Thomas ‘Tommy’ Kendall – Gawler Town Crier

First published on the 'Gawler: Colonial Athens' blog on 2/2/2021

Thomas ‘Tommy’ Kendall was one of Gawler’s early Town Criers. He came to South Australia on board the barque Kingston on 18 December 1848, arriving at Port Adelaide from Sydney. He travelled with his wife Catherine.[1]

Thomas had previously been a Private in the 80^th Regiment of Foot, based at Chatham Kent.

 

Thomas Kendall's grave, West Tce. Cemetery
Source: Dwight Baker - Find a Grave 2016

The Bunyip wrote the following about a Town Crier named Kendall in 1879 under an article titled ‘Sayings and Doings Colonial Athens’:

BILL STICKING AND TOWN CRYING.

So we are to have a new bill poster and town cryer in Gawler. That's a sign of progress I think, and he's sure to get large patronage.

His name is Kendall, and I wouldn't wonder if he don't 'kindle' some enthusiasm in the hearts of the people here. Why do town cryers always use bells? This is an age of novelty, and I would suggest a drum as a better style of announcing sales and entertainments. The beating of a drum would stir all hearts with the enlivening sound; even yet I fondly remember how in childhood I often listened to the drummer, as he twirled his stick with rub a dub, 'dow-de-dow,'

Therefore my advice to, the new cryer is to introduce the drum, and beat up a hearty 'row-dow-dow' whenever a sale is on.[2]

Thomas suffered an elbow injury while working as an ostler at the Mill Inn in 1881.

Accident.—A serious accident happened on Tuesday morning at the Mill Inn, Gawler, to Mr. Thomas Kendall. It appears that Kendall although warned against doing so, went into the stable and began to clean a horse belonging to Mr. Denton, of Morgan, when the horse, which is generally quiet, kicked Kendall in the right elbow, putting it out of joint Mr. Popham was immediately in attendance, and set the fractured limb.[3]

 

Thomas died at the Adelaide Destitute Asylum on 25 July 1883. He was 73 years old.[4]

 

Upon his death, The Bunyip newspaper published the following epitaph regarding Tommy’s death, buried deep within another article:

On Monday a Gawler celebrity took his departure for that bourne from whence no man returneth. Thomas Kendall, or "Tommy," as he was more generally known by, died in the Adelaide Hospital from general decay. For some years past he has been the favorite town crier and bill sticker, and well has he done his work. He lived in poor circumstances, and although there were many who would have helped him, his independent spirit kept him from taking their aid, as he preferred to be free of obligation to any one.[5]

 

Also printed in the Bunyip was this epitaph in 1883. The excerpt from an article is written in the exact language used below, mocking the poor and uneducated. Perhaps this was an attempt at humour.?

Mrs. Harris On Things In General, Gawler Things in Particular

A few days ago, poor old Tommy Kendall took his larst journey for a distant shore, where I trust neither bill-sticking nor crying will be required of him.

The old gentleman was not a bad sort, full of informashun bought and paid for, possessing many good traits of character ,and your Betsey espeshily kan testify to his honesty, independent spirit, and an earnest desire to act squarely. I think those are very good traits in a man an nis poverty ort not to be a barrier for honorable menshun. May he have better times of it than he have had lately are the earnest wish of

Yours trooly,

Betsy Harris.[6]

Researched and written by Allen Tiller © 2021.

Photo: Dwight Baker (contributor 47306645), Find a Grave, database and images memorial page for Thomas Kendall (unknown–26 Jul 1883), Find a Grave Memorial no. 159724849, citing West Terrace Cemetery, Adelaide, Adelaide City, South Australia, Australia ; 

[1] 'SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.', South Australian, (22 December 1848), p. 2.
[2] 'SAYINGS AND DOINGS COLONIAL ATHENS.', Bunyip (21 February 1879), p. 4.
[3] 'GENERAL NEWS.', Adelaide Observer, (8 October 1881), p. 31.
[4] Thomas Kendall, Australia, Death Index, 1787-1985, vol. 129, p, 407
[5] 'TAXATION.', Bunyip, (3 August 1883), p. 2.
[6] 'MRS. HARRIS ON THINGS IN GENERAL, GAWLER THINGS IN PARTICULAR.', Bunyip, (10 August 1883), p. 3

The Green Dragon Brewery

The Green Dragon Brewery

Chambers and Blades Brewery Ltd was founded in 1871 by F.J. Blades with his Brothers-in-law, William and Charles Chambers.

Chambers and Blades bought the Green Dragon Hotel, The Tanner’s Arms in Unley and the Queens Head Hotel and South Australian Hotel (of which they paid 28, 500 pounds for the freehold lease) in Adelaide. The men also owned vacant land on Surflen Street, Adelaide.

The Green Dragon Brewery located behind the hotel was first occupied by Chambers and Blade Brewers Ltd. who used the building until 1901.
Green Dragon Brewery was merged with the Walkerville Co-operative Brewing Company in 1901. William Chambers remained on the board of the new company as did Frederick Blades.

For the following six years the former Green Dragon Brewery building remained empty until, in 1907, it was taken over by Richard Mitchell & Co. Carriers. In 1916, the Adelaide Motor Bus Company used the building for storage of its double-decker buses for a year. From 1917, Richard Mitchell & Co. again used the large building for storage.
In 1926 a fire broke out in the old building gutting much of the building.
In 1931 the building was offered for sale.

Green Dragon Brewery 1901

SLSA: [PRG 631/2/1241]

In 1952, the Green Dragon Brewery building still stood as a local landmark. It was noted in The News, that the buildings name had influenced local nomenclature with a Green Dragon Furniture Storage House operating nearby, and a new Green Dragon Service Station, operated by ex-servicemen about to open.

Mr Frederick James Blades (1829 - 1895) came to South Australia in 1849 from Stamford, Lincolnshire, England. Blades married Mary Chambers (1846 –1925) in 1869.

Blades died at his estate, “Lyndhurst” on South Terrace on 16 November 1895, aged 65. He left a wife and seven children. F.J. Blades is buried in West Terrace Cemetery, Adelaide.

Charles Chambers (1843-1877) and William Chambers (1849-1930) were sons of John Chambers, a wealthy pastoralist and mining speculator who had stations at Cherry Gardens, Cobdogla, and near present-day Renmark and mining interests near Blinman.

Charles was married for only four years to Mary Ransford (1849-1925) before his death in 1877. The pair had one child, Edgar, who managed the West End Brewery in Broken Hill. Charles died at his sheep station at Brimbago (near Keith). Mount Charles (near Keith) and Charles Creek (near Alice Springs) were named in Charles honour. Charles and Mary Chambers are buried at the North Road Cemetery, Nailsworth.

William Chambers was born at Cherry Gardens. He was educated at Young’s School, and later at St Peters College before working on one of his father's many cattle stations. He married Clara Bailey (1854-1937) in 1877. Together they had three children. William retired in 1912 due to his failing health. William died at his home on Fitzroy Terrace, Thorngate in 1930, aged 80. William and Clara Chambers are buried in the North Road Cemetery, Nailsworth.


Researched and written by Allen Tiller © 2019

Sources:


'Advertising', South Australian Register, (27 August 1877), p. 2

'Advertising', The Advertiser, (5 July 1937), p. 12.

Ancestry.com. Australia, Death Index, 1787-1985 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010.

'ASSIGNMENT.', Evening Journal, (25 September 1872), p. 2.

'BIG CITY PROPERTY TO BE AUCTIONED', Advertiser and Register, 20 June 1931, p. 10.

'Death Of Mr W. Chambers, Pioneer Brewer', The Register News-Pictorial, (24 May 1930), p. 22.

Donovan, Marsden & Stark, City of Adelaide Heritage Survey 1982, Adelaide City Archives.

'Family Notices', Evening Journal, (20 November 1895), p. 2.

'FIRE IN ADELAIDE.', Recorder, (22 November 1926), p. 4.

'OBITUARY', The Advertiser, (24 May 1930), p. 17.

Roberts, Mick, Early taverns of South Australia, Time Gents, (21 August 2017), https://timegents.com/2017/08/21/early-taverns-of-south-australia/

'THE LATE MR. F. J. BLADES.', The Express and Telegraph, (18 November 1895), p. 3.

'The odd spot', News, (15 August 1952), p. 3.

Death in the Victorian Era part 6: 
The Graveyard Walker

 The Victorian Era's influence on Cemetery design is still felt in Australia today. Our cemeteries here are usually very large, ornate garden-style cemeteries. In South Australia, one only has to look at Centennial Park, Smithfield Memorial Park and West Terrace Cemetery to see the influence I am referring to.

 In South Australia’s early days, it was common for burials to happen in Church Graveyards, and it was the same in Victorian Era England, the only problem for the English in the last century was, that they had so many deaths, and so few areas set aside for the dead, that graveyards soon became overcrowded.

 Coffins could be stacked on top of each other in 20-foot-deep pits, with the top coffin only inches from the surface. Some graves would be dug up, the corpse dismembered, the coffin smashed for firewood to be sold to paupers, and the newly dead, buried in their place. Often the rotting bones and flesh would be sprawled about the cemetery, attracting dogs and rats and other scavengers.

An English Surgeon named George Walker took up residence in Drury Lane at the start of the Victorian Era, and it was through his campaigning that the English public came to realise their poor treatment of the dead, and the neglect of the cemeteries was contributing to their poor health and the spread of disease.

 Walker’s campaign gained ground in 1839 with the publishing of his “Gatherings in Graveyards” pamphlet which emphasised the problem of the gas emanating from the rotting corpses. The trapped cadaverous vapours would often cause coffins to explode, this was particularly bad for coffins in above-ground vaults, or ones exposed to the ground surface, spreading their foul stench and associated disease into the air.
 (It was common in the Victorian era for cemetery workers to drill holes in coffins to stop them from expanding and exploding).

 It was because of his influence that many of the Victorian Era graveyards were closed and new designs, based on the French Pere-la-Chaise Cemetery were adopted throughout England. These cemeteries would be built outside the larger cities and included long tree-lined avenues, ornate ironwork and ornate headstones.

 They were a park and memorial place all in one, Walker’s influence back then can probably be attributed to our own Australian garden cemeteries today.

NEXT WEEK: Death in the Victorian Era part 7: Cemetery Design and Symbolism

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Bridgewater Beauty Killing Pt 2: 
The Trial of William Ephraim Peter Haines

William Ephraim Peter Haines, a 25-year-old labourer, followed his beloved Devina Schmidt to a Bridgewater park, in the Adelaide Hills. Here, he murdered her in cold blood. He then shot himself in the head, before trying to save the life of his now, almost dead victim.

 Haines was brought before the South Australian justice system, where he pleaded not guilty to the murder of the popular 18-year-old Devina Nellie Schmidt

Court proceedings began with Mr R. R. Chamberlain appearing for the Crown and Mr. L. M. S. Hogan for the accused.

The first incident to be brought before the court was an encounter between Mr Haines and Miss Schmidt at James Place, Adelaide on October 3^rd. Miss Schmidt was with Mr Clark when Mr Haines approached them. Haines asked Miss Schmidt to accompany him, but she refused. Mr Haines then put his hand in his pocket, and remarked “Well, I will shoot, you know”.
 In the second incident, also on the 3^rd, Mr Haines stopped Miss Schmidt and Mr Clark and said, “I will get you, you #$@#, I will come up for you this afternoon!”

Mr Clark was then questioned by Mr Hogan about his relationship with Miss Schmidt.

Mr. Hogan:  “As far as you were concerned, she was your girlfriend? “

Clark: “Yes. I have known Miss Schmidt for about three years”

Haines had visited Adelaide in April 1927, and on occasion had visited Miss Schmidt’s family home.

Mr. Hogan: “You were very friendly with the mother and father?”

Clark: “Yes.”

Mr. Hogan: “And they were anxious you should be friendly with their daughter?”

Clark: “Yes.”

Mr. Hogan: “And you never heard Haines's name mentioned in the home?”

Clark: “No.”

His Honour: “did you regard yourself as the young lady's sweetheart?”

Clark:  “Yes.”

Mr. Hogan: “From what you heard at the home, what was the parents' attitude towards Haines?”

Clark: “They did not want her to have anything to do with him.”

Mr. Hogan: “The mother was very bitter, I think?”

Clark:  “Yes.”

Mr. Hogan: “And the father something the same?”

Clark: “Yes.”

Mr Hogan: “You did not care whether Haines went to Bridgewater?”

Clark: “Yes.”

His Honour – “Why?

Clark:  “Because I knew he would not be there for any good.”

The next witness was Jack Rickard, who gave evidence of the shooting. While Rickard and Haines were carrying Miss Schmidt’s body to the car, Haines reportedly said “Her people drove me too it. She loved me, but they said I was too old for her, and she would not go against them”

Another witness cross-examined by Mr Hogan, Albert Powell of Thebarton, described seeing Haines shoot the girl, then kneeling beside her body, placing the gun against her temple and firing again, only to hear the gun “click” as it was out of bullets.
Haines then stated to Powell as Mounted Constable Gumley arrived “I am the man you are looking for. I am the man who did it. I shot her with a revolver. I went mad. I was jealous of her. Her people drove me to it. I wish I had ended myself. The poor girl is happy now”.
 A packet of 38 bullets was found in Mr Haines's pocket – six bullet wounds were found in Miss Schmidt’s head

(From “The Register” Newspaper Friday 18 Nov 1927 )
Mounted Constable Walter James Gumley, of Stirling West, deposed having heard the accused say, "I'm the man you are looking for.  I did it." The witness said, "Where is the revolver," and Powell produced it.  The witness then cautioned the accused and asked him if he had shot the girl.  He replied, "Yes, I went mad." Asked why he shot her, he replied, "I was jealous. Her people drove me to it." Subsequently he searched the accused and found the cartridges (produced) corresponding to the shells found in the revolver.

Next Week on The Haunts of Adelaide,”

  Bridgewater Beauty Killing Pt 3: Through The Eyes of a Murderer”:  Haines chilling recount of the murder of Devina Schmidt