Frances Emily CROMPTON

b.1852, Victoria
m.1872, Victoria 2005/1872
d.1923, E[lstern]wick, Vic[toria] 14658/1923
Age at death given as 70.

Frances Emily's marriage certificate gives Daisy Hill as her place of birth, which must have been Caleb and Fanny's residence in 1852, two years before Caleb died. Daisy Hill is 50km from Miners Rest and is south of Maryborough.

William BLACKMAN and Frances' marriage

Rank or Profession	Age	Residence		Parents
		Present	Usual.	Names. (Mother's Maiden Name.)	Father's Rank or Profession.
Farm Servant General Servant	27 20	Miners Rest Bald Hills	Miners Rest Bald Hills	John Blackman  & Charlotte Clackstone Caleb Crompton Frances Louisa Lombe	Labourer Storekeeper
Marriage by Licence                        , was solemnized between us    { William Blackman according to the  rites of the Presbyterian Church                   { Frances Emily Crompton { Donald MacDonald Witness { Madeline MacDonald

1821info11a, sheet 2

Frances Emily was born in Daisy Hill some 50km north of Miners Rest, on the central goldfields strike of 1852 and closer to Maryborough. This suggest Caleb was living here as a storekeeper two years before his death. Bald Hills, Sulky, and Daisy Hill, are all rural 'areas' rather than towns. At the time William BLACKMAN was working on a farm and probably had the use of a farmer's cottage to live in. The marriage certificate states that the ceremony was at Bald Hills, Creswick. Creswick is only a couple of miles from that town, so that would have been their usual place of trade/shopping etc. There is no mention of a church, although the Presbyterian Minister of reswick officiated at a property. Or was there a church close to Bald Hills at the time?

Francis' marriage (Vic BMD 2005/1872) was 18 years after Caleb's death and 10 years after Frances Louisa married William BROWN. Was she still living with her mother and step-father at the time? Could William BROWN. have moved from one location to another? This now begs the question as to whether William BROWN, a carpenter on his marriage certificate, and Frances Louisa, originally lived in the same area.

Left: Frances CROMPTON-BROWN's notice in Ballarat Courier 06 April 1872 indicating her displease at her daughter marrying William BLACKMAN.  It is interesting to note that the underage Frances Emily is referred to as Emily. On her burial record she is Emily Frances.

Right: Frances Emily Blackman in married life Source: Neil Mason

1821info11a, sheet 3

William Blackman - John and Charlotte BLACKMAN's second child

Two of John and Charlotte's children recorded as:

Source: GRO Births
Blackman William  2nd Quarter 1844  Medway    vol.5 page 354 
Blackman George   2nd Quarter 1846  Dartford  vol.5 page  94

From 1837 the district of Bromley spanned the boundaries of Beckenham, Bromley, Chislehurst, Orpington, Penge and Sidcup in Kent.

Above: William BLACKMAN's GRO birth entry for the third quarter of 1844

Though christened in Wilmington it appears that William BLACKMAN was registered in the district of Medway, which comprises of the towns of Chatham, Gillingham, Grange, Lidsing and Rochester. Wilmington is in the registration district of Dartford. Left: William BLACKMAN's baptism record of 13 October 1844 from Wilmington showing his father, John, to be a labourer

William BLACKMAN and his brother George are believed to have emigrated, from Howbury Farm, Slades Green arriving in Australia on 24 August 1863 aboard the 1003 tons clipper Whirlwind on the Australia run. William settled at Miners Rest, north of Ballarat, married and raised a large family.

1821info11a, sheet 4

Frances' death

The Official Burial Book of Dowling Forest Cemetery (the cemetery for Miners Rest) records:

Note: The transposition of Frances forenames and that she returned to Miners Rest for her burial. If it is assumed that John BLACKMAN is William's brother and since it is known that William came from Kent then some tentative deductions can be made. However, William died in 1931.

No.	DESCRIPTION			(1)Cause of death (2)Duration of last illness (3)Legally qualified Medical Practitioner (4)When he last saw the Deceased	Name and Surname of Father and Mother (Maiden name if known), with Occupation
	Where and When Died	Name and Surname Occupation	Sex and Age
2 0 4 8	9th December1923 53 Cole Street ElsternwickUA 12 Baird Street, Ballarat City of Brighton	Frances Emily Blackman 'Wife'	Female 70 years	(1) Aortic Regurgitation of Heart Syncope (2) 1 week (3) ?G Reid MD (4) 9th December 1923	Caleb Crompton 'Hotel keeper' Frances Louisa Crompton (maiden name not known)

Signature, Description and Residence of Informant	(1) Signature of Registrar (2) Date and (3) Where Registered	IF BURIAL REGISTERED		Where Born and how long in the Australian States, stating which	IF DECEASED WAS MARRIED
		When and where buried Undertaker by whom certified	Name and Reli- gion of Minister or Name of Wit- nesses of Burial		(1) Where and what (2) Age and to (3)Whom	Issue, in order of Birth, the Names and Ages.
? Padbury Authorised Agent Box Hill	(1) Ethel F Siddall (2) 10th December 1923 (3) Elsterwick	11th December 1923 Dowling Forest Cemetery Douglas Barnes	F W Bauer T Magee	Daisy Hill Victoria 70 years in Victoria	(1) Bald Hills Victoria (2) 20 (3) William Blackman (Deceased)	John deceased Emily46 Louisa Charlotte 44 William Henry 42 Mabel Frances 40 Leslie Crompton (Deceased) Ida May 36 Walter John Thomas 35 Lyle Aubrey 33

1821info11a, sheet 5

Right: The Dowling Forest Cemetery register shows that the body of Frances Emily was brought from Cole Street, Elsternwick, Melbourne for burial in a common grave at 12 o'clock, on 11 December 1923. Her name is implied at the beginning of the headstone on the family grave. She was a member of the Church of England buried in grave 8, of Section 1 by Rev BH Dewhurst. Frances Emily died of senile decay at the age of 71. Click on the image to open a full image of 28Kb.

Frances Emily CROMPTON's family grave in Dowling Forest Cemetery

	Left: The BLACKMAN headstone, Dowling Forest Cemetery. Several brass letters have fallen off since the visit of January 2005 Author: November 2015 The headstone reads:
	In Loving memory OF OUR DEAR MOTHER, GRANDMOTHER AND LITTLE JACK ALSO LESLIE A.I.F. KILLED IN FRANCE (sic) 1916 AND GRANDFATHER

1821info11a, sheet 6

Right: The BLACKMAN family grave in Dowling Forest Cemetery, . Family flowers and cards protected from the wind. Author: November 2015

Left: 12 Baird Street, Ballarat, the family home and described as Frances' usual address on her death certificate Author: November 2015

1821info11a, sheet 7

Their children

John BLACKMAN (Little Jack), William and Frances' first child

Little Jack, their first child, died of appendicitis aged nine years.

Emily BLACKMAN, William and Frances' second child

Emily lived in Ballarat and looked after William when he retired from the Miner's Rest farm. She married Joseph COX when she was 59 8/12 years old and they had 27 years together. She was deaf following complication from measles acquired early in her career, while teaching at a country school.

The Federal Australian Electoral Roll, which started 1903 and is available in Ancestry, give the family home and occupation as

• 1905,   15, Blackman Emily, Sandford, school teacher - District of Wannon

In 1909 Emily had moved to a new school where she remained until the roll of 1915

• 1909, 123, Blackman Emily, Ballan, school teacher - in Ballan a subdivision of Corio

when she had moved back to her family in Ballarat.

• 1915, 285, Blackman Emily, 709 Macarthur st, school teacher - in Ballarat a subdivision of Ballarat

Around 1920 the family and Emily had moved to 12 Baird Street where she stayed until her marriage.

• 1920, 290, Blackman Emily, 12 Baird st,, Ballarat, school teacher - in Ballarat a subdivision of Ballarat, with her family

In 1924 Lyle and Vida had moved to their own home. Emily remained at Baird Street, looking after her father William, described as of 'independent means'. In 1931 William is no longer recorded. When Emily married Joseph COX in 1933, she had retired and moved to

• 1934, 614, Cox, Emily, 14 Seymour cres, home duties - in Soldiers Hill a subdivision of Ballarat, with her husband Joseph a grazier

where she remained until the final Electoral Register in 1954.

1821info11a, sheet 8

Louisa Charlotte BLACKMAN, William and Frances' third child

Louisa married William James WINES, at Kalgoorlie Wesley Methodist Church, Kalgoorlie, Western Australia on 1st January 1904. The witness was was E. WINES and the Minister R. DUNSTAN. Their home addresses was given as Ballarat. William WINES was born in Boulder WA to George, a farmer, and Jane n? MURRAY. William must have been following the gold.
Outback Family History, State Library of Western Australia (Accessed: 13 October 2015)

Later the couple lived at Middle Park, Melbourne. The Federal Australian Electoral Roll, which started 1903 and is available in Ancestry, give the family home and occupation as

• 1909, 2764, Wines, Louisa Charlotte, Lake View lease - in Brown Hills a subdivision of Kalgoorlie
• 1909, 2765, Wines, William James, Lake View lease, no occupation, - in Brown Hills a subdivision of Kalgoorlie

Right: 186 Wittenoom Street, Kalgoorlie, James Crompton July 2015 For Louise Charlotte and William in 1904, it would have been ship to Perth and train to Kalgoorlie. Between 1909 and 1910 there was a change of address and confirmation of William's occupation

• 1910, 3465, Wines, Louisa Charlotte, 186 Wittenoom - in Boulder a subdivision of Kalgoorlie
• 1910, 3466, Wines, William James, 186 Wittenoom , miner, - in Boulder a subdivision of Kalgoorlie

At some time between the 1913 and 1914 Roll the couple returned to Melbourne where they remained in the same house and same occupation until the last register entry in 1949. His brother- in-law, Leslie Crompton BLACKMAN was also employed by the Melbourne Gas Company.

• 1914, 3315, Wines, Louisa Charlotte, Ashworth st., near Harold st., Middle Park - in Middle Park a subdivision of Fawkner
• 1914, 3316, Wines, William J, Ashworth st., near Harold st., Middle Park, gas employer - in Middle Park a subdivision of Fawkner

In 1931 they were joined on the Electoral Roll by two daughters

• 1931, 3687, Wines, Hazel Jean, 141 Ashworth st., near Harold st., Middle Park - in Middle Park a subdivision of Fawkner
• 1931, 3689, Wines, Mavis Louise, 141 Ashworth st., near Harold st., Middle Park, sales - in Middle Park a subdivision of Fawkner

1821info11a, sheet 9

In December 1988 the property was sold for A$190K and increase of A$63K in 21 months. The median price in January 2019 is estimated to be A$2.72 million as a three bed property with bath and garage.

By 1934 Hazel Jean had left home but Louisa and William were joined by their third daughter

• 1936, 3940, Wines, Gwenneth Murray, 141 Ashworth st., Middle Park, stenographer - in Middle Park a subdivision of Fawkner

who had left home in 1943. In 1949 the couple were at home together.

William Henry (Harry) BLACKMAN, William and Frances' fourth child

William Henry BLACKMAN's his life and family has its own Information Sheet.

The Federal Australian Electoral Roll, started 1903 and available in Ancestry, give Tom's home and occupation as

• 1909, 402, Blackman, William Henry, 6 Finlay st., Albert Park, cleaner - in Albert Park a subdivision of Fawkner, with Margaret Daisy
• 1912, 487, Blackman, William Henry, 6 Finlay st., Albert Park, fitter - in Albert Park a subdivision of Fawkner, with Daisy

where they lived until Daisy's death.

In the 1921 Roll William Henry had married Elizabeth Keziah, whilst living in the same house

• 1921, 543, Blackman, William Henry, 6 Finlay st., Albert Park, fitter - in Albert Park a subdivision of Fawkner, with Elizabeth Keziah

In 2019 the estimated value of this property is between A$1.35m and A$2m. It is described as two bed two shower and double garage.

In 1926 William Henry change jobs to become a gas fitter, his final employment

• 1926, 473, Blackman, William Henry, 6 Finlay st., Albert Park, gas worker - in Albert Park a subdivision of Fawkner, with Elizabeth Keziah

1821info11c, sheet 10

The couple had moved house in the 1934 Roll and in 1937 gave a home to Leslie Crompton BLACKMAN, his son by his first marriage

• 1934, 417, Blackman, William Henry, 63 Dundas pl., gas worker - in Albert Park a subdivision of Melbourne Ports, with Elizabeth Keziah

Right: William Henry Blackman's home at 63 Dundas Place, in Albert Park Source: Blacker's scrapbook (Accessed:11 July 2020)

1937 was the last record of William Henry but, on his death Bess moved to

• 1954, 1032, Blackman, Elizabeth Keziah, 20 Bridge st.,- in Elsterwick a subdivision of Balaclava alone

Mabel BLACKMAN, William and Frances' fifth child

Mabel became Mrs PEARSON. This is a different Pearson from the Cox/Pearson of 1821info5a.

The Federal Australian Electoral Roll, started 1903 and available in Ancestry, give Mabel and Oliver's home and occupation as

• 1914, 5338, Pearson Mabel Frances, 35 Hambleton st., Albert Park - in Albert Park a subdivision of Fawkner
• 1914, 5338, Pearson Oliver Otto, 35 Hambleton st., Albert Park, labourer - in Albert Park a subdivision of Fawkner

In 2015 35 Hambleton Street has been redeveloped into a two storey building.

In 1917 the couple moved and Oliver changed his occupation for a short period

• 1915, 2731, Pearson Oliver Otto, 105 Neville st., Middle Park, chauffer - in Middle Park a subdivision of Fawkner

Another move and change of occupation followed in 1917

1821info11c, sheet 11

• 1917, 1349, Pearson Oliver Otto, 36 Neptune st. Richmond, labourer in Richmond Central a subdivision of Yarra

In August 2017 plans were submitted to convert the Kia/Paterson site to four office buildings between three and nine storeys. Building 'B', the 'power station building along Neptune Street, the late 1800's Alcock?s Electric Light and Motive Power Co building, will be restored and internally reconfigured to accommodate co-working office space. In 1981 the property was sold for A$37,000 and in 2019 it was estimated to be worth in the range A$875,000 to A$1.15M.

And finally to

• 1922, 4275, Pearson Oliver Otto, Box Hill rd., Oakleigh, labourer in Oakleigh a subdivision of Henty
• 1949, 18371, Pearson Oliver Otto, Box Hill rd. SE12, Oakleigh, labourer in Oakleigh a subdivision of Henty
• 1954, 13702, Pearson Oliver Otto, 233 Box Hill rd., Oakleigh, labourer in Oakleigh a subdivision of Henty
• 1963, 13793, Pearson Oliver Otto, 233 Huntingdale rd., labourer in Oakleigh a subdivision of Henty - alone
• 1972, 5292, Pearson Oliver Otto, 233 Huntingdale rd, Oakley ,3166, labourer in Oakleigh a subdivision of Henty

Leslie Crompton BLACKMAN, William and Frances' sixth child

Leslie Crompton BLACKMAN's war and death in Belgium has its own Information Sheet.

Ida May BLACKMAN, William and Frances' seventh child

The Federal Australian Electoral Roll, started 1903 and available in Ancestry, give Nelson Frederick's living with his parents and his occupation as:

• 1912 2032 Wellington, Nelson Frederick, 13 (709) Laurie st., assistant town clerk - in Mount Pleasant a subdivision of Ballarat
• 1912 2030 Wellington, Minnie, 13 Laurie st., - his mother
• 1912 2031 Wellington, Nelson, 13 Laurie st., plasterer - his father

In 2016, this three bed, one shower and one garage property was bought for A$346,000.

When Nelson married Ida May and became Shire Secretary they lived at Orbost through his war service

• 1913 1168 Wellington, Nelson Frederick, Orbost, shire secretary - in Orbost a subdivision of Gippsland

In 1916, Ida May had moved to live with her sister-in-law, Mabel Frances BLACKMAN/PEARSON, where she stayed until the 1919 Roll

• 1916 1167 Wellington, Ida May, 105 Neville st., - in Middle Park a subdivision of Fawkner

1821info11a, sheet 12

In 1986 the property sold for A$145,000 - three bedrooms, one bathroom and no garage. (2019 valued +A$3.1M)

In 1919, Ida May is also recorded as living at

• 1919 3417 Wellington, Ida May, 86 Nemmon st., Middle Park - in Middle Park a subdivision of Fawkner

perhaps before Nelson returned from war service, when he became a horticulturalist in Mebein, on the New South Wales border, with Ida May.

• 1919 5280 Wellington, Nelson Frederick, Merbein, horticulturalist - in Mildura a subdivision of Wimmera
• 1919 5279 Wellington, Ida May, Merbein, - in Mildura a subdivision of Wimmera

The 1927 Roll shows that Nelson had again entered the local civil service as town clerk of Monee Ponds. At first the couple lived in a hotel

• 1927 11393 Wellington, Nelson Frederick, Junction Hotel, Puckle st., town clerk - in Moonee Ponds a subdivision of Maribynong

before moving to

• 1928 11852 Wellington, Nelson Frederick, 57 Aberfeldie st., town clerk - in Moonee Ponds a subdivision of Maribynong

Left: 57 Aberfeldie Street, Moonee Ponds. In 1999 the property was sold for A$432,000 and in 2019 it was estimated to be worth in the range A$1.25M to A$ 2.1M. Author: November 2015

1821info11a, sheet 13

and then

• 1931 12388 Wellington, Nelson Frederick, 23 Learmonth st., town clerk - in Moonee Ponds a subdivision of Maribynong

Left: 23 Learmonth Street, Moonee Ponds, where Ida and Nelson were registered through out the war. The gate post records the name Kiandra and the date 1887. Kiandra is the location of an abandoned gold mining town in the Snowy Mountains of NSW and was, for a century, Australia's highest town. Author: November 2015

Ida May again returns to the city and is registered at Austin Hospital, along with her third child, Lesley Joan, know as 'Micky'.

• 1943   5068 Wellington, Ida May, Austin Hospital [Studley Road] - in Heidleburg a subdivision of Deakin
• 1943   5069 Wellington Lesley Joan, Austin Hospital, nurse - in Heidleburg a subdivision of Deakin

The last entry shows they were both back living in a hotel

• 1949 15661 Wellington, Nelson Frederick, Frederick Hotel, 1 Puckle st., town clerk - in Moonee Ponds a subdivision of Maribynong

Left: The Wellingtons lived in the flat above the shops at 1 Puckle Street, Moonee Ponds in the very centre of the town and 'across the road' from the Shire Building. Author: November 2015

1821info11a, sheet 14

Ida May BLACKMAN, was very talented musically and learnt the piano, singing, and elocution ? now called speech and drama. She won many prizes for elocution at competitions and alter during my primary school years in Mildura performed publicly at concerts. Her star turn was a musical monologue.

Source: Wellington Pat, 'Memories 1913-1954', Clifton Press, Kensington, Victoria, 2007, page 1

In 1911 Ida married Nelson Frederick WELLINGTON who was commissioned Captain and awarded the Military Cross, with 21st Battalion, 1st AIF in World War 1. In the Second World War he attained the rank of Lieut. Colonel when he formed the 2/2 Pioneers and was awarded the DSO for service in Syria, where he was wounded. He later served as a full colonel on the staff of General Douglas MacArthur, in the Pacific War.

Walter John Thomas (Tom) BLACKMAN, William and Frances' eighth child

The Federal Australian Electoral Roll, started 1903 and available in Ancestry, give Tom's home and occupation as

• 1912 87 Blackman, Walter John Thomas, Leveva, teacher - in Wodonga a subdivision of Indi

In 1915 and 1917 Tom is recorded, despite being at war, as a secondary school teacher in Ironbank.

• 1915 78 Blackman, Walter John Thos., Barkley place, S.S. teacher - in Ironbank a subdivision of Bendigo

There are no further records.

Whilst serving with the 2nd Field Ambulance, Walter received a field commission to 55th Battalion as Second Lieutenant. He saw his first action at Polygon Wood when 55th Battalion attacked the German defences. Thomas suffered from 'shell shock' when buried alive by either German shells or British fall shorts, and was transferred to England for treatment, but did not respond. He returned to Australia labeled 'insane'.

Thomas's health never recovered and he spent the rest of his life at Mont Park Hospital in Melbourne. My family visited him regularly over many years. We would take him out for a drive and have a picnic lunch or afternoon tea. He was a very dignified and polite man and seemed fairly normal when he was out with us until it was time to return to the hospital. Then he would ask my Father to take him to athletic training as he was preparing for the Stawell Gift. As a young man he had been a good athlete with an ambition to compete in this race. It was this obsession and many other problems that prevented him from ever leaving institutional care. Every visit would leave my Mother upset for days. Source: ibid, page 9

'Tom is certainly Walter John Thomas. He was always known as " Uncle Tom" to us. He visited us a couple of times when we were children, always in a suit and hat and he always brought a bag of lollies for us. Marion Brown, mum's sister, took him out for trips now and then.

I remember Uncle Tom (as he was known) as a young girl when I was living in Point Lonsdale. He came to visit a couple of times with my aunt and uncle, who took him on outings. He always looked dapper in a suit and tie and usually a hat, and he brought us lollies. He was a very dearly loved man who lived most of his life at Mont Park because of his health [caused by] WW1 shell shocked. On his death certificate, it apparently had "insane" or something like that, [This is likely to be his service record where 'insane' and other phrases are used to describe his condition.] and my aunt fought for many years to have the certificate changed to "war injuries", which was the correct cause of death.

She succeeded in her endeavours through much letter writing to state and governments. He was an intelligent man before his war service, a school teacher, cricketer, Sunday school teacher and good citizen. My aunt had told me about Polygon Wood in France [sic] and that he was injured there. On the e-mail from the DVA person, he has WJT's birth date as 1/1/1888, I have it as 22/12/1888.Source: Heather Schoffelen by email

After the war Tom was admitted to Bundoora/Mont Park Psychiatric Hospital where he died 28 November 1967. He was cremated at Springvale Cemetery. A plaque is at the Springdale Australian War Graves site.

1821info11a, sheet 15

The Commonwealth Government identified Bundoora Park estate, an 1899 Queen Anne style federation mansion and its grounds, as a suitable site for a convalescent farm for the rehabilitation of ex-servicemen suffering psychiatric and behavioural disorders as a result of their military service. In 1924, the site became a repatriation mental hospital and was the first psychiatric facility established in Victoria to provide on-going care and rehabilitation for veterans with an accepted psychiatric illness due to their war service.

Left: WJT BLACKMAN's memorial Springvale Cemetery, Melbourne Author: November 2015

Lyle Aubrey BLACKMAN, William and Frances' ninth child, in war and peace

Lyle Aubrey BLACKMAN has his own Information Sheet.

BLACKMANs remembered at The Victoria State Shrine of Remembrance, Melbourne

Above: One volume of The Book of Remembrance situated in The Shrine of Remembrance Crypt

1821info11a, sheet 16

Left: The Shrine of Remembrance page dedicated to JR BLACKMAN, L[C] BLACKMAN, LA BLACKMAN and WJT[homas] BLACKMAN, brothers and cousins. Author: November 2015

This page was created by Richard Crompton and maintained by Chris Glass			Version A24 Updated 12 October 2023