Reginald

Reginald Perkins (1832-1871)

Reginald Perkins emigrated to Australia as a young man. Together with a business partner, Richard Netterfield, he owned a sheep station in Queensland known as Mundubbera, located about 400 kilometres north-west of Brisbane. It seems likely that the station did not make money. Reginald died in Gympie, Queensland, about 160 km north of Brisbane. His death certificate describes his occupation as 'Commission Agent' and the cause of death was phthisis (Tuberculosis).

Reginald's death certificate states that his death was reported by his wife, Ethel Scullin and they were married in Gayndah, less than 40 km from Mundubbera. However, documents related to Reginald's will include a statement from Reginald's 'wife' admitting that she was never married to Reginald and furthermore she stated that her real name was Bedelia Daly!

The death certificate and will documents both refer to Reginald's two children, Arthur Reginald and Ethel. The will documents describe them as natural children 'begotten on the body of Bedelia Daly'.

In his will Reginald Perkins appointed two people to be his executors and trustees. They died before obtaining probate. Fifteen years after his death a notice in the Brisbane Courier (1886) stated that Edward Knox of Sydney 'the nearest kin of the said deceased within the Australian colonies' would be granted Letters of Administration. This notice also stated that Herbert Perkins of Sydney, brother of the deceased, had 'renounced and abandoned all his right or claim to a grant of Letters of Administration'. Edward Knox was a prosperous sugar merchant and banker. He was the son of George Knox and Elizabeth Frances Mullens. Elizabeth Frances Mullens was the daughter of John Mullens and Jane Rebecca Trevor, who was a sister to Frances Barkley, nee Trevor, Reginald Perkins' grandmother. Edward Knox was related to Reginald Perkins but it is not clear why he took control of Reginald's estate and not Reginald's bother. In 1889 Administration was granted to the solicitor representing Arthur Perkins 'one of the Residuary Legatees now residing in New South Wales'. By this time Arthur would have become an adult and been able to claim his inheritance.

Two years after Reginald's death Bedelia Daly, calling herself Mary Ann Perkins, married John Charles Henry Schirmer in Gympie. In September 1873 she gave birth to a daughter, Mary Martha Schirmer; the daughter died in December the same year.

1. Arthur Reginald Perkins (1867-1919) married Annie Louisa Crump (1864-1904) in 1889 in Victoria.

Arthur is sometimes referred to as Arthur Charles Perkins. His adult life was spent living in the Melbourne area. Electoral roll records list his occupation as clerk or civil servant. Arthur and Annie had a son and daughter who died in infancy.

Arthur was married, for the second time, in 1907, to Ruby Olive Thomson (born 1882).

1.1 Ethel Maude Perkins (1889-1889) died in infancy

1.2 Ernest Charles Perkins (1890-1970) married Agnes Evangelina Edwards (1894-1979) in Victoria in 1915.

Ernest Charles Perkins was employed as a tailor's cutter when he enlisted in the 5th Australian Imperial Force in 1914 and he he continued working in the tailoring trade after military service. Ernest and Agnes made their home in Essendon, a northern suburb of Melbourne.

2. Ethel Perkins (1869-1939) married John Joseph Fahey (1858-1912) in 1886 in Sydney.

Ethel and John had nine children, four born when they were living in New South Wales; five more were born in Victoria. John Joseph Fahey was a carpenter.

2.1 Mary Fahey (1887–1974) married Stanley Bennett Simpson (1893-1958) in Victoria in 1914.

2.2 Alice M Fahey (1889–1890) died in infancy

2.3 Eileen Ann Fahey (born 1890) - no further information

2.4 John Patrick Fahey (1893–1917)

John Patrick Fahey died serving serving as a Sergeant in the 58th Australian Infantry Battalion during the 1st World War. He is buried at Tyne Cot Cemetery, Flanders.

https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/P10327095

2.5 Ethel Frances Fahey (1898–1971) married James Vincent Gannon (1897-1957)

James Vincent Gannon was the proprietor of the Warragul Gazette newspaper from 1937 to 1951

2.6 Francis Arthur Fahey (1900–1915) died young

2.7 Wilfred Arthur Fahey (1903–1969) married Elizabeth Redhead (born 1910) in Hendon, UK in 1933.

2.8 William Fahey (1907–1909) died as an infant

2.9 Edward Thomas Fahey (born 1910) - no further information