MELINDA KENDALL : HER LIFE AND WRITINGS

19th-century Australian writer, pioneer, teacher.This is the site of the rambling research of Mr Knox’s offsider and is NOT his academic paper. Let us know if we have erred as err we will. Any legit assistance much appreciated.

Archive for April, 2008

MELINDA BANKRUPT ?

Posted by nellibell49 on April 30, 2008

KENDALL Melinda - Palmer St Woolloomooloo Widow 27/06/1868 9058

 

THESE INTESTATE DETAILS ARE IN THE STATE ARCHIVES FOR 1868. This is the year in which Henry Kendall married Charlotte Rutter.

Posted in MELINDA, MELINDA MCNALLY KENDALL | Tagged: , | No Comments »

JOURNEYS IN TIME - THE MACQUARIES

Posted by nellibell49 on April 30, 2008

http://www.lib.mq.edu.au/all/journeys/1815/1815b.html

JOURNEYS IN TIME - THE MACQUARIES

WHEN MELINDA WAS BORN IN OCTOBER OF 1815 , GOVERNOR LACHLAN MACQUARIES WAS NEWLY RETURNED FROM A JOURNEY TO INSPECT THE COWPASTURES WEST OF SYDNEY.

JOURNEYS IN TIME - STORY OF LACHLAN AND ELIZABETH MACQUARIE AND THEIR TRAVELS IN THE COLONY.

Posted in BOOKS, MANUSCRIPTS, NEWSPAPERS AND DOCUMENTS, IN THIS YEAR, NSW 19th CENTURY, NSW TOWNS | Tagged: , | No Comments »

QUI BONU

Posted by nellibell49 on April 29, 2008

QUI BONU

THE QUESTION ASKED BY MELINDA IN HER PROSE PIECE: PRESENT AND PAST

PRESENT AND PAST
Oh, what a beautiful world this is, and what a Paradise we might make of it, if we were not such a selfish money grubbing set of people – that sticky burr of society, selfishness, sticks so close to us that it trammels the feet of our faint efforts to get free, and prevents us from having the greatest happiness we can, or should have in this world – the happiness of doing good to others. We are too ready to make mountains out of our neighbours’ little molehills – their faults and failings; but how hard we try to keep our own out of sight, if we are even willing to own we have any. What a lot of humbugs we are, we even try to humbug ourselves by trying to appear what we are not. Indeed, we are generally the very opposite of what we wish to be thought. If we would practice [sic] a little self-examination, we would often find that the very sin we are so anxious to declaim against and put down in public, is our own particular vanity in private. The trail of the serpent is seen more plainly on the most beautiful flowers, I think, than any others; hence it strikes me that the trail is very plainly seen here in Illawarra, it being in my opinion one of the most beautiful spots in Australia. And yet it seems a very unsociable place, everyone appears to owe his neighbour a grudge. Being obliged to call at many of the houses in this locality, I was astonished to find such a spirit of envy, hatred, malice and uncharitableness among the dwellers there-in; with but one or two exceptions this spirit seemed to pervade the whole district. I think the march of civilization has made us a very uncivil set of people – how different it is from what it was fifty years ago – then neighbours seemed only too glad to sympathise with, and assist each other, when in any trouble or difficulty, instead of, as now, chuckling over the loss of a neighbour’s horse or cow, the breaking of his cart, etc. Even the children partake of the same spirit. I overheard a little boy telling another that Mr G’s best horse had been drowned. He replied, “A good job too, he was allers getting inter our ‘lotment, father was going to pull him to court about it.” Indeed “pulling” to court seems the rage down here. When shall we learn to bear another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ? I am afraid we are a long way off from that “Ultima Thule” of our hopes and aspirations. I think, as Hamlet did, that “there’s something rotten in the estate of Denmark” (Illawarra). Talking of fifty years ago, I cannot but feel how changed all things are, even hospitality, the characteristic tract of the old colonists, has almost disappeared, and the very name of “damper” (the bread then used by all residents in the bush) has become obsolete, and as I recall the memories of the past, of the changed, the loved, and lost, with a weary heart I am tempted to exclaim Qui Bonu[??]

Posted in ILLAWARRA, MELINDA, POETRY AND POETS | 1 Comment »

TEMPERANCE AND THE BLUE RIBBON ARMY

Posted by nellibell49 on April 29, 2008

MELINDA WROTE OF THE HOME OF HOPELESS FOR THE FRIENDLESS AND FALLEN. SHE WROTE IN 1884. HERE ARE SOME CONNECTIONS TO THIS TIME AND THE MOVEMENTS ASSOCIATED WITH TEMPERANCE AND CHRISTIAN WOMENS MOVEMENTS. EG. BLUE RIBBON ARMY.

( WITH MENTION AND IMPLICATION OF THE BLUE RIBBON )
But I am wandering from my story.  When we reached the group by the
fireside, who had at first been unaware of our entrance, the chief's wife
gave a slight start, alarmed doubtless by my appearance.  She could never
have seen, nor even dreamed of, such a spectacle as I must have
presented, haggard, ragged, faint with hunger, and worn with fatigue as I
was.  The chief motioned to me that I should kneel at his wife's feet,
and kiss her hand, but I merely bowed, not considering this a fit moment
to protest otherwise against such sacrilegious mummeries.  But the
woman--her name I learned later was Ocyale--did not take my attitude in
bad part.  The startled expression of her face changed to a look of pity,
and, with a movement of her hand, she directed Doto to bring a large
golden cup from the table at the upper end of the room.  Into this cup
she ladled some dark liquid from a bowl which was placed on a small three-
legged stand, or dumb waiter, close to her side.  Next she spilt a little
of the wine on the polished floor, with an appearance of gravity which I
did not understand.  It appears that this spilling of wine is a drink
offering to their idols.  She then offered me the cup, which I was about
to taste, when I perceived that the liquor was indubitably _alcoholic_!

A total abstainer, I had, I am thankful to say, strength enough to resist
the temptation thus adroitly thrust upon me.  Setting down the cup, I
pointed to the badge of blue ribbon, which, though damp and colourless,
remained faithful to my button-hole.  I also made signs I was hungry, and
would be glad of something to eat.  My gestures, as far as the blue
ribbon went, must have been thrown away, of course, but any one could
understand that I was fainting from hunger.  The mistress of the house
called to one of the spinning girls, who rose and went within the door
opening from the platform at the upper end of the room.  She presently
returned with an old woman, a housekeeper, as we would say, and obviously
a faithful and familiar servant.  After some conversation, of which I was
probably the topic, the old woman hobbled off, laughing.  She soon came
back, bringing, to my extreme delight, a basket with cakes and goat
cheese, and some cold pork in a dish.

 

Posted in RELIGION AND CHURCH, TEMPERANCE | No Comments »

BLUE RIBBON ARMY AND THE HOME FOR THE HOPELESS

Posted by nellibell49 on April 29, 2008

Success to the “home of the hopeless”
For the friendless and heartsore,
That opens wide its portals
To the outcasts and the poor.
 
Success to the “home of the hopeless”
Where the hungry may find bread,
And a bed to rest their weary limbs,
Instead of an empty shed.
 
Success to the “home of the hopeless”
Where the Gospel is preached to the poor,
Who have hitherto wandered in alleys,
Or blocked up the publican’s door.
 
Success to the “home of the hopeless”
Indeed it has had success;
There are some this day within its walls
Who have reason that home to bless.
 
And now let us wish success to those
Who have helped those laborers on
That are working hard in God’s vineyard
‘Neath the burden and heat of the sun.
 
Success to the “Blue Ribbon Army,”
Who are striving on every hand
To stem the tide and the torrent
Of intemperance in our land.
 
Success to the founders of this “home”
And to all who are helping them on.
May every fresh effort be crowned with success
Till the victory has been won.
(Illawarra Mercury, May 13, 1884)
Post A Comment!

 

 

18/2/2008 - What was the Home of Hope?

Posted by Peter Knox
Researcher Bruce Thornton believes the subject of this poem is George Ardill’s Home of Hope and the Blue Ribbon Gospel Army he founded in 1882.

 

CHECK THE ARDILLS

ANY FURTHER FEEDBACK ON THIS POEM AND THE HOME OF HOPE WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.

 

 

Posted in POETRY AND POETS, RELIGION AND CHURCH, TEMPERANCE | Tagged: , | No Comments »

NEWTOWN PROJECT

Posted by nellibell49 on April 29, 2008

NEWTOWN PROJECT

Created by Volunteers working in the Archives of the City of Sydney.

Includes SANDS and other historical threads connected to the Newtown Area. It includes the Newtown Jubilee Books and rates assessment notices. The Sands Directory.

1863 - Hy Kendall is listed in the Sands in Wellington Street, Newtown in the Knights Building in Wellington Street.

1858-59 - Kendall, Mrs., Hordon-street, Newtown ?

1863 - Kendall, Hy., Knight’s Build., Wellingtn.-st. ?

1864 -Kendall, H., Wellington-street, Kingston

1865- Kendall, Henry, clerk, Silver-st., Marrickville ?

1867 - Kendall, Henry, Enmore rd. ?

1868 - Kendall, Henry, Enmore rd. ?

 

 

 

Zion (Primitive Methodist) Chapel, Newtown rd.

 

Posted in NEWTOWN, STREETS OF SYDNEY, SYDNEY IN THE 19TH CENTURY | Tagged: , , , | No Comments »

COMMERCIAL JOURNAL - AUGUST 3 1835

Posted by nellibell49 on April 28, 2008

COMMERCIAL JOURNAL - AUGUST 3 1835

Melinda and Basil married , so it seems on a Saturday since the Commercial Journal and Advertiser came out on Monday, August 3rd, 1835.

 

Posted in BOOKS, MANUSCRIPTS, NEWSPAPERS AND DOCUMENTS, SYDNEY IN THE 19TH CENTURY | Tagged: , , , | No Comments »

AUSTRALIAN PERIODICAL PUBLICATIONS

Posted by nellibell49 on April 28, 2008

http://www.nla.gov.au/ferg/datebrowse.html

AUSTRALIAN PERIODICAL PUBLICATIONS

The FERGUSON PROJECT. Australian Cooperative Digitisation Project

 

Posted in BOOKS, MANUSCRIPTS, NEWSPAPERS AND DOCUMENTS | No Comments »

IN THIS YEAR - 1835

Posted by nellibell49 on April 28, 2008

The year of Melinda’s Marriage to Basil Kendall.

at the Second Scots Church , Sydney. Rev John McGarvie officiating.

  • A one year old boy by the name of William Charles Windeyer arrived in Sydney with his family from England.  He was to become one of the first graduates of Sydney University and in the 1890s he would become Chancellor.
    http://www.usyd.edu.au/senate/history/Windeyer.shtmlIn 1835 the British Government decided that it was necessary to build a Government House in Sydney and construction began in 1837, around about the time Melinda and Basil moved to the Illawarra where Basil  is said to have taken up farming on a property known as Kirmington at Ulladulla. This was Kendall family land. Government House was built between 1837-1845, a period spanning the births of Melinda and Basil’s first 4 children - Basil E , Henry, Jane, and Mary Josephine ( Joey) .
  • Trials were being held of Aboriginal Men and sentences often involved transportation as in the case of Lego’me and Little Dick.

R. v. Lego’me

             Supreme Court of New South Wales

Forbes C.J., 12 February 1835

Source: Sydney Herald, 16 February 1835

 

Thursday. - Before His Honor the Chief Justice.Lego’me, an aboriginal native, stood indicted for a highway robbery, and putting in bodily fear Patrick Sheridan, at Brisbane Water, on the 18th January last.

  •  In this year the second ever execution of an Australian Aboriginal was carried out - the crime being rape.

Execution, 27 February 1835

Source: Australian, 6 March 1835

On Friday morning last Mickey Mickey, the aboriginal native, who was convicted and sentenced for a rape upon the female servant of Mr. Lynch, at Brisbane Water, underwent the sentence of the law at the gaol in Sydney.  This is only the second instance of the execution of an aboriginal native,

  • Elizabeth Bay House is one of the few open for public access Sydney estates of historical and cultural significance. Built between 1835 and 1839 for then Colonial Secretary of NSW and prominent naturalist Alexander Macleay and his family.

 

Charles Fisher Shepherd examined.  I am superintendent of the establishment of Mr. J. Catteral, at Long Flats, Menaroo Plains; I remember the night of the 14th December; I recollect the night on which the bushrangers paid a visit to the establishment; I was lying asleep in my tent, which for the benefit of the cool air, it being very warm weather, I had erected a short distance from the hut where I usually slept; read on at http://www.law.mq.edu.au/scnsw/cases1835-36/html/r_v_ball_and_pearson__1835.htm

  • An Inter-colonial emigration scheme was in place between Launceston- Sydney . Check GenSeek. for other inter-colonial migrations of 1835.
  • THE DARLINGHURST COURTHOUSE WAS BUILT and is still in use today.
  • CAMDEN HOUSE WAS BUILT FOR JOHN AND ELIZABETH MACARTHUR
  • IN CASTLEREAGH ST-SOUTH, along from where Melinda had spent her girlhood in the household of the Rev Richard Hill , a neat and compact 2 storied dwelling was for sale. With an entrance from Campbell Street. It had a cellar and servants’ rooms  and a well of the best water. It was suitable for investment or for the residence of a genteel family. (Commercial Journal. august3 1835)
  • LAMPARD WAS OPERATING HIS COLONIAL GUNSMITH SHOPS.

    Lambard, John Samuel

            Brickfield Hill, George Street, Sydney       NSW.         1834

           West King Street, Sydney                         NSW.         1835-1837

           Sussex Street, Sydney                               NSW.         1838

           2 King Street West, Sydney                      NSW.         1835

           Upper George Street, Sydney                   NSW.         1833

  • FRESH WATER FROM WHAT IS NOW THE AIPORT :