Albion Theophilus Walkley

M, #4384, b. 1847, d. 17 Dec 1895
Birth*1847 Bristol, Gloucestershire, England.1 
Land-UBeac*b 16 Apr 1879Albion Theophilus Walkley selected land from the Crown. GEM-D-40. 19a 3r 30p - No Land File. Crown grant to A. T. WALKLEY on 16 Apr 1879. - SALE 5062, upset £1/ac, value £67 - paid rates until 1882-83.2 
Marriage*8 Mar 1881 Spouse: Anna Louisa Lawrence. VIC, Australia, #M230.3
 
Marriage-Notice*16 Mar 1881WALKLEY-LAWRENCE. - On the 8th inst., at St. Peter's Church, Melbourne, by the Rev Canon Handfield, Albion Theophilus Walkley, of Melbourne, to Annie Louisa, only daughter of H. Lawrence, Esq., Fitzroy.4 
Land-UBeac*19 Dec 1883 GEM-D-40. Transfer from Albion Theophilus Walkley to William Henry Goff. 19a 3r 30p.5 
Death*17 Dec 1895 Melbourne East, VIC, Australia, #D14334 (Age 48) [par unknown].1 
Death-Notice*24 Dec 1895WALKLEY.—On the 17th inst., Albion T., dearly beloved husband of Annie L. Walkley, of Leighwood, Glenferrie-road, Hawthorn, aged 48 years.
The Friends of the late Mr. ALBION THEOPHILIS WALKLEY are respectfully invited to follow is remains to the place of interment, the Melbourne General Cemetery. The funeral will leave his late residence, Leighwood-house, Glenferrie-road, Hawthorn, THIS DAY (Tuesday, 24 December, 1895), at 4 o'clock punctually.6 
Inquest24 Dec 1895Inquest held 1895/1547. Male, Walkley, Albion Theophalus, Accidentally drowned, The Morgue Melbourne.7 

Newspaper-Articles

  • 23 Dec 1895, FOUND DROWNED. A PECULIAR CASE.
    On the 17th inst. Mr. Albion T. Walkley, a well-to-do clothing manufacturer connected with the Pheonix Clothing Company, King street, left his home at Glenferrie-road, Hawthorn, and as he did not return in the evening fears were entertained for his safety as he had been drinking rather freely for some little time previously. Inquiries showed that he had been seen the same evening in Swanston street driving a horse and hooded buggy, but until Saturday night no further tidings were heard of horse, buggy, or driver. At about 8 o'clock, however, on Saturday evening, a boy named George Grames found the body of a man floating in the Yarra, near Coode Island, and a report having been made to the police, Constable Berkery removed it to the Morgue. In the pockets of the deceased were found £5 in gold, silver, and notes, a silver watch, a gold chain and locket, and a diamond ring. In addition there were a quantity of private papers which went to show that the body was that of Walkley, and his friends having been communicated with this suspicion was continued. The body had apparently been in the water for three or four days, and it is believed that whilst under the influence of liquor Walkley mistook his way, and drove down past the gasworks straight into the river. There appears to be no other explanation of the disappearance of the horse and buggy, for the most searching inquiries have failed to discover any trace of either, whilst the appearance of the body and the amount of valuables found upon it negative the supposition of foul play. The police have, since the recovery of the body, been searching the river, but so far without success.
    Mr. Walkley was 45 years of age, and leaves a wife and three children. An inquest will be held in due course, but an effort will first be made to recover the missing horse and buggy.8
  • 24 Dec 1895, THE MYSTERIOUS DROWNING CASE. A HORSE AND HARNESS FOUND IN THE BAY.
    There seems to be little doubt that Mr Albion T Walkley, of Glenferrie road, Haw thorn, whose body was found in the Yarra on Sunday, met his death by driving his horse and buggy into the river below the Gasworks. The police, while pursuing their inquiries into the circumstances of the case yesterday, obtained evidence which seems to establish that fact beyond question. The Rev Mr Saunders, a Jewish Rabbi, was able to supply a clue which proved valuable. Shortly after 9 o'clock on Tuesday night, when leaving the Prince's bridge station, he noticed a man rush bareheaded out of a hotel and get into a buggy which was standing in Swanston street. There was a boy in the buggy, and the man, who was apparently so much intoxicated that Mr Saunders looked unsuccessfully for a police constable to have him taken care of, drove away at a brisk pace along Flinders-street. Inquiries showed that this man was identical with Mr Walkley, and until closer investigation demonstrated that the boy who was in the buggy had been compelled to get out of it soon after Mr Walkley drove away from Swanston street, it was feared that he, too, might have been drowned.
    Inquiries along Flinders street failed to show any trace of the buggy, and it is assumed therefore that Mr Walkley had by mistake driven along the Yarra bank until he reached the canal connecting the river with the West Melbourne Dock. The wharf is raised above the level of the roadway, but there are occasional openings with rising planking to enable carts to pass on to the wharves and if the horse managed to find one of these there was n0 further obstruction to prevent it falling into the river. It is believed that that is what happened. On Friday the men on one of the Harbour Trust barges picked up a horse with winkers on in the river, and they towed it out into the bay, where they abandoned it. Later some portions of harness were dredged up near the same spot, and as the body was discovered only a short dis tance away it was assumed that the horse was the one Mr Walkley had been driving. Yesterday morning a horse was thrown up by the tide on the beach at Albert park and though it has not so far been definitely identified as that of the late Mr Walkley, there is good reason for sup posing that it is the same.
    Police from Bourke street west were dredging the river all day yesterday for traces of the buggy, but they were not succcesful in finding any.
    The inquest will be held to-day.9
  • 25 Dec 1895, DEATH OF MR. WALKLEY. INVESTIGATION BY THE CORONER.
    The circumstances of the death of Mr Albion T. Walkley, of Glenferrie-road, Hawthorn, whose body was found in the Yarra on Sunday last, were inquired into yesterday by the city coroner, Dr. Youl. Mr Demaine appeared to watch the proceedings on behalf of the relatives of the deceased. The evidence corroborated the details already published. The deceased was 48 years of age, and a married man with three children. On the afternoon of the 17th inst. he spent some time in the company of his brother, and in the evening he called in at the Gippsland Hotel, Swanston street. He had a couple of glasses of wine and left. An hour or so later he returned and desired to be supplied with more wine. The barmaid would not serve him, believing he was not sober, and he then left the hotel expressing much annoyance, and remarking he would go to another house. When he went out he left his hat and umbrella behind. During his stay in the hotel a newsboy was holding his horse, and when Mr Walkley came out the boy tried to get someone to drive him home. During his absence Mr Walkley drove off. On Friday a horse, subsequently identified as his was discovered in the Yarra, and was towed out into the bay by the Harbour Trust employees. On Sunday his body was found near Coode's Island. A verdict of accidentally drowned was recorded by the jury.10

Citations

  1. [S2] Registry of Births Deaths and Marriages Federation Index Victoria 1889-1901.
  2. [S185] Property Titles. ; PROV (Public Records Office Victoria), C/T 1127-271 - Albion Theophilous Walkley of Melbourne.
  3. [S1] Registry of Births Deaths and Marriages Pioneer Index Victoria 1836-1888.
  4. [S11] Newspaper - Argus 16 Mar 1881, p1.
  5. [S185] Property Titles. ; PROV (Public Records Office Victoria), C/T 1127-271 - Albion Theophilous Walkley to William Henry Goff of Williams Road Windsor Schoolmaster - C/T 1523-443.
  6. [S11] Newspaper - Argus 24 Dec 1895, p1.
  7. [S24] PROV (Public Records Office Victoria), VPRS 24/P0000 unit 652, item 1895/1547
    Male, Walkley, Albion Theophalus, Accidentally drowned, The Morgue Melbourne, 1895/1547, 24 Dec 1895,.
  8. [S11] Newspaper - Argus 23 Dec 1895, p6.
  9. [S11] Newspaper - Argus 24 Dec 1895, p5.
  10. [S11] Newspaper - Argus 25 Dec 1895, p7.
Last Edited14 Nov 2016

Anna Louisa Lawrence

F, #4385, b. 1851, d. 1910
Married NameWalkley.1 
Birth*1851 London, England.1 
Marriage*8 Mar 1881 Spouse: Albion Theophilus Walkley. VIC, Australia, #M230.1
 
Marriage-Notice*16 Mar 1881WALKLEY-LAWRENCE. - On the 8th inst., at St. Peter's Church, Melbourne, by the Rev Canon Handfield, Albion Theophilus Walkley, of Melbourne, to Annie Louisa, only daughter of H. Lawrence, Esq., Fitzroy.2 
Widow17 Dec 1895Anna Louisa Lawrence became a widow upon the death of her husband Albion Theophilus Walkley.3 
Death*1910 Hawthorn, VIC, Australia, #D9229 (Age 59) [par Henry LAWRENCE & Susanna BOFFEY].4 

Newspaper-Articles

  • 1 Jan 1896, BEREAVEMENT CARDS.
    Mrs. ALBION T. WALKLEY and family return sincere THANKS to their many kind friends for the floral tributes, letters and telegrams of sympathy sent during their recent sad bereavement Leighwood, Glenferrie-road.5

Citations

  1. [S1] Registry of Births Deaths and Marriages Pioneer Index Victoria 1836-1888.
  2. [S11] Newspaper - Argus 16 Mar 1881, p1.
  3. [S2] Registry of Births Deaths and Marriages Federation Index Victoria 1889-1901.
  4. [S22] Victorian Government. BDM Index Victoria (online).
  5. [S11] Newspaper - Argus 1 Jan 1896, p1.
Last Edited31 Jan 2016

Bill Walter High Bonwick

M, #4393, b. 1899, d. 22 Jan 1964
Probate (Will)* Bill Walter High      Bonwick. Rtd Electrical Contractor. Melbourne. 610/046.1       
Birth*1899 Mt Ellersley, New Zealand, #B13000 NZ [par Edwin Walter BONWICK & Marion Cleeve FOSTER].2,3,4 
Military*8 Jan 1917Enlisted for military service: Sydney, NSW, Australia, Regimental number 6691 - Private - 18th Battalion, 19th Reinforcement. Unit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A18 Wiltshire on 7 February 1917 - Returned to Australia 28 February 1919 - 53rd Battalion.5 
Marriage* Spouse: Alice Mildred Bell.
 
Death*22 Jan 1964 Pakenham Road, Upper Beaconsfield, VIC, Australia, #D1494 (age 65) [par Edward James BONWICK & Unknown].6 
Death-Notice*23 Jan 1964BONWICK. On January 22, at his home, Upper Beaconsfield, Walter H. (Bill), beloved partner of Lal.
BONWICK. The friends of the late Mr WALTER H (Bill) BONWICK, of Pakenham Road, Upper Beaconsfield, are notified that his Funeral will leave our chapel, 10 Walker Street, Dandenong. This Day, after a service to commence at 1.10 p.m., for the Springvale Crematorium.7 

Electoral Rolls (Australia) and Census (UK/IRL)

DateAddressOccupation and other people at same address
1963Pakenham Road, Upper Beaconsfield, VIC, AustraliaOccupation: engineer.8

Grave

  • Springvale Botanical Cemetery, Clayton, VIC, Australia, BANKSIA, POSITION IN ROSE BED, GARDEN 2 BED 2 POSITION 499

Newspaper-Articles

  • 8 Jun 1911, about his parents: MINING ENGINEER AND WIFE. FUNDS COMPLETELY DEPLETED.
    Marion Cleeve Bonwick, wife of Edwin Walter Bonwick, who had been concerned in some recent mining-ventures in West Australia, attended at Paddington Police Court yesterday (re ports the "Sun" of June 2) for the purpose of supporting an information, lodged against her husband for wife desertion. The husband did not appear, and the warrant which was issued remains unexecuted. Mr. J. J. Carroll appeared to prosecute.
    The evidence of Constable Peter O'Brien, of Randwick, was that he had made inquiries at the Mutual Life Buildings, in Martin-place, where the defendant had had an office, and it was ascertained that Bonwick had quitted the office on May 10 last, and had gone to England for the purpose of floating two companies. It was stated that the defendant had signified his intention of returning in six months. Bonwick had not been at his last-known private residence for the past two months.
    Charles James Titmus, of the firm of Titmus and Quinan, members of the Sydney Stock Exchange, said he knew Bonwick as a mining engineer. He saw Bonwick about six weeks ago, when he said he was going to England. The defendant had been engaged to report on certain mines in West Australia. Witness could not-say whether Bonwick took a commission to float some companies at Home. He was not aware what the defendant received for his inspection and reports. Witness's firm had acted in the sale of shares for the defendant, and had handled Bullfinches and Chaffinches to the value of £575 on his behalf.
    Marion C. Bonwick, the wife of defendant, said that at one period her husband was receiving £1000 a year from a company as mining engineer. On December 21, 1903, she received an order from the Paddington Police Court for the sum of £8 6/8 a month : at that time her husband was out of employment. The amount was afterwards increased by private arrangement to £17 6/ a month, and the amount had been paid up till April 15 last. Since then the prosecutrix had received nothing from her husband, and she asked for an order for the amount he had been contributing monthly.
    At this stage Mr. J. Harley M'Laughlin appeared, and said that the defendant had recently gone through a prosecution in West Australia, which was said to be unjustifiable, and his funds had been completely depleted. Bonwick was now proceeding to England to his people for assistance, and meanwhile he had made arrangements with a friend in Sydney to stand "in loco parentis," and this friend now made an advance of £2 per week for the support of defendant's wife and child. Mr. M'Laughlin asked for an adjournment for a week, and also requested Mr. Maitland, D.S.M., to make an order calling upon Mrs. Bonwick to show how she had spent the money she had received under the order."
    The adjournment was granted.10

Citations

  1. [S35] Probate Records, PROV (Public Records Office Victoria), VPRS 28/P4, unit 3139; VPRS 7591/P3, unit 529.
  2. [S29] Nominal Roll, Australian War Memorial - WWI.
  3. [S10] New Zealand Government Birth, Death & Marriage Indexes.
  4. [S9] Free BMD. Index. Online @ https://www.freebmd.org.uk/ "parents marriage at Jun Q 1892 [Hampstead] 1a 1270."
  5. [S29] Nominal Roll, Australian War Memorial - WWI, Regimental number     6691
    Place of birth     Mt Ellersley, New Zealand
    Religion     Church of England
    Occupation     Clerk
    Address     Dundas, New South Wales
    Marital status     Single
    Age at embarkation     18
    Next of kin     Father, E W Bonwick, Quarry Road, Dundas, New South Wales
    Enlistment date     8 January 1917
    Place of enlistment     Sydney, New South Wales
    Rank on enlistment     Private
    Unit name     18th Battalion, 19th Reinforcement
    AWM Embarkation Roll number     23/35/4
    Embarkation details     Unit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A18 Wiltshire on 7 February 1917
    Rank from Nominal Roll     Private
    Unit from Nominal Roll     53rd Battalion
    Fate     Returned to Australia 28 February 1919
    Discharge date     18 May 1919.
  6. [S5] Registry of Births Deaths and Marriages Death Index Victoria 1921-1985.
  7. [S16] Newspaper - The Age 23 Jan 1964, p18.
  8. [S101] Electoral Roll for Australia, 1903 - 1980.
  9. [S47] Index of burials in the cemetery of Springvale Botanical Cemetery,.
  10. [S14] Newspaper - Barrier Miner (Broken Hill), 8 Jun 1911, p4.
Last Edited13 Dec 2015

Thomas Leslie Ashdown

M, #4394, b. 1894, d. 16 Dec 1965

World War I

Thomas Leslie Ashdown enlisted on 20 Jul 1915, when he was 20 years old and working as a chauffeur. He had been with the 29th Light Horse for 2 years. SERN 2445. His unit, the 29th Battalion, 4th Reinforcement, embarked from Melbourne on 14 Mar 1916 on board HMAT A68 Anchises. He was a driver with the 5th Motor Transport Section.
He returned to Australia on 19 Nov 1919.
He lived in Dewhurst later in his life.1,2
Note* Les Ashdown was an aged man who was a JP and sat on the bench at courts, he used to drive an old Chev truck.3 
Probate (Will)* Thomas Leslie Ashdown. Farmer. Menzies Creek. 16 Dec 1965. 637/519.4 
Birth*1894 South Yarra, VIC, Australia, #B33055 [par Thomas ASHDOWN & Mary Elizabeth PALMER].5 
Marriage*1933 Spouse: Jean Frances Nicholls. VIC, Australia, #M6045.6
 
Land-UBeac*24 Sep 1951 GEM-E-3E GEM--48C. Transfer from Edward Wilfred Ladd Diana Maud Ladd to Thomas Leslie Ashdown. 59a 3r 11p.7 
Land-UBeac24 Sep 1951 GEM-E-3F (M3). Transfer from Edward Wilfred Ladd to Thomas Leslie Ashdown. 39a 3r 39.8 
Death*16 Dec 1965 Heidelberg, VIC, Australia, #D27298 (age 71) [par Thomas ASHDOWN & Mary Elizabeth CROWLEY].9 

Electoral Rolls (Australia) and Census (UK/IRL)

DateAddressOccupation and other people at same address
bt 1936 - 1949Pearcedale, VIC, AustraliaOccupation: auctioneer. With Jean Frances Ashdown.10,11,12,13
bt 1954 - 1963Ladd's Road, Dewhurst, VIC, AustraliaOccupation: farmer.14,15

Grave

  • Springvale Botanical Cemetery, Clayton, VIC, Australia16

Citations

  1. [S29] Nominal Roll, Australian War Memorial - WWI, http://www.aif.adfa.edu.au:8080/showPerson?pid=8171
  2. [S33] Australian Government: http://www.naa.gov.au/collection/search/index.aspx, Enlistment Records for World War I.
  3. [S61] Upper Beaconsfield History Archive ,"from Stan Hamilton."
  4. [S35] Probate Records, PROV (Public Records Office Victoria), VPRS 28/P4, unit 3687; VPRS 7591/P3, unit 626.
  5. [S2] Registry of Births Deaths and Marriages Federation Index Victoria 1889-1901.
  6. [S22] Victorian Government. BDM Index Victoria (online) "as Jean Fran INGRAM."
  7. [S185] Property Titles. ; PROV (Public Records Office Victoria), C/T 3344-752 - Thomas Leslie Ashdown of 12 Portland Place South Yarra Farmer.
  8. [S185] Property Titles. ; PROV (Public Records Office Victoria), C/T 5758-459 - Thomas Leslie Ashdown of 12 Portland Place South Yarra Farmer.
  9. [S5] Registry of Births Deaths and Marriages Death Index Victoria 1921-1985.
  10. [S136] Electoral Roll for Australia, 1936.
  11. [S137] Electoral Roll for Australia, 1937.
  12. [S142] Electoral Roll for Australia, 1942.
  13. [S149] Electoral Roll for Australia, 1949.
  14. [S154] Electoral Roll for Australia, 1954.
  15. [S163] Electoral Roll for Australia, 1963.
  16. [S47] Index of burials in the cemetery of Springvale Botanical Cemetery,.
Last Edited23 Jul 2017
 

NOTE

Many family sections show only the children who were associated with Upper Beaconsfield.