FREDERICK AND ELIZABETH SHERWOOD

            In April 1881, Frederick Sherwood forfeited (at his own request) his license on 318 acres at Woorak. Yet according to the Nhill Rate Books for that same year Fred's license was cancelled because he failed to pay outstanding rates of 16 shillings.  In a subsequent application for land, Fred stated that he made no use of the land he selected at Woorak.

             Early in 1883, he applied for another license for a smaller selection of 159 acres at Balrooten, a rural district 8 km from Nhill.  Field notes by the Government Surveyor described the land as slightly undulating with good soil.  Vegetation comprised mainly of Box, Oak and Mallee.

            On the application for the land at Balrooten Fred gave his address as Woorak and his occupation as labourer.

            In December 1883, Fred's application for the land at Balrooten was approved.  Two conditions of the license were that Fred had to within two years from the date of issue of the license, enclose the land with a substantial fence and cultivate at least one acre of every ten acres held.

            In 1887, Fred married Elizabeth Eastwell.   The Eastwell family was originally from Toddles Creek, South Australia.  In 1889 Fred registered a License Lien on his selection.  This legal document gives a person the right to hold another’s property until the debt on it is paid.  The License Lien was in favour of a William Barber, a neighbour of Fred's and amounted to 130 pounds. It is from that document that the following description of Fred's property is taken.

            There were three main buildings on his land.  The first was described as a two roomed hut, measuring 12 feet by 24 feet.  It was built using wattle and daub at a cost of 35 pounds.  It had mud walls and an iron roof.  This building would have formed the living and sleeping quarters of the house.  Another building described as a one-roomed hut, measured 10 feet by 12 feet and was used as the kitchen. It also had mud walls and an iron roof. The cost involved in its construction was 15 pounds.

            The third building was a stable and chaff shed, 35 feet by 14 feet, built with bull oak and straw and cost 10 pounds.  The property had a dam, 18 yards long, 9 yards wide and 4 feet deep.  Other improvements to the land were 50 chains of wire netting fence and 10 acres of land grubbed and cleared at   cost of 12 pounds 10 shillings.  In his first year on the land Fred had ploughed and cultivated 11 acres which produce 4 tons of hay.  The following two years he planted wheat which had a combined yield of 14 bushels.

     The Crown Lands Bailiff, in his report in March 1889, valued the improvements to the land at 260 pounds.  Approval for the License Lien was given several weeks following the Bailiffs report.

            Fred went on to apply for and receive a 14-year lease on his land in March 1890.  Several months later he transferred the lease hold on the land to William Barber.  Barber was now the owner of the land and estate as of 2 July 1890.

            After leaving Balrooten, Fred and Elizabeth moved to another property at Lawloit.  Lawloit is just off the Western Highway, midway between Nhill and Kaniva and not far from Mt. Elgin, where Fred’s brother Charles Sherwood Junior had his farm. The land (220 acres) was transferred from John Eastwell to Fred in March 1890. (John Eastwell may have been Elizabeth's father.) In April 1892, Fred's lease on the land was declared void due to his non-compliance with the conditions of the lease.

 In September 1896, Fred was issued with a permit for 9 acres at Kiata.  The land, referred to as allotment 11, was formerly held by another selector whose permit had been cancelled.  The permit was issued upon payment of 4 shillings and sixpence.  Fred’s permit and Elizabeth's brother George Eastwell's permit for allotment 12 at Kiata were both revoked on the same day, 27 October 1897.

Fred and Elizabeth Sherwood may have soon after settled in the township of Nhill.  They had at least 6 children. Ellen may have been their first child.  She was born in 1888, and died one month later.  A second daughter Myrtle (Fanny) was born around 1889 and died in 1903.  The following report appeared in the Nhill Free Press, 15 December 1903 and refers to Myrtle.  For Fred Eastwood read Fred Sherwood.

 ‘A 14 year old daughter of Mr. F. Eastwood (Sherwood) of Nhill died last Saturday.  The funeral took place on Sunday.’

A third daughter Edith Mary, born in 1891 also died in infancy. A fourth daughter Charlotte Elizabeth, born in 1892 died 14 months later.  Two sons, Frederick Gordon Sherwood born in 1895 and a son George were also born to Fred and Elizabeth.  From what I can gather George was the only child to survive.

Ruby Beard, Fred's niece knew Fred and his son George when they lived in Nhill.

 Now all I can tell you about uncle Fred Sherwood is he lived here for many years after his wife died.  He lived in a little red home with his useless son in Langford Street up the west end of town.  I remember them quite well, the son's name was George, better known as Joey.  I did not know that uncle Fred's wife was Elizabeth Eastwell.  The Eastwell family was well known in the town, but there is none of them left now. I think uncle Fred left here and that would possibly be him that was at the Aged Men's Retreat in Blackburn.  It sounds like him when his occupation was given as farm and garden labourer as that is all he used to do here and his son did less. What happened to George I would not know, he just disappeared too.

Ruby remembers Fred as being about 180 centimetres tall, clean-shaven, dark hair and dark complexion.  He dressed neatly and often wore a wide brimmed hat.  He was a quiet man with a pleasant personality.

Elizabeth Sherwood died suddenly in 1911, after a long illness. As she had not seen by a doctor for quite some time before her death, a Magisterial Inquiry was held. Four depositions, a report by a senior police constable and the findings of the Deputy Coroner for Nhill made up the inquest.  Those who made depositions were Frederick Sherwood, Elizabeth's sister Sarah Johnstone, a doctor Ryan the local medical practitioner and a constable Khon of Nhill.  The first deposition is that of Fred Sherwood, labourer of Church Hill, Nhill.

The deceased Elizabeth Sherwood is my wife about 10 o’clock on Saturday night we went to bed she said she was very tired about half past eleven I was awakened by my wife calling me and said Fred can't you help me I jumped out of bed she was already out of bed I took hold of her and opened the door and said what can I do for you she said get me a little spirits and I gave some it was whisky this was in the bedroom she then followed me into the kitchen and while I was opening the kitchen door she fell on the floor. I said I will call one of the neighbours and she said no. I called one of the neighbours and one came in she never spoke again after I sent for the Doctor and when he arrived he pronounced life extinct. My wife has been unwell for a good many years and has been attended by Dr Ryan on several occasions.

The second deponent, Sarah Johnstone states....

The deceased Elizabeth Sherwood is my sister, she has always been delicate and occasionally has taken fits she has consulted a medical man at various times and has been told that her heart was weak.  I saw her on Thursday last and she then said she was feeling ill, but she refused to see a doctor as the doctor could do her no good.

Dr. Ryan in his deposition says,

The deceased Elizabeth Sherwood was an inmate at the Nhill Hospital about 5 years ago and the diagnosis written in the Register was signed up as influenza.  I think I attended the deceased about 3 years ago and my opinion at that time was that she was suffering from an internal malady that was of a serious nature and so that death from natural causes would be very probable in her case.

The last deponent constable Albert Kohn states,

From information received on Sunday the 12-11-11.  I went to Mrs. Sherwood's residence Church Hill, Nhill. I viewed the body of Elizabeth Sherwood and found no marks of violence.  I have known the deceased personally for some years.  She was always in failing health and there is nothing suspicious surrounding this death.

Senior constable Drew's report read,

I have to report for your information that this morning I was informed that Elizabeth Sherwood 53 years of age died suddenly at her home at Church Hill, Nhill about 12.30am this morning.  She has not been seen by any doctor professionally for some years past.  Dr. Nankeville who was called in pronounced life extinct when he arrived at the house at 12.30am this morning I have since seen Dr. T. Ryan who informed me that deceased was in the Nhill Hospital about five years ago and that he saw deceased at her home about three years ago and she was then suffering from Dropsy. There are no suspicious circumstances surrounding this death. Dr. Ryan informs me that she has been practically dying this last three years and wonders how she lived so long. Please instruct.
Nhill Nov. 12th 1911.

After reading the written report by senior Constable Drew on the death of Elizabeth Sherwood, I am satisfied that there is no need for a post mortem examination, there being no suspicious circumstances surrounding the death, and I authorize the burial of the body.  

Elizabeth's death was reported in the Nhill Free Press on 14 November 1911.  The report was headed; Sudden Death of Local Resident, Mrs Fred Sherwood.

  My grandfather had written about Fred Sherwood's association with the Salvation Army.  On the basis of this information I wrote to their headquarters in Hawthorn, Victoria, asking if a search could be made of their records, regarding Fred.  Their archivist located the following item which appeared in The Salvation Army, "War Cry"  11 January 1911.  Page 7.

A TROPHY OF REDEEMING GRACE

Nhill Corps can boast of a worthy Colour Sergeant in Brother F. Sherwood, a Salvationist of fourteen years' standing.  His conversion came about as a result of God's calling from this earth his young daughter, Fanny, who was an earnest young Christian and devout lover of The Army.  Since the death of his daughter, our brother has taken his stand for God and The Army right nobly, and his place in the open-air meeting is seldom vacant.  Every meeting that it is possible for him to attend finds him ready to give his testimony, pray, or take up the offering; in fact, at all times, wherever his services are required, he is there.  J. Tanner, Captain.

Frederick Sherwood aged 75 years, died 26 July 1931, at the Aged Men's Retreat, Middleborough  Road, Blackburn, Victoria.  His occupation was farm and garden labourer. The Aged Men's  Retreat, was run by the Salvation Army.  

© R J Sherwood. 2001

Return to Top of Page