July 2006 – Edition 15

We trust you enjoyed the early 1800’s Australia
Jerrems
history in the May edition which chronicled the
migration of Thomas and Elizabeth and their children
from England. We start with Charles born 1857, their
tenth child of twelve.

This is one of a series of articles on people who
formed part of the Jerrems family’s history.

This is the story of Charles Jerrems, who
was the great grandfather of readers Doug
Jerrems, Laurel Gray and the writer. It is based
on information from historic sources and the
recollections of Charles’ late grand daughter Violet
(my Aunty Vi), combined with a degree
of “reconstruction” from known facts.

Another article will deal with his career as a
prominent bookbinder, including the medals he was
awarded at 2 International Exhibitions.

Charles’ story is unique because very little seems to
be known about Charles’ numerous brothers and
sisters (listed in a recent edition of this Newsletter)
and it is the only account supported by first-hand
information. For this reason the article is fairly long.

Charles, later known as the “black sheep” of the
family, was born in Gainsborough, England in 1847
and came to Australia in 1859 with most of his
family. They settled in Richmond, on the Yarra River,
about 3 miles from the city of Melbourne. By
deduction he would have finished school in about
1861 and would have been apprenticed to a printing
and bookbinding firm in nearby Melbourne city until
about 1864.

Charles would then have gained further experience at
his trade in Melbourne until about 1868. During this
period the family suffered a tragedy. Charles’ father,
Thomas Clarke Jerrems, died at Richmond in
1866 at the comparatively young age (even for those
times) of 51. Although some of the children had
grown up his widow Elizabeth was still left with 4
teenage children, Charles (19), Robert Cane (17),
Catherine (16) and Arthur Reginald (14). Robert’s
descendants live in Melbourne and Arthur’s live in
Queensland. William George, whose descendants live
the US, had probably already gone to Sydney.

After an interlude of several years in a small
village (Woogarma) in southern NSW Charles
settled in Sydney, where he married Susannah
Druery in 1871. They had 4 children in Surry
Hills, close to the city: Charles Albert Druery
born in 1872, Edwin Lewis (“Ted”) born in 1874,
Isabel (“Belle”) born in 1876 and Ernest Alfred (“Alf”)
born in 1878.

Family folklore suggests that Susannah came from a
privileged background, one version being that her
mother or an aunt was a Lady-in-Waiting to Queen
Victoria. In any case she was born in England.

In 1880 the family moved from Surry Hills to
Greenwich, also in Sydney.

The suburb of Greenwich is on a long ridge which
terminates at Greenwich Point, overlooking the
Parramatta River. This very wide river becomes
Sydney Harbour a short distance downstream, at the
Sydney Harbour Bridge. The Point is less than 3
miles “as the crow flies” from Sydney City, on the
other side of the Harbour.

The main attribute of the Point at that time was that
it had a level area on top of the steep-sided ridge for
houses, stores (general store, butcher, and grocer),
post office and a small school and it had a wharf
accessible to steam ferries, the main form of
transport for people, supplies and mail. The stores
and school were patronised by the residents of
nearby Cockatoo Island (where a large naval dock
was being established) and other nearby
settlements, in addition to the Point’s handful of
residents. There was a small swimming pool adjacent
to the wharf.

Charles would have found living at the Point
particularly convenient because his house was only a
3 minute walk from the wharf, the ferry trip to the
city took only 15 minutes and his bookbinding
shop was only 5 minutes walk from the ferry
terminus. He could therefore get to his shop in 25
minutes. Perhaps this was a major attraction for him.
He would have been less enthused by the fare of
sixpence, which was a lot of loot in those days.

This sparsely populated semi-rural area (the family
were the seventh family to settle there) must have
provided quite a contrast for the family compared
with their previous middle class urban environment at
Surry Hills. No doubt it shaped the children’s love of
the outdoors. One can picture the children
(particularly the boys) swimming, fishing, sailing and
exploring the rough terrain, just the same as their
father would have done with his brothers in Richmond
when he was a teenager.

One son (my grandfather Alf) was a national
champion swimmer in his late teens, putting his
childhood experience to good use.

On the other hand their genteel mother, who had
come from a privileged background, may not have
been overly impressed with such activities and the
rudimentary nature of the facilities at the Point.

Charles quickly made a name for himself in the local
community. When he and Susannah bought their first
house at the Point in 1880 the builder had locked the
family out because of a dispute. Charles borrowed a
ladder and climbed in a broken rear window, no mean
feat because the house (still existing) is almost 3
storeys high at the back

Susannah always had a maid, whose sole
responsibility was to look after her mistress. With
typical Victorian modesty Susannah used to take her
bath with the bathroom door locked from the inside,
the maid and children being left on the outside. One
day the key jammed in the lock on the inside, so the
maid called out to a workman or neighbour to assist.
The man used a ladder to climb in the bathroom
window and fix the lock, to the discomfiture of a
scantily-clad Susannah.

No doubt this story became part of Greenwich Point
folklore! Certainly the ferry captains, who felt it was
their duty to relay to their passengers all gossip
on ”the River”, would have quickly related the story
to all and sundry. Possibly Charles heard the story
before he got home from work that evening.

Charles and Susannah must have had a rush of blood
to the head when they bought this house. It is
perched on the edge of the scarp, giving panoramic
views of the Parramatta River and distant views of
the city, but it has no front yard and its back yard
runs down the steep slope below. A curious choice
when there was plenty of flat land available in the
area. The steepness of the block would have made
it unsuitable for a family of 4 children and a baby.
This, and the house’s southerly aspect (open to cold
southerly winds in winter) probably persuaded
Charles and Susannah to move several years later to
a single storey house on a level block in the next
street.

Eventually, some time prior to the First World War,
Charles and Susannah (and the maid!) moved to a
substantial house in a good position overlooking
Sydney Harbour at Manly. (Editors Note: This is
where local girl Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban married
in June 2006.)

The travelling time by ferry or tram from Manly to
Greenwich and back in those days was about 3
hours. This leads one to wonder whether Susannah
had initiated the move to such a location because
she was finding her 8 lively grandchildren (all of
whom had previously lived within walking distance at
Greenwich) rather wearing. By all accounts the
children of Charles Jr, Alf and Ted were as lively as
their parents had been at the same age and they
engaged in the same boisterous activities.

Briefly, after Susannah died in 1917 Charles lived at
the Forbes Hotel (still existing – pictured) in
the city, some 5 minutes walk from his shop. After
about 1923 he lodged in a boarding house at Manly,
where he died in 1927.

After Susannah died, he sometimes visited his son Alf
and Alf’s family at Greenwich. By the mid 1920s he
was blind and one of his grand daughters (Essie and
Violet) would take him back to Manly to his austere
lodgings, a sad task for a teenager, but the girls
were very fond of him. He had a quiet nature and a
good sense of humour which appealed to the
grandchildren. When speaking of him over 70 years
later Aunty Vi would still look wistful.

Even though my account has a lot of gaps in it, at
least it gives the reader an idea of my great
grandfather’s life. I have more information and details
of historical sources which I can send to readers if
they want them.

Charles Albert Druery (born in Surry Hills,
Sydney in 1872), presumably educated at Greenwich
Point and Fort Street High School up to Junior
Certificate, apprenticed to a printer (he was
described as “printer” in 1903 Electoral Roll).
Presumably worked in family printing business. After
leaving his parents’ home he lived in a family-owned
house in Carlotta Street, Greenwich with brother
Edwin Lewis. Married Doris Brandtmann in
1901, probably they lived in the same house in
Carlotta Street. Children Charles born 1902, Doris
born 1906, Elsie born 1908 (all born in Greenwich).
Later the family moved south to Brighton-Le-Sands,
on Botany Bay. Grandfather of Laurel Gray.

Edwin Lewis born in Surry Hills, Sydney in
1874, married Grace Viola Blagdon in 1903,
son Edwin Lewis born 1904. Educated at Greenwich
Point and Fort Street High School. Before marriage
Ted lived in Carlotta Street in cottage owned by his
mother. Presumably they lived there after marriage.
Ted was described as a journalist in the 1903
Electoral Roll. Ted was active in local affairs, being
the President of the Lane Cove Ratepayers
Association in 1912, in which capacity he addressed
a Public Works Department Inquiry in support of an
unsuccessful proposal to have the East Ward made
into a separate Council. The family still lived in
Greenwich in 1917 because Ted was an alderman on
Lane Cove Council in 1914 but resigned in 1917. At
that stage the Council Chambers were on the corner
of Belleview Street and Gordon Road (now Pacific
Highway) opposite Gore Hill Cemetery, not a long
walk from Carlotta Street. Ted was a partner in the
bookbinding business when it was sold in the early
1930s. The family moved to Brisbane, possibly
coinciding with the sale of the business. Son Edwin
Lewis did not marry. Nothing further known.

Isabel (or Isabella). Known as “Belle”, born in
Surry Hills, Sydney in 1876, early education in
Greenwich, high school not known (note that North
Sydney Girls High School did not open until 1912).
1903 Census shows her as “Teacher” living in
Greenwich Road, presumably with her parents.
Married George Day in 1916 and they lived
for a period in a cottage in Chisolm Street Greenwich
owned by her mother. George had 2 sons by a
previous marriage. She was 40 at time of marriage
and they had no children. Nothing further known.

Ernest Alfred (“Alf”) born in Surry Hills,
Sydney in 1878. Grandfather of Ray and Doug.
Separate article will set out his life story in detail.

Richmond (“Dick”) born in 1886 at
Greenwich, early education at Greenwich then Fort
Street Boys High School, Sydney University,
Teachers College (languages teacher). Married Nellie
Donald (nee Carrie) in 1925. Nellie had 2 children by
previous marriage, none in marriage with Dick. Dick
died in 1940.

Note: Three other children who died at early age
have not been included.

The people are (L to R) standing Isabel Jerrems (born
1876) and her brother Alf Jerrems (born 1878),
seated Alfred Sassall, Richmond Jerrems (born 1886),
and his mother Susannah Jerrems (born about 1850)
and father Charles Jerrems (born 1847) seated in the
far right.