Nomads of the Midlands



The sign at Colebrook




The Mill at Campania, now part of the local school
where I taught for two years



Ephraim and Bridget had been residing in an area known as Jerusalem. Some documents state Lower Jerusalem and I believe they were probably working towards the Campania area. Jerusalem is on the Coal River and the area is now known not as Coalbrook but as Colebrook. Guess someone did not pass spelling at school.

This was at one time the granary of Australia and oats and wheat grew prolifically. It is quite warm in summer and for some years the industry flourished. Ephraim had worked on farms in England but had probably not grown grain in such enormous quantities.They were still working on a piecemeal basis for other farmers and looking further afield to find work when only a few months after their problem with the Williams family, Ephraim and Bridget were found out on the township of Sorell at 10 pm without a pass. They must have had a good excuse as they were found guilty and admonished but given no gaol time. Either there was no money to celebrate or they did it in a more controlled manner this time as the next couple of months passed quietly.