Thomas
Farr and Hannah Martin
Parents : Joseph Farr and Mary
Ann
Whitford
Charles Martin and Francis Prickett
Thomas Farr (1824 Southgate Middlesex, m Hannah Martin 1849 Camden
Town, London, d 1901, St Kilda Vic)
Hannah Martin (b 1829 Islington Middlesex, d 1890 St Kilda)
Alice Louisa Farr
(b 1850 Somers Town London, m John Bisset 1872 Ballarat, d 1916
Murrumbeena Vic)
Sarah Ann Prickett Farr
(b 1852 Camden Town London, m Francis Longmore 1875 Ballarat, d 1920
Kensington
Vic)
Charles Augustine Farr
(b 1854 Islinton London, d 1855 Collingwood Vic)
Emma Elizabeth Farr
(b 1856 Ballarat Vic, m Francis Thomas Axford 1879 Ballarat, d 1909
Ballarat)
Edwin Farr
(b 1858 Ballarat, m Louisa Jane Briant
1884 Presb Manse Ballarat, d 1943 Northcote)
Winifred Emma Farr (b
1890
Northcote, m Norman Thompson
1918 , d 1994 Preston)
Arthur Farr
(b 1861 Ballarat West, m Rose Emma White
1894 St.Pancras London, d 1927 Adelaide)
Leigh Farr
(b 1864 Ballarat, m Ellen Coralie (Corrie) Valentine 1889 Ballarat, d
1938 St
Kilda)
Edith Lucy Farr
(b 1866 Ballarat, m William George Hansen Ellson 1894 St Kilda, d 1951
Croydon
Vic)
Lucius Farr
(b 1869 Ballarat, d 1888 St Kilda)
Ethel Maude (Jum) Farr
(b 1871 Ballarat, m Arthur Vincent Kemp 1899 Melbourne, d 1952 Sydney
NSW)
Millicent Caroline (Tim) Farr
(b 1874 Ballarat, d 1962 St Kilda)
Picture
of the family (big but good)
Test Link to Photos page
Thomas was a Carpenter, so was Edwin
Hannah, Leigh, Lucius and Thomas are all in the same grave in St Kilda
cemetery
Picture
of Thomas Farr's Mining Right, from David Farr
Picture
of Arthur Farr's Ballarat house, 1890, from David Farr.
Embroidery
found in the bible, from David Farr.
The following material is based on
material prepared by Glenis Crocker for a
Martin and Farr reunion she organised in Ballarat
THOMAS AND HANNAH
Hannah Martin's Sampler
Letter to Francis Longmore
Acknowledgements
THOMAS AND HANNAH
Thomas Farr was born in Southgate, Middlesex. His family were
Non-Conformist, attending the Weld Chapel, where the
births of the third daughter Amelia and subsequent children were
recorded.
Hannah Martin was
born at the house of her parents Charles Martin and Frances Prickett,
at 134 Upper Street, Islington, in the County of Middlesex on 21st.
September 1829.
Thomas and Hannah lived with Hannah's parents for at least some of the
time after their marriage. At the time of the 1851 Census, they
are listed as living in the same household as Hannah's parents Charles
& Francis, and her brother Henry and sister Louisa. in 38
Goldington St North, Camden Town. Their first
daughter Alice was born there.
Thomas together with his wife Hannah and three
children Alice, Sarah
and Charles came to Melbourne on the "Aberfoyle". arriving in December
1854 having left England in August. Also on the ship were his wife's
parents, Charles and Frances Martin
and their daughter Louisa with her husband James Crump and their child
Jasper.. Thomas is recorded as saying he
came to Australia in 1853, yet shipping records show him listed with
all the family on the "Aberfoyle" in 1854. A Thomas Farr is
listed as an unassisted passenger on the "Woodstock" in 1853, so
perhaps he sailed out to look at the opportunities for himself before
the whole family emmigrated to join Hannah's two brothers, Charles and
Henry, who had come out in 1852. Support for this would come from
looking at shipping lists from Australia to England, looking for Thomas
returning to England.
Ballarat Rate Books show that Thomas Farr was living in Dawson St (no
allotment number given) from 1856. He was paying rates on two
adjacent blocks, one with a workshed on it, the other a cottage.
Thomas Farr was a carpenter, as also was Charles Martin and James
Crump.
According to directories 1855/1856 he is listed as "Carpenter
Ballarat", and from the birth notices of the children he was still
living in Ballarat up to 1874
All his subsequent children were born in Ballarat, and his first
daughter Alice was married to John Bisset of Castlemaine from the house
in Dawson St.
In the 1880's the family moved from Ballarat to Melbourne. The
exact date is uncertain, but Rate records should give an answer to
this. Post Office directories listed Thomas as still being in
Ballarat for a number of years after he was known to have shifted to
Melbourne. Possibly his business continued under someone else's
management, or else the directories are not very reliable..
In 1888 their youngest son Lucius died from tubercular meningitis, and
Hannah died of TB in 1890.
The 1889 directory listed Thomas as "St Kilda" and it appears that in
1890/1891 he was in partnership with his sons Leigh and Arthur as
contractors at Nicholas Chambers, 101 Swanston Street, Melbourne. From
1890 to 1898 his residential address was 175 Hotham Street, St.
Kilda. .
Melbourne directories for
1893/94, have his son Leigh was at 173 Hotham St. By 1898,
W.G.H. Ellson, one of Thomas's sons-in-law, had shifted into 193 Hotham
St.
"The Argus"
Thursday 13th, February, 1890.
FARR
On 12th. Feb. at her residence "Hiawatha Terrace", Hotham Street
Balaclava, Hannah, beloved wife of
Thomas Farr, late of Ballarat, Age 60 years.
The Argus" Saturday 20th July 1901.
FARR
On 19th. July at "Amnesty" Brighton
Road, St.
Kilda, Thomas Farr, Age 77 years.
He is buried in St. Kilda cemetery, Grave Number B,0242,
00761.
According to death records the family were Baptists.
Hannah Martin's Sampler
This is a photograph of the needlework sampler done by Hannah as a
young girl.
Letter to Francis Longmore
This letter is from Thomas and Hannah Farr, written by Thomas to
Francis Longmore, in reply to Francis asking for Annie's hand in
marriage. Transcribed by Robyn Lawther.
30 Dawson Street, Ballarat
January 31st 1873.
Mr. Longmore,
Dear Sir,
Your letter has
been read by Mrs. Farr and myself we are not surprised
at your request but young man do you know what you are asking for? do
you know what a prize you are seeking to obtain? Have you fully
considered the responsibility and care you are trying to entangle
yourself with? have you looked all these things and a number besides
full in the face-- some perhaps you have some perhaps you have not, for
recollect - love is blind. We will hope you are not unmindful of the
great gtt we have in our procession, ready and walling to bestow it on
any-one who will undertake to guard and protect it as well or better
than we have done. You have shown a most persevering and undaunted
spirit in at least gaining the consent of your hearts best love, we
hope such a spirit and determination to succeed may never flag.
You herewith have
our consent to one of the best bit of flesh and blood
to be found in petticoats, now consider yourself a lucky fellow. But
don't dance about like that, you have not got her yet. We know not of
your intentions as to the way and means you are going to adopt as to
time, it must remain a question you know we are both to part with it,
its all very well to open the cage and let the bird fly, better it live
with the old birds until as good or as safe a cage presents itself.
Take our advice don't be in to great a hurry, your comfort in after
life depends in a great measure in making a fair start. Should your
circumstances look at all favourable, we will not stand in the way of
you making your happiness complete. You of course do not think of
altering your state in your present situation. Wishing you every
success whether related to us or otherwise we remain
Dear Sir your's truly
Thomas and Hannah Farr
Alice
Farr
Notice in The Argus.
Bissett - Farr. - On the 26th December,
1872, at the residence of the
bride's parents, by the Rev. A.W.Grant, John, second son of the late
Mr. John Bissett, senr., Castlemaine, to Alice Louisa, eldest daughter
of Mr. Thomas Farr, Dawson Street, Ballarat, silver wedding. Present
address, "Kellie-Law", Shamrock Street, Bendigo.
Extract from the Bendigo Advertiser :
A PLEASANT SURPRISE. - A few evenings
ago a pleasant surprise party,
consisting of several ladies and gentlemen connected with the
Presbyterian Church, Golden Square, waited on Mr. and Mrs. J.Bissett at
their residence, Kellie-Law, Shamrock Street. The visitors were
heartily welcomed by Mr. and Mrs. Bissett, and the Rev. W.Agnew, on
behalf of those present and the members of the congregation, presented
their hostess with a handsome silver hot water kettle on the occasion
of their silver wedding. In making the presentation, Mr. Agnew referred
to the active part taken by Mr. and Mrs. Bissett in the work of the
church for many years past, and mentioned the coincidence that the
silver anniversary of the church was on the same date. Mr. W.Anderson
also made a few remarks, and hoped that Mr. and Mrs. Bissett would be
spared to celebrate their golden wedding.
Sarah
(Annie) Farr
"Sarah
was an aspiring star with natural singing abilities. She was a member
of the Dawson Street Baptist Choir as well as a member of the
Philharmonic Choir that often performed at the Mechanics' Institute. She was selected to
continue her singing career in London, however she choose marriage over
this promising future."
Quoting a note from Robin Lawther, who also said she had an opportunity
to sing with Dame Nellie Melba.
Annie's singing career in fact
incurred the censure of her Baptist
Pastor, which caused a lively flurry of correspondence in the Ballarat
Times, and lead to the Farr family cutting ties with the Dawson St
Baptist Church. Full details This affair is the subject
of an interesting newsletter from the Ballarat Historical Society (Vol
11 No 3, May/June 2009)., written by Anne Doggett
Arthur
Farr
Arthur's
occupation is shown in his son John's Marriage Certificate as
"builder". It appears Arthur was in partnership with his brother Leigh
and his
father, Thomas, in the early 1890s, as the Sands & McDougall
directory at this time shows his address at 101 Swanston Street,
Melbourne as "Agent, brickworks and contractors". He left the
partnership early in 1892/93 and went to England as a wine merchant,
representing Irvine Wines.
On January 1, 1894 he married Rose Emma White in
London. Their first
child, Thomas, was born at 138 Mercers Lane, Islington, England..The
next reference we have is that their second son, John, was born in
1901 at Balaclava, Victoria, so they obviously returned to Australia at
some stage. There is an entry in the Sands & McDougall directory of
1898 giving their address as 13 Smith St, St. Kilda. Again they
returned to England as their daughter Clarice Annie was born there in
1907.
In West Australian shipping records there is an entry; "Suevic arrived
Albany 11th August 1911 from Liverpool, passengers; Mr. and Mrs. Farr
and infant, also John, child with parents. Mr. Farr, Commercial Agent".
After Arthur settled back in Perth he established business as a
builder.
Tom stayed on in England to complete his education as an electrical
engineer.
Their next child, Robert, was born in 1914 at Cottesloe, Western
Australia.
Arthur died of hydatids in Adelaide in 1927 en route
to WA. He was
transferred from the ship to the Adelaide Hospital where he died.. His
Will was presented for probate at both the Supreme
Courts of Victoria and Western Australia. The gross value of his estate
in Western Australia was not exceeding four hundred and thirty seven
pounds, and the value in Victoria not exceeding nine hundred pounds. At
the time of his death his address was 60 Forrest St., Cottesloe. At the
time of making his will, 9th April 1918, the address was 25 John St.,
Cottesloe.
In the 1926 Sands & McDougall directory his address is shown as
Station St., West Burswood, Victoria. In probate documents this is
described as "Certificate of Title Volume 4977 Folio 995234 upon which
is erected a weather board house consisting of 5 rooms known as Ilkley,
Station Street, Burswood."
David Farr, a descendant of the son, provided
an explanation for the trips to London.
Arthur was in partnership with his father and Leigh at 101 Swanston St
as "Agent, brickworks and contractors" in the early 1890s. He left the
partnership early in 1892/3 and went to England as a wine merchant,
representing Irvine Wines. He met Emma in London, marrying on 1 Jan
1894, with Tom born on 13 June of that year. I wrote to Irvine Wines a
couple of years ago but no response. In 1898 his address is given as 13
Smith St, St Kilda and their second son, John Elliott (my father) was
born there on 21 July 1901. Again thery returned to England, date
unknown, as their daughter, Clarice Annie was born there on 15 Sep
1907. In West Australian shipping records there is an entry : "Suevic
arrived Albany 11th August 1911 from Liverpool, passengers: Mr &
Mrs Farr and infant, also John, child with parents. Mr Farr, Commercial
Agent". Tom stayed on in London to complete his education as an
electrical engineer. After Arthur settled back in Perth he established
business as a builder.
Leigh
Farr
Leigh was in partnership with his brother, Arthur, and father, Thomas,
at 101 Swanston Street, Melbourne in the early 1890s as "contractors
and brickworks agents".. He lived at 173 Hotham Street, St Kilda, next
door to his father,
Thomas, who was at number 175.
Acknowledgements
Most of the material on the Farrs and Martins comes from Glenis
Crocker, with help from Robyn Lawther and Helen
Millward. Glenis's material prepared for the Martin reunion she
organised has been quoted directly here. They have traced the family
back to the 16th century, by a lot of detective work on old wills.
Also Len Martin produced an excellent book on Charles Henry
Martin, Hannah Martin's brother
Research Notes
Genes Reunited checked for
Thomas
and Hannah
LDS checked
Information Sources:
Weld Chapel birth records. St Georges Hanover Square Parish
Records. Farr family bible
David Farr queries
(1) Charles Augustine Farr. Is that second
name Augustus?. Could
be, but it looks like Augustine on his birth certificate. Death
certificate has no second name
(2)
Thomas and Hannah's daughter Emma Elizabeth. Your records say she died
1909 - mine show 1908
LR I have both dates in my FTM file. I am always
inclined to believe the source that has a day and month.
But it should be checkable
(3) Ethel Maude - you show she was married in Melbourne - mine show
Ballarat.
LR Not sure, but I have a certificate number in my files MC459,
which should be checkable
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Page last updated -
16 Jan 2009
