PETER SYMINGTON 1857-1916

The sixth child of William Symington (1824-1890) and Jane Dalziel, Peter was born in Cambusnethan on 11 July 1857. He emigrated with his parents to Australia in 1862 and lived in the Beechworth district before acquiring land at Huon Lane. In 1864 Peter Symington was a student at Common School Number 36 in Ford Street Beechworth; [1] prior to 1861 this had been the National School.

[1] Index to Inspector’s Register 15.3.1863-20.4.1875 pages 15, 18 Burke Museum

Peter Symington married Rebecca Hodgson at Clifton Hill in 1891 when he was aged 34. Rebecca was born in Collingwood in 1861. Her parents were Henry Askew Hodgson and Sarah Ann Buck. Before her marriage, she was employed in the mantle department at the Georges department store in Collins Street Melbourne.

Their children were Jessie Jane, Nellie Sarah and Victor Douglas. Whereas Peter's father William and uncle James farmed cattle at Berringa Park, Peter and Rebecca were sheep farmers at Huon Lane.

Peter died suddenly from a ruptured hydatid cyst of the lung aged 59 at his residence, Teviotdale, Huon Lane, on 13 September 1916. He was buried on 15 September in the Springvale Cemetery, Kiewa.

Rebecca continued to run the property at Huon Lane for over a decade. Rebecca's sister Nell and nieces Mary and Mattie Hodgson were frequent visitors from Perth. Mattie recalled her aunt "Beck" baking bread, leaving it to rise beside the wood stove and scalding cream to churn into butter. She made jams from fruit from the orchard. A handyman named Ned lived on the property. She also had home help from a woman who assisted with the livestock. Rebecca was a good horsewoman and regularly rode to visit Berringa Park and to collect the mail from Huon Lane. [1]

Mattie fondly remembered her holidays at Teviotdale: she and her sister Mary attended dances at Albury and Wodonga and swam in the "crystal water" of the Mitta River.

Ultimately Rebecca's son Doug took over and he managed to squander the landholdings which his family had acquired at Huon Lane. He sold up in 1933. 

Known to my father as "great aunt Becky", Rebecca died in Melbourne on 8 April 1934. 

[1] Letter from Mattie Hodgson to Frances McCabe, dated 19 October 1996

THE CHILDREN OF PETER SYMINGTON AND REBECCA HODGSON

JESSIE JANE was born at Clifton Hill in 1892 (Reg No 31240); she died at Ballarat on 24 September 1967 aged 78. She married Rev. Patrick MacDougall at the Huon Lane Church on 15 May 1914 and had three children: Sheila, born at Seymour in 1915 (married Maxwell Stewart Lamb in 1939), Allan Douglas MacDougall, born at Sale in 1918 and killed in World War 2, and Margaret, born in 1922 (married McKay Whittle in 1944).

NELLIE SARAH born at Albury c. 1894. She married her first cousin Peter James Symington at Cobar in 1913 and had two children, Ellen Jean "Jean" (born in Cobar 1913; married Edward McCabe in 1936; died 18 December 2013) and Donald (born 2 March 1923; married Amy; died 12 December 1978 aged 55); Nellie died aged 81 on 30 October 1975.

VICTOR DOUGLAS "Doug" was born c. 1899 at Albury. He died on 20 June 1973 at Bendigo aged 74. He was educated at Albury Grammar School. He was a gregarious and jocular man but was not a successful farmer.  He married three times. His second wife, Frances was bridesmaid at his first wedding. Francis died on 22 December 1966 aged 72. The children from his first marriage were Peter, born at Wodonga on 16 March 1925, who committed suicide by drowning at Glenelg on 6 December 1948, Marie, and Ian McDonald "Tom" who died at Rushworth on 8 June 2001. 

Doug's first wife, Constance, remarried in 1940, to Norman Stewart Muir.

Doug farmed at Huon until 1933. Next stop he was at Alma Vale Station, on the Hume Highway approaching Beveridge. Thereafter he relocated to Nathalia until 1960. He ended up living with his third wife, Vera Wynack, at 31 Wade Street, Golden Square and had no other assets.

[1] Memorial Reference 7.B.22 Commonwealth War Graves Commission (w.w.w.cwgc.internet/casualty)

NEWSPAPER REPORTS

CUSTOMS CASE

North Eastern Ensign (Benalla), Friday 29 March 1895, page 2

A man named P. Symington was recently caught at Wodonga by the Custom officials crossing over the river a flock of sheep in which there were 27 head more than he had declared to be in the flock. He was allowed to take delivery on his giving a guarantee to abide by the commissioner's decision. The matter comes under the provisions of the Customs Act, and Mr Best, having inquired into the case, has fined the offender £13 8s 9d, apart from the additional duty of £2 15s 3d, making £16 4s in all. 

MAIL CONTRACT

The Yackandandah Times Friday 21 February 1896 page 2

Mail Service Contracts.

The following tenders for mail services have been accepted. It will be seen that in future there will be a tri-weekly mail between Yackandandah and Tawonga. Amongst other  alterations we notice that Crawford and Co. were the successful tenderers for the service between Yackandandah and Huon’s Lane. The new contracts start 1st July next: —  

….

To and from Huon Lane railway station and Sandy Creek, three days a week — P. Symington.

LOST PROPERTY

Wodonga and Towong Sentinel Friday 3 April 1908 page 3

WILL Lady Seen Picking up GOLD BROOCH at Kergunyah Sunday School Picnic on 18th ult. Return to Mrs P. SYMINGTON, Huon Lane. Reward 10/-    

DEATH NOTICES AND OBITUARIES FOR PETER SYMINGTON

Wodonga and Towong Sentinel Friday 15 September 1916 page 3

Mr. Peter Symington, of “Teviotdale,” Huon, died suddenly on Wednesday evening. Mr. Symington, who has been in indifferent health for some time has only recently returned from Queensland. Deceased was 58 years of age, and leaves a widow, two married daughters and one son to mourn his loss. Mr. E. A. Hodgson, of Wodonga, is a brother-in-law. The funeral will take place today, the cortege leaving his residence at 3.30 p.m. for the Springvale cemetery.

Border Morning Mail and Riverina Times (Albury), Friday 15 September 1916, page 2

Mr. Peter Symington, a well-known grazier, died suddenly at his residence, “Teviotdale,” Huon, Vic., on Wednesday evening. Mr. Symington had not enjoyed good health of late, and recently, on the advice of his medical attendant, took a trip to Queensland. The change, however, did not prove beneficial, and he returned home, since when his health showed considerable improvement. On Wednesday he appeared as well as usual until about 7 o’clock in the evening, when he complained to his wife of feeling tired, and expressed a desire to go to bed. Mrs. Symington became alarmed, and despatched a messenger to telephone for medical assistance. She then left her husband resting on a couch, while she prepared his room, and when she returned a few minutes later he was gasping for breath, and expired almost immediately. Deceased, who was 59 years of age was a brother of Mr. James Symington, “Berringa Park,” and leaves a wife and family of one son, Mr. Douglas Symington, Huon, and two daughters, Mrs. J. P. McDougall, “The Manse,” Seymour, Vic., and Mrs. P. Symington, Annandale, N.S.W. The interment will take place in the Springvale cemetery to-day, the arrangements being in the hands of Messrs. Frew and Logan, of Albury.

FUNERAL NOTICE. THE Friends of the late PETER SYMINGTON are respectfully invited to attend his funeral. The cortege will leave his late residence, Huon Lane, THIS (Friday) AFTERNOON, at 3.30 p.m., for the Spring Vale Cemetery. FREW & LOGAN, Funeral Directors.

The Argus Saturday 16 September 1916 page 13E

SYMINGTON. -On the 13th September (suddenly), at his residence, “Teviotdale,” Huon, Peter Symington, husband of Rebecca Symington, and father of Douglas, Jessie, and Nellie, aged 59 years.

The Argus Friday 1 December 1916 page 6H and Wodonga and Towong Sentinel Friday 8 December 1916 page 2

PERSONAL. Peter Symington, of Tallangatta, grazier, who died on September 13, left by a will dated March 27, real estate valued at £3,374, and personal estate valued at £1,309, to his widow.

PROPERTY OF PETER SYMINGTON

Probate records PROV VPRS 28/P3/685 reveal the following inventory of his assets dated 23 November 1916:

REAL ESTATE

Freehold Land containing 321 acres Parish of Beethang, allotment 6 Section 3; allotments 1 and 3 of Section 4 parish of Beethang, 50 acres of which were under crop on the halves system with improvements thereon as follows:

WB house, 5 rooms, kitchen and bathroom, 1 old shed, 1 separator shed £300

Fencing £243

Clearing £506

Orchard £25

Dams £30

Value of land and improvements £2087

Freehold land containing 287 acres and 21 perches, allotment 5 Section 12 Parish of Beethang with improvements thereon as follows:

Fencing £96

Clearing £192

Value of land and improvements £567

Freehold land containing 100 acres Parish of Beethang Allotment 7 Section 3 with improvements thereon as follows:

Fencing £96

Clearing £192

Value of land and improvements £500

Freehold land containing 19 acres 3 roods 10 perches Parish of Beethang allotment 1b Section 6 with improvements thereon as follows:

Fencing £20

Clearing £40

Value of land and improvements £220

PERSONAL ESTATE

Livestock £880

War Loan bonds 20 @ £10 £200