45. Charles H.8 BRISTOL (Stephen7, Benjamin6, Abner5, Stephen4, Eliphalet3, Henry2, Daniel1) was born in Middletown, Connecticut, U.S.A 12 March 1840. Individual flags: IMM. Charles died 23 July 1932 in Katunga, Victoria, Australia, at 92 years of age. His body was interred 25 July 1932 in Numurkah, Victoria, Australia, Numurkah Cemetery.
He married Eliza Ann MCCARRON in Kaarimba, Victoria, Australia, 19 October 1876. Eliza was born in Lismore, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland 8 March 1863. Eliza was the daughter of William MCCARRON and Martha DONALD. Eliza died 30 January 1935 in Katunga, Victoria, Australia, at 71 years of age. Her body was interred 1 February 1935 in Numurkah, Victoria, Australia, Numurkah Cemetery. Eliza immigrated, 1863. Destination: Australia.
He served in the military during war time 1861 in U.S.A.. CHARLES H. BRISTOL (Extract from a letter written from Katunga, Victoria on 23rd March 1931)
I volunteered in September 1861 in New York as Landsman, My occupation being a painter. After passing all examinations went on board the North Carolina, Brooklyn Navel Yard. After receiving outfit, which was issued in the name of Charles Brown, I was told to answer to that name and did so when first roll was called of names. After a short time on North Carolina, I was drafted to a gunboat Una Della under the command of Lieut-Commander Collins. Other officers' Ensign were Van Syce, Cruise and Tuttle. Masters' Mates Daisy and Thomas. In Una Della I went to Hampton Road and on to Port Royal. There I joined Admiral Leupond's Fleet and took part in the battle of Port Royal. Then went to Mud River and did picket duty watching Fort Pulaski. I then returned to Fort Royal for coal and stores. I then went to Charleston Harbour on the Blockade and was there twenty months, during which time I witnessed the bombardment of Charleston Harbour by the Iron Clad Monitors. After that I was sent on the Coast of Georgia to blockade the inlet of Ogche, and we captured the Steamship Londona with crew and cargo and took the prize to Fort Royal. Then I was sent with slight fever to the flagship Wabash. After reporting for duty was sent to supply ship under Captain Gleeson, and from there to the Brittania, side wheeled gun boat. Was again on blockade of Charleston until the ship was sent to Norfolk Navy Yard for repairs-Officer Second in Command, Cooney By this time three years had expired and I was Discharged in Norfolk Navy Yard and paid off with 513 dollars 1 cent prize money and wages. I received other prize money about one year after I was discharged. I have no papers in my possession bearing the name of Charles Brown. When I discovered my outfit in my possession was bearing the name of Charles Brown. I mentioned it and was told it did not matter and told to answer to that name. I received some letters addressed to me as Bristol while I was serving in the Navy. My place of residence was New Haven.l
Charles immigrated, 1868. Destination: Australia. He petitioned the court to become a citizen in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 31 January 1913.
Charles H. BRISTOL and Eliza Ann MCCARRON had the following children:
50
i.
Harriet Maud Eliza9 BRISTOL was born in Kaarimba, Victoria, Australia 5
November 1879. Harriet died 23 May 1943 at 63 years of age. She married Edwin BIRD 1 November 1899.
Edwin was born 19 November 1869. (See Edwin BIRD for the continuation of this line.)
+
51
ii.
Gerald Edgar Hall BRISTOL was born 21 April 1885.
+
52
iii.
Charles Frances Leonard BRISTOL was born 10 January 1888.
53
iv.
Stephen BRISTOL was born in Kaarimba, Victoria, Australia 1 May 1890. Stephen died 1 May 1890 in Kaarimba,
Victoria, Australia, at less than one year of age.
54
v.
Martha Subrina Arabella BRISTOL was born in Kaarimba, Victoria, Australia 18 June 1891. Martha died
February 1892 in Kaarimba, Victoria, Australia, at less than one year of age.
55
vi.
Donald Stephen Shubert BRISTOL was born in Kaarimba, Victoria, Australia 3 March 1893. Donald died 23
August 1918 in St. Martin's Wood, France, at 25 years of age. He served in the military during war time 1914 in
Australia.
56
vii.
Henry Cleveland BRISTOL was born in Katunga, Victoria, Australia 2 August 1895. Henry died 19 August 1972
at 77 years of age.
57
viii.
Dora Iridina BRISTOL was born in Kaarimba, Victoria, Australia 5 October 1895. Dora died 8 August 1959 at
63 years of age.
58
ix.
George Franklin Osbourne BRISTOL was born in Katunga, Victoria, Australia 31 August 1899. George died 6
October 1960 in Adelaide, S.A., Australia, at 61 years of age.
59
x.
Olive Ruth BRISTOL was born in Katunga, Victoria, Australia 11 February 1901. Olive died 26 March 1987 in
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, at 86 years of age. She married Charles Henry PELL in Numurkah,
Victoria, Australia, 12 March 1924. Charles was born in Kotupna, Victoria, Australia 2 June 1900. Charles was the son
of William PELL and Margaret STANGER. Charles died 2 September 1961 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, at 61 years
of age. His body was interred 5 September 1961 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, Springvale Crematorium. (See Charles Henry PELL for the continuation of this line.) Olive Ruth Pell (nee Bristol) wrote briefly about her
life
Second youngest daughter of Charles H. and Eliza Ann (McCarron) born at Katunga, Victoria, Australia on September 22nd 1901. Attended the Katunga State School No 2269. Started school at age of six and walked 1½ miles to and from every day. And attended the Centenary of the school in April 1980. Left school during great war 1914-1918 to attend to brother Shubert houses while he was at war. During school days which I never enjoyed. We had very strict teachers. Richard Morley Skewers being my first teacher and a Miss Maggie Armstrong a sewing mistress and assistant, then followed Theo Cory (killed in the great war ) and a Miss Legg whom I wrote to from 1914 till she passed away at Wangaratta Hospital in 1982. Then Miss E Almond, Miss D.V. Russell whom was there when I left school.
The train in these times threw the papers for people who lived near a crossing and of course we went to the school near a crossing and our first lesson after lunch was a study of war and the whereabouts of the war etc.
Miss Russell being a singer taught us lots of singing which we enjoyed and got us ready with marching songs patriotic of course which we performed at the recruiting meetings that were at Katunga Hall (not the one that is there now) the original one was directly opposite our house. Geo., myself and Winnie were all born at that home and until 1982 there had always been a Bristol living there.
After I left school life was very much connected with war and soldier farewell's etc. until war finished in 1918. Brother Hall and Shubert went to the war and Shube was killed in action on August 23rd 1918 the last time his regiment went into action before peace was signed in November. Hall came home October 1919.
I recall many childhood happenings one being the death of King Edward VII the daily train was all draped in black crepe which was the custom in that era. Also when the telephone was first in the district and many years later electricity and water down where it is at present was put down by way of bore but it was very brackish. We three younger children of nine in the family used to go to the back of the big grain storage with a small tank and draw the water with a bucket on a rope to fill the tank and then push it and Geo. would pull it. It was on four wheels on a stand with a pole. Win and I used to go so we could watch in case Geo. fell in. It was a big under ground tank filled with rain water from the big wheat shed which dad built but is now demolished.
During the wheat season some of the farmers would hook the tank onto their wagons and pull it home for us being no made roads and many wagons bringing in wheat the dust would be knee deep in places. Irrigation was not through Katunga area when we were growing up and there were many big farm holdings then and much more wheat grown and the wheat season was very much longer then present day and always a shortage of trucks to move it by rail no other transport then train. So big stacks with men doing the carrying on their shoulders. We had to take lunch twice a day on time as most farmers could manage two loads a day unless they were to far away so twice a day there would be rush and lunches were taken when it slackened off.
In our time the weigh bridge came into being and railway gates locked until 8 am and closed at 5 pm., but at 6 am. the wagons of wheat would be nosing the gates to be the first in so we as children used to see many a race to be first on the bridge. Shinnicks were the first to buy big lorries holding 102 bags and drawn by 8 horses. Wheat trains used to come through at 2 am. and take away sometimes as many as 40 trucks loaded during the day each truck 120cws x 40cws and so on.
There were two hotels in Katunga one on each corner as you turn off for Numukah and one a mile west of Katunga. We as school children saw and witnessed many a nasty thing by men who had had too much to drink never to be forgotten. I have remained a total abstainer and am now 82.
The ending of the 1914-1918 war saw many changes and many welcome homes to the soldiers who survived and I came home. there was a bad mouse plague in --- and the mice made havoc of the stacked wheat. The years passed and in 1923 sport was being played again and a fine football league was formed and as cars were not plentiful in the districts a train service was arranged and the players and supporters travelled in. A Waaia club came to Katunga and boarded the train and traveled up north. Katunga did not have a team but Dramanure played at Katunga and there was always a dance at the Katunga Hall. The day Drumanure played there and that was where I met Charles Pell and his brother Les Cobbldick.
I eventually married Charles Pell and that was the beginning of 39 happy years for me. Win married Les. I had three girls and Win two boys and one girl. We followed football and cricket in Yulima and Yalca after we got married. Win and I lived about three miles apart. Charles and Les and the Pell boys used to go possuming at night. You had to get a permit. Win and I kept another company, lots of fun in those days. We used to milk our own cows and go to the football and milk again whatever time we got home.
Marg was a good baby and used to sit in the pram by the wall while we milked sometimes 9pm.. Win never milked not even when we were home. I leaned to milk at home but Dora used to milk our two cows mostly. When Marg was a baby we had our mouse plague and I have seen two more since then and now 1984 another one id busy up northern Victoria. Lorna was born two years after Marg so I was getting busier with two so I went mostly to cricket at Yalca.
The depression came then and our farm at Yalca then where we lived was sold and we moved to Kyabram to share farm with Charles Uncle Arthur. Marg was four years old now. I enjoyed living at Kyabream and Marg started school at Decon when she was Six years old Freda was born in Kyabream in 1930. Charles mother died Aug. 7th 1939 while we were in Kyabream and we eventually moved back to live with Pell brothers and I looked after them and Charles worked wit them till Bob was getting Married and them we moved back to Katunga. I lived at Coxons's house up from Katunga School 2269. Lorna started school while we were at Yielima so Marg and Lorna went to my old school No 2269. My father died also brother Hall in 1932 while we were at Yielima. Mother died in Jan. 1934. Dora went to live in Melbourne and we moved back to home in Katunga to look after Clive as he hadn't married at the time. Charles worked first for Lex Adams and finally for Allan gun and Freda started school at Katunga and we moved to Strathmerton West until the school closed for want of pupils. Marg went to Melbourne. Lorna was a sick girlie and stayed at home Freda rode her bike three miles into Strathmerton to school until finally we moved t Melbourne in July 1942 into a house 162 Nepean Highway Gardenvale and Freda continued her schooling at Elsternwick Central State School until she was ready to go to Brighton Technical School Marg and Lorna were working at Novelty Knits in North Brighton and Freda was doing dressmaking at Miss Cruickshanks in Middle Brighton until all three married. I now have 15 grandchildren and 23 great grand children. I lived 35 years at Gardenvale then had to move on account of road widening so brought a flat in Scott St. Elwood where I lived for Ten years until I couldn't look after my self because I had an illness that put me out of action and I now live in a Granny Flat in Lorna a Wally's yard.
November 1984
Charles died September 2nd 1961. Dora Lived with us for 18 Years never married died August 5th 1959.
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xi.
Winifred Ann BRISTOL was born in Katunga, Victoria, Australia 9 June 1904. Winifred died 14 August 1966 in
Nathalia, Victoria, Australia, at 62 years of age. She married Leslie St. Valentine COBBLEDICK in
Numurkah, Victoria, Australia, 9 June 1926. (See Leslie St. Valentine COBBLEDICK for the
continuation of this line.)
Send email to preparer: j.sunderland@jassh.com.au
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