James Hayes (1859-1891)
married (1884)
Isobel Annie Roberts (1861-1949)
Springvale Farm at Ruffy familyJames was born 16 November 1859 at Leicester House in Tooborac, Victoria. His dad, Mark Hayes, bought 213 acres at McIvor Creek in 1857 where he build "Leicester House" to run his own sheep farm. So James was born only two years after they moved in.
James had a big sister, Mary Ann and four big brothers, George, William, Edward and Mark. When James was 2 years old, David was born to the family. Two years later, Joseph arrived. Sadly Joseph drowned as a toddler. As a 4 year old, it's hard to know how much James understood about loosing his 3 year old brother. They were probably good playmates and James would have been distressed by his parents distress. Everyone thought someone else was watching young Joseph, yet no-one saw him fall into the water. The family must have been devastated. Just one month earlier, Maria had given birth to Alfred. When James was nearly 9 years old, his final brother, Albert was born July 1868. Thus James grew up on this sheep property working with his dad and seven brothers. Of these, Alfred was in some way disabled yet we can only suppose he helped the men on the land. The boys only had the one big sister, the first born Mary Ann. We are unaware of where James went to school, if he went to school or what sort of scholar he was. Were they home schooled of an evening? RomanceJames and Annie met as children. Annie told her grandchildren that when she and James were children, he had declared 'one day I will marry you'.
James and Annie married 31 Jan 1884 at the Methodist Church in Alphington, a suburb of Melbourne. FamilyGertrude Mabel was born on 20 November 1885 at 'Springvale Farm' in Ruffy, Victoria. Her parents, James and Annie, were running a small holding at Ruffy.
John William 'Willie' was born 17 December 1886 also at 'Springvale Farm' in Ruffy. Willie died of croup in Numurkah 28 May 1889, while his father was working there as a Butcher. James was born 1 November 1891 at Caledonia Gully (between Heathcote and Tooborac). Butcher at TooboracAt some point, the family moved to Tooborac where James operated a Butcher Shop on the corner of the Pyalong and Lancefield Roads. There was a house attached to the shop where they lived.
Sudden DeathJames senior's death was a dramatic tragedy in Tooborac.
Annie's long and trying lifeAnnie's long life, included her husband's early death while pregnant with James, a tragic bushfire and the loss of her daughter Mabel.
Annie's deathLegacyJames and Annie, though only married for seven years and of their three children, only one child married. Their daughter (Gertrude) Mabel gave them twelve grandchildren (three of which died as babies). The remaining nine grandchildren gave them 18 great-great grandchildren and consequentially 38 great-great-great grandchildren. Quite a legacy from a small family beginning.
Annie Hayes: A Great-Grandmother Remembered
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