December 1876 - Crew and passenger list of the Rita
Walter Goodman, 18, British
Walter Goodman, 18, British
Walter Goodman (Junior) 1858 - 1912
1858 - 1876 Walter Goodman Jnr in UK
Walter Goodman Jnr was born around 1858. He may have been raised by his father, Walter Senior, and perhaps his father's wife, partner, or relatives. The cause of Walter and Catherine's marriage breakdown are unknown. Perhaps the marriage was bigamous.
The record of Walter Goodman Jnr's age as 18 in Dec 1876 strongly suggests he was born in 1858 not 1857. His age (54) given at his death on 22 Apr 1912 also supports the theory he was born prior to Apr 1858. To date, searches for his birth in England and Scotland in the period Sep 1857 - Jun 1858 have not met with success. Perhaps Walter was born at sea or in Ireland?
Walter Goodman Snr
Details of his father, Walter Goodman Senior's life after returning to the UK from Australia and his death are subject to continuing research. Malcolm Goodman's birth certificate (1859) records Walter Snr as an "engineer" but his death certificate (1869) states his occupation was "publican".
Walter Goodman Jnr was born around 1858. He may have been raised by his father, Walter Senior, and perhaps his father's wife, partner, or relatives. The cause of Walter and Catherine's marriage breakdown are unknown. Perhaps the marriage was bigamous.
The record of Walter Goodman Jnr's age as 18 in Dec 1876 strongly suggests he was born in 1858 not 1857. His age (54) given at his death on 22 Apr 1912 also supports the theory he was born prior to Apr 1858. To date, searches for his birth in England and Scotland in the period Sep 1857 - Jun 1858 have not met with success. Perhaps Walter was born at sea or in Ireland?
Walter Goodman Snr
Details of his father, Walter Goodman Senior's life after returning to the UK from Australia and his death are subject to continuing research. Malcolm Goodman's birth certificate (1859) records Walter Snr as an "engineer" but his death certificate (1869) states his occupation was "publican".
28 Dec 1876 Walter Goodman Jnr arrived in Sydney
Separated from his mother soon after birth, Walter Goodman Jnr (18) arrived in Sydney on 28 Dec 1876 aboard the Rita - see above, 3rd row from bottom. It is assumed that soon thereafter, he met his mother and her Milford family for the first time in Dalby.
Comment
One must admire the tenacity of Catherine McLaren to maintain contact with her first born child between 1858 and 1876 and to reunite with him after 18 years apart. The change in Walter Goodman Snr's occupation between 1859 and 1869 - see above - also suggests detailed communications between Catherine and either Walter Snr or his family in UK.
1876 - 1912 Walter Goodman Jnr in Queensland
Walter worked as a labourer or station hand throughout western Queensland. He never married.
Electoral rolls record:
The following article mentions a bullock driver named Walter Goodman working at Jericho, around 200 km from Winton. It is highly likely (but it is not certain) that the bullock driver was Walter Jnr.
Queensland Figaro and Punch Saturday 2 October 1886, page 19
The carriers about Jericho have been considerably excited about a case which recently was heard before the Police Court in that dusty township. From the evidence it would appear that two carriers, named John Armour and Alexander Hemmings, together with a bullock-driver named Walter Goodman, had been put in the bush all day looking for bullocks and had returned tired and hungry to the township, about two o'clock in the morning. A hungry Carrier is no respecter of persons, and these were no exceptions to the rule. Tucker they needed, and they proceeded to get it. The story they told was to the effect that they asked a Chinaman, named Lum Sue, to sell them biscuits and sardines, which he gave them, refusing payment. That story was too thin for the Bench (whoever heard of a Chinkie refusing payment?), and they believed Lum Sue's yarn, which was:
That he was roused from sleep on the morning in question by hearing his door broken in, and saw the bullockies helping themselves. Afterwards he saw them sitting on the wood-heap eating the sardines and biscuits, and went for the police.
The constables deposed that they also saw the prisoners enjoying the al fresco repast upon the woodheap and that they scooted upon seeing the men of the law approach. Armour was arrested without much trouble, but Hemmings resisted, and Goodman was taken in charge when he came up to find out what his mates were being taken to. Armour and Hemmings got fourteen and Goodman seven days for larceny. They are more than ever convinced that Chinamen should be forced to leave the country.
Separated from his mother soon after birth, Walter Goodman Jnr (18) arrived in Sydney on 28 Dec 1876 aboard the Rita - see above, 3rd row from bottom. It is assumed that soon thereafter, he met his mother and her Milford family for the first time in Dalby.
Comment
One must admire the tenacity of Catherine McLaren to maintain contact with her first born child between 1858 and 1876 and to reunite with him after 18 years apart. The change in Walter Goodman Snr's occupation between 1859 and 1869 - see above - also suggests detailed communications between Catherine and either Walter Snr or his family in UK.
1876 - 1912 Walter Goodman Jnr in Queensland
Walter worked as a labourer or station hand throughout western Queensland. He never married.
Electoral rolls record:
- 1903 Walter lived at the Australia Hotel, Winton, working as a labourer;
- 1905 Walter worked at Louden Station as a station hand;
- 1908 Moreton Station Charleville, he was employed as a station hand.
The following article mentions a bullock driver named Walter Goodman working at Jericho, around 200 km from Winton. It is highly likely (but it is not certain) that the bullock driver was Walter Jnr.
Queensland Figaro and Punch Saturday 2 October 1886, page 19
The carriers about Jericho have been considerably excited about a case which recently was heard before the Police Court in that dusty township. From the evidence it would appear that two carriers, named John Armour and Alexander Hemmings, together with a bullock-driver named Walter Goodman, had been put in the bush all day looking for bullocks and had returned tired and hungry to the township, about two o'clock in the morning. A hungry Carrier is no respecter of persons, and these were no exceptions to the rule. Tucker they needed, and they proceeded to get it. The story they told was to the effect that they asked a Chinaman, named Lum Sue, to sell them biscuits and sardines, which he gave them, refusing payment. That story was too thin for the Bench (whoever heard of a Chinkie refusing payment?), and they believed Lum Sue's yarn, which was:
That he was roused from sleep on the morning in question by hearing his door broken in, and saw the bullockies helping themselves. Afterwards he saw them sitting on the wood-heap eating the sardines and biscuits, and went for the police.
The constables deposed that they also saw the prisoners enjoying the al fresco repast upon the woodheap and that they scooted upon seeing the men of the law approach. Armour was arrested without much trouble, but Hemmings resisted, and Goodman was taken in charge when he came up to find out what his mates were being taken to. Armour and Hemmings got fourteen and Goodman seven days for larceny. They are more than ever convinced that Chinamen should be forced to leave the country.
22 Apr 1912 The Death of Walter Goodman Junior.
Walter died at Macalister, having suffered from tuberculosis for many years. He was only 54 years of age. He was buried at the Macalister Cemetery in an unmarked grave.
The cemetery is on private property and public access is not permitted. Various members of the Ross family are interred in this little cemetery which is perched on a bushy knoll on the Condamine flood plain.
Walter died at Macalister, having suffered from tuberculosis for many years. He was only 54 years of age. He was buried at the Macalister Cemetery in an unmarked grave.
The cemetery is on private property and public access is not permitted. Various members of the Ross family are interred in this little cemetery which is perched on a bushy knoll on the Condamine flood plain.
Property map showing the Macalister Cemetery (on private land, Lot 244)
2016 photograph taken inside Macalister Cemetery - Walter's grave is unmarked
(Visit courtesy of the property owner)
(Visit courtesy of the property owner)
1912 Walter Goodman Junior's death certificate - part 1.
1912 Walter Goodman Junior's death certificate - part 2.
Information from Walter Goodman Jnr's death certificate
Suffering from chronic tuberculos, Walter in his final days contracted influenza. Heart failure killed him. He was only 54 years of age. The information on his death certificate confirms:
Suffering from chronic tuberculos, Walter in his final days contracted influenza. Heart failure killed him. He was only 54 years of age. The information on his death certificate confirms:
- Walter was born in England, prior to Apr 1858;
- he arrived in Australia in Dec 1876 (aged 18 - see shipping list above);
- the above medical conditions;
- he was an unskilled labourer;
- his mother was Catherine McLaren - she was in her final years;
- the informants were unable to provide his father's christian name or occupation;
- at the time of his death, Walter was living in Macalister and in regular contact or perhaps living with the Milford / Connell / Ryan families - mentioned here are his cousin, (Arthur) George Milford 1887 - 1956, his brother-in-law, James Ryan 1869 - 1945, and his half-sister, Catherine (aka Katherine) Ryan nee Milford 1872 - 1970.
Comments on the life of Walter Goodman Jnr
One must admire
One must admire