| [Index] |
| Harold Lewington ELWORTHY (1872 - 1928) |
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| b. 20 Aug 1872 at Gundagai, New South Wales, Australia |
| m. 26 Sep 1917 Marion Adelaide Alice SHROPSHIRE (1893 - 1990) at Grafton, New South Wales, Australia |
| d. 16 May 1928 at Grafton, New South Wales, Australia aged 55 |
| Parents: |
| James Baker ELWORTHY (1833 - 1889) |
| Henrietta Sophia Jane LARGE (1846 - 1915) |
| Children (4): |
| Marion ELWORTHY (1919 - ) |
| Edith ELWORTHY (1920 - 1940) |
| Gladys ELWORTHY (1923 - 1994) |
| Betty ELWORTHY (1925 - 2005) |
| Grandchildren (9): |
| Events in Harold Lewington ELWORTHY (1872 - 1928)'s life | |||||
| Date | Age | Event | Place | Notes | Src |
| 20 Aug 1872 | Harold Lewington ELWORTHY was born | Gundagai, New South Wales, Australia | 10951/1872 | ||
| 03 Mar 1889 | 16 | Death of father James Baker ELWORTHY (aged 55) | Gundagai, New South Wales, Australia | 9866/1889 | 2 |
| 05 Jul 1915 | 42 | Death of mother Henrietta Sophia Jane LARGE (aged 68) | Grafton, New South Wales, Australia | 11474/1915 | 22 |
| 26 Sep 1917 | 45 | Married Marion Adelaide Alice SHROPSHIRE (aged 24) | Grafton, New South Wales, Australia | 12593/1917 | |
| 22 May 1919 | 46 | Birth of daughter Marion ELWORTHY | |||
| 27 Jun 1920 | 47 | Birth of daughter Edith ELWORTHY | |||
| 12 Sep 1923 | 51 | Birth of daughter Gladys ELWORTHY | Grafton, New South Wales, Australia | Army record | |
| 26 May 1925 | 52 | Birth of daughter Betty ELWORTHY | |||
| 16 May 1928 | 55 | Harold Lewington ELWORTHY died | Grafton, New South Wales, Australia | 7737/1928 | |
| Personal Notes: |
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The Elworthy family and the Gundagai Times was well established by the time Harold Lewington was born on 20 Aug 1872. Two days later the Overland Telegraph Line was completed and a couple of months later the Holterman Nugget was discovered - the greatest mass of gold ever found.
Harold gained his early education at Gundagai then went into the Australian Joint Stock Bank which later amalgamated with the Bank of NSW. In 1907 he was at Forbes and later was manager at Dunoon near Lismore. Never fond of routine clerical work, he would have preferred farming, so when the opportunity arose Harold retired from the Bank, becoming partner in a stock and station agency at South Grafton. Some time after the death of Harold's mother Henrietta in 1915, her sister and niece Cecelia and Lillian Williamson moved to Grafton to take care of the bachelors, Ernest and Harold. In 1984, Harold's eldest daughter Marion told me how her future father and mother first met. John Laynton SHROPSHIRE, a new magistrate, had recently been appointed to Grafton - where his five beautiful daughters with their French chaperone made quite a stir in the country town. One of Cecelia Williamson's sons was also in the bank at Deniliquin between Hay and Moama, where the Shropshires had previously lived. He asked his mother to 'pay her respects' to the Shropshires. They would have been acquainted with Harold from their days in Gundagai where Lillia, their eldest daughter was born when Harold was 15. As both fathers were magistrates, they were bound to have known each other. Many receptions were held to entertain the new magistrate and his family. At a euchre party for Mr & Mrs Shropshire, Harold was captivated by the fourth daughter, Marion Adelaide Alice. Although he was a tall, fine-looking man, he was almost twice Alice's age and the lovely young Alice didn't pay him much attention, totally ignoring him when next they passed in the street. Alice told me how mortified poor Harold was, later chiding her "Miss Alice, you cut me dead". Previous acquaintance with the family didn't give him an advantage and although Harold made every endeavour to encourage friendship, her parents were not sympathetic and Alice was sent off to stay at Kempsey. By then a partner in the auctioneering firm of Campbell & Elworthy, Harold was not to be put off and strongly 'pressed his suit'. Eventually his persistence won the day and their engagement was announced in February 1917. They had much in common; both were enthusiastic golfers, active in the Church of England where they sang in the choir. Harold was a good tennis player and like his brothers, had a splendid voice. Alice said he also danced beautifully! On 26 Sep 1917, 45-year-old Harold and 24-year-old Alice were married in a morning ceremony at Christ Church Cathedral. The Examiner reported "The bride was dressed in white duchesse satin and cream georgette trimmed with side panels and finished with a court train. She wore a wreath and veil and carried a shower bouquet of azaleas and lilies." Ernest Elworthy was best man and H. Marshall Jones was groomsman. Harold was lavish with his gifts to the ladies: a 'handsome' diamond brooch for Alice; a circle pearl brooch to chief bridesmaid Stella Shropshire; Nellie Stewart gold bangles to Harold's cousin Lil Williamson and to Alice's friend Marjory Baldock and an amethyst ring to her sister Grace Shropshire. Alice gave Harold a set of military brushes. The wedding breakfast for 'a large number of guests' was held at Harold's house, 3 Fitzroy Street and more than 70 years later, Alice could still remember there were flannel flowers and sweet peas decorating the table. The local paper reported the wedding festivities were continued in the evening, with Mr and Mrs Shropshire entertaining many friends. Harold with Alice "smartly dressed in a travelling dress of saxe blue and a grey motoring bonnet" set off by car for the honeymoon but only got as far as Harold's home town of Gundagai when he was overcome by a severe attack of rheumatism. The poor chap was confined to bed for two whole weeks before the honeymoon could continue. They stayed with the family of Constable Hansen whose daughter Viola was engaged to Harold's nephew Fred Elworthy. Alice had been born at Hay, NSW on 14 Aug 1893 - and was four months younger than the girl who was to become her niece! Four little girls were born to Harold and Alice - Marion 1919; Edith 1920; Gladys 1923 and Betty 1925 but they had only a few short years to enjoy family happiness. With a bad heart and kidney trouble, Harold had been ailing for some time. When Harold entered the stock and station business he paid his share in cash but when his partner died of pneumonic flu, Harold found his share consisted of mortgaged lands! On 16 May 1928, just ten days before his baby's birthday and not quite 56, Harold died of chronic nephritis and uraemia. His wife felt that financial worries hastened his death. "Mr Elworthy was a much respected resident of the town and although he was not conspicuous in public life, he had a very wide circle of friends and acquaintances who will sincerely regret his passing." Harold was interred at Grafton Cemetery the following day after a service in the lovely Grafton Cathedral. Alice was only 35 and had the daunting task of raising the four little girls herself. The Fitzroy Street house was in her name. Harold owned 422 acres in Lanitza Parish and another 175 acres at Ulmarra, run by a share farmer. Obit from SMH 19 May 1928 " DEATH OF MR. H. L. ELWORTHY. GRAFTON, Friday. The death has occurred at the age of 55 of Mr. Harold L. Elworthy. a well-known resident. For some years Mr. Elworthy was a partner in the auctioneering firm of Messrs, Campbell and Elworthy, South Grafton, but he retired several years ago. A widow and four young daughters survive Mr. E. G. Elworthy, of South Grafton and Sydney, and Mr. Harry Elworthy, proprietor of the "Times," Gundagai, are brothers." |
| Source References: |
| 2. Type: Book, Abbr: Devon to Downunder, Title: Devon to Downunder, Auth: Bettie Elworthy, Publ: Bookbound, Date: 1997 |
| - Reference = 114, 188-192 (Name, Notes) |