Francis Romeo

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Background

Francis John (or Le Fronzis) Romeo (or Roman or Ramau) was born c1837 in Corsica (France), with his family being from Siena, Italy. Romeo claimed a connection with Napoleon.[1] This would have been Napoleon III who was involved with the struggles to free Northern Italy from Austrian rule.[2] He was buried at Creswick Cemetery on 22 February 1910.[3]

Goldfields Involvement, 1854

In 1851 Romeo was on a French warship that docked at Melbourne. He left the ship and made his way to Ballarat where he shares a tent with Cornelius Peters and Jan Vennik. The tent was around 130-150 yards north of the Eureka Stockade, and it is assumed Romeo was one of the miners defending the Stockade on 03 December 1854. He was arrested after the Eureka Stockade battle, but was released without charge, unlike his mate Jan Vennik.[4]

Post 1854 Experiences

Francis John Romeo, of Sulky Gully, miner. Causes of insolvency — Pressure of creditors, inability to obtain remunerative employment, and sickness in family. Liabilities, £23/6/6 ; assets, nil. Mr. E. Verey, assignee.[5]

Family

Francis Romeo married Elizabeth Hyder in 1874. (Elizabeth was the daughter of Thomas Hyder who signed the Bendigo Goldfields Petition.[6])

Children:

1. Frances Romeo (B. 1869 at Miner's Rest)

On 12 December 1884 Frances Romeo was charged with living in a brothel and following an evil course of life. Constable Shallard deposed to the character of the girl who for some time had been seen by him roaming about the street at night in the company of larrikins. After some deliberation the charge was altered to one of being an idle and disorderly prostitute. Mr Hosking, the Town Missionary was present and offered to admit her to the Ballarat Refuge. The girl consented and in answer to the police magistrate, who strongly cautioned her, promised to lead a better life.[7]

2. James Romeo (B. 1870, Miners Rest)

3. Francis John Romeo (B. B. 1872, Miners Rest)

4. Ellen Elizabeth Romeo (B. 1874, Creswick)

5. Thomas Romeo (B. 1875, Creswick)

6. Vincent Dominic Romeo (B. 1878, Creswick)

7. Antoinette Louise Romeo (B. 1880, Creswick)

8. Mary Quinesia Romeo (B. 1883, Creswick)

9. William Stephen Romeo (B. 1886, Creswick)

10. Sarah Elizabeth Romeo (B. 1888, Creswick)

Obituary

Our Creswick correspondent writes:-
The death of two old and aged residents of the town have occurred during the past two days in Mrs Bowker and Mr Romeo. The former was 77 years of age, and the relict of the late J.C. Bowker. Both the deceased were well known and respected residents. The later Mr Romeo was a well–known football enthusiast in his more youthful years, and was well known to all old Creswick boys as an ardent “Barracker".[8]

See also

Further Reading

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

References

  1. Corfield, J., Wickham, D., & Gervasoni, C. The Eureka Encyclopaedia, Ballarat Heritage Services, 2004.
  2. Notes from Clare Gervasoni, 2018.
  3. Corfield, J., Wickham, D., & Gervasoni, C. The Eureka Encyclopaedia, Ballarat Heritage Services, 2004.
  4. Corfield, J., Wickham, D., & Gervasoni, C. The Eureka Encyclopaedia, Ballarat Heritage Services, 2004.
  5. The Argus, 10 May 1898.
  6. Information from descendant Ronald Romeo, 16 November 2018.
  7. Creswick Advertiser, 12 December 1884.
  8. Courier, February 23 1910

External links



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