Ellen Matilda Richardson

BIRTH & BAPTISM First name(s) Ellen Matilda Last name Davis Sex Female Birth year 1865 Birth place Dunolly Father's name George Mother's name Eliza Binstead Registration number 21721 State Victoria

MARRIAGE First name(s) Ellen Matilda Last name Davis Sex Female Marriage year 1883 Spouse's first name(s) William James Spouse's last name Collier State Victoria Country Australia Record set Victoria Marriages 1836-1942 Registration number 6745

First name(s) Ellen Last name Collier Sex Female Marriage year 1902 Spouse's first name(s) Robert Spouse's last name Richardson State Victoria Country Australia Record set Victoria Marriages 1836-1942 Registration number 6668

Ellen Matilda Davis born Dunolly 1865, married William James Collier 1883, land lease granted at Mardan (nr Mirboo North) in 1889, married Robert Richardson 1902, daughter Vera Irene born Allambee East, 1904 reg. at Mirboo North.

ELECTORAL ROLLS: In 1909, Robert Richardson, farmer, is at Allambee East; with wife Ellen, home duties. Ditto in 1912, except Ellen Matilda is also now a farmer. DITTO in 1914. In 1915, Robert Richardson, farmer, is at Allambee East, sub division of Mirboo North; with wife Ellen Matilda, farmer; and his sister. Elizabeth Minnie Richardson, home duties.

• *****BINGO! With Elizabeth Minnie in the household I can now be confident that I have the right Robert Richardson. It seems that Robert might have moved onto the farm that Ellen Matilda inherited from her husband. This also explains how Elizabeth Minnie met Walter Gorman who was working his mother's farm at Allambee East at the time.

In 1916 &1917, Robert, Ellen Matilda and Elizabeth Minnie are all on the farm at Allambee East. Robert and Ellen are farmers and Elizabeth Minnie keeps house.

In 1919, Robert Richardson, teamster, is at Leongatha; with wife Ellen Matilda Richardson, home duties. Ellen Matilda lived the rest of her life with Vera Irene, first at Bacchus Marsh, then in Melbourne where eventually they bought a house in O'Gradey St Carlton.

Robert died in November 1920, possibly in the flu epidemic, and was buried in Coburg. I imagine his brother Alfred organised his funeral.

1921, Ellen Matilda is in Leongatha, Gippsland, apparently alone. Robert and Ellen seem to have separated and lost the farm. Perhaps the age difference was a problem, but just as likely, Robert was not a good farmer. None of his family have been able to sustain the continuous effort required to farm successfully. Robert has become a teamster as his brothers Joseph and James did before him. He was probably working bullocks when he met Ellen Matilda.

1924, Ellen Matilda is at Gell St, Bacchus Marsh, home duties, apparently alone unless she is living with a relative not named Richardson. DITTO, 1926, living with Vera Irene, daughter of Robert & Ellen Matilda, who is a milliner.

Somewhere in these years Vera Irene joined the Commonwealth Public Service as a typiste, which formed the base from which she and her mother were able to establish a home and settled life with security during the Great Depression. 1931, at 13 Oxley Rd Hawthorn with Vera Irene. 1932 at 18 O'Gradey St Carlton with Vera Irene. 1934 Name: Ellen Matilda Richardson Gender: Female Electoral Year: 1934 Subdistrict: Carlton State: Victoria District: Bourke Country: Australia Residence Address: 18 O'Grady st Occupation: Home Duties with daughter, Vera Irene, typiste.

1937, both at O'Gradey St Carlton where Vera is a typist.

In 1943, Ellen Matilda Richardson is at 18 O'Grady St Carlton, home duties; with daughter Vera Irene Richardson, typiste. DITTO for 1949. DITTO for 1954.

DEATH & BURIAL
A death notice gave me Robert, his daughter Vera, and a wife surname Davis. Also very possible.

First name(s) Ellen Matilda Last name Richardson Age 90 Sex Female Birth year 1865 Death year 1955 Father's name Davis John Mother's name Ellen Benstead Death place Parkville State Victoria Registration number 14542
[She may have died at the hospital for the aged in Royal Park.]