Ida Matilda BERTHELSEN

Ida Matilda Berthelsen 1883-1920

Introducing Ida Matilda

When Ida Matilda Berthelsen was born on 14 February 1883 in Pialba, Queensland, her father, Jørgen, was 42 and her mother, Elin, was 31. “Eadie”, as she was known, was their second daughter and the third child in a family that grew to nine children. She was born into a community of Danish immigrant farmers who pioneered the area around Nikenbah by clearing and planting the scrubland. Initially the settlement was called Aalborg as a tribute to their homeland but it was later renamed Pialba.

She married Cecil William Pollitt on 9 August 1899, in Bundaberg, Queensland. John, born in Gympie and not quite 24 years old, was the son of an engineer fitter from Chesire, England.

Siblings

• 1. Alfred Magnus Waldemar was born on 30 May 1876, in the Hervey Bay town of Pialba, Queensland.

  2. Thyra Eleanora, 11 December 1877, Pialba.

  3. Olga Sophie, 24 May 1881, Pialba.

  4. George Christian, 5 October 1885, Bundaberg, Queensland.

  5. Nellie Katrina, 21 March 1887, Bundaberg.

  6. Sissa Elizabeth, 14 September 1889, Bundaberg.

  7. An un-named son, 15 January 1892, Bundaberg.

  8. Arthur, 23 January 1893, Bundaberg.

Death of Mother

Ellen’s sudden demise at age 41, on 25 January 1893, only two days after giving birth to Arthur, her ninth child, was a devastating blow to Jørgen and his young family. Elin and Jørgen had only been married 19 years. Prior to her demise, Ida’s mother had lost her last three born—Sissa, named in memory of her sister, an un-named son, and Arthur. Ida was only nine years old when her mother died.

Marriage

A notice published in the local press states that the wedding was “At the residence of the bride’s sister” and that “Cecil William, [was the] youngest son of J.E. Pollitt of Maryborough” and “Ida Matilda, [the] third daughter of J. Berthesen, Bundaberg”.