WILLIAM WINDER PEMBERTON and HANNAH BOURK/E

I started researching the Pemberton family in 1985.

William Winder Pemberton and Hannah Bourke are my great, great grandparents.

I have had no success at all in researching them, apart from the names of their 5 children, Richard Winder Pemberton, born 3.1.1842 Sydney, NSW, Julianna Pemberton, born 30.6.1844 Sydney, NSW, Eleanor Margaret (Ellen) Pemberton, born 9.6.1846 Sydney, NSW, Isabella Pemberton (born in 27.4.1849 in Little Scotland, Victoria, died a few days later and buried on May 1849 in Little Scotland, Victoria), and lastly William Gregory Pemberton born 9.3.1850 in Sydney, NSW.

I have not been able to find out why the family went to Victoria in 1847 most probably William sought work there. He owned a house and shop in Spring Street, Little Scotland in January 1850. He was back in Kent Street, Sydney for the birth of William Gregory Pemberton on 9th March, 1850.

I have successfully traced their daughter Julianna Pemberton and her family.

It was of interest to discover that when Julianna Pemberton and William Riddle were married on 6.5.1862 at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Sydney, according to the rites of the Roman Catholic Church, Julianna being 18 years of age, (16 years on certificate) was not given permission by her guardian Julia Ann Nixon to be married.

I did not know why Julianna Pemberton had a guardian.

When a guardian is mentioned on a Marriage Certificate it usually means that the person being married is under the age of 21 years, and their parent’s are either deceased or do not live in the country.

Also I wondered why the guardian did not give permission for her to marry!

William Pemberton and Hannah Bourke are listed as her parents on the marriage certificate but they are not listed as being deceased.

It is also of interest to note that William and Julianna Riddle did name some of their children after the Pemberton family. There must have been some sort of connection within the family.

Their first child was William, their fourth child was Richard, their eighth child was Hannah and their tenth child was Julia Ann.

I have written many letters over the years, requesting information on the Pemberton family to the Sydney Morning Herald, Sun Herald and the North Shore Times.

I have followed up on all the enquiries I received with letters and telephone calls but without any success.

I have spoken on Sydney Radio Stations on “family tree requests for information”, again with no luck at all.

I also discovered there is a town in Western Australia named “Pemberton” with the post code of 6260. It is located at the centre of the Southern Forests and is surrounded by Jarrah, Karri and Marri trees. Pemberton is mainly known for its Karri forest, but there are also spectacular wildflowers and award winning wines.

I have often wondered if there are any connections with this town and our Pemberton Family!

I also discovered another Pemberton Family who came from the Mangrove Mountain area (of the NSW Central Coast).

Thomas Pemberton, was a store keeper. He married Hannah Johnson in 1836 in Motram, England. They came to Australia in approximately 1844. They produced a family of 11 children.

It was a coincidence that my William Pemberton married a lady named Hannah and Thomas Pemberton married a lady named Hannah.

I have not been able to prove any link with William and Thomas. They may or may not related but more research may reveal something.

I will continue with my research on this family as each year new records are made available to the public for research purposes.

I welcome any information on this family at any time.

Catherine (Herring) Williams January, 2008

Continuing on ……
In February 2014 I received an enquiry from Tricia Pemberton in San Francisco, California, USA. Tricia saw an article I wrote on my great grandmother Julianna Pemberton on the Internet.

Her email to me included information on her husband’s great grandfather Richard Winder Pemberton 1842-1918.

Richard was born on 3rd January, 1842 in Kent Street, Sydney.

I started to piece together my research with Tricia’s research.

Julianna was born on 30th June, 1844 in Sydney. The dates fitted in perfectly, proving that Richard and Julianna were brother and sister.

As well as our family tree information Tricia also included a photo of Richard Winder Pemberton.

My family had only one photo of Julianne Pemberton. Comparing facial features from the two photographs, there was no doubt at all - Richard and Julianna were brother and sister. Wonderful, exciting and amazing!

Tricia filled me in on some details of William and Hannah and their three children, Richard Winder Pemberton, Eleanor Margaret (Ellen) Pemberton and William Gregory Pemberton. They sailed to San Francisco, California, USA on 3.4.1850 Una, ship, with Captain Causzar.

The news of the Pemberton family sailing to the USA explained all the “blanks” I had experienced while researching.

Referring back to the information on Julianna Pemberton and her marriage to William Riddle on 6.5.1862 at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Sydney, I mentioned that Julianna was under the age of 21 years had her parents listed on the marriage certificate but no mention of them living in Australia or being deceased. They were, of course, in the USA.

It appears that Julianna was not in good health (maybe after the long trip from Melbourne, Vic in March, 1850) and when her parents left for the USA in April, 1850 she was left in the care of a guardian, Mrs. Julia Ann Nixon.

It seems very strange to me leaving a child and sailing overseas, maybe never to return, but Julianna may not have survived had she taken the long voyage to USA. She must have been in poor health as she was baptized on 21.3.1850 with her baby brother William Gregory, who was born on 9.3.1850. The baptism happening literally days before the family sailed for San Francisco, California, USA.

I still do not know why Julia Ann Nixon did not give permission for Julianna to marry, but there could be a few reasons.

Further research now (August 2019) has shown that Julia Ann Nixon was formerly Julia Ann Laurence nee Flinn. She married her first husband John Laurence in 1830 #4990 3B. He passed away and she married her second husband William Nixon 1852 in Sydney #V1852/67-98.

William Nixon, Commission Agent, of 145 Clarence Street, Sydney, died at his residence on 2nd February, 1862 aged 58 years #135. His death notice appeared in the SMH on 3rd February and his funeral notice appeared in the SMH on 4th February, page 8. Further research revealed he was buried in Devonshire Street Cemetery R/C 1821.

Another death notice for William Nixon appeared in SMH 19.2.1862, page 7 and Empire Newspaper also on 19.2.1862 on page 3.

Julia Ann may still have been grieving the loss of her husband William (in February) when Julianna married in May and so did not give permission for the marriage of Julianna and William Riddle.

Sadly though, Julia Ann Nixon passed away in hospital on Tuesday 21st October, 1862 aged 55 years #1058 (some 8 months after the death of her husband William).

Her death notice appeared in the SMH on Wednesday 22nd October and her funeral notice appeared in the SMH on Thursday 23rd October.

Her funeral was held on Thursday afternoon, the 23rd October, the procession leaving from her late residence, Clarence Street, Sydney at 3 o’clock precisely. No information was given regarding the cemetery but further research revealed she was buried at Devonshire Street Cemetery R/C 1821 with her husband William Nixon.

Strangely though, another death notice appeared for Julia on 21st November and 23rd November, a month after her death. Maybe her Executor needed to advise business clients of her demise in light of her husband’s occupation as a Commission Agent and his death only months prior to Julia’s death.

A Coroner’s Enquiry on Julia’s death states: “The city coroner held an enquiry at his office yesterday touching the death of a woman named Julia Ann Nixon, aged fifty five years. It appeared that the deceased, who had been accustomed for a long time to drink in excess, had been confined to bed for some weeks, and on Monday last she accidently fell out of her bed. Her medical adviser Dr. Eichler, was at once called in, but as he gave but little hope for her recovery, Dr. Butler was called, and this latter gentleman attended her till her death, which took place on the following day. The coroner found that she died from disease of long standing, produced by intemperance, and accelerated by a fall.”

It is sad she did not give permission for Julianna to marry William Riddle in May. For her to die only 5 months later on 21st October due to a fall and intemperance adds another level of sadness to the story.

I will never find out what happened to Julianna and Julia’s relationship. It saddens me greatly that Julia did not live long enough to be a part of Julianna’s life once she was married and be there for her when she had her own family.

I am sure that she would have been pleased to share in the joy of Julianna’s 11 children.

Maybe, Julianna’s 10th child Julia Ann born on 7th November, 1883 was named after Julia Ann Nixon.

Julianna died on 11th October, 1919 aged 75 years from chronic bronchitis and senile decay. She was buried in Gore Hill Cemetery at St. Leonards, NSW on her own in the New Catholic Section of the cemetery on 13th October.

She experienced more obstacles than most during her lifetime.

She was left in Australia by her parents in the care of a guardian when they travelled to California, USA in April 1850.

She married and had 11 children. Sadly 7 of her children pre-deceased her: William Thomas 1865 (15 months), Ellen 1872 (1), Sarah Ellen 1877 (3 ½), Emilia Maud Maria 1898 (28), Anna Louisa 1905 (26), Charles James 1911 (30) and Richard Henry 1918 (49). What tragic losses for her to endure!

Coping with the sudden death of her husband William at age 46 years of age in 1886, after accidently being thrown from his horse and cart and fracturing his spine would have been particularly distressing for her. Not much medical help at that time for that sort of injury.

And to top it all off, she was left with a 3 month old baby son John and other small children to rear on her own would have well and truly tested her resolve.

The 11th October, 2019 (this year) marks the 100th Anniversary of the death of Julianna Riddle nee Pemberton.

She has left a great legacy, a huge family who prospered from hard work and produced many children of their own. This next generation went on to build suburbs in Sydney and towns throughout NSW and beyond.

Interestingly, her youngest son John Frederick Riddle born in 1886 lived the longest of all his siblings, passing away the day before his 86th birthday in 1972 at Narraweena, NSW from exhaustion, cerebral thrombosis (brain), chronic myocarditis (heart) and senility.

I have total admiration and respect for my great grandmother Julianna Riddle.

I acknowledge her contribution as a wife, mother and grandmother and I remember her with love and respect on the 100th Anniversary of her passing.

Catherine Williams
Cairns, Qld.
11th October, 2019