Person Page - 36

Life Events

     Bernard Valkema was born on 21 May 1866 in Crafers, South Australia, son of Bernard Teaden Valkema and Elizabeth Bryant.¹

He was educated between 1877 and 1878 in the North Adelaide Grammar School, Ward Street, North Adelaide, South Australia.²

On 30 June 1885 Bernard, calling himself Benjamin, was treated for Fibricula (an ephemeral fever) in the Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, South Australia.³ He was discharged from the hospital on 17 July 1885.³

At the time of his hospitalisation he was living and working as a farm labourer in Oaklands, South Australia, which was near Yorketown on Yorke Peninsula.³

Life Events

     George North was born about 1822 in Athens, Greece, son of Thomas Tramountanas. He was born Giorgios Tramountanas, but changed his name in around 1850, several years after arriving in South Australia.

Although no official records have been found to date, it is thought he arrived in South Australia as a sailor on an trading ship that was bringing goods and/or passengers to the Colony, in about 1842.

On 26 September 1858 he married Lydia Vosper, daughter of William Vosper and Elizabeth Gowman, in St Mary's, the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Port Adelaide, South Australia. The witnesses were James Fisher, seaman of Port Adelaide (made his X mark) and Anne Bourne, housekeeper of Port Adelaide.^2,1

In 1861 George was a shepherd at Green Patch, a sheep run of 29 square miles (Lease No. 99), north of Port Lincoln, owned by James Stewart Sinclair. The overseer at that time was Gottlieb Schmidt. George was one of several shepherds employed by Sinclair and many of them shore the sheep in their care. Was George the first shearer in the family? Several of his descendants were certainly top "gun" shearers.^3,4

On 3 February 1869 George, Lydia and their two boys arrived in Port Adelaide from Port Lincoln, on board the steamer "Lubra". This was probably to put in their application for the land that they were susequently allotted, Section 217, Hd. of Lincoln.⁵

On 12 May 1869 he bought 80 acres of land for £80, being section 217, Hd. of Lincoln, County Flinders, South Australia
This purchase was done under the "South Australian Land Purchases by Credit Selection" scheme, whereby land could be bought by paying 20% of the value on purchase, the balance payable at the end of four years.⁶

After a few years he and Lydia and the two boys moved further north-west up the Eyre Peninsula and on Thursday 1 March 1877, at a Government auction of land at Bramfield, South Australia, George bought Section 7 for £6/15/0 ($13.50). This auction was the beginning of the township of Bramfield which was proclaimed on 25th January, 1877.⁷
On 19 March 1877 he purchased 185 acres for £185, being Section 35N, Hundred of Ward, County Musgrave, South Australia , under the same scheme (need to check; The South Australian Register of June 24th reports he paid £2 per acre.)⁶ 11 April 1877 he bought Section 39S, Hundred of Ward, County Musgrave under the same scheme, a further 455 acres for £455 plus £22.⁶

George applied to be naturalized on 8 April 1878 at Warna Grange, near Talia, the application form being signed by George Agars, J.P. This was received by the relevant authorities on 29 April, 1878, but, to date, no certificate has been located.⁸ His naturalization application (No. 836) was stamped "approved by His Excellency the Governor in Executive Council" on Wednesday, 8 May 1878.⁸

19 June 1882 he bought another 185 acres for £185, being Section 36N, Hundred of Ward, Musgrave.⁶

On 16 December 1886, from the Warrant Book of the Elliston Police Station:- a search warrant was issued by Andrew Scott J.P. re Francis Myers against George North for stealing 1 keg, 1 axe & 1 hammer. The warrant was cancelled before it was executed.⁹

He died from senile decay, in Colton, South Australia, on 29 November 1911.¹⁰

George was buried in the Colton Catholic Cemetery, Colton, South Australia.¹¹

Life Events

     Lydia Vosper was born about 1835, daughter of William Vosper and Elizabeth Gowman. Lydia was christened on 10 June 1835 in St Sidwell's Church, Exeter, Devon, England.¹

Lydia Vosper appeared on the census on 6 June 1841, in the household of William Vosper in 6 St Sidwell's Terrace, Exeter, Devon, England, age 6.²

She appeared on the census on 30 March 1851, in the household of Elizabeth Gowman in 60 Poltimore Square, Exeter, Devon, England, as daughter, age 15, at home.³

She emigrated to South Australia on 4 June 1855 from London, England, on board the "Caucasian", which was under Captain A.W. Davidson.

Lydia was said to have had a beautifully trained contralto voice and on the voyage she would sit at the Captain's table and sing for the passengers.

She arrived in Port Adelaide on 1 October 1855.⁴

On 26 September 1858, aged 23, she married George North, son of Thomas Tramountanas, in St Mary's, the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Port Adelaide, South Australia. The witnesses were James Fisher, seaman of Port Adelaide (made his X mark) and Anne Bourne, housekeeper of Port Adelaide.^5,6

On 3 February 1869 George, Lydia and their two boys arrived in Port Adelaide from Port Lincoln, on board the steamer "Lubra". This was probably to put in their application for the land that they were susequently allotted, Section 217, Hd. of Lincoln.⁴

She died on Thursday, 20 November 1913, aged 78 years, 5 months and 10 days, in Colton, South Australia, from senile decay.^7,8

Lydia was buried in the Colton Catholic Cemetery, Colton, South Australia.⁹

Life Events

     Hero Clair North was born on 15 September 1862 in Greenpatch, South Australia. His birth was registered by the doctor, George Lawson, son of George North and Lydia Vosper.¹

On 8 March 1882, he bought Section 83, Hundred of Way, County Musgrave, a total area of 319 acres for a cost of £319 plus £5/13/-. This was achieved under the "South Australian Land Purchases by Credit Selection" scheme (also called the Strangeways Scheeme), whereby land could be bought from the Government by paying 20% of the value on purchase, the balance payable at the end of four years.²

On 18 May 1885, Hero, aged 22, married Rosina Ann Boylan, aged 21, daughter of Michael Boylan and Margaret Maguire, in residence of R Crowder in Colton, South Australia. . The witnesses were George Crowder, labourer and Mary Boylan, servant.^3,4

On 19 January 1887 Hero was allotted 6835 acres, being Block No. 15 Hundred of Homburg (later changed to Hundred of Haig), County Musgrave.²

In March 1887 Hero won the Sheffield Handicap race at the St Patrick Day Sports, Colton, South Australia.⁵

On 24 May 1888 Hero won prize-money in several events at a sports meeting held on Queen Victoria’s Birthday holiday in Sheringa.

He won £1 for second place in the Champions’ Race; £1 ($2) for winning the Running High Jump, 5’ 1 1/2”; £1 ($2) second place in handicap hurdles 250 yards (starting from scratch, the winner started on 12 yards); 15/- ($1.50) for winning the hop, step & jump; £1/10/- ($3) for second place in the Handicap flat 200 yards race.⁶

In 1902 Hero was on the committee to look into the possibility of building a Public Hall in Colton. Although not all in the community agreed with the proposal, it was opened on 1st September, 1903.⁷

In 1920 Hero was farming on section 37, Hundred of Travers, County LeHunte, South Australia.⁸

In 1939 Hero and Rosina retired from farming and moved to Adelaide, where many of their children and grandchildren were living and working.⁹

He died on Wednesday, 18 December 1940, aged 78 years, 3 months and 3 days, in Private Hospital, Semaphore, South Australia, of uremia and prostatic hypertrophy. Prior to his death he lived in Cheltenham.¹⁰

He was buried, plot FX 29 W1 in Cheltenham Cemetery, Cheltenham, South Australia.¹¹

Although Hero was deceased, Hero and Rosina appeared on the 1941 electoral roll for the Commonwealth Electoral District of Grey. He was said to be a farmer and she was engaged in home duties. It was stated they lived in Colton, South Australia.¹²

Hero had an obituary in "The Advertiser" on 16 January 1941

Life Events

     Rosina Ann Boylan was born on 3 September 1863 in Crystal Brook, South Australia, daughter of Michael Boylan and Margaret Maguire.

Rosina was generally known as Rose by family and friends.

On 18 May 1885, Rosina, aged 21, married Hero Clair North, aged 22, son of George North and Lydia Vosper, in residence of R Crowder in Colton, South Australia. . The witnesses were George Crowder, labourer and Mary Boylan, servant.^1,2

She died on 24 April 1939 in Calvary Hospital, North Adelaide, South Australia, of artheriosclerosis. She had been living at "Burleigh House", Torrens Road, Cheltenham, SA., aged 75.³

Rosina was buried on 25 April 1939 in the Cheltenham Cemetery, Cheltenham, South Australia.⁴

Although Hero was deceased, Rosina and Hero appeared on the 1941 electoral roll for the Commonwealth Electoral District of Grey. He was said to be a farmer and she was engaged in home duties. It was stated they lived in Colton, South Australia.⁵

Life Events

     William Vosper was baptized on 24 March 1793 in Dunsford, Devon, England.^2,3

On 25 November 1821, William, aged 28, married Elizabeth Gowman, aged 22, daughter of James Gowman and Martha Hooper, in St Mary Arches in Exeter, Devon, England. Witnesses were Isaac Byrne and Henry Stephens.^4,5

In 1822 William was a Brewer was.⁴

In Devon, England, on 11 April 1829 at the Devon Quarter Sessions, George Ashman, age 19, William Fletcher alias Jones (23) and Mary Smith alias Ashman (20) was committed by E. Lockyer, esq, charged on oath with stealing a piece of satin, value 25s, and seven silk handkerciefs, value 14s, the property of William Vosper. James Anney (19) was charged on oath with being an accessory after the fact with stealing a silk handkerchief, value 2s, the property of William Vosper.⁶

William, age 48, appeared on the census of 6 June 1841 in 6 St Sidwell's Terrace, Exeter, Devon, England, He was 47 and a Brewer.
Others in the house were his wife Elizabeth 41 and children Amelia 18, Samuel 16, Cecilia 13, Emma 10, Charles 8, Lydia 6, Ann 1. Also Henry Dunn 30, Ann Dunn 31, Eliz Smale 50, Eliz Thomas 50, Henry Smale 21.²

He died on Thursday, 13 November 1845, aged 52 years, 7 months and 20 days, in Exeter, Devon, England.

William was buried on 15 November 1845 in the St Sidwell's Church, Exeter, Devon, England.⁴

Life Events

     Elizabeth Gowman was born about 1799, daughter of James Gowman and Martha Hooper.

She was christened on 5 May 1799 in North Tawton, Devon, England.¹

On 25 November 1821, Elizabeth, aged 22, married William Vosper, aged 28, son of John Vosper and Amelia Unknown [Vosper], in St Mary Arches in Exeter, Devon, England. Witnesses were Isaac Byrne and Henry Stephens.^2,3

Elizabeth Gowman appeared on the census on 6 June 1841, in the household of William Vosper in 6 St Sidwell's Terrace, Exeter, Devon, England, age 41.⁴
In 1850 she was living in 149 St Sidwell Street, Exeter, Devon, England.⁵

Elizabeth, age 51, appeared on the census of 30 March 1851 in 60 Poltimore Square, Exeter, Devon, England, She was Head of House, Widow, age 52; Occupation, Lodging House Keeper.
Also in the house were son Samuel, 25; daughters Emma 20, Lydia 15, Anna M. age 11
and lodgers Thomas Naylor, 82, Retired Excise Officer, Mary Gould 64, Head lodger, Landholder, her daughter Agnes Gould, 23 and son Richard Gould, 29 years.⁶

Elizabeth Gowman, 61, appeared on the census of 7 April 1861 in 4 Poltimore Square, Exeter, Devon, England, Status, Head; Occupation, School Mistress. Also in the house was her daughter Ann Marion Vosper, age 21, unmarried, assistant, born Exeter, Devon.⁷

She died on Sunday, 27 October 1861, aged 62 years, 5 months and 22 days, in 4 Poltimore Square, Exeter, Devon, England, from a diseased heart, certified.^8,9

Life Events

     Theodore North was born on 25 October 1886 in Hundred of Ward, South Australia, son of George Henry North and Eliza Elizabeth Valkema.¹

He died on Thursday, 7 November 1901, aged 15 years and 13 days, in Hundred of Colton, South Australia, of meningitis.²

Life Events

     Leo Clair North was born on 16 October 1888 in Hundred of Ward, South Australia, son of George Henry North and Eliza Elizabeth Valkema.¹

In 1915 he was farming in section 9, Hundred of Minnipa, County LeHunte, South Australia.²

On 26 April 1916, Leo, aged 27, married Violet Edith McKenzie, aged 21, daughter of James McGregor McKenzie and Mary Jeffrey, in "Glen Roy" in Talia, South Australia.³

On 2 May 1942 Leo began his millitary service when he enlisted in the Australian Army in Minnipa, South Australia. His Service Number was S70716. He was discharged on 4 January 1946 with the rank of Private in the 5th Battalion Volunteer Defence Corps.⁴

He died from a coronary occlusion, at home, in Theakstone Street, Port Lincoln, South Australia, on 14 July 1958 aged 69 years, 8 months and 28 days.⁵

Leo was buried on 17 July 1958 in the Happy Valley Cemetery, Port Lincoln, South Australia, by the Rev Wakeham.⁵

Life Events

     Violet Edith McKenzie was born on 26 May 1894 in Hundred of Colton, South Australia, daughter of James McGregor McKenzie and Mary Jeffrey.¹

On 26 April 1916, Violet, aged 21, married Leo Clair North, aged 27, son of George Henry North and Eliza Elizabeth Valkema, in "Glen Roy" in Talia, South Australia.²

She died on Saturday, 9 November 1957, aged 63 years, 5 months and 14 days, in Port Lincoln Hospital, Port Lincoln, South Australia, of coronary occlusion, hypertension and arteriosclerosis. She had been living in Theakstone Street, Port Lincoln.³

Violet was buried on 11 November 1957 in the Happy Valley Cemetery, Port Lincoln, South Australia, by the Rev Wakeham.³

Violet was buried on 17 July 1958 in the Happy Valley Cemetery, Port Lincoln, South Australia, by the Rev Wakeham.³