2nd Great Grandparents; Frederick Clements and Elisabeth Cameron

Elizabeth Cameron (1857-1946)

When Elizabeth Cameron was born on October 20, 1857, in Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia, her father, Donald, was 28, and her mother, Catherine, was 26. She married Frederick John Clements on December 3, 1879, at Bullock Island near Newcastle, in New South Wales, Australia. They had three children during their marriage. She died on October 21, 1946, in Granville, New South Wales, Australia, at the age of 89.

Frederick John Clements (1855-1934)

Frederick John Clements was born on April 16, 1855, in Ely, Cambridgeshire, England.  He married Elizabeth Cameron on December 3, 1879, in Bullock Island, near Newcastle, NSW. They had three children during their marriage. He was a railway station master at Granville but also at Molong, Gosford, Gundagai, Newcastle previously. (See his obituary Mar 3 1934, Molong Express and Western District Advertiser). 

There is an interesting description of his character and service as Station Master in  The Gundagai Times and Tumut, Adelong and Murrumbidgee District Advertiser (NSW : 1868 - 1931) 

Tue 6 Jul 1915, . Page 3 

"A POPULAR STATION MASTER. -SAVING FAREWELL TO MR.CLEMENTS.

Mr. F. J. Clbmknts, formerly railway station master at Gundagai, has retired from the railway service

having attained the age limit. Prior to his retirement about 100 of the residents of Granville arranged

a conversation for the purpose of saying 'goodbye' and tendering Mr. and Mrs. Clements handsome

presents. Mr. A. Crow, assistant Superintendent of Lines, took the chair. Mr. F. W.- Howison, Chief 

Inspector, proposed the toast of 'our guest,11 and said he had known Mr, and Mrs. Clements for 36 years in the service. His work throughout that time had been of a very strenuous character, causing him to work 12 and more hours a day and that very often seven days a week. A Station-master, be said, needed the

'wisdom of Solomon,1 the 'Patience of Job and he might go further and say the 'guile of a serpent,'

Mr. Rees in supporting the toast said he had known Mr. Clements for 36 years and felt by the retirement of Mr. Clements the railways were losing a man in every sense of the word, as he was one of the very

few men who knew how to manage men. Mr. Sweet followed in a few words, supporting the toast. Mr.

Pickering said he had been in the service 31 years and felt sorry Mr Clements was leaving and so do all the staff. Applause.) He wished to convey the fraternal greetings from the Clyde Staff, many of whom were not able to be present at the gathering. Mr. Davidson, S.M., Harris Park further supported the motion. Signalman B. Hines added a word of praise and said they would never find a man who would study their interests as Mr. Clements had done. The last supporter of the toast was Leading Porter W. A; Wallace, who was the oldest of the the staff of the Granville Station, having been there 27 years.

He said that they had Station masters, who were Stationmasters, but not gentlemen, they had had

Stationmasters who were gentle men, but not: Stationmasters ; but in Mr. Clements they had both a

Station-master and ~ gentlemen (cheers). Mr. Clements rose amidst loud applause,- He said that he felt

honored beyond the expression in words by the presence of so many of the staff and friends, He spoke in

the highest terms of the staff. The first station he went to as S.M. was Ben Lomond, which stands over

5,000 feet above sea level, in I848. He was at Newcastle for 4 yearsand had the working ol the lines as

far as Gosford. He had had many narrow escapes, having been nearly, caught 9 times by the Richmond

train at 8.12, a.m. as it passes through the station at the same time that the Parramatta train comes in

from Sydney. During his term of office in the service he had never once reported a man '(cheers).

Speaking of Mrs. Clements he said that he had always been of the greatest assistance to him (applause). ?

The Chairman then rose to make the presentation of the solid silver tea and coffee set, which stood on a silver mounted oak tray, suitably inscribed, to Mr. -and Mrs. Clements. ' .The Mayor was then called upon

and said he was'greatly struck by an expression that was made to him by the Staff and that was ' that they

would miss father (meaning our guests) from, the station.' He had much- pleasure on behalf of the

business people of the town over which he had the honor to be Mayor in presenting Mr. Clements with a

handsome gold watch, suitably inscribed. Mr. Clements rose and thanked them for their generosity in making Mrs. Clements aud himself the recipients of. such handsome presents. The room was cleared and dancing was indulged in."

*His service at Molong Station has been reported incorrectly by the Gundagai times because Molong Station was not opened till 1884. Frederick was not even born in 1848

He died on February 21, 1934, in Randwick, New South Wales, Australia, at the age of 78. His estate was valued at 380 pounds and was administered by his wife, Elizabeth. This was a considerable estate, at the time. Such a fortune would have only been attained by the top 5% of the population (around $250,000 today, but this meant more at the time, especially at a time when many ordinary people died with nothing, during the great depression).

In the 1861 census he is listed as living with his mother, Susanna (head of the family) and brother, Ernest. Her occupation is listed as former straw bonnet maker. She was also born in Soham. Her maiden name was Staples. The record looks as though it is for Sand St, Soham.  In the 1851 census there is a Susanna (24) married to a William Clements (28), (also born in Soham) with a one year old son called Wittington. He was a boot and (wine?) maker.  

There was a Frederick John Clements listed as deserting from service on the ship the Pearl, anchored at Sydney Harbour.  Reward for his capture was written up in the Adelaide and Melbourne police gazettes, along with 7 other absconders.  The birthdate is nearly the same although that Frederick was listed as being born in Surrey.  I wonder if that is our Frederick, and why he came to Australia so long ago?  His character was written up as "good" to "very good" throughout his service.  

"GOLDEN WEDDING
On Tuesday next, the 3rd December, Mr. and Mrs. F. J. Clements, now residing at 309 Church-street, Granville, will celebrate their golden wedding. The marriage, 50 years ago. took place at Carrington, near Newcastle, by the Rev. W. Bain ,the contracting parties being Frederick John Clements, son of Mr. and Mrs. Clements, of London, and Elizabeth Cameron, eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Donald Cameron, of Carrington. Mr. Clements has recently retired from the position of station-master at Granville.

Frederick John Clements and Elizabeth Cameron had the following children:

WILLIAM ERNEST4 CLEMENTS was born on Sep 08, 1880 in Waterloo, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. He died on May 22, 1968 in Gordon, New South Wales, Australia92. He married Ida Ruth Brown, daughter of John Thomas Brown and Annie E (_______), on Jan 16, 1903 in Ashfield, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. She was born on Jan 16, 1881 in Armidale, New South Wales, Australia. She died on Jan 26, 1964 in Killara, New South Wales, Australia93.

OLIVE FREDERINE ELIZABETH CLEMENTS was born on Feb 28, 1888 in Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia48, 128-129. She died on Jul 05, 1945 in Auburn Vale, New South Wales, Australia130. She married James William Brown, son of Cuthbert Brown and Elizabeth McMullen, in 1912 in Granville, New South Wales, Australia132-133. He was born on May 19, 1885 in Granville, New South Wales, Australia. He died on Feb 15, 1964 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia137.

MILDRED CLEMENTS was born on Apr 18, 1890 in Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia48, 165. She died on Aug 02, 1974 in Mona Vale Hospital, Mona Vale, New South Wales, Australia168. She married Herbert Charles Condy on Apr 27, 1918 in St James, Burwood, New South Wales, Australia169-171. He was born on Aug 08, 1887 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia48, 174. He died on Jul 05, 1972 in Parkdale Convalescent Hospital, Waverley, New South Wales, Australia175-176."

(Quoted from "Descendants of William Martin" Neil R Spacinsky 519-969-9007 neil.spacinsky@gmail.com)

Above; Frederick Clements (behind) and Elizabeth Cameron (right).

Daughter: Olive Frederine Clements (left). Is the old lady in the middle Catherine Martin, Elizabeth's mother?

Below; Is this Frederick J. Clements, who deserted Her Majesty's navy, my great, great grandfather? He had dark brown hair, hazel eyes and fresh complexion and was 5ft 7in tall. Registered as being born  27 April in Peckham, Surrey, whereas ours born 16th April in Soham. I  can't find any other immigration records. (The National Archives Kew, Richmond, England, TW9 4DU)

There appear to be 8 English young men who deserted The H.M.S Pearl on 5th July, 1876. I wonder if they were friends and absconded together. "Desertions of crew members were advertised because they caused significant disruption to sailing schedules and so were viewed seriously by ships’ masters and owners. Rewards were offered for the arrest and return of offenders and the public were warned that harbouring a deserter could have serious consequences. If apprehended, deserters faced charges under the Mercantile Shipping Act and could be fined and/or imprisoned before being returned to their ships. Not all deserters were returned to their ships. Deserters who were British citizens might remain in Australia after paying their fines and perhaps completing a prison term (anything from a week to six months)". From: https://www.slq.qld.gov.au/blog/tracing-ship-deserter-was-he-crew-member-who-jumped-ship.

Above; census for 1851.  Perhaps it is Susanna, William and a different child, Wittington???. listed. Below; 1861 Census where Susannah is listed as head of the household with three children.

Below; Record of death and probate.

Marriage; Australia, Marriage Index, 1788-1950. Year 1879. Registration number 4103, Newcastle, NSW. 

Frederick J Clement and Elizth Cameron