Four sons of ROBERT TUCKER and MARY FRY of Stockland, Devon, England came to Australia. GEORGE (born 27 March 1823), JAMES (baptised 29 April 1825), CHARLES (baptised 29 June 1830) and MARK (baptised 29 April 1838). They all came to the Maitland area of New South Wales.
GEORGE TUCKER born 27-3-1823 Stockland Devon, England...... ANNIS LANG born 1825 Barrington, Somerset, England....... Married 2-11-1847 Barrington......Issue -
George & Annis arrived in Sydney on the "Harbinger" 12-2-1849. They settled at Mid-Lorn, near Maitland, growing lucerne for hay & chaff, corn, potatoes, vegetables etc. The family was raised at Mid-Lorn. George & Annis were staunch adherents of the Church of England &, rain or shine, the family went to church at St. Mary's in Church St. Maitland. One of the heavy draught farm horses was harnessed to the heavy farm dray & planks were put across on which the family sat. My mother (Amelia)often talked & laughed about the long trek from Mid-Lorn to church. The draught horse walking & the dray, with no springs, rattling along over the rough roads with George & Annis sitting up front driving & the pack of children sitting on the rough seats behind them, all dressed up in their best clothes to go to church as was the custom. George always dressed in a long black frock-coat, with a stiffly starched white shirt, a peaked white collar & a black bow tie which hitched up at the back. Annis wore a small black hat & a white silk shawl, which fell over her shoulders.
When spring-vans were introduced, George was the first to buy one & when phaetons, later, were introduced he was first again to have one. They were made by Hammond & Moore, whose coachbuilding factory was in Parallel St. right opposite Church St. Railway Station. These Vehicles were four wheeled,with the front wheels very small (2'6" diameter) and the back wheels about 5' in diameter. They seated two people in upholstered seats & also had a hood,which folded down if sunshine was desired & pulled up quite simply if it began to rain. The family, of course was still accommodated in the spring-cart.
George prospered & went in for breeding heavy draught horses, which were the main means of transport at that time. He made three journeys back to England to purchase pedigreed stallions. I cannot remember the first one, but the two later horses were "Nonpareil" & "Magenta". The price paid for "Magenta" was 500 Guineas & then, of course, there was the cost of shipping him & a groom to care for him & feed him on board. A good booking of mares around the district was made. On the first day of travel however, a thunderstorm took place in the afternoon on the way home, causing the creeks & gullies to flow. The next morning Magenta was ill & a veterinary surgeon diagnosed fever in his four feet. Extensive treatment was given & a sling made to keep the weight off his feet. His hooves fell off & he had to be destroyed. It was believed that he got a chill walking through cold water after being hot travelling. This caused an infection, which could not be arrested. This was a very grave loss to George financially & he concentrated on farming at "Bellvue" until his death occurred on Thursday 10-1-1884, aged 63 years. The cause of his death was "Bright's Disease" (a kidney complaint).
Written by Cliff Standen (1896 - 1985).
CHARLES JAMES TUCKER, son of George and Annis, was born at Mid-Lorn, N.S.W. 11 June 1851. Charles died 24 July 1932 at Westbrook, via Singleton, N.S.W., at the age of 81 years. His body was interred July 1932 in the Pres. Cemetery, Parkville, N.S.W.
He married ELIZABETH EDWARDS in the Pres. Church, East Maitland, N.S.W. Elizabeth was born in Perthshire, Scotland about 1854. She was the daughter of JAMES EDWARDS and ANN WILL. Elizabeth died 4 February 1918 at "Segenhoe" via Scone, N.S.W. Her body was interred in the Pres. Cemetery, Parkville, N.S.W.
Charles James Tucker and Elizabeth Edwards had the following children:
AGNES MYRA TUCKER was born 16 February 1891 at "Corinda". Agnes died 15 December 1964 in Albury St. Dudley, N.S.W. at 73 years.
She married DANIEL CLAY HODGSON in Muswellbrook, N.S.W. on 11 November 1914. Daniel was born in Marrickville, N.S.W. 8 October 1889. He was the son of CHARLES CHRISTOPHER HODGSON and MARION TODD. Daniel died 5 December 1957 in Newcastle Royal Hospital, aged 68, and was buried 6 December 1957 in Beresfield Cemetery.
Agnes Myra Tucker and Daniel Clay Hodgson had the following children:
MARGERY AGNES HODGSON was born 8 November 1928 at Hamilton, N.S.W.
She married LESLIE KEITH MUNCASTER in the Wesley Church, Hamilton on 12 May 1951. Leslie was born 18 June 1922 at Adamstown, N.S.W. He was the son of WILLIAM ALBERT MAYNARD MUNCASTER and JOSEPHINE FEWINGS DATE.
Margery and Leslie had the following children:
© 1997 standen@aardvark.apana.org.au