The Shepherds in Australia
After arriving at Geelong on the sailing ship the Stebonheath in January 1853, Edward and Fanny Shepherd and their family went to live at the Rich Avon sheep station on the Richardson River near St Arnaud where Edward worked as a labourer. The family later lived at St Arnaud where most of their children were married and where, on 30 June 1887, Edward died of Ôheptactic diseases with jaundice and old ageÕ when he was 73 years old. His death certificate shows that he was then a farmer, that his parents were named Edward and Elizabeth, and that he had been married three times; first to Fanny Chaff in Devonshire when he was 21, then to Elizabeth Jeffrey in St. Arnaud when he was 58, and finally to Ann Froreich (nee Sharpe) in St Arnaud two years before his death. Edward had no children with his second and third wives. The informant for his death certificate was his youngest son, Robert (who was then 40 years old). The following notices appeared in the St Arnaud Mercury on 2 July 1887:
ÔSHEPHERD - On the 30th at his residence, Inglewood
Road, Bald Hills, Edward Shepherd, aged 73 years, deeply regrettedÕ.
ÔIt will be observed by an obituary notice in this issue that Mr Edward Shepherd departed this life on Thursday last, and the interment will take place on Sunday (tomorrow) at the St. Arnaud cemetery ... The deceased was 73 years of age and one of the oldest residents in the district, where he was both well known and universally respected. Mr Shepherd leaves a wife and a large family all of whom are grown up and married and residents of the district.Õ
Fanny Shepherd (nee Chaffe) died of Ônervous debility and exhaustionÕ at Bald Hills in the Shire of St. Arnaud on 19 December 1871 when she was 58 years old. Edward was the informant. Her death certificate shows that her parents were Thomas Chaff (labourer) and Mary unknown. Her children at the time were Mary (aged 37), Ann Maria (35), Edward (33), John (30), William (27) and Robert (24).
She was buried in St Arnaud cemetery. Her headstone reads:
ÔIn memory of Fanny Shepherd
the beloved wife of Edward Shepherd late of Devon England
who died 19 December 1871 aged 58 years.
Also of Elizabeth Shepherd late of Cornwall
who died 1 December 1884 aged 58 years.
Also of Edward Shepherd husband of the above
who died 30 June 1887, aged 73 years.Õ
Edward and Fanny Shepherd had six children all of whom were born in Buckfastleigh in Devon and who accompanied their parents on the voyage out to Australia.
Mary married George Lee (1820-1872), an ex-convict, in around 1853 (probably at Rich Avon). They had one child, Mary Lee (born at Rich Avon in 1854 and died in St. Arnaud in 1910). Mary Lee married James Henry Medlyn in 1871. George Lee died and was buried at St Arnaud. His tombstone reads: ÔIn memory of George Lee of Woolwich, Kent England. Died 17 May 1872 aged 52 years. Farewell! thou art gone to rest/Thy toils and cares are oÕer/And sorrow, pain and suffering now/Shall neÕer distress thee moreÕ. Thus saith the Lord. Set thine house in order: for thou shall die and not live (Isaiah 58).Õ
After her husband George Lee died, Mary Lee (Shepherd) seems to have remarried although after she died in St Arnaud in 1891 she was buried with her first husband George Lee, the words on the headstone being amended to read: ÔAlso Mary Fyfe Relict of the late George Lee and daughter of the late Edward Shepherd who died 14 February 1891 aged 56 years. They rest in peace.Õ
Ann Maria married Abraham Joseph Allen in around 1854. They had at least four children: Edward (1860-), Abraham Joseph (1864-1937), John Robert (1865-1940) and William (1868-1915). Her first husband, Abraham Joseph, died in St Arnaud the year William was born. The St Arnaud burial records show that Joseph, as he was known, was: ÔBorn Suffolk, England. C of E, and ÔShepherdÕs son-in-lawÕ. Also in same enclosure - William Allen d. 1915 - son of Joseph Allen; Abraham and Anna Maria Jones d. 1890 and 1912 and their daughter - Amelia Jane Jones d. 1878.Õ
Edward married Matilda Lynne (1841-1919) in 1865. The couple had seven children all of whom were born in Donald in Victoria: Jane Elizabeth (1866-1926), Thomas Chaff (1869-1945 Ð who married a cousin Louisa Shepherd in 1916), Robert James (1871-1934, married Mary Gibbons in 1902 and had eight children), Phoebe Emily (1873-), John Finlay (1875-1938, married Ada Fidge in 1905), Matilda Catherine (1877-1943, married James Whelan), and Edward (1867-1946, married Elizabeth McKeown).
Edward Shepherd died at Wycheproof on 2 June 1919 where the following obituary appeared in the 10 June 1919 edition of the Donald Times:
ÔMr Edward Shepherd, whose wife died last week, only survived her for a week, as he passed away on Monday evening last week at Wycheproof. He was about 83 years of age, and was born in Devonshire, England. He came to the colony in 1853 as a lad, and went to Rich Avon Station. At one time he was considered to be the champion rough rider of Victoria. He commenced farming at Thalia in 1884 and was a resident of the district for 47 years. During that time he made many friends who heard of his death with regret. Two daughters (Mrs M. Ryan and Mrs J. Whelan) and four sons (Edward, Thomas, Robert and John) are left to mourn their loss, also two brothers (Robert and William) of St Arnaud, Deep sympathy is felt for the members of their double bereavementÕ.
4. John Shepherd (shepherd and farmer, 1842-1918)
John Shepherd lived and worked initially at Rich Avon Station and then as a shepherd on the adjoining Banyenomg station near Cope Cope where, in August 1862, he married Johanna Mulcahy. Johanna was born in Loughbrae in County Galway in Ireland. Her parents were James Mulcahy and Joanna Daly. She emigrated to Australia in around 1857 when she was just seventeen years old. The newly weds lived in St Arnaud from 1862 to around 1869 when they moved to Donald where John and another man named Dow were employed by Samuel Craig to work as boundary riders on CraigÕs sheep station at the Bald Hills (or Corack) sheep station. The Corack station had been established in the mid 1840s and was some 100,000 acres in size. According to Jenni Campbell (1997: 8-9):
during this time there was some conflict between the white pastoralists
and the aborigines. As sheep numbers increased the native game disappeared and
the aborigines were forced to spear sheep for food. They developed quite a
liking for mutton chops, so boundary riders were hired to watch the flocks by
day, and by night the sheep were driven into yards consisting of movable hurdle
type fence panels where they were guarded by shepherds. As the boundary riders
retaliated against these killings, bad feelings against the aborigines grew and
the late Mrs Jane Cook (a daughter of the boundary rider John Shepherd)
remembers the Richardson and Morton plains aborigines being rounded up and
taken to the Ebernezer Mission at Antwerp.
John and Joanna had nine children: Mary Jane (1863-1933, married Frederick Thomas Cook in 1889 and had six children), Fanny Joanna (1864-1927, married Samuel Free in 1891 and had ten children), Joanna (1866-1937, married James Free at Corack in 1891 and had eleven children), Elizabeth Ann (1868-1940), Susan Maria (1870-1877), Jessie (1874-1877), John William (1875-1877), Lucy Catherine (1877-) and Annie Florence (born in 1881 and married Edmund Reilly in 1911). Click here to read about Samuel and Fanny Free's life and times in Lalbert.
In 1874, following the enactment of the Victorian land act, John Shepherd took out a lease on 307 acres of land in Corack East which still belonged to the family at the time John died of a heart attack at Corack East on 28 February 1918. He was aged 76 years. The informant of his death certificate was his daughter Lucy Shepherd. The issue at the time of his death were: Mary Jane Cook (54 years), Fanny Free (53), Johanna Free (51), Elizabeth Ann (50), Susan (deceased), Jessie Maria (deceased), John William (deceased), Lucy Catherine (39) and Annie Florence Reilly (37). The following obituary subsequently appeared in the 5 March 1918 edition of the Donald Times:
ÔOne of the oldest
pioneers of this district in the person of Mr John Shepherd passed away on
Thursday last, after an illness of only four days. Up to Sunday last the
deceased gentleman was in his usual health, but on that day was attacked by
illness, and Dr Calhoun (Donald) on being called out, diagnosed the case as
paralysis. For several days the health ebbed and flowed, but at last the Dr
pronounced the case hopeless and the end came on 28th Feb. Mr Shepherd had
attained the ripe old age of 76 years, 66 years of which had been lived in the
colony, the main part of which had been spent in the Donald and Corack
districts. The deceased arrived in Victoria with his parents from Devonshire,
England, in the year 1852, the name of the ship being the ÒStebonheathÓ and
landed at Geelong on 11th January in that year. Immediately thereafter Mr and
Mrs Shepherd Senr. moved with their little family to Rich Avon station, where
they remained for several years, from which place deceased was married, the
young lady being Miss Mulcahy, the ceremony being conducted by an Anglican
clergyman at Cope Cope. After being at Banyenong station for two years, Mr
Shepherd in 1869 took employment with Mr Craig at the Bald Hills Station (Corack),
and on selection being given to the people, he took up the usual 320 acres, in
which he and his family have resided ever since. In the year 1877 bereavement
came to the family by the ravages of diptheria which carried off the only boy
(2 years old) and two of the girls. Further bereavement occurred in November
1900 when the wife of deceased died, leaving six daughters, four of whom are as
follows: Mrs Cook, Thalia; Mrs S. and J. Free, Lalbert; and Mrs Reilly of
Corack, and the two younger daughters Elizabeth and Lucy were with the father
when he died. No fewer than 28 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren survive
the good old man - and he came to his end like a full stock of corn - loved and
respected by all who knew him. Three brothers also survive the deceased
gentleman, Mr Edward, 79 years, Wycheproof, Mr Robt, St Arnaud, and Mr William,
Berrimal.Õ
JohannaÕs died of influenza and heart exhaustion at East Corack on 26 November 1900. She had been in Victoria 43 years. Her issue at the time of her death were: Jane (36), Fanny (36), Johanna (34), Lizzie (32), Susan (deceased), Jessie (deceased), John (deceased), Lucy (22) and Annie (19). The informant for her death certificate was her daughter, Lucy Catherine Shepherd. An obituary in the Donald Times on 30 November 1900 read:
It is with regret that we announce the sudden and
somewhat unexpected death of Mrs Shepherd, wife of Mr John Shepherd, of Corack
East, on Monday last at the age of 61 years. The cause of death was heat
apoplexy. The deceased was attended by Dr Lewis a few hours before her death.
The funeral took place at the Corack East cemetery on Wednesday last, and was
largely attended by residents of the district. The deceased lady, along with
her husband, arrived at Corack nearly 30 years ago and has resided there ever
since, and was greatly liked and respected by all who knew her. Great sympathy
is expressed for Mr Shepherd and family in their sad bereavement.
Joanna was buried, along with her husband John in the Corack cemetery (located about 5 km from where the township of Corack was). The headstone reads: ÔSacred to the memory of Johanna Shepherd beloved wife of John Shepherd who departed this life at Corack 26 November 1900 aged 60 years, 8 months. ÒSleep on beloved/Sleep and take thy rest/We love thee well/But Jesus loves thee bestÓ. Also the above our dear father John Shepherd died 28 February 1918 aged 76 years. Ever loved and remembered, sadly missedÕ. On 26 April 1918, the Donald Times reported that ÔJohn Shepherd, late of Corack East, farmer, widower, who died on 28th February, left by his will, of 27th March 1917, £63,706 real estate and £61,475 personalty to his wife and daughtersÕ. The old coupleÕs daughter, Elizabeth Jane, who remained unmarried all her life, was buried behind her parentsÕ grave at the Corack cemetery. Her headstone reads: ÔIn loving memory of Elizabeth Ann Shepherd beloved daughter of the late John and Johanna Shepherd. ÒA sterling good woman resting with GodÓÕ.
William married Jessie Scott Stewart (1855-1931) at St Arnaud in 1872. The couple had 13 children: William John, Rose Amelia, Jessie Scott, Ethel, Louisa (who married her cousin Thomas Chaff Shepherd), Edward Robert, Roland Hill, George Stewart, James Andrew, Elizabeth Allen, Isobel Victoria, Mary (ÔMollyÕ) and Nell. Jessie came from Dundee in Scotland and died in St Arnaud in 1931. Her obituary in the Donald Times (dated 29 May 1931) read:
ÔVery much regret was expressed in St Arnaud when it
became know that Mrs Jessie Scott Shepherd, wife of Mr William Shepherd, passed
away suddenly at her residence, Inglewood Road, St. Arnaud, on Sunday evening.
The deceased lady, who was aged 76 years, was in her usual health and spirits
when she retired, and died from heart failure later in the night. The late Mrs
Shepherd, who was a daughter of the late Mr and Mrs Stewart, was born in
Dundee, and was brought by her parents to Australia when two years of age.
Shortly after her arrival in Victoria her parents went to Avon Plains, and Mr
Stewart was employed on the Rich Avon Estate for many years. She was married to
Mr William Shepherd of Rich Avon at St Arnaud, and shortly after they took up
land in the Coonooer district, where they remained for upwards of 35 years,
following farming pursuits. About 13 years ago, Mr and Mrs Shepherd went to
reside at Inglewood Road. She was of a very kind and generous nature, and a
large circle of friends heard of her death with much regret. She leaves a
grown-up family of William John (Dumosa), Mrs A. Baird (Glenloth), Mrs A.
Randall (Swan Hill), Edward Robert (Oregan, USA), George Stewart (St. Arnaud),
Mrs W. Whelan (Coonooer Bridge), Mrs Phenixi (Myrniong) and Mrs W. Russell
(Woomelang)Õ.
St Arnaud burial records state: ÔWife of William Shepherd d. 1932, same grave. Of St Arnaud. C of E. Born Dundee, Scotland. Died Inglewood Rd, St Arnaud. Daughter of Robert Stewart, labourer, and Isabella Stewart nee McIntosh. 74 years in Victoria. Married St Arnaud to William Shepherd. Mother of: William John, Rose Amelia; Jessie Scott; Ethel; Louisa; Edward Robert; Roland Hill, decÕd; George Stewart; Elizabeth Allen; James Andrew; Isabella Victoria; Mrs Phenix.Õ
Robert married Mary Ann Shields (1853-1926) in St Arnaud in 1868. The couple had eight children: Mary Ann, Annie Louise, Ann Ellen, Fanny, Robert, Elizabeth Victoria, Ellie and Edward. Robert died in St Arnaud in 1832. His obituary in the 18 November 1932 edition of the Donald Times reads: ÔA very old identity of the district in the person of Mr Robert Shepherd, relict of Mary Ann Shepherd, passed away on Friday at the residence of his daughter, Mrs G. Bryany, Canterbury Street St Arnaud. The late Mr Shepherd was born in Devon, England in 1846, and was 86 years of age. He came to Australia when seven years of age and was married in St Arnaud. He followed farming at Gowar for many years, and sold his property to Mr Con McKew. He was very well known and highly respected. The late Mr Shepherdis survived by the following family - Messrs Robert (St Arnaud), and Edward (Coonooer Bridge), Mesdames G. Bryany (St Arnaud), J. E. Wandell (Underbool), A. Brown (Cowangie) and W. Walder (Watchem)Õ. St Arnaud burial records read: ÔHusband of Mary Ann Shepherd d. 1926, same grave. Of St Arnaud. Farmer. C of E. Died Canterbury Street St Arnaud. Also same grave, second headstone - Robert Shepherd d. 1945, son.Õ