- John Job Crew BradfieldJ. J. C. Bradfield is by far our family history’s “claim to fame”. Its unfortunate that he is not known by the Canadian Crew descendants unless they read any family genealogy about the Australian immigration in the mid to late 1800s. I’m not going into the history and stories surrounding J. J. C. Bradfield here because you can simply Google his name or buy or borrow a book about him from the library. I’ll only summarize: John Job Crew Bradfield was the engineer behind the building the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the engineer behind creating the specs for… Read more: John Job Crew Bradfield
- Bradfield
- Pennell, Crew, Bradfield – AustraliaThis is a letter sent to Myrtle Connolly (nee Keech), daughter of Jane Keech (nee McNamara), granddaughter of Elizabeth McNamara (nee Pennell) by William Pennell of Brisbane, Australia, April 1, 1973. Brisbane–Queensland, Australia Until near the end of 1859, the State now known as Queensland was part of New South Wales. When Charles and his wife Susan Pennell arrived in Moreton Bay in the little sailing ship “Glentanner”, it was N.S.W. they came to and not Queensland which did not then exist. The Glentanner anchored in Moreton Bay and the passengers were taken by small paddle-boat steamer up… Read more: Pennell, Crew, Bradfield – Australia
Month: February 2023
Crew
- Alexander Escar PennellAlexander Pennell, b. 1892, son of George Matthew Pennell (Gramma Smith’s brother) and Charlotte Edmunds. This Alex served 4 years in WW1 as a gunner. He was severely wounded twice and sent to England where he met his future wife, Dorothy Rhodes, a nurse. Alex worked as a Game Warden in Gravenhurst. He had one child, Gabriel Pennell. Alexander’s brother was Herb Pennell, who also served in WW1. Alexander Pennell’s brother, Richard William Pennell married Carrie Sullivan (Melvin’s sister). He was a Fireman. Their children were Walter Pennell and Austin Pennell. Then Richard… Read more: Alexander Escar Pennell
- History of RutherglenSquatters in Bonfield in the register of “Free Grants” under “The Free Grants + Homestead Act” Dated November 22, 1882 Richard Pennell (SR) (lot-26)(Conc 8&9) took claim 200 acres with 16 cleared, length of occupation 2 years, value at $400 Richard Pennell (JR) (lot-25)(Con-9) took claim 100 acres with 8 acres cleared, length occupation 2 years, valued at $200 The Railroad came through Rutherglen in fall 1879, Bonfield – January 1, 1879. First train to arrive in North Bay August 1882… I believe it would be safe to say the Pennells worked their… Read more: History of Rutherglen
- James HoneThroughout my childhood, I had no idea I was related to the Hones, much the same as I was totally naive to the fact I was related to Alice McLaren and her family. Yet I knew I was related to Alice’s sisters out west because I didn’t clue in that they were all siblings. Stupid. Alice and Kenny McLaren were always at all the family functions and I always wondered why. HOWEVER, the Hones were never at family functions. I guess once relatives get too many times removed, they stop being invited or… Read more: James Hone
- John Job Crew BradfieldJ. J. C. Bradfield is by far our family history’s “claim to fame”. Its unfortunate that he is not known by the Canadian Crew descendants unless they read any family genealogy about the Australian immigration in the mid to late 1800s. I’m not going into the history and stories surrounding J. J. C. Bradfield here because you can simply Google his name or buy or borrow a book about him from the library. I’ll only summarize: John Job Crew Bradfield was the engineer behind the building the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the engineer… Read more: John Job Crew Bradfield
- Susan SheppardIt has been very difficult to pin down the ancestry of Susan Sheppard. Any documents that I can find that I believe to be associated with Susan, is signed with an X, and this is the same for William Crew her husband. So if neither of them could read or write, I’m not sure who determined the spelling of Sheppard as there are documents that could be related where the spelling is Shepherd. I believe this is Susan and William’s marriage record of July 6, 1817. Going back further than this has been… Read more: Susan Sheppard
- William Albert Keech, M. D.Bill Keech was born June 5, 1920 in North Bay, Ontario. He was the son of Lester William Keech (WW1) and grandson of Jane McNamara. After he graduated from North Bay Collegiate, he married Iola Grace Berry, December 2, 1939, who became a Registered Nurse. He enlisted in the R.C.A.F. and received the rank of Flt. Lieut. during World War II. On April 27, 1942, Bill was shot down over Belgium and taken prisoner, spending three years in Stalag Luft-3, near Sagan. He participated in the operation of “The Great Escape”. The tunnel… Read more: William Albert Keech, M. D.
- Jane McNamara (Keech)Jane was born in Ottawa September 1, 1875 and was the daughter of Elizabeth Pennell and James McNamara. Jane was a hairdresser. She died May 5, 1961 in Haileybury, Ontario. Jane married William John Keech, son of Edwin James Keech and Elizabeth Forsey, all of England, on April 22, 1896, in Ewen, Michigan. William was a Butcher. The Keech’s arrived in Quebec City July 1, 1883. The Captain (Molson) had a farm at Sherbrooke and hired William, who stayed with the Molson family for two years. Then he moved to the U.S., meeting… Read more: Jane McNamara (Keech)
- Eliza “Liza” Jane Pennell (James)Liza was born September 8, 1872, in Horton Twp., Ontario, the first child of Richard and Rachel Pennell to be born in Canada. She married John “Jack” James, the brother of William C. James who married her sister Mary Ann. Liza lived in a small house right across the road from our farm in Rutherglen. Even though I never knew her, “Aunt Liza” was very much a part of my life and I explored her abandoned home many times. Liza died March 6, 1955 in a sanatorium in Gravenhurst, Ontario from tuberculosis. She… Read more: Eliza “Liza” Jane Pennell (James)
- Mary Ann Pennell (James)Mary was born January 19, 1868 in Greenwich, England. She immigrated with her family on the S. S. Niger from Liverpool to Quebec City when she was only 3. She married William C. James of Rutherglen, who was the brother of John “Jack” James who married her sister Eliza. Mary died October 3, 1955 in North Bay, Ontario. The family gossip is that Mary and William “adopted” a daughter Mary. Mrs. McNeilly felt that Mary was overworking the adopted daughter, so took her from Mary and William to the United States. I have… Read more: Mary Ann Pennell (James)
- Frances Ann Pennell (Smith)Frances was born May 15, 1865 in Land’s End, England, and would have celebrated her 6th birthday of the S. S. Niger when they immigrated from Liverpool, England to Quebec City. She married Reuben James Smith (not related to my Smiths), on October 22, 1882 in Renfew, Ontario. Reuben was the son of William and Catherine Smith. Reuben and Frances lived in Rutherglen for a short time in the house across the Trunk Road from the maple tree hill once owned by Richard and Rachel Pennell. Some may remember it as Carl and… Read more: Frances Ann Pennell (Smith)
- George Matthew Pennell, Sr.Born April 27, 1858, Lewisham Place, Kent, England, George immigrated with his family on the S. S. Niger on May 11, 1871. George married Charlotte Edmunds and lived in Rutherglen, Ontario. He died August 31, 1930 and is buried at St. Margaret’s Anglican Cemetery in Rutherglen. When Richard Pennell, James Hone and the Crew sisters made their way to Rutherglen, they brought their “children”, but Richard Jr. and George would have been in their 20’s, ready to have their own farms. George Pennell’s descendants are many and integral to the fabric of Rutherglen,… Read more: George Matthew Pennell, Sr.
- Richard “Dick” William Job PennellBorn June 26, 1855 in Greenwich, England, Richard was the 2nd oldest child of Richard and Rachel Pennell. Richard immigrated on the S. S. Niger with his family from Liverpool to Quebec City May 11, 1871. He married Margaret “Mag” McLaren in 1879. According to the 1891 Census, Richard Jr. lived at the property next to (across the road from) Richard Sr. In 1901, Richard Jr. was in Langford, Manitoba; 1916 and 1921 Marquette, Manitoba; Edna Ollivier remembers her Uncle Dick cutting all the cherry trees down on the maple hill on the… Read more: Richard “Dick” William Job Pennell
- Elizabeth Pennell (McNamara)Elizabeth was the oldest child of Richard and Rachel Pennell, born May 29, 1853, in Greenwich, England. She immigrated with her family to Canada on the S. S. Niger May 1871, and celebrated her 18th birthday on the ship and remembered having cake. Fourteen months later, Elizabeth married James McNamara, son of John (of England) and Jane (of Lanark Co., Ontario) McNamara, on July 17, 1872. James was a Chef/Hotel Manager. Elizabeth was confirmed on March 10, 1886 in Renfrew with her son James and her daughter Jane. She was short and stout,… Read more: Elizabeth Pennell (McNamara)
- Richard Pennell & Rachel CrewRachel wanted to return to England after the Pennells and the Hones brickmaking business in Carlton Place failed. But, undeterred, Richard tried again by applying for a land grant in Bonfield Township at Rutherglen where they obtained crown land in approximately 1879. Richard loaded his family (now 6 children) into a sleigh and made his way in the middle of winter to his 200 acres. The original log house stood on the property until 1990, when it was dismantled by Jourgen Mohr who was planning to rebuild it in another location as a… Read more: Richard Pennell & Rachel Crew
- Pennells, Crews & Hones – CanadaAs I posted in a Crew History, Tales and Truths, Bethnal Green was not a great place to live and everyone had a brickyard. Competition likely made eking out a living extremely difficult. Mortality rates were high and life expectancy rates were low. Rachel had lost a baby in 1863 and Eliza lost her last two babies in 1868 and 1870. Life expectancy was low. Of 1,632 deaths in 1839, 1,258 (77 per cent) were of ‘mechanics, servants, and labourers’, who had an expectancy of 16 years, 273 of tradesmen, with an expectancy… Read more: Pennells, Crews & Hones – Canada
- Crew History, Tales & TruthsAs with the Pennells, it has been a challenge to get any solid proof of heritage. However, when the Crews immigrated to Canada, they brought with them tales that, regardless of how much work and research is done, cannot be verified in any way. The original source of these stories seems to be from Effie Scott who was the granddaughter of Eliza Hone. Tale #1: Marie deFawcett It has been verified that Rachel’s father, William Henry Crew was a successful brickmaker in London, England. His sons, Richard and William (the younger), as well… Read more: Crew History, Tales & Truths
- Bradfield
- Pennell, Crew, Bradfield – AustraliaThis is a letter sent to Myrtle Connolly (nee Keech), daughter of Jane Keech (nee McNamara), granddaughter of Elizabeth McNamara (nee Pennell) by William Pennell of Brisbane, Australia, April 1, 1973. Brisbane–Queensland, Australia Until near the end of 1859, the State now known as Queensland was part of New South Wales. When Charles and his wife Susan Pennell arrived in Moreton Bay in the little sailing ship “Glentanner”, it was N.S.W. they came to and not Queensland which did not then exist. The Glentanner anchored in Moreton Bay and the passengers were taken… Read more: Pennell, Crew, Bradfield – Australia
- Pennell, Crew, Bradfield, HoneWhen I began researching my family history in the 1980’s, the Pennell and Crew lineage were the first surnames where information was readily available. My Aunt Edna (Ollivier nee Smith) had been gathering information about her maternal heritage for years, before personal computers, printers and photocopiers and the internet, when researching involved a pen and a family group sheet. I visited her several times where she shared copies documents and letters, memories and family gossip. Those visits were great. However, she only shared what was “respectable” and kept silent on anything that would… Read more: Pennell, Crew, Bradfield, Hone
- Alice Maria PennellIt seems strange to say that I don’t have a lot of information about my Grandmother Smith. There were certainly lots of people in my life who knew her well. Most of what I know came from my mother who did not get along with her and didn’t have many good memories of her. Alice was born April 5, 1876 in Horton Twp., Ontario. She married Adoniram Warner Smith April 13, 1904 in Rutherglen. She became a large woman as her children were born, but developed diabetes in her later years and lost… Read more: Alice Maria Pennell
Pennell
- Alexander Cecil PennellFamily rumor was that Alexander Cecil Pennell was gassed during the war and this was the cause of his death, so its with no surprize there’s no mention of “gassed” in his death certificate.. It says coma due to diabetes. Included in his military records is how they were treating him with insulin and watching his diet. He is buried in Mount Pleasant cemetery at Ogleston’s Corners in Rutherglen.
- Alexander Escar PennellAlexander Pennell, b. 1892, son of George Matthew Pennell (Gramma Smith’s brother) and Charlotte Edmunds. This Alex served 4 years in WW1 as a gunner. He was severely wounded twice and sent to England where he met his future wife, Dorothy Rhodes, a nurse. Alex worked as a Game Warden in Gravenhurst. He had one child, Gabriel Pennell. Alexander’s brother was Herb Pennell, who also served in WW1. Alexander Pennell’s brother, Richard William Pennell married Carrie Sullivan (Melvin’s sister). He was a Fireman. Their children were Walter Pennell and Austin Pennell. Then Richard married Mary Ellen Farmer (Aunt Hazel’s sister). … Read more: Alexander Escar Pennell
- Alice Maria PennellIt seems strange to say that I don’t have a lot of information about my Grandmother Smith. There were certainly lots of people in my life who knew her well. Most of what I know came from my mother who did not get along with her and didn’t have many good memories of her. Alice was born April 5, 1876 in Horton Twp., Ontario. She married Adoniram Warner Smith April 13, 1904 in Rutherglen. She became a large woman as her children were born, but developed diabetes in her later years and lost her excess weight. I was born in… Read more: Alice Maria Pennell
- Cecil Francis JamesCecil was born February 1, 1898 in Rutherglen, Ontario, to Eliza (nee Pennell) and John “Jack” James. Cecil married Marie Tremblay and had two sons. From his will below, I can only make out the name of his 2nd son, Leonard. He fought in World War I in the 12th Reserve, 1st Corp., 75th Battalion CEF, D Co., #3035764 and held the rank of Private. He was discharged May 12, 1919 and returned home in June of 1919 on the R.M.S. Mauretania. In 1950, Cecil was living in Kapuskasing, and later in New Toronto. He died February 12, 1959.
- Eliza “Liza” Jane Pennell (James)Liza was born September 8, 1872, in Horton Twp., Ontario, the first child of Richard and Rachel Pennell to be born in Canada. She married John “Jack” James, the brother of William C. James who married her sister Mary Ann. Liza lived in a small house right across the road from our farm in Rutherglen. Even though I never knew her, “Aunt Liza” was very much a part of my life and I explored her abandoned home many times. Liza died March 6, 1955 in a sanatorium in Gravenhurst, Ontario from tuberculosis. She is buried at St. Margaret’s Anglican Church… Read more: Eliza “Liza” Jane Pennell (James)
- Elizabeth Pennell (McNamara)Elizabeth was the oldest child of Richard and Rachel Pennell, born May 29, 1853, in Greenwich, England. She immigrated with her family to Canada on the S. S. Niger May 1871, and celebrated her 18th birthday on the ship and remembered having cake. Fourteen months later, Elizabeth married James McNamara, son of John (of England) and Jane (of Lanark Co., Ontario) McNamara, on July 17, 1872. James was a Chef/Hotel Manager. Elizabeth was confirmed on March 10, 1886 in Renfrew with her son James and her daughter Jane. She was short and stout, had brown eyes and was a happy… Read more: Elizabeth Pennell (McNamara)
- Frances Ann Pennell (Smith)Frances was born May 15, 1865 in Land’s End, England, and would have celebrated her 6th birthday of the S. S. Niger when they immigrated from Liverpool, England to Quebec City. She married Reuben James Smith (not related to my Smiths), on October 22, 1882 in Renfew, Ontario. Reuben was the son of William and Catherine Smith. Reuben and Frances lived in Rutherglen for a short time in the house across the Trunk Road from the maple tree hill once owned by Richard and Rachel Pennell. Some may remember it as Carl and Millie Sullivan’s house. Frances and Reuben eventually… Read more: Frances Ann Pennell (Smith)
- George Mathew Pennell, Jr.George Jr. was born March 22, 1883. He was the son of George Mathew Pennell Sr. and Charlotte Edmunds of Rutherglen, Ontario. George Sr. was the brother of my grandmother, Alice Smith (nee Pennell).
- George Matthew Pennell, Sr.Born April 27, 1858, Lewisham Place, Kent, England, George immigrated with his family on the S. S. Niger on May 11, 1871. George married Charlotte Edmunds and lived in Rutherglen, Ontario. He died August 31, 1930 and is buried at St. Margaret’s Anglican Cemetery in Rutherglen. When Richard Pennell, James Hone and the Crew sisters made their way to Rutherglen, they brought their “children”, but Richard Jr. and George would have been in their 20’s, ready to have their own farms. George Pennell’s descendants are many and integral to the fabric of Rutherglen, Ontario. George was a short stout man… Read more: George Matthew Pennell, Sr.
- Herb Gordon Pennell
- History of RutherglenSquatters in Bonfield in the register of “Free Grants” under “The Free Grants + Homestead Act” Dated November 22, 1882 Richard Pennell (SR) (lot-26)(Conc 8&9) took claim 200 acres with 16 cleared, length of occupation 2 years, value at $400 Richard Pennell (JR) (lot-25)(Con-9) took claim 100 acres with 8 acres cleared, length occupation 2 years, valued at $200 The Railroad came through Rutherglen in fall 1879, Bonfield – January 1, 1879. First train to arrive in North Bay August 1882… I believe it would be safe to say the Pennells worked their way to Rutherglen by rail and took… Read more: History of Rutherglen
- James Richard JamesJames was born December 27, 1889 to Mary Ann Pennell and William James of Rutherglen, Ontario. He married Margaret I. McDonald and died October 12, 1976. James served in World War I. In 1953, he lived in Englehart and operated Tray Express Company.
- Jane McNamara (Keech)Jane was born in Ottawa September 1, 1875 and was the daughter of Elizabeth Pennell and James McNamara. Jane was a hairdresser. She died May 5, 1961 in Haileybury, Ontario. Jane married William John Keech, son of Edwin James Keech and Elizabeth Forsey, all of England, on April 22, 1896, in Ewen, Michigan. William was a Butcher. The Keech’s arrived in Quebec City July 1, 1883. The Captain (Molson) had a farm at Sherbrooke and hired William, who stayed with the Molson family for two years. Then he moved to the U.S., meeting up with his brothers, George and Henry.… Read more: Jane McNamara (Keech)
- John Thomas Victor JamesJohn was born December 29, 1887 in Rutherglen, Ontario. He served in the 59th Battalion during World War I. He was a member of Branch 23 of the Royal Canadian Legion in North Bay where he received a 50-year pin. He was also a member of the Orange Lodge and a founding member of the Elk Lake Masonic Lodge No. 507. John also spent some time in jail and he worked for the ONR as an engineer. He married Annie Gertrude “Gerti” Smith, who was the daughter of Willard Smith and Mary Johnson on Rutherglen. Gerti was a widow, having… Read more: John Thomas Victor James
- Lester William KeechLester was born March 13, 1897, Ewen, Michigan. He served in the 228th Regiment. Lester was the son of William Keech and Jane McNamara. Jane was the daughter of Elizabeth Pennell and John McNamara. Elizabeth was the sister of my grandmother, Alice Smith (nee Pennell).
- Mary Ann Pennell (James)Mary was born January 19, 1868 in Greenwich, England. She immigrated with her family on the S. S. Niger from Liverpool to Quebec City when she was only 3. She married William C. James of Rutherglen, who was the brother of John “Jack” James who married her sister Eliza. Mary died October 3, 1955 in North Bay, Ontario. The family gossip is that Mary and William “adopted” a daughter Mary. Mrs. McNeilly felt that Mary was overworking the adopted daughter, so took her from Mary and William to the United States. I have no idea is this is true or… Read more: Mary Ann Pennell (James)
- Miss Rosamond CrokerThe Pennell name was not immune to far-fetched tales, and the story of Rosamond Croker is one of them. This portrait of Miss Croker hangs in the Buffalo (NY) Art Museum. Portrait of Miss Rosamond Croker | Buffalo AKG Art Museum Rosamond Hester Elizabeth was born 5 January 1810, the 13th of 21 children of William Pennell, Esq., British consul-general to Brazil. At the age of six weeks she was adopted by her brother-in-law the Rt. Hon. John Wilson Crocker. Croker (1780-1857) was a well-known politician and essayist and in 1809 was Secretary to the Admiralty. … In 1832, Miss… Read more: Miss Rosamond Croker
- Pennell – History of the nameAs I mentioned in one of my other posts, I have a lot of general information about Pennells, most of which is unproven to be related. I have 4 “stories”: Story #1 – source J. W. Pennell, Arroyo Grande, CA, Letter to Edna Ollivier, March 9, 1978 In about 51 B.C., when the Romans pulled out of Gaul (Normandy) they abandoned a fortress that they had called “Pinnellium”. After the Romans left, the leader of the local peasants took over the deserted fortress and began to exercise authority over the area. Then those, living inside the place became known as… Read more: Pennell – History of the name
- Pennell, Crew, Bradfield, HoneWhen I began researching my family history in the 1980’s, the Pennell and Crew lineage were the first surnames where information was readily available. My Aunt Edna (Ollivier nee Smith) had been gathering information about her maternal heritage for years, before personal computers, printers and photocopiers and the internet, when researching involved a pen and a family group sheet. I visited her several times where she shared copies documents and letters, memories and family gossip. Those visits were great. However, she only shared what was “respectable” and kept silent on anything that would disparage the family’s reputation. As they say,… Read more: Pennell, Crew, Bradfield, Hone
- Pennells, Crews & Hones – CanadaAs I posted in a Crew History, Tales and Truths, Bethnal Green was not a great place to live and everyone had a brickyard. Competition likely made eking out a living extremely difficult. Mortality rates were high and life expectancy rates were low. Rachel had lost a baby in 1863 and Eliza lost her last two babies in 1868 and 1870. Life expectancy was low. Of 1,632 deaths in 1839, 1,258 (77 per cent) were of ‘mechanics, servants, and labourers’, who had an expectancy of 16 years, 273 of tradesmen, with an expectancy of 26, and 101 of gentry and… Read more: Pennells, Crews & Hones – Canada
- Richard “Dick” William Job PennellBorn June 26, 1855 in Greenwich, England, Richard was the 2nd oldest child of Richard and Rachel Pennell. Richard immigrated on the S. S. Niger with his family from Liverpool to Quebec City May 11, 1871. He married Margaret “Mag” McLaren in 1879. According to the 1891 Census, Richard Jr. lived at the property next to (across the road from) Richard Sr. In 1901, Richard Jr. was in Langford, Manitoba; 1916 and 1921 Marquette, Manitoba; Edna Ollivier remembers her Uncle Dick cutting all the cherry trees down on the maple hill on the Pennell lhomestead. His mother, Rachel, was enraged… Read more: Richard “Dick” William Job Pennell
- Richard Pennell & Rachel CrewRachel wanted to return to England after the Pennells and the Hones brickmaking business in Carlton Place failed. But, undeterred, Richard tried again by applying for a land grant in Bonfield Township at Rutherglen where they obtained crown land in approximately 1879. Richard loaded his family (now 6 children) into a sleigh and made his way in the middle of winter to his 200 acres. The original log house stood on the property until 1990, when it was dismantled by Jourgen Mohr who was planning to rebuild it in another location as a heritage house. To the best of my… Read more: Richard Pennell & Rachel Crew
- Rutherglen 1901
- William Albert Keech, M. D.Bill Keech was born June 5, 1920 in North Bay, Ontario. He was the son of Lester William Keech (WW1) and grandson of Jane McNamara. After he graduated from North Bay Collegiate, he married Iola Grace Berry, December 2, 1939, who became a Registered Nurse. He enlisted in the R.C.A.F. and received the rank of Flt. Lieut. during World War II. On April 27, 1942, Bill was shot down over Belgium and taken prisoner, spending three years in Stalag Luft-3, near Sagan. He participated in the operation of “The Great Escape”. The tunnel had been under his bunk, but only… Read more: William Albert Keech, M. D.
- William JamesWilliam was the son of Mary Ann Pennell and William James of Rutherglen, Ontario. William was born January 12, 1900 and served in World War I. He lived in Lac Vert, Sask, and died February 10, 1978 in Miracom, Sask.
Pennell, Crew, Bradfield – Australia
This is a letter sent to Myrtle Connolly (nee Keech), daughter of Jane Keech (nee McNamara), granddaughter of Elizabeth McNamara (nee Pennell) by William Pennell of Brisbane, Australia, April 1, 1973.
Brisbane–Queensland, Australia
Until near the end of 1859, the State now known as Queensland was part of New South Wales. When Charles and his wife Susan Pennell arrived in Moreton Bay in the little sailing ship “Glentanner”, it was N.S.W. they came to and not Queensland which did not then exist. The Glentanner anchored in Moreton Bay and the passengers were taken by small paddle-boat steamer up the Brisbane Ricer to a small wharf in South Brisbane, which adjoins Kangaroo Point. The only hotel in South Brisbane was the Lord Raglan. Kangaroo Point was covered with thick bush and the midst of which was a large Black’s (aborigines) camp.
There was also a building to received new settlers and Charles and Susan and Susan’s brother, William Henry Crew, were accommodated in this building from the Thursday to the following Monday awaiting the arrival from the town of Limestone (now Ipswich), 24 miles away, of John Edward and Marie Bradfield who had migrated to Australia two years earlier.
When the Bradfield’s arrived, John and his brother-in-law Charles went to the Lord Raglan Hotel to finish a game of Quoits they had commenced the day the Bradfield left London in 1859. The party left Kangaroo Point on the Monday about 21st July for Ipswich. The women went by small steamer and the men walked the 24 miles. The object in walking appears to have been the desire to see the new country at close quarters.
In another letter, William writes that Charles and Susan sailed from West India Docks, London on February 4, 1859 and went non-stop to Brisbane, Queensland, arriving at Moreton Bay, July 7, 1859 – a 153-day trip. After a few days in Moreton Bay, the ship sailed for Callard, Peru, South America and was not heard of again.
William Crew (William (the younger), Rachel, Susan, Maria and Eliza et al’s father) was a “highly successful London brickmaker for whom Bradfield, Crew and Pennell had worked. Subsequently, they went into partnership to found one of the first mechanised brickmaking businesses in Queensland.” (The Unreasonable Man: The life and works of J. J. C. Bradfield by Richard Raxworthy, page 13)
However, in a letter to Myrtle Connolly from William Pennell (grandson of Charles Pennell) dated April 2, 1969, he writes…
Bradfield thought there would be a great scope for brick making business at Ipswich, some 20,000 miles from Brisbane. They were the first to manufacture machine bricks in the country. Unfortunately, timber was too plentiful and cheap at the time, and the bricks could not compete to any real extent.
In the year 1932, the Queensland Government decided to build a modern steel bridge from Brisbane City across the Brisbane River to Kangaroo Point. The famous Queensland born Engineer, Dr. J. J. C. Bradfield was called in as a consultant and he fixed the requirements and drew up the specifications for the tenders. He and his son, Dr. Keith Bradfield were in partnership at the time as Consulting Engineers and they supervised the building of the Cantilever steel bridge, which was given the name Story.
The bridge was opened in 1940 and the roadway across it was named the Bradfield Highway. The right hand piers of the bridge start at Kangaroo Point. How interesting to remember that in the year 1859, the Pennells, Bradfields and William Crew walked around Kangaroo Point and that 81 years later, a son of John and Maria not yet born, would become Australia’s most illustrious Civil Engineer and would be Chief Engineer for the building of Queensland’s largest modern bridge with one set of its piers on Kangaroo Point. When the Sydney Harbour Bridge was officially opened in March 19832, Bradfield insisted that my father, W. J. Pennell, his cousin, should sit beside him. He said to Dad, “Wouldn’t mother [Maria nee Crew] and Aunt Susan (Pennell nee Crew) have enjoyed this occasion.”
It is interesting to note here that a search of Australian war veterans is long. Combining WWI and WWII there are 254 pages of Pennells. Thinking I could narrow the list down, I search for records up to 1920. There were over 30 pages. Bradfields were the same. So I’m leaving the war veterans research to someone else and will just say, the Pennells, Bradfields and the Crews all were warriors for freedom.
Pennell, Crew, Bradfield, Hone
When I began researching my family history in the 1980’s, the Pennell and Crew lineage were the first surnames where information was readily available. My Aunt Edna (Ollivier nee Smith) had been gathering information about her maternal heritage for years, before personal computers, printers and photocopiers and the internet, when researching involved a pen and a family group sheet. I visited her several times where she shared copies documents and letters, memories and family gossip. Those visits were great.
However, she only shared what was “respectable” and kept silent on anything that would disparage the family’s reputation. As they say, history is written by the victors, so rarely the complete truth.
With that in mind and in retrospect, it was no surprize that Aunt Edna stuck with Pennell line and the Crew line. Although she had a lot of information about the Smiths, it was all from her memory and she didn’t research the Smiths. I made the assumption that the paternal line was boring while the maternal line was more exotic, taking her to England and Australia.
Aunt Edna even invited an English couple to visit Canada when I was in my teens. She brought them all the way north to Porcupine, where we lived at the time, for an overnight visit. While I sat in the dining room listening to them talk, I had to keep asking my Mom what they were saying – I didn’t understand a word, their cockney accent was so thick. I can’t say for sure who they were, but they must have been George March and Margaret March (nee Sweetlove), as they sent Christmas cards and pictures to my parents for years after, and their daughter, Sandra Tongeman (nee March), corresponds with my sister, Carol. Margaret March’s grandmother was Ann Charlotte Crew, sister of my Great-grandmother, Rachel Sarah Crew.
The story of the Pennells and the Crews is interesting, and I cannot relay the whole story without also adding in two more surnames – Hone and Bradfield.
In the late 1800’s, the patriarchs of all four of these families were brick makers in London, England. As a matter of fact William Crew (Rachel, Susan, Maria and Eliza’s father) was a “highly successful London brickmaker for whom Bradfield, Crew and Pennell had worked.” (The Unreasonable Man: The life and works of J. J. C. Bradfield by Richard Raxworthy, page 13)
Canada – Pennell and Hone and Crew
What we know as fact…
Alice Maria Pennell was my grandmother and her parents were…
Richard William Pennell (b. Apr 2, 1834, Northfleet, Kent, England) was my great-grandfather.
Rachel Sarah Crew (b. Nov 3, 1834, Barnet, Hertfordshire, England) was my great-grandmother.

They were both buried at St. Margaret’s cemetery in Rutherglen, Ontario, in 1916.
Richard was from a large family of about 10 children. Of particular note was Richard’s brother Charles who married Rachel’s sister Susan.
So, of Rachel’s siblings, three sisters are of interest here. Susan who married Charles Pennell, Eliza who married James Hone and Maria who married John Bradfield.
In 1857, John and Maria Bradfield set sail for Australia on the S. S. New Great Britain. Two years later, in 1859, William Henry Crew (Susan’s brother) and Charles & Susan Pennell, escorting William’s 3-year-old daughter Elizabeth, followed the Bradfields on the S. S. Glentanner.
On May 11, 1871, Richard and Rachel Pennell, along with Eliza and James Hone, boarded the S. S. Niger departing Liverpool, and sailed to Quebec City, arriving May 29, 1871.

These families had the same dream – to use their skills and build brickmaking businesses.
Myrtle Connolly writes about the Pennell and Hone families coming to Canada…
They settled in Carleton Place, Ontario, where they established a brickyard. Lumber being the main source of building material and available, therefore was not a demand for brick. The settlers homes were mostly constructed with log timbers, this forcing the Pennells and Hones to take up farming at Rutherglen, where they obtained crown land.
Australia – Pennell and Bradfield and Crew
While being exceptionally innovative, William Crew, Charles Pennell and John Bradfield suffered the same fate. According to The Unreasonable Man: The life and works of J. J. C. Bradfield by Richard Raxworthy (page 13)…
Subsequently, they [Pennell and Bradfield and Crew] went into partnership to found one of the first mechanised brickmaking businesses in Queensland.
And William Pennell writes in 1969 to Myrtle Connolly…
Bradfield thought there would be a great scope for brick making business at Ipswich, some 20,000 miles from Brisbane. They were the first to manufacture machine bricks in the country. Unfortunately, timber was too plentiful and cheap at the time, and the bricks could not compete to any real extent.





Robert Eady Sr.
Robert Eady Sr. is my Great-great-great-grandfather.
The following was received by me from Clarence Eady, March 22, 1993. Clarence was an avid Eady genealogist before the time of the internet.

Robert Eady Sr. was the third child born to John (Ady) Eady and his wife Elizabeth Hibbert or Hibbard. He was born in East Woodhay, Hampshire, England in early Mary 1785. He was baptized May 8, 1785. Nothing much is known about his childhood. We do know he had none or very little schooling as he could only sign his name with an “X”.
1805 – Age of 22, in Gosport, Hampshire, Robert joined the British Army.
1806 – Sent to the East or West Indies. He served there for 1 year and 159 days.
1807 – Returned to England
1807 – August 24, Gosport, Hampshire, age 23, enlisted in the 37th Regiment of Foot for unlimited service
1807 – 37th Regiment of Foot is sent to Jamaica
1808 January 17 to March – Private Robert Eady is on pay list of 37th Regiment of Foot in Trinidad
1809 September 24 – returned to Derby, Derbyshire, England
1810 January 16 – Robert Eady and Mary Hust (Hearst) were married St. Peters Church, Derby, Derbyshire
1811 March – regiment was in Cork, Ireland where daughter Elizabeth was born.
1812 April – stationed with 37th Regiment in Gibralter
1813 September-October – yellow fever takes the lives of 70 soldiers in Gibralter
1813 December – son George is born in Gibralter (my Great-great-grandfather)
1814 February 10 – regiment leaves Gibralter for France by way of Spain
1814 April-June – regiment is in France, Napoleanic Wars are ending in Europe around this time.
1814 July 5 – regiment leaves Bordeaux, France for Montreal, Upper Canada. War of 1812 between Britain and the USA is still on
1814 October-December – 37th Regiment of Foot is on duty in Burlington, Upper Canada on the Niagara Peninsula along Lake Erie and Fort York (Toronto) areas.
1814 May 25 – Five companies from the 37th are moved west to Amherstburg in the west end of Lake Erie. Four companies are at Queenston near Niagara. One company was sent to Michelimackinac on Lake Huron.
Remember the Americans attacked and destroyed Fort York (now Toronto) and in return for this little favour the British attacked Washington and burned a few buildings. One of the buildings is now painted white.
1814 Christmas Eve – the USA and Britain sign a peace treaty and the War of 1812 is over. The whole war had lasted only 42 months with the English winning 38 of the 57 recorded engagements.
1815 – There are over 770 men in the 37th Regiment of Foot by the end of the year.
1816 September – 37th Regiment is moved east to Fort Henry at Kingston, Upper Canada
You must now consider what has been happening to our Mary Eady and the two young children every time the 37th Regiment moved. In those good old days the British Army never moved the families of the soldier from place to place or country to country.
Robert Eady’s wife Mary and the children were what was known in those days as “camp followers”. They would follow the Regiment from camp to amp. The wife would literally have to make her own way for herself and her children each time if they wished to be with father and husband. It could well have taken her over a year to get to Canada in those days. Talk about having a tough life.
1816 – 100 men are discharge from the 37th
1817 March – 37th Regiment of Foot on duty in Fort Henry near Kingston, Upper Canada. Fort Henry was a hastily constructed fort built during 1813 and 1814. It was mostly constructed of timber and earth. The present, well planned stone fort was not constructed until 1832. In 1949 the fort was restored to it’s present condition. A plaque in Fort Henry lists the 37th Regiment of Foot. It mentions that the 37th Regiment of Foot had its name changed since being stationed in Old Fort Henry.
37th Regiment of Foot is now the Royal Hampshire Regiment.
1817 October 19 – Robert Eady Jr. is born in Montreal, Lower Canada. The first Eady born in Canada. Remember Fort Henry and Kingston is the frontier. Its was a very rough place in those days. No real place to raise a family.
1818 June – All ranks of the 37th Regiment are moved to Montreal, Lower Canada
1819 April 5 – Mary Eady is born in Kingston, Upper Canada
1819 May – A detachment of soldiers from the 37th Regiment of Foot is discharged. The pay list of the 37th Regiment of Foot shows this detachment of surplus soldiers. Each of the soldier was given one month’s severance pay and were discharged as settlers in accordance with general order or authority being VOUCHER NO. 23.
1819 May 18 – Robert Eady Sr. is seventh on page 2 of Voucher No. 23 pay list for the discharged soldiers.
The photocopy of his discharge papers describe him as being 34 years of age, 5′ 4″ in height, with brown hair, grey eyes and dark complexion, having a trade as labourer.
It lists his conduct while a soldier as being good. Reason for discharge being a reduction of the peace establishment and being supernumerary (meaning exceeding a necessary or usual number).
Robert Eady Sr. had served 11 years, 208 days with the 37th Regiment of Foot plus he had served 1 year, 159 days in the East or West Indies.
1819 – after being discharged, he went to Goulbourne Township, Carleton County, Upper Canada. There he joined the Richmond Military Land Settlement.
1820 February – daughter Jane Eady is born
1821 February – Canada Census shows Robert Eady Sr. with spouse Mary and family in Goulbourne Township, Carlton County
1821 October – John Archibald Eady is born
1822 April 20 – Canada Census shows Robert Eady Sr. and family still in the settlement.
1822 June 5 – Residence is Goulbourn Township, W1/2 Lot #15, Concession #7, 100 acres (per census)
1822 December 24 – Robert Eady is #768 on the Richmond Military Settlement list of returned persons and discharged soldiers entitled to patent land grants. When they joined the Richmond Land Settlement and were given property to live on, they had to make certain improvements to the land. Having completed the required improvements they were then entitled to claim ownership of that land. This is what is called patent land grants. They were all claiming patent land title deeds to land they settled on.
1924 February 4 – Robert Eady gets his Patent land title for the 100 acres in Goulbourn Township, Carleton County. The property is now his.
1824 – Thomas Eady is born
1826 – Anne Eady is born
1828 – Richard Eady is born
1832 April 26 – William Eady is born
1834 May – James Eady is born
1836 – Margaret Johanna Eady is born.
1837 April 18 – Robert Eady Jr. and Anne Burwell are married
1837 – Jane Eady and John H. Richardson are married. (Wendy’s NOTE: Leah Eady’s first illegitimate son is John Richardson Jr. born December 1869, died 2 months later. Jane had 15 children with John and died age 85.)
1837 – Robert Jr. with wife Anne, John Richardson with wife Jane along with Anne’s parents William and Elizabeth Burwell all move to Horton Township, Renfrew County
1838 – Robert Sr. with wife Mary and most of the family move to Horton Township, Renfrew County
Much more data available. Story shall continued …. (Wendy’s NOTE: But that’s all I have from Clarence. I never received the continued story.)
Sarah Leah Eady
The Eady clan in Renfrew County is vast. There are many George’s and Robert’s. It was a huge task getting the Eady’s all in the data base – many letters, many family group sheets, many descendants charts. The Eady’s owe alot of debt to Clarence Eady, now deceased. He did years of research and travel far and wide. So hats off to Clarence!
Sarah Leah Eady, who went by her second name Leah, was my Grandfather Smith’s mother. Aunt Edna says she was known to them as “Gramma Leah” and she visited Nide and his family several times in Rutherglen.
Of Leah’s 6 children, only one was legitimate. John Richardson (b. 1869) died at age 2 months (father unknown), “unknown” (b. 1873) maybe Robert Eady (father unknown), Adoniram Nide (b. 1881) (father unknown, but likely Aughney), Orin and Julia (twins b. 1884) (father Philander). Leah and Philander married in 1887 and then Georgena was born in 1888.



Posts about Leah
- Other Illegitmate Births of Leah EadyThe 1st document above shows the birth of John Richardson, illegitimate, December 31, 1869. Then the 2nd document shows John Richardson Jr.’s death, March 22, 1870 of whooping cough. Its interesting the death beside John Richardson Jr.’s is Mary Ecfort (Eckfort). This is Leah’s sister who died 4 days prior of TB which she’d had for a year. Above is Leah’s 2nd illegitimate son born April 11, 1873 without a name. Leah’s Aunt Annie is the “accouchure” (midwife) and her mother is the “informant”. I searched through all the 1881 Horton Township census, looking for an… Read more: Other Illegitmate Births of Leah Eady
- Illegitimacy RevealedI received this letter from Florence Eagle, March 5, 1992. Florence was the daughter of Thomas Henry Smith, son of Philander and Ann Smith, thought to be a half-brother of Adoniram. Of particular interest, and shock at the time, was this: Your grandfather is not a blood brother of my Father, Henry Smith. … Grandads 3rd wife … No 3 came to work for Grandad bring[ing] a little boy with her who was later your Grandad. … When your Grandad was very young he also took on the name Smith. When I asked my aunt about… Read more: Illegitimacy Revealed
- Horton Twp. 1891 & 1901 CensusH. Thomas Smith is Henry (Florence Eagle’s father). He is the “Head” of the household as Philander died in 1900. Admiram is Adoniram. Possible error in his birthdate of Feb 19, as we always celebrated Feb 18. Orin and Julia are twins. Orin never married. Julia married William Scobie. E. George is actually Georgina. The only birth AFTER the marriage of Leah and Philander. Georgina married her cousin, Walter Eady. They later divorced. Philander’s marriage to Leah was delayed for legal reasons. He promised to marry Mary Jamieson, the daughter of Mary Eady, Leah’s first cousin. … Read more: Horton Twp. 1891 & 1901 Census
- Gossip from Hazel EadyIn my search to find answers to my grandfather’s heritage, I became somewhat of a “penpal” with Hazel Eady. She became my spy into the Eady clan of Horton Township. So Hazel set about attempting to find out information about Leah and my grandfather. The mystery continues to this day – where did the nickname “Nide” come from?
Leah’s Pedigree
Eady-Leah-pedigreeOther Illegitmate Births of Leah Eady

The 1st document above shows the birth of John Richardson, illegitimate, December 31, 1869. Then the 2nd document shows John Richardson Jr.’s death, March 22, 1870 of whooping cough. Its interesting the death beside John Richardson Jr.’s is Mary Ecfort (Eckfort). This is Leah’s sister who died 4 days prior of TB which she’d had for a year.

Above is Leah’s 2nd illegitimate son born April 11, 1873 without a name. Leah’s Aunt Annie is the “accouchure” (midwife) and her mother is the “informant”.
I searched through all the 1881 Horton Township census, looking for an 8-year-old. Below is the one only that fits the unnamed birth above. Robert Eady and Annie Burwell already have a son Robert B. b. 1847. They are too old to have an 8-year-old, so this Robert (age 8) is odd to be with them and I cannot find this young Robert Eady in any of the following census. He seems to disappear. Leah’s illegitimate son born 1873 is likely this 8-year-old Robert.

I’ve tossed around the idea that perhaps this Robert is really Adoniram. But its difficult to believe that at the age of 8 or 9, Leah would change her son’s name from Robert to Adoniram. Its also hard to believe Leah & Philander would report Adoniram as 10 in the 1891 Census if he was really 18. (see below).

It seems more likely that the illegitimate male born in 1873, who may be the 8-year-old Robert in the 1881 Census, is another son Leah had, and not the same person as Adoniram. So that being said, this would reveal that Adoniram had another half-brother.
Illegitimacy Revealed

I received this letter from Florence Eagle, March 5, 1992. Florence was the daughter of Thomas Henry Smith, son of Philander and Ann Smith, thought to be a half-brother of Adoniram.
Of particular interest, and shock at the time, was this:
Your grandfather is not a blood brother of my Father, Henry Smith. … Grandads 3rd wife … No 3 came to work for Grandad bring[ing] a little boy with her who was later your Grandad. … When your Grandad was very young he also took on the name Smith.
When I asked my aunt about this (can’t remember if it was Aunt Edna or Aunty Jo), she said that she had always known this but considered herself a Smith – end of story.
Horton Twp. 1891 & 1901 Census


H. Thomas Smith is Henry (Florence Eagle’s father). He is the “Head” of the household as Philander died in 1900.
Admiram is Adoniram. Possible error in his birthdate of Feb 19, as we always celebrated Feb 18.
Orin and Julia are twins. Orin never married. Julia married William Scobie.
E. George is actually Georgina. The only birth AFTER the marriage of Leah and Philander. Georgina married her cousin, Walter Eady. They later divorced.
Philander’s marriage to Leah was delayed for legal reasons. He promised to marry Mary Jamieson, the daughter of Mary Eady, Leah’s first cousin. It seems by refusing to give up her engagement ring, Mary could prevent Philander from marrying someone else. Only when Mary finally married Arthur Humphries, did that free Philander to marry Leah. Another source informed me that Philander was actually sued by Mary Jamieson for Breach of Promise.
Leah and Philander were finally married July 16, 1887. Leah was 38 and Philander was 53.