NORTH Family History

Winifred Janet North (Nee Griffiths)
b 1897 d 1963

Karenn's memories of her grandmother

Nan died when I was 7 years old, but I remember her clearly.

At Christmas time, we would all go over to nan and pop's for a wonderful Christmas lunch. All the cousins and aunts and uncles would somehow fit in the small dining room to enjoy nan's lunch. The Christmas pudding was a special treat because we would always find a sixpence or threepence in it. I remember all the men would do the washing up afterwards because the women did the preparation! That was the North's tradition.

Nan and pop had an old white cane lounge on the front porch and we would sit and talk for hours about the old times.

Gordon's memories of his mother

My mum was someone special. When you're young and growing up, going to school or off to work, it's easy to take your mum for granted. Can you imagine having four sons and a husband to cook for, wash and iron many, many shirts? This was a chore on its own. There was no washing machine in those days. A fire had to be lit under a copper and it was boiled with all the clothes in it. The clothes were all hand rinsed and hung out to dry. My mum did all this on a daily basis.

In the early years, no water was connected to the house and we only had a water tank. There were times when water ran out, so mum had to carry water from the next street, sometimes every day. Before electricity was connected, mum did all the sewing and cooking from the light of a hurricane lamp. She even helped dad build the house.

I remember my mum coming home from shopping at Parramatta, loaded up with parcels. It was a walk of two or three kilometres all up hill from Pendle Hill railway station.

When my mum was young, she fell out the back of the horse and sulky, injuring herself. Later on, she fell down the back steps. She carried those injuries for the rest of her life. With her back in a brace, she continued on, most times in pain. In her later years, she was not very well. Blind in one eye, not much sight in the other, high blood pressure and a bad heart. With all those complaints, she never complained once. I guess you do not realise how much you loved your mother until she has gone.

Winifred's family

Winifred was the youngest of four children. Her mother, Charlotte Gordon, a dress maker, died of typhus when Winifred was nearly three. Charlotte was born in Bendigo and married William Griffiths on 22 July 1885 at the Weslyian Church (now the Uniting Church), Golden Square, Bendigo. William was one of 15 children and was an Engineer.

Uniting Church
Golden Square
Bendigo

After he and Grace were married in May of 1856, they bought a house at 60 Belle Vue Road, Bendigo and the adjoining block three years later. The original house, built prior to 1864, is still there today. They had fifteen children but sadly nine of those children didn't reach their third birthday.

William's mother, Grace Aughterson, came to Australia on the 'Marco Polo' on 26 June 1855 with her brother and three sisters. For more information on the Aughterson family history, you may visit their Web site.

'In memory of Jannet Gibson, spouse to John Aughterson, who died at Boagfoot [sic.] 25th Feb. 1823 aged 37 years. Also the above John Aughterson who died at Boagfoot [sic.] 8th Feb. 1845 aged 61 years. Grace Shannon, his second wife, who died at Bogfoot 3rd Feb. 1848 aged 55 years James, their son, who died at Liverpool 7th October 1835 aged 28 years. Samuel their son, Captain of the ship Despatch, Prince Edwards Island who perished on the coast of Wales 7th Dec. 1848 aged 28 years. Barbara, their daughter, who died at Castle Douglas 2nd March 1885 aged 45 years. Mary, their daughter, who died at Castle Douglas 25th July 1885 aged 79 years.'

Charlotte's parents were Charles Gordon and Jessie (Janet) Phillips, from Dalkeith in Scotland, and they arrived in Victoria on board the 'Wanata' in October of 1852. Wanata was a double-decker ship and had 796 passengers. On that tragic voyage, 39 passengers, 30 being children, died. Most of the deaths were from typhus. After the tragic loss of life from the vessels Wanata, Bourneuf, Marco Polo and especially the Ticonderoga, the Emigration Commission made the decision not to use double-decker vessels in the future. It also reintroduced the policy whereby any family in which there were more than two children under seven, or three children under ten years, would not be accepted for emigration.

Charles and Jessie came to Australia with daughters Isabella 12, Jane 8, Janet 5, Margaret 1 and Sophia aged 3. Two other children had died in Scotland before 1852. Charlotte was one of another 4 children who were born in Bendigo.

Charles was a contractor and they lived in Carpenter Street, Kangaroo Flat. Some of the family is buried in the Kangaroo Flat cemetery.

In Memoriam
Bendigo Advertiser dated 3rd August 1891

'Gordon - In sad, yet loving remembrance of our dear mother Jessie Gordon, late of Kangaroo Flat, who died on the 3rd August 1890, aged 71. We miss thee, our mother, thy image is still, The deepest impressed on our hearts, And the tallest so faithful in death must be chill, Ere a line of that image depart. Thou wert born from our side, when we treasure thee most. When our reason could measure thy worth, When we knew too well the idol we'd lost, Could be never replaced upon earth. Oh, let not the foot of the thoughtless o'er tread, But beware and respect the grave of the dead, And know that you sacred and consecrate mound. Wherin the dead lieth in God's holy ground. Inserted by her loving daughters Mrs W Griffiths, Mrs CAF Taylor and Mrs S Brockley'. [Charlotte, Janet & Catherine]

In Memoriam
Bendigo Advertiser dated 4 June 1895

'Gordon-In loving remembrance of our dear grandfather, who died on the 4th June 1894, at Kangaroo Flat. Inserted by H and M Johnston, Inglewood. [Sophia's children] It is twelve months to-day, since our dear grandfather was called away. How sudden was the death to us, and great surprise to all. When God did say I must away, could I refuse His call? Though lonely is the silent grave, where thou art laid beneath. Dear grandfather we cannot do more, put place a floral wreath. We know not yet who next may call, beneath the chastening rod. So let us all, with one accord, prepare to meet our God.