Person Page - 698

     James William Phillips was born on 5 May 1846 in Paterson, New South Wales. He was the son of William Thomas Phillips and Mary Anne Lyons. James William Phillips was christened on 15 June 1846 in Paterson.
James William Phillips married Annie Hanlon on 25 November 1867 in Donnybrook, Maranoa, Queensland. They married on 25^th November 1867 according to later birth certificates.
James and Annie appear to have had 13 children, although there is some confusion about the first three.
Mabel Alice ( IGI) is said to have been born at ‘Dykehead Station’ in Dec 1869 /70 although there does not appear to be birth registration this. There is a ‘Dykehead Station’ listed west of Maryborough, near Mundubberra. She married James William Thygesen 6^th June 1887 at ‘Bona Vista’ Walla and died 21 Jan 1943.
Mary Ann is registered as born at ‘Jindah’ 25 Dec 1870, there does not appear to be any further information re Mary Ann. This appears to be in the same area as ‘Dykehead Station’, is it possible that Mary Ann and Mabel Alice are one and the same?
This appears to be in the same area as ‘Dykehead Station’, is it possible that Mary Ann and Mabel Alice are one and the same?
May Lydia Phillips does not appear to have birth registration either, but is said to have been born 27 November 1871 in Maryborough. At the time of her marriage to John Charles Wood she was said to be ‘the second daughter of J W Phillips Esq’.
Other children of James William and Annie were:
William James b 29 Nov 1872 d 25 November 1875
Effie Isabel b30 October 1874 d 20 February 1876
Alfred James b 8 September 1876 m Charlotte Bridget Simcock 29 April 1908
Un-named female b15 May 1878. This is probably Catherine Isabella (Kitty) who married Daniel Joseph O’Regan 24 May 1905.
Bridget Maude (Maude) b 4 May 1880 m 1 John Henry Hendy 27 September 1905
2 Alexander O’Connel 1950, d October 1961
Virgil Lyons b 1 May 1882 m Christina Irwin 30 April 1913
William Percival b 19 May 1884 d 8 Feb 1885
Edward John b 11 February 1886 d 8 Jul 1886
Annie b 4 March 1887 m Charles James McWalters 15 February 1911
Margaret Phillips b 8 March d 28 March 1889.
Mary Anne Phillips was registered as born at ‘Jindah’which appears to be a property or locality on the Mary River west of Maryborough.
He was also listed as a landholder and publican .
He purchased a property ‘BonaVista’ at Walla 1883 and later resided there.
Mabel Alice (IGI) was married at ‘Bona Vista’ in 1887 and Margaret was born there in 1888. I believe there is a gravestone for her on the property which would suggest they still lived there when she died in March 1889.
In 1897, at the time of May Lydia’s marriage the family home was ‘ ‘Cuba Plantation’ Burnett River’, and James William was described as a sugar planter. ‘Cuba’ in 1988, had been described as having 70 acres under cane, under a prior owner.
A JW Phillips was the licensee of the ‘Doolbi’ hotel in Childers from 1898 to1904.
I am not sure if this is our James William. In June 1905, James William became the licensee of the ‘ Railway Hotel’ in Bundaberg and held the license June 1912.
In other notes it also says that he was the licensee of the ‘North Bundaberg Hotel’ in 1918 and that he owned Phillips Cordials which was managed by his son Virgil. ( B’berg and District Pioneers).
James seems to have started off working as a general labourer/station hand or timber getter when he moved to Queensland as a young man. .
‘Donnybrook’ was both a station and a ‘town reserve’ about ‘32miles north’ of Mitchell. It was in an area that became heavily infested with prickly pear causing the leasehold to be resumed by the Government, returning to pastoral usage in 1930’s, under strict conditions. In early 1871, on Mary Anne’s birth certificate, James William is described as a contractor, Central Sugar Factory. This may have been the Isis Mill at Childers.
     James died after a lengthy illness aged 74 on 13 October 1920 in Bundaberg, Queensland, aged 74.

     Jane Phillips was born on 14 April 1811. She may be the Jane Phillips born 14 April, baptised 19 May 1811, daughter of James Phillips, gentleman, Highfield St & Lydia formerly Kelsey his wife, along with Henry, born 10 Nov 1809, son of ditto, at St Peter, Liverpool. She was the daughter of James Phillips and Lydia Ballard.
     Jane Phillips and Henry Phillips, William Thomas Phillips, Francis Henry Fortunatus Phillips and Isabella Lydia Augusta Phillips arrived with James Phillips and Lydia Ballard on 20 May 1822 at Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
In 1824 Jane was at Reddalls, Smeeton Villa. [letter] In 1845 she was mentioned in a letter from her mother to Mrs Frankland. Henry, Jane, William, Francis, Isabella, Alfred, Samuel and Charles were recorded as the children of James Phillips in the on 15 November 1828 census in 'Bona Vista', Paterson, New South Wales.
Jane Phillips married John Skottowe Parker, son of Richard Neville Parker and Margaret Skottowe, on 21 August 1831 in Christ Church, Newcastle. John Skottowe Parker, Bachelor aged 26 of Moreton Bay & Jane Phillips, spinster aged 20 of the parish of Middlehope married by licence with consent of parents 23 Aug 1831. In presence of Lydia Phillips, Middlehope, Jas Phillips, Middlehope, Frederick Garling of Sydney.
September 29 1831 - Order for grant of 640 acres as marriage portion to Miss Phillips daughter of a settler on Hunter River, married subsequently to the 1st July 1831; refused in 1832.
In 1834 she applied to join her husband who was Superintendent of Agriculture at Moreton Bay accompanied by her young brother.
     Jane Phillips and John Skottowe Parker travelled in February 1846 per the "The Matiland Mercury on 25 Feb l 1846 reported that Mr & Mrs Parker & 4 children were passenger about ship 'St George', departure ex Sydney to London".
     Jane died on 3 January 1856 in 'Rose Cottage', Morpeth, New South Wales, aged 44.

     Jane Phillips was born circa 1690. She was the daughter of Capt Chichester Phillips and Sarah Handcock.
Jane Phillips married Richard Blackbourne.

     John Henry Phillips was born on 17 September 1872 in Kangiaroo, New South Wales. He was the son of Edward Augustus Phillips and Ellen Besnard.
     John died in 1918 in Hurstville, New South Wales.

     John Wade Phillips was born on 12 May 1904 in Brisbane, Queensland. He is probably the 'Jack' remembered by Charles Phillips. He was the son of Frederick Louis Phillips and Elizabeth Josephine Bushe.
     John died in 1979 in Queensland. See: http://www.airgale.com.au/individuals/i2020.htm.

     Josephine Hunter Phillips was also known as Jocie Phillips in records.
Ludlow, Peter: Moreton Bay People - The Complete Collection, 2000. Edited from recollections by Frederick Clarence (Clarrie) Phillips in 1980.
Josephine Hunter Phillips was the second eldest daughter of Frederick and Elizabeth Phillips and she was born on the 4 June 1901. Unfortunately, she developed polio when she was three years old. The family was told that salt water would be most beneficial for her (no vaccine was yet available) so Frederick took his family to King Island, just off Wellington Point. Today the island is quite small and is not habitable,
but according to Clarrie, the eldest son, in 1904, it was about twice the size it is today with numerous large trees as well as mangroves. The family erected marquees/tents for sleeping, eating and cooking. Even the maid had her own tent! They caught their own food – mainly fish and oysters and fresh water was brought over from the mainland using the causeway, from Wellington Point, at low tide. Frederick, who was a bank manager at this time, left the island early in the morning to catch the train from Wellington Point to the city and returned around 6pm. Elizabeth, his wife, on her own with five young children for most of the time, ran the household in difficult circumstances but, according to Clarrie, she never complained.
The Phillips family lived an idyllic life on King Island until April 1906 when they moved back to Fortitude Valley. Sadly, Frederick was to die a sudden death in 1907 and in 1916, Cyril Alfred, the second eldest son died of illness in a military hospital in England. Josephine Hunter Phillips raised her niece following the death of her sister, Leila, in 1925. She never married and lived to be 85 years old.. She was born on 4 June 1901 in Brisbane, Queensland. She is probably the Jocie remembered by Charles Phillips. She was the daughter of Frederick Louis Phillips and Elizabeth Josephine Bushe.

     Julian Arthur Phillips was born on 13 August 1881 in Queensland. He was the son of Clarence Alfred Phillips and Gertrude Laura Parker Bowles.

     Julian M Phillips was born on 16 October 1844 in Clarence River, New South Wales. He was the son of Francis Henry Fortunatus Phillips and Susanna Gordon Windeyer. Julian M Phillips was christened on 2 February 1845 in St James, Sydney.
     Julian died before 1856?.

     Julius Besnard Phillips was born on 19 July 1875 in Leswell, Young, New South Wales. He was the son of Edward Augustus Phillips and Ellen Besnard.
Julius Besnard Phillips married Edith May Chew on 28 November 1900.
     Administration of the estate of Sarah Louise Phillips was granted to Julius Besnard Phillips, in May 1917 in New South Wales Probate Jurisdiction.- In the Estate of SARAH LOUISA PHILLIPS, late of Young, in the State of New South Wales Spinster, deceased, intestate. Application will be made after fourteen days from the publication hereof that Letters of Administration of the Estate of the abovenamed deceased may be granted to JULIUS BESNARD PHILLIPS, the brother of the said deceased, and all notices are to be served at the undermentioned address. JULIUS
BESNARD PHILLIPS, Lynch-street, Young. He and Edith May Chew were divorced in November 1918 in Sydney, New South Wales. In the Sydney Divorce Court on Monday morning, Edith May Phillips (formerly Chew), a young woman, sought a dissolution of her marriage with Julius Bernard Phillips, commission agent, of Young, on the ground of his alleged
misconduct with one Millie Armfield, at the Hotel Sydney, Pitt-street, Sydney; at Cronulla, and other places. The parties were married at Monteagle on November 28, 1900. Petitioner said that last year she discovered her husband was going about with another woman, and when she taxed him with it he admitted that he had been paying attention to Miss Millie Armfield, but promised to give her up, and have no further communication with her. Upon the strength of that promise she forgave him, and returned to live with him. Very soon she discovered that her husband was still cor-
responding with Miss Armfield, and eventually He told her that he never had any intention of giving up the woman.
Cecil Cook, private inquiry agent, gave evidence that he had seen respondent meet Miss Armfield outside Farmer's, in Pitt-street, Sydney, where, witness said, she was employed in the corset department, and go with her to the
Hotel Sydney, where they were seen together in a room. Witness also saw them together at a cottage at Cronulla. This was in January last. Ernest Vane, private inquiry agent, said that in April last he was engaged to watch respondent and Miss Armfield. He saw the latter arrive at Circular Quay by the Cremorne boat at 9 a.m., and go to Rawson Place, where she met respondent. They went into the Prince of Wales Hotel, where they remained all day, only coming out for lunch. Witness saw them together at the same hotel on other occasions.
His Honor granted a decrea nisi, returnable in six months..
     Julius died on 28 June 1919 in Young, New South Wales, aged 43. MR. J. B. PHILLIPS. The third victim was a well-known resident of the district, Mr. Julius Besnard Phillips, a stock and station agent, and for some years a principal in the firm of A. H. Hume and Co. carrying on business at Young. Deceased, who was 43 years of age, was a member of one of the oldest families in the Young district, and, like the good sport that he was, on the football field and elsewhere, really gave his life for another. He was an uncle of the late Leslie Regan (who succumbed to pneumonic influenza Jjust a week previously), and deceased contracted the diseased when nursing his nephew on the night prior to Regan's admission to the hospital. Deceased was him
self admitted to the emergency hospital on Saturday, where he died yesterday morning. The funeral took place this afternoon to the Church of England cemetery.

The Cowra Free Press also reported on 2 July 1919: Quite a gloom was cast over the town of Young on Thursday morning last (reports the "Chronicle"), when it was learned that Mr. Julius Besnard Phillips, the well-known stock and
station agent at Young, had succumb- ed to pneumonic influenza. Born at Kungiara Station, near Yass, 43 years
ago, the deceased came to Young with his parents when only a lad of 10 years and received his education at the District School. After leaving school he went into the stock and sta-tion agency business with Mr. T. Besnard, of Yass. Later on he joined the firm of G. Thompson and Co., of Cootamundra, and left that position and went with C. K. Rose and Co., of Cowra. After a while he returned to Young and was employed by Mr. C. H. Ellerman. Mr. Phillips then
became associated with the late Mr. Andrew Hume aa a partner in the firm of A. H. Hume and Co. After the latter's demise he took control himself, and was a very popular and energetic agent..

     Kate Isobel Phillips was born circa 1852. She was the daughter of William Thomas Phillips and Mary Anne Lyons.
Kate Isobel Phillips married Frank Cowley on 17 August 1871 in the Presbyterian Manse, Brisbane, Queensland. Her marriage certificate stated that she was the daughter of William Phillips, gentleman, and born in Sydney. There was a correction in the margin, signed by Frank Cowley, stating that she was born at Bona Vista, Paterson River district.
Dell Cowley states that Frank Cowley apparently left Kate Isobel in the late 1880s.
     Kate died on 30 July 1894 in 3 Campabell St, St Leonards, New South Wales.

     Leila Maria Phillips was born on 9 July 1862 in Maitland, New South Wales. At Campbell's Hill, on the 9th July, Mrs. A. W. Phillips, of a daughter. She was the daughter of Alfred William Phillips and Elizabeth Maria Doyle. Leila Maria Phillips was christened on 13 August 1862 in West Maitland.
Leila Maria Phillips married Frederick Mullen Baker in 1882 in Raymond Terrace, New South Wales.
     Leila died in 1884 in Stroud, New South Wales.

     Leila Maude Phillips was born on 2 April 1899 in Queensland. She was the daughter of Frederick Louis Phillips and Elizabeth Josephine Bushe.

     Louisa Phillips married John Daniel Kane on 11 April 1796.
     Louisa died on 1 April 1807.

     The administration of her estate was granted To the next of kin of LYDIA PHILLIPS, late of Paterson River, in the colony of New South Wales,

Widow, deceased intestate as to her personal estate.

Greetings ?

WHEREAS It has been represented to us in our Supreme Court of New South Wales by the proctor of RICHARD RYTHER STEER BOWKER, of Newcastle, Doctor of Medicine, as attorney of LOUISA JANE SLOAN, Spinstor, a creditor of the said deceased, that the said LYDIA PHILLIPS departed this life on or about the twenty fourth day of November, in the year of Our Lord one

thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, intestate as to her personal estate: We do therofere peremptorily cito you and each of you to appear personally, or by your proctor duly constituted before our said Court, at the Court-house in King-street, Sydney, on or before the sixteenth day of June next, at the hour of 11 o'clock in theforonoon of the same day, then and there to accept or refuse Letters of administration of all and singular the goods and chattels of the said deceased, or to show cause, if you know any, why the same should not be committed to the said Richard Ryther Steer Bowker, as attorney of the said Louisa Jane Sloan, a creditor of tho said deceased. Lydia Frances Phillips was born on 5 October 1830 in Paterson, New South Wales. She was the daughter of James Phillips and Lydia Ballard. Lydia Frances Phillips was christened on 23 November 1830 in Christ Church, Newcastle. Lydia Frances, daughter of James & Lydia Phillips of Middlehope, co. Durham, born October 5th.
Lydia Frances Phillips married Richard Ryther Steer Bowker, son of Thomas Dawson Bowker and Elizabeth Steer, on 11 November 1858 in St Paul's, Paterson. Their marriage settlement was registered in book 59, no.11. The Trustees were given power to purchase land. It was dated November 10 1858, the day before his marriage.
     Lydia Frances Phillips received a letter from Elizabeth Stanser Robinson dated 23 July 1864. The letter mentions Mrs Best (who is spitting blood and very weak) and Mrs Giles, Captain & Mrs Ingles who are to join the depot of the Regiment in Ireland in the Autumn, Isabel & Charley Bowker, both their mothers, Mr, Mrs & Miss Bingle.
Mrs Best & Mrs Giles send their love
Fir Grove,
West Town nr Bristol July 23, 1864
My dear cousin,
I intended writing by the Southern post? Mail but waited for the last day as I thought it possible the mail might be in that day, but on the 18th I was so poorly I could not write. We have not received any letters this time, we hope nothing serious has occurred to prevent your writing. I daresay you were occupied with your mother if the floods have permitted her to pay her long promised visit. How glad you would be to see her.
We trust all the children are well. Has Isabel seen her little brother Charley yet? I suppose she has returned home long ago.
I have not any news to send you, so I am afraid you will find this a very stupid epistle. We have had an extraordinarily fine warm summer, the heat has been very great and fears were entertained that there would be a serious want of water; especially in Bristol but we have had rain two days which has done good. More is wished for but it is very fine again today. My dear Mother felt the heat rather weakening but she is pretty well considering all things, and a day or two ago she was induced to go and drink tea with a kind friend of ours, a lady of 84 years of age who lives at the other end of the village, and who is very brisk and lively. My mother had not done such a thing for several years. Our roses have been beautiful this year, but the hot weather scortched (sic) many of the flowers. Her last months accounts from Mrs. Best were not very good; she spits blood so frequently and--she is very weak: she has some hopes that Captain and Mrs. Ingles may join the depot of the Regt. in the Autumn; it is in Ireland. George McNair took cold as soon as he returned to Scotland; we have not heard very lately how he is. And I can only give the same account of Mrs. Giles & Eleanor.
We hope your mother has derived benefit from her visit to you, if she has been able to make it. I suppose baby has been christened; admitted into the Good Shepherd's visible fold; may He guide & guard him and all your little ones, and bring them to His heavenly fold at last[?]. How is Richard now? Not overworking himself I hope. The winter is generally the busiest time for his profession. Your little ones must now be very amusing and must occupy a great deal of your time. Remember us very kindly to Miss Bingle and hope she is well, and Mr. & Mrs. Bingle also. Have you read The Graver Thoughts of a Country Parson? It was sent to me a short time ago & we like it very much. In another style I like "The Chronicles of the Schornberg Cotta Family: we are acquainted with the Mother and some other relations of the Authoress. I suppose all our best books find their way to Australia.
The long talked of suspension bridge from St Vincents Rocks across the Avon, is nearly completed, I will send you a photograph of it if I can get one by the time the next mail leaves. It is a very pretty object. In construction it is very like our old neighbour the Menai Bridge but the scenery around it is very different. I hope you received my letter by the last mail; I was obliged to trust it to a gentleman to post it for me at Bristol as I could not get the paper stamps at our village Post Office. I am glad the intention of doubling the postage between England and Australia was abandoned, so many poor people have friends there that it would have been cruelly felt by many. We hope we shall hear from you next month and receive a good account of all. My dear mother joins me in best love to Richard, yourself and your dear children & with every good wish, believe me my dear cousin,
Ever your affectionate, Elizabeth S Robinson .
     Lydia Frances Phillips received a letter from Elizabeth Stanser Robinson dated 18 August 1864. Fir Grove, West Town, nr Bristol
August 18th 1864
My dear Cousin [to Lydia Phillips (Bowker)]
I shall not wait for the arrival of the Australian Mail before I write to you as I want to send you a photograph of the Suspension Bridge at Clifton. It makes a pretty picture: a much prettier one than I should. It has been talked of for so many years and the unfinished piers have stood looking reproachfully at the neighbouring city for nearly a quarter of century so that almost everyone had imagined that they would have become curiosities of unparalleled interest, mysterious …. For Macauley's celebrated new ... to speculate upon, but the bridge is erected at last and is to be opened to the public in October. It is hunger for a bridge which is now ... to Clifton. I have walked over it, and so has Richard I dare say, but now instead of spanning the ... it crosses the ... Sir Greville Smith of Ashton Hall gave £11,000 to enlarge it; I suppose he calculates that it will benefit his property; the shade of the Nightingale Valley will give place to showy villas and become the retreat of Bristol citizens instead of nightingales.
We hope the next mail will bring us a letter from you, as we did not hear last month; and we hope also that it will bring us good things of you all. Your little group of children must be a pretty sight now; their grandmama I am sure would be delighted to see them all together. I hope she was able to pay you her promised visit.
My dear mother has been complaining a little lately of feeling languid and also mother's rheumatic: but on the whole it is as one could expect: she has been out to call on some of our neighbours and she would in the garden.
I have been very poorly at times but am now better. This week many people are feeling weak; we have had a beautiful summer it is said to be 17 years since we have had such a warm dry one but it has it's draw backs the want of water is greatly felt: the poor cattle are in great want of grass and water. Many sheep having died in the Mendip Hills, if you have studied ... and Wordsworth the names of the Mendip and Cotswold hills will be familiar to you. In Bristol people are stunted to the supplying of water for one hour a day. I hope we shall have rain soon; but the sunshine and moonlight
I and some friends went to Chilvey Court a short time ago; once it was a noble place and had been fortified in the times of the Civil War; now half of it is pulled down and the farmer's family live in another part; and part of it left for the convenience or hosts of rats; but the curved balustrades, its fine doorways spoke of departed, and we ascended a remarkably fine staircase; often no doubt trodden by Lords and Ladies and dashing cavaliers but in the darkness and dust our crinolines gave a faint and ghostlike … of the … of long ago. But you are all so fresh and hew in Australia and do know what it is to sit beneath ivy covered walls and dream over the scenes they may have witnessed in the days of your; your province is of another kind.
For fear that you should be tired with my romancing, I will say farewell, with my dear mother's and my best love to yourself Richard and the dear children, and hope we may all meet in the White City with the gates of pearl, where ruin and decay, sorrow and death can never enter
I remain
My dear cousin
Ever yours affectionately
Elizth S Robinson. Lydia Frances Phillips was the informant at the death of Lydia Ballard, on 24 November 1864.
     Lydia Frances Phillips received a letter from Lydia Amelia Lucy Sloan dated after 1866?. An undated letter (presumably after 1866 to Lydia Phillips/Bowker) from Ravenfield, Sep 11 - My very dear Aunt, I must not let Dolly close her letter without adding a few lines to thank you for your kind present of oranges which we have been enjoying, even baby has had some the mandarins. They are so delightfully sweet. I am going to preserve the ... tomorrow but .. ... I have been very busy making mourning? for the little ones. Dolly will have told you of the death of poor Mrs Healy. It is so ... and has cast a gloom over us all. She was such a nice kind old lady. I am sure you must be enjoying this delightful spring weather at dear old Paterson. ... ... I sent you my (carte?) I have had it taken seven times & this is the best of them all no one likes. My dearest love to you and Fannie, I remain dear Aunt, yours affectionately Lydia. I am deeply grived at what you say about John. My advice would be to make Mrs G?..... know that what she states is true. ... thoughtless .. not ... & wants a different home & companion I wish I had him here. Do not let Fannie hear this please. L A R.
.
     Lydia Frances Phillips received a letter from Richard Ryther Steer Bowker dated 14 January 1870. Newcastle, Jan 14th 1870
My dear Lydia
I hope you have such an instalment? of rain as we have now. It is very small fine rain but our paddocks looked very thirsty. At any rate I hope it has finished the intense heat which was greater than I remember to have ever felt in Australia before. I hear that several deaths have happened suddenly in Maitland & have been attributed to sun stroke among them, Clarke the dancing master & old Goodall the surveyor. I hope Robert & Charles took no harm from their wetting in the water hole. With all his faults I feel very fond of Robert. Indeed, I may say fond and proud of all of them. Robert is in many respects a fine and noble boy and my little Betha and her lemonade and anxiety to prepare it for me pleases me more and more. Isabella is not so demonstrative but still we have reason to be proud of them all and thankful to have such a fine set of children. You can scarcely tell how grateful and delighted I felt at your kind attentions as well as those of the children for I am not very demonstrative myself and yet it is my destiny to be gloomy and morose at times and I shall never be able to prevent it perhaps I make it up in the intensity of the affection and admiration which have for you and my great love which I feel (if I do not much express) for our children. I send some powders for little Richard to be taken night and morning until better.
I have just had a visit form Mrs Julia Walker, her husband & two children. Mr Walker seems a nice kind of person and the children are fine and strong. The boy 7 years of age as big as Robert or nearly so.
I had thought Mr Walker a rougher & worse bargain than he is. I think Mrs Walker has great reason to congratulate herself as to her husband.
Mr Peel had not been out on horseback, he complained that he had worn out ever so many pairs of trousers while riding. He is a curious mixture & I shall feel much more comfortable when Mr Hector is here instead of him. I notice the filly as you said very large. I hope she is not in foal when Isabella is old enough, she will carry her like the wind.
Yours very affectionately
R R S Bowker.
     Lydia Frances Phillips in Darling Point sent a letter dated between 30 June 1876 and 1878? To Elizabeth Steer Bowker. Avoca, June 30 - My dear Betha, I was glad to get your letter and hope by this your cold is much better. Your papa heard at Newcastle what a rough passage you had. You did not tell me how our old friends at Newcastle were or who took you to the convent school. I knew you would be shocked to see poor old Bona Vista, but it was even worse when I saw it during the dry weather. I forgot to give you the keys so that you may unpack the drawers in the wardrobe that I may have them sent down to Avoca. I am in a hurry to post this before 2 o'clock. Mr Hungerford was here this morning, he had a very bad cold, caught he thinks coming from Newcastle. Mrs H and the girls are not coming home until next week. Mrs Plunkett was here yesterday and exclaimed at baby's size, declares he is as big as her baby now. Mr Millard also called. He found Fanny in bed at Mr Windeyers with severe cold. He is coming to tea this evening. I thought he looked bery pale. Isabel went to see Fanny on Wednesday and she then had a cold and Issie said was very low spitited. As I have now a spare room I must ask her out for a few days. Mrs Bennet went back to Newcastle last night. We missed you & Lydia and the house seems empty. I have a nice girl as nurse, one who would like to be home & parlor maid and I thought Osmund's younger girl might do as nurse, but they won't come over, although the other children try to impose upon Emily the new nurse. Edward ran off just before dinner when she called him to dress and I had to whip him. They send him for bread & ... for them and all sorts of tricks. I must stop my scribble with much love to your young companions and Lydia & self. Hoping you are tidy, useful girls, Believe me, dear Betha, Your affectionate mother, L F Bowker. Do you play croquet? Your letter is not carefully written. If you come by N.C. try and get a cutting of the red rose, it belonged once to your grandmama Bowker & was given to me by Miss Bingle..
     Lydia Frances Phillips received a letter from Richard Ryther Steer Bowker dated 25 July 1877.
     Lydia Frances Phillips in 'Avoca', Darling Point, New South Wales, sent a letter dated 30 June 1878 to Elizabeth Steer Bowker. My dear Betha
I looked for your letter yesterday morning and your Papa was also surprised to hear how you had got up - it blew so hard after you left. I often thought of you all - tho Robert said it was a fair wind. You did not tell us if you were sick or how Edward's cold was or your throat. I fancy Harold legs must have ached the day after he arrived. Did he walk all the way? to be continued.
     Lydia Frances Phillips in Darling Point sent a letter dated 12 July 1878 to Elizabeth Steer Bowker. 1878 July 12, Avoca - My dear Betha, I got Miss Wood to write to you last Wednesday as I was so busy - I went to the Chester ball, very low spirited and not feeling as if I should enjoy myself but I did more than I expected. Their decorations were very pretty - lots of pot plants in different places around the fountain. It was very lovely & the fountain was playing. The sides were all carpeted to walk on. The sides of the building were all enclosed for dressing rooms. Drawing room, card room and one side was for the supper. Two long tables & 2 across the end & another refreshment room had hot tea and coffee and ices going all the evening. Isabel looked very well and danced every dance. She wore white silk with white tarlatan over and silver flowers - pearls on her neck and arms, silver ferns in her hair and one white camellia. Mrs White's dress was the handsomest in the room, blue and silver worked into the silk. They say it cost £60. There were many blue and white dresses. They are Chester colours. I am sure you will be grieved to hear of Rosie Darley's death. I got a telegram from Mrs D on Tuesday saying Rosie died last night and thought she had made a mistake in the name - that it must be Tarsie?? Rose Scott was with her and wrote me full particulars. She was prepared to die and said goodbye, sending loving messages to all her friends & asking Dr King to do all he could to cure her sister, not to tell her she was gone for fear it would make her worse. I never had a greater shock. I was so fond of Rosie as everyone is. Poor Mrs Close, it is terrible for her and Mrs Darley. Your papa has had Charlie to come back in time for school on Monday - if it is fine tomorrow and you get this in time, come tomorrow afternoon and go up to Mrs Hudsons for tea. If the weather is not fair tomorrow to come on Monday afternoon, send what clothes are dirty by him and I can have them ready on Tuesday and take them bakck with me on Wednesday. I hope to get away on Wednesday night and go up to breakfast with Mrs Hudson so that Osmond needs to start his hi... to meet the mid day train and no Maud? says - Affie is still here, also Walter and he was going last night, but Affie made such a fuss about it. He is sorry now he waited as it is raining heavily. My love to all, hoping you are feeling well, believe me ever your affectionate mother, Lydia F Bowker..
     Lydia Frances Phillips in Darling Point sent a letter dated 16 July 1878? To Elizabeth Steer Bowker. Avoca, July 16: My dear Betha, Charles arrived about half past seven o'clock this morning bringing his knapsack upon his shoulders - he had a good passage. I am sorry to hear you have a sore throat and hope it is better. If it should get very bade send a telegram tomorrow so that I may bring up medicines as it is I have asked your papa for a gargle. D V. I hope to get off tomorrow night and go on by the mid day train on Thursday. Affie, Ada & Walter left last night. I think Affie better though he can't swallow solid food yet. Your papa will see about a cask? and sasy Osmund had better buy if he thinks it sound enough as your papa likes old hay better than new, if it is quite sound and not musty - to buy what he thinks will be sufficient. I have plenty to do this morning so will say goodbye feeling thankful you escaped so easily your fall the other day. It is a warning to you to take more care. I made a pillow cast yesterday after sending your letter and must have them washed this morning. Give Lydia my love and thanks for her nice long letter. My love to you all, Your affectionate Mother L F Bowker, Tell Harold we all liked to read his first letter. You say the bullock weighed 7lbs and a half and the hay is 3 sh. a ton. You mean 7 cwt and a half and £3 a ton..
     Lydia died of typhoid fever on 29 October 1878 in Darling Point, New South Wales, aged 48. Her husband wrote in his diary My beloved Lydia leaves me - dies. She first had the mumps which she got from Ada Phillips at Bona Vista, then Erysipelas of the leg. Then overworked herself, got typhoid complicated with perforation and children all had mumps. She was buried on 30 October 1878 in St Paul's churchyard, Paterson. The body of Mrs R Bowker conveyed to Newcastle from Sydney per steamer to Maitland. Dr Bowker, his two sons, Messrs Dangar, Lewis and the Rev Hungerford accompanied the body which was afterwards taken to Morpeth in the steamer. Messrs C F Stokes, P Flemming, R Flemming, J Creer, T Brooks and J Hill of this city went to Morpeth, whence the body was taken by hearse to East Maitland and then onto Paterson via Pitnacree. Several residents of the district joined in the procession at Morpeth as did also R B Wallace and John Wood of this city. During yesterday flags were displayed at half mast by most of the vessels in the port, etc.

     Lydia Frances Phillips was also known as Lydia Frances Helen in records. She was born circa 1848. She was the daughter of William Thomas Phillips and Mary Anne Lyons. Lydia Frances Phillips was christened in 1853 in St James RC church, Sydney, New South Wales. She was baptised with her sister Mary and their parents were given as William Phillips & Mary Ann Lyons, abode Paterson.
Lydia Frances Phillips married Edward Richard Neynoe Gore Jones on 13 May 1873 in Church of England, Brisbane South, Queensland. Her father was listed as William Thomas Phillips, squatter, and she was born at Paterson, co. Durham, NSW.
See http://www.learnsource.com.au/getperson.php?personID=I660&tree=tree1 for more on this family.
     Lydia died on 25 July 1925 in Wooloowin, Queensland. GORE-JONES-Lydia Frances, wife of E R Gore-Jones, at her residence, Kedron- street, Wooloowin, on July 25. Privately interred at Nunda.

     Mabel Alice Phillips was born on 17 February 1869. She was the daughter of James William Phillips and Annie Hanlon.
     Mabel died on 21 January 1943 aged 73.

     Mabel Wilhelmina Phillips was born circa 1844. She was the daughter of William Thomas Phillips and Mary Anne Lyons.
     Mabel Wilhelmina Phillips married Joseph Sykes Webb as his second wife, on 17 October 1866 in New Zealand. The marriage was registered as both 1867/9118 & 1866/8992. The family lived in Honolulu for a time as Joseph was in the foreign office and a paymaster for the Hawaiian Navy and returned to NZ before his death.
     Mabel died on 12 August 1917 in Dunedin, New Zealand.

     Margaret Phillips married William Elias Handcock, son of William Handcock, on 11 January 1828 in St Peter, Dublin.

     Margaret Phillips was born on 8 March 1889. She was the daughter of James William Phillips and Annie Hanlon.
     Margaret died on 28 March 1889.

     Mary Phillips was christened on 20 February 1853 in St James RC church, Sydney, New South Wales. She was the daughter of William Thomas Phillips and Mary Anne Lyons.
She is not listed on her mother's death certificate, presumably died young.

     Mary Ann Phillips was born on 25 December 1870. She was the daughter of James William Phillips and Annie Hanlon.

     Mary Adeline Phillips was born on 1 October 1876 in Leswell, Young, New South Wales. She was the daughter of Edward Augustus Phillips and Ellen Besnard.
Mary Adeline Phillips married Knight Leslie Barnett on 14 May 1896 in St John's, Young, New South Wales.
     Mary died on 19 May 1963 in Brisbane, Queensland, aged 86.

     Mary Ann Phillips was born on 11 May 1854 in Raymond Terrace, New South Wales. She was the daughter of William Phillips & Mary Ann Lyons, storekeeper of Raymond Terrace. She was the daughter of William Thomas Phillips and Mary Anne Lyons.

     May Lydia Phillips was born on 27 November 1871 in Maryborough, Queensland. She was the daughter of James William Phillips and Annie Hanlon.
May Lydia Phillips married John Charles Wood on 20 January 1897. For ore on this family see: http://www.learnsource.com.au/getperson.php?personID=I30&tree=tree1.
     May died on 26 September 1957 in Bundaberg, Queensland, aged 85.

     Minia Beatrice Phillips was born on 3 September 1897 in Simcoe County, Ontario. She was the daughter of Charles Robert Phillips and Caroline Beatrice Ruby.

     Nancy Grace Phillips was born on 18 December 1923 in Helidon, Queensland. She was the daughter of Richard Wallace Phillips and Ruby Grace Pullen.
Nancy Grace Phillips married Mervyn Francis Barlow on 18 December 1940.
     Nancy died on 20 October 1973 aged 49.

     Nicholas Richard Phillips was born on 24 May 1869 in Kangiaroo, Yass, New South Wales. He was the son of Edward Augustus Phillips and Ellen Besnard.
Nicholas Richard Phillips married Edith Armstrong in 1918 in Young, New South Wales.
     Nicholas died in 1950 in Young New South Wales.

     Norah Kathleen Phillips married William John Cooper Bowker, son of Richard Ryther Steer (Popplewell) Bowker and Elizabeth Mary Cooper, in 1942 in Ashby de la Zouche, Leicestershire.
     Norah died in May 1972 in Ashby de la Zouche, Leicestershire. She was buried on 18 May 1972 in St Helen's, Ashby de la Zouch.

     Norman James Phillips was born in 1904 in Murwillimbah, New South Wales. He was the son of Walter James Phillips and Gertrude L Ford.
     Norman died in 1974 in New South Wales.

     Percy Walter Phillips was born on 18 August 1883 in Queensland. He was the son of Clarence Alfred Phillips and Gertrude Laura Parker Bowles.