BOTANY BAY

March 30th 1879.

My dear Wife,

I wrote you from Brisbane and telegraphed from here the moment I arrived. We had a splendid passage down scarcely a movement in the vessel until near Sydney. We left Brisbane at exactly 10am and as I wrote you, I wired Bob I was leaving, we all expected it would take 48 to 55 hours to get down but we landed here at exactly 7am and were only 43 hours. Of course Bob was not there to meet me so I went to the Hotel at which I stayed when here before.

I had breakfast and then made for the telegraph office to wire Bob when and where to meet me. I was just entering the room to write the telegram when I ran chock against Daniel Gott, Supt. at Port Darwin, he sung out "Good God George is that you?" We had a talk and parted, he had to be on board the steamer for San Francisco on his way home for 12 months leave of absence.I had not seen him for over 9 years but he recognises me at a glance.I wired Bob and. went back to the Hotel to wait for him. I had not been there over half an hour when I was a tall well draped fellow stepped in. Instinct I suppose told me who it was and I followed, I found Bob looking to my eye as big a man as Weale. You can imagine it was hail fellow well met.We went into a. private room and had a long chat, then he took me to Tunches for dinner. Speculated in a new hat for me, and then had a stroll thro the gardens comparing notes.

We left York St at 6pm for home - Botany Bay - 6 miles from Sydneyby the bus. I found he had a splendid little home and a really good thoroughly lady like little woman for a wife. I may as well say now that I have never met a more ladylike, homely, honest, unstuckup little woman in my life (except you). She commenced at once by calling me George - and ,my own sisters could not have been more kind., familiar and anxious to please me. All ceremony was thrown - to the winds, I might have known her from childhood. I am certain Louie you would find more than a sister in her. She is continually talking of you and wants very rnuch to get you here so as to have someone to whom she can open her mind and treat as a sister.

On Saturday I did nothing but walk around Sydney and gather what information I could, from a good look at the writing etc. I found Sydney contains some most magnificent work and some rubbish too. I went on Saturday to your Uncles and was made very welcome. Mrs.Golding was just recovering, or rather getting about as you women call it after her confinement , a fortnight ago - a girl. It is to be named after Annie.

Mrs. G. is very much like your father in features and has coal black hair. She is very pleasant and carries her age wonderfully. She looks quite young compared with your father. It was no use going on Saturday afternoon hunting for work, so contented myself with Mr. Golding's promise to take me to see Mr. Taylor, the 2nd. Draughtsman in the Surveyor Generals Office on the Sunday.

We started and called upon some friends of your Father's at Ashfield.. 1 think the name was Endsley, or some similar one. They were very high toned people living in style etc: Mrs. Endsley was the widow of some gentleman who was Cashier in one of the Banks many years ago. Mr. G. says they lived with, your Father's Mother for some time. They are great friends of your Aunt.

Mr. Taylor the draughtsman married one of Mrs. E's daughters. He lived a little way off and after about a couple of hours with the Endsleys we called. upon him. He also lived in style but seemed a thorough gentleman and had a very agreeable way with him. Mr. G. introduced the subject and Mr. T then told. me the situation was pretty stiff but added there were many amateurs employed also, and that one of the chief things requisite was ability to draw and letter well. He gave me his address and I am to call upon him this Monday morning. If I am not successful there I am then going round all the painters and will try the town right through between this and next Thursday. If I am successful by then I will telegraph. No telegraph between this and next Sunday will mean that I have not yet got work. Robt, Mr & Mrs G. etc are all very anxious for us to live here and will do all they can to help us.Mr G will introduce me to some painters in a quiet way.

I do not like this being alone and almost wish I had brought you down with me. It is a continual worry to me thinking how you are getting on, I miss you both more than you can imagine. Poor little Billy. How did he look when he found I was not in bed, in the morning? Kiss him 1,000 times for me. Directly I see my way clear I will send for you and you must come immediately I do.

I told you in my telegram I would write on Friday, but found there was no steamer until this afternoon. When you get this you might send me a telegram if you can raise the 2/- addressed to G. Oxlade care R. Oxlade, La Perouse, Sydney, saying if all is right with you and Willie. No news from you will drive me back quicker than ever.

I will not fail to let you know the moment 1 see a way of getting our living here. I don't want to return for work as I think after I become a little better known there will be much better chances here for me than in Queensland. I got up very early this morning in order to finish this so as to get it in the post early. None of the rest are moving yet and it is close upon 7 !

Well Louie I must leave you until the next steamer when I will write again. I hope and trust you are both well and I am certain you will by hook or crook manage another week and by that time we shall know the result. Good bye my girl, you have all the love its possible for me to give or possess -divided between you and Willie and with a kiss to both. (I wish I could give them otherwise than on paper).

Your loving husband

GEORGE

Whether George had worked at Port Darwin when the cable reached Australia or knew Gott through his brothers employment with the B.A.C.C. is unknown. Georges daughters have said that he often told them stories of Shanghai and Hong Kong indicating that he may have been there with Willie and Robert. Robert returned to Hong Kong some years later taking his wife and children with him. One of his sons Lee, who was given his maternal grandmother's surname, was born there in 1886. George remained in Queensland, moving to Brisbane around 1887 where he set up Oxlade and Son , Sign Writers and Artists Supplies. The business later became Oxlade Bros and expanded into paint supplies and lead lighting and is still run by one of his grandsons and family.

Robert Oxlade was instrumental in the development of Land Lines and after managing Redfern Electric Light Station, at Bullanaming St., Redfern, Sydney, set up an Electrical Engineering business in Sydney. His son Robert Aubrey Oxlade, a solictor, was Chairman of the Australian Cricket Board (1927-30, 1933-36, 1945-48, 1952-52) at the time of the "Body Line" Series in 1932/33 and wrote the 29 articles which were supposed to govern conduct during play.

Willie was the only brother to return to England where he married for a second time to Sarah Ann Harper at Wakefield, Yorkshire in 1885. His first wife Rosa Robinson had died, possibly in South America though no record has been found to date. It is probable that Rosa Robinson was the sister of Thomas Robinson who married George Oxlade's sister Sarah Warrington Oxlade as there is an entry in the 1871 Census for a Tom Robinson born Shaw who has a younger sister Rosa living with him.

George's brothers Matthias Warrington Oxlade and Richard Allen Oxlade made the Army their career and both served in India and Ireland. Matthias also served in Ardrossan, Scotland before returning home to Yorkshire. Two sisters came to Australia, Sarah Warrington Oxlade who had married Thomas Robinson at Rochdale, Lancashire in 1870 and Mary Ann Colling Oxlade who had married Charles Neville Powell at Halifax, York in 1880. Sarah seems to have arrived in Toowomba, Queensland around 1875 and Mary Ann by 1885. Mary Anns husband Charles Powell remarried in Cairns, Far North Queensland in 1900 though no record has been found for Mary Ann Colling Oxlades death so far.

The sisters Margaret Emily, and twins Ada and Eva remained in England. Eva in Yorkshire where she married Edward Young at Wheldrake in 1886, Ada moved to Kensington, London and married Ernest Winn there in 1891 and Margaret married Thomas Tapping in Amersham, Bucks in 1891 having moved close to where her family had lived in High Wycombe until her grandfather left to marry Mary Allen in London in 1805.

Their father William Oxlade died in York in 1887 after a long illness and years of struggle trying to gain compensation for the loss of his business to the North Eastern Railways. He wrote of it to Sara, the wife of his son Robert in 1882, " Dear Sarah, do you ever kiss those darling children for me – tell them they have a grandfather in England – if not I wish you would – and you may tell them they will live "DV" to see their name mentioned in the House of Lords – as it was three weeks ago when a Rybill was asked for – Lord Limerick said " The day is fast approaching when it would be found that what was asked for by Mr Oxlade in 1862 – would have to be granted – and all Railway Companies held to be "Common Carriers of Coal." Your sons are sure "DV" to live to see that day – I may not but come when it will – they must ( The House of Lords) do me justice. I remain your affectionate Father-in-Law, William Oxlade.

In the last letter from William Oxlade to survive he wrote to Georges wife Louisa eight months before he died in 1887 "...I am here alone except for the cat and we get on very well. She does the eating and I do the working. My life is not much of a burden to me - and thank God.! I often feel my life is drawing to an end. I have now lived to see all my children able to hold their own in the World and also to earn money to pay for all their wants. I have often prayed to God to let me live to see that day. He has granted me that prayer and now I await his calling me away. Today I feel pleased that I have got thro' the Hill case and must leave it where it is - but I will get paid for what I have done - if I can...in money matters he is very tight and stingey and I do not think he will ever do anything for his son George. The reason your last letters remained unanswered for so long was I was very ill - and unable to attend to any kind of business and when I got a little better I kept on hoping Hill and Haley would come to some kind of arrangement about the children - but no good cause. Once again good bye and wishing you all a happy and prosperous year - and many of them with good health and all the good wishes that you can ask for. Addio, Farewell,

Their mother Mary Ann died in 1894 in Stockton, Durham, a year after being reunited with her children who had remained in England, and writing to the others who had moved to Australia. She had been separated from her family for nearly thirty years and learned of their where-abouts through Eva's father-in-law John Young. She wrote to son George who was living in Brisbane "My dear George, you will be surprised to hear from me after so many years, God Bless you all. I am with Mat and Etty, they are good and kind to me, Mat says not a word of the past. He came to York and brought me home with him. I had a letter from Dick, Ada and Eva, they wrote affectionate letters to me. My dear George, I tried for years to hear or see some of you, until I met Mr Young, Eva's father-in-law, when they wrote to Mat and told him I was in York. I suppose you have a family now, kiss them for me. I wonder if I shall ever see you all again. Will you write to to me when you receive this. You must excuse the writing for I am getting old now. When you see Sarah will you ask her to write to me and give my love to her from Polly, how I should like to see her and all of you once more. Matt is very busy for the Inspection and will write to you the next mail. He thanks you for the paper you sent him. Mat and Ettie join with me in love to you all. Believe me to remain dear George, your loving Mother, M.A. Oxlade

Given the dreadful privations suffered by Mary Ann Colling and the children in August 1862 when William Oxlade was goaled for debt, (due to his dispute with the North Eastern Railway Company) she may have been unable to cope. If the twins Ada and Eva were hers, it meant that she had had thirteen children in twenty-two years, all before she had reached her thirty-ninth birthday. It is possible though, that the twins were the daughters of her daughter Charlotte Allen Oxlade and Jacob Battensby, who worked for William Oxlade, as Jacobs sister Frances Battensby Hart had them sealed as husband and wife in Utah in the 1880s. If this is so William Oxlade must not have approved of the marriage as when Charlotte died 16 Aug 1868 she was referred to in the "YorkshireGazette" by her maiden name and was said to be living in the home of her father.

William Oxlades reverses set in train a series of events that he could never have imagined when he married the seventeen year old Mary Ann Colling in 1844. He first became wealthy due to his coal interests, then lost everything in a dispute with the North Eastern Railway which deliberately set out to ruin him. His obsession with trying to regain his position lead him to become both an Accountant and Barrister when he could no longer afford to employ others to fight his case, but blinded him to the needs of his family. George sailed alone to Australia at age fifteen probably because he had difficulty finding a position in England, Willie went to Brazil with the Western and Brazilian Telegraph Company, Robert to New Zealand with the Cable Company and Matthias and Richard joined the Army though their father thought " that any kind of employment is better for a young man than turning himself into food for powder shot", all the daughters had to seek employment and some made marriages that perhaps they might not have, had their father cut his losses and used his considerable talent to start anew elsewhere. In 1877 William wryly wrote his Epitaph:

"Beneath these stones lie Oxlades bones Oh, Death 'tis my opinion You ne'er took such an unlucky man Into thy dark dominions."