George Edis Butler (1874 - 1931)
 |
|
1881
census |
 Family Tree |
George Edis Butler was born in about 1874 at Newark, Northamptonshire (just to the north of Peterborough). He was the sixth child born to Edis Butler (an agricultural labourer) and Sarah Butler (nee Bolton).
Four further children were born after George and their birth places indicate that the family moved around the area (Newark, Newborough, Paston and Dogsthorpe) until finally settling in Holme (approximately five miles to the south of Peterborough) by 1891. However, George does not appear on this census. He would have been 17 at the time. Where was he? Can't find him on any census return for this year.
In 1901, at the age of 26, George was living in Holme and working as a farm labourer. He was living with his father (66, farm labourer), his mother (59) and two of his brothers (Arthur aged 20, and Walter aged 17 - both farm labourers). His other siblings had all got married and left home.
George married Mary Ann Kate Welfare on 13th November 1902 at Ramsey St Marys church. (Ref: 3b, 645, Oct-Dec, Huntingdon and from Moya Sharpe, Kalgoorlie). Kate was one of five sisters. She was living in Ramsey and working as a farm labourer. She was 20. They started their married life in Holme where their first son, Bertie, was born on November 5th 1903. Their second child, Fred, was born in 1906 (Ref: 3b, 203 July-Sep, Peterboro).
Five years into married life, on 15th November 1907, George and Kate emigrated to Australia. They departed London (Tilbury?) on board the Oruba. The ship was bound for Fremantle. Bertie had just turned four and Fred was just one year old.
Mary's younger sister, Selina, her husband John and their one year old son Sidney were also due to leave on the Oruba and had bought tickets (their names are on the passenger list, but have been crossed out). However, tragedy struck, and Sidney died just before they were due to leave. (Ref: Huntingdon 3b 135 October-December). Selina and John decided to make the trip later and boarded the Orotava on 13th December 1907.
George, Kate and their children arrived in Fremantle in January 1908.
Whilst in Australia, their first daughter was born on 4th June 1909. They named her Lillian. They were living in Toorak Tce, Toorak, Coolgardie at the time and George was listed as a miner. Two years later, they were living in King Street, Coolgardie and on 22nd July 1911 Edith was born. The girls were both baptized at St Andrew's Church, Coolgardie. Sadly Edith died on 24th April 1912 of meningitis; she is buried in the Anglican section Grave F2.27. (Lillian's birth certificate, Lillian's baptism certificate, Edith's baptism certificate)
George, Kate and their three children returned to England, probably in 1912. They spent some time at Randall Farm, Upware and in 1913 Edith Laura Welfare was born (at Swaffham Prior). The family then moved to Ramsey Heights.
George born
in 1917.
Gladys Irene Augusta born in 1921.
Kenneth John was born in 1931 (Ref: 3b 323, July - September, Huntingdon).
George Edis committed suicide in 1931 (Ref: 3b 256, October - December,
Huntingdon).
Kenneth John died in 1933 (Ref: 3b 235, October - December, Peterborough)
Notes to add:
George was born during a period of great hardship amongst agricultural communties. The country as a whole was in an economic depression. In addition, there had been a succession of poor harvests in the early 1870s due to wet weather. This culminated in the agricultural depression of 1875. Measures were put in place to improve the lives of farm workers, but it was not until the early 1890s when the economy as a whole started to recover that agriculture emerged from its slump.
There were 333 passengers on board. The Master's name was Capt Plunkett.
Emma Butler (George's sister was married on 11th April 1888 at Paston (information thanks to Kay Taylor).
Dear
Barbara
Sorry for taking so long to reply to your email and thank you for your
comments on our site.
I looked up the birth details of Lillian May BUTLER and found the following
which you may already know:
She was born on 4th June 1909 in Toorak Tce, Toorak (suburb of Coolgardie,
the posh area!).
Father: Edis George BUTLER born Peterbrough England
Mother: Mary Ann Kate WELFORD (The surname is not very clear, if you know
what it is could you let me know?) born Ramsey St Mary, Huntingdonshire,
England
They were married on the 3rd Nov 1902 in the Church of England, Ramsey
St Mary, Huntingdonshire, England
In 1909 Edis was a miner aged 35yrs and her mother was aged 26yrs.
You could trace the familys movements on the following site in the alphabetical
section, only the head of the house is listed.
Are you in Australia? I could recommend a book about early Coolgardie
called 'Coolgardie Gold' by Albert Gaston.
Kind regards
Moya
Kalgoorlie
Hi
Barbara
The birth record you have for Lillian must just be an extract, we have
the full record here.
Yes I have Edith's birth details, she was born on 22nd July 1911 and the
family were living in King Street, Coolgardie. All other details are the
same except that there are the addition of 2 males and 2 females listed
as deceased. These were not mentioned on Lillian's entry and couldn't
have occurred between her and Edith. I can find no other births in Coolgardie,
do you think they may have happened before they came to Coolgardie or
perhaps in England or on the way here?
In regards to poor little Edith, she died of Meningitis aged 9mths on
the 24th April 1912 and is buried in the Anglican section Grave F2.27,
there is no headstone.
Good news about Mary Ann's sister Selina and her husband. I have found
them arriving together on the ship Orotave arriving in Fremantle from
London on the 16th Jan 1908, Joseph is stated as a 23yr old Labourer and
Selina as his wife, they were nominated to come to Australia by J Corney.
Even better is they had their first child in Coolgardie on the 2nd June
1908 so this baby was probably conceived on or just before the journey.
The baby was:
Victor Taylor
Father: Joseph Sharman TAYLOR born Holm ????, Huntington England
Mother Selina WELFARE born Ramsey St Mary
They were married on the 4th Nov 1905 also in Ramsey St Mary's
They were both 23yrs old when Victor was born
They were living in Renou Street, Coolgardie
There is 1 male listed as deceased which must have been in England.
They then had a second child Leonard Sidney TAYLOR born 18th Jan 1910
in Toorak Tce, Coolgardie, all other details are the same.
Their third child was William Roy TAYLOR born 2nd Feb 1913 in King Street,
Coolgardie all other details the same.
This is the last child I could find from my records but there may have
been more after.
Kind regards
Moya
Links?
1870 Education Act
1875 Agricultural Depression
Holme Life
Further Research:
What had happened to Eliza - she would have been 19 in 1881?
What about John, he was 10 months old on the 1861 census, but was not on 1871?
Can't find George Butler on the 1891 census. Mary Ann, Herbert, William, Alfred and Arthur are all there. And there is Walter (7). Where was he?
Cause and date of Sidney's death?
What happened to John and Selina (Jo and Lynn)?
