 660 ton sailing ship, departed Liverpool 13th December 1849 and arrived Melbourne 24th March 1850, with 9 cabin passengers and about 50 steerage passengers. This was a little over twice the size of the Adams that Joseph and Sarah came on but unlike Joseph, Matthew was only able to manage the fare to travel steerage.
The report of its arrival in The Argus of 25th March also lists a substantial quantity of cargo on board. Matthew was 20 years old.
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When he left Southport it was only 5 months since the death of his father Rev. William Docker. Matthew obviously felt this keenly; found in the papers of Matt's daughter Lottie is a sheet of writing paper with the following transcription of the plaque in the church in Southport -
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Sacred to the Memory of The Rev William Docker, Formerly Curate of this Parish.
In 1820 He founded this Church & was Incumbent thereof from its Erection to his Death.
In all the Relative obligations of Life He was emphatically A Friend to the Poor. He died on the 10th day of July 1849 Aged 59 Years. Blessed is he that considereth the poor, the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble.
This tablet was erected by his Congregation As a Token of their Attachment Esteem and Respect.
Copied by me from the Tablet in 1849 December.
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Apart from his father's death Matthew had endured the loss of his mother Charlotte in 1839 when he was 9 years old and his sisters Sarah Ann in 1845 and Charlotte Jane in 1848. He was leaving behind in Southport brother Dr. William Docker and sister Louisa.
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Having arrived in Melbourne in March 1850 Matthew headed straight for Wangaratta and the Bontharambo home of his uncle Joseph, aunt Sarah and cousins - Mary 21, Stanley 18, George 14, Matthew 12, Charlotte 10, Frances 8, Louisa 6 and John 3. Matt was 20 years old. He was made welcome at Bontharambo where his uncle Joseph who could always find work for him on the property
Matthew reportedly went off to the goldfields for a short while (probably to Ballarat in 1851) but soon returned to Bontharambo without having made his fortune. In fact in September 1851 tragedy struck the Docker family; Stanley was drowned while crossing Reedy Creek. No doubt Matthew would have returned to Bontharambo at this time and we know that he worked alongside George who then needed to take on the role previously expected of Stanley. When gold was discovered at Beechworth in 1852, George and Matthew made many journeys to Beechworth on horseback delivering cattle to market to take advantage of the opportunity presented by the expanding population of diggers.
In 1853 Joseph and Sarah Docker sailed for a visit to England leaving George in charge at home.
While they were away Matthew married his cousin Jane Workman ( daughter of Jane Docker and George Workman) who had come out with Joseph and Sarah in 1828, and they took up residence in one of the Docker houses in Richmond which had previously been occupied by Jane's brother William.
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On his return from England Joseph employed Matthew as his agent looking after the rentals at Richmond. This only lasted a few months as it turned out not to be Matthew's forte; he returned to Bontharambo and became a mainstay of the farm operations along with George.
When they married Jane was 42 and Matt a much younger 24. Jane died in 1871 aged 60 of stomach cancer and was buried at Bontharambo.
Matt wrote to his aunt Betty Kilburn in Geelong:
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17 May 1871 Bontharambo
My fond and dear aunt
It is my painful task to acquaint you with the death of my dear wife which has happened on the 4th of this month. She had often been a great sufferer from rheumatism in her hands and for the last 2 years she often had severe pains in her stomach and violent vomiting . For many months she was attended by a medical man but it was not until within a week of her death that I was told the real cause of her illness. I had occasion to call in another Doctor and he told me that she had a cancer in her stomach and bowels.
My poor dear wife I miss her more every day, we had been married 18 years, no-one can tell the feeling I have, I am like a lost sheep but I put my trust in the Lord. The last chapter I read to my dear Jane was 102 psalm.
Sometimes I think I will take a trip to England and see all our relations.
In fact Matt did make a trip to England the following year and stayed with his sister Louise and husband Edward Stanton at Chorley as well as visiting the Bethams, Dockers and Workmans at Westmorland. On his return he wrote again to Betty Kilburn (in part)
“ 7th April 1873 Bontharambo
My dear aunt,
you must forgive me for not coming to see you when I landed ( just returned from England ) - I had such a bother finding my box. We landed on the 1st of March
When I was in the north of England I was there about a fortnight George Workman used often to talk abut you and Ann and he told me how Ann used to to tell tales of him to my father to get hm into a scrape. My sister and Edward send there kind love to you and Ann ….. she has 2 nice daughters Louisa 21 and Juliana 20.
I have traced as far back of the Dockers as my great grandfather John Docker born April 1705 died 23 March 1782 age 77 years. I will come and see you when the Railway is finished which will be in a few months.
love to Ann and my 2 little nieces ad love to yourself , and believe me to remain your affectionate Nephew Matt B Docker”.
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For more on this trip see the "Southport" page. During the 6 months he was in England he would have had the opportunity to visit the Workman relatives at Cliburn, Westmorland where Jane's brother George continued to farm with Mary his wife and children George, Margaret and John; at the 1871 census also living with them was Margaret Docker of Newby aged 61.
Matt Docker's second marriage
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Three years after Jane's death Matthew remarried on 23rd June 1874 to Helen Wemyss McArthur at her home in Alma St, East St Kilda. On the latter marriage certificate he gives his occupation as Farm Superintendent. Matthew and Helen lived in "Helena's Cottage" pictured below in the grounds of Bontharambo homestead.
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The picture of Helen at right is labelled J.BOTTERILL. John Botterill worked as a professional photographer, portrait painter and and oil miniaturist in the mid-19th century in Victoria from the early 1850s.
Helen was the younger daughter of Donald Gordon McArthur and Elizabeth Kirby - see the McArthur page. Elizabeth Kirby McArthur ran a School for Young Ladies in St Kilda to which Joseph and Sarah Docker sent their 5 daughters as boarders for 2 or 3 years each. Helen was one of the teachers at the school.
There is a letter in the “Docker Papers” in the Latrobe Library ( State Library of Victoria) from Bontharambo to Helen’s mother Mrs McArthur, transcribed here:
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Bontharambo 18 March ’74
My dear Mrs Macarthur
George and I have just been talking over the proposed marriage of Matt and Helen and I write at once as I know you are anxiously awaiting our decision. (?) .. consent to the match and can give them a cottage to live in and employ Matt at a salary of 40 pounds per an. but will charge all provisions to them. Helen will remember the cottage in which Cummings used to live. This is now empty and we think it would be the most suitable spot for them when we have added another room in front of it. ... already explained to you that Matt has about 700 pounds of his own monies invested for which we think we can rely upon getting 8 percent. Our consent has been given of course upon the condition that Helen will receive at least 40 pounds per an. from you. Our salary to Matt may appear low to you but we would remind you that he has an easy place here and that this is as much as we think we are justified in paying for his services. All here are very well and unite with me in kindest remembrances to you, Bessy and Helen. Believe me, Yours .... ?
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“George” is obviously Matt’s cousin Frederick George Docker who is by then running the farm ( Rev Joseph had died 10 years earlier in 1864) but not yet married, but it is not clear who the “I” is who actually wrote the letter. But this letter is in essence the point in time at which the marriage became inevitable and took place 3 months later; Matt was 45 and Helen 35 years old.
Matthew and Helen had 3 children while living at Bontharambo, pictured below.
Helen died on 29th September 1894 aged 55 years, and is buried at Bontharambo.
Charlotte Elizabeth Gordon Docker (known as Lottie, pictured above), b. 1875, m. John Dempster Telford (known as Jack), died 1963 aged 88, at Perth W.A. while living with her son William and family. The story of John and Lottie Telford and family is detailed on the Telford page.
William Donald Docker, b. 1877. d. September 1895 aged 18, from accidental poisoning —see coronial report below —buried at Bontharambo. William attended Caulfield Grammar School who recently supplied some information to Bruce Docker about William including this photo below of the boarders in 1889 - William appears to be the boy middle of the front row. He was first enrolled in form 3 in 1887 and that year received the form prize for bible, reading, grammar, geography, latin and arithmetic, and "conduct" prize in 1889.
Lottie, William and Gordon above, Gordon at right and the photo at left is believed to be William - from the collection of Marsha Watts.
The deep sorrow felt by his family on Willie's accidental death is conveyed in this letter that Lottie wrote to her friend and second cousin Julia Gavin.
Gordon McArthur Docker, b. 1880 m. Mabel Dobson, d. 1965 aged 85. Buried at Wynyard Tasmania. Gordon Docker moved to Tasmania a few years after the Telfords and farmed at Boat Harbour. He married Mabel Dobson and they had 7 children:
Trixie May 1906 married Fred Townsend — 3 children; Barbara, Wendy, Graham
Charlotte Lillian 1909 married Wilfred Crole — 3 children; Patricia, Pamela, Dale
William Harold 1912 married Ivy King — 2 children; Desmond, Elizabeth
John Beetham 1914 married Ruby Myler — 2 children; Beverley Faye see below, and John Gordon
Shirley Helen 1918 married Athol Holton — 4 children; Kerry, Lynette, Peter, Barbara
Valma Jean 1920 married Lionel Parsey — 6 children; Mark, Tony, Paul, Jennifer, Joanne, Michael
Alan Macarthur 1923 married Herilda (‘Ril) Herbert — 5 children; Barry, Bruce, Maree, Sandra, Denise
Beverley Docker married Peter Burgess ( died 2009 )—children: Treena, Simon (a former Olympic rower) , Jodi and Mark. There is a family apple orchard at Geeveston.
Bev gave me some of the information relating to the Dockers and McArthurs.
A number of these Docker descendants still live in Tasmania.
Matthew Docker moved to Tasmania with the Telford family as did Lottie's Aunt Bessie i.e. Helen McArthur's elder sister Elizabeth who had married well known businessman Jonathon Binns Were in August 1882 and been widowed in December 1885.
Matthew made a will in 1903 in which he made daughter Charlotte and son Gordon equal beneficiaries but mentioning a 67 acre portion of land in Boat Harbour "recently purchased" , the land and stock to go to Gordon with appropriate adjustment of the other assets. Matthew died 12th September 1915 aged 86 years.
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In September 2013 a number of these Docker and Telford descendants gathered together at Wynyard to rededicate Matthew Betham's grave in the Jenner St cemetery after its headstone had been vandalised and subsequently restored -pictured below.
Juliana Thacker ( known as Julia ) married Walter Gavin at Geelong in 1881. She was the daughter of Ann Kilburn and Walter Thacker and granddaughter of Betty Kilburn was baptised Elizabeth Docker in 1788 at Morland, Westmorland, daughter of William Docker and Jane Betham. She was the sister of Wiliiam and Joseph.
Betty Kilburn is mentioned in “The Two Lives of Joseph Docker”. Much of the information on Betty and her family was supplied to the author J.M. McMillan by Marsha Watts. Marsha has a collection of documents handed down to her from Julia Gavin via Marsha’s mother Alexandra Juliana Marsden. These include a number of letters written by Helen W Docker and Lottie Docker to Julia Gavin and by Matt B Docker to his aunt Betty Kilburn over the period 1871 to 1896.
Elizabeth Docker married Thomas Kilburn (sometimes known as “Wild Tom”) in 1813 in London shortly before Thomas was granted the Freedom of London so that he could carry on his trade of pattenmaker. They had 2 children - William Docker Kilburn born 1818 and died aged 17 from Typhus, and Ann ( born 1816) who accompanied her mother Elizabeth ( Betty) to Australia in 1842. Betty and Ann spent a short time at Bontharambo before moving to Geelong where Rev Joseph had bought a house for them.
Elizabeth lived to the good age of 91 and despite various difficulties apparently settled well in Australia. Her daughter Ann however reputedly never stopped yearning for her homeland and she suffered a number of tragedies with her son Matthew drowning in a mud hole aged 22 months and twin girls dying in infancy. Ann’s daughter Charlotte was the grandmother of Alexandra Marsden ( and great grandmother of Marsha Watts) but it was Ann’s other daughter Julia who brought up Alexandra and passed on the letters etc. Julia’s only daughter May Charlotte Gavin died in 1894 aged 9.
The letters from both Lottie and Helen refer to Helen's state of health in the months leading up to her death in September 1894 when she suffered severe fatigue over a period of 18 months and 2 heart attacks - the death certificate gives the cause of death as Mitral heart disease.
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Then a few months later in August 1896 Lottie was writing to Julia excited about her upcoming wedding to Jack Telford which she says
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we are up to our eyes in work preparing for the wedding which is to be on Tuesday 18th all being well - at 10.00 am in the Drawing Room. presents sent from the Reads, Mrs and Mr Maggie, and Stanley and Aunty. presents include “all table silver I can require” and silver mounted toilet mirror, button hook and shoe horn, gold and pearl brooch, and a lovely set of ivory and silver mounted carvers from Mr McCurdy, cheques from four of the Dockers.
Charlotte Elizabeth Gordon Docker (Lottie) and John Dempster Telford (Jack)