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Trove Tuesday: Budgong

Today’s post involves a Trove newspaper article that mentions my Great Grandmother Bridget Anastasia Lambert, who was a schoolteacher in various locations in New South Wales from 1891 until her resignation in 1900.  More posts on Bridget can be found here, here, here, here, here, here and here.


BUDGONG. (1900, December 22). The Shoalhaven News and South Coast Districts Advertiser (NSW : 1891 - 1937), p. 4. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article13573115

Transcript:

BUDGONG
The annual picnic and presentation of prizes in connection with the Budgong public school took place on the 14th inst.  Some 200 persons attended, amongst them being many visitors from Kangaroo Valley, - one party, of 14, earning the distinction of travelling in the first coach (in charge of “Jim” Hetherington) that had ever been driven to Budgong. Under the ample shade of trees in Mr. C. T. Randall’s grounds, lunch, consisting of sandwiches and confectionery galore, was provided, and right good justice was done thereto.  The usual sports, in which the young and old heartily joined, were indulged in, and the afternoon was merrily passed away.  The Rev. F.J. Dillon distributed the prizes to the scholars, and in his happy style gave a word of encouragement to everyone of the proud recipients.  Prior to doing so, however, it was his distressful duty to read a touching letter from Miss B.A. Lambert, the Budgong schoolmistress, regretting her unavoidable absence through family affliction.  After the distribution of prizes the sports were again proceeded with, and some foot running and hop, step, and jumping, in which the young Barrons, and McNallys shone conspicuously, created great interest.  Everything passed off most
successfully, and at night at Mr. Jim Randall’s a largely attended dance by the adults, kept up till the wee small hours, was thoroughly enjoyed.  The hospitality of the Budgong folk was greatly appreciated by the many visitors.   
 

The family affliction that prevented my great grandmother from attending this event would have been the fact that she was unmarried and about six months pregnant with my Great Uncle Frederick Joseph Donnelly formerly Lambert.  Frederick was born on the 11th of March 1901, nearly three months after this event.  He was Bridget’s second illegitimate child as she had a daughter Josephine Henrietta Lambert on the 5th of March 1898 in Orange, who’s death was registered in 1899 at Orange. It has been speculated that John Donnelly may have been the father of Josephine, he was a drover by occupation at the time and often away for very long periods of time but unfortunately those with that knowledge are no longer with us.  I have some leads that I want to chase up about Josephine as I have a feeling there is much more to her story!
As she continues to teach after Josephine's birth I can only assume that Bridget hid the pregnancy and birth and left her daughter with her family in Orange before returning to work, as the New South Wales Education Department, the community and parents would not have found it acceptable for a unwed mother to be employed as a schoolteacher during this time period.  Her school inspection reports from this time period reflect that her situation was impacting on her career; it is noted in her file that her teaching was not up to the required standards and she had been warned that she needed to improve or would be removed from service for incompetence!  (see files below)  Whether or not rumours of her having had an illegitimate child were floating around and affected the school inspectors reporting I do not know.  It certainly cannot have been an easy situation in which she had found herself and it must of taken a huge toll on her mentally. Things would work out differently with Frederick as she resigned from her position as Schoolmistress at Budgong Public School on the 31st December 1900 and raised him alone until her marriage to my Great Grandfather John Joseph Donnelly in 1904. Frederick’s father remains unknown to this day, however John Joseph Donnelly did adopt him and raised him as his own son.  
In 2000 when we were living in Townsville, Queensland my husband had to go to Sydney for work and while there he visited State Records New South Wales Archives for me and obtained my great grandparents teaching records.  He actually found it all fascinating and even got sidetracked with some interesting records he came across, while I sat at home completely envious of him getting to explore the archives!

New South Wales, Australia, Teachers’ Rolls, 1869-1908 for Bridget Anastasia Lambert




Source: New South Wales, Australia, Teachers’ Rolls, 1869-1908, NSW State Archives & Records

Known children of Bridget Anastasia Lambert

With unknown father
  • Josephine Henrietta I Lambert b. 5th March 1898 d. 1899
  • Frederick Joseph Donnelly formerly Lambert b. 11th March 1901 d. 20th May 1983 (adopted by John Joseph Donnelly)
      With John Joseph Donnelly
  • Mervyn James Phillip Donnelly b. 21st April 1905 d. 21st January 1943

NSW Birth Indexes

  • LAMBERT  BRIDGET ANASTASIA 13565/1872 JAMES ELIZABETH GULGONG
  • DONNELLY  JOHN 14810/1875 JAMES MARY MUDGEE
  • LAMBERT  Josephine Henrietta 14659/1898 Bridget Adele Orange
  • LAMBERT  JOSEPHINE H 14659/1898 BRIDGET A ORANGE
  • LAMBERT  FREDERICK J 1430/1901 BRIDGET BATHURST
  • LAMBERT  FREDERICK J 8549/1915 BRIDGET A BATHURST
  • DONNELLY  FREDERICK J 8549/1915 JOHN J BRIDGET A BATHURST
  • DONNELLY  FREDERICK J 8549/1915 JOHN J BRIDGET A BATHURST

NSW Marriage Indexes

  • 7127/1904 DONNELLY JOHN J LAMBERT BRIDGET A NYNGAN
  • 18515/1937 DONNELLY FREDERICK JOSEPH RAY AILEEN PETERSHAM
  • 14469/1926 DONNELLY MERVYN J THOMSON MARIE R SYDNEY
  • 17272/1928 DONNELLY JAMES O'CONNOR CLUNA I NEWCASTLE

NSW BDM Death Indexes

  • LAMBERT  JOSEPHINE H I 6761/1899 BRIDGET A ORANGE
  • DONNELLY  JOHN JOSEPH 3183/1942 JAMES MARY WALLSEND
  • DONNELLY  MERVYN JAMES 6688/1943 JOHN JOSEPH BRIDGET ANASTASIA WYONG
  • DONNELLY  BRIGID 6810/1961 8O YEARS WARATAH HAMILTON
  • DONNELLY  FREDERICK JOSEPH 10790/1983 DIED BALMAIN 082
Source:  NSW BDM Indexes.  Retrieved from https://familyhistory.bdm.nsw.gov.au







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