George Richard Withers
George Withers > Edward Withers > George Withers > Catherine Withers
George Richard Withers was my great-grandfather and the eldest son of Edward Withers and his wife, Margaret, nee Murphy.
George was born on 18 July 1857 at Diamond Creek, near Gunning and his birth was registered on 10 September 1857 in Yass. Edward and Margaret were both aged 21 at the time of his birth and Edward gave his occupation as "farmer" on George's birth certificate.
I was advised by John Emery in 2013 that Diamond Creek is a small creek in rugged country situated on his land at Collingwood. John showed me roughly where it is and said there are definite signs that people once lived there: the ruins of a hut, bits of pottery, etc and a patch of irises which bloom every year.
George was born on 18 July 1857 at Diamond Creek, near Gunning and his birth was registered on 10 September 1857 in Yass. Edward and Margaret were both aged 21 at the time of his birth and Edward gave his occupation as "farmer" on George's birth certificate.
I was advised by John Emery in 2013 that Diamond Creek is a small creek in rugged country situated on his land at Collingwood. John showed me roughly where it is and said there are definite signs that people once lived there: the ruins of a hut, bits of pottery, etc and a patch of irises which bloom every year.
Marriage
On 18 June 1879, George married Catherine Wilson at St Luke's Church of England in Taralga.
George was Catholic, as was Catherine's mother, Winifred, and Catherine had been baptised in a Catholic church. However, Catherine's father, William, was not Catholic which I imagine meant the couple were unable to marry in a Catholic church. George would have been 22 at the time of the marriage and Catherine was either 19 or 16.
Note that in May 1879, Catherine's father and George's mother had been married to one another, both having been widowed. Catherine's sister, Bridget, was also involved in a relationship with George's brother, Edward/Edmund so there were several connections between the Withers and Wilson families.
After their marriage, George and Catherine lived around Woodhouselee and Tarlo where Catherine's father and step-mother lived. One of the places they lived was a property called Currabungla where George appears to have worked as a labourer and farm hand until about 1889, by which stage the couple were living in Goulburn. Currabungla appears to be an alpaca farm now but it does not have a website.
George was Catholic, as was Catherine's mother, Winifred, and Catherine had been baptised in a Catholic church. However, Catherine's father, William, was not Catholic which I imagine meant the couple were unable to marry in a Catholic church. George would have been 22 at the time of the marriage and Catherine was either 19 or 16.
Note that in May 1879, Catherine's father and George's mother had been married to one another, both having been widowed. Catherine's sister, Bridget, was also involved in a relationship with George's brother, Edward/Edmund so there were several connections between the Withers and Wilson families.
After their marriage, George and Catherine lived around Woodhouselee and Tarlo where Catherine's father and step-mother lived. One of the places they lived was a property called Currabungla where George appears to have worked as a labourer and farm hand until about 1889, by which stage the couple were living in Goulburn. Currabungla appears to be an alpaca farm now but it does not have a website.
Children
George and Catherine had 12 children together:
Winifred, 1880-1972
Margaret Matilda, 1882-
Joachim (Joe), 1884-
Edward James, 1886-1938
Anastasia (Hannah), 1888-1911 (children: Lorna and Kathleen Stacey, no descendants)
Charles Albert, 1889-1910
Bertha, 1892-1982
Lillian (Rose) Mary, 1893-1973 (no descendants)
Mildred Mary, 1896-1920
Clement Percival, 1898-1917 (killed in Belgium, no descendants)
Francis (Frank), 1902-1957
Catherine Pearl, 1905-1995
Winifred, 1880-1972
Margaret Matilda, 1882-
Joachim (Joe), 1884-
Edward James, 1886-1938
Anastasia (Hannah), 1888-1911 (children: Lorna and Kathleen Stacey, no descendants)
Charles Albert, 1889-1910
Bertha, 1892-1982
Lillian (Rose) Mary, 1893-1973 (no descendants)
Mildred Mary, 1896-1920
Clement Percival, 1898-1917 (killed in Belgium, no descendants)
Francis (Frank), 1902-1957
Catherine Pearl, 1905-1995
In 1910, George was living in Fisher's Lane, Goulburn, when he registered the death of his mother, Margaret Wilson. George signed the death certificate with his mark so it seems he could not read or write.
His older children recalled that George was a funny, kind man when they were children but his younger children, Lilly and Catherine, recall him drinking too much and didn't like him.
My mother, George's granddaughter, recalls that her grandmother possessed a large photo of George in a faded red velvet frame, the only known photograph of him. When his wife, Catherine, died in 1954, their youngest daughter, Catherine Murphy, burnt the photo.
His older children recalled that George was a funny, kind man when they were children but his younger children, Lilly and Catherine, recall him drinking too much and didn't like him.
My mother, George's granddaughter, recalls that her grandmother possessed a large photo of George in a faded red velvet frame, the only known photograph of him. When his wife, Catherine, died in 1954, their youngest daughter, Catherine Murphy, burnt the photo.
Death
George died on 20 April 1913 and is buried at St Patrick's Cemetery, Kenmore, in Goulburn. His grave is unmarked and so far I have been unable to establish its location. He is remembered with a memorial inscription on his wife's grave.