Blundell Family - Araluen Valley History

Christmas Tea at ‘Big Oakey’, Araluen, Blundell family, c.1921

From left: Charlotte Blundell (nee Grigg, standing), Sarah Blundell (nee Collins), Frances Grigg (nee Brown), Frank Marceau, Samuel Blundell, Donald Grigg, Edward Blundell, Margaret Marceau (nee Grigg, standing), Daisy Marceau (nee Mathison, standing), Allyn Marceau (baby), Henry Blundell (seated), Ivy Blundell (standing), Robert Grigg Jnr (seated, almost hidden), Daisy Blundell (face at right of Robert Grigg Jnr), Mary Ann Blundell (nee Grigg, standing), Edith Marceau (child in front of Mary Ann Blundell), Ena Blundell (bow in hair), Cecil Hancock (seated in front of Daisy Blundell), Les Blundell (seated, nearest photographer), the ghostly child is unnamed.

Philip Blundell (1832-1898) married Sarah Collins (1832-1923) in March 1856 in Warwickshire, England. Philip was the son of Thomas Blundell (~ 1774-1855) and Elizabeth Millington nee Bennett (1798-1839). Philip and Sarah arrived in Australia, on the ship Matoaka on 23 January 1857.

Sarah was the daughter of John Collins (1799- ) and Sarah Finch (1806-1841). The Daily Telegraph¹ published a notice advising the death on ‘November 21st, 1923 at her residence, Oakey Creek, Araluen; [of] Sarah, widow of the late Philip Blundell, aged 91 years, and seven months.’

Philip and Sarah had six children.

Philip Blundell (1860-1902)

Phillip married Margaret Ebsworth (1862-1950) in 1887, and they had six children—Phillip John, John Phillip, Margaret Sarah, Mary Frances, Ruby Betsy and James John.
An inquest was held in July 1902, concerning the death of Philip Blundell, following a dredging accident at the Macquarie River in Orange. The inquest found an accidental death, probably caused by a blow from a winch handle.² Philip ‘was about 35 years of age, and came from Araluen, where his wife and six children reside.’³

Joseph and Martha Blundell, with their children Henry, Ethel, Bert, Thomas Clarence (Clyde), Mary Ann and Cecil (baby on knee) c. 1903

2. Joseph Blundell (1862-1940)

Joseph married Martha Poole (1865-1905) in 1885 in Bega, and they had six children—Henry, Ethel, Bert, Thomas Clarence, Mary Ann and Cecil. Martha died aged 39-40, in 1905 and is buried at Braidwood.⁴
Joseph next married Emily Frances Pleming (1883-1966) in 1911. The 1912 electoral roll details Joseph as a winchman at Staghorn Flat, near Yackandandah, Victoria.
The Sun⁵ published a notice detailing the death of ‘BLUNDELL, Joseph, Allans Flat, near Yackandandah, [aged] 78 years.’
Joseph’s son Bert served in WWI. (Sapper Bert Blundell (1892-1958)), Service number 2466. Bert married Kathleen Anderson (1892-1971) in 1921 in Victoria, and they had three children—Aileen, Noel and June Araluen.
Joseph’s son Thomas served in WWI. (Private Thomas Blundell (1895-1963)). Service number 4735. Thomas married Doris Britt (1892-1971) in 1927 in Victoria, and they had a daughter Joan.

3. Samuel Blundell (1864-1952)

Samuel married Charlotte Grigg (1870-1952) and they had six children—Donald Edward, Leslie Clyde, Robert, Ivy, Daisy and Ena.
Samuel’s sons Donald Edward and Leslie Clyde both served in WWII.
In August 1904, the Braidwood Dispatch⁶ reported that ‘Mr. S. [Samuel] Blundell, a winchman on Tulloch and Hughan’s No. 1 dredge, met with a painful accident. His arm got caught in the winch, breaking a small bone and inflicting a nasty cut.’
An obituary for Samuel was published in December 1952 in the Braidwood Dispatch⁷ noting ‘the death of another of the Braidwood district’s grand old stalwarts, Mr. Samuel Blundell, which occurred at the Braidwood District Hospital on 1st December [1952]. He had been in indifferent health for some considerable time. Deceased, who was a fine type of Australian, was born at Araluen 88 years ago and can truthfully be claimed as one of the pioneers of the golden valley. Practically the whole of his long life was spent there … In his young days the late Mr. Blundell followed the occupation of miner, taking part in the great gold rush, which attracted attention from one end of Australia to the other. His pursuit of the yellow metal met with varying success and later, when the great dredges were tearing up the fertile bed of the creek, he was employed there. His knowledge of the creek made his services particularly valuable. In those days, despite the fact that fabulous yields had been taken by the old miners from the creek, the dredges were washing up 100 and more ounces of the precious metal every week. When the dredges finally ceased operations the late Mr. Blundell returned to mining on his own account, following that occupation for many years. Deceased was of an extremely quiet disposition and did not interest himself much in public life. Still, he retained a keen an[d] abiding interest in the district and always asssted [assisted] any public or charitable movement. He was an interesting conversationalist. He married Charlotte Grigg, member of another well-known and highly respected Araluen family. There were five children of the union, viz., Donald (Forbes), Leslie (Araluen), Ivy (Mrs. Truskett, Gymea Bay), Daisy (Mrs. Bagnall, Nowra), Ena (Mrs. Hester. Araluen). His wife predeceased him last June. Both Mr. Blundell and his wife [Charlotte Grigg] were born at Big Oakey, Araluen.’

4. Henry Blundell (1867-1946)

Gathering at Henry Blundell’s Oakey Creek, c 1926

Date – About 1926. Description (L to R) Frank Marceau, Margaret Marceau (nee Grigg), Donald Grigg, Edith Marceau, Daisy Marceau (nee Matheson), Henry Blundell, Ena Blundell, Charlotte Blundell (nee Grigg), Allyn Marceau, Adele Blundell, Baby Baden, Mary Blundell (nee Grigg), Sam Blundell, Robert Grigg Jnr, Phylis Marshall, Evelyn Blundell (nee Roberts & Tom’s wife)

Henry married Mary Ann Grigg (1863-1941) and they had two children—Henry (1902-1902) and Archibald Henry.
In 1904, the Braidwood Dispatch⁸ reported ‘A nasty accident happened Mr. H. [Henry] Blundell, an employee on Messrs. Tulloch and Hughan’s dredge, his four fingers being cut completely off … Mr Blundell jumped overboard through the sudden shock and swam to shore. Mr. Carlyle was sent for to dress the hand, and then he was taken to Braidwood by his brother. The Blundell family are very unlucky on dredges. A few months back one brother had his arm broken by the winch on the same dredge, and another was killed up near Orange on a dredge some eighteen months ago.’
An obituary for Henry’s wife, Mary Ann Grigg was published in June 1941 in the Braidwood Review.⁹ ‘By the passing of Mrs. Mary Ann Blundell on Sunday in the Braidwood Hospital the Araluen district has lost one of its most respected residents. …. Born at Araluen 77 years ago, a daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Robert and Frances Grigg, she had lived the greater part of her life in the Golden Valley, after her marriage to Mr. Henry Blundell going to live at Lower Araluen. She had lived there in the one house for 41 years— in the same home as Mr. Blundell’s parents [Philip and Sarah] had lived for the greater part of their lives. … A kindly old soul, she was loved and respected by a large circle of friends, who will treasure memories of many happy days spent with her at her home near Big Oakey Creek. Her home was always open to any friend or traveller who needed a meal or help. The hospitality of the Blundell home was known far and wide. The deepest sympathy is felt for her husband, Mr. Henry Blundell, and son in their sad loss. The son, their only child, is at present employed on the Victorian railways. Mr. H.[Henry] Blundell at present is a sick man, having not long back been seriously ill in a Goulburn hospital with pneumonia. Deceased leaves two sisters, Mrs. Marceau and Mrs. Sam Blundell, of Araluen. Two brothers, Robert and Donald Grigg predeceased her. The funeral takes place at Araluen to-day (Tuesday 10 June 1941), leaving the Union Church at 11 am.’
An obituary for Henry Blundell was published in October 1946 in the Braidwood Review¹⁰ recording ‘the death of Mr. Henry Blundell, which occurred at Ballarat Hospital on 8th October [1946]. His health began to fail some months ago, and he was compelled to enter hospital early in May, when he underwent two major operations. … While in hospital he had many visits from Rev. L. V. Alley, another old Araluenite, and the two had long talks about the Golden Valley, going over the past and recalling many hectic incidents of those halcyon days when Araluen was a seething hive of industry. The deceased, who was 71 years old when the end came, lived in Araluen for the greater part of his life. First he worked in the claims and later on the dredges, and did quite a lot of digging at Lower Araluen where he made some rich strikes. The gold fever never left the old man. Writer can recall meeting him on the occasion of the opening of the new school on School House Point some years ago, when the old man took him over some of the ground from which he had won rich yields of the yellow metal. He was as enthusiastic as a schoolboy even then, and it would not have taken much persuasion to induce him to get a dish and pick and shovel and prospect the creek again. Some little time after that he migrated to Ballarat, where he settled down. The old man’s heart, however, was still in the Golden Valley, and we do not doubt that had his health stood up one of his dearest wishes would have been to drift back to the old scenes again, if only for a brief holiday. A strange love of this beautiful spot seemed to be deeply ingrained in all the old hands— an irresistible appeal to go back there again in their declining years. … The deceased was a grand old type, as honest as the day, a quiet, retiring man, but one was always loyal to his friends, and let it be said he had many. The funeral took place at Ballarat, the Rev. Alley officiating.’

5. Edward Blundell (1870-1947)

The Canberra Times¹¹ published a notice advising the death of ‘BLUNDELL.—January 13, 1947, at Canberra Community Hospital, Edward Blundell, late of Araluen, dearly loved brother of Samuel and Thomas Blundell, aged 77 years.’

6. Thomas Blundell (1874-1947)

Thomas and Evelyn Bridget Roberts (1885-1952) were married 30 August 1905, in Araluen by Rev. Father Hanrahan¹² and they had nine children.
An obituary for Thomas was published in April 1947 in the Canberra Times¹³ reporting the death ‘on Friday of Thomas Blundell, of Ainslie, at the age of 73 years. The late Mr. Blundell, who had resided in Canberra for the past eight years and had formerly been employed at the Power House, was well known throughout the district. He was born at Araluen and from an early age took employment in the gold mines in that centre, when the gold boom was at its height …[then] the late Mr. Blundell went to Siam,… where he worked for some years on the tin dredges. He is survived by a widow and five sons and daughters, Mrs. R. Hall, of Kurrumbilly, Mrs. B. Greenwood, of Manly, Thomas, Joseph and Cassie Blundell and William (deceased) and Adele (deceased).’

References

1
Daily Telegraph (Sydney, NSW : 1883-1930), Wednesday 28 November 1923, p 8.
2
Leader (Orange, NSW : 1899-1945), Saturday 12 July 1902, p 2.
3
Braidwood and Araluen Express and People’s Advocate (NSW : 1899-1904), Friday 11 July 1902, p 2.
4
Find a Grave.com. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/174290911/martha-rebecca-blundell. Accessed 15 May 2024.
5
Sun News-Pictorial (Melbourne, Vic : 1922-1954; 1956), Monday 11 March 1940, p 30.
6
Braidwood Dispatch and Mining Journal (NSW : 1888-1889; 1895; 1897-1954), Saturday 13 August 1904, p 2.
7
Braidwood Dispatch and Mining Journal (NSW : 1888-1889; 1895; 1897-1954), Friday 12 December 1952, p 2.
8
Braidwood Dispatch and Mining Journal (NSW : 1888-1889; 1895; 1897-1954), Saturday 29 October 1904, p 2.
9
Braidwood Review and District Advocate (NSW : 1914-1954), Tuesday 10 June 1941, p 2.
10
Braidwood Review and District Advocate (NSW : 1914-1954), Tuesday 15 October 1946, p 3
11
Canberra Times (ACT : 1926-1995), Tuesday 14 January 1947, p 2.
12
Braidwood Dispatch and Mining Journal (NSW : 1888-1889; 1895; 1897-1954), Saturday 9 September 1905, p 2.
13
Canberra Times (ACT : 1926-1995), Tuesday 1 April 1947, p 2.