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FRENCH Claude Tasman Researched & Compiled by Gordon Freegard 2020 The youngest son of Samuel
French, of Hagley, Tasmania, Claude Tasman French was born on 1st
November 1868 at Glenore, Tasmania. On the 2nd
October 1901 before Rev. Father Smith, in Perth, Tasmania, at the age of 33, Claude
Tasman French, married Margaret (Maggie) Gately, second daughter of the late
Luke Gately, of Naroghid, Camperdown, Victoria. Margaret was born in 1869
(1871) and was 32 (34) at the time she married. The couple moved to Western
Australia from Hagley, Tasmania and spent 16 years prospecting a large area of
the country. First in the Coolgardie and Nor’ West fields, and from 1895 in the
Mount Magnet District. He was a very able prospector and his most important
discoveries were the Havelock and Mercury leases at Boogardie. |
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HAGLEY, TASMANIA #1 |
In 1896 he joined partners
with a Mr. Morgan to develop a mine called “The Lucknow” in close vicinity to
the very rich Penberthy mine. Claude applied for a Gold
Mining Lease on a 12 acre area known as “The Golden Stream” on the 25th
February 1902. And then on 12th August 1902 made an application for
another Gold Mining Lease of 12 acres known as “Golden Stream South”. On Wednesday 31st
December 1902, Mr. J. Bryant, manager of the “Morning Star “ gold mine arrived
back from a trip to the eastern states and announced he would shortly be
erecting a battery on “The Golden Stream” lease that is managed by Claude
French. It would employ about twenty-six men. Six months later, on the 22nd
July 1903, Claude applied for yet another lease known as “The Mercury” at
Boogardie of 5 acres. Then on the 16th July 1904 he applied for a Gold
Mining Lease on 12 acres at Lennonville known as “The Ardpatrick”. |
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In December 1904 Claude and
his wife Margaret (nee Gately) welcomed the birth of their son Claude Tasman. On Wednesday 20th
September 1905 the Mount Magnet Orchestral Society organised farewell social at
the Morning Star Hall, for Claude French. The hall was full to capacity with
friends who gathered to bid farewell to this gentleman, whose genial manner and
sterling qualities had earned him the respect and esteem of all. Later in 1905 he purchased
Canning Location 260, at Pickering Brook, immediately behind the Primary
School, from William Johns for 800 pounds ($1600), paying 100 pounds ($200)
cash, and the balance to be paid over a period up to May 1909 at 6 per cent
interest per annum. Two years later Claude French and William Johns agreed to
enter into an equal partnership over the property. He also worked from 1908
till 1912, at Barton’s Mill as a fireman on the mill locomotive. A section of
the railway line between the Pickering Brook Primary School and Bracken Road
was commonly known as “French’s Hill”. On 12th January
1906 their second son Revelle, died aged only 10 months old. A baby boy was
stillborn on 20th August 1908 at Pickering Brook. He was buried
at Pickering Brook by his father in witness of Annie Sullivan. In 1909 it was reported that
he regularly sent from Pickering Brook, cases of delicious apples and other
fruit for sale at Mr. Du Boulay’s auction mart in Mount Magnet. The quality was
unsurpassed compared with what was available from the Eastern States. The local
were careful to select this fruit in preference. A baby girl was
stillborn on 24th October 1911 at Pickering Brook. Buried at
Pickering Brook by her father. Witnesses present at the burial were F. Lindley
and L. Humphreys. Their eldest son, Claude
Tasman died 19th March 1912 aged 8 years 3 months. They family had a very sad
time with still births and early deaths. 1902 Birth of daughter Gladys M. In 1915 the school at
Pickering Brook opened and Gladys complained about having to walk 4 miles from
Barton’s Mill to school at Pickering Brook. The teacher, Miss Seymour, an elderly spinster, lived in
Bickley and used to walk across the bush every Monday morning and walked back
after school on Friday. The parents were hoping to get a school at
Barton’s Mill soon. She was in the same class at school as Flora Hewison. Water
was very scarce and permission was given to obtain water from the well on
Claude French’s adjoining property. Obviously the French family were living at
Barton’s Mill at this time and not on the orchard. An entry in the Pickering
Brook School Punishment Book on 7th April 1921 reports a student was
caught deliberately setting fire to Mr. French's
fence, which adjoined the school, for which they got four strokes with a twig. Daughter Gladys married
George Robinson in Perth in 1928. They had a daughter Ethel Margaret born on 18th
December 1928 at North Fremantle, while living at 40 Railway Parade, Cottesloe.
Then two other children: Pat and Bill. Daughter Mabel married
Michael D. French in Jarrahdale in 1928. They had four children: Pat, Dorothy,
Raema and Lesley |
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Their eldest son “Pet” had
one of very few cars at Barton’s Mill. His real name was Revelle but apparently
his mother had called him “Pet” and the nickname stuck. It was often used as
the local taxi service at the mill. It was a tourer car, big and square with a
fabric hood and running boards down the sides. Revelle F. (Pet) married Veronica I. M. Sammels on 18th July 1942 at St. Peters Church, Victoria Park by the Rev. Paice. She was the eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. Sammels of 11 Basinghall Street, Victoria Park. Claude Tasman French died at Barton’s Mill on the 19th June 1933 aged 64
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CLAUDE FRENCH'S HEADSTONE #2 |
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WOMEN AT BARTON’S MILL 1935 Mrs. MARGARET FRENCH (Front row 2nd from right) #3 |
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The photo above was taken at
Barton’s Mill in 1935, two years after Claude French had died. So obviously the
family stayed on at the mill until it closed in 1939. By July 1942 Mrs. French had
moved and was living at Byford when her son Revelle got married. Margaret French passed away on 7th June 1943 in Perth aged 72 (74).
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Reference: Article: Gordon Freegard Images: 1, 2 Internet
Copyright : Gordon Freegard 2008 - 2020
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