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from Ann:
John GOWER, baptized 11 Mar 1838, d. 1882 in Creswick, Victoria, Australia,
He married Sarah Ann TAYLOR (sic Jane), d. 19 Mar 1912.
- census 1841 at Lyminge Street, Lyminge, Kent, occupation Miner. Killed
in a mine disaster at Creswick.
Children:
i Sidney Ernest GOWER b. 1872.
ii John GOWER. married with 3 children.
iii Annie GOWER. 3 children.
iv Francis GOWER. 3 boys. He married Sarah.
v Frederick GOWER. 5 boys.
vi Charles GOWER. 3 children.
Sidney Ernest GOWER b. 1872, d. 1946 in Happy Valley, Victoria, Australia,
occupation Carpenter. He married Florence POTTER, 25 Jun 1895, b. 27 Aug
1874, d. 15 Apr 1958 in Cooma, NSW, Australia, occupation Florist.
Children:
i Florence Brayle GOWER, b. 18 Mar 1895 in Campbell (probably Campbell's
Creek - Rick), Victoria, Australia. She married Gilbert SLOANE, occupation
Chief Constable/Farmer. 10 children.
ii Myra Addison GOWER, b. 23 Dec 1898, d. in Yappean, Australia.
iii Hazel Alma GOWER, b. 8 Jul 1899 in Castlemaine, Victoria, Australia,
occupation Teacher. 5 children. She married Stanley MOLLISON, 23 Oct 1926,
b. 6 Apr 1889 in Edinburgh, Scotland, d. 1956, occupation Teacher.
added by Paul: Hazel Alma Mollison (nee Gower) remarried to someone called Purdue. She died 10 July 1974 at Geelong as Hazel Alma Purdue, while living at Anglesea (a nearby coastal town where Stanley Mollison was living when he died on 2 August 1959 aged 70 i.e. not "1956"). Hazel was survived by her husband Mr. Purdue.
iv Sidney Thomas Milton GOWER, b. 13 Jan 1901 in Castlemaine, Victoria,
Australia, occupation Naval Officer. He married (1) Beryl MULLER. 3 children.
He married (2) Nadia Hardwiche SHAFFEY. 4 children.
v Phyllis Elaine GOWER, b. 5 Apr 1903 in Castlemaine, Victoria, Australia,44
occupation Typist. She married Joseph Thomas FOSSEY, b. 6 Feb 1901 in
Brighton, Victoria, Australia. 1 child.
vi Leslie Jean Wheatland GOWER, b. 26 May 1906 in Castlemaine, Victoria,
Australia, d. 1970, occupation Sales Assistant. She married Jack Hamilton
OPIE, occupation French Polisher. 1 child.
vii Francis Leigh GOWER, b. 2 Dec 1908.
viii Eulah Herberta GOWER, b. 16 Nov 1910 in Guildford, Victoria, Australia,
occupation Model. She married Francis Ernest TOMPKIN, 9 Mar 1940, occupation
Railway Conductor. 3 children.
ix Rebecca Joyce GOWER, b. 28 Sep 1912 in Ballarat, Victoria, Australia.
She married Eric Keith WILLIAMS, b. in Broomfield, Victoria, Australia,
occupation Station Master. 5 children.
Francis Leigh GOWER b. 2 Dec 1908 in Castlemaine, Victoria, Australia,
occupation Sales Rep.
He married Mary Elizabeth JOUGHIN, 18 Dec 1954, b. 6 Jul 1919 in Dublin,
Ireland.
The Creswick Mining Disaster
Information taken from a small book called Diary of Disaster, The New
Australasian Mine Tragedy, Creswick, 1882 by Leonard Murton Williams and
published by the New Australasian Commemoration Committee.
The back cover describes the accident which occured in December, 1882
as ' the greatest disaster in the history of gold mining in Australia,
when twenty-two miners lost their lives through the swamping of the New
Australasian Gold Mining Company's No. 2 shaft. John Gower's name appears
four times in this book.
P.28.is an eye witness account of one of the survivors.
GEORGE FISHER, faceman.
"I was working with my mate, George Baulcomb, at the end of the main
drive. We heard a knock, and my mate thought it might be the truckers
knocking. Soon after, John Gower came up the drive, and told us that the
water had broken away, so we made for the No. 5 shoot. I saw some of the
men going up the No. 10 jump-up.
"I was driven back with the other men who were coming down the main
wash-dirt drive from the main workings. I said to the men, 'Let us make
an attempt to get up'. Some three or four of the men started to go with
me; the others said it was no use. I lit two candles and started off for
No. 5 shoot, hoping to reach it and climb the ladder-way to the intermediate
level. My candles were put out, and part of the distance was scrambled
under water. I ultimately reached No. 5 shoot, climbed the ladder-way,
and proceeded down the intermediate level in the direction of the shaft.
I was found some distance down the intermediate level by the mining manager.
"I was about the last man to come out. All the men came down the
level to within, I believe, about a hundred feet of No. 5 rise, but, as
the water was high, they would not face it, and said they would go back
to No. 9 jump up. I got out myself, and think there was plenty of time
for the others to have got out, if they had pushed on---."
According to this account, John Gower, after warning this group of men
either decided early after that that it 'was no use' or, more likely (considering
he was moving and warning others) became discouraged when he encountered
water which Fisher said he had to go under in order to get to where he
was determined to get - and this in the dark. Others obviously thought
there might be a safer route which decision, unfortunately cost their
lives, including that of John Gower and Fisher's workmate, Baulcomb.
p. 54. The bodies of the dead were brought to the surface in the following
order ---J. Gower is mentioned as the fourth body to be brought to the
surface. After him, eighteen others, numbering twenty-two altogether.
p.70 With the exception of John Gower, who was buried in the Ballarat
cemetry on the same day [Dec.12, 1882] arrangements were made for the
funeral of all the dead miners to take place at Creswick at two o'clock
on Friday afternoon, 15th December. However,because of the number involved,
and the presence of a large crowd of persons taking part, it was 3.00
pm before the head of the cotage left the New Australasian No. 2 mine
for the Creswick cemetry.
There was a special train put on to bring mourners to the funeral and
a day of mourning declared, all shops shut, industry suspended, flags
at half mast and so on.
p. 71 There is a printout of an article from The Advertiser (Creswick)
of Mon., Dec 18 in which a list of names is published of those 'PERISHED
IN THE NEW AUSTRALASIAN MINE' Number 6 on that list is
JOHN GOWER, aged 44 years; born at Lyminge, Kent, England.
The birth places of all the dead demonstrates the make-up of the Australian
community at the time and the appeal of emigration. Irish and English
predominate. 11 were of English birth, 5 Irish, 2 from Germany, 1 from
Finland, and only three were born in Australia.
from Rick:
My grandfather was Frederick Gower and my father was Thomas Frederick the youngest of 5 boys. The full details I have of my family line are as follows:
John Gower born 1838, arrived in Australia at Point Henry, Geelong 1853. He was a crew member of a ship and deserted (probably with the rest of the crew) to go to the goldfields as was common at that time. He married Sarah Jane Taylor at Linton, Victoria. She was a domestic servant. As you know John Gower was killed in the New Australasian Mine disaster some where between 12th and the 14th of December 1882. He is buried in the Ballarat New Cemetery. At the time of his death the family lived in Bridge Street, Creswick.
His death certificate, which I have a copy, lists his father’s occupation as a gardener.
Frederick Oscar born 10:4:1869, died 31:5:1934, married Elizabeth May Elliot (born 1871, buried in Ballarat 9:4:1953) at Castlemaine, Victoria. Their Children:
(1) John Stanley (Stan) married Bess
(2) William Elliot (Bill) married (1) Nancy, (2) Bonita
(3) James (Jim) married Effie,
(4) Oscar Hugh (Ozzy) married Vera
(5) Thomas Frederick, born 9:7:1911, died 30:12:1999, married Gwladys Neath Williams 30:12:1942 in Ballarat, born 1:10:1917, died 17:8:2005 [Rick's line]
[living descendants omitted]
Frederick Oscar was a successful builder in Ballarat and worked for a time with his brother Jack. He built quite a few notable buildings in the city including the School of Mines and the pavilion at the botanic gardens. His sons’ occupations were:
Stan Trained as an electrician before service in France during WW1 in the Field Ambulance and later the Australian Flying Corp when it was formed. Upon return to Australia, he worked at the Ballarat Power Station eventually working in the State Electrical Control Centre in Melbourne.
Bill Trained as an architect. Initially worked for the Board of Works in Melbourne but was recruited by Sir John Monash to work for State Electricity Commission of Victoria (SEC) when it was formed in the 1920’s. When he retired he was the Chief Architect for the SEC. He was responsible for the design of the towns of Mt Beauty, Yallourn and Bogong Village. He also designed one of the bridges that cross the Yarra River in Melbourne.
Jim Was a coach builder by trade and had a successful business until the call for this work died out. He then turned his skill to joinery and became an absolute master of this trade.
Ozzy Don’t know a lot about him but he didn’t seem to be very healthy. He was a machinist by trade.
Tom Trained as an accountant and worked in that profession until his retirement in 1977. He also had a small farm near Ballarat for a few years where he ran poultry and extra fine wool merino sheep.