Discovering the Downes - My Nanna Brunner's Family
Once again I went digging through the BDM certificates using Uncle Ossie's lineage list as a guide. It was a little tricky as their family name was spelt 3 different ways - Down - Downs - Downes - it seemed to evolve over time. I never knew that my Nanna - Amy Isabella Downes, came from such a large family with 4 sisters and 5 brothers. Where did they all go? I only remembered an Aunty Pearl who came and visited once with 3 grown-up daughters. There were 11 births to parents Walter Downes and Esther Rebecca Conlon, who were married in 1886 at St. Simon & St. Judes Anglican Church, Surrey Hills. Sydney.
Mary Ann Desmond......1887 - 1920
Walter Edward.............1888 - 1890
Ernest John..................1890 - 1954
Annie Cerise.................1892 - 1982
Thomas Flood...............1893 - 1964
Lily Elizabeth................1895 - 1965
Ruby Pearl....................1898 - 1973
Arthur Paul...................1900 - 1979
Amy Isabella.................1902 - 1971.....my Nanna
Albert Roy.....................1905 - 1930
Sydney Gladstone.........1907 - 1913 Click this link to see demolition of church in 1928
Walter Edward.............1888 - 1890
Ernest John..................1890 - 1954
Annie Cerise.................1892 - 1982
Thomas Flood...............1893 - 1964
Lily Elizabeth................1895 - 1965
Ruby Pearl....................1898 - 1973
Arthur Paul...................1900 - 1979
Amy Isabella.................1902 - 1971.....my Nanna
Albert Roy.....................1905 - 1930
Sydney Gladstone.........1907 - 1913 Click this link to see demolition of church in 1928
Mary Ann Desmond - I was told that she was born with a hearing defect, but was a brilliant child and married William Lockwood in 1915, also partially deaf. They had 2 children but sadly after the birth of the second baby, she died from childbirth complications. Both children were raised by Grandparents - Walter & Esther. This family's tragedies weren't over, for on 29th May 1939 a disastrous RAAF Avro Anson Bomber, on a training session, crashed near Liverpool killing son, Corporal William Lockwood, just 22 years. |
Walter Edward - This is such a sad story it makes your teeth cringe. Only 15 months old, he died from haemorrhage during the night after scoring of the gums, and found dead in his cot the next morning. What a barbaric practice!
Ernest John - went by the name of Jack. He was kind-of shunned by the family because he lived with a married woman who had children by another man. From the records I've ploughed through I have found a Lily Riordan who Jack lived with up until the day he died. Oh the piousness of us all!
Annie Cerise - What a lovely second name. She remained a spinster all her life and stayed home looking after her ageing Mother and deaf & dumb sister Lizzie. She worked as a machinist for Solomon Goldstein.
Ernest John - went by the name of Jack. He was kind-of shunned by the family because he lived with a married woman who had children by another man. From the records I've ploughed through I have found a Lily Riordan who Jack lived with up until the day he died. Oh the piousness of us all!
Annie Cerise - What a lovely second name. She remained a spinster all her life and stayed home looking after her ageing Mother and deaf & dumb sister Lizzie. She worked as a machinist for Solomon Goldstein.
Thomas Flood - Tom was 35 when he married Florence Farrell in 1928 and had 2 adorable children.
The rift of Catholic vs Anglican was strong in this family. The Downes family were staunch devout Anglicans and the Farrells were Catholic. And never the twain shall mix! However this couple must have had a mutual understanding and ended their days together. |
Lily Elizabeth - was rendered partially deaf and able to speak a few words, by Rubella, a complication from Measles, at the age of 7. She was an excellent student in Maths, History and Geography and a natural artist that loved to draw and paint, also embroidery on clothing and crocheting etc. With her sisters she worked at Solomon Goldstein's shirt factory and as an avid dancer attended Miss O'Reilly's Dance Academy with her sisters too, in fact the whole family were very musical.
Due to complications on a thyroid surgery she was admitted to the Mental Hospital at Rydalmere, near Parramatta where she ended her days of 70 years.
Due to complications on a thyroid surgery she was admitted to the Mental Hospital at Rydalmere, near Parramatta where she ended her days of 70 years.
Arthur Paul - a bachelor, lived with his sister Annie. He was a devout Anglican, taught at St. Martin's Sunday School and was heavily involved in the youth work of the church and a great piano player. He was a 'boot clicker' by trade and followed that occupation till his retirement.
Amy Isabella - the baby sister. She married Ossie Brunner in 1923 after a very rocky start to their engagement, over Amy cutting her hair after Ossie threatened that if she lopped off her beautiful, long flowing locks of hair, their relationship would be over. Suffice to say, after some time of the couple making both family households miserable, Ossie asked forgiveness for his unreasonable surliness and so Amy capitulated graciously.
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Albert Roy - known as Mick, went looking for work in the depression years, to far distant western towns, where he fell ill and died in 1930 just 25 years old. The candle of life snuffed out, far too young! I have been told that Mick is at the back left in this photo and the others are just friends. What a handsome foursome! My gut feeling is that they are all siblings and are all Mick's brothers. Arthur & Tom in the front, Mick & Jack at the back. I could be wrong. |
Sydney Gladstone - I have this memorial card and what a sad moment to find that this gorgeous 7 year old died in hospital from an allergic reaction to penicillin administered for a bronchial aliment. What a waste, another life the medical system should answer for..... |
Dearest Sydney, thou hast left us, Thou dost dwell with angels now, And a wreath of glory priceless Sparks on thy shining brow. In thy pure and joyous childhood Christ called "Child, come here to Me." Wait a little, dearest Sydney, And we soon shall follow thee. |
The Downes family lived from the 'Naughty Nineties' to the 'Roaring Twenties' and on through the 'Great Depression' - what a time in History to be living!
Father Walter moved his family around to a few different addresses in Sydney - 93 Campbell Street, 67 Lower Campbell Street, 245 Goulburn Street before finally settling his family in a new house on a large block of land at 31 Boyce Road Maroubra around 1920. See pin on map below. He was a butcher by trade and owned his own Butcher shop. Sadly his life was cut short by Myocarditis - a disease marked by inflammation and damage of the heart muscle...possible causes -
viral infections, autoimmune diseases, environmental toxins and adverse reactions to medications.
Walter was 63 years old. Esther his wife outlasted him another 20 years and died at age 78.
Click on this link to 1890s - Historical Clothing
Click on this link to the changing face of Modern Australia
Father Walter moved his family around to a few different addresses in Sydney - 93 Campbell Street, 67 Lower Campbell Street, 245 Goulburn Street before finally settling his family in a new house on a large block of land at 31 Boyce Road Maroubra around 1920. See pin on map below. He was a butcher by trade and owned his own Butcher shop. Sadly his life was cut short by Myocarditis - a disease marked by inflammation and damage of the heart muscle...possible causes -
viral infections, autoimmune diseases, environmental toxins and adverse reactions to medications.
Walter was 63 years old. Esther his wife outlasted him another 20 years and died at age 78.
Click on this link to 1890s - Historical Clothing
Click on this link to the changing face of Modern Australia