This is an 1896 document containing the Letters of Administration following the death of Margaret Lord, a widow from Warrnambool. She died intestate in April 1896 and left real estate to the value of £15 and personal estate to the value of £250. The estate was to be administered by her son, John Lord, a draper from Warrnambool. Tait collection: item 13 of 62This document is of interest because it concerns a local Warrnambool woman, Margaret Lord and a local lawyer, Ernest Chambers The latter had offices in Warrnambool with the known dates 1896 to 1910, with other offices in Koroit and Port Fairy during the same period. His manager in Warrnambool was Thomas Goodall and this document with others was passed to lawyers occupying the same premises in Kepler Street and it was found in the buildings previously occupied by the legal firm Mackay Taylor.This is a piece of parchment paper folded in two with writing in brown-coloured ink on the back and front of the document. It has a seal of the Supreme Court of the Colony of Victoria and one red stamp of the Master in Equity of the Supreme Court. The writing is somewhat faded but still legible.‘In the Supreme Court of the Colony of Victoria, In the Probate Jurisdiction in the Estate of Margaret Lord, Late of Warrnambool in the Colony of Victoria, Widow, deceased, intestate, Letters of Administration. I certify that there is no duty payable on the within Letters of Administration, J. Poole, Officer Under Section 96 Act 1060, Dated the 22nd day of July 1896. E.J.W. Chambers, Proctor, Warrnambool’ margaret lord, ernest chambers, warrnambool

This document contains the Probate Papers following the death of Richard Bright, a Warrnambool stonemason who died in August 1897. No other information has been found on Richard Bright but he must have been a successful tradesman as he left real estate to the value of £680 and personal estate to the value of £94. His executors were his son, Daniel Bright of Terang and the law clerk, Thomas Goodall. Richard Bright left a number of properties to his wife, Elizabeth, his sons, Daniel and John and his daughters, Adelaide Scown and Martha Head. This document was in the possession of Thomas Goodall , a law clerk managing the Ernest Chambers legal offices in Warrnambool and it was eventually passed on to the law firms operating from the same premises in Kepler Street. It was handed to the Historical Society when it was found in the premises once occupied by the law firm of Mackay Taylor. Tait collection: item 14 of 62This document is of interest as it originally was drawn up by a local lawyer. Ernest Chambers, and the probate papers are for a local Warrnambool resident, Richard Bright. This is a piece of parchment paper, folded in two, with handwriting on all pages. There is a seal of the Supreme Court of the Colony of Victoria attached with a green ribbon and a red stamp of the Master in Equity of the Supreme Court. There are ruled black lines on three pages and pencilled writing in the margin of the first page. Some of the writing is a little faded. ‘In the Supreme Court of the Colony of Victoria, In the Probate Jurisdiction In the Will of Richard Bright, late of Warrnambool in the Colony of Victoria, Mason, deceased. Probate. I certify that no duty is payable herewith. J. Poole, Officer under Sec. 96, Act 1060, 16/11/97. E.J.W. Chambers, Proctor, Warrnambool’ernest chambers, thomas goodall richard bright, richard bright, tait collection

Tait collection: item 16 of 62 This is the probate document for Harold Dawkins who died in 1898 in Warrnambool. He left no real estate but had personal estate to the value of £369. This was inherited by his widow, Margreta Mary Elizabeth Dawkins. Harold Dawkins’ father, William, established a timber business in partnership with George Hockley in the 1870s in Timor Street. The business was known as Dawkins and Son after 1890 and moved to the corner of Fairy and Lava Streets before again moving to the corner of Lava and Kepler Streets. In 1923 this business was taken over by the Ponting Brothers. Harold Dawkins, a carpenter and builder, married in 1884 and built a house at 68 Hyland Street (previously Nicol Street) which still stands. Harold died of typhoid fever when he was 37 and the family moved to Western Australia. This probate document was prepared by Ernest Chambers, a Warrnambool lawyer with offices in Warrnambool, Koroit and Port Fairy in the late 19th century and early 20th century. This document has been passed down by the successive lawyers occupying the Kepler Street building and was located in the old premises of the legal firm, now defunct, of Mackay Taylor. This document is of considerable interest because it contains information on Harold Dawkins, a resident of Warrnambool in the late 19th century and a member of a prominent Warrnambool family. It is also of importance because it was a document prepared by a local Warrnambool lawyer at that time. This is one sheet of parchment paper folded into two and with handwritten material on three sides. Three of the pages are edged with black lines. A seal of the Supreme Court of the Colony of Victoria is attached with green ribbon and there is a red stamp of the Master in Equity of the Supreme Court. ‘In the Supreme Court of Victoria in the Probate Jurisdiction in the Will of Harold Dawkins, late of Warrnambool, in the Colony of Victoria, carpenter, deceased – Probate. I certify that no duty is payable on the within probate. J. Poole, Officer under section 96 Act 1060, 7/4/98, E.J.W. Chambers, Proctor, Warrnambool’harold dawkins, ernest chambers, warrnambool, tait collection

Tait collection: item 19 of 62 This is an 1899 document giving Will and Probate details of William Cox who died in Warrnambool in March 1899. He was a farmer residing in Moore Street Warrnambool at the time of his death at the age of 83. He left real estate to the value of £425 and personal estate to the value of £412 to Gwenllian Williams who may have been his sister or niece. A Mr and Mrs Williams were also living in the Moore Street house at the time of Cox’s death. His executors were Thomas Goodall, a law clerk who managed the office of the lawyer Ernest Chambers in Warrnambool and John Ward, a pioneer settler in Warrnambool and a shopkeeper in Jamieson Street in 1899. No other details are available on William Cox. This is an interesting document as it gives details of the Will and Probate belonging to a local Warrnambool person, William Cox. The lawyer dealing with the document was Ernest Chambers who had legal offices in Warrnambool, Port Fairy and Koroit at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. This document has been passed on to successive lawyers occupying legal chambers in the Kepler Street building and that is where the document was held until passed on to the Warrnambool and District Historical Society in 2014.This is an 1899 piece of parchment paper folded in two with handwritten material on three sides of the paper. The seal of the Supreme Court of the Colony of Victoria is attached with blue ribbon and there are two stamps, one blue one of the Colonial Bank in Warrnambool and the other a red one of the Master in Equity of the Supreme Court in Melbourne. Two of the pages have ruled black lines. The writing is very clear but the pages are a little stained.In the Supreme Court of the Colony of Victoria In its Probate Jurisdiction In the Will of William Cox late of Warrnambool in the Colony of Victoria farmer deceased; Probate; I certify there is no duty payable on this probate (signature) Officer under Section 96 of act No 106; E J W Chambers Warrnambool Proctors for the Executorswilliam cox, ernest chambers, john ward, thomas goodall, tait collection

Tait collection: item 20 of 62 This 1900 document gives details on the Will and Probate of William Bickle, described as a ‘Gentleman’, who died in April 1900. He left real estate to the value of £240 and personal estate to the value of £286. His wife Jane received the income from these assets during her lifetime and on her death the estate went to Bickle’s nephew and niece. The executors were John Warren, a painter of Jamieson Street, Warrnambool and Thomas Goodall, a law clerk of Warrnambool. No other details are available on William Bickle. Thomas Goodall was the manager of the law office of Ernest Chambers in Warrnambool. Chambers had offices in Port Fairy, Koroit and Warrnambool at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. This document is of interest because it contains information on the Will and Probate of William Bickle, a Warrnambool resident at the time of his death. The document was in the possession of the lawyer, Ernest Chambers and has been passed down to successive lawyers occupying the Kepler Street building. It was then passed on in 2014 to be part of the Warrnambool and District Historical Society collection.This is a 1900 piece of parchment paper folded in two with handwritten material on three sides. The seal of the Supreme Court of the Colony of Victoria is attached with a green ribbon and there are two stamps, one a red one of the Master in Equity of the Supreme Court, Melbourne and the other a blue one of the Savings Bank, Warrnambool. The handwriting is highly legible.william bickle, ernest chambers, tait collection, john warren

Tait collection: item 23 of 62 This paper contains details of the Will and Probate papers of John Joseph Flahavin who died in December 1902. He was a farmer at Kirkstall but no further details on him have been found. He left real estate to the value of £100 and personal estate to the value of £5 to his wife Margaret Flahavin. She died in the June of the following year before her husband’s will had been finalized. The lawyer in the case, Ernest Chambers, had legal offices in Warrnambool. Port Fairy and Koroit at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. This document in his possession passed to successive lawyers occupying the legal premises in Kepler Street and were located there in 2014 and passed on to the Warrnambool and District Historical Society. This document is of some interest as it concerns a Kirkstall resident in the early 1900s. It will be useful to researchers.This is a cream-coloured piece of parchment paper folded in two (1903). It has handwritten material on three sides of the paper. There is a seal of the Supreme Court of Victoria attached with a green ribbon and there are three purple stamps of the Master in Equity of the Supreme Court. The paper is somewhat stained and the writing is faded but legible. In the Supreme Court of Victoria; Probate Jurisdiction; In the Will of John Joseph Flahavin late of Kirkstall in the State of Victoria Farmer deceasedjohn flahavin, ernest chambers, warrnambool, kirkstall, tait collection

Tait collection: item 24 of 62 This is a 1904 document giving information on the Will and Probate of Robert Cuppage. He was a labourer who lived at Woodford and he and his wife, Jane received much sympathy following the deaths from diphtheria of five of their children in 1866. Charlotte (3) and Elizabeth (14) died on 26th August, Robert (6) died on 27th August, Hanne (8) died on 30th August and George (15) died on 14th September. Jane Cuppage died in 1889 and Robert died in December 1903. He left real estate to the value of £240 and personal estate to the value of £5 to his daughter, Margaret Trigg. Ernest Chambers had legal offices in Warrnambool, Port Fairy and Koroit at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. This document was in his possession and it was passed down to successive lawyers occupying the legal offices in Kepler Street and located in this building in 2014 and passed on the Warrnambool and District Historical Society. This is an interesting document as it gives the Will and Probate details of a well-known Woodford resident in the 19th century. It will be useful to researchersThis is a piece of cream-coloured parchment paper folded in two and containing handwritten material on four sides of the paper. It contains details on the Will and Probate of William Charlesworth, 1904. The seal of the Supreme Court of Victoria is attached with green ribbon and there are two purple stamps, one from the Master in Equity of the Supreme Court in Melbourne and the other from the Bank of Australasia in Warrnambool. The document is somewhat stained on one side but the writing is legible.In the Supreme Court of Victoria; In the Probate Jurisdiction; In the Will of Robert Cuppage late of Bushfield near Warrnambool in the State of Victoria Labourer deceasedrobert cuppage, ernest chambers, warrnambool, bushfield, tait collection

Tait collection: item 25 of 62 This is a 1904 document containing information on the Will and Probate of William Charlesworth. He died in September 1904. He was a chimney sweep and nightman who came to Warrnambool in 1854 and married Sophia Ingham in 1855. They had six children but their married life was stormy because of Sophia’s problem with alcohol. She became notorious for her court appearances and gaol terms and her erratic behaviour in public. William Charlesworth was not able to control the situation and tried several times to get her to leave the town. Sadly she committed suicide in 1891 by throwing herself off the Hopkins River Bridge. William Charlesworth left real estate to the value of £650 and personal estate to the value of £194. The main beneficiaries were Charlesworth’s son, Alfred, his daughter Amelia Charlesworth and his grandchildren, George and Alice Tait. Ernest Chambers, the lawyer concerned with this document, had legal offices in Warrnambool, Port Fairy and Koroit in the late 19th century and the early 20th century. The document was passed down to successive lawyers who occupied the legal premises in Kepler Street and located there in 2014 when it was passed on to the Warrnambool and District Historical Society. This document is of considerable interest as both William and Sophia Charlesworth were well-known residents of Warrnambool in the 19th century. It will be useful to researchers.This is a piece of cream-coloured parchment paper folded in two and containing handwritten material on four sides of the paper. It contains details on the Will and Probate of William Charlesworth, 1904. The seal of the Supreme Court of Victoria is attached with green ribbon and there are two purple stamps, one from the Master in Equity of the Supreme Court in Melbourne and the other from the Bank of Australasia in Warrnambool. The document is somewhat stained on one side but the writing is legible.In the Supreme Court of Victoria; In the Probate Jurisdiction; In the Will of William Charlesworth late of Warrnambool in the State of Victoria Laborer deceasedwilliam charlesworth, ernest chambers, warrnambool, tait collection

Tait collection: item 26 of 62 This is a 1905 document containing information on the Will and Probate of Elizabeth Bright, a widow from Ellerslie in Victoria. She died in April 1905 and left real estate to the value of £540 and personal estate to the value of £412. The main beneficiary was her daughter-in-law, Ann Gibson, the wife of William Gibson, a dairyman from Ellerslie. No other information has been found on Elizabeth Bright. The lawyer concerned with the document was Edward Backhouse of Terang. He came to Victoria with his family in 1871 and was educated at Wesley College and Melbourne University. He was the founder and Head Teacher of the Alma Road Grammar School in St. Kilda and later was the Head Teacher of the St. Kilda Grammar School. He also was the Classics teacher at Geelong Grammar School. He practised law at Terang and Yea. This document is of some interest as it gives details on the Will and Probate of Elizabeth Bright who lived at Ellerslie, an area with some associations with Warrnambool at the time. This is white sheet of paper folded in two with hand written material on the four sides detailing the Will and Probate of Elizabeth Bright of Ellerslie, 1905. The pages have printed red lines on three sides. The document has one hand-drawn stamp of the Colonial Bank of Australia of Terang. The written material is legible. In the Supreme Court of Victoria; In the Probate Jurisdiction; In the Will of Elizabeth Bright late of Ellerslie in the State of Victoria Widow deceased.elizabeth bright, edward backhouse, warrnambool, ellerslie, tait collection

Tait collection: item 27 of 62 This document contains details on the will and probate of Sarah Fry who died in Warrnambool in March 1905 at the age of 47. She was the daughter of Edmund and Jane Lord and came to Australia with her parents and some of her siblings aboard the Electric in 1869. In 1888 she married Francis Joseph Fry, a Warrnambool plasterer. Sarah Fry left real estate to the value of £450 and personal estate to the value of £202. The beneficiaries of her will were her husband, Francis and her three children, Sarah, James and Doris. The lawyer Ernest Chambers had offices in Warrnambool, Koroit and Port Fairy at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. He had this document in his possession and it was passed down to successive lawyers occupying the legal premises in Kepler Street where it was located in 2014 and handed over to the Warrnambool and District Historical Society. This document is of interest as it contains information on the will and probate of Sarah Fry, a resident of Warnambool in the late 19th century and early 20th century. It will be useful for researchers.This is a 1906 cream-coloured parchment sheet folded in two with handwritten material on three sides. Three of the pages are ruled with black ink. There is a seal of the Supreme Court of Victoria attached with a blue ribbon and a red stamp of the Master-in-Equity of the Supreme Court. The document includes the will and probate details of Sarah Fry, a married woman from Warrnambool. All the pages are somewhat stained but one page is very grubby. In the Supreme Court of Victoria; In the Probate Jurisdiction; In the Will of Sarah Fry late of Warrnambool in the State of Victoria Married Woman deceased.ernest chambers, sarah fry, warrnambool, tait collection

Tait collection: item 25 of 62 This document contains details on the will and probate of Joseph Kelson, a farmer from Kirkstall who died in April 1906. He was a contractor who died at the age of 46 leaving a widow, Margaret (nee Flahavin) and eight children. The two oldest boys took over the contracting business and Joseph’s brother, David, supported the family during their time of need. Joseph Kelson left personal estate to the value of £460 with the chief beneficiary being his widow Margaret. Ernest Chambers, the lawyer who drew up this document had a legal practice in Warrnambool, Koroit and Port Fairy at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. He had possession of this document and it passed down to successive lawyers who occupied the Kepler Street legal premises and it was located in this building in 2014 and passed on to the Warrnambool and District Historical Society. This document is of interest as it gives details of the will and probate of Joseph Kelson who lived in the Warrnambool area during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It will be useful to researchers. This is 1906 cream-coloured piece of parchment folded in two with handwritten material on three sides. It contains the will and probate details of Joseph Kelson, a farmer from Kirkstall, Victoria. There is a seal of the Supreme Court of Victoria and four red stamps of the Master in Equity of the Supreme Court. The material is written in black ink. In the Supreme Court of Victoria; In the Probate Jurisdiction; In the Will of John James Kelson late of Kirkstall in the State of Victoria Contractor deceasedernest chambers, joseph kelson, kirkstall, tait collection

Tait collection: item 29 of 62 This document contains information on the Will and Letters of Administration of James Jones, a gardener from Warrnambool. The document indicates that he died intestate in August 1896 at the age of 57 but details of a will are included in the document. The fact that this document was drawn up 14 years after his death indicates that there was a problem with the will. James Jones left real estate to the value of £80 and personal estate to the value of £10. The sole beneficiary was his widow, Mary Ann Jones. No other information has been found on James Jones. No Warrnambool lawyer is mentioned in this document but it was located at the former legal premises in Kepler Street of Mackay Taylor and passed on to the Warrnambool and District Historical Society in 2014. It is presumed that it had been passed down to successive lawyers occupying the same building since 1910. This document is of interest because it contains information on the Will and Letters of Administration of a Warrnambool resident, James Jones. It will be useful for research.This is a cream-coloured piece of parchment paper (1910) folded in two with handwritten material on three sides. The first page has black printed material in script with the information filled in in black ink. It contains the information on the Will and Letters of Administration of James Jones, a gardener from Warrnambool. The paper is ruled on one side with black lines. The seal of the Supreme Court of Victoria is attached with green ribbon. One page is very stained. In the Supreme Court of Victoria; In the Probate Jurisdiction; In the Will and Estate of James Jones late of Warrnambool in Victoria Gardener deceasedjames jones, warrnambool, tait collection

Tait collection: item 30 of 62 This document contains information on the Letters of Administration of Ann Doran of Port Fairy Road, Warrnambool. She died in December 1889 but, as she died intestate, the Letters of Administration were not processed until 1911. Ann Doran left no real estate but left personal estate to the value of £116. The sole beneficiary was her daughter, Jane Doran. The lawyer in the case was Ernest Chambers who had legal offices in Port Fairy, Warrnambool and Koroit at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. He had this document in his possession and it was passed down to successive lawyers occupying the legal premises in Kepler Street. It was located in this building in 2014 and passed on to the Warrnambool and District Historical Society at that time. This document is of some interest as it contains information on the Letters of Administration of Ann Doran who lived in Warrnambool at the time of her death in 1889. It will be of use to researchers. This is a cream-coloured piece of parchment paper folded in two with handwritten material on two sides. One page has ruled black lines. A seal of the Supreme Court of Victoria is attached with a green ribbon and there are four red stamps of the Master in Equity of the Supreme Court. One page is somewhat stained.In the Supreme Court of Victoria; In the Probate Jurisdiction; In the Estate of Ann Doran late of Port Fairy Road Warrnambool in the State of Victoria married woman deceased intestate. Letters of Administration.ann doran, ernest chambers, warrnambool

Tait collection: item 31 of 62 This document contains details of the Will and Probate of Frederick John Jones, a farmer of Nirranda who died in October 1910. He left real estate to the value of £200 and personal estate to the value of £43. The beneficiaries were his daughter Harriet Jones, his son Frederick Augustus Jones and his grandson, Claude Eagle. No other information has been found on Frederick Jones, Senior. This document was in the possession of Ernest Chambers who had legal offices in Warrnambool, Port Fairy and Koroit at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. It was then passed down to successive lawyers occupying the legal premises in Kepler Street and located in 2014 in the same building, the former offices of Mackay Taylor. It was then passed on to the Warrnambool and District Historical Society. This is a cream-coloured piece of parchment folded in two containing handwritten material on the Probate of Frederick Jones of Nirranda, 1911. Two of the pages have ruled black lines. The seal of the Supreme Court of Victoria is attached with green ribbon and there are four red stamps of the Master in Equity of the Supreme Court. The document is somewhat discoloured.In the Supreme Court of Victoria in the Probate Jurisdiction in the Will of Frederick John Jones late of Nirranda in the County of Heytesbury in the State of Victoria farmer deceased frederick jones, ernest chambers, warrnambool, tait collection

Tait collection: item 32 of 62 This document contains details of the Will and Probate of Ellen Hart, a married woman of Warrnambool who died in January 1905. Ellen Hart (nee Stocker) 1829-1905, came to Victoria in 1859 with her first husband, George Greening, and two of their children. George Greening died in 1863 and Ellen married a widower, George Hart, in 1881. Ellen and her second husband were involved in the activities of the Warrnambool Methodist Church. Ellen Hart left real estate to the value of £400 and personal estate to the value of £9. The beneficiary was her stepdaughter, Charlotte Hart. Ernest Chambers, who had legal offices in Warrnambool, Port Fairy and Koroit at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, was the lawyer concerned with this document. He had it in his possession and it was passed down to successive lawyers occupying the legal premises in Kepler Street where it was located in 2014. It was then passed on to the Warrnambool and District Historical Society.This document is of interest as it contains details of the Will and Probate of Ellen Hart who lived in the Warrnambool area for many years in the 19th century. It will be useful for researchers. This is a cream-coloured piece of parchment paper folded in two and containing handwritten information on the Will and Probate of Ellen Hart of Warrnambool. She died in January 1905. Three of the pages have black ruled lines. A seal of the Supreme Court of Victoria is attached with a green ribbon and there are three red stamps of the Master in Equity of the Supreme Court. The document is slightly discoloured. In the Supreme Court of Victoria in the Probate Jurisdiction in the Will of Ellen Hart late of Spring Gardens near Warrnambool in the State of Victoria Married Woman deceasedellen hart, ernest chambers, warrnambool, tait collection, spring gardens

Tait collection: item 34 of 62 This is a document giving the details of the Letters of Administration following the death of Helen Robertson, a spinster from St. Kilda, Melbourne. She died intestate in November 1881 and left property to the value of £363. This property reverted to her sister Agnes Thomson in 1889. No other details have been found on Helen Robertson. The lawyer in the case was George Skinner of Melbourne but the document was one of several stored in legal premises in Kepler Street, Warrnambool and passed on to successive lawyers occupying these premises. It was located in the same building, the former premises of the legal firm, Mackay Taylor, in 2014 and handed over to the Warrnambool and District Historical Society.This document is of minor interest as one located in former legal premises in Warrnambool but no other connection has been found between Warrnambool and the person whose details are in the document, Helen RobertsonThis is a cream-coloured piece of parchment paper folded at the bottom edge and containing hand written material on both sides of the paper. The contents give details of the Letters of Administration following the death of Helen Robertson in 1881. A seal of the Supreme Court of Victoria is attached with green ribbon. The document is somewhat stained.In the Supreme Court of the colony of Victoria in its Probate Jurisdiction in the Estate of Helen Robertson late of Acland Street Saint Kilda near Melbourne in the Colony of Victoria Spinster deceased intestate Letters of Administrationhelen robertson, george skinner

Tait collection: item 35 of 62 This is a document giving details of the Letters of Administration following the death of Alexander Gibson McPherson, a farmer of Rochester, Victoria, in December 1883. He died intestate and left an estate worth £215. The beneficiary was his sister, Mary Wright of Somerton. No other details are available on Alexander McPherson. The lawyer in the case was Ernest Chambers who had legal offices in Port Fairy, Warrnambool and Koroit at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. This document was in his possession at his Warrnambool office and passed down to successive lawyers occupying legal premises in Kepler Street. The document was found in the same building, the former premises of the legal firm, Mackay Taylor, where it was located in 2014 and handed over to the Warrnambool and District Historical Society.This document is only of interest as being originally in the possession of Ernest Chambers, a lawyer who was in Warrnambool for several years at the end of the 19th century. No connection between Warrnambool and Alexander McPherson has been found. This is a cream-coloured sheet of parchment paper, folded twice. It contains hand written material in brown ink giving details of the Letters of Administration following the death of Alexander McPherson of Rochester in 1883. A seal of the Supreme Court of Victoria is attached with a green ribbon and it has ,a black stamp of the Master in Equity of the Supreme Court of Victoria. One page has been ruled at the edges with brown lines. The writing is somewhat faded but the document is legible. In the Supreme Court of the Colony of Victoria in its probate jurisdiction in the Estate of Alexander Gibson McPherson late of Rochester in the Colony of Victoria Farmer a bachelor deceasedalexander mcpherson, ernest chambers, warrnambool, tait collection

Tait collection: item 36 of 62 This document contains the details of the Will and Probate of David Williams of ‘Morgrugyn’ farm near Woodford. He was born in 1804 and died in 1889. He was a pioneer settler in the Woodford area, arriving, according to the Pioneer Honour Board, in 1842. His son, Ivor, was Secretary of the Grasmere Cheese and Butter Factory for some time and Secretary of the Warrnambool Cheese and Butter Factory in 1888. David Williams left real estate to the value of £1540 and personal estate to the value of £1075. The chief beneficiary was his eldest son, David but other sons and grandsons also benefited. His wife, Mary, was left £300, a house to live in rent free during her lifetime, two cows and the right to graze them on the farm, six silver spoons, her bed and bedding, washstand and ware, a dressing table, a table in the dairy and ‘all the crockery and cooking utensils she may require’. The lawyer drawing up this document was James Fletcher who had an office in Port Fairy in the 1870s and an office in Koroit Street, Warrnambool, in the 1880s. In the 1890s and early 1900s he was in partnership with George Mackay. This document was in the possession of the lawyer Ernest Chambers who had drawn up the Williams will. It was then passed down to successive lawyers occupying legal premises in Kepler Street until it was located in 2014 in the Kepler Street building last used as legal premises by the firm of Mackay Taylor. This document is of considerable interest as it contains the will and probate details of a prominent 19th century farmer in the Woodford district. It will be useful for researchers.This is a white piece of parchment paper folded in two with typed material on two pages and handwritten material on one page. The pages are ruled with red ink. The pages include the Will and Probate details of David Williams of ‘Morgrugyn’ farm near Woodford. He died in 1889.In the Supreme Court in the Colony of Victoria in the Probate Jurisdiction In the Will of David Williams Morgrugyn farm near Woodford in the Colony of Victoria Farmer deceasedjames fletcher, david williams, ernest chambers, warrnambool, woodford, morgrugyn farm

Tait collection: item 37 of 62 This is a document giving details of the Will and Probate of Caroline Manton who died in 1889 and was the wife of Frederick Manton and lived at ‘Tenilba’ in Domain Street, South Yarra. She left personal estate to the value of £536 for the benefit of her husband and children but no other details on her life have been found. The lawyer in the case was Ernest Chambers who had legal offices in Port Fairy, Koroit and Warrnambool at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. This document was in his possession in his Warrnambool office and it was passed down to successive lawyers in the legal premises in Kepler Street, Warrnambool and located in 2014 in the same building, the former legal premises of Mackay Taylor. This document is of minor interest as it does not appear to have any relevance to local Warrnambool history except that the lawyer involved had legal offices in Warrnambool.This is a cream-coloured parchment paper of three pages stitched together with black cord. There is handwritten material written in brown-coloured ink on five pages. The seal of the Supreme Court of Victoria is attached with black ribbon. The ink on the front page is fading and difficult to read.caroline manton, ernest chambers, tait collection

Tait collection: item 39 of 62 This document gives the details of the Will and Probate of Thomas Oakley who died in Warrnambool at the age of 75 in 1893. He had come with his first wife to Australia in 1852 and was a Customs Officer in Warrnambool, in charge of the signals and premises, living in Merri Street. Later after the death of his wife (they had ten children) he married Eliza McKeeman in 1870 and they lived at ‘Oakbank’ near the Warrnambool Cemetery where Oakley pursued farming interests. They had a further eight children, many of them making their mark in the business and community life of Warrnambool and further afield. Thomas Oakley left real estate to the value of £900 and personal estate to the value of £1251, with the beneficiaries being his wife, his daughters, Elizabeth and Mary Anne from his first marriage and the eight children of his second marriage. The lawyers concerned with this document, O’Mahony and Murray, had offices in Warrnambool in Kepler Street at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. This document was in the possession of Ernest Chambers, a Warrnambool lawyer during the same period. It was then passed down to successive lawyers occupying the Kepler Street premises and located there in 2014.This document is of considerable importance as it gives details of the Will and Probate of Thomas Oakley, a prominent and successful landowner in Warrnambool in the 19th century. It will be of great use to researchers. This is a white piece of thick paper folded in two with handwritten material on four sides of the paper. The pages have printed red lines at the edges of three pages. The document contains details of the Will and Probate of Thomas Oakley who died in 1893 in Warrnambool. The pages are clean and readable.In the Supreme Court of the Colony of Victoria in its Probate Jurisdiction in the Will of Thomas Oakley late of Warrnambool in the County of Villiers in the Colony of Victoria Landowner deceased.o’mahony & murray,, warrnambool lawyers, ernest chambers, warrnambool lawyer, thomas oakley, tait collection

Tait collection: item 40 of 62 This document gives the details of the Will and Probate of Edward Jones, an engine driver who died in Warrnambool in January 1895 at the age of 69. He had previously been a resident of Port Fairy. He left real estate to the value of £640 and personal estate to the value of £187. The beneficiaries of the will were his daughters, Margaret and Mary Jones. The lawyers connected with this document were Ernest Chambers and the legal firm of Fletcher and Mackay. Ernest Chambers had legal offices in Port Fairy, Koroit and Warrnambool at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century and the signatures of two of his law clerks, Thomas Goodall and John White are included in this document. James Fletcher had a legal office in Port Fairy and in Warrnambool in the 1870s and in Warrnambool in the 1880s (Koroit Street). In the late 1890s he commenced a partnership with George Mackay who had previously had his own practice in Warrnambool. In the 1920s the firm became known as Mackay and Taylor and later Mackay Taylor (Kepler Street). This document was in the possession of Ernest Chambers and was passed down to successive lawyers occupying the Kepler Street premises. It was located in 2014 with other documents in these premises last occupied by the firm of Mackay Taylor. This document is of some interest as it gives details of the Will and Probate of Edward Jones who had been a resident of Warrnambool in the late 19th century. It will be useful for researchers. This is a cream-coloured piece of parchment paper folded in two and containing handwritten material on three sides of the paper. It gives details of the Will and Probate of Edward Jones of Warrnambool who died in 1895. The pages have printed red lines on the edges of three pages. The written material is clean and readable.In the Supreme Court of the Colony of Victoria In its Probate Jurisdiction in the Will of Edward Jones late of Warrnambool and formerly of Belfast in the County of Villiers in the Colony of Victoria Engine driver deceasedfletcher and mackay, lawyers,, warrnambool, ernest chambers,, edward jones, tait collection

Tait collection: item 41 of 62 This document gives the details of the Will and Probate of Henry Phillips who died in Warrnambool in 1895 at the age of 55. He came to Australia from England in 1861 and established a hay and corn store in Liebig Street, Warrnambool. He was a prominent member of the Congregational Church and lived at ‘Ilfracombe’ in Lava Street. He and his wife Emma had eight children, two of whom had businesses in Warrnambool. Henry Phillips left personal estate to the value of £521 and the beneficiaries were his wife, Emma and their children. This document came into the possession of a Warrnambool lawyer, Ernest Chambers and passed down to successive lawyers occupying legal premises in Kepler Street. The document was located in this building in 2014 in the former premises of the law firm of Mackay Taylor. This document is of considerable importance as it contains details of the Will and Probate of Henry Phillips. He was a prominent businessman in Warrnambool in the 19th century. The document will be useful to researchers. This is a cream-coloured piece of parchment paper folded in two and containing the Will and Probate details of Henry Phillips, a Warrnambool hay and corn merchant who died in 1895. The document has handwritten material (black ink) on three sides of the paper. A seal of the Supreme Court of Victoria is attached with a green ribbon and there is one red stamp of the Master in Equity of the Supreme Court on the second page. The handwriting is fading in some places but is still legible. In the Supreme Court of the Colony of Victoria In the Probate Jurisdiction In the Will of Henry Phillips late of Warrnambool in the Colony of Victoria Hay and Corn Merchant deceasedhenry phillips, walter briggs and son, tait collection, ernest chambers

Tait collection: item 42 of 62 This is a document giving details of the Will and Probate of Patrick White, a farmer from Codrington who died in 1883. He left personal estate to the value of £316, with the beneficiaries being his wife, Eleanor and his son George. The lawyer concerned with this document was Ernest Chambers who had legal offices in Port Fairy, Koroit and Warrnambool at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. He had possession of this document and it was passed down to successive lawyers occupying the legal premises in Kepler Street, Warrnambool and located in this Kepler Street building in 2014. This document is of minor significance as Patrick White was not a resident of Warrnambool. The interest lies in the fact that the lawyer, Ernest Chambers, practised in Warrnambool in the 19th centuryThis is a cream-coloured piece of parchment paper containing details of the Will and Probate of Patrick White of Codrington who died in 1883. The paper is folded in two and the edges of the pages have blue lines ruled on them. There is handwritten material (black ink) on three of the pages. The seal of the Supreme Court of Victoria is attached with olive-green ribbon and there are five red stamps of the Master in Equity of the Supreme Court. The writing is fading in places but the document is readable. In the Supreme Court of the Colony of Victoria In the Probate Jurisdiction In the Will of Patrick White late of Codrington in the Colony of Victoria Farmer deceasedpatrick white,, codrington, ernest chambers, warrnambool history

Tait collection: item 43 of 62 This is a document giving details of the Letters of Administration of John Moloney, a farmer from Bushfield, who died in July 1897. He died intestate but had real estate to the value of £510 and personal estate to the value of £142. The beneficiary was his wife, Mary Ann Moloney. The lawyer involved in drawing up this document was William Ardlie, one of the best-known lawyers in Warrnambool in the 19th and 20th centuries. He commenced his business in the 1860s and continued on until the 1930s when he was well in his eighties, making him at the time the oldest practising lawyer in Australasia. The document seemed to have been passed down by successive lawyers occupying the Kepler Street legal premises and located there in 2014.This document is of some interest as it gives details of the Letters of Administration of John Moloney, a 19th century farmer from Bushfield and it also concerns the lawyer, William Ardlie, a prominent Warrnambool lawyer at that time. It will be useful for researchers.This is a piece of cream-coloured thin parchment paper folded in two. It has handwritten material on two pages (black ink) containing details of the Letters of Administration following the death of John Moloney of Bushfield in 1897. A seal of the Supreme Court of Victoria is attached with green ribbon and there is one red stamp of the Master in Equity of the Supreme Court. The document is somewhat dirty but quite legible. The numbers ‘255’ and ‘14’ are written in blue pencil on the back page. In the Supreme Court of the Colony of Victoria In the Probate Jurisdiction In the Estate of John Moloney late of Bushfield in the Colony of Victoria Farmer deceased Intestatejohn moloney, warrnambool, william ardlie, bushfield, tait collection

Tait collection: item 44 of 62 This document gives details of the Will and Probate of William McJannet, a Warrnambool carpenter who died in 1898 at the age of 80. He and his wife and two of his children came to Australia from Scotland in the 1850s and at the time of his death he was living in Raglan Parade. He left real estate to the value of £400 and the beneficiaries were his children. The lawyer concerned with this document, H. Parrington, had legal offices in Kepler Street with the firm known as Higgins and Parrington but Mr Parrington was in partnership with Mr J.Tait when this document was drawn up. The document has been passed down to successive lawyers occupying the Kepler Street premises and located in this building in 2014. This document is of some importance as William McJannet was a well-known resident of Warrnambool in the 19th century. The document will be useful to researchers. This is a piece of white paper folded in two with printed red lines on the edges of three of the pages. Three pages have typed material and one page has handwritten material in black ink. It gives details of the Will and Probate of William McJannet who died in 1898. In the Supreme Court of Victoria In the Probate Jurisdiction In the Will and Codicil of William McJannet late of Warrnambool Victoria Carpenter deceasedwilliam mcjannet, h.r.parrington, warrnambool, tait collection

This set of books was given to Cornelius (Con) O’Mahony in 1883 when he won the Bowen Prize Essay Competition awarded by the University of Melbourne. The Bowen Prize was established in 1874 by the Governor of Victoria, Sir George Bowen. This was then awarded annually to the person who was a student or ex-student of the University of Melbourne who wrote the best essay on matters relating to British and British Empire history or literature. Con O’Mahony’s essay was on the Federation of the Australian Colonies. Con O’Mahony, born in Bendigo, studied at Melbourne University in the early 1880s. He was a lawyer in Kepler Street, Warrnambool from the late 1880s to his death in 1920, firstly in partnership with E. Klingender and later operating under the name of O’Mahony and Murray. These books are most important because: 1. They are a very attractive set of books with considerable antiquarian value. 2. They were given as the prize for winning the 1883 Bowen Prize at Melbourne University – a prestigious award still today. 3. They were given for a prize-winning essay on the advantages of Federation in Australia. The essay was written 17 years before Federation and so they forms an interesting part of the Australia-wide campaign for Federation. 4. The prize books were awarded to Con O’Mahony who played his part in Warrnambool’s late 19th century and early 20th century history as a prominent lawyer in the town for over 30 years.These ten volumes of books have hard covers in a dark red colour with a gold leather spine and leather reinforcements on the edges of the front and back covers. The front cover has an embossed gold emblem of the University of Melbourne and the spine has ornamental gold, black and red patterning and gold lettering. The insides of the cover have blue, red and orange mottled patterning and this is repeated on the edging of the pages. There are approximately 400 pages in each volume. A typed page on the Bowen Prize is inserted in the front of the first volume and the inscription on every volume is handwritten in black ink. The covers are a little scuffed and slightly torn in some volumes. Volume 1: ‘Con O’Mahony Sandhurst Mch 1883’ Volumes 11, 111, 1V, V, V1, V111, 1X, X: ‘Con O’Mahony Sandhurst 2 July 1883’ Volume V11: ‘Con O’Mahony Sandhurst 1883’ con o’mahony, bowen prize, history of warrnambool, federation movement in australia

This is a framed photograph showing a key event in Warrnambool's history - the proclamation by Sir Arthur Stanley of Warrnambool as a city in 1918. Warrnambool was the fifth non--metropolitan town in Victoria to be declared a city and a large crowd gathered outside the Town Hall to see this event. Sir Arthur Stanley (Lord Stanley of Alderley) was an English nobleman, Parliamentarian and soldier who was the Governor of Victoria from 1914 to 1920. The photographer was Arthur Jordan who, like his father Joseph, was a prominent photographer in Warrnambool at the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th centuries and took many official photographs of civic affairs. The donor of the photograph, probably immediately after the event to the Warrnambool Museum at the time under the auspices of the Warnambool Mechanics' Institute, was George Mackay, a prominent Warrnambool lawyer, Councillor and Mayor. He was probably responsible for the framing of the photograph.This is a significant photograph as it is a record of an important event in Warrnambool's history and is a great research toolThis is a black and white photograph in a polished wooden frame with a card inset and a glass covering. The photograph shows the Governor of Victoria, Sir Arthur Stanley, in civilian dress standing on a platform outside the Warrnambool Town Hall proclaiming Warrnambool a city. Behind the Governor on the platform are many men and some women and in the foreground left is a band and in the foreground centre are Army school cadets. The photograph frame has a wooden backing with a piece of wire attached for hanging the object. In the photograph also is a columm with a sign on it.His Excellency the State Governor Sir Arthur Stanley Proclamation- Warrnambool a City 23rd May 1918 Warrnambool Museum & Art Gallery Presented by G.S.Mackay Warrnambool Arthur Jordanwarrnambool -a city in 1918, sir arthur stanley, george s. mackay, arthur jordan

This letter book contains the correspondence from the legal firm of William Ardlie in Warrnambool to other legal firms in Melbourne and other parts of Victoria (1951-1957). The correspondence deals mainly with legal matters concerning property transfers, wills, probates and court cases. William Ardlie (1943-1933) was the son of John and Mary Ardlie, pioneer settlers in Warrnambool. In 1865 William Ardlie established his legal practice in Warrnambool, initially in partnership with George Barber. William Ardlie, prominent in community affairs in Warrnambool, practised as a lawyer until the early 1930s and the firm continued on after his death with members of the Ardlie family involved in legal firms in the Warrnambool district until the early 21st century. This letter book is of historical interest because of the letters dealing with the property, wills etc of many residents of Warrnambool and district during the 1950s. It will be a useful research tool. This letter book of 393 pages has a buff-coloured cover which is somewhat stained. 227 pages contain copies of letters written over a period of seven years and the rest of the pages are blank. The pages are of a lightweight strength. At the front of the book is an alphabetical index with black printed letters on tabs cut out of the outer edges of the pages.Agents 1951ardlie family, history of warrnambool

These items, 1930s bank books belonging to Michael Toohey, a Woodford farmer, come from the estates of the Ardlie family of Warrnambool and appear to have been stored amongst the office material of the prominent Warrnambool lawyer, William Ardlie (1843-1933). He was the son of pioneer Warrnambool settlers, John and Mary Ardlie. William Ardlie established a legal practice in Warrnambool in 1867, initially in partnership with George Barber. Ardlie was a dominant figure in legal and community circles in Warrnambool and continued with his legal practice until the early 1930s. The bank books were issued by the Commercial Banking Company of Sydney. A Warrnambool branch of this bank was established in 1927 when it acquired the Bank of Victoria. The Warrnambool branch of the Bank of Victoria at 92 Liebig Street then became the Commercial Bank of Sydney. In 1958 the bank building was demolished and new premises were built. In 1981 the Commercial Bank of Sydney merged with the National Bank of Australia and traded as the National Bank in the building at 92 Liebig Street until the premises were closed in 1985.These items are of minor interest as mementoes of the Warrnambool branch of the Commercial Banking Company of Sydney..1 A bank book with a hard black cover and pages containing ruled black lines. The cover has a white label pasted on. This has black printing and handwriting. The pages contain handwritten debit and credit entries. .2 A bank book with a soft black cover and a white label pasted on. This label has black printing and handwriting. The pages have ruled red lines, some entries in black handwriting and some bank stamps. Most of the pages are unused. Mr M. Toohey Michael Toohey Woodford commercial banking co of sydney, warrnambool branch, michael toohey,, woodford farmer, history of warrnambool