YOUR LOVING MOTHER,

ETHEL J. MCCOMAS

Letters home to Australia, 1900

edited by

McComas Taylor

2008

ii

iii

Contents

Introduction 1

Letters home to Australia, 1900 13

Epilogue 58

Appendix 1. Biographies 59

Appendix 2. McComas Family Notes by Janet Taylor 62

iv

1

Ethel Jane McComas (1863-1904)

Introduction

On 22 February 1900 Robert Bond Wesley McComas, a 38-year-old wool and hide

merchant, left Melbourne on board the ship Le Polynésien for a business trip to

Europe. He was accompanied by his wife, Ethel Jane McComas, who was one year

younger than he. The couple left behind their two children, Isabel Mary McComas

(aged five and a half), and Ethel Thorpe McComas (just four) in the care of Robert‘s

extended family, consisting of his elderly parents, John Wesley McComas, his wife

Jane, and their adult offspring who lived with them, Isobel and John.

Once a week for the first three months of the their journey, Ethel wrote a letter

to Mary, to ‗Baby‘, or sometimes to both girls, a total of twenty-one letters. In addi-

tion, their father Robert wrote to the girls on two occasions.

In Europe, Robert and Ethel sometimes travelled together. In France they vis-

ited old acquaintances and in Switzerland, Ethel was able to visit the principal of her

old finishing school. Together they visited Robert‘s relations in Armagh and Dublin.

At other times when Robert was pursuing business interests, Ethel visited old school

2

friends in Cumberland and her own relations in Chesterfield, or spent the days alone

exploring London.

The letters, neatly written on blue note-paper or hotel stationery, were care-

fully saved, I guess by the girls‘ ‗Auntie Isabel,‘ and were filed a blue-black leather

wallet. They were in Mary‘s possession until she died in 1972. I inherited them from

Mary, my grandmother, and although I had only ever glanced at them from time to

time, I had not until recently taken the time to look at them carefully.

As I read these letters a whole world began to unfold for me, a world at the

same time strange and distant, at other times immediately recognisable and familiar.

This world seems distant because the momentous international events of the time

mentioned which great gravity in the letters are now almost forgotten. These include

the two turning points of the Boer War, the siege of Ladysmith and the relief of

Mafeking. There were other events that Robert and Ethel witnessed and wrote home

about which we can only now see in their historical context. For example, Ethel men-

tions with excitement that she saw the Queen Victoria on a visit to Dublin. This was

to be the elderly queen‘s last state visit. In London Ethel travelled on one of the first

buses not drawn by horses but powered by an engine. She complained that ‗there is

such a strong smell of oil‘.

More familiar to us are the remarks about the weather, expression for concern

about the children‘s welfare, the ‗dreadful hunger‘ that Ethel felt for her two deeply

cherished daughters, and the sending of hugs and kisses to the extended family. Ethel

is constantly asking about the day-to-day events back home, commenting on the chil-

dren‘s outings, lessons, minor illnesses and mishaps.

Robert and Ethel McComas

These letters are peopled by a large cast of characters. The central characters are the

children‘s immediate family consisting of their parents and themselves:

‗Mother‘, Ethel Jane McComas (nee Cutts) b.1863, d. 25 Sep 1904, aged 41.

‗Daddy‘, Robert Bond Wesley McComas, b. 2 Aug 1862, Fitzroy, m. 27 Dec

1893, d. 19 Aug 1938. See appendix for biography.

Mary, Isabel Mary McComas, b.29 Sep 1894, d. 10 July 1972. My grand-

mother.

‗Baby‘ (Nancy): Ethel Thorpe McComas, b.25 Nov 1895, d. 29 Nov 1970.

Married Allen Hope Southey (1894-22 Aug 1929) in 1920. This is my Great-

aunt Nancy, whom we called ‗Auntie Nancy Southey‘. She was a bit of a mys-

tery to us as she went to the races, smoked, drank champagne and drove a big

white Jaguar. She was always kind to us and gave us ten shillings each at

Christmas, so of course we remember her fondly.

At the time of this trip, Ethel and Robert were living at ‗Cassilis‘, Albert Street, Au-

burn (now in Hawthorn). By the time of the 1903 census, the family had moved to a

new home at 158 (originally numbered 176?) Barkers Rd, Hawthorn. It was the first

of a string of homes occupied by the family, all of which were called ‗Gresford‘, after

a location in Wales, home of Ethel‘s Jones forebears.

3

Isobel Mary McComas („Mary‟), aged about three years old. Note the photographer‟s

address is very close to the family home in Auburn

4

Left: Albert Street, Auburn, now Hawthorn. Ethel and Robert were living at a prop-

erty called „Cassilis‟ in Albert St in 1900. Right: 158 Barkers Rd, Hawthorn, where

the family lived in 194. See below.

Inscription on reverse: „Mother (Mrs RB McComas) and her sister Mabel Cutts, me

(9) (Mary Ringland Anderson) and my sister (8) (Mrs Alan Southey) 1904, 158 Bark-

ers Road

5

Detail of the preceding photograph: Mary (9), „Baby‟/Nancy (8), Ethel Jane McCo-

mas and her sister Mabel Cutts Poolman, 1904

The second important groups of characters are the large extended families of Robert

and Ethel‘s parents in Melbourne, the McComases and Cutts/Poolmans.

Robert’s Extended McComas Family

*John Wesley McComas (27 Nov 1819 Dublin—1 Nov 1906 Melb) (‗Grandfather‘ in

these letters) married *Jane Isabella Addey (‗Grannie‘) (21 Jan 1832-18 June 1921) in

1855.1 According to IMA‘s family notes, her grandfather JWMcC, an inventor, was

‗very kindly and we adored him… but he was quite hopeless at business‘. Of her

grandmother she says, ‗She had nine children and no money, and was much too busy

and worried to give her family much affection‘ (Lemon 1999: 9-10). Elsewhere IMA

is quoted as saying that Grannie ‗was hard as nails‘. They had the following children.

*Mary Augusta Wesley (‗Auntie Minnie‘) 19 Apr 1856. Married Ebenezer W.

McGavin b. ca 1850, on 9 May 1901. No children. ‗Was taken for some years

by the McComas relatives in Dublin to be educated as a lady should be. She

really ceased to be a member of the family though she probably taught for a

1* Individuals whose names are asterisked are mentioned in these letters.

6

while at Glamorgan, eventually went back to Dublin, trained as a mid-wife

and went to India as a missionary.‘

Anna Wilhelmina Wesley, 26 Apr 1858 at Richmond Reg. VPI 5891. d. 22

May 1929, aged 72 VDI 3928. Inquest 22 May 1929 Influenza and Pneumonia

Ref 576. Burial 24 May 1929 C/E0578 Booroondara. (‗Annie was virtually the

eldest daughter in a difficult family and the burden fell on her and my father

[RBMcC].‘ Worked as a governess, founded Glamorgan school. Had a break-

down, and was ‗put in a mental home when I was two or three…, but none of

us younger ones ever saw her and her name was almost never mentioned‘.

Never married. Died in the Hospital for the Insane, Beechworth.

William Archibald Wesley, 10 Apr 1860-3 June 1929. Married Mary Jane

Galbraith (1864-21 Sep 1939) on 11 Jan 1899. (two children – Cousin Robin)

‗Went to Wesley for two years and then joined the National Bank and spent

most of his life in country banks‘.

Robert Bond Wesley, b. 2 Aug 1863, Bell St Fitzroy (Reg. Collingwood) Reg

VPI 16150. Married Ethel Jane Cutts 1864-25 Sep 1904) on 27 Dec 1893 at

Fitzroy Reg VFI 5751. Died. 19 Aug 1938 at Gresford, Hawthorn, aged 76.

VDI 7703. Burial 20 Aug 1938 C/E 0844 Booroondara.

*Jane Isabella Wesley, b. 26 Sep 1864 at Footscray Reg. VPI 21795. d.14 Oct

1960 at Colac, aged 96 Reg. VDI 31006. (‗Auntie Isobel‘) never married. Ran

Glamorgan School for 60 years. See Lemon 1999. Janet Taylor remembers her

funeral.

Caroline Elizabeth Wesley, b. 5 March 1867 at Footscray. Died of typhoid fe-

ver at Warrnambool, 10 Feb 1893 aged 26 Reg. VPI4145. Burial 13 Feb 1893

C/E 0579 Booroondara. Never married. Isabel‘s ‗favourite sister‘ according to

IMA.

Louisa Theodora Wesley, b. 22 Sep 1869 at Footscray Reg. VPI 22320. Mar-

ried Dr Robert Bindon Stoney (28 Jun 1866—9 Nov 1914) on 18 July 1893 at

Footscray VFI 4011. Admitted to a home 26 June 1900 (but rumoured at this

time to have died) but actually died 6 Jan 1952 at Orange aged 78 (four chil-

dren, some of whom attended Glamorgan, brought up by ‗Auntie Isobel‘?)

*John Wesley, b. 7 Mar 1873 at Footscray Reg. VPI 9356. Married Margot

Estelle Hodges (b 1890 Geelong – Brewing family). d. 29 Jan 1953 at N.

Caulfield aged 79 Reg. VDI 1250. Margaret Dorothea McComas‘ (i.e. Cousin

Pegg‘s) father. ‗Uncle Jack‘

Archibald Francis Wesley, b. 26 May 1876 at Melbourne Reg. VPI 17631.

Died of mastoid (an infection of the brain) 20 Sep 1891 at Toorak (Re. Ar-

madale) Reg. VPI 8781, aged 15, ‗a blow from which Isabel never really re-

covered‘ according to IMA. Burial 22 Sep 1891 C/E 0579 Booroondara.

Sources: large printout dated 1994 of JW McComas‘ descendants in my possession –

origin unknown. Additional notes from IMA‘s account of family history in Andrew

Lemon‘s The pride of Miss McComas: 111 years of preparatory education at Geelong

Grammar Glamorgan (Geelong Grammar School, Corio, 1999).

7

McComas family portrait, ca. 1880, approximate ages in brackets. Back: Robert (17),

Minnie (24), Isabel (16), Annie (22), Will (20). Front: Louisa (11), Caroline (13),

Jack (7), Archie (4).

In 1903 JW McComas, his wife Jane, and two of their children, Jessie Isabel McCo-

mas (‗Auntie Isabel‘) and John Wesley McComas (‗Uncle Jack‘) were living at 25

Wallace Ave, Toorak. (Victorian Electoral Roll)

Left: 23 Wallace Avenue, Toorak. Home of Mary and Nancy‟s grandparents, where

they stayed while their parents were in Europe. Right: 17 Queens Road, South Mel-

bourne. Home of the Poolman family in early 1900s

8

Ethel’s Extended Cutts Family

Ethel was the fourth child and second daughter of a prominent early Melbourne medi-

cal practitioner William Henry Cutts (25 Dec 1828-3 Jul 1897) and his wife Jane nee

Thorpe (see appendix for biography). They had eleven children all but one of whom

survived childhood. The following information about Ethel and her siblings is drawn

from Jane Cutts‘ death certificate and other sources as indicated:

John Frederick Thorpe Cutts, b. ca.1859 (grazier, Poowong, 1903 Census)

William Henry Cutts, 1860-1894 (Vic death cert)

*Mary Elizabeth Cutts, 1862-1937, married Frederick William Poolman,

1884, ‗Auntie Mary‘

*Ethel Jane Cutts, 1863 –1904, ‗Mother‘

Edgar Holehouse Cutts, 1866-1926 (never married, bank manager 168 Chapel

St Prahan, according to 1909-24 censuses – corner of Victoria St, just S of

High St – now Radio Rentals)

Herbert, b. ca.1869-1948

*Ellen Ruth, b. ca. 1870-1927 (never married, home duties, 168 Chapel St

Prahran, 1909-24 census), ‗Auntie Nellie‘

*Elfrida, b. 1873-1942 (married Herbert Lindsay Buzzard, 1897, accountant,

living at 61 Victoria Rd, Hawthorn, 1903 census), ‗Auntie Elfie‘

*Mabel Annie, b ca. 1875 (home duties, 164 Chapel St, Prahran, 1903 Cen-

sus), ‗Auntie May‘

Arthur Melbourne, b and d. 1875

Alba Rutherford, b ca 1879-1932. married Ernest Arthur Leviny, draftsman,

20 Victoria Rd, Camberwell, (Vic census 1909-31)

Ethel maintained close relationships with many of her brothers and sisters and their

spouses. Her older sister Mary, who married Fred Poolman, had a family (the ‗Pool-

man cousins‘ with whom Ethel and Robert‘s two daughters Mary and Nancy spent

much time. Mary probably acted as the girls‘ second mother after Ethel‘s death. I

have a note from my aunt Anne Elisabeth Morson that states that ‗Auntie Mary‘ ‗was

very special to Mummy‘, ie. IMA, the little Mary of these letters.

Ethel‘s elder sister Mary married Frederick William Poolman in 1884, and they had

nine children:

Ethel Mary Cutts Poolman (b ca 1885. married Reginald ‗Val‘ Clarke 1907)

(‗I had a wonderful six months with them on their farm at Warrigal [when] I

got sick at Stonnington [and] Mummy had a miscarriage.‘ Note from Anne

Elisabeth Morson.)

Ruve Cutts Poolman (b ca 1887, married Kingsley Anketell Henderson, archi-

tect)

*Mabel Cutts Poolman (1889-?)

Fredrick William Cutts Poolman (1890-1891)

Jean Cutts Poolman (1892-1893)

*Elfrida Cutts Poolman (1894-1978, married Dennis Owston Reeson, civil en-

gineer, 1924: 60 Sutherland Rd, Armadale. 1931 and 1936, Elfrida at ‗Ruf-

ford‘ 11 Myamyn St, Malvern). Known as ‗Cousin Frida‘. Newell Everill‘s

mother, ‗very special‘, according to note from Anne Elisabeth Morson. Cousin

9

Frida was almost the same age as the little Mary of these letters. I remember

hearing of Cousin Freda.

Belinda Cutts Poolman (1896-1962). Known as ‗Linda‘. ‗Catholic. Not mar-

ried. Influenced your Mum [Mary Nairne Taylor nee Anderson] [who]

couldn‘t become Catholic while [her] grandfather [Joseph Ringland] Anderson

was alive. She said this.‘ (Note from Anne Elisabeth Morson).

*Helen Cutts Poolman (1899-?), ‗Baby Helen‘

Fredrick William Cutts Poolman (1904-1939, according to 1931-36 census, no

occupation, ‗Rufford‘, Myamyn St., Malvern)

(This information is mostly from Mary Elizabeth (Cutts) Poolman‘s death certificate,

16 July 1937, and Vic BDMs)

In 1903, Frederick (listed in the census as a ‗sugar-refiner‘) and Mary Poolman were

living at 17 Queens Rd, South Melbourne (SE corner of Albert and Queens, seemap

above) (Vic. electoral roll). In 1919-1924 their daughters Belinda, Elfrida and Helen

lived at ‗Rufford‘, Arthur Street.

Other individuals

A third group of important individuals were members of Robert and Ethel‘s parents‘

extended families in England and Ireland. Robert and Ethel‘s parents had all emi-

grated to Australia as young people in their twenties and thirties in the 1850s, fifty

years previously. Robert and Ethel were still in close contact with uncles, aunts and

cousins in the ‗old country‘.

Finally there are the many minor parts played by other travellers whom they met on

the voyage, notably the French families who were based in Australia, and who like

Robert, were involved in the wool trade. Others include Ethel‘s old friends and ac-

quaintances from her school days in Switzerland.

10

Itinerary

Along with the letters in the black satchel was the itinerary of the journey in Ethel‘s

hand:

Feb 22 Left Melbourne

24 Reached and left Adelaide

27 Reached and left Albany

Mar 8 Reached Colombo

10 Left Colombo

19 Went through the Canal

20 Reached and left Port Said

24 Reached Marseille

26 Went to Mazaust (?)

28 Returned to Marseille

28 Left Marseille and reached Lyon

29 Reached Lausanne

Apr 1 Left Lausanne

2 Reached Paris

3 Left Paris arrived in London

9 Left London arrived in Leeds

10 Left Leeds went to Armathwaite

11 Returned to Leeds

12 Left Leeds for Ireland...

13 Reached Belfast and Armagh

14 Left Armagh reached Dublin

17 Left Dublin reached London

21 Left London reached Chesterfield

26 Left Chesterfield reached London

27 Left London

28 Reached Lille

May 7 Left Lille reached London

25 Left London

25 Reached Bradford

28 Left Bradford reached London

30 Left London reached Aire

June 1 Left Aire reached Verviers

2 Left Verviers reached Paris

16 Left Paris reached Marseilles

17 Left Marseilles

21 Reached Port Said

11

Le Polynésien’

The McComas family sailed on the French ship, ‗Le Polynésien‘. Here are some facts

and figures, followed by a little history.

Length: 152 metres. Gross Tonnage: 6659 tons. Displacement: 10300 tons.

Passengers: 172 First Class, 71 Second Class, 109 Third Class, 234 "Rationnaires"

Propulsion: 1 Steam Engine, heated 12 coal boilers allowing a speed or 17.5 knots.

The Polynesien was built for "La Compagnie des Messageries Maritimes" at La Ciotat

in France like her sister ships "Australien", "Armand Behic" and "Ville De La Ciotat".

The ships were quickly recognisable by their length, low profile on the water, and by

their double funnels painted black. The ships were painted white between 1895 and

1905. Le Polynesien was launched on the 18th April 1890 by Marie Francois Sadi

Carnot, President of the Republic of France. In 1891 it started operating between

France and Australia, through the Suez Canal. In 1903 they changed her route and op-

erated between France and the Far East mainly transporting passengers to the French

Colonies. In 1914 it operated towards Australia and New Caledonia, before being dis-

patched back to Europe. On the 10th August 1918 she was hit by a torpedo from the U

Boot UC22 and sank 7 miles outside the entrance of Valletta Grand Harbour – Malta,

10 people lost their lives. It lies at a depth of 60 metres.

Sources: http://www.es-conseil.fr/pramona/polynes.htm and

http://www.marinefoundation.org/wreckspolynesien.htm (accessed 1 Jan 2008) On the 10th August 1918 she was hit by a Torpedo from the U Boot UC22 and sank 7 miles outside the entrance of Valletta Grand Harbour – Malta, 10 people lost their lives. It lies at a depth of 60 metres.

12

TheThe

The dining salon of Le Polynesien

Abbreviations

IMA Isabel Mary Anderson (nee McComas) (‗Mary‘)

EJMcC Ethel Jane McComas (‗Mother‘)

RBMcC Robert Bond Wesley McComas (‗Daddy‘)

13

Letters home to Australia, 1900

Alexander‘s S.A. Hotel, Adelaide, and Laros Pier Hotel

Saturday morning [24 Feb 1900]

My dear little Mary

The great big ship brought us safely to Adelaide but it rolled about so much that little

Mother was very sick. I was waked up in the middle of the night by something kissing

me and when I opened my eyes I saw Daddy. We got up at six o‘clock this morning

and a little boat brought us to the railway station where we got into a train and came

into Adelaide. We are just going to have some breakfast and then I am going to see

Freda and Lorna while Daddy goes to the office.2 There are two French babies on

board Suzette Carette and Violette Prenat and poor little Violette was so sick yester-

day that she cried all day.3 You won‘t fret after Mother, will you darling! I miss you

and little sister dreadfully, but the time will soon pass and before very long you will

be waiting on the pier for Mother‘s ship to come home. Kiss little sister for me and

tell her I hope she will be very good to Anna and not be a trouble to Grannie.4

Goodbye darling,

Your loving mother,

Ethel J. McComas

Port Adelaide c. 1906 (http://www.samemory.sa.gov.au/, accessed 1 Jan 2008)

2 Freda could be EJMcC‘s younger sister Elfrida (b. ca. 1873), I don‘t know who Lorna is.

3 Suzette‘s father was almost certainly Eugene Carette, wool-buyer, of 17 Loftus St, Sydney (1901) and

2 Forsyth St, Glebe (1900, 1901), Sands Directory. Her mother is Marie. Madeleine was born in 1897,

Suzanne (sic) in 1898 and young Eugene in 1900, all in Glebe (NSW BDMs). We will see more of the

Carette family below. Violette Prenat – I cannot find Violette, but a baby Prenat, Marie Helene was

born to Phillipe Prenat and his wife Marie Jeanne Mart (nee Delbrut) in Victoria in 1895 (Vic BDM).

Prenat was the manager of Picard Goulet Fils woolbrokers, 39-41 Pitt St, Sydney (1902 Sands direc-

tory). He is also listed as Prenat and Fils, woolbuyers, of Reiby Lane Sydney (1915-1917). 4 Anna appears to be the children‘s nurse.

14

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15

Wm Haughton and Co

Offices: 507 Collins Street

Stores: 278-282 Spencer Street, Melbourne

Adelaide S.A.

Broken Hill, N.S.W.

7 March 1900

My dear Baby

Mother and I are getting near Colombo, where we can post this letter to you so I am

writing to let you know that we are all right. There are three French boys on board and

four little French girls. The smallest is Suzanne Carette who is only 18 months old but

you would love her as she is very good and always happy. She cannot talk but if you

ask her to show you her nose or hair or anything like that she can do it. Don't you

think her clever? Her sister Madeline is three and very good too but she is shy and

does not make friends with me. There is another baby girl named Violette who is very

friendly with me but the sea and the heat make her cross and the other passengers

don't love her so much as the good little Suzanne.

There has been nothing round our big ship but water until today when we saw

another ship which came close to us and sent up flags to tell us that Ladysmith was

relieved.5

It is very hot in the ship and I think that you and Mary are much happier with

Grannie than you would be here, even if Anna was here to take care of you. Tell Mary

that Mother and I love you two babies better [...] and we hope you are both good

sweet little girls who are no trouble to Anna or anyone else. This is Uncle Jack‘s

birthday and so I cannot be there to wish him many happy returns.6 I hope that my

little daughter has done it for me.

Goodbye little daughter,

Yours lovingly

R.B.McComas

5 The Dutch siege of British troops at Ladysmith was a major event in the Boer War. The relief took

place on 28 February 1900. 6 John Wesley McComas, Solicitor. (b. 7 March 1873, d. 1952 – Pegg McComas‘s father). This day

was his 27th birthday. He was living with JW McComas in Wallace Ave Toorak at this time.

16

Polynésien

Wednesday 8th [March 1900 – Wed was actually 7 March]

Dear Little Mary

We will be at Colombo tomorrow night so I am going to write you a little letter today

to have it ready in plenty of time. The sea is as calm as possible and everybody has

done with sea-sickness. The little French children are playing on deck as happy as lit-

tle bees and they have all sorts of pretty toys to amuse themselves with. We have seen

nothing but sea for days, not even another ship and I shall be very glad to get on to

land again for a change. I wish you were here to see the flying fishes. They rise out of

the water and fly along the top of it for quite a long way. Did you know that fishes

could fly sometimes? Mother would love to have her two dear little daughters some-

times. The other little girlies make her dreadfully hungry for them but she knows they

are much better off where they are. The weather is very warm now and the cabins get

so hot at night, and very often the children can‘t sleep. One little girlie called Violette

cries a great deal. I can‘t write any more now as I have quite a lot of letters to get

through, but I will send another letter as soon as the ship stops again. Give a great big

kiss to Auntie Minnie for me and say I hope she is much better.7 Love dear little sister

for me and don‘t forget to remember me to Mary and Anna.8

Your loving mother

7 ‗Aunt Minnie‘ is Mary August Wesley McComas (b. 19 Apr 1856 Melb. m. 9 May 1901 in India

Ebenezer W. McGavin - no issue). She was RBMcC‘s oldest sister. Census of England 1881: Ebenezer

William McGavin: born about 1859, Victoria. Father: William Baxter McGavin, mother: Margaret

Ann. Occupation, in 1881: Australian merchant‘s clerk. Residence: 4 Waverley Grv, Hendon, Middle-

sex. 8 I assume that Mary, like Anna, is the children‘s nurse.

17

Polynésien

Sunday 18 March

My own dear little Nancy

It is your turn to have a letter from Mother isn‘t it? Daddy is going to write to Mary. I

wish you could see all the little children on board now and hear all the different lan-

guages they talk. You would be surprised. There are two little girls about your age

and instead of wearing dressed they run about in pyjamas with big frills around their

necks and they don‘t even know they look fancy. Then there are two babies, seven

months and one year, one a baby girl and the other a baby boy and they have each

queer looking nurses. They have long wide black trousers covered with a shirt like

Daddy‘s only longer and not starched and their teeth are dyed black and instead of

hats they wear a piece of black cloth wound round their heads.9 They seem very fond

of the babies, but I don‘t think you would like to change your Anna for one of them.

Daddy put you and Mary into the sweep the other day and you won seven shil-

lings but Mary didn‘t win anything. I am sure she won‘t mind as she has got more

money than you. Daddy also bought a ticket for little Eugene Carette and he won sev-

enty francs, wasn‘t he a luck little boy? Auntie Kate [?] will tell you what a ‗sweep‘

is, it would take Mother too long.

We have had some very good sports on the deck but I think I had better leave

them for Mary‘s letter or Daddy will have nothing to tell her. Goodbye little daughter.

Mother thinks about you everyday. I hope you are taking great care of Grannie and

Grandfather for Daddy.10

Give everybody plenty of kisses and be a big strong girlie

when I come back,

Your loving mother

Ethel J. McComas

9 On tooth-blackening in Vietnam, see http://www.thingsasian.com/stories-photos/1296

10 ‗Grannie‘ and ‗Grandfather‘ are respectively Jane Isabella McComas (nee Addey, b.21 Jan 1832

Portadown, Co Armagh, d. 1921 Melb) and John Wesley McComas (b. 27 November 1819 Dublin, d. 1

Nov 1906 Melb).

18

Colombo Harbour 1906 (http://www.es-conseil.fr/ l accessed 1 Jan 2008)

Gulf of Suez

19 March 1900

My dear little Mary

We have been on the sea now some days without hearing from anywhere though we

have seen a number of ships. Mother and I would like to see you and Nancy for a little

while soon and hope that you have been all well and that you have been good happy

little girls.

Thursday night we had a fancy dress ball and day and we had sports for ladies,

boys and men but did not win any prizes, which were mostly bottles of spirits or

champagne. At night some Congolese who were going to the Paris Exhibition danced

a very wonderful dance to the tune of tom-toms, but it was not pretty.11

The fancy

dress ball was much nicer and the only big girl in this class was dressed as ‗Pierette‘

just like Maman (?) Pierette in Auntie Isobel‘s book.12

M. Crourant the Second Com-

missaire was dressed as Pierrot and danced very nicely.

We have a lot of children on board now but some cannot speak to others.

Some speak Dutch, some French, some Japanese and some Spanish. We have two

Japanese princes on board and one Malay gentleman with a dark face. When we get to

Suez we expect to see a lot of black people ashore but the ladies have their faces cov-

ered up.

11

Exposition Universelle, 14 April-10 November 1900, ‗which mounted enormous ethnographic exhi-

bitions including ―re-creations‖ of Dahomean and Congolese villiage...‘ Pinder, K.N. 2002. Race-ing

art History. Routledge. 12

‗Auntie Isabel‘ is Jane Isabella Wesley McComas, RBMcC‘s sister, younger by two years (b. 26 Sept

1864)

19

Goodbye little Mary

Your loving father

R.B.McComas

Little Mother went as ‗Dolly Mayflower‘.13

She had a short dress and a lot of flowers

on it and she danced all the evening and seemed to enjoy it. You would have loved to

see her. The other ladies and gentlemen on board were in fancy dress and I went as

the ‗ship‘s games‘. There was a cotillion for which the dancers got little bows of rib-

bon and other presents and Mother is keeping hers for you and Nancy.14

Saturday was St Patrick‘s.

Left: „Their teeth are dyed black and instead of hats they wear a piece of black cloth

wound round their heads .‟ Vietnamese girl with blackened teeth

(http://www.anthropologieenligne.com 9 Jan 2008) . Right „Pierette‟

13

Dolly Mayflower, a character in a 1829 ‗nautical melodrama‘ by Jerrold, entitled ‗Black-eyed

Susan‘. 14

Cotillion: 1. a formal ball given esp. for debutantes. 2. a lively French social dance originating in the

18th century, consisting of a variety of steps and figures and performed by couples. 3. any of various

dances resembling the quadrille. 4. music arranged or played for these dances. 5. a formalized dance

for a large number of people, in which a head couple leads the other dancers through elaborate and

stately figures. (dictionary.com)

20

"Port Said, Steamer Traversing the Suez Canal." (Cairo Postcard Trust, n.d). 5.25"x

3.5". (http://timea.rice.edu/ accessed 9 January 2008)

Suez Canal, 1894–1895. Sir Francis Boileau (1830–1900) Photograph album of the

Boileau family‟s voyage from England to Australia in 1894–1895

(http://www.nla.gov.au/, accessed 9 Jan 2008)

21

Grand Hotel des Phocéens15

Isnard16

Marseille

Monday 26 March

Dear little Mary

I really forget whose turn it is but if I am making a mistake I am sure little sister will

forgive me. Daddy and I are having a simply gorgeous time and are both as well as

possible. We got to Marseille at half past ten on Saturday morning but the people here

were afraid we might have seeds of the bubonic plague on board and they sent a lot of

men dressed all in white like millers to fumigate our luggage and we were not allowed

to come ashore until half past four in the afternoon.17

I didn‘t mind waiting as it was a

beautiful, bright day and the view of the Gulf of Lyons beautiful but most of the pas-

sengers had relatives waiting for them that they had not seen for years, and it was very

hard for them to have to wait so long.

I cannot describe this town to you very well as you have never seen anything

in the least like it but I hope next time Daddy and I are here you will be with us. The

streets or at least most of them are very narrow and the houses are all as high as the

big buildings in Collins Street. The bottom part is reserved for shops and people live

in the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th floors. We spent yesterday with Mr and Mrs Battenbach

and they live right at the top of a high building where there is no lift and every time

their little girl, who is twenty months old, goes out for a walk she has to come down

all those steps.18

Yesterday morning we went to a church built on the top of a very high rock

called Notre Dame de la Garde and we went up the side of it in a sort of lift. It looked

very dangerous but the people said there were never any accidents so we felt quite

safe. It was very windy there but we had the most wonderful view of the Gulf and the

town, which I shall never forget. I wish I could show you our fancy comfy little rooms

here. We have a little sitting room full of long mirrors with three doors opening out of

it, one into a little square piece with just room enough for two beds and a little table

between, another into a tiny strip of a room with a wash stand at the end and which

they call a ‗dressing room‘, and the third into a similar strip where there are pegs for

hanging clothes.

The little Carettes went off by the Paris train on Saturday night, and Daddy

and I went to the station to say goodbye to them and some of the other passengers. I

felt very sorry for them as they did not leave until after eight and they were so sleepy

and cold. Little Violette did not go until this morning. Last night she said to Daddy,

15 ―Before leaving the subject of Marseilles and its cookery and restaurants, let me record the verdict

of a true gourmet and Englishman who always lives the winter through in Marseilles. He writes me that

in Marseilles itself there are no restaurants worthy of the name, the best being Isnard's (Hotel des Pho-

ceens), Rue Thubaneau.‖ Newnham-Davis, N., and Bastard, A. 1903. The gourmet‟s guide to Europe.

London: Grant (http://infomotions.com/etexts/gutenberg/dirs/1/8/8/5/18854/18854.htm) 16

For information about the proprietor, chef and author, Leon Isnard, see http://www.editions-

gandini.com/reftitre-3988.html 17

Known as the Third Pandemic, bubonic plague broke out in China in 1855. It spread through Asia,

through Hawaii to the US and reached Australia in 1900. The fumigation was part of a concerted effort

to keep Europe plague-free. 18

I have found a Herman (or Harman or Hermann) Bartenbach, born in about 1857, residence Mar-

seille (http://www.ellisislandrecords.org)

22

‗Bon soir Mas‘, and Mas was very sorry to part with her. They were great friends on

board. I was nearly forgetting to tell you that you won a second prize in the sweep a

day or two before we left, so you and Baby have one each now. I think we will leave

here today, either for Monte Carlo or Magameit (sp?). I am very anxious to see the

first, but Daddy does not know yet if he can spare the time to go there.

Goodbye my own dear little daughter. Give our love to everyone and kiss the little

sister a great many times.

Your loving mother

Location of Grand Hotel des Phocéens, Isnard, Marseille.

23

Left: “The streets or at least most of them are very narrow and the houses are all as

high as the big buildings in Collins Street.” Marseilles ca. 1900. “Un coin de la Rue

Boulerie” (http://www.familles.com/ accessed 9 Jan 2008) Right: Pedestrian lift at

Notre Dame de la Garde, Marseilles. “Yesterday morning we went to a church built

on the top of a very high rock called Notre Dame de la Garde and we went up the side

of it in a sort of lift.”

View over Marseilles from Notre dame de la Garde 1912 (http://www.marseille-

images.net/p-train.html accessed 9 Jan 2008)

24

Hotel Gibbon, Lausanne

Emile Ritter, Proprietaire

30 March 1900

Dearest little Nancy

We have been today to see the house where mother was at school and you never saw

such a funny big place as it is. It is very old and is just being made into a boys‘ school

so you will not be able to go there, but Mother hopes to bring you here in about ten

years so that you can learn French also. It is cold here and has snowed a great deal but

we don't feel it much and it looks very nice falling and in the mountains some early

wildflowers are out now but the trees have no leaves yet but soon will have them.

Mother and I think of you and Mary many times a day and hope you are happy,

healthy, good little daughters. Kiss Grandfather and Grandmother and the aunties and

uncles for us.

Your loving Daddy

RB McComas

Hotel Gibbon, Lausanne (http://www3.dfj.vd.ch)

25

Hotel Gibbon, Lausanne (http://www3.dfj.vd.ch) „This hotel was constructed in Lau-

sanne in 1839, not far from the site of La Grotte, the villa in which Gibbon

completed his famous Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire.... The Hotel Gibbon in

Lausanne ceased to operate in 1920. The building has now become the head-quarters

of the Societe du Banque Suisse.‟ ( http://www.nzarh.org.nz/journal/2004v77n1aut.pdf).

From „What‟s doing in Lausanne‟ (1984): “Start out at the railroad station, walking

north up the Rue de Petit Chene. At No. 3 note the faded sign ''Hotel Gibbon'' on a

Victorian building that is no longer a hostelry” (http://query.nytimes.com/).

Lausanne, Switzerland in about 1900 (http://www.deutsche-schutzgebiete.de/)

26

RB McComas‘ letter to Nancy from Lausanne, 30 March 1900

27

Howard Hotel

4 April 1900

Dear little Nancy

Since I last wrote to Mary I have been to so many places that I hardly know where to

begin. We left Marseille last Wednesday – just a week ago – for Switzerland and after

staying the night at Lyon, where they make a great many of the silks you see in the

Melbourne shops we reached Lausanne on Thursday afternoon. After lunching at the

hotel we drove to see Madame Heali, the lady who kept the school where Mother

learned to speak French.19

She has built a beautiful boarding school and there are fifty

boarders all of whom we saw at the dinner table that day. We had bottled myrtilles

[bilberries] because Madame remembered that Mother used to be very fond of them.

Wasn‘t it good of her?

It was very cold in Lausanne, so cold that there icicles hanging from the foun-

tains in the streets and the snow fell several times during our stay. We only spent

three days there, then went to Paris in a very quick train. It took us from eight in the

evening until nine in the morning, wasn‘t that a long journey?

You would love the sweet shops in Paris. They have beautiful lollies here that

we don't see in Melbourne and just now the windows are full of dainty, tinted lolly

eggs and chocolate fishes of all sizes. You ask Auntie Isabel to tell you about easter

eggs and April fishes. We got to London the next day and when we came to this hotel

we found some people here who travelled with us from Melbourne. They have such a

dear little boy about nine called Leslie and he is very busy collecting London omnibus

tickets of which he has already six match boxes full.

Daddy has gone to see some gentlemen on business and I am longing for him

to come back as he will have some news of my babies. You have had letters from

Mother every week but poor little Mother hasn‘t heard a word of her little girlies since

she left Adelaide nearly six weeks ago.

Plenty of love to dear Grannie, Grandfather and all the aunties, uncles and

cousins, and be sure to kiss that dear baby Helen for me.20

Goodbye my own baby

girl,

Your loving mother

Norfolk St, Westminster, location of the Howard Hotel, The Pocket Atlas & Guide To

London 1900 (http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/). Norfolk St no longer exists.

19

Who is Mde Heali and where did Ethel go to school? 20

Baby Helen: Helen Cutts Poolman, b ca 1899. Daughter of Mary Poolman, EJMcC‘s elder sister.

28

Howard Hotel21

5 April 1900

My own little daughter

I only meant to write to baby sister this week, but I got your first letter written more

than five weeks ago yesterday so I am going to answer it. I am so glad to hear that you

were able to wear an overall for two whole days. You must be getting a careful girl as

you used to call yourself and it will be a great help to Anna if you don't give her a lot

of clothes to wash.

When Father and I were in Paris we were looking out for dolls for you and

Baby. We saw ever so many that you would love I am sure. We did not buy any as we

are going back again and they would only get crushed and unhappy shut up in boxes

for such a long time.

I hope you like the postcards we sent you from the different places. I think

next week I will send you and Baby each one with a picture of the hotel we are stay-

ing at instead of a letter and then you will be able to show the cousins where Auntie

Ethel lived. London is a great big city, ever so much bigger than Melbourne and there

are so many cabs and vehicles of all descriptions that I think you would be quite

frightened in the streets. There are a lot of such nice policemen who take great care of

the people and make the cabs wait until they cross over to the other side. I saw Eirene

and Viola‘s father yesterday but I do not think I shall see them until my next visit to

London as their mother is going to Paris tomorrow and when she comes back I think

we will have left.22

I am so glad to hear you are getting on well at school and I am

very proud of my little girlie‘s letter. I look at you and Baby every day. I am always

thinking of you coming to meet us at the boat.

Goodbye my darling

Your loving Mother

(The letter inside is for Auntie Isabel and the other half of it is in Baby‘s envelope.)

21

Howard Hotel, Norfolk St, Strand, according to the London Telephone Directory 1900. 22

Later we learn that their surname was Robinson. 1901 Census data: Lional G Robinson, born Ceylon,

stockbroker; his wife Mary A., 35, daughters Viola M., 10; and Eirene 8; all born in Australia. They

lived in Prince […] Road, Hampstead, London. From Australian BDMs, we find Lionel George Robin-

son, b ca. 1866, Mary Annie James, b ca 1864. The girls were born at Beaconsfield Rd, Hawthorn,

which is just across the park from the McComas‘ family‘s home in Albert St Auburn. Eirene was born

in 1892, just two years older than Mary. I imagine Eirene and Viola were friends whom they met in the

park or at the local church. Viola married someone named Evans of St George Hanover Square in

1916. Eirene married a Mr Brockbank in Weyland, Norfolk, in 1917.

29

Howard Hotel, Norfolk Street, Westminster, Greater London

Caption: Interior of the drawing room. Date Taken: Sep 1898.

(http://viewfinder.english-heritage.org.uk/)

Howard Hotel, Norfolk

Street, Westminster,

Greater London. „I quite

feel that this hotel is our

home now. We always go

back there when we return

to London.‟

Date of photograph: 4 Jun

1895.

(http://viewfinder.english-

heritage.org.uk/)

30

Howard Hotel, Norfolk Street, Westminster, Greater London. Caption: Interior of the

sitting room showing table, piano and fireplace Date Taken: Sep 1898

(http://viewfinder.english-heritage.org.uk/)

Howard Hotel, Norfolk Street, Westminster, Greater London. Caption: Interior of the

smoking room. Date Taken: Sep 1898. http://viewfinder.english-heritage.org.uk/

31

Above and below: „There are so many cabs and vehicles of all descriptions that I

think you would be quite frightened in the streets.‟ London traffic 1900

(http://www.viewimages.com/)

32

Great Northern Hotel, Leeds, 12 April 1900

Dear Mary and Baby

You will have to be satisfied with a letter between you this time as Mother has several

letters to write and not much time to write them in. We left London on Monday after-

noon and got to Leeds in a very fast train the same eveningit was such a comfort-

able one with a very nice dining car were we had a good hot dinner, all cooked on the

train.

On Tuesday morning I left Daddy and went a long way in the train by myself

right to Cumberland. I stayed with the Dixons who live in a large home called Ar-

mathwaite Hall and they took me for a lovely drive in a cart like Auntie Mary‘s only

with red wheels.23

I would love to have had my girlies with me to show them the

beautiful country. I think you and Baby would have very rosy cheeks if you lived

there, but I am afraid you would find the winter too cold for little Australians. Some-

times there is so much snow that one can‘t go out for a walk at all.

Mother was at school in Switzerland with Miss Dixon and two of her sisters so

we had long talks about the funny things we used to do there.24

Miss Dixon‘s niece,

also a little Mary, was staying with them, such a sweet wee mite with golden hair,

pink cheeks and blue eyes. She is only two years old but she talks very distinctly and

was very interested when I told her all about my little girls far away in Australia. I

only remained at Armathwaite until Wednesday evening and then Miss Dixon drove

me to the station in another cart called a village cart. We have only a few in Mel-

bourne but Grannie knows the kind quite well and will be able to tell you what they

are like. It was raining so we had a great big umbrella, the largest I have ever seen,

which covered the cart all over and kept us as dry as possible.

I did not get into Leeds until nine o‘clock that evening after spending three

hours in the train all by myself and I was very glad to find Daddy waiting for me on

the station. I think we are going back to London today, but Daddy hasn‘t made up his

mind yet. I had a letter from my cousin Will this morning (Auntie Lou‘s {sp?}

brother) asking us to go and stay at Spital Lodge the week after next as they are going

for the Easter holidays today. Goodbye my dear little daughters. I don't think I shall

see you until July as Daddy has too much to do to be able to get home in June. I think

plenty of you every day.

Your loving Mother

I have forgotten the postcards with the hotel I promised you but I left them in London

and will send them later on.

23

Ethel‘s sister, Mary Poolman.

24 The 1901 Census lists George H Dixon (72) Land agent, his wife Ella (58), daughters Daisy (28),

Aimee (25) and Constance (22) and four servants living at Armathwaite hall. The 1881 Census indi-

cates that they had another son Walter G.B. and daughter Alice. B. Dixon. Alice was 18 in 1881, and

therefore was born in about 1863, the same year as EJMcC – this is undoubtedly her old school friend.

Alice was not listed at Armathwaite Hall in 1891, as she was visiting the Rectory in the village of

Wetheral, nor is she is listed in the 1901 census. I guess that she married and changed her name. Wal-

ter: ―Deaths: DIXON-About March 26, in the Mafungabuzi district, Matabeleland, killed by natives

during the rising, Wastel [should be Walter] George Brisco, only son of G. H. Dixon, Armathwaite

Hall, Cumberland, aged 27.‖ (Sources: South Africa Magazine: Domestic Announcements 28 Novem-

ber 1896, http://archiver.rootsweb.com/)

33

Armethwaite Hall

„I stayed with the Dixons who live in a large home called Armathwaite Hall‟. Ar-

mathwaite Hall – lots of photos here: http://www.armathwaite-hall.com/

Wellesley Hotel, Leeds, formerly

the Great Northern Hotel

http://www.archsearch.co.uk

“Wellesley Hotel in Leeds closes.

The Great Northern Hotel, as it

was originally known, stood next

to Leeds Central station, which

closed in 1967. This high-

Victorian pile opened in 1869 and

made headlines in 1906 when it

was severely damaged by fire....

The hotel was a favourite with

businessmen and travellers in my

Grandad's day, but was sold in

1952 and thereafter it sadly and

gradually drifted downhill. Sic

transit gloria, etc. Neil Wooler”

http://findarticles.com

34

“Miss Dixon drove me to the station in another cart called a village cart. We have

only a few in Melbourne but Grannie knows the kind quite well and will be able to tell

you what they are like.” Village cart (http://www.dotnet.com/~lignite/cc23.jpg).

Howard Hotel

Friday 20 April

Dear little Mary

Mother did not get any letter from her little daughter this week but she heard from

Grannie that her girlies are both well. I am glad you are so fond of the school rooms.25

You will soon be able to read and then when Mother is back and gets tired you will be

able to read to her while she lies down. Then you will be a useful girl, won‘t you!

Daddy and I have been in Ireland where Grannie and Grandfather were born,

and we were in the house where Grannie lived when she was a little girl. I don‘t think

she was any bigger than little sister when she went there. We also saw her brother,

your great-uncle,26

and we showed him the photograph of his little grand-nieces. I

wonder if you can guess who they are. Grannie‘s home is in Armagh, and after we

had been there we went to Dublin where a lot of Grandfather‘s relatives live. Mother

saw twenty-three cousins of Daddy‘s in one day. Wasn‘t that a lot? And they all

seemed very glad to see us and very sorry that we could not stay longer. I have a few

photographs they gave me and of course I showed them the photo of their little—I

don't know what relation you are to them. You will have to ask Auntie Isabel. Tell her

we saw Cousin Carrie and her family, Cousin Henry, his wife and family, and Cousin

Laiw (sp?), his wife and two of their family.27

I must tell you more about them when I

see you, it would take too long now as I have such a number of Australian letters to

write today.

The weather now is beautiful and Mother has such splendid drives on the tops

of great big omnibuses which go all over London. I think we are going to see a num-

ber of the little French children who came from Australia with us next week. Daddy

has to pay a visit to Tourerniz [sp?] where they live and we have spent a week there.

We are coming back to London. Goodbye dear. Daddy and I send you lots of kisses.

Your loving Mother

25

Isabel McComas (‗Auntie Isabel‘) established a school ‗Glamorgan‘ in the McComas family home in

Toorak. See Lemon 1999, The pride of Miss McComas. 26

Brother of Jane Isabella Addey, born in Belfast in 21 Jan 1832. Who is her brother? 27

Who are these McComas cousins? sons/daughters of JW McComas‘ siblings and/or half siblings?

35

‘The weather now is beautiful and Mother has such splendid drives on the tops of

great big omnibuses which go all over London.‟ (www.viewimages.com)

„On Sunday we went to such a funny old church with a very crooked spire. It looks as

though it is just going to topple over.‟ St Mary‟s Chesterfield

(http://viewfinder.english-heritage.org.uk/).

36

Howard Hotel, 20 April 1900

My dear little Nancy

You only got half a letter last week didn‘t you! So you shall have one all to yourself

this time. Since my last letter I have been to Ireland where Grannie and Grandfather

lived long before you were born, and who do you think I saw there? Well, I am sure

you wouldn‘t guess so I will tell youthe Queen, our own Queen of England and

mother was so near to her that she could see her face as distinctly as possible.28

She

was driving slowly in a beautiful carriage drawn by four white, or rather grey, horses

and there were two more being ridden in front, just the same colour. The carriage was

all open and there were two of the princesses, her daughters, with her, and as the peo-

ple cheered the Queen, she and the princesses smiled and waved. I saw her before in

the morning, but I was not near enough to see her face properly. She was driving

about her own grounds in a little low carriage drawn by a white donkey and we saw

her stop to be photographedwasn‘t I lucky to see the Queen twice? She is coming

back to London next week so perhaps I shall see her again but it is not very likely.

Now I can say, ‗I‘ve been to Dublin to see the Queen‘.

I am sorry poor little cousin Helen had a sore arm but I hope it is quite better

by this time. That little boy Leslie I told you about has had a dreadful cold and was in

bed for quite a week. His mother and father have taken a house now, so he went away

yesterday and I was very sorry to say goodbye to him. There aren‘t any more little

children here now.

Goodbye my own dear wee daughter. Give Auntie Minnie a big love from me

and tell her I hope she is quite better now. Daddy and I send plenty of kisses some of

which I want you to give to Freda, Linda and baby Helen.29

Your loving Mother

28

Queen Victoria visited Ireland: ‗April 4 - Queen Victoria arrives at Kingstown and travels to Dublin

where she is greeted by the Lord Mayor and members of the Corporation. April 7 - 52,000 children

greet Queen Victoria at the Phoenix Park in Dublin. (Wiki) This visit was filmed, a very early example

of the new technology. See: http://webtv.imdb.com/title/tt0266871/. A very long contemporary account

of the visit is here: http://www.achart.ca/hibernian/review.html 29

These are the daughters of EJMcC‘s elder sister Mary, i.e. IMMcC and ETMcC‘s cousins: Elfrida

Cutts Poolman b.ca 1894, Belinda Cutts Poolman b. ca 1896, and Helen Cutts Poolman, b ca 1900.

37

“The Queen, our own Queen of England, and Mother was so near to her that she

could see her face as distinctly as possible.” “1900: Queen Victoria in Dublin, Ire-

land. Hand coloured engraving from the Illustrated London News, titled "The Queen

in Dublin: Her Majesty Passing Down Sackville Street in Semi-State." A large crowd

is shown cheering for the Queen as she passes by.”

(www.printsoldandrare.com/ireland/)

Spital Lodge

Chesterfield

25 April

Dear little Mary

Last time I wrote to you I had just come back from seeing all Father‘s cousins in Ire-

land hadn‘t I? Well now I am staying with some of my own cousins. Daddy and I left

London last Saturday afternoon and got here about six o‘clock the same evening, and

we were met at the station by Cousin Will, who is Auntie Lou‘s brother. He drove is

to his house about a mile from the station and his wife Cousin Dora, and their two

daughters, Winnie and Gwen (sp?) were waiting for us.30

They were all very glad to

30

Major success: 1881 Census of England: Township of Hasland, Hamlet of Spital, Chesterfield. Spital

Lodge: William T Jones, head, married, age 35, Solicitor, born Chesterfield. Sarah D. Jones, wife, mar-

ried, age 32, born Clay Cross. Winifred Jones, daughter, age 5, born Chesterfield. Gladys Jones, daugh-

ter, age 3. 1901 Census: William T Jones, age 55, solicitor, alone with a cook at 1 Valley Road. Where

is everyone else? What is the relationship between EJMcC and William T Jones, her ‗Cousin Will?

EJMcC‘s mother was Jane Cutts (nee Thorpe). Jane Thorpe‘s mother was Elizabeth Jones (Abel

Thorpe‘s wife). I guess that William T Jones of that same family. ‗Cousin Dora‘ is Sarah D. Jones,

‗Winnie‘ is Winifred Jones, ‗Gwen‘ is Gladys Jones. In the 1851 Census William T. Jones‘ father is

listed as Thomas Jones (but see also Appendix: Wn Hy Cutts biography!), general practitioner in Ches-

terfield, aged 34, born in North Wales in about 1817. Elizabeth Jones was born in Wales in 1808 ad

was marriedn in Wales in c. 1829. It is likely that ‗Cousin Will‘s‘ father was EJMcC‘s great uncle.

‗Cousin Will‘ is actually EJMcC‘s mother‘s cousin. ‗Auntie Lou‘ is probably Lucy E. Jones, William‘s

younger sister, born about 1855 (See 1861 Census of UK, Derbyshire > Chesterfield > District 14).

Here is a very interesting quote from IMA supplied by Janet Taylor: ‗There were Jones cousins in

Gresford whom Cousin Freda knew. We remember old cousin Lucy Jones when we were little and her

38

see us and had such a lot of questions to ask about Auntie Nellie and Auntie Elfie who

were staying here with Mother twelve years ago when I hadn‘t any little daughters.31

I

showed them your photo which I always carry about with me, and they think Baby

very like me. I must have another on taken of you both when I get home as everybody

wants the one I have, and of course I can‘t spare it.

Daddy went back to London on Monday but I am going to stay here until

Thursday morning. On Sunday we went to such a funny old church with a very

crooked spire. It looks as though it is just going to topple over. I will try and buy a

photograph of the church to show you and Baby. I haven‘t had any news of my two

girlies this week. Daddy promised to send me the Australian letters but they haven‘t

come yet and I am very disappointed. You haven‘t told me how you like your new

frocks. They ought to be very pretty.

On Friday and Saturday we are going away from London and will be in France

for about ten days. They we are coming back again for about a fortnight. Goodbye

little woman. Give my love to Grannie, Grandfather and all the aunties, uncles, cous-

ins and keep plenty of kisses for yourself and Baby,

Yours loving Mother

Location of Chesterfield, England and Spital Lane and Valley Road, Chesterfield. Spi-

tal Lodge occupied the bock bounded by Stanley St, Valley Rd and Spital Lane.

sister Connie [?} in South Africa (an artist) was I think Mother‘s favourite cousin.‘ I had some wonder-

ful communication with Sonia Preece, a Chesterfield family historian. I asked her about Spital Lodge.

She informed me that ‗a Mr Jones shot himself there. Emily Pankhurst visited Mr Jones‘s daughters for

tea, they were suffragettes.‘ It is not clear if these two facts are related. Mrs Pankhurst visited Chester-

filed in April 1910.

(http://graham.thewebtailor.co.uk/archives/000093.html) 31

‗Auntie Nellie‘ and ‗Auntie Elfie‘ are EJMcC‘s younger sisters Ellen Ruth (b. ca. 1870) and Elfrida

(b. ca 1873). If they visited Chesterfield twelve years previously, i.e. in 1888, EJMcC would have been

25, Nellie 18 and Elfie 15.

39

Derbyshire, England 1883. http://www.british-history.ac.uk/

Satellite image of the site of Spital Lodge, Chesterfield

40

Spital Lodge

25 April 1900

Dear little Baby

I haven‘t very much to tell you this week, as I haven‘t been rushing about as I gener-

ally do. I wish you could see your big cousins Winnie and Gwen. They are such sweet

girls and so fond of children. They are good deal older than your other cousins. Win-

nie is twenty-four and Gwen twenty-one or –two. There is a big black cat here which

is a great pet and is allowed to stay in the drawing room as long as he likes. His name

is Black Bry and he hasn‘t a speck of white anywhere. Winnie found him when he

was a tiny kitten all alone on the station so she brought him home and has taken care

of him ever since. Gwen and I went to Sheffield yesterday, a town about twelve miles

from here and we spent the day there looking at the shops, their insides, I mean as it

was nearly night in the streets. I never saw such a dreadful day. You couldn‘t see any

sun and it seemed as if the whole town were covered with thick black clouds. You

can‘t possibly imagine what it was like as the weather never treats us so badly as that

in Australia. Saturday and Sunday were beautiful days here, so mild that I went to

church on Sunday evening without any jacket.

The people here speak so funnily I am sure you wouldn‘t understand them. I

nearly always have to say ‗I beg your pardon‘ when the maids speak to me. I haven‘t

seen Daddy since Monday morning. He left here then to go to Nottingham and will be

back in London by this time. I am going back to the Howard Hotel tomorrow to pack

up again for France. I seem to be always packing up. We only got one luggage we left

behind in Marseille on Saturday, so I shall have to go through it all when I get back to

London. Goodbye little daughter, please remember me to Mary and Anna.

Your loving Mother

Hotel de Flandres et d‘Angleterre

1 May 1900

Dear little Mary

I think I was staying at Chesterfield last time I wrote to you. Well, I left there last

Thursday morning and I had a 8½ hours‘ journey all by myself to London. I didn‘t

telegraph to say to meet me as I knew he was at some skin sales, so when I reached St

Pancras station I just jumped into a hansom and drove to the Howard. I quite feel that

this hotel is our home now. We always go back there when we return to London.

On Friday evening we left again and crossed over the English Channel from

Dover to Calais reaching the town Lille at about three o‘clock on Saturday morning.

Poor Daddy was very tired as he had been seasick and couldn‘t go to sleep, but I

dropped off to sleep directly the boat began to move and I did not wake until we

reached Calais. We went to bed as soon as we got to this hotel which is just opposite

the station and when we were having luncheon or breakfast, as they call it here, about

one, M. Lamerand came in to see us. Of course we were very glad to meet him again

and the next day, Sunday, we had breakfast with his mother, two brothers, his wife

41

and the children, Paul, Madeleine and Louis.32

They are all such big children and Paul

who is only five months older than you can read so well. He read quite a long tele-

gram with big words in it, French ones of course, without making a mistake. I think

Auntie Isabel would like to have him with her little boys. I am sure he would set a

very good example.

I was so glad to hear that my little Mary is very attentive in school and I am

very pleased that she has such a good report. So you are going to be a boarder like

Lindsay when Mother comes back.33

What do you think I shall do without you all

week? Yesterday Daddy and I went to Tourerlou (?) and had breakfast with M and

Mde Carette and the three children.34

Little Suzette, the youngest, did not look very

well and her mother said she thought she was going to have influenza.

Goodbye dearest, I must write to little sister now.

Your loving Mother

32

This is the family they met on the Polynesien. I suggest father Paul, (wife unnamed); three children

Paul (born 1894), Madeleine (born about 1896), Louis (born about 1898), and John (born 1905). Paul

Lamerand is listed in the Sands Directory in Glebe (1897), as a woolbuyer at 12-14 O‘Connell St, Syd-

ney (1899-1904). 1916: 15a Pitt St. also vice-pres, French Chamber of Commerce, 2 Bond St. Still

listed 1932, Selby Place Greenwich. From 1916-1922 there is also a Paul Lamerand, grazier at Gran-

tham, Delungra. NSW Sands directory 49 mentions of Lamerands 1897-1930. John Marie Joseph Lam-

erand (born 1905), married to Marguerite Germaine, 10 Robertson St, Lane Cove, woolbuyer (NSW

1930 Census), moved to 80 Rangers Ave, Neutral Bay (1936) Amazingly -- ―Obituary: LAMERAND,

John. July 30 2007. Aged 102 years. Now at peace, reunited at last with his much loved wife Margue-

rite (deceased). Loved and loving father and father-in-law of Raymond and Kristina, Michelle and

Tom, Yvonne IBVM, Peter (deceased), Louise and Bill. Fond and proud grandfather of Nicki and John

and their families, Carl, Mark, Peter, Steven, Richard and their families, Jackie, Catherine and Alex.

Fondly remembered relative of a large extended family and friends. Mass of Chistian Burial for Mr

JOHN LAMERAND will be offered in Our Lady Star of The Sea Church, corner Willoughby and

Carabella Streets, Kirribilli on Monday (August 6, 2007), commencing at 10.30 a.m. The funeral will

leave the church at the conclusion of the Mass for Macquarie Park Cemetery, corner Delhi and Plassey

Roads Macquarie Park. No flowers by request.‖ obituary.com.au. Paul Vincent Lamerand, Mulga

Downs via Cunnamulla, grazier (Qld Census 1930and 1936). The young Paul‘s early promise contin-

ued to bear fruit: in 1909 Paul Lamerand was dux of St Aloyisius College, Sydney, his father‘s profession is

woolbroking and farming. http://www.staloysius.nsw.edu.au/aloysiad/aloysiad_04win.pdf. Louis Lamerand, 2

Fitzroy St, St Kilda West, buyer (1924 Vic Census). 8 Malmsbury St, Kew, woolbuyer (1931and 1936) 33

Who is Lindsay? A Cutts cousin? 34

The family they met on the boat.

42

Hotel de Flandres et d‟Angleterre, Lille.

This hotel is still very much alive: see http://www.hotel-flandreangleterre-lille.com/

Just for fun: here is the Carette family returning to Australia later in 1900:

Family

Name First

Name Age Month Year Ship Port Fiche Page

CARETTE ---- CHILD

WITH 1 AUG 1900

VILLE DE LA

CIOTAT F 342 001

CARETTE ---- CHILD

WITH 5 AUG 1900

VILLE DE LA

CIOTAT F 342 001

CARETTE ---- CHILD

WITH 2 AUG 1900

VILLE DE LA

CIOTAT F 342 001

CARETTE ---- MAID

WITH 19 AUG 1900

VILLE DE LA

CIOTAT F 342 002

CARETTE ---- MR 40 AUG 1900 VILLE DE LA

CIOTAT F 342 001

CARETTE ---- MRS 41 AUG 1900 VILLE DE LA

CIOTAT F 342 001

Index to Unassisted Inward Passenger Lists to Victoria 1852-1923. I have had no

luck find the McComas family mentioned in these shipping lists

http://proarchives.imagineering.com.au/

43

Hotel de Flandres et d‘Angleterre

Tuesday, 1 May 1900

Dear little Baby

I was very amused with the letter that you and Uncle Jack wrote to Daddy and I am

sure he will answer it when he has time. He has left me all by myself today and I have

been looking at the shops until I am tired so I am writing to my little daughter here for

a rest.

I saw a wedding this morning in a very large church and the place where the

bride and bride groom was beautifully illuminated with candles. There were three

bridesmaids with their groomsmen, one about your age, one Mabel‘s size and one

Ethel‘s size,35

and during the ceremony they walked round the church headed by the

beadle with a big staff and handed sweets out of little silk bags to all the people who

cared to take them. The smallest bridesmaid was dressed all in white, the second in

pink with a white hat, and the third in white with a pink hat, and the little groomsmen

just looked as if they had their best suits on. I saw the bride walk down the aisle and

she smiled to her friends though there were tears in her eyes, and I couldn‘t help wish-

ing with all my heart that she would be very happy and have a good kind husband like

little Mother.

I was so sorry to hear that one of Auntie Isabel‘s little boys who grew up to be

a soldier died in Africa. I do not know him, but Daddy did, and he is sorry too.36

This is a very large town and a very well built one also. There are some fine

buildings and most of the streets are wide. As far as I have seen I like French towns

better than English ones, London of course excepted.

I often wonder how Sydney Browning is getting on at the war.37

I haven‘t

heard anything about him since he went away. I hope he will come back safely. Such

a lot of people in England are in mourning for husbands, sons and brothers killed in

that dreadful war.

Give my love to Grannie, Grandfather and all the aunties, uncles and cousins

and tell Anna that I hope she is taking care of herself, and I hope, dearie, that you are

very good to her.

With lots of kisses to you and Mary

Your loving Mother

35 Mary‘s cousins Mabel Cutts Poolman, (aged about 13 in 1900) and Ethel Mary Cutts Poolman

(about 15) 36

‗As part of the British Empire, the Australian colonies offered troops for the war in South Africa. At

least 12,000 Australians served in contingents raised by the six colonies or (from 1901) by the new

Australian Commonwealth (about a third of men enlisting twice), and many more joined British or

South African colonial units in South Africa. At least 600 Australians died in the war, about half from

disease and half in action.‘ http://www.awm.gov.au/atwar/boer.htm 37

Frederick Sydney Browning , born 1880, Hawthorn. Father: Silas Samuel Browning, mother Eliza-

beth Ann Poolman. My guess is that Elizabeth Ann Poolman man is the sister of Frederick William

Poolman who married EJMcC‘s older sister Mary. The Australian War Memorial lists: Frederick Syd-

ney Browning: Number 134, Rank Private, Unit 2 (MNTD RIFLES) CNTGNT. State: VIC. Murray

page number 235. http://www.awm.gov.au/nominalrolls/boer/. By 1903 he is listed as an accountant,

living in Arundel Crescent, Surrey Hills.

44

„This is a very large town and a very well built one also. There are some fine build-

ings and most of the streets are wide. As far as I have seen I like French towns better

than English ones, London of course excepted.‟ Lille 1900.

http://france.jeditoo.com/NordpasCalais/Picts/Lille/lille-grandplaceS.jpg

Howard Hotel

9 May 1900

My dear wee daughter

I got the letter that Grandfather helped you to write five long weeks ago only yester-

day and you won‘t get Mother‘s answer for another five weeks and by that time we

will only have four days to wait before going on board the big ship that is going to

take us back to you and Mary. I shall be very very glad to get home to my two little

girlies. I have seen plenty of nice little French children but of course no little girls

could take the place of my own two. I am very sorry to hear that Auntie Minnie is still

ill, but I am glad to hear that you are a comfort to her and I hope that by the time we

get home she will be quite better.

Last Sunday we had dinner with M and Mme Lamérand and there we such a

number of children there that we had to have two rooms. There were folding doors

between them and as they were wide open we could watch the children at their dinner.

I think that you would have enjoyed being with them, only you would not have been

able to talk to them as they can only speak French. They all had beer or wine for

diner, even a little boy three years old and they liked it very much and asked for

more—isn‘t that funny!

Yesterday I went for a ride in a big omnibus without any horses called a motor

omnibus and it can go much faster than the ones drawn by horses but as there are too

many cabs and vehicles of all sorts in the streets there is no room to go quickly so you

don't get along any faster that in the others. I do not like that kind so well as there is

such a strong smell of oil.

45

So you went to a party at Mrs Parbury‘s, that was nice wasn‘t it.38

I think it

was very kind of Mrs Parbury to invite you and I must thank her next time I see her.

Have you seen Auntie Ellie since I left?39

Goodbye little girlie. I must write to Mary now as I don‘t think Daddy will

have time.

With plenty of love and kisses from Mother

Pre 1905 Worthing motor omnibus (www.findonvillage.com). „Yesterday I went for a

ride in a big omnibus without any horses called a motor omnibus.... I do not like that

kind so well as there is such a strong smell of oil.‟

38

William and Beatrice Maude Parbury (1870-1939) (merchant and home duties, respectively), Toorak

Rd, Malvern (Vic Census, 1903), then Wallace Ave, Toorak (1909-1936). They had a daughter Bea-

trice May Maidment Parbury (1896-1971), similar in age to Mary and Nancy. 39

Ellen Ruth Cutts, (1870-1927), EJMcC‘s younger sister.

46

Howard Hotel

Wednesday 9 May

Dear little Mary

Daddy and I were very lucky this week – we got seven letters from Australia. I think I

had better answer the one you wrote to him as he is away at the wool sales all day. I

gave him rather a fright last night as I did not get home until seven o‘clock instead of

six, my usual time. I did not mean to be so late, but lost my way and got ever so far

from the hotel, somewhere I had never been before. It is very easy to get lost in Lon-

don as the streets are winding about in the most extraordinary way and I am very

lucky not to have got lost before. You see, Daddy goes away directly after breakfast

and does not come back until the evening so I am alone all day.

You never saw such a lot of vehicles as there are in London, in one company

there are 11 000 omnibuses, and I have seen the number 16,786 on a hansom. Besides

all those there are thousands of four-wheeled vehicles and of course lots of private

carriages.

Auntie Isabel says you are very good at sums. I am very glad to hear it. I don't

like sums at all and you will soon be able to add up my housekeeping book, won‘t

you? Baby tells me you got nine marks out of ten. That was very good. I should think

that you will soon know as much as Frida.40

I am so glad you spend the days with the

cousins sometimes but I hope you won‘t fall off the seesaw like Doris Parbury.41

Daddy and I have been in London since Monday after nine days‘ stay in Lille.

While we were there we went to Brussels, the capital of Belgium, which is three

hours‘ journey in the train and we arrived there at thirteen o‘clock and left again at

seventeen o‘clock; doesn‘t that sound funny? I wonder if you have found all the

places Mother has been to on the map? It will have taught you some geography if you

have. Please give my love to Auntie Mary when you see her and remember me to

Anna and Mary.42

With lots of kisses from

your loving Mother

40

Elfrida Cutts Poolman (1894-1978), ‗Cousin Freda‘, daughter of EJMcC‘s older sister, Mary Eliza-

beth Poolman. 41

Doris Embling Parbury, (1899-1976, married Happel). Daughter of JW McComas‘ neighbours, Wil-

liam and Beatrice Parbury 42

EJMcC‘s older sister, Mary Elizabeth Poolman.

47

„You never saw such a lot of vehicles as there are in London, in one company there

are 11 000 omnibuses, and I have seen the number 16,786 on a hansom.‟

London horse-drawn Hansom cab, circa 1900 (http://www.ltmcollection.org/)

„[Daddy] is away at the wool sales all day‟. A sale of colonial wool at the Wool Ex-

change, Coleman Street, City. 1889

48

Howard Hotel

13 May 1900

My dear little Nancy

You must feel quite an important person getting a letter all to yourself ever week. I

don‘t think I had ever a letter when I was your age. This morning when I was coming

home from the city I saw a great big butcher‘s wagon turned over on its side on the

street and the people were helping to pick up the legs of sheep strewn about. It looked

so odd and I hope we won‘t get any of that meat for dinner here.

That reminds me of the funny little balloon pigs men sell in the streets. They

juts look like the half-penny balloons you get in Melbourne but when you begin to

blow them they turn into pigs with ears and curly tails. I wanted to buy some for you

and Mary, but Daddy reminded me that by the time they reached Melbourne they

would be very sad little pigs indeed. Perhaps you can buy them in Melbourne by this

time.

The other day I went to St Paul‘s Cathedral and walked up 375 steps into the

dome. I also went to the whispering gallery and the crypt, both of which I will tell you

about bye and bye. If I give you a long account of all I do now when I get home there

will be nothing left to tell you about. Goodbye dearie. Mother‘s back is aching from

so much writing. Kiss the cousins for me next time you see them, and with lots for

your dear little plump self.

Your loving mother

Ethel J. McComas

The letter inside if for Auntie Isabel [lost]

„That reminds me of the funny little balloon pigs men sell in the streets.‟ Balloon

Seller - Alan Maley

49

„The other day I went to St Paul‟s Catherdral and walked up 375 steps into the dome.

I also went to the whispering gallery and the crypt, both of which I will tell you about

bye and bye.‟ Joseph Pennell (1857-1926) St. Paul's Pavement, c.1900

Howard Hotel

13 May 1900

Dear little Mary

Mother got three letters this morning about her little girls, one from Grannie, one from

Grandfather and another from Auntie Isabel and they all said that you are very well

and good. I am so sorry to hear that you had a toothache and am glad you went to the

dentist, poor little daughter! When mother was a little girl she used to cry with tooth-

ache also.

I am afraid there will be no news of you and baby next week as Grannie

thought we were leaving by the boat in May when she wrote so perhaps even I won‘t

have any letters for two or three weeks. Auntie Isabel says you have grown out of

your new dress already. You must mean to be a tall girl as well as a great scholar

when we get home.

When Daddy and I were at a theatre the other night we saw a monkey and

donkey doing such clever tricks, and I was very sorry you and Nancy were not there.

This is one of the clever things they did: a gentleman was sitting down having his

50

supper and the monkey came up and ran off with a bowl through the door of a house.

Then the gentleman put a policeman‘s hat on the donkey and he ran off into the house

and brought the naughty monkey back in his teeth. I will tell you some more about

them when I come home if you remind me. Daddy and I have been to a great many

theatres and I enjoy the evenings much better than the daytime as Daddy is away the

whole day and I am all alone, and get tired of going places by myself.

We went to three churches yesterday: St Pauls, Westminster Abbey and the

Temple at which there was the best singing of all. It is such a fancy church where they

don't allow men and women to sit together, so Daddy was in one part of the building

and I was in another.

Goodbye little daughter. You shall have another letter next week.

With love to everybody and plenty of kisses from Daddy and Mother, also very kind

remembrance to Anna and Mary,

Your loving mother,

Ethel J McComas

„I am so sorry to hear that you had a toothache and am glad you went to the dentist,

poor little daughter!‟ Photograph from a glass lantern slide of a dentist, surgery maid

and patient in a child's surgery, Cambridge 1900. (http://www.bda.org/museum/)

51

„Daddy and I have been to a great many theatres and I enjoy the evenings much better

than the day time‟ The Oxford Theatre, c. 1900

„[The Temple] is such a fancy church where they don't allow men and women to sit

together, so Daddy was in one part of the building and I was in another‟. Inside Tem-

ple Church, 1900.

52

Howard Hotel

22 May 1900

My dear little Mary

I did not expect a letter from you this week so you can imagine how delighted I was to

find one when I went to the Wool Exchange on Monday. Daddy hasn‘t got the letter

Baby sent him yet as he went away early yesterday morning and will not be back until

late tonight or tomorrow morning.

On Sunday we spent the afternoon and evening with the cousins‘ Uncle Ar-

thur, his wife and Guy, who is just ten years old.43

It was his birthday on Saturday and

his father gave him a beautiful silver watch and chain. I think they are all going to

Australia in a month so very likely you will see Guy almost as soon as Mother. Won‘t

the cousins be glad to have a boy cousin to play with?

Grannie will have told you about the relief of Mafeking. I wish you could have

seen the excitement here when the news came. The tops of the omnibuses were

crowded with people waving flags and they were even sitting on the tops of the cabs

and hanging on behind. I saw one girl actually sitting on the bar in front of a hansom

with her head between the reins. The noisiest people collected around the Bank [of

England] and Mansion House and when I ventured there I was hemmed in for two

hours. I never saw such a sight in all my life. Men were pulling off each other‘s hats

and throwing them into the air till it looked as if it was raining hats, and every now

and then soldiers were carried along on men‘s shoulders, with the crowd cheering as

loudly as they could. Also I am sorry to say men began hitting each other though for-

tunately they were parted before any serious mischief was done. I get several knocks

on the head from hat brims and I was covered with dust from head to foot. I had had

enough long before I could work my way out, and I don't think I shall want another

experience of a London crowd.

Baby tells me that you can read stories to her all by yourself, so you must have

learned a great deal since Mother went away. Guy is very fond of reading and he can

repeat long passages out of Shakespeare‘s plays which I am sure Auntie Isabel will

think him very clever for a little boy of ten.

Tell Grannie that we saw Mr and Mrs Finlayson in Hyde Park on Sunday

morning and spoke to them.44

With love to everybody, kind regards to Anna and Mary, and very many kisses for

your dear little self from

Yr loving mother

43

The Poolman cousin‘s Uncle Arthur is Frederick William Poolman‘s brother. Arthur Edward Pool-

man, born Melb. 1863, surgeon and physician, married in 1889 in Abergavenny Elizabeth Ela (?), born

Lincoln ca. 1859; son: Guy Nesbitt Poolman (10 months), living at 52 Upper Castle St, Monmouth,

Wales (UK census 1891). Arthur‘s sister Harriet Mary Poolman was also living with them. 22 May

1900 was Tuesday, Saturday was 19 May. Guy was born 19 May 1890. Westminster School record:

―Poolman, Guy Nesbitt, son of Arthur Edward Poolman, MRCS, of Weymouth Street, Portland Place,

London; b. May 19 1890; adm. June 14 1905; left Dec 1908; Exeter Coll. Oxon., matric. Michaelmas

1909; BA 1913; MA 1913.‖(source: Old Westminsters). The London telephone directories show Ar-

thur Edward Poolman, physician and surgeon, at 10 Weymouth St WI (tel: Paddington 3280) from

1905-1919, very near Harley St. 44

Who are Mr and Mrs Finlayson? Possibility: Ennie Finlayson, 70 Mathoura Rd Toorak (1903 Elect

roll). Mathoura Rd is just across Toorak Rd from Wallace Ave.

53

„I wish you could have seen the excitement here when the news came.‟ Crowds cele-

brating the relief of Mafeking, Picadilly Circus (http://www.jamd.com/). The Siege of

Mafeking was the most famous British action in the Second Boer War. It took place at

the town of Mafeking (now Mafikeng) in South Africa at over a period of 217 days,

from October 1899 to 17 May 1900, and turned Robert Baden-Powell, who went on to

found the Scouting Movement, into a national hero. The lifting of the Siege of Mafek-

ing was a decisive victory for the British and a crushing defeat for the Boers (wiki).

‟The noisiest people collected around the Bank [of England] and Mansion House and

when I ventured there I was hemmed in for two hours. I never saw such a sight in all

my life.‟1 March 1900: Crowds gather outside the Mansion House, London, during

the Boer War. (http://www.jamd.com/ ). This is a different and more sombre occasion

than the one mentioned by EJMcC. Mansion House is the official residence of the

Lord Mayor of the City of London.

54

Mansion House, central London

Howard Hotel

Tuesday 22 May

Dear little Baby

I don‘t think Daddy will have time to write and thank you for the dear little letter you

sent him, so I shall have to write instead. I had a letter from Auntie May today by the

French boat and she told me you and Mary had spent a day at the Bank45

and had had

a sail on the lagoon.46

How you must have enjoyed the party at Mrs Millar‘s.47

You

are lucky girlies to get so many nice presents.

I spent three hours and a half this afternoon looking at pictures – such beauti-

ful ones too, and I am going to see them again tomorrow.

This morning a gentleman took me over to the Bank of England and showed

me a room where there was £3,000,000 worth of gold, some in sovereigns and some

in bars of gold, and he poured thousands of sovereigns into a basket and told me I

might have them if I could carry them. Of course I couldn‘t even move it, so I did not

get any sovereigns.

45 ‗Auntie May‘ is Mabel Annie Cutts, b ca. 1875, EJMcC‘s younger sister, who was 25 years old in

1900. She never married, but lived with their brother Edgar Holehouse Cutts (1866-1926), who also

remained single. He was a bank manager, and they lived at 168 Chapel St Prahran (corner of Victoria

St, just S of High St – now Radio Rentals) (1909-24 census). This is presumably ‗the Bank‘ where they

spend a day. 46

The ‗lagoon‘ is the old name for Albert Park Lake. It makes sense that the girls would be taken for a

sail there, as the family of Poolman cousins lived opposite the lake at 17 Queens Rd, South Melbourne

(SE corner of Albert and Queens). 47

This is a complete guess: Isabel Maud Millar, Glenferrie Rd, Malvern (home duties) (1903-09 elec-

toral roles). She is the only Millar nearby in 1903.

55

Last night I went to the Covent Garden opera house, such an enormous thea-

tre, and there were some very beautiful dresses and gorgeous diamonds in the boxes.

The Prince and Princess of Wales were there, but I did not see them as they were sit-

ting underneath me. Tell Grannie I heard Melba sing, and she really has a beautiful

voice.48

If tomorrow is a nice day, Mrs Robinson (Queenie‘s mother) is coming to take

me for a drive to Hyde Park where one sees such beautiful carriages and dresses in the

afternoons. All the grand people drive there between four and six.

I must say goodnight now, little woman, as it is nearly eleven. Mother was in-

vited to go to the theatre tonight but she stayed at home to write to her little girlies

instead.

With lots of kisses

Your loving Mother

Ethel J McComas

Traffic in front of the Bank of England, ca. 1895, 'The Old Lady of Threadneedle

Street' (http://www.jamd.com/)

48

―Bitter east winds played havoc with the voices of several of the opera singers during the early part

of the season, and it was not until May 21 that Melba was able to make her entree at Covent Garden,

the opera being " La Boheme," with Signor Bonci as Rodolfo. The audience included the Prince and

Princess of Wales, the Duke and Duchess of Connaught, and the Duke and Duchess of Fife...‖ Melba:

a biography (http://www.archive.org/).

56

„Dinghy race on the Albert Park Lake, Melbourne‟ ca 1900.

(http://localhero.biz/article/permatitle/history_of_albert_park,_victoria/)

Covent Garden Opera House, ca 1900

57

„If tomorrow is a nice day, Mrs Robinson (Queenie‟s mother) is coming to take me for

a drive to Hyde Park where one sees such beautiful carriages and dresses in the af-

ternoons. All the grand people drive there between four and six.‟ Carriages in Rotten

Row, Hyde Park, 1904 (http://www.viewimages.com/)

58

Epilogue

Ethel‘s last letter home is dated 22 May 1900. After several delays, Robert and Ethel

McComas would have finally returned to Melbourne in the middle of July 1900, hav-

ing been abroad for about six months.

Ethel died tragically in 1904 at the age of 41, leaving behind her two treasured daugh-

ters, Mary and Nancy aged nine and eight respectively. According to family tradition,

‗a strong north wind‘ blew out the gas flame on the water heater as she was having a

bath and she died of asphyxiation. The maid called a neighbour who broke down the

bathroom door with an axe. As an adult Mary suffered from depression, and again ac-

cording to family oral tradition, her fragile mental health was attributed to the trauma

of finding her mother in the bath.

There is plenty more to be said about these letters and the world at the beginning of

the twentieth century they conjure up for us. It would be interesting to look more

closely for instance at the use of language and the uneasy juxtaposition of the worlds

of adults and children that meet on these pages. We could write about family life, par-

enting and gender roles. We could write, for example, about race, empire and nation-

alism.

Ethel Jane McComas left behind this unique and intimate record that provides us with

a privileged view into family life a century ago. It is replete with joys and woes of

travel and separation, and is touched alike by the great events of the day and the mun-

dane realia of domestic life: truly the wonderful legacy of a loving mother.

Ethel J. McComas‟ letters home, 1900

59

Appendix 1. Biographies

Australian Dictionary of Biography Online Edition

http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A100222b.htm

McCOMAS, ROBERT BOND WESLEY (1862-1938), merchant, was born on 2 Au-

gust 1862 at Collingwood, Melbourne, fourth of nine children and second son of

Scots-Irish Protestant parents John Wesley McComas (1819-1906), auctioneer, mer-

chant and inventor, and his wife Jane Isabella, née Addey.

McComas senior, born into a Dublin commercial firm, had moved from a classical

education designed to fit him for the Church into medical and scientific studies at

Trinity College. In 1851 ill health prompted his migration to Victoria. After working

on the goldfields he dabbled in a succession of enterprises before establishing in the

1860s the Melbourne auctioneering firm which developed into McComas & Co., fac-

tors and importers. The 1864-68 drought destroyed his Riverina squatting ambitions,

but his invention, patenting and manufacture of McComas's Prize Water Lifter un-

derwrote his commercial success. His later invention, the McComas Wool Press, con-

tinued to be manufactured into the 1930s. A member of the Church of England As-

sembly and of the Victorian auxiliary of the British & Foreign Bible Society, McCo-

mas was over 70 when he retired. He died at his Toorak home on 1 November 1906,

leaving his family a legacy of Christian faith and love of learning.

Robert, like all but the youngest of his siblings, was privately educated. He entered

McComas & Co. in 1875, moving to the New Zealand Loan & Mercantile Co. in 1880

and in 1882 to William Haughton & Co., formed to take over the general merchandis-

ing side of his father's company. A quiet man, McComas engaged little in social ac-

tivities but his business acumen was acute; as a partner in Haughton & Co. from 1887

and as sole proprietor from 1890 he developed the firm as wool and skin brokers and

shipping agents with branches throughout Australasia and in London and Canada. He

also had charge of McComas & Co. by 1893 and later became principal of Wilson,

Canham & Co. On 27 December 1893, at Hawthorn with Wesleyan forms, he married

Ethel Jane, daughter of Dr William Henry Cutts; she died in 1904 and he did not re-

marry.

In November 1916 McComas was appointed wool-buyers' representative on the

Commonwealth Central Wool Committee set up to manage the wartime supply of

Australian wool to Great Britain. At other times he headed the Victorian, Adelaide

and Tasmanian Wool Buyers' associations. His expertise and influence were of utmost

importance in the post-war expansion of the Australian woollen textile industry.

McComas was also chairman of directors of the General Accident, Fire & Life Assur-

ance Co. Ltd and in 1924-35 a director of the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (act-

ing chairman in 1927). He was appointed C.M.G. in 1936.

McComas amassed considerable wealth. As well as valuable Melbourne real estate,

he owned a weekend farm near Drouin and a Queensland sheep and cattle property.

His philanthropy was almost entirely private and directed towards education. Publicly,

60

he was a conscientious member of the council of the Working Men's College from

1917 (the wool school at the Royal Melbourne Technical College was named after

him) and a devotee of the Melbourne Cricket Club.

McComas died at his Hawthorn home, Gresford, on 19 August 1938 and was buried

in Boroondara cemetery. His estate, valued for probate at £110,822 in England and

£774,244 in four States, was left principally to his two daughters. From 1935 his

nephew R. G. McComas had been assistant manager of William Haughton & Co., by

then one of the largest individually directed businesses in Australia.

Jane Isabella (1864-1960), Robert's younger sister, was born on 26 September 1864 at

Footscray. She had a notable career as principal of Glamorgan Preparatory School for

Boys from 1893. Established in 1887 by her sister Annie Wilhelmina Wesley next

door to the family home at Toorak, the school was taken over by Geelong Church of

England Grammar School in 1947 when Miss McComas retired. S. M. (Viscount)

Bruce was a former pupil as were the sons of Sir Robert Garran and Sir Frederick

Mann. Isabel's interests reflected her father's: she was treasurer of the Toorak branch

of the British & Foreign Bible Society, a parishioner of St John's Church of England,

Toorak, for seventy years and a member of the Classical Association of Victoria. She

died at Colac on 14 October 1960.

Select Bibliography

A. Sutherland, Victoria and its Metropolis, vol 1 (Melb, 1888); Who's Who in the

World of Women (Melb, 1934); E. Scott, Australia During the War (Syd, 1936); Aus-

tralasian (Melbourne), 3 Nov 1906; Sydney Morning Herald, 7 Oct 1924, 2 Jan 1936,

20 Aug 1938; Age (Melbourne), 20 Aug 1938; private information. More on the re-

sources

Author: Ann G. Smith

Print Publication Details: Ann G. Smith, 'McComas, Robert Bond Wesley (1862 -

1938)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 10, Melbourne University Press,

1986, pp 231-232.

CUTTS, WILLIAM HENRY (1828-1897), physician, was born on 25 December

1828 at Chesterfield, Derbyshire, England, youngest son of John Cutts, solicitor, and

his wife Mary. He was educated at Wesley College, Sheffield, and in 1844-49 was

indentured to Thomas Jones, apothecary and surgeon of Chesterfield. He then studied

medicine at Edinburgh (M.D., 1851), and in that year became a licentiate of the Soci-

ety of Apothecaries of London. He also studied for a short time in Paris, and from this

experience remained a great admirer of the French surgeon, Auguste Nélaton (1807-

1873).

Cutts arrived at Melbourne in the Kent in September 1852, went to the Ovens

(Beechworth) goldfield and later to Bendigo, where he not only practised medicine

but also pursued the profitable occupation of gold buyer for the banks. He did not like

the hard life and in 1853 returned to Melbourne where he successfully practised at the

west end of the city until his retirement. Kind, tolerant and friendly, Cutts gained the

61

confidence of his patients, and in a profession beset with jealousies and quarrels en-

joyed also happy relations with his colleagues. He played an increasingly active role

in medical life. When the staff of the Melbourne Hospital was enlarged in 1858 he

was elected honorary physician, a position he filled for seventeen years. He helped to

found the Medical Society of Victoria, was appointed to its committee in 1859 and

became its president in 1866. He was active also in the founding in 1865 of the Victo-

rian Medical Benevolent Association and served as its treasurer and president. He

strongly supported the publication of the Australian Medical Gazette, to which he was

a frequent contributor. In 1879 he helped to establish the Victorian branch of the Brit-

ish Medical Association and in 1880-81 was its president.

Cutts's most valuable service to the community was undoubtedly as a member of the

Council of the University of Melbourne (M.D., ad eund., 1859), a position he held

from 1858 until 1890. He served on the Medical School Committee set up by council

in 1860 to control the organization of the new school which was established finally in

1862, and in 1887 he was one of the minority to disagree with the admission of

women to the medical course.

Outside his medical pursuits Cutts was a magistrate and a steadfast Wesleyan Meth-

odist. With his friend Richard Hodgson he was long associated with Wesley Church,

Melbourne, giving his time, energy and professional skill without stint as a leading

layman. He represented his church on the Denominational Schools Board and the

Melbourne Cemetery Board. He was honorary medical officer at the South Carlton

Refuge, served on the royal commission on education in 1882, and at one stage

thought of entering politics but was dissuaded by friends who thought him too sensi-

tive.

Cutts married in 1857 Jane Thorpe and they had a large family. After her death he

married in 1895 Isabella Rathie, who had trained at the Royal Edinburgh Infirmary,

acted as sister in Hobart and in January 1890 became matron at the Melbourne Hospi-

tal, where she established organized nurse training. On a visit to England, and soon

after arrival in London, Cutts died on 3 July 1897.

Select Bibliography

W. L. Blamires and J. B. Smith, The Early Story of the Wesleyan Methodist Church

in Victoria (Melb, 1886); In Memoriam, W. H. Cutts (Melb, 1897); Australasian

Medical Gazette, 16 (1897) p 363; Weekly Times (Melbourne), 12 July 1897. More

on the resources

Author: Frank M. C. Forster

Print Publication Details: Frank M. C. Forster, 'Cutts, William Henry (1828 - 1897)',

Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 3, Melbourne University Press, 1969, pp

515-516.

62

Appendix 2.

McComas Family Notes by Janet Taylor