Matrilineal Monday - A life cut short - Louisa Herbert (nee Seaford) 1872 -1902

Louisa Seaford and John Herbert 

Last week I shared the Obituary of my great grandfather John Herbert (1862-1926).  Tragically, his first wife, Louisa Seaford died at the age of thirty, leaving him with four children, Alice, Essel Mary, William and Annie, all under the age of 11 years. Louisa was born in Burra, South Australia the second daughter of Julianna Grow and Henry Seaford. As a child she attended school in Burra, then at the age of 18 she married John Herbert on the 23 May 1890. 

Marraige Notice - for Louisa and John Herbert *

Life in the mining town of Kooringa was tough, and health risks high, with outbreaks of typhoid and cholera.  Unfortunately Louisa fell victim to Cholera and died very suddenly at the tender age of 30. How was John to care for such a young family all on his own and at the same time working to earn a living?

OBITUARY - Burra Record 

"We have to record this week the death of the wife of Mr. John Herbert, of Kooringa, which took place on Thursday night at the Burra Hospital. The deceased lady was a native of Burra, and had resided here all her life. Fever was contracted a week or two ago, and subsequently alarming symptoms set in, which made her case very serious. Despite the tender nursing and constant attendance of the doctors the deceased never recovered. Mrs. Herbert  was 30 years of age on the day she died.

The funeral took place on Sunday afternoon, when a very large number of friends paid the last tribute of respect to the deceased lady. The Rev. W Y. James conducted the service at the graveside. The Lily of the Valley Ten (ladies) and Foresters' lodge formed a procession in front of the hearse and marched to the cemetery. Much sympathy is expressed for Mr. Herbert, (who is left with a family of four young children to mourn their loss." **

__________
*The Advertiser,    http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article26753447.viewed on 26/7/2014
** Burra Record (SA : 1878-1954), Wednesday 9 April 1902, page 2 National Library of Australia http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article36107209

Sunday's Obituary - John Herbert 1862-1926

John Herbert 1862-1926

Today's post is the obituary of my great grandfather Mr John Herbert who passed away suddenly, at the age of 63 in 1929. He spent his entire life living in the mining town of Burra, South Australia.

"Obituary*

Residents were greatly shocked on Wednesday last when it was announced that Mr John Herbert had passed away at the Burra Hospital the previous night, after a very short illness.  The Thursday previous he was unable to attend to his work but thinking it was an old trouble he did not take too much notice and did not unfortunately, obtain medical advice until the following Monday.

 The late Mr Herbert was born at Kooringa in 1852 and was the eldest son of the late Mr and Mrs William Herbert, (Pioneers of Burra), of Kooringa.  He was educated at the late Dr J.R. Stevens’school and worked first at Lockyer’s brewery.  After the brewery closed down he worked at other places but for many years past has been an employee of the Burra Corporation.  In his work he was conscientious and thorough and the Council have lost a trusted and valued employee.

In his younger days Mr Hebert was an enthusiastic footballer and cricketer but of late years has been content to be a looker-on but a most interested one.  As a townsman he was held in the highest esteem by all and sincere sympathy is felt for the widow and family in their sudden bereavement.  Mr Herbert was twice married, his first wife was Miss Lousia Seaford who died in 1902 leaving a son and three daughters.

In 1903 he married Miss Carrie Hornhardt who has a family of two sons and one daughter. The family comprises Mrs M. J. Madigan of Pinnaroo; Mrs TV. Quinn, Broken Hill; Mrs D. Whitehorn, Koolunga; Mr W.J. Herbert, Broken Hill, Mr Jack Herbert, Adelaide; Mr Roy Herbert; Broken Hill and Miss Lily Herbert, Kooringa, and six grandchildren, also two brothers Messrs Chas. Herbert of Sydney, George Herbert and one sister, Mrs T. Parks both of Kooringa.

His funeral took place on Thursday afternoon and was attended by a representative number of townsfolks.  The Mayor (Mr Collins Esq), with Mrs T. Woolscott, F. Harris, A.B. Biggs, J Kellock, EJ. Davey acted as bearers and amongst the many beautiful floral tributes was one from the members of the Town Council and some from several townsmen.  The service was conducted by the Rev. R. H. Lee and the funeral arrangements my Messrs C.J. Pearce and Son.  The Late Mr Herbert was also a very old member of the Forestors Lodge and the service at the grave was read by Bro. E J. Davey."

Grave - John Herbert - Burra South Australia

____________

Burra Record, 13 January 1936, p. 3

Sentimental Sunday - William John Herbert - Uncle Bob

William John (Bob) Herbert

William John Herbert (1985-1972), or Uncle Bob as I knew him was my grandfather (Roy Clarence Herbert)'s half brother.  He and his wife Florence (nee Beaumont) were my mother's favorite Aunt and Uncle.  They lived in 97 Wolfram Street, Broken Hill. I remember as small child visiting Uncle Bob and Auntie Florry every time our family traveled into town (Broken Hill) from Nuntherungie, the station  where we lived.

Uncle Bob was born in the mining town of Burra, South Australia.  His parents were John Herbert and Louisa Seaforth. John was only seven years old when his mother Louisa died from Cholera. His father, was left with four young children remarried Caroline Hornhardt.  William, along with his siblings attended the Burra State School. He worked in the mines in Burra and then when the first World War broke out he enlisted in the Army. (Service Number - 3703).

At the end of the War he moved to Broken Hill, met Florence Beaumont, married and settled into their modest home.  Uncle Bob was an avid collector of stamps, spending his spare money on first day covers and newly released stamps. It was his enthusiams for stamp collecting that sparked my childhood interest in stamp collecting, and whenever we received a letter or card from Auntie Florry, there would always be a couple of older stamps from his collection on the envelope, especially for me.

Those Places Thursday - Burra Model School, South Australia



Burra State School



http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-page4741004

Who would think such an impressive building would have been build in a small mining community in the colonial outpost of South Australia.

This school was completed in 1877 which,  coincidentally was the year that the Burra Copper Mine was closed down.  The land on which the school was build was donated by the South Australian Mining Association.  When the School opened in 1878,  300 students were enrolled.  Among these students were my grandfather Roy Herbert (1909-1959) along with his brothers and sisters (Alice, William, Annie, Essel , Jack and Lillian). 

 It was his half-sister Annie Whitehorn (nee Herbert) who gave me the attached picture of the School about twenty five years ago.  She remembered her school days with fondness and recalled that this building was something that the whole Burra community took great pride in. She did tell me that my grandfather was not so fond of school life and  liked to skip school.  She would be sent out to find him and inevitably he would be found swimming in the local swimming spot.

The school was built to accommodate 800-1000 students and it wasn’t until 1913 when the High School was opened in the western wing that its class rooms were filled.  It certainly was an impressive building for a small colonial town in the late 1870’s. 

http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/printArticlePdf/36145695/3?print=n

Burra, was a mining town in South Australia about 160 km north of Adelaide. The town was founded in 1845 and was one of the world’s largest copper mines.  The income from this mine was one of the major contributors in the economic survival of the young colony of South Australia. 

The mine was closed in 1877 and the town continued to thrive as growing rural community and served as a transport centre for the north east of South Australia and through to Western New South Wales and Queensland.  Today, Burra is still an important rural centre for farming wheat and breeding sheep.

Due to its rich and colourful history it has become a popular destination for tourists who are visiting South Australia.