Joseph Richardson

BIRTH & BAPTISM Joseph Richardson was the eldest child of James Robert and Eliza, born 1842 (see documents) in Van Diemans Land shortly after they emigrated to New Zealand. When Joseph is born his father is recorded as a gardener. There is actually no proof of birth yet available. He might even have been born in NZ before James Robert and Eliza went to VDL. Checked, and there was no Richardson born or died in the NZ colonies in the period 1840 - 1845. The first official evidence of them is in VDL records, and is the registration of birth of a male child, unnamed (actually Henry), in 1844 at Hobart. [The record has Eliza named as McKay, so tricky to find]. This means that the only evidence we have for Joseph's birth date is his own claim and information provided on his marriage certificate.

Another possibility: Port Phillip District and Van Diemans Land, were, to all intents and purposes, a single colony and part of NSW in 1842. Joseph becomes a member of the Old Colonists Association at Ballarat while he is farming at Clarendon near Buninyong. The date he provides to the Association for his arrival in the Colony, then New South Wales, is January 14 1842. This seems most likely to be his date of birth in Van Diemans Land. Perhaps I have misunderstood the way in which the information was put in a particular context, and Joseph was not misrepresenting anything. How embarassing to be so ahistorical in my thinking. I will put that date as Joseph's DoB for want of any other information.

MARRIAGE First name(s) Joseph Last name Richardson Sex Male Marriage year 1862 Spouse's first name(s) Mary Ann Spouse's last name Stitson State Victoria Country Australia Record set Victoria Marriages 1836-1942 Registration number 1455 At age 20 yrs (1862) he married Mary Ann Stitson age 17 yrs at the Wesleyan Parsonage in Geelong. His father was farming at Connewarre in the Geelong district and Mary Ann's father is recorded as a labourer also at Connewarre. Mary Anne and her mother Jane are illiterate in 1862 and sign the marriage certificate with their marks. The marriage was witnessed by Ann Simpson and Jane Stitson. No Richardson appears to be present. Joseph's mother has been in Geelong jail since 1860 due to mental illness, and his father seems to be deeply depressed.

From Jean Gorman: May 5th 1862 at the Wesleyan parsonage, Geelong, Joseph Richardson, bachelor, born Brown's River Tasmania, Farmer, 20 years, of Connewarre, Father James Richardson, farmer, mother Eliza Richardson nee McVey, married Mary Ann Stitson, spinster, born Torquay, Devon England, 17 years, of Connewarre, father Robert Stitson, labourer, mother Jane Stitson, nee Bridgeman. Mary An Stitson X her mark. Joseph signed. Witnesses: Ann Simpson and Jane Stitson X her mark.

Victoria and Its Metropolis Past and Present, Alexander Sutherland, McCarron Bird & Company, 1888, Melbourne, Victoria, records the following: "Richardson, Joseph, Drouin, was born in Tasmania in 1842, and came to Victoria in the following year. He was at school in Geelong, and farmed there for seventeen years, after which he went to Longwarry South, selected 80 acres and 296 acres, and purchased a half acre township allotment in Drouin, on which he built a private house. His Longwarry land is worth 8 pounds per acre. He was married in 1864 (sic) to Mary Ann Stitson of Devonshire, England, and has a family of nine children."

[Joseph could not have arrived in Port Phillip District until after the birth of his brother James in VDL in 1846.] I can show that James Robert and Eliza were in VDL from 1844 birth of Henry, birth and death of first James, and 1846 birth of second James.]

Saturday 4th January, 1868, page 20, The Australasian reports that Joseph arrived in the colony on January 14th 1842. "Presentation of the Address of the Old Victorian Colonists to the Duke of Edinburgh at noon yesterday in the Public Library." Signed by "600 gentlemen whose colonial residence dates back, in accordance with the limit prescribed, not less than 25 years, have been attached to the Address, and the document is the most interesting of the kind that the Duke has yet received". Joseph Richardson from Longwarry is one of the 600 signatures. 1843 is their cut-off year. See new note above re this issue. 2 new references to Joseph and the Old Colonists Assn in docs.

1846 - 1863: In these years Joseph describes himself as attending school, and farming at Connewarre for 17 years. I haven't yet seen the school records that would confirm where he went to school, but James Robert was doing OK in those years, and Joseph probably worked the small holding with him. He might also have hired himself out to neighbouring farmers, and he had uncles and cousins nearby. The family situation would have changed dramatically when Eliza Maria was institutionalised in 1860, and her twin babies died. Joseph entered into a very early marriage a couple of years later, and a year after that, was a selector at Clarendon.This might signify the beginning of the change in James Robert's fortunes, although things had been difficult before 1860 due to Eliza Maria's attempted suicide.

In 1868 the Duke of Edinburgh visited Australia and Joseph Richardson is listed as a signatory with his correct birth date, amongst the other early colonists.
Argus 4 Jan 1868
THE
DUKE OF EDINBURGH IN VICTORIA.
PRESENTATION OF THE ADDRESS OF THE OLD VICTORIAN COLONISTS.
The address from the "old colonists" of Victoria, which has been in course of signature for the last few days in Melbourne, Geelong, Ballarat, and Sandhurst, was presented to the Duke of Edinburgh at noon yesterday, in the
Public Library. The signatures of over 600 gentlemen, whose colonial residence dates back, in accordance with the limit prescribed, not less than twenty-five years, have been attached to the address, and the document is
the most interesting of the kind that the Duke has yet received. The names are all written on sheets of parchment,
which form the leaves of a handsomely-bound book, prefaced by the address, which is brilliantly illuminated.
[Probably organised by John Pascoe Fawkner and presented by J Henty as oldest Vic colonist. Tasmania and Victoria were still part of NSW at the time so Joseph's claim is quite consistent.

1869: Joseph Richardson was elected to membership of The Old Colonists Association, at Ballarat. The Ballarat Star 1 July 1869 The following gentlemen have been elected members of the Old Colonists' Association:—Messrs G. W. Rusden, James Gill, Joseph Solomon, R. K. Gregory, Michael Curtain, Claude Farie, Joseph Richardson, Roland M'Lachlan, Antonio Azzaparde, Win. Ford, John Richie, Henry Box, Septimus Martin, W. Sloane, J. C. Raven, H. K. Woolley, Arch. Fiskin, H. N. Anderson, John M'Lean, Win. Morton, Wm. Gray, John M'Donnell, George Winter, Samuel Gregory, Thos. Reed, James Damyon, George Evans, C. Box, George Ward Cole, W. H. Jarrett, Wm. Robertson, J. B. Morris, Thos. Stubbs, Wm. Carmicliael, J. R. Bickerton, R. Hepburn, J. De Little, Godfrey Howitt, Henry Jennings, David Moore, Walter Clarke, and W. N. Tripp.

The Ballarat Star 2 Aug 1919 FIFTY YEARS AGO BALLARAT'S EARLY HISTORY AS CHRONICLED IN “THE STAR.” “The following gentlemen have been elected, members of the Old Colonists’ Association .-—Messrs. G. W Rusden, Jas, Gill, Joseph. Solomon, R. K. Gregory, Michael Curtain, Claude Farie, Joseph, Richardson, Roland McLachlan, Antonio Azzaparde, Wm. Ford, John Ritchie, Henry Box, Septimus Martin, W. Sloane, J. O. Raven, H. K; Woolley, Archibald Fisken. H. N. Anderson, John M‘Lean, Wm. . Morton, Wm. Gray, Jno. M'Donnell, George Winter, Samuel Gregory, Thos. Reed, James Damyon, George Evans, C. Box, George, Ward Cole, W. H. Jarrett, Wm. Robertson, J. B. Morris, Thos. Stubbs, Wm. Carmichael, J. R. Bickerton, Ben. Hepburn, J. De Little, Godfrey Howitt, Henry Jennings, David Moore, Walter Clarke, and W. N. Tripp.” Joseph seems to have been very proud of being such an early settler in what became Victoria. The Richardsons arrived within ten years of John Batman's "purchase" of large tracts of land at Melbourne and Geelong, from the Aboriginal owners. James Robert likely settled on one of these original "purchases". See docs.

I was really curious to know how Joseph became connected to the Melbourne based business and colonial elite, and stayed connected for many years, as evidenced by his signature on the Duke's Address, all the while living in the back blocks of Longwarry on a smallish farm. I now know that Joseph joined the Old Colonists Association at Ballarat when he was farming at Clarendon near Buninyong. Apparently a more optimistic time in Joseph's life, and before the death of little Eliza Ann. See docs.

I have checked the Geelong Infirmary records and their Joseph Richardson is a much older man and not our Joseph, although our man's father, James Robert, was admitted after being kicked by a horse, and while suffering from debility probably due to depression after losing his wife to mental illness.

The Explorers and Early Colonists of Victoria records Joseph Richardson arriving in 1842 in the colony. The State LIbrary of Victoria (Latrobe Library) has a photograph of Joseph (Photo no. 536) in a montage by Chuck (Thomas Foster Chuck 1826 - 1898), which is a framed collection of photographs of people who arrived before 1843 in Victoria. [This is most likely some other Joseph Richardson, probably from Collingwood, a business man] See also Patsy Adam-Smith 1979, Victorian and Edwardian Melbourne from Old Photographs.

                The Argus, 7/12/1872, Page 5, and The Argus, 13/1/1873, Page 5.

Joseph and Mary Ann were at Clarendon/Selleck's Flat/Buninyong, for about 10 years in all.

1871: Joseph is admitted to and discharged from Ararat Asylum. See docs for admission record.

August 1875: From History of Buln Buln Shire, pages 112/113. {Available at West Gippsland Genealogical Society, Drouin] "Richard George's land also adjoined a selection of Joseph Richardson's who had taken it up in August 1875. When Joseph lost his desire for this part of the bush and went off to a 200 acre plot elsewhere, Richard was around to offer him a price. Thus in 1880, Mary-Jane, Richard's wife, became the new owner.

     Joseph Richardson had come from Tasmania, one year after his birth, in 1842. After he left school at Geelong, he took up a farm there at the selecting age of 18. His attention turned to Gippsland in 1875. Not only did he dabble in the land at Longwarry South, but took a two rood allotment in Drouin, facing the Main Street, and just East of Hope Street. He bought this very central site for a shop of some kind in February 1878. It is not surprising that it was soon snapped up and built on by the renowned Frederick Lauer, storekeeper. In this establishment, which he called the "Cash Store", he offered everything from ironmongery to drapery and boots. He also dealt with mortgage finance on the side.

    In any case, as far as Joe Richardson was concerned, he was ridding himself of excess property to raise the survey fee for a larger, 196 acre, allotment in Yannathan. His original 80 acre property had been whittled down, in area, when Tolley's Road was surveyed through in late 1875. Although he had built himself a comfortable six-square slab house, [a square is 10 feet X 10 feet] he wanted something a little bigger than 76 acres in the way of land.. He was offered a spare school reserve to ease his woe but all to no end. Richard George at least was able to reap the benefit to be gained from acquiring an adjoining holding."

Joseph's block on Main Street Drouin is now subdivided, and the front section occupied by a shop selling women's underwear. ["Selecting age" refers to the Land Acts which governed allocations of land as "selections" to "selectors" as the colony was gradually surveyed and "opened up". The age of eligibility to "select" land was 18yrs. Indigenous owners were neither consulted nor considered since the whole continent had been legally declared "terra nullius" by Great Britain.]

1880, Warragul Guardian and Narracan Shire Advocate, Thur 15 Jan 1880, page 3. Applications to transfer leaseholds approved. Joseph Richardson to Mary Jane George, Longwarry. (Trove)

1881, Thur 10 March, as above. Buln Buln Shire Council, Payments to J Richardson, 1 pound.

1881, Thur 28 July, page 3. Local Land Board held at Shire Hall Drouin by A Wimble Esq of the Land Office. 1. Joseph Richardson, 196a, Parish of Longwarry, Recommended. 2. Arthur O Horsnell, 196a, Parish of Narracan, Recommended. (See Mills family for Arthur Octavius' profile)

1882, as above, Thur 1 June, page 3. Council Accounts approved for payment. Joseph Richardson, 4 pounds, from Buln Buln Shire. Joseph appears to be contracting to the Shire.

1882, Thur 9, March, as above. J Richardson, 3rd, 12 shillings (Acc no 192), 5th, 20 pounds (Acc no 148). Letter from Joseph Richardson asking for variation of his contract. The engineer's recommendation not to vary, was adopted.

The Shire minutes record payments to J Richardson, Jos Richardson, and Joseph Richardson until at least 1891. They might all be this Joseph; some might be his sons, Joseph or James; and J Richardson might be another family entirely.

It seems clear that Joseph is doing quite a lot of work for the Shire Council as was common amongst selectors at the time. In West Gippsland, the land surveyed and available for selection was dense bush, temperate rainforest, and it was a requirement of their lease that they clear it for agriculture. Gippsland was full of timber mills and timber workers for many years as they stripped the land of bush, and sent wood to Melbourne for street paving, and building, etc. Joseph's son, John, was a paling splitter at the time he joined the 1st AIF, and Joseph Jnr was almost certainly a bullocky snigging logs out to be milled, and it is probable James was also a bullock driver (or oxen conductor). It seems that Robert also became a 'bullocky' after losing his wife and her farm at Allambie East.

Gippsland Times Friday, 26 January 1883, page 3. At the Sale Police Court on 25th January, before Messrs Bird and Stuart, Joseph Richardson was 'convicted' of lunacy and an order was made for his removal to Kew Asylum. Apart from reports that Joseph was ordinarily a hardworking and upstanding citizen, it is recorded that his mother and sister, were at that time, in an asylum. Sale Police Court, Thursday Jan 25th 1883. (Before Messrs Bird and Stuart, J P) Lunacy - ....."Joseph Richardson, a selector, residing at Longwarry, also appeared on a similar charge. Dr Reid stated, that he had that morning examined him, and believed that he was subject to occasional fits of insanity, but under proper treatment in an asylum he thought he would recover. He understood from Richardson that he had been similarly affected 15 years ago, and after medical treatment he had recovered. Dr MacDonald gave correlative evidence, and said that the family history of this man was also bad, his mother and sister being presently confined in an asylum. Constable Byrne, stationed at Drouin, stated he had known Richardson for 10 months, and during that time had seen him every week, he was a steady and hardworking man, he had walked from his house to Drouin Police Station, a distance of 12 miles, and requested to be locked up as he felt the fits coming on, his wife had also expressed her fear of him on several occasions lately. An order was made for his removal to the Kew Asylum. See documents

Name: Joseph Richardson Gender: Male Age: 42 Birth Year: abt 1841 Admission Date: 26 Jan 1883 Admission Place: Kew, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia See docs

26 Jan 1883 Kew Asylum Register (VPRO Image of Register VPRS 7680 Cons. P0001, Unit 3.) Joseph is admitted to Kew Asylum, age 42 yrs. Diagnosed with Hereditary Melancholia (modern depression, but not hereditary), and "in a weak state". He was discharged, recovered, on 20 March 1883. [Kew Asylum, 1871 - 1912, VPRS 7398/P 1 8 P no. 123.] (I think the page number is actually incorrect). See docs Admission notes: Joseph is 42yrs and described as a labourer (no farm?) at Longwarry. Last admitted 15yrs before to Ararat Asylum also with melancholia. Present episode already 3 mths long. [His 'melancholia' is described as hereditary which was the belief at that time, however, a only a tendency to depression or a vulnerability to stress is inherited, and Joseph's circumstances certainly account for that. His first episode was precipitated by the drowning of his small daughter in a 'dam' he had dug while he was occupied digging another water hole.]

Quiet in behaviour: conscious of his malady: complains of want of sleep fn nights on acount of his brooding over his difficulties & hearing voices upbraiding him. States that often his son & he have gone to work on bread alone because they could not buy meat although some L60 were owed them by Drouin Shire Council. He is 41 years old, and it is 2 years since his father suicided.

By 1883 it is clear that Joseph has lost his farm and his primary source of income is labouring for the shire council. Council's non payment for work done has clearly tipped Joseph into a stress related psychotic episode, once called melancholia.

This is not Joseph's first admission so it is likely his wife understood quite well, what was happening to him. In 1871, age 29 yrs, Joseph was admitted to Ararat Asylum while farming at Clarendon on the Midland Hwy. A couple of months later Joseph found his 4 yr old daughter Eliza Ann, drowned in a water hole near where he was digging another one. Grief can be very like depression, or lead to depression. See documents. His mother was definitely in an asylum from 1860 when she gave birth to twins (who both died) at Geelong Gaol, but there is no evidence of a sister that I can find, except Albania b. 1852 and died 1853, who is in the Kensington (Leopold) cemetery.

Joseph's wife Mary Ann, dies 1893 at Wonthaggi, possibly as an outcome of childbirth, since baby William was born and died (July 1892), age 5 months, in the year before. She is buried at Poowong Cemetery and William at Leongatha Cemetery.

Probate record for Mary Ann describes Joseph Richardson, sole executor, as her husband, a labourer, and "of Korumburra". This suggests that Joseph has moved to Korumburra where he works as a labourer, closer to some of his children.

1899: Son Arthur Henry dies aged 19 yrs in 1899, and is buried at Leongatha Cemetery, where baby William also has his grave.

Lunacy Admission at Kew Asylum Name: Joseph Richardson Gender: Male Labourer Age: 57 Birth Year: abt 1842, Tasmania Admission Date: 13 Mar 1899 Admission Place: Kew, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia [BINGO! This is definitely Joseph. Another son has recently died and Joseph is susceptible to 'melancholia' when very stressed, which is the diagnosis of this man. The address given for his wife is 125 Stanley St Sth Melbourne and he is described as married (our Joseph is now widowed. Did he remarry in old age?) which is confusing, nor can I find a Richardson at that address. His sister-in-law, Mary Jane Richardson lives at 88 River St Sth Yarra. Henry Richardson's wife was Mary Jane but I cannot find them living in South Yarra. His nearest relative is son A Richardson of 18 Grieg St Footscray, which seems more likely. This is his son Alfred Richardson, a fireman, and Georgina Eliza, his wife who are registered to vote at 18 Greig Street Footscray. That is confirmation enough for me. Presumably there are other family members in South Melbourne and South Yarra]

Joseph is still living in 1903, when daughter Jane (Jennie) dies in a riding accident at Toora while visiting her brother. Jane (Jennie) is buried at Toora Cemetery.

From about 1890, the centre of gravity of this family has moved from West Gippsland to South Gippsland, around Toora and Korumburra. Joseph Jnr lives at Toora, and has several children born there, as do the Hammonds; Mary Ann dies there in 1893, and children Jennie (Jane), William, and Arthur Henry all die there between 1892 and 1903. It is, in reality, not far over-land, and the bush was similar to that in Longwarry, but a wetter rain forest type.

28th August 1908: Joseph is transfered from Kew Asylum to Bendigo Benevolent Asylum. We can assume from this that Joseph was admitted again to Kew Asylum with symptoms of mental illness, possibly 'melancholia'. The admission is in 1899 which is the one canvassed above. We can also adduce that he has been treated successfully, because the Benevolent Asylum was a 'safe place' for the indigent and the elderly without family support, not people with serious mental illness. Victoria was awash with aged convicts and single migrants deposited here without families, and the only welfare system available was the network of benevolent societies set up across the colony which operated well into the C20th. At least until 1899 Joseph had the support of some of his family, but probably came adrift once he was transferred to Bendigo in 1908.

Joseph was at Kew Asylum for 8ish years, and lived at the Bendigo Benevolent Asylum for another seven years, until an enlarged prostate precipitated his final illness.

MENTAL ILLNESS Joseph Richardson died aged 73 yrs at Bendigo in 1915 Reg No. 7852. This is another grief in a series of tragedies for this family because he had been in Bendigo Benevolent Asylum, transferred from Kew. Joseph's mother Eliza Maria, died in an asylum after succumbing to post natal psychosis, his father James Robert suicided, also due to depression/melancholia and the despair of feeling a failure. It is tempting to conflate these events into a story of congenital madness, yet each lived hardworking blameless lives for much of their time, they all were responding to different life events. What they had in common was very early marriage, too many children born and died, too much moving around and instability without deep roots anywhere, and the hardships of settlement in remote places. Perhaps youthful impulsiveness played a part, a temperament that is always looking for greener pastures somewhere else. I am reminded of James Robert's cousin, William North Wakeham Richardson, an adventurer and fabulist, who went very young to Ontario, Canada. Eliza Maria and James Robert, from fairly comfortable backgrounds, married young, emigrated 3 times, lost several infants, and were unable to rise above their losses. Eliza Maria had post natal psychosis more than once. Joseph and Mary Ann also married very young, and lost children young as well as those in early adulthood. Joseph was admitted to an asylum twice while Mary Ann was pregnant. It seems possible that the loss of Mary Ann at age 46 yrs, sons William and Arthur Henry, and daughter Jennie, might have been the last straws. The burden of grief and loss, and perhaps guilt and shame, must have been enormous. The great economic crash of the 1890s in Victoria following the gold rush and land boom, accompanied by drought and bushfires would not have helped.

The disintegration of this family is perhaps best represented by their scattered burial sites - William and Arthur Henry at Leongatha, Jennie at Toora, and Mary Ann at Poowong. Henry is at Geelong, Eliza Ann at Buninyong, Joseph Jnr at Wycheproof, James in NSW at Boggabri, Elizabeth Minnie at Yallourn, and Joseph Snr at White Hills in Bendigo. I haven't yet found Robert or Albert.

DEATH & BURIAL First name(s) Joseph Last name Richardson Age 73 Sex Male Birth year 1842 Death year 1915 Father's name - Mother's name - Death place Bendigo State Victoria Registration number 7852

Name: Joseph Richardson Birth Year: abt 1842 Age: 73 Death Place: Bendigo, Victoria Registration Year: 1915 Registration Place: Victoria Registration Number: 7852 I have found the inquest report on the Joseph Richardson who died Bendigo 1915, born 1842. There is no conclusive identifying information without getting the hospital records, but I am confident this is a correct attribution, especially since there are no alternatives and record keeping is, by this time, reliable. There is no other death registered for Joseph Richardson in Victoria that resembles our man. See docs for record of inquest.

Constable Woodyard 4307, 10 August 1915, reports Death in the Bendigo Hospital of lunatic patient Joseph Richardson. I have to report for your information that at about 12.30 pm on the 0.8.1915 Dr Douglas of the Bendigo Hospital informed me by telephone that Joseph Richardson a lunatic patient who has been transferred from the Benevolent Asylum to the Bendigo Hospital on [8th June 1915,] where he died [two months later] on the 8.8.1915. From enquiries made I have ascertained that deceased was transferred from Kew Asylum to the Bendigo Benevolent Asylum on the 28.8.1908 and on the 8th June 1915 he was transferred from the Benevolent Asylum to the Bendigo Hospital where he died on the 8.8.1915.

The autopsy report by Dr Douglas reports that Joseph was well nourished and had healthy liver, heart, brain, skull and scalp, and an old injury to his lower left ribs. He had gallstones, and an enlarged prostate obstructing the urethra and ultimately causing massive infection of the kidneys. The kidney infection caused his death.

Joseph was not in fact a "lunatic patient". It is now well-understood that urinary tract infections are a primary cause of dementia-like symptoms in the elderly, and in 1915 there were no antibiotics to treat such infections. It was not uncommon in males with enlarged prostate obstructing the urethra and preventing the bladder from emptying. Such patients were treated as lunatics, as indeed, still sometimes happens today. The Benevolent Asylum would not take seriously mentally ill patients, so we should suppose that Joseph was largely recovered from serious mental illness (melancholia) before being transferred from Kew in 1908, and was being cared for mainly due to his age and lack of family. The urinary tract infection would have caused delirium which resembles madness, and he would then be treated as a lunatic in the absence of other explanations. The relationship between UTI and delirium was unknown, and so was the ability to treat it.

Bendigo Advertiser 11 Aug 1915 FATALITIES AND ACCIDENTS. LUNACY PATIENTS DEATH. An inquiry was held at the Bendigo Hospital yesterday on the body of Joseph Richardson, aged 73 years, who died in the institution on Sunday. Deceased was a lunacy patient boarded out. from the new Asylum to the Bendigo Benevolent Asylum. He was transferred from the latter institution to the lunacy ward of the hospital, where he died as stated. A post-mortem examination was made by Dr. Douglas, and the matter was reported to the coroner by Constable Woodyard. Mr. J. H. Curnow, J.P., deputy coroner, conducted the inquiry, and recorded a verdict that the cause of death was chronic kidney trouble.

Joseph was buried 11th August 1915 at White Hills Cemetery, Bendigo, grave number 16639, section unknown. It seems probable that he was buried by the hospital in a pauper grave, since no family lived nearby.

There is no evidence to date of who farmed the 196 acre holding near Longwarry, or what happened to it after Joseph's death. I wonder if one of the sons I cannot find was running the farm and caring for any surviving children still living at home. Elizabeth Minnie, the youngest surviving child was living with her brother at East Allambee until she married Walter Gorman in 1917, so I believe that probably all was lost in the 1890s crash. 1893 is the last year I can confirm Joseph in Longwarry. Youngest daughter Elizabeth MInnie was 15 yrs old and probably became the family housekeeper after Jennie's untimely death.

The Great Southern Advocate has a number of references to J Richardson and Joseph Richardson, in the relevant period, mainly at Korumburra, any of which might refer to one of the Josephs or James.

OTHER POSSIBLES First name(s) Joseph Last name Richardson Age 59 Sex Male Birth year 1840 Death year 1899 Father's name - Mother's name - Death place Kew L A State Victoria Registration number 10018 [Not quite a good match, and we know Joseph was still living in 1903 when daughter Jennie died.]