Half Way House cont'd

It is always nice to be published and this week I had my second story published in the Tasmanian Family History magazine - and it was the story of the Half-Way House. It is quite difficult to decide how long an article should be. I have decided that four pages should be my maximum. After that, I tend to scan stories and not really read them deeply unless they are particularly relevant to me. 
Half Way House

She was not sober and was not drunk. She was just about half and half [1]. This description of my great great grandmother at the Half-way House at Lower Jerusalem in 1859 sent me on a journey of exploration. Exactly where was Lower Jerusalem, and were there any remains of the house? Where exactly did my ancestors live, and why was Bridget in this condition?

The Valuation Rolls of 1859 had provided the information that Bridget DOE and her husband Ephraim had rented parts of two properties, one called Penrice (sic) at Lower Jerusalem, the other closer to Jerusalem. In February of that year, Ephraim was charged and found guilty, under the provisions of the slaughtering act, of having meat secreted in the bush, for which he could not account. He was fined £50 in lieu of three months imprisonment. Not wishing to be incarcerated, he headed for Launceston for eight weeks to try to raise his fine, leaving Bridget to manage the two farms. She began to empty the farm at Lower Jerusalem of all their belongings with the plan to move all to the other property. The owner of the Penrise property, William BROWN, received word of what was happening and immediately sent for a bailiff to recover rent, before his lessees could skip away without paying.

The bailiff named William HUMPHREYS accompanied William Brown, on a visit to Bridget at her home to serve a distraint order to collect rent of £40 and bailiff’s fee of £15. Unable to pay, Bridget drowned her sorrows as the bailiff removed two mares and a foal from her barn and to keep as surety for the debt.

While Bridget was packing her farm implements and other belongings on the cart to move them, Humphreys was offering her lifestock for sale at an auction held that very day. He raised an amount equivalent to what was owed, plus £10 which he deposited neatly in his own pocket. Unaware of this development, the half drunk Bridget, drove her laden cart to the Half-Way House where she suggested to the owner James CAVEY that he might buy the animals in order to allow her to settle the debt. Bridget had travelled to Tasmania on the convict ship Tory 2 along with James’s wife Margaret or Martha MCDONALD and may have been on good terms with them. However, the offer was not taken up.

Some weeks later, Ephraim Doe returned from his jaunt to Launceston having failed to raise his fine and was jailed for three months. Bridget placed her two children, Ephraim and Mary Ann in the orphan school where they remained for five months, and waited for her world to reconstruct itself. [2] By December, Ephraim had been released and had brought a court action against William Brown as his horses had been illegally sold and he had not received the monies raised from the sale, over and above the size of his debt. All goods seized should have been held for 15 days before going to sale. The verdict was in Ephraim’s favour.

I enquired at a TFHS meeting whether anyone knew exactly where Lower Jerusalem was, and received emails a few days later to say that it is now called Lowdina and is north of Campania. I collected original land maps of the area and overlaid them with a modern Tasmap. A search on Trove found several references to the Half-way House, two very useful ones being sales of land next to and opposite it.[3] Armed with my research, I visited the Deed’s Office in Macquarie Street, paid a fee and was asked whether I would like assistance. This was most unexpected. I thought I would be doing this all on my own. Doing as much research as possible before my visit and being able to clearly define my search was of great benefit. The assistance provided was brilliant. The site was isolated, (being part of a larger property) and the current reference documents found. I was stunned when reading them to discover that the building still onsite was described as having been built in 1850 from stone – and had a colorbond roof! I had expected to find a few broken bricks or a blank landscape. Google Earth was consulted and I set my eyes on a view of the Half-Way House. I could not wait to visit and take my own photo, and maybe share a glass of wine with Bridget’s ghost. Within a couple of days, I was standing on the doorstep being informed by the current resident, “Everyone knows this is the Half Way House.” The house has been extended at the back in recent years and many broken stones have been replaced in the walls. The colorbond roof is quite new.

The Half-Way House Lower Jerusalem

The earliest reference I could find for this property was in April 1848 when a convict muster was held there. [4] In 1849, it was advertised for sale as a farm of 90 acres with a four room stone house, a blacksmith and a wheelwright’s shop, and currently occupied by Mr John Hopson. [5] By June 20 1851, it had been renamed “Bird-in-Hand” and a shooting match was held there, the prize being a six year old horse.[6] Entry in the competition was £1, advertised by J FOSTER . By 1853, the licence was transferred from William KEARNEY jnr  to George URCH and the name changed back to Half-way House. [7] Wm Kearney had not given up the licence voluntarily. He had been murdered in an altercation over a shovel in January of that year. [8] James CAVEY appears in newspaper records in 1856 as Licensed Victualler of Lower Jerusalem and seems to have held the lease for several years, the owner being Joseph FOSTER..[9]

On 23 Feb 1859, Joseph Foster advertised in the newspaper for 30 wethers which had strayed or been stolen from his paddock on the night of February 15^th. [10] On March 2^nd, Ephraim Doe was reported having been arrested. Was he responsible for this theft, or was the meat found on his property from another source? The imposed fine of £50, suggests, that the quantity of meat was large.

A few months later, Joseph Foster moved in to become the next landlord of the Half-way house. He was an entrepreneur and tried various ways to attract business. Every few months he would advertise shooting matches with generous prizes. In 1860, a fat bullock was offered. Entry fees were 6 people at 30 shillings each or 12 at £1.  Later in the year, prizes were £5, £3 and £1. In 1861, Professor Eagle appeared to perform his myriad of magic tricks including the production of various types of liquor, all from the same bottle. [11]On the Queen’s Birthday holiday in 1862, shooting matches, cricket and skittles were advertised. [12] In 1863, gold and silver women’s watches became the prizes. No doubt, each of these events drew a crowd of spectators to drink and eat at the establishment.

By 1865, William CORRIGAN had taken over as landlord but business had slowed and Joseph Foster ordered that all of his property be sold for distraint (unpaid rent). [13] Fat pigs became the prize in August of that year and a good upstanding horse in October when William KEARNEY snr held the lease. By Easter Monday 1870, horse races had been added to the entertainment with a maiden plate, hurdle race and publican’s purse. In October, a ploughing match took place with 16 teams in the main event. There were confectionery, cake and orange stalls and an excellent cold dinner laid out in the barn as the house was too small. [14]

In 1872, the business was put out to tender and John White took over. He held a pigeon match but the attendance was small. Ploughing matches, hurdle races and sweeps were held on the greater property which belonged to George Stokell, the 8 acres on which the Half-Way House stood having been subdivided from the rest of the farm. The area was going into decline as nearby Campania developed and by 1883, it was offered for sale as a farm and dwelling rather than a business. Again on the market in June 1892, it was to be auctioned. Further advertisements appeared in 1893 and 1896.

Over the years, the Half-way House also hosted political meetings and several inquests following murders, deaths and accidents on the roads and nearby farms. Many horse shoes have been dug up around the site of the blacksmith’s shop, evidence of the work required to keep hoses and carts on the road in the early days. Travellers rested and ate there and many would have drowned their sorrows or celebrated at the bar.

In March1894, the Launceston Examiner reported that the name of Lower Jerusalem would change to Woodlands and in June the Post Office would take on the new name. [15] Ten years later, a petition signed by residents requested that the Post Office be moved to Lowdina Siding where a platform and goods shed were required to service the railway which was now the transport hub of the community.[16] Today the area is signposted as Lowdina and there is little evidence of the interesting history of the Half-way House.

---

[1] 1859 'SUPREME COURT.', The Hobart Town Daily Mercury(Tas. : 1858 - 1860), 24 December, p. 2, viewed 16 June, 2015, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3259998

[2] TAHO SWD6

[3] 1861 'Advertising.', The Mercury (Hobart, Tas. : 1860 - 1954), 13 September, p. 1, viewed 16 June, 2015, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article8801047

[4] 1848 'TICKET-OF-LEAVE MUSTER.', Colonial Times 11 April, p. 3,

[5] 1849  Colonial Times  8 May, p. 3,

[6] 1851 'Classified Advertising.', The Courier (Hobart, Tas. : 1840 - 1859), 24 May, p. 3,

[7] 1853 'LOCAL.', The Courier 16 February, p. 3

[8] 1853 'SUPREME COURT.', Hobarton Guardian, or, True Friend of Tasmania 22 January, p. 2,

[9] 1856 'RICHMOND.',The Courier ), 16 April, p. 3,

[10] 1859 'Classified Advertising.', The Hobart Town Daily Mercury 21 February, p. 3

[11]  The Mercury (Hobart, Tas. : 1860 – 1954), 16 September, p. 2,

[12] 1862 The Hobart Town Daily Mercury ‘7 June, p. 2,

[13] 1865 'Advertising.', The Mercury 12 May, p. 4,

[14] 1870, The Mercury 26 October, p. 2,

[15] 1894 Launceston Examiner 22 March, p. 1,

[16] 1914 The Mercury 12 March, p. 7

I have been talking to some of the early owners of the Half Way house. It has been remodelled over the years and I am hopeful of finding a photo of it before the latter changes occurred.The verandahs are a recent add on but it is thought the attic windows are original

Half -Way House

Such along time since I have added to this blog, but I shall try to begin again. Just recently I have been looking for the halfway house at Lower Jerusalem. My initial problem was that I did not even know where Lower Jerusalem might be.An enquiry at a meeting brought forth some suggestions which have proved to be correct. It is now called Lowdina and is close to Campania and just north of Richmond. My interest in the place was sparked by the fact that Ephraim and Bridget lived nearby, and it was here that Bridget was found in the bar, half drunk and her horses were taken from her, in lieu of unpaid rent in 1859.
I searched through "trove" to find any newspaper articles about the area and discovered that in the past, there was a railway station, post office, school and of course, the halfway house. The building was used as a stopover for travellers and, as an inn, had the skittle alley which was an important accessory to establishments in those days.  Inquests and stock sales were held there. Cricket matches were a regular event  and even more so, shooting matches at which horses were often the prizes.
Some advertisements for land sales in the area in 1861 gave me a much clearer idea of the location of the half-way house. It was next door to one property being sold and opposite another. One property was named (though not the owner) and acreage given, so I used a map from the times to find parcels of land of relevant size and position. When overlaid on a modern map, some patterns emerged. I als knew now that the house had been owned in 1856 by Joseph Foster.
Next on the agenda was a trip to the Lands Titles Office. A "google" searchof their internet site informed me that it was a complicated process, I could expect no help and it was going to cost money. I had been into this dungeon of old books before but it was a long time ago and I was not sure where to find all I needed. I paid up, collected my pass and was directed to a chair where I would be given an outline of the process. (Already I felt better). A few minutes later Richard arrived and decided that he would escort me into the research area and proceeded to help me. Joseph was not the original owner of the land but by trawling through the documents, the correct property was able to be isolated. Bits have been added on and lopped off over the years but a shaded area in the corner showed where the inn had stood.
Next, current documents were consulted and it was here that the "wow factor" hit me. The building standing today is described as stone with a colorbond roof - built 1850! Now I know that the roof is not going to be original but I can't wait to get out there and check out the stone walls.
I came home from my 2 hours in the city, with maps, google earth pictures, and copies of deeds. I felt like a star on "Who do you think you are?" Far from no help, I had been given fantastic support for nearly two hours. There are some great people out there. You just have to find them - on a slow day.

Trip to Paradise

 Long the road we drove and looked up the hill. We could see a saddle between two slight hills. That is where the Doe house was situated at Paradise. Several other blocks of land belonged to the family and were owned at different times by other members of Caroline's family.

After all my excitement, a black and white cow, a car body and a hills hoist marked the spot where Ephraim and Caroline had their house. The bright line along the ground is the remains of the cement foundations. This area would have been solid timber when they first moved in and was seen as ideal farm land. It was surrounded by places named Beulah, The Promised Land and other Biblical names. There is even a place called Ephraim's Gate. Many of the local inhabitants joined the Christian Brethren  and meetings were held in various homes. The forest made the district very prone to bushfires and the condition of the roads made transport very difficult. Many families moved on. This is the house where the Doe family lived. The photo was taked many years after they had left. The shingle roof had been covered with iron but just near the front of the house, a missing piece reveals the original shingles.

Living in Paradise.

FOr about 15 years, Caroline and Ephraim the Younger farmed at Paradise. I was informed that the foundations to their house were still there and with map in hand, family in tow, went off to find the historic ruins. Turn left at the Church was the instruction. We stopped to have a closer look before turning and discovered a little wooden building with an outhouse at the back, an original pit toilet and it certainly smelt like it. With handkerchiefs over our noses, we hopped back in the car and puttered on up the hill. Another left turn and we were almost there. I could feel the spirits in the air. It was a historical moment. Again, something was not quite right. Along the ground were vestiges of cement blocks, my ruins. Also marking the spot was a dead car body, a black and white cow and a broken Hills hoist; not the romantic idea I had had in my head. It was hard to believe that my ancestors had lived there under the shadow of Mount Roland, clearing the forest, fighting the elements and gaining spiritual comfort from their membership of the Christian Brethren Church. Ephraim was one of eight signatories to the deeds when a new church was built and was very involved. Caroline's brother William was also living in the district and was a member. Unfortunately, women in their position left very few records other than the endless registrations as thier many children arrived. Caroline gave birth to most of her 12 children in the district. She would have worried, along with her husband over the floods, the crops, the health of the cattle and the fires which ravaged these forest areas. Caroline was busy raising a family, keeping house and simply providing for all. On their property was another small hut, separate from their house. Here lived Ephraim's father after his release from Port Arthur. It seems that he also farmed some of the land as there are entries in his son's diary which show that he did paid work for E Doe. As he would have not paid himself, this is the most likely answer. In the mid nineties, the family decided that Paradise was not all that they wanted. Ephraim was interested in fossicking for minerals and had ventured wider. Perhaps this was the reason for their move to Wilmot where they were among the early settlers. At first they rented land but then built their own home. Ephraim still farmed and Caroline raised more children. Some of her older ones were already married and had children of their own. In 1903, Caroline was again pregnant, this time with her 13th. There are a couple of stories held by different family members. One is that she was kicked in the stomach by a cow, another that she had "kidney fits". A doctor was sent for but could do nothing. On January 6th, 1903, Caroline passed away. Her official cause of death "toxaemia". Ephraim was left on his own with his children, the youngest, not yet a year old.

Mrs Caroline Doe

A fuzzy photo, an obvious copy from a previous version, tells little of this lady, my great grandmother, Caroline Byron. Her life was short, only 43 years, but it was a hard one. Caroline was born in Launceston, the eldest child of Caroline (nee Walker) and John Byron. One of the big mysteries of my research has been the disappearance of John Byron. Three children were born of this union, then John disappeared, just went ............. I have checked every record imaginable but the difficulty is that the name John Byron was used by a few other people, one of them the poet who seems to have hogged the limelight as far as John Byrons go. One thing seems to crop up when distant relatives are asked for any clues. Everyone associates him with the sea. He was in the Navy (did we have one in 1858?). He was a sea captain. He went away to sea and kept other women in other places. John Byron was obviously educated. He confidently signed his name on his marriage certificate but on the birth records of his three children he is listed as a labourer - no mention of the sea. However, young Caroline began her life living at Robin Hood Wells on the banks of the Don River in Northern Tasmania, where her father worked at Don Sawmills. Possibly he worked on the ships which plied the timber trade along the coast and across Bass Strait. Caroline was not to know him for long. By the time she was three or four years old, he was gone. Caroline gained a new father, Frederick Bishop and a brother Henry, but before she could blink, her new father was dead. Ten years later, father number three, George Smith arrived and three more children were added to the family. By this time, Caroline would have been old enough to be thinking about going out to work. In 1878, she became the wife of Ephraim Doe the younger. Together they made a home at Paradise, but how much paradise was it for her? Caroline shows no more expression than the Mona Lisa. It is hard to tell what she was thinking.

Pigeon post works better

Today, it is the computer running at miniscule speed but mostly failing altogether. Yesterday, it was the new mobile phone which drove me insane. Oh for the days when everything was simple. I remember when my Doe grandparents finally moved to an area where they could have a phone. You just picked up the receiver and turned the handle on the phone. The exchange would answer and you would be connected by real people. All down the line, you could hear them passing on your request until finally, the person you had called, would answer. My grandparents number was Wilmot 41. No fancy strings of number that noone would ever remember. When you finished, you simply hung up. At home, we had 4 numbers and unfortunately they were similar to the local taxi company so we had lots of people ringing for taxis. Still, we just dialled a number and it worked. My new phone has a touch screen which just sits there. I touch it and get no reaction, so I try again, and again. The green line moves across and just sits there, then the phone turns off again. I try again and again. I get a call  but 10 seconds later, the call cuts out. This happens time and time again. My messages don't send. This is modern technology. My phone came with an instruction manual, written so small that it is impossible to read comfortably. The page numbers are in the negative, little white numbers in a grey square - impossible to read.
Finally, I went back to the shop and presented the phone. I am told it does not work aand that all these problems are a result of it having too much loaded on it.
 "Do you use all these programs?" I am asked
"No, I don't even know what they all do."
The extra programs are removed and suddenly the phone starts to function reasonably.
Why were all these programs there? I am told that they are automatically on the phone when you buy it. I cannot believe that Mr Samsung is selling a phone which is designed to fail. What is the point of having a phone with all these functions, if it stops the phone from working? And why are they loaded on there? And why is the instruction book so useless?
Bring back the good old days.