Friends of Epping Cemetery Vic

Hi, the Cemetery tour is tomorrow 19th August at 1pm. Please Park your car in Park Street and wear appropriate footwear as the ground may be uneven in some areas.

See you then!! 😀

Just a friendly reminder the Cemetery Tour is this Saturday 19th August.

The Epping Cemetery Walking Tour is happening on the 19th of August 2023. Tickets are on sale NOW!

Come and find out about the history of Epping Cemetery and hear stories about early pioneers and past residents. $15 per person and children under 12 are free. Car parks are in Park Street and wear appropriate clothing and foot wear, as the ground is uneven in places. To reserve your spot today contact Tanya G**k- Tour Coordinator on 0437 620 372 or email [email protected]

Anna Elizabeth Lynch nee' Wood was born in 1879 and was the adopted daughter Thomas John Stephens and Ellen Lillicrapp.
Little is known about Anna's biological parents only that her father's surname was Wood, and mother is listed as unknown.

Anna Married Timothy Francis Lynch in Victoria in 1898.

Timothy was born in Wollert in 1869 and was the son of Joseph Lynch and Mary McAuliffe.

On the 24th of March 1900 Anna Lynch, Thomas John Stephens (adopted father), Lillie Ethel May Stephens (adopted sister) and John Lillicrapp (adopted uncle) were on a little holiday when they boarded the S.S Glenelg.

The S.S Glenelg was an Iron passenger cargo steamship and was built in 1875 by Aitken & Mansel of Glasgow Scotland.

On the 24th of March the S.S Glenelg was getting loaded with cargo to be delivered to Melbourne from Bairnsdale, it consisted of hides, wattle bark, tallow, wool and sundries, also eight tons of electric light poles from Lakes Entrance.

There were approx 25 passengers and 16 crew on board. (Records are a little inaccurate.)

By all accounts the evening of the 24th of March was great they were enjoying themselves having a bit of a party, but then tragedy struck at about 4am on the 25th of March 1900.

The sea kept getting rougher as the night progressed. At 4am the S.S Glenelg started taking on water, the crew tried to bail out the water, but the ship was sinking fast. Captain English had no choice but to order abandon ship. It appeared some hull plates came loose.

There were two lifeboats on board 1 of which only had 3 crew on it, this was due to the lifeboat being tossed around passenger's were scared to jump on. When the 2nd lifeboat was launched most passengers and remaining crew jumped aboard.

Captain English and his first mate went down with the ship.

The 3 crew members in the 1st lifeboat tried to reach the 2nd lifeboat to help with overcrowding but sadly the lifeboat was never seen again.

The 3 crew members were at sea for a further 2 days before reaching Marlo.

Within days some bodies of victims were washed ashore along 90-mile beach some were never found.

Timothy Lynch made his way to Bairnsdale hoping he would find Anna alive and safe, but sadly Anna drowned in the wreck along with Thomas John Stephens, Little Lillie Ethel May Stephens, and John Lillicrapp.

Anna was laid to rest at Epping Cemetery on the 7th of April 1900 in the Roman Catholic section sadly there is no marker or headstone.

Thomas John Stephens was laid to rest at Melbourne Genral Cemetery. Heartbreakingly Lillie Ethel May Stephens and John Lillicrapp were never found. On the family's tombstone it says, "They sleep beneath the waves".

On the 11th of July 1912 Timothy Francis Lynch (Farmer) passed away from pneumonia age 43yrs and was laid to rest at Epping Cemetery in the Roman Catholic section. Timothy does not have a headstone or marker.

In 2009 a Victorian dive team called Southern Ocean Exploration found the S.S Glenelg after 109 years at the bottom of the sea.

Attached is a link of the YouTube video of the exploration. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1G1vnCTzOXo

Source: soe.org.au Southern Ocean Exploration, Trove nla, Ancestry, You Tube, thankyou Andrea.

Michael John Kelly was born in 1857 and was the son of Timothy Kelly and Margaret O'Brien.

Michael John Kelly was born in 1857 and was the son of Timothy Kelly and Margaret O'Brien.

In 1882 Michael married Mary Ellen Payne and together they had 8 children John Kelly, William Kelly, Timothy Kelly, Margaret Daisy Kelly, Mary Veronica Kelly, Michael James Kelly, Irene Ivy Kelly & Thomas Joseph Kelly. Sadly, two children died in infancy.

On the 26th of December 1895 Michael was found dead.

According to the inquest Michael was employed to clean out a waterhole for Bernard Goss Snr which he had been doing for a few days. Michael was in good health that morning until Bernard Goss Jr went to help Michael after milking the cows about 8.30am and found him face down in the water with his legs on the bank and was lying under a plank.

According to his wife Mary Ellen,
Michael used to have "fits" which his Dr diagnosed had been brought on by sunstroke he had four years earlier.

Michael was laid to rest Friday the 27th of December 1895 at Epping Cemetery aged 38 years.

Mary Ellen Payne was born in Wollert in 1862 and was the daughter of John Payne and Margaret Farr.

Mary Ellen married Michael John Kelly in 1882 and they had 8 children together as mentioned earlier.

After Michael sadly passed away Mary Ellen married William Dalton Delzoppo in 1897 and together
they had 3 more children, Maurice Desmond Delzoppo, Leslie Joseph Delzoppo & Norman Delzoppo.

By 1915 the war had begun, and 5 of Mary Ellen’s sons had enlisted, John Kelly sn:495, William Kelly sn:1866, Timothy Kelly sn:11963, Michael J Kelly sn1483, and Maurice Delzoppo sn7355.

At this time her husband William Dalton Delzoppo was listed as deceased on his son Maurice's enlistment papers. Further research suggests he may have gone to NSW and died there in 1940.

Tragically on the 5th of May 1915 Michael James Kelly Sn:1483 was killed in action in the Dardanelles, Turkey, aged 21yrs and 10mths.

Mary Ellen's two younger sons Leslie Joseph Delzoppo sn: VX44243 and Norman Delzoppo sn: VX6122 both served during WW2.

On the 15th of July 1945 Mary Ellen passed away of natural causes and was laid to rest at Epping Cemetery with her 1st husband Michael John Kelly age 83yrs.

Source: Ancestry, Trove NLA, Find A Grave, thank you to Andrea

https://www.facebook.com/groups/499551221290252/permalink/692090325369673/

https://ghostofthedoll.co.uk/tracingghosts/captain-joseph-charles-newton-of-bristol-australia/

I would like to give a special thanks to Sarah Louise Hicks from the Bristol & Avon Family History Soc. page for providing me with information on Captain Joseph Charles Newton. I unfortunately was unable to find enough so was deeply greatful when Sarah kindly provided me with the information we can now share with all of you.
I would also like to thank my friend Andrea on her assistance also I am very greatful.
Please see attached link and enjoy the readings on Captain Joseph Charles Newtons life.

Photo coming soon .

Captain Joseph Charles NEWTON | of Bristol & Australia Tracing CAPTAIN JOSEPH CHARLES NEWTON, who died 23rd Apr 1903 in Epping, Victoria, Australia.

People in the process of being researched:

Captain Joseph Charles Newton died April 1903
Alice Newton died Sept 1907 (wife of above)

Stories coming soon...

Thankyou to Dave Bah for these photos of Epping Cemetery taken around 1990.

WOODSTOCK MURDER
Elizabeth Browning was born in Witney, Oxfordshire in England in 1832 and was the daughter of James Browning and Rachel Percer and had 3 siblings Hannah, Alice and John.

On the 23rd July 1863 at St Peters Church in Melbourne (C of E) Elizabeth Browning 39 and David Beckinsale 42 were married. They were living in Woodstock.

On the 21st October 1863 Elizabeth was murdered by James Barrett who was working on the Beckinsale's farm, until David found him unsuitable and gave him a few days to leave.

On the day of the murder David had left home for the day by horseback to go to auction sales in Morang and Darebin Creek leaving Elizabeth home alone.
James saw David leave then entered the house and confronted Elizabeth in her bedroom, demanding money, she gave him 6 pounds but he was not happy with that and attacked Elizabeth with a tomohawk and inflicted several severe wounds upon her head and neck severing the Carotid Artery. After he killed Elizabeth he then looted the Beckinsale home stealing a watch, a pair of boots and other items.

David arrived back home in the evening and was chatting to some neighbours at the gate. While chatting he noticed no lights on in his house and asked "were's Betsy"? Mr Robertson said he hadn't seen her all day. Concerned, David went to check, he walked to the house and found the door to be locked, he then proceeded to jump through the bedroom window in the dark, upon landing he stumbled upon what he thought were clothes on the floor, he soon saw it was Elizabeth lying in a pool of blood and was deceased.

David was arrested on suspicion of murdering Elizabeth until the police caught James Barrett and took him into custody. Elizabeth was buried at Epping Cemetery on Friday 30th October 1863. Elizabeth had only been married for 3 months when she was murdered.

Sadly Elizabeth is buried in an unmarked grave.

James Barrett, alias Birmingham was from Cork. He had enlisted in the 36th regiment and had a fight with his sergeant and was transported for 7 years. He arrived in Australia in 1848 and after gaining his freedom he worked as a labourer.

James had a cell mate write down his confession and was then found guilty of murder . He was executed on the 1st December 1863 at Old Melbourne Gaol.

Trove nla, Ancestry, Lost Mernda, Executions in the Colony and State of Victoria 1842-1967 Trevor J Porter

A work place tragedy and a headstone erected by the Railway Employees of “A" Shed to the memory of their comrade Patrick Clune accidentally killed 31st March 1909. Aged 40 years.

Patrick Clune(s) was born in 1869 in Kilkishen, Kilmurry, Co Clare in Ireland and was the son of Peter Clune(s) and Annie Kiltanane. He had 9 siblings, Michael,
Mary Ann (married Branton) Ellen Mary (married Newham), Bridget (buried Epping Cemetery), Thomas Francis (buried Epping Cemetery), Margaret (married McGrath) and Catherine.

Patrick was an employee of the Railway department at the Spencer Street goods sheds. He was a hard worker and worked 11 and a half hours a day.

On the 30th March 1909 Patrick and his co workers had finished working on one platform and were moving to another, he had been carrying a gangway board (plank of wood) 4ft long x 3 ft wide over the tracks between platforms when a horsepowered truck hit him and ran over his legs and badly severed them.

He was rushed to the Melbourne Hospital and by this time he had lost a large amount of blood.
Patrick was taken to the operating theatre, unfortunately his legs were too damaged to be saved, and the Doctor made the sad decision to amputated both legs below the knee. Patrick passed away the next day on the 31st March 1909.

On the 2nd April 1909 at 2pm Patricks funeral procession left his brother Thomas's home "Elliot Farm" in Epping, to his final resting place at Epping Cemetery.

Trove nla, Yprl, Slv, Ancestry, Lost Mernda

Four children from the Shiels family are buried in this grave without their parents.

Daniel Shiels and his wife Alice nee O'Brien were the parents of the four children laid to rest here.

Daniel was born in Limerick, Ireland and was the son of John Shiels and Honora Sullivan. Alice was the daughter of William O'Brian and Mary Loban.

Daniel aged 29 years married 21 year old Alice on Feb 2nd 1854 in the Catholic Church of St Frances, Melbourne.

Daniel and Alice had 7 children; John Joseph , William , Nora, Richard, (Michael 2nd Richard? I believe he changed his name at some stage ) Patrick and Mary.

During their time in Wollert, Daniel and Alice sadly lost 4 children.

Mary - I was unable to find any records of Mary’s birth or death but I believe she was the youngest as recorded on her parents death certificates and her name is recorded first on the headstone which leads me to think she passed away first.

Richard was born 15th March 1861 and died on 28th August 1864 from croup, duration of his illness was 4 days.

Patrick was born in 1867 and died 18th July 1870. On the 17th July 1870 Daniel and Alice were out for the evening and left the children at home, at that time John was 14, William 13 and Nora 11. One of the boys was preparing Bran Water and little Patrick was playing around while they worked. Patrick accidently fell into a bucket of scalding hot water and died from his injuries the following day.

Honora Maria was born in 1859 at Woodstock and died on the 5th Oct 1875 of debility congestion of the liver following an attack of inflammation of the lungs, duration of illness was 6 months. She was buried on the 6th October 1875. 16 year old Nora was their last surviving daughter.

In December 1878 Daniel sold his farm and moved his family to Youanmite, Vic, where they lived out the rest of their lives together.

Trove nla, SLV, Ancestry, My Heritage, Thankyou Andrea :-)

Epping 1855

PROV

William George Gordon Paget ( Known as Gordon) was born 13th January 1885 in Baddaginne, Victoria and was the son of James Reginald Paget and Elizabeth Charlotte Beggs plus 5 other siblings, Neville James Paget 1881 - 1910 (Pneumonia) , Charles Montgomery Paget 1882 - 1918 (died of wounds in France WW1) Marcella Sophia Paget 1887 - 1973, Reginald Beggs Paget 1889 -1931 and Elizabeth Florence Paget 1891 -1942.

On 21st January 1916. Gordon enlisted AIF (SN 24431) and was a Driver in the 3rd Divisional Ammunition Coloumn, he was 31 years old and his trade was listed as a carrier, he was 5 feet 8 inches , weighed 142 lbs, dark compextion, dark brown hair and blue eyes. On the 27th June 1916 Gordon embarked for active service and by November 1916 he was in France, shortly after arriving he gets admitted to hospital with Influenza and then rejoins his unit . On the 10th Novemeber 1918 Gordon was accidentally injured and fractured his neck (Cervical Vertebra) then was admitted to hospital in England and was put on the dangerously ill list.
Gordon arrived back in Australia on the 18th May 1919 and was formally discharged from the AIF and was listed as having a disabillity of dislocation of neck. Gordon was awarded the Victory Medal, British War Medal and 1914-1915 Star.

On the 17th January 1920 Gordon married Grace Hill Young at Mernda Methodist Church and they had 2 children Kathleen and Eileen. They lived in Masons Road, Wollert.

On the 25th May 1932 on Woodstock Road Gordon was accidentally killed when his horse bolted after the wheel of the cart hit a large stone . Gordon was thrown from his cart and taken to Melbourne Hospital where he passed away later that night. On the 27th May 1932 William was laid to rest at Epping Cemetery.

LEST WE FORGET

You will notice the photo of Gordon's Grave site when it was brand new. The road in the background is O'Herns Road.

Yprl, SLV, Trove, NAA, Find a Grave and Ancestry.

Rebecca was born on the 8th July 1828 in Parkham, Devon in England and was the daughter of William Lee and Elizabeth Ann Jewell. Rebecca came to Australia in 1850 on board the "Maitland" with her first husband John Matthews and their daughter Mary Ann. Sadly John passed away while on the ship in to Australia on 12th January 1850. Its unclear if Rebecca went back to England and returned with her sister as other family accounts suggest. On the 5th August 1850 Rebecca married Sydney Smith and together they have another 12 children, Emma, William, Sydney, Thomas, Robert, William (2nd), James, Rebecca, Elizabeth, Reuben, Sarah Susannah, Emma Jane and Mary Ann from her first Marriage. On the 18th April 1880 Rebecca passed away age 51yrs.

Sydney Smith was born on the 5th April 1821 in Bilston Staffordshire England and was the son of William Sydney Smith and Elizabeth Bennett or Brazenett. Sydney had worked in his fathers company of wine importers in England, he then came to Australia to work for a friend in his company for a few years. He arrived in Ausralia on the 22nd February 1844 landing in Tasmania . Sydney wrote to his father asking permission to stay in Australi , when his father refused him he wrote again but did nt hear anything back so he decided to stay in Australia anyway. Some family accounts state he did nt speak to his family in England again.
Sydney worked on a "Henty" Ship for 6 years after that he sailed from Launceston to Victoria and found work here in Epping and worked for Richard Scales and family of "Epping Hill" it was while working here he met Rebecca Lee.
On the 20th December 1852 Sydney entered in into a mortgage with William Ford Cleeland and built himsellf a blustone house in the Parish of Wollert. Sydney then selected land in Diamond Creek and aquired 320 acres.
In 1886 Sydney passed away from an infection, he was wounded after being gored by a bull . He was trying to move the bull off the road before school children came past. Sydney waited too long to get his wounds treated . He passed away 9.15pm 7th February 1886 and was laid to rest in Epping Cemetery with Rebecca Lee and Emma Jane.

You will notice the headstone has ferns with a shield on it. The Fern is often associated with humbleness, seclusion, sincerity and sorrow and the shield represents, family crest and familial love.

This information was adapted from Sydney Smith Family History and Ancestry, Trove, Yprl, Billion Graves, Understanding Cemetery Symbols Tui Snider, Undercliffe Cemetery .co.uk

By 1941 Epping Cemetery was already in a bad way with broken headstones of the pioneers.

Epping Cemetery is now 163 years old.

Constable Albert George Wheeler was born on the 26th August 1889 in Yan Yean and was the son of James Wheeler and Susan Winward.

Albert was the eldest of his siblings , Frederick, William, Arthur, Walter, Reggie, Violet, Lillie and Maggie.

Albert married Helen Stevens in 1911 in Victoria and they had four children Albert ( passed away age 1yr) , Arthur, Lucy Margaret and Frederick.

Albert joined the Victoria Police on the 29th October 1915 and worked as a Constable right up till his death in 1919.

Albert was guarding prisoners in Williamstown Hospital with the Spanish Influenza and caught it himself.

On the 11th of June 1919 Albert George Wheeler passed away at Base hospital in South Melbourne of Pneumonic Influenza and was buried in Epping Cemetery on the 13th June 1919 aged 29years.

Ancestry, MyHeritage, Yprl, SLV, Trove.

Father and Son both Pass Tragically on the same day 5 years Apart.

William Herbert Carter (Bert) was born in 1892 and was the son of William Henry Carter and his mother is unknown. William was the husband of Violet Martha Gunther and father of William Henry Carter.

On the the 1st of Febuary 1918 William was admitted to Melbourne Hospital by his employer William Shallard after being thrown from and ran over by his milk cart/wagon. William died on the 2nd of February at 12.15pm while under anesthetic from a ruptured liver and broken ribs he was only 26 years of age.

Also buried here is William Henry Carter which was the son of the above "William Herbert Carter" and Violet Martha Gunther.
On the 2nd of February 1922 on the 5th Anniversary of his fathers death , little William was accidently killed he was ran over by a motor lorry he was 5years and 2 months old.

State Library, Ancestry, PROV, Trove nla, Yprl

Erskine Kilpatrick was born on the 25th September 1885 in Lorne Victoria and was the son of Francis George Kilpatrick and Elizabeth Sophia Clissold, Erskine married Martha Alice "Mat" Johnston on the 20th March 1912 and they had three children, Bruce Alexander Kilpatrick, Doris Alice "Dot" Kilpatrick and Percy Harold Kilpatrick which was Dot's twin.

Martha was born on the 25th October 1885 and was the daughter of Alexander Johnston and Alice Allen.

Erskine and Martha lived in Mernda on a farm called "Craigmore" on the 18th November 1924 their son Percy Harold Fitzpatrick died of double pneumonia age 8 years old and was laid to rest at Epping Cemetery.

Beside Percy is Erskine and Martha , Erskine died on the 25th May 1951 at his home "Craigmore" in Mernda age 65 years old.
Martha Died on the 24th July 1970 age 84 years old.

Ancestry, yprl

Bernard Goss was born on the 8th May1834 in Ballinskilly, Queen's County, Ireland and was the son of Richard Goss and Catherine Carroll.
Bernard married Catherine Lillies in 1860 and they had 11 children Richard Goss 1862-1944 , Michael 1863, Catherine 1865, John 1867-1949, Mary 1867-1937, Magaret 1868, Bernard 1869 , William 1872, Bridget 1875-1945, Patrick 1876-1967 and James Anthony 1878-1964.

Bernard and his family lived at his property "Bald Hill" in Woodstock, Victoria and was one of the largest land owners in the Woodstock district. Bernard was also a successful breeder and judge of draught horses. Bernard died on the 26th June 1908 of Sciatica at his property "Bald Hill" .

Also buried here is Catherine Goss Nee Lillis Bernard's wife she was born in Ireland in 1835 and died 6th December 1925 of Heart Failure also at "Bald Hill".

Mary Veronica Goss was the daughter of James Anthony Goss and Josephine Mary Goss nee Madden (Hotelkeepers), Mary was the granddaughter of Bernard and Catherine she accidentlally drowned in a waterhole not far from their house.

Ursula Mary Goss was also the granddaughter of Bernard and Catherine Goss, she died on 23rd February 1908 aged 3 months was the daughter of John and F***y Goss.

Ancestry, Trove, Yprl, Prov, Issue Heritage Study

Emily Elizabeth Wailes was born in Epping, Victoria, she was the daughter of John Henry Wailes & Emily Elizabeth Chitty at the time of Emily's death the family were living 21 Dundas Street, Preston, but previously lived at Studley Farm in Epping. Emily died on the 17th September 1909 at the Melbourne Hospital of Turberculosis and was buried at Epping Cemetery on the 18th September 1909 in Church of England section.

Also buried here is Emily Elizabeth Wailes nee Chitty who was born in 1863 and is the daughter of Charles Chitty and Phoebe Sawyer. Emily married John Henry Wailes in 1885 in Victoria. Emily and John had 10 children Horace, William, John, Muriel, Albert, Frederick, Millicent, Emily, Gwendoline & Frances. Emily Snr had her fair share of tragedy, She first lost Emily in 1909 then in 1914 Emily's 5 Sons enlisted to go to the great war sadly her son William was killed in action 20th March 1917 age 23yo.

Emily Passed away in March 1941 of natural causes of age 76.

Emily Jnr is not in the family photos i believe she had passed away by then.

Sources: Find a grave , Trove, Yprl , Ancestry

Epping Cemetery, Victoria was opened in 1858 and was closed in 1967.
I created this page to tell the stories of the people buried in there.

Please feel free to add and share infomation.

Friends of Epping Cemetery Vic updated their business hours.

Friends of Epping Cemetery Vic updated their website address.