Hart Family History and Genealogy

Descendants of Walter Hart and Caroline Russell

Walter Hart and Caroline Russell

Children & Grandchildren of Walter Hart

see original photograph

Keith Hamilton Letter

Original Letter

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15 Farrell Road

Kingsgrove NSW 2200

5 January 2000

Firstly, a correction regarding the names that I put on the back of the photograph of Caroline Hart with her four children; I had thought that the baby which is being held by Caroline was Ada Hart, but as they dressed the boys much the same as girls those days, perhaps it is James Oliver. The boy with the hoop must be Frederick Alfred. I had no idea there were two earlier sons before my mother was born until you sent me the descendant list. You may check the birth dates of the children in the photo yourself. The eldest girl, holding the basket is certainly my mother Amy Mary Ann and the other girl on the shoulder of Caroline must be Mary.

My grandfather Walter Hart, (was) born in Collingwood 1856. My other grandfather Peter Hamilton was born in Collingwood 1861, so they probably grew up together and were mates. The families lived in the same general area, Collingwood, Abbotsford, Fitzroy etc and no doubt socialised together. Both my grandfathers, Peter Hamilton and Walter Hart were going for the same girl who was Caroline Russell. Walter Hart won her heart and married her and Peter Hamilton married a lady named Emily Eliza Woolven. However in the years to come my Dad, Leslie Peter Hamilton married the daughter of Walter Hart, Amy Mary Hart, my mother.

According to the certificates that I have Daniel Hart was a Boot Importer (1). Walter Hart was noted down as being different professions at times, jeweller, letter carrier. My sister Edna said that he was also a Postmaster in Fitzroy, farmer later in life. Looking through one of those old post address books I think I remember seeing his name entered as a greengrocer. Those State Post books are a wealth of information available to look at in any Genealogy Society. I own one of these books, unfortunately it is for the state of NSW 1908. The Harts and the Hamiltons of those early days were fairly well off financially and also very respectable people. My sister told me that Walter took to playing cards which his father considered to be things of the devil. So Walter was banished to the bush away from cards. Over 200 acres were purchased and Caroline with her young children was plonked into the harsh environment of the Gippsland bush. Travelling was quite an ordeal those days. My mother was 2 months old when they went to Buln Buln, so they must have gone there in 1886. Actually they coming from the city life didn’t know one end of a cow from the other, so it was to start from scratch to get the farm going. Edna used to call them the Landed gentry. However, they must have adapted to the countryway of life and as the children grew older they all worked hard to organize the farm, especially hard on the women of the family, no modern conveniences like we have now. Oil lamps, fuel stoves (keep wood pile well stacked up), no running water and so on. Having babies there was dangerous event. Perhaps help from a neighbour (Nanny Sheppard) or the Veterinary, a friend of the family would assist at the birth. The Vets name was Woodhouse. Dying also wasn’t very nice for the family members as the dead person would be kept in the house overnight behind a curtain. Edna told me she must have a last look at Grandma one evening.

The boys grew up developing into strong young men, cutting timber and building the fences, sheds etc. All good horse riders. Uncle Arthur joined up in the Australian Light Horse during the 1914 – 18 war and served in Gallipoli, Egypt and Palestine. After being fortunate to come home he took his wife Rene back up to the farm to renovate it and live there. He had a daughter named Bell, probably named after the bellbirds. Arthur later came back to live in Beech Street Caulfield with his wife Rene. I did meet him there when I was 9 years old. During the war he used to send items back home for my mum to look after. I still have a photo of Anzac Cove with the spot where he landed and I have a badge of the 12th Light Horse. He must have enlisted with a Victorian Brigade, then with losses at Gallipoli perhaps transferred to the 12th which actually came from the New England area of NSW. We also had a trench periscope and a clip of 5 303 bullets. Arthur’s daughter Bell remained in Gippsland and used to drive a timber jinker hauling large logs. She married a policeman, I think named Hogg and stationed at Warragul. Not much known about Bell, she died of cancer at some stage. I did meet her once at her house near Warragul, I was in my early teens. The most I remember was all the great cakes and home cooking. I do have a wedding photo of Arthur and his wife Rene. One of the persons, probably the best man could possibly be George hart. George’s signature is on my father and mothers wedding certificate as a witness 9-7-1918. George in his younger days had blond hair, Arthur and the other boys had black hair.

I heard that Jim Hart went droving cattle up north into NSW? He died from perhaps a lung infection picked up from breathing the dust and fibres kicked up by the cattle on the move. Amy and Mary who were always very close were with him when he died, cradling him in their arms, at 5 Rose Street, Richmond. Outside the window in the street some buskers were singing some sad song.

George Hart I believe died from “idatus”? some disease.

Harold Hart was born with an infantile bowel.

My mum used to tell me about getting along to school each day. Shady Creek school was distance from the farm. Some days, ride the horse, sometimes a few kids on board, mostly probably walking. Coming home a thunderstorm may come up and lightning strikes at the trees not knowing where they might fall on the track, also meeting up with a snake at times. Look at each other, take your eyes off to look for a stick, but the snake would scuttle off quick smart thank goodness. There is a good photo of the Shady Creek school. Alan Turnbull (Melbourne) has it. We had in our possession years ago when I was only a young boy a big photo album with an embossed hard cover which I can remember looking at. It had cardboard pages, 4 oval photos to a page. This album would be invaluable to see photos of some of the old Harts (providing their names were on the back). When my Mum died this album went down to her sister Alice Turnbull and I have not seen it since. One of the Turnbull boys may still have it, perhaps John Turnbull. All my life I have regretted that our family the Hamiltons let it go out of our hands, although being Hamilton by name we have always had a great affection for the Hart side having heard my mother speak of her family. Unfortunately the old folks never divulged a great deal of information.

My mother died when I was 20 years old. If only I had been interested I could have got all the information about the Harts going all the way back, also the names of the people in the photos.

Walter Hart died at the farm in Gippsland. Alice Hart went to the farm to nurse him until he passed away.

One of the cows on the farm was called “Strawberry”. Lots of fruit trees, pears, apples etc. Cherries till you could eat no more. Fields of November lilies.

Christmas time great, decorations, smell of cooking and the festive joy.

During the bushfires, animals, snakes, birds would head for the clear area around the farmhouse. The children would always look after sick animals or birds. One pet magpie in particular, so the story goes (told by my mum) used to be chased around the kitchen by Jim who had a lighted paper in his hand saying burn ‘em arsey burn ‘em arsey and the magpie would talk back saying bugger you bugger you. I believe magpies can imitate human voices a bit if taught.

Spooky lights at night on the property. One night one of the boys Jim took a shot at them with his rifle and broke the window pane. Also one night all sitting down eating the evening meal and three knocks on the door high up. The door is opened, no one there.  Evidently Walter playing some musical instrument. Also a German neighbour somewhere on the next hill playing a violin or flute, and Walter on a very still night would yell out sound your “A” so he could tune up (a bit unbelievable).

Many times I used to go to Melbourne for holidays and stay with the Turnbull family, 9 children, fun and games at that house. I have seen by Auntie Alice, in her forties on, in the backyard swinging the axe and cutting the blocks of wood for the fire. Pretty tough wood too as sometimes the axe would get stuck, of course I would go to the rescue and chop some too.

Walter planted two chestnut trees on the farm. When I went there in 1962 they were still growing strong.

I have a small bag of gold dust from Gippsland, probably came from Walhalla. Walter Hart would have had contact with Lewis Loan and Elizabeth. I have heard mum speak of Walhalla years ago.

Mary Deane (Hart) died while giving birth to a 16 pound baby. The infant died also. Thomas Deane her husband worked as a slaughterman at the abattoirs. The cattle would be hung up on a hook. One day an animal (bull) fell on Tom and injured him. He ended up in a wheelchair.

A visit to the Warragul Historical Society could produce some information, also the Warragul Cemetery.

Timber was a money earner in that area.

My grandfather Peter Hamilton was a coach builder and had his business in Smith Street Collinwood. Well off and owned land and houses. Thirty-five acres at Woodend near Mt Macedon is still lived on by my cousin Peter Hamilton. Now retired he had been head accountant for BHP in Melbourne. His father (my uncle) had a stamp collection called the “Hamilton Collection”, 471 stamps, one of which was sold in 1980 in Sydney to an American collector for $80,000. The Hamiltons and Harts were good friends throughout the years in Collinwood. I have a large photograph taken inside the Collinwood Town Hall of the crowd of people attending a dance night. My dad is in the front row. I believe that he used to run the dances.

I am going to Melbourne January 22 and will be staying with Thelma Rowbotham. We will search for photographs and will visit the Fawkner Cemetary.

Hope the tape is okay and you can gain information from it. I have put most of it in the letter, but you may find other items of interest.

Regards,

(Signed by Keith Hamilton)

Notes from Wombat

Birth Marriage and Death Certificates

Births

Marriages

Deaths

Mary Caroline Hart

25 February 1907

Mary Caroline Hart

19 May 1922

William Deane

17 May 1922

Photographs

Descendant Listing

Walter Hart   see his parents here

Walter Daniel Hart

Frederick Alfred Hart

Amy Mary Ann Hart

Edna May Hamilton

Enid Emily Hamilton

Marjorie Caroline Hamilton

Kenneth L Hamilton

Leslie Norman Hamilton

Peter Malcolm Hamilton

Valma M Hamilton

Keith Albert Hamilton

Douglas Hamilton

Mary Caroline Hart

Alice Mary Deane

Eileen Dorothy Deane

Thomas Alfred Deane

Caroline Sarah Deane

Arthur Clarence Deane

Elva Marjorie Deane

Edward Oliver George Dean

William Deane

Oliver James Hart

Ada Louise Hart

Walter Selwyn Lanning

Septimus Royal Lanning

Fern Isabel Lanning

Lesley Louise Lanning

Samuel Harry Lanning

Amy Ailsa Lanning

Leslie Winwood Lanning

Selby Oswin Lanning

James Oliver Lanning

Arthur Hart

Isabel Hart

George Hart

Alice May Hart

Sylvia Frances Turnbull

Myrtle Phyllis Turnbull

Alice Lillian Turnbull

Lansell Leo Vonberg Turnbull

Mavis Caroline Turnbull

Thelma Jessie Turnbull

Lancell Turnbull

Valerie May Turnbull

John Morrier Turnbull

James Alexander Turnbull

Allan Stuart Turnbull

Harold Hart