Bridget Wilson pictured with three of her four surviving children and their children. Jenny believes this was taken on Bridget’s 80th birthday when she went to live with The Little Sisters of the Poor.
CAPE Paterson resident Jenny Osler knew little of her great-grandmother, Bridget Wilson, other than that she was Irish and married a Norwegian sailor. All she had was a few family stories and three family photos, taken on Bridget’s 80th birthday.
Her mother had begun the research in pre-computer days. With the help of the Wonthaggi Genealogical Society, Jenny set out to fill in the gaps.
She says her interest in family history research is not in creating a never-ending family tree. but writing the story of her own ancestors within the social and political context of the time.
Her mother had begun the research in pre-computer days. With the help of the Wonthaggi Genealogical Society, Jenny set out to fill in the gaps.
She says her interest in family history research is not in creating a never-ending family tree. but writing the story of her own ancestors within the social and political context of the time.
Bridget Wilson with her son John, Jenny Osler's grandfather.
By Jenny Osler
Initially I knew very little of my great-grandmother, Bridget Wilson, other than that she was Irish and married a Norwegian sailor. From many and varied sources I have been able to piece together her story. Bridget Wilson is an example of the unsung pioneer women.
Family history has developed from trying to piece together a family story from births, deaths and marriages. My sources were many and varied, including the Wonthaggi Genealogical Society, Trove, online sources such as Ancestry (not much there at all), Facebook groups specific to family history, connecting with distant family members and a trip to the Eyre Peninsula.
Bridget Wilson is a wonderful example of those early pioneer women - resilient, hard working, determined and tenacious. The first confirmed record of Bridget in Australia is when she married Charles Wilson on Otober 28 at the house of George Garrett in Port Lincoln. She was 20 years old and came from Innis in Ireland. She possibly came to Australia as a sponsored servant. The family story is that she met Charles Wilson, a Norwegian sailor, on a ship. She and Charles were illiterate and over the years on various documents there were at least 11 variations of her maiden surname, probably Fullard.
Ann, their first child, was born at Swamp Hut Kappawanta in 1868. The name and location says it all. Imagine coming from green Ireland to the Eyre Peninsula, hot, dry and dusty, and giving birth, probably in an isolated hut and likely alone except for her husband. She went on to have another 10 children, almost one every year until 1886. Her Catholic faith was important to her and all children were baptised. The children were Ann (Tyler), Adam, Mary (May) William, Margaret (Gill), John (my grandfather), Kath (Bray), Edward, Mary, Sarah (Schlater) and Ester.
It must have been a struggle to wash, feed and clothe this large family with little money, often living in isolated parts of the Eyre Peninsula. They would have lived in a small one- or two-roomed cottage. Food supplies would be limited – mutton, flour, sugar and potatoes. No milk, no fruit or vegetables. She must have been a skilled mother because all her children, except one, Mary, who died at four days old, lived to adulthood escaping common illnesses including diphtheria epidemics. Her family in Ireland probably never heard from her again, and as far as we know she never heard from them.
Charles’ occupation was listed on the wedding certificate as shepherd, and over the next few years the family moved about from Kappawanta, Happy Valley and Maryvale. Around 1878 they finally settled in Bramfield, initially at Bramfield station. Charles later worked as a contractor (1886), often working away from home. The older boys probably went off to work with their father from around 10 or 11 years old as there was no school in the area. Charles and his older sons were recognised as capable shearers. The older girls would have helped look after the younger ones. Life was probably a little easier for Bridget when they eventually moved into the town of Bramfield and the younger ones could go to school.
Bridget’s life got even more difficult when Charles deserted his family in 1887, leaving Bridget with the youngest a year old and the eldest 19 years old. Times were tough on the Eyre Peninsula with rabbits causing havoc and a depressed economy and shearers’ strikes. By 1888 the situation was desperate for Bridget and she applied for rations from the Destitute Board. The family story was that she worked at the Bramfield Hotel and in 1894 she was listed as the licensee of the hotel just before it closed.
As her children got older and married, she moved to Elliston around 1899 and was perhaps supported by them. The Aged Care Pension was introduced in 1909 and Bridget would have qualified for this as she was over 65 and impoverished. Many of her children lived on the Eyre Peninsula around Elliston, Colton, and Calca.
Sadly, between 1900 and 1906 two of Bridget’s daughters in their early 20s and another daughter in her 30s all died of tuberculosis. TB was rife in the community at this time with little hope of a cure. In 1919 her daughter-in-law (my grandmother) died of Spanish flu leaving six young children. At some stage around 1907 Bridget moved to Adelaide, probably to be near her surviving daughters.
In 1926 when she was 80 Bridget went to live at the Little Sisters of the Poor and was still contributing to her keep by doing housework. She lived there for five years and died in 1932 at 85 years. Sadly she had outlived all but four of her children - Adam, William, Mary and Kath. She had 44 grandchildren.
This amazing woman raised 11 children, often on her own, in trying circumstances. Her children went on to live successful lives and her descendants are scattered across Australia.
If you would like support to explore your own family story or to add more information to the known facts email [email protected] or visit the Family History Centre in the Wonthaggi Library.
Initially I knew very little of my great-grandmother, Bridget Wilson, other than that she was Irish and married a Norwegian sailor. From many and varied sources I have been able to piece together her story. Bridget Wilson is an example of the unsung pioneer women.
Family history has developed from trying to piece together a family story from births, deaths and marriages. My sources were many and varied, including the Wonthaggi Genealogical Society, Trove, online sources such as Ancestry (not much there at all), Facebook groups specific to family history, connecting with distant family members and a trip to the Eyre Peninsula.
Bridget Wilson is a wonderful example of those early pioneer women - resilient, hard working, determined and tenacious. The first confirmed record of Bridget in Australia is when she married Charles Wilson on Otober 28 at the house of George Garrett in Port Lincoln. She was 20 years old and came from Innis in Ireland. She possibly came to Australia as a sponsored servant. The family story is that she met Charles Wilson, a Norwegian sailor, on a ship. She and Charles were illiterate and over the years on various documents there were at least 11 variations of her maiden surname, probably Fullard.
Ann, their first child, was born at Swamp Hut Kappawanta in 1868. The name and location says it all. Imagine coming from green Ireland to the Eyre Peninsula, hot, dry and dusty, and giving birth, probably in an isolated hut and likely alone except for her husband. She went on to have another 10 children, almost one every year until 1886. Her Catholic faith was important to her and all children were baptised. The children were Ann (Tyler), Adam, Mary (May) William, Margaret (Gill), John (my grandfather), Kath (Bray), Edward, Mary, Sarah (Schlater) and Ester.
It must have been a struggle to wash, feed and clothe this large family with little money, often living in isolated parts of the Eyre Peninsula. They would have lived in a small one- or two-roomed cottage. Food supplies would be limited – mutton, flour, sugar and potatoes. No milk, no fruit or vegetables. She must have been a skilled mother because all her children, except one, Mary, who died at four days old, lived to adulthood escaping common illnesses including diphtheria epidemics. Her family in Ireland probably never heard from her again, and as far as we know she never heard from them.
Charles’ occupation was listed on the wedding certificate as shepherd, and over the next few years the family moved about from Kappawanta, Happy Valley and Maryvale. Around 1878 they finally settled in Bramfield, initially at Bramfield station. Charles later worked as a contractor (1886), often working away from home. The older boys probably went off to work with their father from around 10 or 11 years old as there was no school in the area. Charles and his older sons were recognised as capable shearers. The older girls would have helped look after the younger ones. Life was probably a little easier for Bridget when they eventually moved into the town of Bramfield and the younger ones could go to school.
Bridget’s life got even more difficult when Charles deserted his family in 1887, leaving Bridget with the youngest a year old and the eldest 19 years old. Times were tough on the Eyre Peninsula with rabbits causing havoc and a depressed economy and shearers’ strikes. By 1888 the situation was desperate for Bridget and she applied for rations from the Destitute Board. The family story was that she worked at the Bramfield Hotel and in 1894 she was listed as the licensee of the hotel just before it closed.
As her children got older and married, she moved to Elliston around 1899 and was perhaps supported by them. The Aged Care Pension was introduced in 1909 and Bridget would have qualified for this as she was over 65 and impoverished. Many of her children lived on the Eyre Peninsula around Elliston, Colton, and Calca.
Sadly, between 1900 and 1906 two of Bridget’s daughters in their early 20s and another daughter in her 30s all died of tuberculosis. TB was rife in the community at this time with little hope of a cure. In 1919 her daughter-in-law (my grandmother) died of Spanish flu leaving six young children. At some stage around 1907 Bridget moved to Adelaide, probably to be near her surviving daughters.
In 1926 when she was 80 Bridget went to live at the Little Sisters of the Poor and was still contributing to her keep by doing housework. She lived there for five years and died in 1932 at 85 years. Sadly she had outlived all but four of her children - Adam, William, Mary and Kath. She had 44 grandchildren.
This amazing woman raised 11 children, often on her own, in trying circumstances. Her children went on to live successful lives and her descendants are scattered across Australia.
If you would like support to explore your own family story or to add more information to the known facts email [email protected] or visit the Family History Centre in the Wonthaggi Library.