HISTORY OF THE FIRST PETER MC CANN Note: Mc means the “son of”

Unfortunately in 1922 during the Irish Civil war, the majority of Irish State, domestic and ecclesiastical records were destroyed when the IRA burnt down Custom House and irreplaceable historical records were lost. The following stories have been supplied by the Mc Cann Family from family histories traced by past members of the family, and the amazing book compiled by Peter Mc Cann, grandson of the first Peter Mc Cann who was transported to Australia as a convict

Peter McCann, was born circa 1769 in County Monaghan which is part of the historical province of Ulster, now known as Eire or the Republic of Ireland, His parentage is unknown. At about the age of 29, he was a Catholic labourer, and charges were brought against him by a Mr. Irvin for robbery at Monaghan, Ireland. He was convicted in April 1798 and was sentenced to transportation for a term of seven years.

At that time a rebellion – “The Rising”, one of the most concentrated episodes of violence in Irish history had resulted in a death toll of 30,000. Hundreds of men convicted of rebellion were sentenced to transportation or to death. The ships “Minerva” and “Friendship” transported the rebels to NSW. Prisoners were taken from the Geneva Barracks in Duncannon, County Wexford, and from Dublin to Cork.

PETER Mc CANN, AND MARY FITZGERALD is our first story in the Mc Cann history in Australia

Mary Fitzgerald was born circa 1787 at Clonmel, County Tipperary, Ireland. She was convicted in 1801 at Waterford, Ireland, and transported on the Ship “Atlas”, on 29th November, 1801, to NSW. She was sentenced to seven years transportation and sailed with her Mother/Sister Ellen Fitzgerald. They arrived in Sydney NSW on 7th July 1802

On 9th January 1804, Peter McCann and Mary Fitzgerald were married at St. Johns Church of England, Parramatta. Peter and Mary had two children, Nicholas born on 28th November 1803 and Catherine born on 1st July 1805.

Peter McCann rented and farmed land at Cornwallis Farm, Windsor. According to the 1806 “Muster” (Census), Peter and Mary lived there with their two children, Nicholas and Catherine. Their Grandson Peter McCann was born in 1828 and died in 1908. Peter recorded his father’s description of his grandmother Mary as his “beau-ideal of a wife and mother, a frugal and industrial wife and an affectionate mother brought up to farm life.”

The First part of the story, written by Peter McCann Grandson of the first Peter Mc Cann, to record the McCann Family history, begins with the first Peter Mc Cann, and his son Nicholas. Grandson Peter described his grandfather “as a man of splendid physique, six feet three inches in height, stout in proportion, and weighed 16 stone.

Also related in his history book, The “Governor, evidently realized that he had in him the makings of a good colonist; as he selected him along with others, to till and work a large area of land, Under the “bounty system” then existing, he was provided with implements, provisions, seed and cattle until such time as he could make the land yield a return.”

The book goes on to say that because Mary was brought up to farm life, and Peter being a man possessed of great physical strength, activity and a great capacity for industry, together with the high prices they obtained for their produce they quickly began to prosper in life.

Life as they knew it then, was short lived. On 21st October, 1806 Peter at the age of 37 free by servitude accidentally drowned in Rickerby’s Creek, near Windsor in a Hawkesbury River flood.

At the time of Peter’s death, Mary was 19 with two young children and not surprising in a land with an overwhelming imbalance between males and females, Mary remarried on 2nd November 1807, to a farm neighbour James Neill, who had been transported to Sydney on the Marquis Cornwallis in 1795. Mary gave birth to two children with James Neill. James died in 1811 at the age of 40. Mary married a third time in 1813 to John Hill, with whom she had two more children.

Mary’s Mother, Eleanor Fitzgerald married John Norris. John Norris was a convict, a stone mason and brick layer and was a native of Birmingham. He was also Peter McCann’s closest friend. He had opened a Monumental and Builders yard on the Main road between Parramatta and Sydney, and he was the Godfather to Peter and Mary’s son, Nicholas McCann. John Norris was a great influence on young Nicholas.

As recorded in the McCann book that John Norris seems to have been “a splendid tradesman, sober, industrious and meticulous. He seems to have had a great capacity to make money, and at the same time to take care of it.” He married late in life to an older lady of his own age, and did not have any family of his own. It was said that this was probably because his chief object in life was to make a man of young Nicholas.

Continued in Part 2

Mousley Family of Geelong, Bambra and Anglesea

Joseph Mousley was born in Staffordshire, England in 1811 the son of Thomas Mousley (1772-1832) and Elizabeth Allsop (1779-1830).  In 1835 he was convicted in Staffordshire of sheep stealing and sentenced to life with transportation to Tasmania.  Joseph a plowman was 23 years old.  He left London aboard the Lord Lyndoch in April 1936 bound for Hobart arriving in August.   He received a ticket of leave due to good conduct “having been convicted of only two minor offences during the ten years he has been in the colony.”  In 1849 he married Ann Hebuirn (1826-1909) the daughter of Thomas Hebuirn (1800–1879) and Elizabeth Emptage (1802–1854) in New Norfolk, Tasmania where their first child William (1847–1849) was born.  By 1848 they were living in Chilwell, Geelong where 5 more children were born; Joseph (1848-1849), Thomas (1850-1858), Anne (1852-1917), Joseph (1855-1921) and Harriet (1857–1907).  By 1860 they were living at Bambra where Joseph established a farm and a further 4 children were born; William Henry (1860-1945) Mary (1862–1945), Albert (1864–1833) and Elijah (1868–1927).  The Hebuirn family also moved from Tasmania to Chilwell and Joseph and Thomas carted water to the residents of Chilwell before he moved to Bambra.

Joseph died in 1899 at his residency in Chilwell aged 88 years and is buried in the Eastern Cemetery.  In his will he appointed his son Joseph and William Wallace, nurseryman of Newtown as trustees of his estate that comprised a farm at Bambra and two properties in Chilwell.  He left his savings to his wife Ann and an annual income of £20 to be established.  The Clover Hill farm at Bambra of 94 acres and stock he left to his son Joseph.  The residual of the estate was to be sold and divided amongst his other living children; Ann (Mrs Bennett), Harriet (Mrs Armistead) William Henry, Mary (Mrs Armistead), Albert and Elijah.

OWEN YATEMAN – FOREVER YOUNG

Born in 1928 in Geelong (or Deadsville as he called it), Owen moved to Torquay in 1940. He was one of the first members of the Torquay Surf Lifesaving Club (founded in 1946. Yatey joined the Surf Club in 1947, and gained a reputation as a legend on 17 foot surf skis. With Vic Tantau, he was one of the first to surf Bells beach in the late 40’s. He was a legend of the surf, winning medals in competition and skied with Brian Beck in the Double Ski competition.

A man of the sea, he became a Cray fisherman in 1956 and was known to catch waves at Bells in his boat for the amusement of himself and locals. He was well known for rescuing many boats that floundered in bad weather off Fisherman’s Beach and towing them to safety.

The stories of his colourful antics are legendary and include surfing a double ski and competing in surfing competitions. He would take surfing legend Peter Troy to Bells in his motorcycle sidecar on the old disused Cobb & Co coach track and watch him ride the waves on his rubber Surf-o-Plane. He was a long time member of the “D’s Club, (Drinkers Club of the 1960’s) an offshoot of the Torquay Surf Life Saving Club, which Owen was a long time and foundation member. The D’s club began in 1960, and a lot of time was spent at “Boot Hill” off Darien Road, where the boys of Boot Hill enjoyed an ale and a lot of fun. In the beginning the D’s were not actually recognised by the Surf Club, however as time went on and the membership grew both of the Club and the “D’s, the D’s became well known and were instrumental in many fund raising pursuits.

He was equally passionate about music and played the trombone. His first band was called the Sand Dune Savages but later played in the better-known Big Fat Brarse. By all accounts “Yatie” lived life to the full and his gigs were known to reflect his love of life.

Ever youthful and professing he didn’t start growing up until he was 50, the age when he had his first heart attack, Owen married three times and fathered six daughters, five with his first wife Trish, and one with his second wife.

A true local identity, a founder of Bells and a stalwart of the Torquay Surf Life Saving Club, and the “D’s” Club, Owen’s legacy lives on.

Arthur William Simmons married Rebecca Hunter in 1877. As farmers they owned and ran properties at Freshwater Creek and Waurn Ponds (now Deakin University).

Their son Thomas married Cecelia Lemin in 1914 and had two sons – Arthur and Alan. They lived at the Freshwater Creek farm. Thomas died in 1921, aged 39 from septicemia after a sheep stood on his toe.  Cecelia then married William Cunningham. They continued to farm at Freshwater Creek. The boys rode their horses to school.

Arthur met Phyllis Mousley at the local dances and used to ride his Raleigh motorcycle to get petrol from the Anglesea General Store, Post Office and Tea Rooms in the hope of seeing Phyllis. It was run by her family since opening in 1917. Her father Reuben had served in Gallipoli inWW1 (His ashes, with his first wife May, are buried in the cemetery).

The Mousleys had settled in the area after Reuben’s grandfather Joseph, who had been transported to Hobart Town in 1836 to serve a life sentence for sheep stealing, was pardoned and moved to Geelong in 1848. He married and had 10 children, one of whom was Rueben’s father William.

Arthur and Phyllis married in 1938 and bought land at Anglesea for £8 in 1941. Their house was built from recycled materials due to war time scarcities. Phyllis continued to help the family business, manning the switchboard during the Black Friday bushfires of 1939. Arthur worked for the Forestry Commission while Phyllis and the children worked their land in Anglesea (now the industrial estate). Phyllis died in 2000 and Arthur passed away just before his 98^th birthday in 2014.

Arthur served on the Bellbrae Cemetery Trust from 1960 until his death in 2014 and is buried in this cemetery.

A colourful history of service

Arthur Simmons

William Simmons married Rebecca Hunter in 1877. As farmers they owned and ran properties at Freshwater Creek and Waurn Ponds (now Deakin University).

Their son Thomas married Cecelia Lemin in 1914 and had two sons – Arthur and Alan. They lived at the Freshwater Creek farm. Thomas died in 1921, aged 39 from septicemia after a sheep stood on his toe.  Cecelia then married William Cunningham. They continued to farm at Freshwater Creek. The boys rode their horses to school.

THE MOUSLEY CONNECTION

Arthur Simmons met Phyllis Mousley at the local dances and used to ride his Raleigh motorcycle to get petrol from the Anglesea General Store, Post Office and Tea Rooms in the hope of seeing Phyllis. It was run by her family since opening in 1917. Her father Reuben had served in Gallipoli in WW1 (His ashes, with his first wife May, are buried at Bellbrae cemetery).

The Mousleys had settled in the area after Reuben’s grandfather Joseph, who had been transported to Hobart Town in 1836 to serve a life sentence for sheep stealing, was pardoned and moved to Geelong in 1848. He married and had 10 children, one of whom was Rueben’s father William.

Arthur and Phyllis married in 1938 and bought land at Anglesea for £8 in 1941. Their house was built from recycled materials due to war time scarcities. Phyllis continued to help the family business, manning the switchboard during the Black Friday bushfires of 1939. Arthur worked for the Forestry Commission while Phyllis and the children worked their land in Anglesea (now the industrial estate). Phyllis died in 2000 and Arthur passed away just before his 98^th birthday in 2014. Arthur served on the Bellbrae Cemetery Trust from 1960 until his death in 2014 and is buried in the Bellbrae cemetery.

Joseph Mousley was born in Staffordshire, England in 1811 the son of Thomas Mousley (1772-1832) and Elizabeth Allsop (1779-1830).  In 1835 he was convicted in Staffordshire of sheep stealing and sentenced to life with transportation to Tasmania.  Joseph a plowman was 23 years old.  He left London aboard the Lord Lyndoch in April 1936 bound for Hobart arriving in August.   He received a ticket of leave due to good conduct “having been convicted of only two minor offences during the ten years he has been in the colony.”  In 1849 he married Ann Hebuirn (1826-1909) the daughter of Thomas Hebuirn (1800–1879) and Elizabeth Emptage (1802–1854) in New Norfolk, Tasmania where their first child William (1847–1849) was born.  By 1848 they were living in Chilwell, Geelong where 5 more children were born; Joseph (1848-1849), Thomas (1850-1858), Anne (1852-1917), Joseph (1855-1921) and Harriet (1857–1907).  By 1860 they were living at Bambra where Joseph established a farm and a further 4 children were born; William Henry (1860-1945) Mary (1862–1945), Albert (1864–1833) and Elijah (1868–1927).  The Hebuirn family also moved from Tasmania to Chilwell and Joseph and Thomas carted water to the residents of Chilwell before he moved to Bambra.

Joseph died in 1899 at his residency in Chilwell aged 88 years and is buried in the Eastern Cemetery.  In his will he appointed his son Joseph and William Wallace, nurseryman of Newtown as trustees of his estate that comprised a farm at Bambra and two properties in Chilwell.  He left his savings to his wife Ann and an annual income of £20 to be established.  The Clover Hill farm at Bambra of 94 acres and stock he left to his son Joseph.  The residual of the estate was to be sold and divided amongst his other living children; Ann (Mrs Bennett), Harriet (Mrs Armistead) William Henry, Mary (Mrs Armistead), Albert and Elijah.

Ernest died as an infant, Violet died aged 27 from the complications of child birth and Phillip died aged 18 from a shooting accident whilst he was out hunting rabbits.

Andrew Ruben Mousley the 4^th child of William and Ellen was born at Bambra in 1889.  By 1915 Andrew was working in Western Australia as a sleeper hewer for the railways.  He enlisted in May at Nannup into the 7^th Reinforcements for the 11^th Battalion 1^st AIF and in early August was on his way to Alexandria in Eygpt.  Within a week he was at Gallipoli and a week later sustained a shrapnel wound to his right thigh.  He was treated at the hospital at Heliopolis, Egypt and by November he was invalided back to Australia arriving home in March 1916. 

Several years ago, our Society had the privilege of interviewing Alva Barrow, A Torquay resident whose family have lived in our area since settling in Grovedale in 1854. Alva’s story started with her Great Great Grandparents John (Johan and Dorothea Schmidt) who settled in Grovedale in 1854. They had six children. Alva’s Great Grandfather, Johan Gottleib, was their fourth child. They first settled in Grovedale which was then called German Town, and Johan was naturalized as an Australian in 1861.

Johan Gottleib Schmidt was born in Zilluchow Prussia in 1838 and died in Australia in 1888. His wife Johana Louisa Paulina Leibhardt was born in Pommerzig Prussia in 1844 and died in Torquay in 1921.

Johan arrived in Australia at Point Henry with his parents John and Dorothea Schmidt on the Williamsburg in 1853. Johana arrived in Australia in 1854. Johan Gottleib Schmidt and Johanna Louisa Paulina Leibhardt were married in Belmont in 1865. The couple settled in Freshwater Creek where they raised their family of twelve children.

JOHAN GEORGE AUGUST SCHMIDT was the fifth born child to Johan and Dorothea Schmidt, and was born in 1874 at Freshwater Creek. He was raised on the family farm at Freshwater Creek where his parents died in 1958.

Johan George August Schmidt was Alva’s grandfather. Having settled in Freshwater Creek, the family lived in a mud and bark hut and drew water from the creek. He was educated at the local Freshwater Creek school and his parents Johan and Johanna Schmidt were on the school committee. They were also founders of St. David’s Lutheran Church at Freshwater Creek.

Their son Johan George Schmidt known as Jack Smith worked as a groom for Morrie Jacobs driving him about in his jinker. It is believed that this is when he met his future wife, Violet Mary Frances Cameron. Violet was born in 1886 and died in 1927. Johan (Jack) and violet were married at Belmont in 1900 and began their married live by building a cottage about one mile from Torquay. They called it Grass Tree Cottage.

Grass Tree Cottage

Grass Tree Cottage was built on what is now the Corner of Combs Road and the main road to Geelong (now Surf Coast Highway). It was opposite to a water hole where travelers and the coaches stopped to water their horses. Violet used to sell the travelers cool drinks.

Jack and Violet’s first child, Ina was born in Grass Tree Cottage. The White family had bought the cottage and used it for their farm workers when Jack and Violet moved into Torquay. It later passed to the Mc Cann family when the White Estate was sold after Alfred G. White’s death in 1952.

In 1950 the Polworth family moved into Grass Tree Cottage with their seven children. It had no power and water and cost the family one pound a week, payable yearly. One year Tom Polwarth went to pay the rent and Mr. Mc Cann gave it back to him. Tom had made improvements to the cottage by adding a water tank that supplied water to the bathroom and kitchen Power was connected to the cottage in approximately 1956. After the Polworth family moved the cottage continued to be rented until it was demolished in 1992 to make way for the duplication of the Geelong Road, now known as the Surf Coast Highway. Alva’s family always referred to Grass Tree Cottage, as the house that Jack built.

FELIX & FLORENCE ROSSER – Felix (1854-1919) Florence (1871-1928)

Felix Rosser was the son of British convicts, Isabella and Frederick, who were transported to Hobart in the 1840s. They married in Hobart after receiving their “free certificate”, then moved to Victoria, settling in Geelong where Felix was born in 1852. He had two siblings, William and John. Felix married Florence Klemke in 1889 and they had six children: Alice, Myrtle, Arthur, Victor, Harold and Joseph.

Felix is known for being the first person to sight the floundering ship, the Joseph H. Scammell, on the night of 7 May 1891.  He saw the red and green lights of a ship approaching Point Danger when checking his cray pots. He attempted to row his boat toward the ship, but due to the wild seas was unable to reach it. Felix and two mates lit a fire on the front beach to let the ship’s captain know help was coming and dispatched a rider to Geelong. After two attempts, he was still unable to reach the stricken ship. He tried again at dawn after noticing a life boat drop from the ship with three men in it.  He managed to navigate them to Zeally Bay and then he went back and saved the Captain, his wife, his daughter Hattie with her Persian cat, and the Stewardess. Eventually all on board were saved.

The Rosser Family were among the earliest settlers in Torquay, and Florence was active in community affairs. In 1896 Florence joined the lobby petitioning for a school for the Torquay children. In 1900 the school was housed in the Torquay Improvement Association, a local hall and then the Church Hall. Finally, in 1910 the Torquay Primary School building was constructed in Bristol Road.  Florence was on the first Committee. Her children were among the first to attend the new school.

Two sons, Harold and Victor, enlisted for service in the AIF during World War 1. Victor was discharged on medical grounds, but Harold was killed in France in 1918. Florence grieved his loss for the remainder of her life.  Felix went missing in the bush in late July 1919. Sadly, his body was found on August 9th, 1919. Known for his acts of bravery, fishing skills and his resourcefulness he was a true character in Torquay history, Felix Crescent is named after him.

(Our thanks go to Richard Greenhough for his assistance in compiling the History of Felix and Florence Rosser)

The Grossman Family were early pioneers of the Bellbrae area around 1865 when Albert Frederick and wife Anna Louise (Louisa) Grossman (nee Einsporn) migrated to Australia with thirteen children. They joined many German and Prussian families who settled in Bellbrae, Freshwater Creek and Grovedale.

Albert Grossman died in 1902 and his wife Louisa in 1940. They are buried in Freshwater Creek Cemetery.

Conrad Grossman (1902-1992) was the youngest child of Albert and Louisa. He attended the Bellbrae (then called Jan Juc) Primary school from 1908 to 1914.

Conrad first married Pearl Dryburgh—a local girl who also attended Bellbrae Primary School. Pearl was the granddaughter of George Hunter, another early pioneer of the district. Conrad and Pearl had 2 children, Jean and Keith. Conrad’s second wife was Rita Gwendoline who died in 1985 aged 74.

The Grossman family first lived at a property on Spring Creek which they called Kithbrook. They also lived for a short while on Tara on the Jan Juc Creek, before returning to their property at Bellbrae. Conrad purchased land previously owned by the Ashmore family on what is now called Grossmans Road in Bellbrae. The Grossman family was engaged in share-farming, wood cutting, wood carting and chaff cutting.

In addition, they supplied milk to Torquay and surrounding areas from their Bellbrae farm. In 1948 Conrad Grossman built and operated the dairy on the corner of Pearl Street and Boston Road Torquay, and son Keith delivered milk to the towns people of Torquay.

Although the dairy was sold in 1952, Keith Grossman continued to deliver the town’s milk for the new owners. He also went on to farm land on Grossmans Road. Conrad’s daughter, Jean, married into another German pioneering family, becoming Jean Seiffert.

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GANLEY Margaret

It is with sad hearts that we acknowledge the passing of our friend and contributor to The Torquay and District Historical Society. Margaret Ganley and her family have been involved with the preservation of Torquay’s history for many years,  and we have been privileged to hold many of their family’s historic photos, to remind us of her proud history and that of our wonderful town as far back as to the late 1800’s and the beginning of the 20th century.  Margaret was the grand daughter of William Pride, who was an early visitor and one of the first to settle in Torquay. He was a  foundation member of the Torquay Improvement Association and purchased the Joseph H Scammell when it floundered on Point Danger in 1891 Our condolences to Carleen and Margaret’s family, she is and will be sadly missed and always remembered. A beautiful lady with a magic smile. Torquay and District Historical Society

Pride family history

On May the 7^th 1891 the ship Joseph H. Scammell during a wild storm went onto the rocks at Point Danger, 400 yards from the shore and about half a mile from the Torquay Coffee Palace (Follett’s) (Now the Torquay Hotel).  There she became stuck.

Local fisherman Felix Rosser was inspecting his crayfish pots at around 11pm, on that night and saw the red and green lights of a ship approaching in close, and then, torches flashing from on deck.  The storm was so severe he could do nothing. A rider was sent to Geelong to raise the alarm and he rowed out to the Scammell to let them know that they would be rescued in the morning.  The Customs officers, and constabulary arrived the next morning and all were rescued.  The deck house broke away when the Scammell broke up, and floated to shore. Mr. Pride paid Forty pounds for the deck house and transported it to The Esplanade where he extended it and it became the Holiday Home of the Pride Family. The Pride Family still own the house located in Pride Street, which in 1891 was the rear of  the house on the Esplanade and at the writing of this post it has been the home of Margaret for all of  her life.  8th January, 2020.