Budd Family

Mother

Maternal Line:

Budd Family   My grandmother “Pat” often talked about her family, the Budds and growing up in Parkes, Western NSW. The first of the clan was Robert Budd, he arrived in Sydney with his wife Mary Ann in 1837.   They came under the Assisted Immigrant Scheme. This scheme by the colonial government subsidised or paid for the passage of English immigrants. They arrived on 31 December, on the ship Alfred. Robert, 24, was a gardener; Mary Ann, 18, a lady’s companion. They are both healthy and were able to read and write a little. They have 2 sons, John and Robert. Robert Thomas is born in Watsons Bay in 1842 and was baptised at St James Church in Sydney. Robert Budd senior dies in 1846 in Cobbity, aged 33. Cobbity is south of Sydney near Camden and is where many early settlers went including John MacArthur, John Oxley, Gregory Blaxland and established their farms in the area. Being a gardener perhaps he got work on one of the farms. Mary Ann remarries 1849 to John Slater. John is 7 and Robert is only 4 when their father dies. They would barely remember their father so it is hardly surprising that the 2 boys add Slater to their surname, and become Slater Budd. This causes some confusion in later years. Mary Ann has a daughter, Elizabeth, with John Slater.

Robert Thomas (Slater) Budd and Susan Beck   The lure of gold is central to the lives of these families, they move from diggings to diggings in order to make a living. Seeking his fortune Robert goes to the gold mining area of Lambing Flat (Young) where he meets Susan Beck. Gold had been discovered at Lambing Flat in 1860. It was part of the Burrangong goldfields. Miners lived in tents or bark humpies.

Gold Diggings

The town eventually had restaurants, hotels, dance halls, a bowling alley, theatre, stores and bank. (David Hill. The Gold Rush). Susan Beck was born in 1850 in Erina (Central coast NSW). Her father was Daniel Beck and mother Elizabeth Paterson (nee Russell Price). (See separate entry for them). Susan’s early life was itinerant and precarious. Her father, Daniel moved a lot for work. She was born in Erina (Central coast NSW) while her siblings were born in Pennant Hills and Sofala (near Bathurst). Between 1855 and 1858, when she is about 5, her mother dies. When Susan is about 7 her father marries in 1858 to Elizabeth Patterson in Tambaroora (near Hill End). Sofala, Wattle Creek and Tambaroora are all gold mining areas. By 1860 they are in the Young area at Lambing Flat; Susan would only be about 9 or 10 when the Lambing Flat Riots occur. She would have witnessed a terrible time in Australian history. The riots happened because white miners resented the Chinese miners and over an 11 month period Chinese people were attacked, driven off their mines, homes burnt, belongings taken. A weak police presence was unable to contain the situation. Six anti-Chinese riots occurred at the Lambing Flat camps over a period of 10 months. The most serious riot occurred on 14 July 1861 when approximately 2000 European diggers attacked the Chinese miners. Although they tried to get away from the violent mob, about 250 Chinese miners were gravely injured and most lost all their belongings. After this tragic event, Lambing Flat was renamed Young.

Lambing Flat Riots

When Susan is 12 there is more tragedy when her father Daniel dies in 1862. She must stay in the area because she meets Robert Budd there and marries him, aged 17, in 1868. He is 26, a hard worker, so a good choice perhaps. Robert and Susan move on from Young to the Grenfell diggings about 32 miles away.  Here their first 3 children are born. Robert Henry (1870) followed by James (1871) and William (1873). The conditions would have been fairly basic – tents or rough huts. (http://www.goldtrails.com.au/html_files/explore/grenfell.html)

Gold diggings

In 1874 following gold discoveries around Parkes, Robert and Susan use a tip dray to move their family and belongings to Parkes. They lived in a small weatherboard and shingle cottage in Currajong Street. In 1875 their first daughter, Agnes Mary is born. Robert planted a pine tree outside his home in Currajong Street to celebrate the occasion;  this tree was still standing in 2006. Here the family put down roots, a further 8 children are born and raised in the small home. Bob Budd was a well known and respected person in the town and was involved in many town activities. He was the town nightwatchman  and bell ringer. He tried mining again without much success. He was a pioneer fire fighter and in 1880 was influential in forming the town’s first fire brigade. He also played in the brass section of the town band.

Robert Budd

Robert Budd

The grounds of his home testify to his green fingers, he was a well known exhibitor and won prizes at the local flower shows. His fine collections of chrysanthemums and geraniums won him much praise. He was also a noted pigeon breeder and bird lover. His grandson, my great uncle Robert also bred birds especially budgerigars and was a keen gardener.

Budd Home

For many years Bob was sexton at the town Cemetery. In June 1913 Bob was working at the cemetery when he fell on a marker peg and sustained serious internal injuries. It was even reported in the Sydney Morning Herald. He was conveyed to hospital where he “lay in a precarious condition”. He must have recovered because he doesn’t die until 1 March, 1916 at the age of 71. An obituary in the local paper, Western Champion stated that after his usual job of bell ringing he fell ill with bronchitis and died 5 days later. It stated that he was zealous, trustworthy and highly regarded in the town and a local pioneer. He was an affectionate and generous husband and father. He is buried in the Parkes cemetery. Susan’s life in Parkes seems much more settled than her childhood, her husband works hard to provide for their 12 children. Susan, later known as granny Budd, was noted for her home remedies and herbal ointments, all made from natural ingredients.

Susan Budd (Beck)

Her ‘prescriptions’ saved the lives of many young children suffering from gastro enteritis. Right up to the time of her death, she was, without the need for glasses, crocheting for her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She died in the Parkes District hospital, aged 93, on 29 April, 1944. She is buried alongside her husband in the Parkes Cemetery. Her early life was sad and difficult but I like to think her later life was happier and more comfortable.

Grave of Robert and Susan Budd

Robert Budd (1870-1932) and Rose Ann Durrant (1871-1943) As is often a tradition the eldest son in the Budd family continues to be named Robert. This Robert was born on 9 January, 1870 in the Grenfell area at the diggings known as the 7 Mile Rush (ie 7 miles from Grenfell). When gold was discovered in the area in 1866, people began leaving the gold fields in the Young area. Within 6 months there were 10,000 people on the fields living in tents and bark huts. Between 1867 and 1871 they were the richest fields in NSW. Streets were laid out, hotels, shops sprung up. The Budds were not going to miss out; Robert senior and Susan were in the area for about 4 years. Robert junior was 4 when the family of 5 moved to Parkes. He had 11 siblings, all living in the small cottage in Currajong Street. He meets Rose Ann Durrant, aged 20, and marries in nearby Cudal (marriage is registered in nearby Cargo) on 20 October, 1891. Two factors contributed to the emergence of the village of Cudal; one was the “free selection” laws of 1860’s; the other was the discovery of gold in surrounding areas when people moved between towns. Cudal was a suitable and convenient stopover. Cargo was proclaimed a goldfield in 1869; between 1869-1899 the town had a population of 7000. Cargo and Cudal are about 42 miles east, of Parkes, where the Budds lived. Robert was probably looking for gold. Rose Ann Durrant was born on 10th March, 1871 in North Junee. Gold was found around Junee in 1866.  Had her parents James Durrant and Mary Phillips also been trying their luck at the diggings?

Rose Budd (Durrant)

Rose moved with her family to Forbes and Parkes, where her sisters were born and then to Muranburn, near Molong 17 miles east of Parkes. Her mother dies in 1888, Rose would have been 17 and had to care for her 4 younger siblings, the youngest, Bethal only 5. The name Molong is from an Aboriginal word meaning “place of many rocks”. The town boasts an early Austen-European main street, which is classified by the National Trust. There are many beautiful and well cared for historic buildings scattered throughout the town. Rose and Robert have 6 girls and 2 boys between 1892 and 1904. Amelia (Millie), Edith, Gladys (Pat), Ida, Ruby, Veda, Robert and Edward (Ted).

Budd girls

I remember all these aunts and uncles. They were loud, full of mischief, funny, loved playing cards, talking and getting together. Gladys Budd, my grandmother was born in April, 1895 in Parkes. Gladys was always called Pat, she told me she hated her name “Glad arse” and no one ever called her Gladys. We often think our elders lived boring, quiet lives but as we’ve already seen their lives were far from boring or predictable. It was not until long after my grandmother died that my mother found out that Pat had been married twice and my mother had 2 half brothers and a sister. It seemed everyone else knew except us, although I think my father knew. Pat had been first married, aged 17 to Alfred Victor Johnson. In April 1912, they were married in Woolhara and not long after their first son Arnold  was born on 3rd July 1912. Two more children followed,  Allan in 1914 and Freda in 1916. Freda was born in Burwood and I surmise that the family lived in Sydney rather than Parkes. Alan enlisted during World War 1. His war record states he was a mechanic. He lived with his wife in Waverley. The marriage did not last; Pat left her husband and children. She stayed in Sydney living with 2 of her sisters, Edie and Veda and worked making furs.

At some stage she meets Gerald Stanley and in 1921 they have a daughter, Olive. She divorces Alfred in 1930 and finally marries Gerald in 1936. No wonder she said nothing of this to my mother.

Pat and Gerry with Olive

They live in various suburbs of Sydney including Newtown and Woollahra before moving out to the western suburbs at Canley Vale. This is Depression time, there is high unemployment, and times are tough. Living in this area meant there may have been more opportunities for work and having land for growing your own food. Gerald had various jobs including having a horse and cart to transport goods. They also have a cow and poultry and I imagine a vegetable garden. They make many friends in the area; her brother Bob Budd and his wife Sylvia live at Hoxton Park, a few miles west. Her other sisters and brother live in North Sydney; there are many trips between each other’s homes. They are a close family.

Olive and ‘Pat’ shopping in Sydney town

Pat belongs to the Country Women’s Association and later on in life plays bowls. When Gerry dies in 1958 she is devastated, it takes some time for her to engage in life again. She eventually travels – a world cruise in 1965 with her sister Edie. On the way they stop at Colombo – ‘interesting but smelly’; Aden – a visit to the town in spite of a bombing at the British Embassy; Cairo and the pyramids – afternoon tea at the Nile Hilton; Athens, Naples – she buys a cameo brooch; Gibraltar and Lisbon – they get lost and almost miss the boat. They visit England where she meets with Gerry’s family and visits Norwich where he was born and lived. They go to Brussels, France, Switzerland and Italy, visiting the main cities and buying gifts for her granddaughters. She also goes on a Pacific cruise and visits Tasmania. She loved spending time with her granddaughters and buying them lovely clothes. Little did we know that she also saw her other grand children, in fact we knew Alan’s children quite well going to birthdays and visiting. When I was about 7 or 8 she took me to Parkes and we stayed with Arnold’s family on his sheep property with other cousins. I had lots of fun watching sheep being shorn, cows milked and playing with my cousins. Looking back on this time I think she wanted to tell us about her other family but perhaps was afraid we would judge her badly. What a shame, my mother would have had the sister she always wanted. And we would have had even more cousins. Even so Pat was always a very direct person telling you just what she thought – you can’t wear that dress, I can see your knees; you can’t wear that bikini, you’re showing your navel”. But she also gave good advice on cooking and being kind to people and loving unconditionally. She dies in 1972 aged 77; an out of control car driven by a drunk driver jumps the median strip and hits the car she is a passenger in. At least 5 people die.