WHITE-GRIFFIN Family Tree

George John GRIFFIN & Mary Ann RYLES
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Husband:
George John GRIFFIN (1 2)
Born:
02 Jun 1854  - Bowden, South Australia, Australia (3 4)
Married:
09 Dec 1875  - Trinity Church, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia (15 16); See Mary Ann for MC.
Died:
31 May 1905  - Brompton Park, South Australia, Australia (6 7); Age: 57. Buried Hindmarsh.
Father:
James GRIFFIN
Mother:
Ann COATES
Spouses:
Children2:
 Ethelbert John 1897-1966 Clarence Ray 1899-1946 Vera Mary Ann 1901-1971 [14 in all]
Children:
 Arthur James 1876-1950 Alice May 1878-1950 Rose Ann 1879-1881 Elsie Emily 1881-1957 Lilly Ellen 1883-1884 Edith Annie 1885-1968 George Charles 1887-1927 Albert Hurtle 1889-1976 Stella Maud 1891-1942 Harold Josiah 1894-1895 Linda Pearl 1894-1977 ...
Residence:
 Brompton Park (5)

Pictures/Stories

 
Wife:
Mary Ann RYLES (8 9)
Born:
10 May 1859  - Normanville, South Australia, Australia (10)
Died:
29 May 1914  - Quebec, Canada (11); Died in sinking of Empress of Ireland, apparently as 'Mrs. W. J. Richardson'.
Father:
Aaron RYLES
Mother:
Mary Ann PALMER
Spouses:

Pictures/Stories

 
 Image
Children
01  (M):
Ethelbert John GRIFFIN (12)
Born:
04 Jun 1897  - Brompton Park, South Australia, Australia (13)
Died:
12 Aug 1966  - Cowandilla, South Australia, Australia (14); Cremated remains buried at Centennial Park Cemetry, 16/08/66.
Spouses:
Dorothy Grace SMITH

Pictures/Stories

 
 Image
Additional Information

Mary Ann RYLES:

Notes:

Like her mother, Mary Ann Griffin was evidently a strong and resilient woman. After raising 14 children, 11 of whom survived their infancy, and losing her husband in 1905 when her youngest was 4, she went on to assist in managing and then winding up George John's business, and finally embarked on a trip to the UK on which she died.

She appeared to take over the role of family matriarch after her mother-in-law Ann Griffin (Coates) died in 1882. (Her father-in-law died in 1864 - she probably never met him). Ann Coates Griffin, Mary Ann Palmer Ryles, and Mary Ann Ryles Griffin appeared to take on a 'mother hen' role to the various Griffins, Coates and Ryles who were loose in the district.

This role was facilitated by George John Griffin's brickmaking business apparently flourishing in the 1880/90s. It was evidently a form of family business, but the spokesman was mainly George. James Griffin, George's father, was also farming in the Ovingham/Torrens Road area, and this land presumably passed to his sons.

There are indications that the Griffin men were not particularly outspoken, and the family verbal history supports this. According to these reports, Mary Ann tried to continue the business after George died in 1905, but found it difficult as a woman and eventually wound up the business and George's estate, distributing land to the various relatives. The estate was considerable, including a 3 acre brickyard and 50-70 acres near Ovingham. Some of this was obviously windfall, based on the rapidly increasing value of land near the City, but it also showed a canny thrift and knowledge of the value of real estate. George started to wind up the brickmaking business in 1903, possibly because he was ill, or maybe he felt he could retire on his investments.

Mary Ann died on a world trip, in the sinking of the 'Empress of Ireland' in Canada in 1914, but her death was not announced in the Adelaide newspapers. She was apparently travelling - possibly covertly - with William John Richardson, a local brickmaker, and was in the passenger list as his wife. See the Story 'Mary Ann's Trip'.

Family verbal history tells that she gave her son Elthelbert the blocks in Marion Rd Cowandilla as part proceeds of her sell-up, one for his own family, and the other for his in-laws (Thomas Smith and Sarah Jane Brown).

Footnotes
  1. Ancestry.com, Australia Birth Index, 1788-1922 (Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2010;).
  2. Ancestry.com, Australia Death Index, 1787-1985 (Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2010;).
  3. Genealogy SA, GenealogySA DB & BDM Certificates (Location: http://www.genealogysa.org.au;), Birth Certificate Transcription.

    Name: Joseph Gamlen
    Date: 25 Jun 1848
    Sex: M
    Father Name & Address: Eli Gamlen
    Father Occupation: Laborer.
    Mother Name (inc. maiden): Charlotte Bidwell
    Informant name, relation, address: Eli Gamlen (X), Laborer, North Adelaide.
    Reg, date, place: 3 Jun 1848, Adelaide.
    Ref: 2/68
    Name: Hannah Maria Gamlen
    Date: 6 Jul 1849
    Sex: M
    Father Name & Address: Eli Gamlen
    Father Occupation: Laborer.
    Mother Name (inc. maiden): Charlotte Bidwell
    Informant name, relation, address: Eli Gamlen (S), South Terrace.
    Reg, date, place: 9 Jul 1849, Adelaide.
    Ref: 2/164
    Name: Mary Ann Gamlen
    Date: 25 May 1851
    Sex: F
    Father Name & Address: Eli Gamlen
    Father Occupation: Limeburner.
    Mother Name (inc. maiden): Charlotte Bidwell
    Informant name, relation, address: Eli Gamlen, Father, North Adelaide.
    Reg, date, place: 24 Jun 1851, Adelaide.
    Ref: 3/219
    Name: Eliza Gamlen
    Date: 15 Apr 1854
    Sex: F
    Father Name & Address: Ely Gamlin
    Father Occupation: Farmer.
    Mother Name (inc. maiden): Charlotte Bidwell
    Informant name, relation, address: Eli Gamlen, North Adelaide.
    Reg, date, place: 4 May 1854, 20 May 1854, Adelaide. (2 entries)
    Ref: 4/316, 4/321
    Name: William Henry Gamlen
    Date: 25 Sep 1855
    Sex: M
    Father Name & Address: Eli Gamlen
    Father Occupation: Farmer.
    Mother Name (inc. maiden): Charlotte Bidwell
    Informant name, relation, address: Eli Gamlen
    Reg, date, place: 19 Oct 1855
    Ref: 5/221

  4. Ancestry.com, Australia Birth Index, 1788-1922 (Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2010;).
  5. Ancestry.com, Australia Death Index, 1787-1985 (Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2010;).
  6. Ibid.
  7. Adelaide Newpapers (Location: http://trove.nla.gov.au;), Newspaper entries of and after death.

    *** Advertiser Wednesday Saturday 3 June 1905:
    THE FRIENDS of the late Mr. GEORGE JOHN GRIFFIN are respectfully informed that his Funeral will leave his late residence, Coglin-street, Brompton Park, on SATURDAY, at 3.30 p.m., for the Hindmarsh Cemetery. F. T. ELLIOTT, Undertaker and Embalmer, Bowden.
    (F) (L) (T) OLIVE. BRANCH LODGE, NO. 17, I.O.O.F. MEMBERS of the above Lodge and Order are re- quested to MEET at the Residence of our late Brother G. J. GRIFFIN, Coglin-street, Brompton Park, at 3.30, this SATURDAY AFTERNOON, to follow his remains to the Hindmarsh Cemetery. J. ASPINALL, N.G.
    *** Advertiser Saturday 3 June 1905
    GRIFFIN.-On the 31st May, at his late resi- dence, Coglin-street, Brompton Park, George John, the dearly beloved husband of Mary Ann Griffin, aged 51 years, leaving 5 sons and 6 daughters.
    *** Advertiser Thursday 31 May 1906
    GRIFFIN.-In sad and loving memory of our dear father, who died May 31, at Brompton Park. […] Inserted by his loving daughter and son-in-law, E. E. and H. È. Hawke.
    *** Advertiser Thursday 31 May 1906
    GRIFFIN.-In loving memory of George J. Grif- fin, beloved husband of Mary Ann, who departed this life at Hawker-street, Brompton, May 31, 1905. […] Inserted by his loving wife and children.
    *** Advertiser Friday 31 May 1907
    GRIFFIN. -On the 31st May, 1905 at Hawker- street, Brompton Park, George John, dearly be-loved husband of Mary Ann Griffin, aged 51. Gone, but not forgotten -inserted by his loving wife and children.

  8. Ancestry.com, Australia Birth Index, 1788-1922 (Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2010;).
  9. Ancestry.com, Australia Marriage Index, 1788-1950 (Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2010;).
  10. Ancestry.com, Australia Birth Index, 1788-1922 (Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2010;).
  11. Adelaide Newpapers (Location: http://trove.nla.gov.au;), Newspaper entries of and after death.

    *** The Advertiser Monday 24 August 1914:
    Probate has been granted in respect of the following wills: ... Mary Ann Griffin, of Southwark, £2,200.
    *** Chronicle Saturday 29 May 1915
    GRIFFIN.— In loving memory of our dear mother who was lost on the Empress of Ireland, May 28, 1914. Gone is the face we loved so dear, Silent the voice we loved to hear. Too far away from sight or speech, But not too far for our thoughts to reach. —Inserted by her loving son and daughter-in-law, Hurtle and Myrtle and Jackie.
    *** The Advertiser, Tuesday 1 June 1915
    THURSDAY, June 17, at 2:30 p.m. BAGOT, SHAKES, & LEWIS, LIMITED.
    will offer by public auction, as above In the Deceased Estate of Mary Ann Griffin—
    BROMPTON PARK, corner Coglin and Hawker- streets, opposite Excelsior Hotel - Allotments 77 and Parts 78 and 79; Land about 110 by 220 ft. deep, with double-fronted Brick Cottage thereon, of 6 rooms, in good order, cellar, trapshed. Let to Mr. Shoeschmit at 14/ per week. Ample space to build five more houses.
    *** The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1889 - 1931) Monday 5 July 1915 Legal Notices:
    IN THE ESTATE OF MARY ANN GRIFFIN DECEASED
    Pursuant to the Trustee Act 1898 NOTICE is hereby given that all CREDITORS and other per-sons having CLAIMS against the ESTATE of MARY ANN GRIFFIN late of Light-terrace South- wark, in the State of South Australia but formerly of Coglin street Brompton Park in the said State. Widow deceased who died at Father Point Quebec in the Dominion ot Canada on the twenty-ninth day of May 1914 and whose will was proved in the Supreme Court of South Australia on the seventeenth day of August 1914 by Horace Ernest Hawke of Terowie in the said State, Oiler, South Australian Railways and Elsie Emily Hawke of the same place, Married Woman, the executors named in the said will are hereby required on or before the fourteenth dav August 1915 to send thheir names, addresses, descriptions, and FULL PARTICULARS of their claims to us the under- signed Solicitors to the said executors after which date the said executors will proceed to distribute the estate of the said deceased having regard only to the claims of which they shall then have had notice.
    ---

  12. Ancestry.com, Australia Birth Index, 1788-1922 (Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2010;).

    Name: Ethelbert John Griffin
    Birth: 1897 in Brompton Park, South Australia
    Death:

  13. Ibid.

    Name: Ethelbert John Griffin
    Birth: 1897 in Brompton Park, South Australia
    Death:

  14. Genealogy SA, GenealogySA DB & BDM Certificates (Location: http://www.genealogysa.org.au;), Year of birth.
  15. Ancestry.com, Australia Marriage Index, 1788-1950 (Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2010;).
  16. Genealogy SA, GenealogySA DB & BDM Certificates (Location: http://www.genealogysa.org.au;), Marriage Certificate Transcription.

    Male Name, Age, Address: George Griffin, 21, Bowden.
    Trade Brickmaker.
    Father's Name: James Griffin
    Spouse Name, Age, Address: Mary Ann Ryles, 16, Bowden
    Spouse's Father Name: Aaron Ryles
    Marriage Date: 09 Dec 1875
    Marriage Place: Trinity Church
    Witness 1: Alfred Griffin, Brickmaker, Bowden.
    Witness 2: Alice Pascoe, Bowden.
    Signatures: XXXX
    Ref: 336

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Comments on the contents of this page should be addressed to Andrew Gabb. Revised 24 July 2017.