Joseph Usher

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Joseph Usher, University of Ballarat Historical Collection

Background

Joseph Francis Usher was born around 1832 in Birr, Offaly, Ireland to Noble Luke Usher (1788-1832) and Monica White (1797-1865). He married Margaret Kidd in 1858 in Victoria (registration number #2502). Margaret Kidd, daughter of Edmond KIDD (1808-1873) and Mary MCKERN (1811?-aft1871), was baptised on 14 December 1834 in Limerick, Co. Limerick, Ireland. She emigrated from Ireland to Australia before 1858. She died on 19 October 1915 in Queenscliffe, Victoria, Australia. She and Joseph Francis USHER had the following children: Monica Ruth (1859-1874); Frances Mabel (1861-1934); Mary Rose (1863-1948); Elizabeth Ellen (1865-1935); Joseph Frances (1867-1896); Edmund thomas(1869-1869); Noble Luke (1872-1941); Patrick Edgeworth (1875-1945); Margaret Mary (1878-1954); and Mark John Handsworth (1880-1922). Usher died in Ballarat on 6 July 1909 and is buried in Ballarat.

When Noble Luke Usher was born on 12 April 1788 in Birr, Offaly, his father, John, was 48 and his mother, Mary, was 33. He married Dorcas Lowth and they had one son together. He then married Monica White and they had 11 children together. He also had two daughters with Bridget Lalor. He died on 29 November 1832 at the age of 44.The name "Noble Luke" or "Luke Noble" appears in the family tree from the 1700s, with relatives and descendants in Boston Massachusetts, USA (See family of James Campbell Usher (1807-1872). This particular person died in Brant, Ontario, Canada. See also Luke Noble Usher (1709-1787)

Goldfields Involvement, 1854

Post 1854 Experiences

The committee of the Ballarat Base Hospital (formerly Ballarat Miners' Hospital) appointed a house steward, a position he held from 1857-1859. Mr Usher had long association with the hospital. A lively Irishman, Joseph Francis Usher, was a qualified dispenser, who later became a medical practitioner, honorary medical officer and many times member of the hospital committee. Usher and Dr Hillas got on well. Hillas reportedly performed the first caesarian section in the Southern Hemisphere on a living woman. When Hillas resigned to take up private practice, Dr Whitcombe was appointed and took up his duties in November 1859. Usher, the house steward, and Whitcombe did not work well together. According to Anthea Hislop, author of Sovereign Remedies, there was a brawl that broke out in the hospital kitchen on Christmas morning. Whitcombe ordered Usher to his room and summoned the police. All four staff were dismissed by the resident surgeon Whitcombe. But as soon as Lynch the porter was out on bail Usher reinstated him saying, ‘as he was a domestic servant the doctor had no power to dismiss him’ but Whitcombe took umbrage. At which Usher immediately tendered his resignation.[1]

1862 APPOINTMENTS.-The following appointments are notified in the Government Gazette of Friday: - The Right Rev. James A Goold, the Very Rev. Laurence Sheil, John Andrew Forbes, Joseph Francis Usher, and James O'Meara, to be the trustees of the land at Ballarat East reserved for the use of the Roman Catholic Church; ...[2]

Dr J. F. Usher was a member of the first committee of the Ballarat School of Mines in 1870.

Joseph F. Usher M.D., L.A.H.D. lectured in Botany at the Ballarat School of Mines from 1879 to 1891 and 1895 to 1919.[3] The trained nurses association at the Ballarat Base Hospital holds the Usher Medical Certificate in their records. [4]

1886 Australasia, Medical Directories Lists: USHER, Joseph Francis, 43 Doveton Street, Ballarat, Victoria,- L.A.H. Dub. 1872; M.D. New York, U.S. 1872; Hon. Phys. Ballarat District Hospital; Benevolent Asylum; Lying-in Hospital; and Orphanage; Health Officer Bungaree; Surg. City Fire Brig; Lect. on Mat. Med. and Physiol. School of Mines

Of interest, the entry above Joseph's is for USHER, John Edward, immigration Serv.; Qu.-M.D. New York 1880; L.R.C.P. London 1881; L.S.A. London 1880; late Asst. Health Off. at Bris.; formerly Prof. of Surg. New York.

1896 Australasian Medical Directory - 1896 Queensland[5] Lists USHER, Joseph Frances, Ballarat, Vic. - L.A.H. Dub. 1872; M.D. New York USA 1872.[6]

Joseph Francis Usher's probate states he lived at Doveton Street North, Ballarat in 1909; that he was a doctor (M. D. from L. A. H. Dublin.)

Obituary

Our Ballarat correspondent telegraphs: — Dr. Usher, who had lived at Ballarat for the past 40 years, died yesterday at his residence in Doveton-street. The deceased gentleman was 77 years of age. Mr. William Henry Wooldridge, a well-known mining manager, and an old pioneer of Ballarat, died yesterday. The deceased gentleman was 80 years of age. He arrived in Victoria in 1852, and since then had lived nearly all the time in Ballarat.[2]

The funeral of Dr Joseph Francis Usher took place yesterday. His re mains were removed from his late residence at 9.30, and conveyed to the Ballarat Old Cemetery. The funeral, according to the wish of deceased being private. only immediate relatives and a few old friends being present. The coffin of plain polished oak, with only the inscription place, was borne by Ex-Captain Marsh, Captain Richards, and Firemen W. Daw, and C. Leggo. and the pall-bearers were Dr R. Scott, Dr Morrison, and Dr Champion, Professor Mica Smith, Messrs W. J. Coghlan, T. A. Robertson, J. M. Bickett and W. T. Glenn. Services at the house and grave side were conducted by the Very Rev Father Shiel, assisted by Fathers Close and Coughlin. Mr Steve Wellington was the undertaker.[7]

See also

Further Reading

Corfield, J., Wickham, D., & Gervasoni, C. The Eureka Encyclopaedia, Ballarat Heritage Services, 2004.

References

  1. Anthea Hislop, Sovereign Remedies: A History of the Ballarat Base Hospital 1850s to 1980s, Allen & Unwin, 1989.
  2. Ballarat Star, 02 June 1862.
  3. https://bih.federation.edu.au/index.php/Joseph_Usher
  4. https://victoriancollections.net.au/items/559fc81b2162f1237ca8c350
  5. AUD121 - 1896 Australasian Medical Directory
  6. https://www.ancestry.com.au/search/?name=Joseph+Francis_usher&event=_australia_5027&count=50&location=5027&name_x=_1&priority=australian
  7. Ballarat Star, 20 July 1909.

External links