Frederick Debney (9 Jun 1847 - 16 Sep 1891) and Emily Harriet Debney (nee Stanford) (24 Jun 1852 - 23 Nov 1937)



Frederick Debney

 

Frederick was born into a very well respected Adelaide family in the new colony on 9 June 1847, the middle child of a family with 7 children.  Just one was a sister, Matilda.

His father George Robert Debney was the owner of a successful furniture business in Debney's Arcade, later know as Gay's Arcade in the city. Amongst other tasks, he was commissioned to create furniture for the Parliament, some still in existence today and some on show in the Art Gallery today.  He was a trustee in the early colony but lost much money when a person for whom he was trustee let him down and also as a consequence of a major fire in his factory.

Frederick Debney was born on 9 June 1847, the middle child of a family with 7 children in Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.

His father George Robert Debney was the owner of a successful furniture business in Debney's Arcade, later know as Gay's Arcade in the city. Amongst other tasks, he was commissioned to create furniture for the Parliament, some still in existence today and some on show in the Art Gallery today.  He was a trustee in the early colony but lost much money when a person for whom he was trustee let him down and also as a consequence of a major fire in his factory.

One particular day, George along with his wife Susanna, his daughter Matilda, son Frederick aged about 13, two younger sons, a family friend Miss Attwood and Miss Godlee, decided on a favourable day to go sailing off the coast of Glenelg, a pleasurable part time enjoyed on occasion.  Of course the clothing worn was quite expected for the age in which they lived, but for us, the mind boggles at the weight alone of long dresses, boots, hats, umbrellas etc, all too amazing.

During the sail, unexpectedly, a threatening wind blew up and capsized the boat as they attempted to turn it.

All being thrown into the sea, Frederick tried desperately to hold onto his mother whom we are told was heavy woman.  He swam to within a half mile of the shore whilst supporting her till she fainted, and he was finally unable to keep his grasp of her, so after looking around for the others, he swam madly for shore, having removed his clothing.  Being a Sunday, he was forced to run into the Church naked, for help.

The tragedy resulted in the deaths of his mother, his sister Matilda and Miss Attwood.  Young Frederick's grief at the graveside caused him to faint.  This, then was a traumatic period in his life.

Father George, with other children to be cared for, remarried, this time to Ellie, a poet, who gave him more children and then died in childbirth within a few short years.  Still with children to care for, he married yet again, to Mary Laughton with whom he had no more children.

Frederick was growing through his early teenage years during this time and, not surprisingly, with the loss of his mother and only sister, having a stepmother, extra children etc, he quarrelled at home and ultimately left after an argument with his stepmother Ellie, to fend for himself, aged 14.  
 
He sought work at Port Adelaide and trained on ships going overseas for a number of years.

On 5 June 1869, Frederick is a mate, aged 22, on a ship called "Lass of Gawler" travelled from Adelaide to Sydney. 

On 2 February 1871, Frederick is a mate, aged 24, on a ship called "Lass of Gawler" travelled from Adelaide to Sydney. 

He was awarded a Master Mariner's certificate (Ship's Captain) on 8 May 1873, having been back in South Australia in 1868 and already having gained "First Mate" and "Master Ordinary" certificates, both indicating a good knowledge of South Australian waters.

On 16 Mar 1874, Frederick is a 1st mate, aged 26, on a ship called "Lass of Gawler" travelled from Mauritius to Adelaide.

We read from Howie Debney's research that family members in NSW believed that at one stage early in his life at sea, he was part of the ship's crew that was "running the Northern States naval blockade of the Confederate Southern States during the American Civil War".  The years of the war show it was likely to be true.

It is also believe that whilst at sea in those early years he contracted Yellow Fever in China and was nursed by some Nuns in a hospital of sorts back to health.

 

 



Emily Harriet Debney (nee Stanford)

Emily Harriet Stanford was born on 24 June 1852 at Goodwood Road, Goodwood, Adelaide, South Australia to Thomas Stanford and Emily Stanford (nee Davis).

Emily Harriet was almost 4 when her mother died and was raised by her father’s third wife Julia Matilda Bowen.

Emily grew up in the Reedbeds area of Adelaide (Fulham area).

No doubt Frederick had contact with various wider family and friends, and somewhere, he met Emily Harriet Stanford.  The Stanford, Debney, Fielder, Davis, Burley, Giles, Strawbridge and Partridge families were all known to each other since early colony days.  Perhaps Emily met in social or family circles at some stage.


Emily and Frederick married on 18 August 1875 at Stow Memorial Church, Adelaide, South Australia. Emily was 23.  Fred was 28. Rev Thomas Quinton Stow had also been a personal friend of many of these families and probably George Robert made furniture for the church.


Frederick gave Emily a glass container for her wedding gift which is currently held by Natalie Hausler, her ancestor.

The glass container (silver plated) that Frederick gave Emily on their wedding day in 1875

Just after they got married they went to live in Company Street, Semaphore from where the first five children were born within 8 years. During this time Frederick was off on the ships, not always at home.

Overall, Frederick and Emily had nine children:

• Ellen Susannah Wren (nee Debney) born 19 Jun 1876 married Ernest Wren and died 29 December 1960 aged 84. Known in the family as "Aunt Nell".

• Frederick Stanford Debney born 28 October 1877 married Nancie Bright.  Died 10 November 1962.

• Lilla Mary Partridge (nee Debney) born 10 June 1879. Died 27 October 1965.

• George Robert Debney born 4 December 1881 and died in Vancouver on 12 June 1904, aged 23. 

• Beatrice Rennie (nee Debney) born 6 October 1883, was in an unhappy marriage with Mor Smith and died on 7 November 1917, aged 34.  Rennie was a clever artist, much of whose work is included in Howie Debney's book.  Doreen has the original etching done in brown ink of a small bird eating blackberries amongst the leaves on a stem.  Rennie had been sent as a small child with Alf to Monkira Station.

• Oscar Stanford Debney born 24 April 1885 at Kingston House, Marino, Adelaide, South Australia.  Married Gladys Holthouse and died on 20 September 1960.  He and Gladys had children Ron (married Maxine) and Mary.  Dorren remembers Gladys probably in around 1978 or 80, a tiny, dear old lady.

• Alfred Debney born 8 Jan 1887. Nita's Uncle, would come to visit his sister, Lilla each Saturday when he was older.  Doreen was growing up and during this time would be off to Girl Guides on Saturday afternoon.  Uncle Alf would catch a train from Adelaide to Woodlands Park - he lived behind the home of the Headmaster of Prince Alfred College in a very old coachman's cottage  (St Bernard's Road, Finchley Park) - stone floor - and would do some gardening for the Head Master - anyway, he would be hunched over and on a walking stick so he moved very slowly, and would come down the side of the our house past the kitchen window and come inside with a wide smile and sit in the dining room listening to Nita as she cooked the roast leg of hogget.  Doreen would bounce out ready to grab the bike and go off to Guides and spend just a short time talking to him.  He didn't ever say much, but loved to be there - Doreen would arrive back from Guides and by that time he had wandered in next door to see his sister Lilla, then off back to the train and home to Adelaide.  When he died, he left his worldly possessions to Doreen and Mary Debney - quite surprised everyone.  Doreen was told that he had two little girls of his own once.  It was believe that they had been by an Aboriginal woman.  In fact, it was discovered that he had been married to a Swedish woman, Clara Mary Kastberg in 1917. (From Port Broughton?) and they had two girls.  Jean and Massie and a son, Douglas.  Doreen and Mary went with Uncle Hayden and Nita and Harry to the coachhouse after he died to clear out his belongings.  It was a small, cold, but charming little place and the stone floor was quite uneven and probably dangerous for him.  Doreen brought home his New Testament that had been given him during the war.  He had had polio and was therefore unsuitable as a soldier.  Doreen had his money given her at age 21.  She had enough to buy a sewing machine with it at her Mother's suggestion.

Later, when a descendant discovered Alfred's marriage, she was able to speak with his granddaughter who said the family had no photo of him.  When the only one was sent, they declared that they now knew why each of them had a long neck!  He was a nice man, kind, gentle, quietly spoken and very interested in anything that I told him.  He had made a scrapbook of articles that held his interest from within the newspapers, often of children, animals or Aborigines.  He smiled mostly.

As a small child, he had been sent to the Debneys on Monkira Station on the mainland because after the death of his father, his mother was unable to feed the children.  Alf's young sister went with him.

We know that as a young man, he was with his brother Oscar at Kybibolite in the South East when Lilla and Wilf returned from America probably working on a Debney property.  By this stage, he had had infantile paralysis (or polio) as did Oscar and this is no doubt why he used a walking stick later.  

• Ivy Gwendoline Bail (nee Debney) born 31 January 1889 at Port Morrison, Kangaroo Island. Married Herbert Bail and died 15 October 1924.

• Mabel Debney (died after 1 week) born 20 June 1890 and died a week later on the 27th.  She is buried at Port Morrison on Kangaroo Island deep down in the valley beside the hose and the lilies that grow there are a sure indication of why Granny Lilla always had lilies outside the back door of her house in Collins Avenue.

The shipping trade was huge then, not only with new arrivals to the colony, but the transporting of coal, building stone and wood.  Boats known as windjammers ventured throughout the Gulf and across Backstairs Passage.  Frederick captained the Lotus, a ketch based at Port Adelaide and one of the many ketches to be transporting goods, people and materials by water.  He was also known to have shared ownership of other vessels such as the "Hawthorn".  Shipping records show that he sailed with wheat, wool, flour, ballast and sundries to Port Augusta and Port Pirie from Port Adelaide quite often, also to Tasmania on occasions. Fred's granddaughter Isobel (Nellie's daughter) is recorded as saying that Frederick contracted yellow fever whilst in China on some voyage, and was nursed back to health by some Roman Catholic nuns, presumably at a hospital.

Point Morrison, Kangaroo Island

Frederick and Emily left Semaphore in about 1883-1884 and relocated to Kangaroo Island to create their home and Point Morrison.  :ate in 1883 we know that ownership of the Lotus changed hands and it is believed that at this point Frederick sold his shares in ships and with this money they were able to purchase the property at Point Morrison.  There he took up farming.

 

Oscar Debney wrote “To the north-west was North Cape, and a little further west was Kingscote, and then Nepean Bay ran about 14 miles in a westerly direction. On the southerly side, the bay ran well out in an easterly direction until it turned away towards American River.

On the eastern side of the bay, just before the spot where the coast turned away towards American River, it became less rugged. There was a shallow creek and a low bank for several hundred years, until the land rose again and formed low cliffs. There was a fairly wide beach, but beyond that there were low rocks and boulders. A space had been cleared for a boat to come inshore, and a team and dray to be driven out to meet it. This spot was then known as Debneys Beach.”

Oscar also described the setting of the family house at Port Morrison.

“The house stood on rising ground facing St. Vincents Gulf, and you could see the mainland and the Cape Jervis light at night, through the limbs of the big gum trees that grew between the landing and the house. The landing was about a quarter of a mile from the house. It was a gravel beach with rocks beyond, and a space had been cleared through the rocks for a boat to come in.

On the north-east side of the house there was a cliff about a hundred yards from the house, and straight across Nepean Bay was the little port and town of Kingscote, a distance of about 8 or 10 miles. The bay ran in to the westward a distance of 14 miles or more, so that to reach Kingscote by land meant travelling about 25 miles over a poor road, and for 7 miles you had to go along a sandy beach.”

He also described an inspection of the farm –

“They went along the coast across the rich black land as far as “Big Gully”, which was too steep to cross in a cart, then went inland over a poorer strip of country to the cleared paddocks on the light soil further back.”

So they built a little house atop the rise where they could possibly see the township of Kingscote way in the distance on a clear day and most certainly could see the busy passage of ships of all kinds passing by along Backstairs Passage, and back and forth to the mainland.  Not too far from the house was a gully that leads down into Debney Beach.  They were to find that the land was not always very productive, yet their livelihood depended in part from food grown there.

 

Two more sons were born to them - Oscar Stanford the next year after their move to the Island born in April 1885 on the mainland at Kingston House, Marino (was their home not organised yet? who would be the midwife in this new location?), then Alfred at Point Morrison in 1887.  Probably Emily had already planned to go back to the mainland for Oscar's birth.  

A letter written by Frederick to his father in October 1887 in reference to the mining exercise says:

Just received report from School of Mines at Ballarat as under - 
Arcenical Perities - (Bad to Melt) contained - To the Ton -
-  8 pennyweights gold
-  13 ounces Silver
-  and a large quanity of Arcenic,
they say sink shaft 30 feet, perities may decrease and gold and silver increase.

He also talks of hoping to buy bullocks for less than 14 pounds, writes that a cow has calved and he expects another to do so tomorrow.  He is wanting more rain although the crops are looking well.

We feel that the cropping was of wheat, barley and oats and that the cattle were beef, not diary beasts, except of course the cow that would be used for family milking.  Frederick and the boys had some employment on adjoining farms.

By 1889 Ivy Gwendoline had been born.

Then in 1890, yet another child to feed - Mabel was born.  With Ivy just one and Emily no doubt feeding her, a new baby.  Mabel died within the week and was buried down in the gully near the house.  Lilies adorn the area now in the shape of a cross and the same lilies were a constant decorative reminder of her at the back door of her sister, Lilla home in years to come.

Mabel's grave at Point Morrison

Mabel's grave at Point Morrison

Frederick gets sick

In 1891 Frederick helped some people who were shipwrecked off the coast of Port Morrison, Kangaroo Island.  Frederick became bitterly cold in the sea whilst helping rescue them and contracted a lung complaint which was the cause ultimately, according to my family, for him coming down the tuberculosis.  Some of the family expect that he contracted the diseased from someone aboard ship.

Newspaper articles state the following:

 

"The Wreck of the Maldon Lewis [By Telegraph] - Kingscote, January 28 -

The schooner Maldon Lewis, owned by Messrs. J. Darling & Son, Capt. Cocks, master, went ashore at Point Morrison at about noon on Saturday during a stiff gale.  The sea was very heavy, dragging both the vessel's anchors, and she drifted on to the rocks, the rudder being damaged.  The extent of the injury done is not yet known, and the sea is still breaking over the boat.

 

All hands were got safely ashore.  The captain threw a line from the rigging, and Captain Debney, a settler living close by, who rendered all possible assistance, secured the line, and made it fast to the cliffs.  The men got ashore along the line, receiving a few bumps and a ducking on the way.  Captain Debney entertained the hands, providing all requirements.  When the schooner is lightened she may be got off."

"Wreck of the Maldon Lewis [By Telegraph] Kingscote, January 28 -

The schooner Maldon Lewis, Captain Cox in charge, went ashore on Saturday morning at Morrison's Point.  All hands came safely ashore.  Captain Brown has been over and reports that she is not much damaged so far as can eb seen, tough she is full of water and laden with coals and galvanized iron.  She belongs to Messrs. John Darling & Son.  The ketch Alert is just about to proceed to her assistance.  It was blowing a very strong breeze from the west and she misstayed in going about.  Tle Maldon Lewis is a schooner of 52 tons, catained by A. Cocks, and owned by Messrs. John Darling & Son.  She had taken 30 tons of coal on board at Port Adelaide, and was proceeding to Hardwicke Bay, where she was to load wheat for Port Pirie.  We understand the vessel and cargo was not injured.  From Captain Henderson, of the James Comrie, which arrived late on Monday evening, we learn that the vessel went ashore between 8 and 9 o'clock on Saturday morning, during a heavy westerly gale, right in front of Captain Debney's house at Point Morrison.  The crew threw a line ashore which Captain Debney plunged into the surf after, and made fast to a rock by which means the crew were safely landed.  The vessel's rudder is unshipped, and she is lying jammed between two rocks, perfectly safe while the wind is blowing either south-west or south-east, but should it blow from the west it will bring up a nasty sea.  Captain Debney, who was once master of the ketch Lotus, is to be commended for his promptitude and his kindness towards those belonging to the Maldon Lewis.  When she is lightened an attempt will be made to get her into the Bay of Shoals, where temporary repairs will be effected."

"The Maldon Lewis Floated [By Telegraph] - Kingscote, January 29 -

The schooner Maldon Lewis is now afloat.  She was got off the rocks at about 2 o'clock this morning.  The damages sustained appear to be slight, and she set sail and started for Port Adelaide at 8 o'clock this morning with a favourable wind.

The ketch Alert got within a safe distance early yesterday evening, and without delay commenced the work of lightening the Maldon Lewis of her cargo.  After taking out 30 tons of coal, which was transferred to the Alert, they succeeded in getting the schooner afloat.  Having a favourable breeze she may reach the Port early tonight.  Captain Debney, of Point Morrison, and Captain Brown, late of the ketch Hawthorn, rendered valuable assistance, and Captain Cocks expressed his gratitude to them."

Frederick must have been growing weaker all the time, and she, Emily, beginning to wonder at their future. 
 
In June 1891 Frederick wrote a letter to his brother George on Monkira Station in SW Queensland.  He began the two page letter on his birthday 9 June 1891, but left it twice and continued later. It reads:


"My dear George,

As today is my birthday (44) and I just received your letter enclosing banknote for 20/- it came as a birthday present, - for which tell Mary to accept our heartfelt thanks for her kindness but I fear you are robbing yourself in assisting us.  Many thanks for your kind and generous feeling of rendering me substantial assistance I know old man you mean it and I also know that you cannot do it, and another thing is George as far as I am personally concerned it is I fear too late.

I saw Dr Toll and he examined me as well as the others.  He gives me no hopes - says the organ is quite diseased past all cure and also says I may fall dead at any moment.  All the Drs. strictly prohibit work of any kind and say I am past medicine, this might do for a man of means but for me it is impossible so I have just returned home with the intention of working to the end.  If I do not do so we must certainly starve or next door to it, however I can do very little and that little distresses me greatly at times.  I am not in any way troubled as regards myself personally for the constant pain and suffering have made me very tired of the struggle, but for my wife and family I do feel it and yet I cannot help it.  If I am alive when you come to town try and come and see me for men do linger a long time with my disease at times.

Laughton told me he was disgusted at the prices your cattle sold for, he said they were a fine lot given away and so George it seems with all things of late nothing seems to pay at all.

Poor old dad is getting very feeble and almost childish.  Old John Laughton not much better and as far as I could judge nearly always in a state of semi-intoxication.  The old girl at Mitcham takes most of her time out on the sofa and in bed so things are in a glorious state for us all, and yet what have we done that all this trouble should be heaped on to us, even now with my ropes nearly coiled up I cannot realize the reason however I expect we shall all know the great secret sooner or later.

Emily and the rest are well only she frets a good deal about me and won't keep her pecker up.  Nellie is as tall as her mother and twice as stout and strong - Fred is a fine boy and useful and Bob is coming on well and hardy and if I live to see them a few years older I shall not care.

Thanks George for the whip and I hope to make it crack for a while after I get it.  We have had no rain here for five months and cannot get the plough into anything but sandy land.  Thomas is still here and has been very good to me giving myself and the boys employment very often.  Mr Buick and I went down about 12 feet into the reef but got no better assay, he is going to go another 12 feet before long but I am unable to assist him myself.  Edwards is having a hard push to make a living scarcely gets anything having to feed the cows on bran there not being a blade of grass about.  What a good job you are able to sell your bulls.  I have never had a good one could not afford it they want too much for a yearling here.

Bob and Alf never write now to me or the Governor.  What has become of them I do not know. I leave this open till Sunday when I post.

Saturday no more news old man so we all unite in love to you all - and Believe Me - Your Affectionate Brother,

Fred Debney"

Note:
Poor old Dad - refers to his father, George Robert Debney, then aged 74 years. 

Old Girl at Mitcham - refers to his father's third wife, who was a widow named Mary Watson, who he married on 9 March 1874, and who, at the time of writing, was aged 58 years.

The Mitcham property at which they were then living was called Kingsview and was situated at 6 Alton Avenue, Torrens Park.  It still exists today and is in good repair.  It was bought by George Robert Debney in late 1876, when a financial crisis forced him to sell his previous residence which was later known as Undelcarra at Burnside (13 Undelcarra Road, Burnside).  Robert and Margaret Debney bought Undelcarra in 1852 (30 acres) settling just north of Second Creek in a stone cottage which they extended.  In 1864 it was described as a large stone and brick house with detached kitchen.  He sold Kingsview on 7 December 1891 and moved at that stage to Frederick Street, Gilberton.

Old John Laughton - was Mary's (Debney nee Watson) brother.  Frederick then makes reference to his children, Nellie, was Nell, then to Fred, and Bob was the fourth child, George Robert, who died in Vancouver, Canada, c. 1904.

The Governor - George Robert Debney.

Bob (his brother George Robert), apparently went to Canada as a young man, and some of his descendants have been traced, and were living in the Toronta area. 

Alf went to NSW as a young man, and spent the rest of his life working in the Dubbo, Tottenham and Condoblin area and his descendants formed a NSW branch of the family of which Iris Steinhauser is one.

The reference to Thomas is to Mr Thomas, who owned the adjoining property and bought the old farm from Emily in 1898.  The reference to Edwards is presumably to another neighbor.

Frederick Dies

 

Three months after the letter was written, Frederick dies.

Frederick died on 14 September 1891 at around the age of 41.

A funeral is held at West Terrace Cemetery, Adelaide and Frederick is interred with his parents and others.  (Road 3, Path 11, Site 21).

How was Emily to cope?  Initially with people and family rallying to support, things may have been fair, but before long the desperation would have been felt.  We know that Mr Thomas from the next farm had given George, Oscar and the father Frederick work, at times, and so we assume that the boys were able to continue with this.  Nellie, the eldest had grown 

"as tall as her mother and twice as stout and strong" according to Frederick's letter and so we expect that she was a great help to Emily with the care of the little ones and housework, gardening etc whilst young Fred would have been the male head of the house as well as chief woodcutter, water carter and the one to tend the few cows.  It is likely too that he, George and Oscar would have wood cut ready to be shipped out from their little beach and landing and this may have supplemented the finances.

 
The next year saw Australia in the grip of a financial crisis in Melbourne but most of the country was affected.

Before long Emily found it frighteningly difficult, but we are sure from correspondence from George at Monkira Station in SW Queensland was as close to Fred as any of his brothers and, being concerned for the family's survival, he would send a bag of flour to Emily occasionally.  She was afraid to look in the flour bin most days in case there was none left and would shut her eyes as she felt for a cupful of flour to bake the bread.  Similarly the sugar.  A step-sister of Frederick whose husband owned a grocery business would also send food at times.

Throughout all this life at Point Morrison, Emily had determinedly instructed her children with their schooling.  Nellie would have been a great help with the younger ones and their household tasks had to be tended as well between lessons, so learning was often done at night according to Oscar's memories.

"Work hard all day and do your lessons and study all evening, and curse quietly to yourself when you were made to study during the day."

Of the other children still at Point Morrison then, Lilla was eleven years old.  She had lost her father, a baby sister buried down in the gully and knew that they were all in jeopardy of having contracted this same disease that took Frederick.  She could see her mother's distress, we imagine, because if Emily could not keep her pecker up before Frederick died, surely she was similarly agonised after the event.

As mentioned previously, most of our ancestry lines on this side of the family had known each other since early colonial days, and this was still only 55 years since SA was colonial settled, so it is not hard to understand why there was always someone known who would show kindness and support.  So it is that Lilla came to live and work for the Partridge family at Wisanger, a locality further to the north west of Kingscote.  She became a domestic help to Mary, wife of Henry Partridge who was a Congregational minister and the Clerk of the Court at Kingscote.  Years before this, Henry's father Josiah, a barrister of Partridge Street, Glenelg, was friendly with George Robert Debney, Lilla's grandfather. Mary's mother, Eliza Stockholm Strawbridge (Doreen's G-G-Grandmother), lived with her daughter Mary and Henry at Wisanger and it would not have taken her long to deduce that Lilla was an intelligent and responsible girl.  Eliza happily gave Lilla lessons to continue her schooling.

Lilla took on house duties and Governess work, for some time still with the Partridges who had 6 children, all younger than Lilla.

The eldest, Wilfrid, had gone away to school in Adelaide to Way College, now Annesley College, Unley.  On the day that Wilf cam home to Wisanger, he kicked a football through the window of the house and this is the first time that Lilla noticed him. He told his sister Edith later that he thought Lilla was a pretty girl.

They married later at Cygnet River in the home of Lilla's sister Ellen (Nell) at Cygnet River on 26 March 1903.  At this point in time, Lilla was listed as a governess and living at Cygnet River, so we assume that she was not living in the home of her future husband for some time before their betrothal.  Just where that home of sister Nell's was at Cygnet River, no one knows.  It was her future father-in-law, Henry Partridge, who was the officiating minister that married them. Is it any wonder that the name plate of the house that Lilla eventually had built was "Monkira".

In the meantime young Fred had left Point Morrison in 1896 to take up a position as trainee manager at Haddon Downs Station in SW Queensland and Emily had been married to Jack St Pierre, a crewman on the windjammers and man whom her husband had known and warned her not to marry.  Unable to cope with feeding her family, she had succumbed and gone into an unhappy marriage for the sake of her family.  We are not sure at what point in time she separated from him, but in about 1898 the farm was sold, we expect, to Maurice Thomas' father, a good neighbour who had employed the men of the family when possible.  I am told that Maurice remembered the Debneys well.  Emily must have left the farm before its sale because we know that young Oscar was left there to carry on until the farm was sold - just 13 years old but he "could do anything a man can do". 

His brother Alf (11) was there and sister Gwen (9) who had been sent back from Adelaide to cook!

The stories Oscar wrote are set in a period after Fred had left the farm to go north, and before it was finally sold.. He gives some insight to life on the farm –

“Nothing much ever happened at the old farm at Kangaroo Island. It was a rather isolated place, and the big crowd that used to fill the huge dining room table at almost every meal was not there any more. Most of them had grown up and married, or gone to some other place.

The boy (Oscar) who was left to carry on until the farm was sold was just something between a boy and a youth, though in his own estimation he could do anything a man could do. His brother Alf, and his sister Gwen were there at the time. Gwen having been sent up (presumably from Adelaide) because of a queer suspicion that they may not bother to cook enough food for themselves, and might, perhaps, die of starvation.”

Another part of Oscar’s writings, set in an earlier part of this same period, reveal his views with the benefit of hindsight -

“To the ordinary observer, the crew on the dray would, probably, not be very impressive. There was my brother George, who was a few years older than I, (George Robert, sometimes referred to as Bob) our old stepfather, Jack, (Jack St. Pierre) who had sailed the seven seas for the greater part of his life, in every type of vessel, and particularly in the great “Windjammers” of his time, and myself. The boys were still a long way from grown up.

The date is of the last century (the 1800’s). If anyone ever tells you about the “Good Old Times” on Kangaroo Island, you can be sure it was not then, or for a long time before, and a good many years later, that they are talking about. Otherwise they are just telling lies. They were harsh times when you lived on your own resources, or died in the attempt, as many did.”

No doubt the death of his own father a few years before, prompted Oscar’s last comment. Also, it is the first written mention I have seen of Fred’s stepfather, Jack St. Pierre.

Oscar also writes about one of the work activities that was carried out on the farm, and starts with a boat approaching Debney’s Beach –

“As they approached they would have seen a long dark line between the gravel beach and the low banks, which was really about 200 tons of firewood, cut in 6 foot lengths and stacked ready for shipment. A dray and horses was coming down the gently rising land from the house, which stood on the large flat top of the rise, a little west of the landing."

He goes on to describe the method of shipping -

“To ship wood and grain and other cargo, the vessel would come in as near the beach as was thought safe, which was pretty close as the water was deep near the shore. The vessels always towed what was called the cargo boat. It was a strong boat, and would possibly carry as much as two tons. This boat was brought inshore by two men, and the dray would be loaded and driven out until the water came up to the bottom of the dray. Then the dray was turned side on to seaward, and the cargo boat would be run alongside the back of the dray and fastened by two pieces of rope to the standards on the corners of the dray, so that the boat could only move a few inches, first touching the dray and tightening the ropes. Two men in the boat and two on the dray was sufficient.”

From his vantage point in time in 1939, Oscars looks back on life before the turn of the century -
"It may sound to you a queer way to ship cargo, but things have changed a lot since then. At that time we could look out over the gulf and see the big four-masted sailing ships making their way east to west, or west to east across the gulf, and the more modern coal steamers carrying coal from Newcastle to Port Pirie.

If anyone had told anyone else, at that time, that they might live to be able to pick up a telephone and speak to their friends in London, without the aid of even a piece of wire cable, they would have just laughed.

You could have sat in the streets of Adelaide for a year, and not seen any kind of motor vehicle. The radio, with all the programmes covering over the air, would have seemed like a happy dream. Flying was looked upon as some mighty achievement that may yet come about, but most people shook their heads.”

We must indeed be ever grateful to Oscar for his writings, which give a fascinating insight into the way of life that Lilla and her brothers and sisters would have experienced on the family farm at Point Morrison.

Emily’s son, Frederick Stanford (brother of Lilla) named after his father, also went away to Queensland to help ease the burden of Emily. He was about 14 and later managed and part-owned Arrabury, Queensland. His children were Ross, Rennie, Murrie, Scott and Howie, these being Grandma Nita’s cousins.

Many years later, Doreen, Emily's great granddaughter loved to rub her hands across the metal name plate on her Granny Lilla’s house front which proudly bore the word “Monkira”. Lilla was 12 when her father died.

 

Emily marries James St. Pier

Nellie's daughter Dorothy tells a story that Emily told her, to the effect that she was standing at the gate of the homestead at Point Morrison, when Frederick appeared to her and told her she should not marry Jack St. Pierre; at which point she apparently fell to the ground in a faint.  She obviously didn't take the hint, most likely because she was isolated, lonely, and could see no other way to feed her family.  Because...

Emily married James St. Pier, known as Jack on 1 March 1894 at the farmhouse at Point Morrison.

The newspaper article reads as follows:

"ST.PIER - DEBNEY - On the 1st March, at Point Morrison, KI, by the Rev. H. Partridge, James, third son of the late Samuel St. Pier, Essez, England, to Emily Harriet, widow of the late Captain Debney."

Emily was warned not to marry James St. Pier, a worker on the ships Frederick worked on. She was desperate to survive but later left him.

Around 1904-1905, Emily, on the advice of Henry Partridge (her relative), sold her estate at Point Morrison to Mr Thomas of Point Morrison.  Henry Partridge had urged her to sell everything and head to America to join the Zion City.

Shortly after the sale, advice was received by Mr Partridge, saying in effect — '''I have been there; you'd better not go.". She did not, and told a newspaper reporter she was busy making inquiries about land at Kalangadoo and Kybybolite — in fact; anywhere upon which to settle her sons other than within the portals of our earthly Zion."

Moving to Kybibolite, South Australia

Emily moved to a farm in Kybibolite in the south east of South Australia next.  She took those children with her who were still living at home.  Her sons Alfred and Oscar contracted polio there.

Things were still very tough for Emily and soon her brother-in-law on Monkira Station offered to take Beatrice and Alfred to live at Monkira.  Some of Beatrice's artistic sketches where from around that time.  She returned to Adelaide from Monkira in 1902.

James died on 14 October 1915 on board the “Karatta”.  He is buried under Police Order in a Pauper grave in West Terrace Cemetery, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, Road 5 Extension, Row C11, Site 19. 

Moving to Adelaide

By 1916, Emily was living at 44 1st Avenue, St Peters. Emily never owned the St Peters house but rents it from Emily Chapman of Nairne, a widow who owned the house from January 1914 to January 1921. (Lands Titles - 5128/315 then 3744/126 then 1192/68 then 447/198).

44 1st Avenue, St Peters in 2013 where Emily lived in 1916

Her son Frederick built her a home on 245 Magill Road at Trinity Gardens, Adelaide where her children would visit her.

Lois Partridge, Emily granddaughter remembers that Emily Harriet wore a lot of black with a high collar, that she remembers visiting her at her house on Magill Road and that Emily loved cupid dolls and had them held around her bedposts in ribbons.

Emily would never personally collect her regular money allowance at the local Post Office in the name of Emily St Pier.  That task was left to Nellie (Ellen, her daughter). 

Emily died on 23 November 1937 at age 85 at Norwood Private Hospital, Osmond Terrace, Norwood, Adelaide, South Australia. She died of lobar pneumonia (pneumonia of one section of a lung) and Myocardial weakness (heart weakness). She is buried at West Terrace Cemetery, Adelaide, Flinders North, Path 3, Site 5 under the name Emily Debney (she refused to acknowledge St. Pier).