Tait collection: item 56 of 62. This is a document giving details of the Will and Probate of Hannah Wines of Warrnambool. She died in 1909 at the age of 77 years. She was the widow of Charles Wines who died in 1900 and they had migrated to Australia from England in the early 1850s. They settled first in the Woodford area and in the 1880s moved to Mailors Flat. Hannah and Charles Wines had a large family with eleven surviving children at the time of Charles’ death in 1900. Hannah Wines left no real estate but had personal estate to the value of £8. This she left to her daughter Sarah Lees. This document was in the possession of Ernest Chambers, the lawyer involved in drawing up the document. He had legal offices in Port Fairy, Koroit and Warrnambool at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. The document then passed down to successive lawyers occupying the legal premises in Kepler Street, Warrnambool where it was located in 2014. This document is of some interest as it gives details of the Will and Probate of Hannah Wines who was a well-known resident in the Warrnambool area during the second half of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. This is a cream-coloured piece of paper folded in two to make four pages. Two of the pages have ruled black lines around the edges and three of the pages have handwritten material in brown ink. 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. There is also a blue stamp of the Warrnambool Savings Bank. The document is a little stained and the writing is somewhat faded but legible. This is a 1910 document giving details of the Will and Probate of Hannah Wines of WarrnamboolIn the Supreme Court of Victoria in the Probate Jurisdiction In the Will of Hannah Wines late of Warrnambool in the State of Victoria Widow deceased.warrnambool, hannah wines, charles wines, hannah wines will, tait collection, ernest chambers

Tait collection: item 27 of 62. This document contains details of the Will of William Stacey Spencer, formerly of Stanstead, Mount Fitchet but late of Birchanger, Essex, England. He was a corn merchant and malster and died in England in October 1897. He left an estate with a gross value of £4973, with the beneficiaries being his wife and children. Three codicils were added to the will, one being caused by the death of an executor, William Spencer’s brother. The English lawyers involved in drawing up this will were Richardson, Foxwell and Hart of Much Hadham, England. As this document is an Exemplification of the Will and was drawn up in the colony of Victoria it is presumed that one or more of the beneficiaries was a resident in Victoria and possibly in the Warrnambool district. The Warrnambool lawyers, Henry Parrington and Con O’Mahony have their names in the document. The document has been, with others, passed down to successive lawyers occupying legal premises in Kepler Street, Warrnambool and located in that building in 2014. Unless some local connection can be found to William Spencer, this document is of interest only in that it was drawn up by local Warrnambool lawyers in 1899.This is a cream-coloured document consisting of five double parchment pages bound together with green cord and including a folded-over inset piece of paper on the front page. Nine of the pages have ruled black lines on the edges and there is handwritten material in black ink on nine pages. The document gives details of the will and codicils of William Spencer of Essex, England who died in1897. The document has the seal of Her Majesty’s High Court of Justice, Probate Division, attached with white binding and a stamp for three pounds attached with a metal insert. The document is somewhat grubby but is legible.In Her Majesty's High Court of Justice (Probate Division), Principal Registry Exemplification of Will of Mr William Stacey Spencer deceased Dated 15 August 1899william spencer, con o'mahony, henry parrington, tait collection, william stacey spencer

Tait collection: item 59 of 62. This document gives details of the Will and Probate of Frederick Gazzard of Allansford who died in September 1901. Frederick Gazzard owned the ‘Tooram’ bacon and ham curing factory at the corner of Carrolls Road and Tooram Road in the Allansford area and employed six men. He was a founding member of the Allansford Church of England and lived with his family of seven children at ‘Como’, Allansford. He left real estate to the value of £1,440 and personal estate to the value of £1,664. The beneficiaries were his children, with his household effects and £200 going to his daughter, Ellen. She is believed to have taken an active role in the administration of the family factory. This document was drawn up in the office of William Ardlie, a prominent lawyer in Warrnambool for over sixty years. It has then been passed down to successive lawyers occupying legal premises in Kepler Street until it was located in these premises in 2014. This document is of considerable interest as it gives details of the Will and Probate of Frederick Gazzard. He and his family were prominent and influential in the community life of Allansford in the 19th century. This is a cream-coloured piece of parchment paper folded in two with blue lines ruled at the edges of three of the pages. There is handwritten material (brownish-black ink) on three of the pages. A seal of the Supreme Court of Victoria is attached with green ribbon and there are six red stamps of the Master in Equity of the Supreme Court and one blue stamp of the Warrnambool Savings Bank. The writing is somewhat faded and the pages are stained but the text is legible. The document contains details of the Will and Probate of Frederick Gazzard of Allansford who died in 1901. In the Supreme Court of Victoria In the Probate Jurisdiction in the Will of Frederick William Gazzard late of Allansford in the State of Victoria Bacon curer deceasedfrederick gazzard, tooram bacon factory, carroll's lane allansford, como allansford, tait collection

Tait collection: item 60 of 62 This is a document giving George Weeks, a sawmiller from Invercargill in New Zealand, an order of discharge from his debts in 1883. In the Southland Times of March 1876 there is a notice of a meeting of creditors of George Weeks of Invercargill in the matter of his insolvency. It is not clear whether the document we have concerns that same insolvency or a further one. If it is the same one then it took seven years for George Weeks to gain his legal discharge from debt. It is not known how this document came to be in Warrnambool but it is assumed that it was in the possession of a Warrnambool lawyer, probably Ernest Chambers, who had legal offices in Warrnambool at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. It has been passed down to successive lawyers occupying legal offices in Kepler street, Warrnambool and was located in this building in 2014. This document has no known relevance to Warrnambool except that it was in the possession of a 19th century Warrnambool lawyer. This is a cream-coloured piece of parchment paper folded in two, with handwritten material in brown/black ink on two of the pages. The material gives details of the court order of discharge from debt of George Weeks, a sawmiller from Invercargill, New Zealand. There are red lines ruled at the edges of one of the pages. There is a red stamp of the District Court of Western Otago. The writing is fading but legible. In the District Court of Western Otago Holden at Invercargill In the matter of the Debtors and Creditors Act 1876 and the several acts amending the same and in the matter of George Weeks of Invercargill Sawmiller a debtorgeorge weeks, invercargill new zealand, tait collection

Tait collection: item 61 of 62 This document contains details on the Release Debenture drawn up between Emile Manton and other members of her family and Herbert Frederick Manton in 1889. The mother, Caroline Manton, died in 1889 and one of the executors of her will also died the same year. The document released the remaining executor, Herbert Frederick Manton, from his legal duties as executor and finalized his carrying out of the provisions of Caroline Manton’s will. The document was drawn up by the legal firm of Oldham and Chambers in Melbourne and 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. The document passed down to successive lawyers occupying the legal offices in Kepler Street, Warrnambool and it was located in this building in 2014. The document is of interest only in that it was drawn up by Ernest Chambers who later had a legal practice in Warrnambool. This is a document consisting of four white pages, bound with black cord and containing handwritten material (black ink) on seven sides of the pages. The document gives details of the Release Debenture drawn up by members of the Manton family following the death of Caroline Manton of South Yarra and the provisions of her will made in 1887. The document includes two pages of the Executors Accounts and the disbursements made to beneficiaries of the will. There are four green duty stamps pasted on to one of these pages. The signature of seven of the Manton family members have small red seals attached to each signature. The document is somewhat grubby around the page edges. manton family, ernest chambers, tait collection

Tait collection: item 62 of 62 This 1912 document is an agreement made between John Brennan, a farmer from Laang and Thomas Goodall, a law clerk from Warrnambool. The document shows that Thomas Goodall has given John Brennan £5 and Brennan has agreed to pass over to Goodall a 218 acre property in Laang. Brennan also agreed to pay a debt of £10-19-4 to Thomas Goodall by monthly instalments. Thomas Goodall was the law clerk for several lawyers in Warrnambool at the beginning of the 20th century and he was also the manager of the Warrnambool office of the lawyer, Ernest Chambers who had legal offices in Koroit and Port Fairy at the same time (end of 19th century and beginning of the 20th century). This document was in the possession of Ernest Chambers and it has been passed down to successive lawyers occupying the legal premises in Kepler Street where it was located in 2014 (former premises of the law firm of Mackay Taylor). This document is of some interest as it gives details of a business transaction between Thomas Goodall and John Brennan, both residing in the Warrnambool area early in the 20th century. This is a piece of buff-coloured paper folded in two to make four pages. There is typed and handwritten material on two sides of the paper. This is a 1912 document called an Assignment of Interest Under Contract with John Brennan agreeing to pay his financial debts to Thomas Goodall. The document contains the signatures of John Brennan and Thomas Goodall. Part of one page of the writing is in pencil. There is also a separate receipt sheet which is a receipt for £5 paid by Thomas Goodall to John Brennan. A yellow duty stamp is attached to this receipt. Dated 16 Jany 1912 Mr J E Brennan with Mr Thomas Goodall Assignment of Interest under Contractjohn brennan, thomas goodall, ernest chambers, warrnambool

This ledger appears to have been a mortgage document held by the law firm of Mackay Taylor and Co. with the evidence for this the presence of two loose sheets of paper in the ledger with that firm’s letterhead. Mackay Taylor was established in 1893 with the merger of the firms of George Sutherland Mackay and James Fletcher, independent practising lawyers at the time. The new firm became Fletcher and Mackay and later changed to Mackay and Taylor when J. McD. Taylor became a partner in the 1920s and the business was at 131 Kepler Street, with a new building erected in the late 1920s. The legal business closed in the 1990s with the mortgage section of the firm becoming Mackay Taylor Securities in 1990 (later Southern Securities). The ledger was recovered when the building was being cleared out and Percy Eccles, a real estate agent, handed it to the Warrnambool and District Historical SocietyThis ledger has considerable significance as an example of a law firm’s business activities in the mid 20th century. It also contains personal details of loans made to Warrnambool and district people and could be useful for research, with limited and supervised access to researchers because of the sensitive nature of the material contained therein.Ledger with leather covers and straps and metal sides; black covers are very worn leather alphabet tabs; handwritten entries for mortgagees and mortgagors and vendors and purchasers, 1938-1962; 3 loose sheetsKalamazoo Loose Leaf Books, 10/1/1938warrnambool, george sutherland mackay

These pages of accounts are from the firm of Mackay Taylor, Lawyers, a prominent firm in Warrnambool for over 100 years. The Warrnambool legal businesses of George Mackay and James Fletcher merged in 1893 and was known as Fletcher and Mackay. In the 1920s Mr Mackay took J. McD Taylor as a partner and the premises at 131 Kepler Street were built about that time, with the firm being known as Mackay and Taylor. After the original partners died there was a succession of partners with the legal firm continuing as Mackay Taylor until the 1990s. These account sheets from a prominent 20th century legal firm in Warrnambool are of considerable importance as they document the legal records of many Warrnambool and district personalities from the early 20th century. The information contained in the sheets will therefore add to the known history of many local people from the past and will be very useful to researchers.These are handwritten accounts for bills to be paid to Mackay Taylor Lawyers for services rendered. The accounts are described in detail and are written on quarto size paper with the requisite red lines already printed on the pages. There are over 100 sheets and they date from 1938 to 1940. There are also two original Certificates of Title for Eva Willis (1916, portion of land in Cramer Street) and Archie Jackson (1924, portion of land in Cramer Street). warrnambool, warrnambool lawyers

William and Ellen Goodall were pioneer settlers in Warrnambool, with one of the sons, Thomas (1852-1917), becoming a law clerk and accountant. It is not known for which legal firm Thomas Goodall worked but he handed in these Probate and Letters of Administration documents and the lists to George Sutherland Mackay at some unknown date (pre 1917). George Mackay (1850-1926) began a legal practice in Warrnambool in the 1890s and was established at 131 Kepler Street when he took J. McD. Taylor as a partner. George Mackay was a prominent Warrnambool resident, involved in civic affairs and the Presbyterian Church. The firm of Mackay, Taylor and Co. was a dominant one in Warrnambool until the 1990s. The list of Probate and Letters of Administration documents is of some minor importance as it provides an historical context for the location of the documents themselves, prior to acquisition by the Warrnambool and District Historical SocietyThese are two typed quarto-sized sheets of paper (typed on both sides) with lists of Probates and Letters of Administration from 1874 to 1909 handed to George S. Mackay, Warrnambool lawyer, from Thomas Goodall, Legal Clerk. Three on the lists are handwritten in red ink and one page is ruled with red lines. There are 65 items on the lists.william and ellen goodall, warrnambool

This is the probate and will of John Hannon of the Anakies. John Hannon died in March 1874. Anakie is a small town between Geelong and Bacchus Marsh and the Anakies are three small hills in the nearby Brisbane Ranges National Park. Nothing is known of John Bannon except for the details in the will and probate. He was unable to read and write, signing his will with a cross and he was a small handholder having property valued at under £300. He left his estate to his wife Johanna and her family. The probate document is signed by R.W. Pohlman, Acting Master in EquityThis document is only of interest in that it came from a local Warrnambool legal office in Kepler Street. It originally came from Thomas Goodall, a legal clerk in the office of lawyer Ernest Chambers who passed it on to George Mackay, the lawyer in the forerunner firm of the legal firm of Mackay Taylor. The document came the buildings that previously housed the firm of Mackay Taylor. This is a piece of parchment folded in two and joined at the fold by a piece of green ribbon to which is attached a government seal (Supreme Court of the Colony of Victoria). The parchment is much discoloured and the seal is torn. The contents are handwritten in black ink. ‘Probate on the will of John Hannon, late of the Anakies, in the colony of Victoria, Farmer, deceased’john bannon, anakies, warrnambool

This is an 1877 document, the Letters of Administration in connection with the will and probate of William Ellis, a veterinary surgeon from Wimmera Street, Stawell. He died after an altercation with W. Richards, the landlord of the Post Office Hotel, where he was knocked against the wall of the verandah of the hotel. He left a small estate, with his property valued at under £107. This document is only of interest in that it came from the former legal offices of Mackay Taylor in Kepler Street, Warrnambool. It originally came from Thomas Goodall, a legal clerk in the office of lawyer Ernest Chambers who passed it on to George Mackay, the lawyer in the forerunner firm of Mackay Taylor where it remained until the firm of Mackay Taylor ceased to exist and the buildings were cleaned out. This is a piece of parchment folded and sealed at the bottom edge with a seal of the Supreme Court of the Colony of Victoria. The material in the document is handwritten in black ink. The document is stained and part of it is torn and missing. ‘In the Estate of William Ellis, late of Stawell, deceased, Letters of Administration, 16/8/77, Matthew W. Taylor, Proctor, Stawell’. william ellis,, stawell, warrnambool

Nothing is known of the deceased, Jane Murray except that she died at the age of 49 and her husband was William Murray, a Stawell saddler. She left an estate to the value of £400. Tait collection: item 4 of 62This document is only of interest in that it came from the former legal offices of Mackay Taylor in Kepler Street, Warrnambool. It originally came from Thomas Goodall, a legal clerk in the office of Ernest Chambers who passed it on to George Mackay, the lawyer in a forerunner firm to Mackay Taylor where it remained until the firm of Mackay Taylor ceased to exist and the buildings were cleaned out.This is a piece of parchment folded and sealed at the bottom edge with a seal of the Supreme Court of the Colony of Victoria attached by a blue ribbon. The document has ruled black lines and handwritten material in black ink. There is a hole on the document at one of the folds and one edge is torn.‘In the Estate of Jane Murray late of Stawell in the Colony of Victoria, deceased intestate, Letters of Administration, I certify that the sum of £4-0-0 for Duty on the within estate has been paid, Registrar of Estates, Geo. L. Skinner, Proctor, 99 Collins St. W. Melbourne’. jane murray, stawell, warrnambool

No information has been found on the Commission Agent John Fitts except that he died at the Yarra Bend Asylum at the age of 51 and was formerly a resident of Ascot Vale, a suburb of Melbourne. His estate was valued at £600. Yarra Bend Asylum, near the junction of the Yarra River and the Merri Creek was the first institution for the mentally ill in Victoria and operated from 1848 to 1925. Tait collection: item 5 of 62This document is only of interest in that it came from the former legal offices of Mackay Taylor in Kepler Street, Warrnambool. It originally came from Thomas Goodall, a legal clerk in the office of the lawyer Ernest Chambers who passed it on to George Mackay, the lawyer in the forerunner firm of Mackay Taylor where it remained until the firm of Mackay Taylor ceased to exist and the buildings were cleaned out. This is a piece of parchment paper with printed black lines and handwritten material in black ink. There is a fold at the bottom of the document with a seal of the Supreme Court of the Colony of Victoria attached by a green ribbon. The document is slightly discoloured but is otherwise in good condition. ‘In the Supreme Court of the Colony of Victoria, Probate jurisdiction, In the Estate of John Fitts, late of the Yarra Bend Asylum, formerly of Ascot Vale in the Colony of Victoria, commission agent, deceased intestate, Administration, Edwards and Perry, Proctors’yarra bend asylum, john fitts, warrnambool

Nothing is known of Robert Main except that he was a Warrnambool carpenter who had a wife named Jane and he died on 9th August 1880. He left an estate to the value of £35. The Warrnambool lawyers, Bayley and Higgins operated in Warrnambool in the 1880s. Mr Bayley came from Port Fairy and Jabez Higgins, well-known in Warrnambool for his sporting and community interests, purchased the legal practice of Bayley and Higgins with his brother in 1875. Jabez Higgins built the residence, ‘Corio’ in Warrnambool and died in 1886. Tait collection: item 6 of 62This document is of significance only in that it is an example of probate papers drawn up by Warrnambool solicitors for a deceased Warrnambool resident in the 1880s. This is a piece of white parchment with ruled black lines and folded and sealed at the bottom with a seal of the Supreme Court of the Colony of Victoria. The seal is attached to the document by a blue ribbon. There is also a red stamp of the Master in Equity of the Supreme Court. The document is dated 1881. Apart from some minor staining the document is in good condition. The material is handwritten in black and red ink‘In the Supreme Court of the Colony of Victoria, in its Probate Jurisdiction, in the Estate of Robert Main, late of Warrnambool, in the County of Villiers in the Colony of Victoria, carpenter, deceased, Letters of Administration, Bayly and Higgins, Proctors, Warrnambool, Recd. 6/9, 25o, 8/11/81, W.A.R.’robert main, bayley and higgins, solicitors

No information is available on George Murray except that he was a Melbourne accountant and died intestate in 1885. He left property to the value of £91 and the lawyer, Ernest Chambers, who was at that time at 12 Chancery Lane, Melbourne, was directed to list the creditors of George Murray and distribute the estate accordingly. Mr Chambers was one of George Murray’s creditors. Ernest Chambers later had a legal practice with offices at Warrnambool, Koroit and Port Fairy with the known dates 1897 to 1910. Thomas Goodall was the manager of the Warrnambool office and he was the one who had this document in his possession at that time and it was passed down to succeeding lawyers in the Kepler Street building. Tait collection: item 7 of 62This document is of interest in that it was originally issued by the lawyer Ernest Chambers who later had an office in Warrnambool. This is a piece of parchment containing the 1885 Letters of Administration in the estate of George Murray, a Melbourne accountant. The document is white with black ruled lines and has handwritten material in black ink. The document is folded at the lower edge with a seal of the Supreme Court of the Colony of Victoria. The seal is attached to the document by a green ribbon. There is also a blue stamp of the Master in Equity of the Supreme Court. The document is in good condition apart from some minor staining. ‘In the Supreme Court of the Colony of Victoria in its probate jurisdiction, in the Estate of George Murray, late of Melbourne in the Colony of Victoria, accountant, deceased intestate, Letters of Administration, I certify that no duty is payable on the within Letters of Administration, John W. … (office under section 6), 15/6/85’. george murray, ernest chambers, warrnambool

This 1890 document contains the will and probate papers of Benjamin Charles Jewell who died in 1889. English-born Benjamin Jewell was a Warrnambool stonemason who was the licensee of the Steam Packet Hotel (later Lady Bay Hotel) from 1883 to 1889. His executors were Christopher Beattie, a Warrnambool undertaker and James Tallent, manager of the Warrnambool Corporation Yards. Benjamin Jewell left his estate of property, household furniture and cattle to his wife, Ellen Jewell. The solicitor, Ernest Chambers, had his office in Kepler Street with Thomas Goodall, a legal clerk, managing this office. Tait collection: item 9 of 62This document is of interest because of its contents - the will and probate of Benjamin Jewell, a Warrnambool businessman of note in the 19th century - and because of its lawyer, Ernest Chambers, also well-known in Warrnambool at that time. This is a piece of parchment folded in two with a seal of the Supreme Court of the Colony of Victoria attached by a blue ribbon. The writing in handwritten in brown ink. One page is blank. There is some pencil writing at the top left hand corner. Apart from some discolouration the document is in good condition.‘13/9 E.J.W. Chambers, 7241’benjamin jewell, ernest chambers

This document shows that Mary Irwin of Peterborough, Victoria, died in April 1892 without making a will and the Letters of Administration were granted to her husband, William Irwin. However he died in 1901 without having fully administered Mary Irwin’s estate. In turn the estate administration was passed over to Charles McGillivray of Peterborough and one of Mary Irwin’s sons, William Irwin, residing in New Zealand. This document was drawn up in 1907, fifteen years after Mary Irwin’s death. She left property to the value of £100. No other details on Mary Irwin are available. Tait collection: item 11 of 62This document is of interest because it was drawn up by a local Warrnambool solicitor, Ernest Chamber. He had a practice in Kepler Street, Warrnambool with the known dates, 1897 to 1910, with other offices in Koroit and Port Fairy during the same time. His manager in Warrnambool was Thomas Goodall who appears to have passed this document on to lawyers continuing on in the Kepler Street premises until it was found in the building once used by the legal business of Mackay Taylor.This is a piece of parchment paper folded in two and written on the back and front in brown-coloured ink (perhaps originally black). There is a seal of the Supreme Court of the Colony of Victoria attached with a green ribbon and three red stamps of the Master in Equity in the Supreme Court. Apart from some yellow staining the document is in good condition.‘In the Supreme Court of Victoria in the Probate Jurisdiction in the unadministered Estate of Mary Jane Irwin, late of Peterborough in the County of Heytesbury in the State of Victoria, married woman, deceased intestate, Letters of Administration, de bonis non. I certify there is no duty or fee payable on these Letters of Administration, Dated 8th day of November 1907, Officer under Sec. 96 Act.1060, Extracted by E.J.W.Chambers, Proctor, Warrnambool’mary irwin, solicitor, warrnambool, peterborough, ernest chambers

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 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 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