John Cail
Contents
Background
John Cail from Winchester, England. Eighteen year old Amy Williams married 27 year old John Cail in New Zealand on 13 August 1851.[1] In 1853 John Cail returned to New Zealand for his wife Amy Cail.[2]. On 25 August 1853 John and Amy arrived in Melbourne from Wellington, New Zealand on the Arion bringing with them their first child, 11 month old Agnes Amy.[3] They proceeded to the Ballarat goldfields in September of that year. John prospected for gold and Amy set up a grocery store in a large tent as food was scarce on the goldfields".[4]
John and Amy Cail were among early arrivals on the Ballarat goldfields at at the start of the "rush", setting off from Melbourne to seek their fortune with their few possessions in a covered wagon.[5]
After the rebellion in which the miners fared badly Peter Lalor became a hunted man. However he had many friends who found in him a 'champion' and one of these was Amy Cail who hid him in her large tent by cutting the ropes in pretence of leaving the goldfields. Because of this Lalor was able to make his escape. He later became a Member of Parliament.[6]
John Cail continued to mine on the Ballarat Goldfields after the Eureka Stockade riot in 1854. It is likely that John and Amy and their family continued to live on the goldfields and that Amy continued to run her grocery store there until 1856.
John was mining in Canadian Gully and continued to hold Miner's Rights until 1866 so was still mining until the year before the family moved to Mt Rowan.[7]
John Cail died on 23 January 1905 aged 80 years. In his Will he left his estate to his sons George Henry, and Walter Benjamin and his son in law Thomas Caldwell. This was on the following proviso: "for my wife Amy to have the full use and benefit of my land during her lifetime and the absolute ownership of my personal property. After her death to sell the property and divide the proceeds equally among my children." [8]
Amy Cail, widowed in 1905, was still living in Kamarooka in 1909 as she was listed there in the 1909 Australian Electoral Roll as home duties. Also living in Kamarooka were her son George Henry Cail farmer and his son John Speedy Cail labourer, and her son Walter Benjamin Cail farmer and his wife Henrietta Cail home duties.[9]
Amy died at the home of her daughter, Alice Maud Henderson in Sydney Road Brunswick.[10] Amy died on 15th July 1914 aged 81 years. She was recorded as occupation: domestic duties. The informant on her Death Certificate was her son in law Angus McGregor Henderson, 173 Sydney Road, Brunswick. Amy lived for 60 years in Victoria. The Minister at the funeral was Rev. Edwin J. Torrance Church of England.[11] She is buried in the Raywood Cemetery with her husband John Cail.[12]
Goldfields Involvement, 1854
Family
1. Agnes Amy (b September 1852, New Zealand.)
2. George Henry Cail (b. December 1854. Named for John Cail's father. He was probably born on the Ballarat goldfields as the family was present at the Eureka Stockade which took place in December 1854.)
3. Walter Benjamin Cail
4. Alice Maud Cail (Married Angus McGregor Henderson)
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
Post 1854 Experiences
See also
Further Reading
Corfield, J.,Wickham, D., & Gervasoni, C. The Eureka Encyclopaedia, Ballarat Heritage Services, 2004.
References
- ↑ https://kiosk.pioneerwomen.com.au/uploads/images/Amy-Cail-nee-Williams.pdf, accessed 16 June 2020.
- ↑ Obituary: Bendigo Advertiser, January 1905
- ↑ Public Records Office Victoria: prov.vic gov.au - Wills and Testaments; Unassisted Passenger lists to Victoria.
- ↑ Corfield, J., Wickham, D., & Gervasoni, C. The Eureka Encyclopaedia, Ballarat Heritage Services, 2004.
- ↑ Williams, Arthur, Cails of Kamarooka document for the 102nd anniversary of the Cail family selecting land in Kamarooka, Reunion 09 March 1975.
- ↑ Williams, Arthur, Cails of Kamarooka document for the 102nd anniversary of the Cail family selecting land in Kamarooka, Reunion 09 March 1975.
- ↑ Gold Museum Ballarat: archive collection re John Cail (70.5512.19), accessed by Kay Clarke.
- ↑ Will of Mr. John Cail, 23rd October 1904, accessed by Kay Clarke.
- ↑ Australian Electoral Roll 1909.
- ↑ Death Notice: Argus, 16 July 1914.
- ↑ Victorian Death Certificate for Amy Cail.
- ↑ Death Certificate and Tombstone Photo at Raywood Cemetery.
External links
