|
|
|
Information contained in these pages is intended for genealogical research only,
and I ask that you respect the privacy of those mentioned.
Please
acknowledge the source of any information used from these pages.
George Rain Clunes and Rose Ann Lutherborough © The third child of William Clunes and Mary (nee Conlon), George was born in Warwick on the 31st August, 18531, and baptized at St John, Warwick, Brisbane and District of Darling Downs, on the 5th September, 18531. It has been said that Raines is an old Scottish family name, but, to-date, no record of this name has been found. I now believed it may have been a mis-spelling of the family name Reays, which was connected to the Clunes during the 17th & 18th Centuries. Little is known about George’s early life, but it is believed he attended school in West Warwick along with his siblings. Local newspapers10 & 11 reported that in 1869 George was found in possession of an alleged stolen horse, however it was soon proved his father had purchased the horse and the charges were dismissed. An historical newspaper article2, written in 1921, states that in September 1871, whilst playing on the Condamine River bank with his brother William, George noticed a woman struggling in the water. The report goes on to say she was dragged from the water, but efforts to revive her failed. It is not clear just who pulled her from the river, but the assumption is it was George and his brother. The NSW Police Gazette12 has George Raines alias Clunes tried and convicted of Horse-stealing in Tamworth in July 1878, and sentenced to 18month at Maitland Gaol. He is listed in the 1879 issue as being Discharged Free since the last issue. On the 27th July, 1891, at the age of 37, George, a Bachelor, married Rose Anne Ralph (nee Lutherborough), a 36year old Widow, according to the Rites of the Church of England, at a private residence in Stanthorpe3. Both gave Texas as their residence, George states he was born in Warwick and Rose Anne states she was born in Wollombi. George's occupation is listed as Labourer, and his father as William Clunes. Rose Anne parents are given as Thomas Lutherborough and Emma (nee Hawkins). The witnesses were Johann C. Bromekhorst and Mary Bromekhorst and the officiating Minister was Robert Malcolm. It is thought they married in Stanthorpe as at the time there were no churches in Inglewood where Rose Anne lived. Stanthorpe is approximately 65km east-south-east of Inglewood and 50km north-north-east of Texas. The daughter, and third child, of Thomas Lutherborough and Emily (nee Hawkins), Rose Anne was born in Wollombi, NSW on the 3rd July, 1853, and baptized in the local Parish Church of St John’s on the 5th August the same year1. A small village in the Hunter Region of NSW, Wollombi is approximately 128km north of Sydney. The name is said to be an Aboriginal term meaning 'meeting place of the waters' or simply 'meeting place’. Earlier pronunciation is thought to have been 'Wu-lum-bee', although today it is pronounced Wo (as in wok) - lum (as in thumb) - bi (as in buy). Settlement at Wollombi began around 1829, when Surveyor General Mitchell’s Great North Road was built to connect Sydney with the upper Hunter Valley. Today the most notable features of this small isolated village are its pastoral setting, and some very early buildings, including St John’s Church, the Courthouse and Police Station4. In 1873, Rose Anne married Andrew Ralph3 in Tamworth, NSW, about 400km north of Wollombi. Rose Anne & Andrew had eight children: Andrew George 1875; Peter Thomas 1876; William & Patrick Frances 1878; Mary 1881; Alfred 1884; Frederick Edward 1885; Anna 1887; and Richard Martin 1889. Records indicate there may have been another son born 1879. It is thought Andrew and Rose Anne lived in Inglewood on a property, named ‘Four Mile’, situated on the outskirts of Inglewood, about 4miles south-west of the town, for most of their married life. Unfortunately most of the buildings have long gone, with only a few derelict buildings remaining5. Inglewood is 50km north of Texas. Andrew Ralph died in Texas on the 3rd July, 18906, after being thrown from his horse. Local story has it that he is buried under the District Racing Club. It is believed Rose Anne inherited her husband’s property on his death. It is also believed this is where George and Rose Anne resided after the marriage, as it is where their children were born. George and Rose Anne had four children, unfortunately only two daughters survived childhood: Margaret 1893-1893, died aged 4months; Ethel 1894; Florence May 1896, she married Ernest Carpenter 1915; and George 1898-1898, died aged 3days. A search of the Electoral Roles7 indicate that George may have moved around a bit for a while after his marriage to Rose Anne. The 1903 Electoral Role has George as a Miner in Mulgowan, which is situated in central NSW. Family story also tell us that George was a champion Shearer in his time. No record of him as a Champion has been found, but he has been found on the 1913 Electoral Role as a Shearer of Limevale, Maranoa, Texas which is just above the NSW / QLD border. On later Electoral Roles, 1919 through to 1930, George is recorded as a Labourer at Four Mile near Inglewood, which is a few miles north of Limevale, and the property thought to have been transferred to Rose Anne. The Electoral Rolls 1903-1930 show Rose Anne resided at Four Mile until she moved to Toowoomba sometime between 1930 and 1935. In 1996 during a visit to Inglewood, we met one elderly gentleman who told us he remembered George from his childhood days, and his recollection was that George was a good swimmer and a fair hand with a stock whip. He recounted local memory which described George as a fairly large person who could be generous, but if he lent money which wasn’t repaid on time he was likely to give the borrower a taste of his displeasure. Rather fond of a drink or two, and quick tempered George was known to give more than a few people the sharp end of his tongue, and more often than not his whip. Another elderly gentleman, who had been a young acquaintance of George’s family, recalled one time when George was quite ill and in hospital, and at the time the family was asked to provide the coffin for burial. As George was not expected to pull through the local undertaker, and good friend of George, decided to make him a coffin. However, George did recover and when his friend showed him the coffin, George was horrified and never spoke to the man again. It is said that George was also quite firm in his political beliefs and one day, whilst walking into town to vote, the local candidate drove by and offered him a lift. George's response was said to indicate he ‘wouldn't vote for the man so why did he think he would he would ride with him’. George’s drinking habits and resulting bad temper are alleged to have led Rose Anne to remove him from the main house. It is believed George stayed on the property, but family story tells he lived in a small hut away from the main house. This could have possibly been what was the cream shed or even the old sulky shed, which are both now in a dilapidated state. Rose Anne died in the Toowoomba Home of Rest on the 4th November, 1935, she was 81years old6. Her death was registered by N.R. Turner the Matron of the Home of Rest, Newtown, Toowomba. The cause of death is given as Arterio Sclerosi, Cerebral Haemorrage and Coma. The wife of George Clunes, her parents were given as Thomas Lutherborough and Emma (nee Hawkins). Rose Anne was buried in the Inglewood Cemetery on the 6th November, 1935, in the same plot as her daughter Margaret8. It is not known just who erected the headstone, but it reads: IN MEMORY of Dear Mother Rose Anne Clunes Died November 4th 1935 AGE 82 Years AT REST It is assumed Rose Anne’s children inherited the property called Four Mile, and it is thought George continued to live at the property after Rose Anne’s death. On the 18th July, 1936, while making his way home after a few pots at the local hotel, it appears George lost his footing and slipped about 30feet down the embankment into the MacIntyre Brook, which lay on the eastern boundary of the property where he resided. In the process he apparently dropped and broke his lantern, knocked himself out and drowned. He was found at about 9.30am by Denis Crowell on the morning of 19th July. On the 11th August, 1936, a Coroners Enquiry9 was held and, after listening to several witnesses, the Coroner, Frederick Patrick Mengel, found there were no suspicious circumstances and ruled the cause of George Raines Clunes death was Accidental Drowning and Asphyxia.
George was buried on the 20th July, 1936, in the same plot as his
wife Rose Anne and daughter Margaret, in the Inglewood Cemetery8.
There is no marker on his grave. George’s death was registered by his daughter
Florence May at Wangaratta on the 30th July, 19366.
References: 10. Warwick Examiner & Times 10 July 1868 via QLD State Library 11. Warwick Argus & Tenterfield Chronical 16 June 1869 via QLD State Library 12, New South Wales Police Gazettes, 1854-1930. 1878 & 1879 via Ancestry.co.uk https://www.ancestry.co.uk
Other Sources:
|
