This ledger contains material from the legal firm of Mackay and Taylor for the period 1931 to 1946. The material includes receipts, letters and typed summaries concerning the wills and property of Warrnambool and district residents at that time. Scottish-born George Mackay established a legal practice in Kepler Street, Warrnambool in 1891 and in 1893 he bought the next-door practice of the late James Fletcher, with the business then known as Fletcher and Mackay. In the 1920s John Taylor became a partner with Mackay under the name of Mackay and Taylor (later Mackay Taylor). In 1999 Taits Solicitors of Warrnambool merged with Mackay Taylor to form Tait Taylor. Today this business is known as Taits Legal. This ledger is of some importance as it contains much historical information (wills, deeds, property ownership etc) on Warrnambool and district residents in the 1930s and 40s. It will be very useful to researchers.This is a ledger with a black cardboard cover and red binding on the spine. The binding has broken and the covers and sections of the pages are detached. The cover is much stained and rubbed. The pages have been printed with red and blue lines but these have not been used. Instead a variety of letters, receipts and typed material have been pasted onto the pages. Some of the letters and receipts have been handwritten and some have been typed.Receipt Bookwarrnambool, warrnambool history, mackay taylor, ledger warrnambool, fletcher and mackay

This ledger contains information on deeds, wills and properties from many Warrnambool and district residents in the 1940s and 1950s. The ledger comes from the law firm of Mackay and Taylor of Warrnambool. Scottish-born George Mackay established a legal practice in Kepler Street, Warrnambool in 1891 and in 1893 bought the next-door practice of the late James Fletcher and the firm was then known as Fletcher and Mackay. In the 1920s George Mackay took John Taylor into partnership and the business then became Mackay and Taylor (later Mackay Taylor). In 1999 Taits Solicitors and Mackay Taylor merged to form Tait Taylor and today it is known as Taits Legal. This ledger is of some importance as it contains so much information on Warrnambool and district families and their property ownership in the 1940s and 50s and so will be of great use to researchers. This is a ledger with a grey cover with red binding on the spine. The cover has a white label pasted on, with printed and handwritten material. The pages have printed red lines but these have not been used. Instead the pages contain letters, typed sheets and receipts pasted in. Some of the letters and receipts are handwritten and some are typed. Day Book Mackay & Taylor Deed Receipts 1946-19…mackay & taylor, history of warrnambool, ledger – deed receipts

This Register of Mortgagees comes from the Warrnambool legal firm of Fletcher and Mackay which resulted from the merger of the firms of George Sutherland Mackay and James Fletcher in 1893. G.S. Mackay was a prominent resident of Warrnambool from 1891 to his death in 1926. In the 1920s Mr J. Taylor became a partner in the firm known then as Mackay and Taylor and the firm later known as Mackay Taylor was in operation until the 1990s at 131 Kepler Street. The Register of Mortgagees with dates ranging from 1908 to 1924 comes from the old Mackay Taylor offices in the Kepler Street building.This Register of Mortgagees is of some significance as it contains information on many families living in Warrnambool in the early 20th century, including those of Burleig, Swinton, Uebergang, Turland, Bates, Wood and Paton. The entries have social significance, showing the typical loans taken out at the time and the prevailing interest rates. This is a small quarto sized ledger containing 166 pages of a register of mortgagees. The pages have been printed with ruled red lines. The cover is bound with a black cover and a red spine. There are pages with alphabetical tabs at the start of the book. The entries are in black ink. There is one loose page which is an old envelope used as scrap paper to record names and amounts owing or paid. Front cover (paper pasted on) – ‘Register of Mortgagees’mackay taylor legal firm warrnambool mortgagees, warrnambool mortgagees, swinton, uebergang

This is an 1886 certificate admitting George Mackay to practise as an attorney, solicitor and proctor in the courts of the colony of Victoria. George Sutherland Mackay (1850-1926) was born in Scotland and educated at the University of Glasgow. He came to Australia in 1884. In 1891 he came to Warrnambool and established a legal practice in Kepler Street. In 1893 he bought the practice of the late James Fletcher and the firm was then known as Fletcher and Mackay. It changed to Mackay and Taylor (later Mackay Taylor) when J.D. Taylor became his partner in the 1920s. In 1999 Tait Solicitors and Mackay Taylor amalgamated to form Tait Taylor and in 2010 the firm’s name became Tait Legal. This certificate is of considerable importance as a significant memento of George Mackay, a prominent lawyer in Warrnambool from the 1890s to 1926.This is a paper certificate pasted on board and set into a brown cardboard frame. The certificate has brown or gold handwriting with some calligraphy, three or four stamps (mostly obliterated), a green duty stamp and the remains of a signature. The frame is tattered at the edges and stained at the back.george sutherland mackay, warrnambool lawyer, j.d. taylor, tait solicitors and mackay taylor, history of warrnambool

This ledger contains an Index to Drafts for Mortgages, Conveyances and Deed of Covenants etc (1896 to 1913) which was in use by the Warrnambool solicitor, Ernest Chambers. He had offices in Warrnambool, Koroit and Port Fairy in the late 19th century and early 20th century and Thomas Goodall was his manager in Warrnambool until 1899 when Chambers took up permanent residence in Warrnambool. The ledger was found in the old Mackay Taylor offices in Kepler Street and presumably came into the possession of this law firm at a later stage when Ernest Chambers was no longer operating in Warrnambool. The firm of Mackay Taylor was originally established in 1898 from the amalgamation of the law firms of George Mackay and James Fletcher. In the 1920s the firm became Mackay and Taylor when J. Taylor joined as a partner and this business was prominent in Warrnambool until the 1990s.This ledger has some significance as it contains the names of many Warrnambool and district residents of the late 19th and early 20th centuries and gives some indication of what type of legal transaction they were involved with. It therefore has some historical and social connotations useful for researchersThis is a ledger with a black cover and red bindings on the spine and corner reinforcements. There are 273 pages with printed red lines for accounting purposes. The entries are written in black ink. The inside front and back covers of card paper material have a red and blue mottled pattern. Front cover: ‘Index to Drafts, E.T.H.Chambers’ Spine: ‘8-4-96 to 14-9-15 Index to Drafts’ ernest chambers, solicitor mackay taylor legal firm

This ledger is Volume One of a series of Copy Title Books that contain certificates of land titles from the Warrnambool district in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It came from the former premises of the Warrnambool legal firm, Mackay Taylor. This firm originated in the 1890s when George Mackay established a legal practice in Kepler Street, Warrnambool. In 1893 he bought the legal business of James Fletcher, following the death of the latter and the practice became known as Fletcher and Mackay. In 1926 John Taylor became a partner with George Mackay (who died that year) and Mackay, Taylor and Co continued on until 1999 when the firm merged with Tait Solicitors and became Tait Taylor. In 2010 it was renamed Taits Legal. This ledger is of great importance as it contains early certificates of titles of land and property in the Warrnambool district. The information contained therein will be of significant importance to researchers of local history.This is a hard cover book of 200 pages with a mottled green cover and black binding. The index is typed and the contents include certificates of land and property titles and some sketch maps.warrnambool land and property, mackay taylor, history of warrnambool

This Trust Accounts ledger belonged to the law firm of Mackay and Taylor of Kepler Street, Warrnambool. The law firms of George Mackay and James Fletcher merged in 1893 to form Fletcher and Mackay and in the early 1920s J. Taylor became the new partner with Mackay to form the legal practice of Mackay and Taylor. This firm continued in Kepler Street until the 1990s. George Mackay was a prominent resident of Warrnambool from 1891 to his death in 1926. The Trust Accounts ledger lists the accounts of several organizations such as the Ancient Order of Foresters, the accounts of deceased estates and accounts of individual residents of Warrnambool and district. The dates covered are from 1919 to 1923. The accounts appear to refer to an investment and banking society operated by Mackay and Taylor.The ledger has some significance as it contains information on the financial dealings of many well-known Warrnambool people and organizations. It has social significance as it shows the type of investment opportunities available to Warrnambool people in the first two decades of the 20th century. This is a foolscap-size bound book of 526 pages. The covers are of blue hard cardboard with buff-coloured spine and corners. The inside thick paper covers are of a blue and red mottled design. There are pages with alphabetical tabs at the start of the book. The pages are printed with red ruled lines for accounting purposes. The entries are in black ink. Spine – ‘Ledger’, ‘1919 to Dec. 1923’ Front Cover- ‘Trust Account’ mackay taylor legal firm, warrnambool

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

George Sutherland Mackay came to Warrnambool in 1891 and in 1893 joined his practice with that of James Fletcher and the firm became known as Mackay and Fletcher later changed to Mackay and Taylor. G S Mackay served for a long time on the Warrnambool City Council including 4 terms as Mayor. He was also an active member of the Presbyterian Church and worked to establish the Warrnambool Agricultural High School. He built the offices which still stand at 131 Kepler Street. He died in 1926. The firm celebrated its centenary in 1993.A commonly used office item which is well linked to both a long established business in Warrnambool and G. S. Mackay who contributed greatly to the community of Warrnambool and district. Cast iron painted black with rounded rectangular base. Circular seal and shaped handle which moves down 45 degrees. Trimmed with worn gold paint. Excelsior in gold on the front. The oval seal reads G. S. Mackay Warrnambool solicitor.warrnambool, g s mackay, mackay & taylor, mackay solicitor, company seal

This ledger lists the 1920s and 30s mortgages which were administered by the Warrnambool legal firm of Mackay and Taylor. This firm arose out of the merger of the legal businesses of George Mackay and James Fletcher in 1893 and the subsequent acquisition in the 1920s of a partner, J. Taylor, to make the firm, Mackay and Taylor. This firm with added partners survived until the 1990s. The list of mortgagees and mortgagors in the ledger are summaries of the transactions of the borrowings and repayments. The ledger has some significance as it contains the names of some mortgagors and mortgagees in Warrnambool in the 1920s and 30s and the information would be useful to researchers.This is a ledger (foolscap size) with a bound blue cover with red binding on the spine. The red binding is in poor condition. The pages have alphabetical tabs and there is one set of 5 loose pages listing mortgages expiring in and before 1930. Entries are handwritten in blue ink. Inside front cover: ‘Register of’ Spine: ‘Register of Mortgages’ mackay and taylor, warrnambool mortgages 1920s and 30s

This book is a diary (1926 and 1927) which appears to contain summaries of letters written to clients of the Warrnambool legal firm, Mackay and Taylor. The summaries give the name of the recipient(s) and the content of the letter. The numbers next to the summaries may refer to the number of the client or the number in the letter book. George Mackay who died in 1926 set up the original legal firm in Warrnambool in 1891 and merged with James Fletcher in 1893 to form the Fletcher and Mackay business. In the early 1920s J. Taylor joined the business then known as Mackay and Taylor. This business with other partners survived in Kepler Street until the 1990s. This book has some significance as it contains the names of many residents of Warrnambool and district during the 1920s and gives some indication of their dealings with their lawyers. It also shows the system used at the time to record the transactions of law firmsThis is a ledger with a black cover and red binding (foolscap size). There are 190 pages, each one ruled with blue lines and a red margin line. The entries are handwritten in black ink. Front cover: ‘Minute Book’ (actually a diary) Spine: ‘Diary’ (in black ink) mackay and taylor

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

This accounts book has been used by a Warrnambool butcher whose name is unknown. The entries date from 1913 to 1915 and the names of those with accounts are mostly well-known residents of Warrnambool at the time. The items bought include hams, shoulders, lard, sides, German sausage, pork sausages, bacon, hocks and bones. The book was found in the old Mackay Taylor law firm building and was obviously in storage with that firm. The owner of the accounts book would have been a client of the law firm. Mackay Taylor was formed in 1893 with the merger of the law firms of George Sutherland Mackay and James Fletcher, a business that was known originally as Fletcher and Mackay and then changed to Mackay and Taylor in the 1920s. The business was at 131 Kepler Street.This accounts book is of some interest as it contains the names of many prominent Warrnambool people and their meat-related purchases in the 1913-1915 time frame. These include the names Battarbee, Ward, Milvertion, Harrington, Murrell, Powell, Younger, Smith and Russell. The lists of items bought show the lifestyles and eating habits of the time with some bulk buying of large pieces of meat, some for hotels etc. This is a small maroon coloured bound book of 173 pages (double-sided). There are pages with alphabetical tabs at the start of the book. Inside the front and back covers are inserts of heavy quality paper with a blue and red design. The entries are written in black ink.On spine – ‘Ledger’warrnambool butcher, warrnambool

This cash book, found in the old Mackay Taylor building in Kepler Street, contains entries relating to Costs Accounts and Trust Accounts for the Warrnambool firm of Fletcher and Mackay which had been formed from the amalgamation of the law firms of George Mackay and James Fletcher in 1893. In the 1920s the firm became Mackay and Taylor after J. McD. Taylor became the partner with George Mackay. This firm was a prominent one in Warrnambool until the 1990s. This cash book is of considerable interest as the entries show the names of many well-known residents of Warrnambool at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. The firm of Fletcher and Mackay was an important one in Warrnambool at that time and George Mackay, one of the partners of the firm, was prominent in local community and civic affairs. This is a ledger with black binding and buff-coloured spine and corner reinforcements. There are 135 double-sided pages. The pages have been printed with red ruled lines for accounting purposes. There are red and blue mottled coloured cardboard pages at the beginning and end of the book. There are two loose pages which appear to be scrap notes only. The entries are written in black ink.White paper pasted on front cover: ‘Cash Book from April 26th 1898 to March 22nd 1902’ Spine: ‘1898-1902 Cash Book’ james fletcher and george mackay, warrnambool law firms, warrnambool

This receipt book was used in the law business of the Warrnambool lawyer, George Mackay (1891 to 1893) and the amalgamated firm of James Fletcher and George Mackay (1893 to 1910). George Mackay was a prominent Warrnambool lawyer, active in the civic and community affairs of the town and the firm of Fletcher and Mackay was an important one in Warrnambool over the time covered by the entries in the receipt book. In the 1920s the firm became Mackay and Taylor when J. Taylor joined as a partner and was a well-known legal firm in Warrnambool until the 1990s. The book was found in the old Mackay Taylor offices in Kepler Street. WarrnamboolThis is a ledger with a dark green binding and black tape on the spine. There are 176 pages plus an alphabetical listing at the back. Most of the entries are receipts that have been pasted into the ledger with some additional written material. The entries are mostly written in black ink with some seals and stamps attached. The receipts are overwritten with ticks and initials in red crayon. Front cover: ‘Receipt Book, From 14.11.1891 To 29.1.1910’ Spine: ‘14-11-1891 to 29-1-10 Receipt Book’ george mackay, warrnambool fletcher and mackay

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

Eight of these letter books contain letters written by the Warrnambool lawyer George Mackay. They are mostly letters written to contacts while he was living in Scotland and letters sent from Warrnambool to Scotland to his daughter, Margueretta (Meta) who was studying medicine. Scottish-born George Sutherland Mackay (1850-1926) opened a legal practice in Kepler Street, Warrnambool in 1891 and in 1893 bought the business of the late James Fletcher, with the business known as Fletcher and Mackay. In the 1920s John Taylor became a partner and the firm of Mackay, Taylor & Co. (later Mackay Taylor) continued until 1999 when it merged with Taits Solicitors to form Tait Taylor (now Taits Legal). George Mackay was a Warrnambool Councillor and the first Mayor to hold office for four successive years. He was instrumental in getting the Warrnambool High School established and was the Chairman of the first School Council. Two of these letter books contain letters written by Ernest Powling. One letter book contains letters written by James Mack, a Warrnambool accountant These letter books are of considerable importance as they contain letters relating to legal matters in Warrnambool and district from the late 19th century to the mid 1940s. The letters also give an insight into the private life of a prominent Warrnambool lawyer, George Sutherland Mackay..1 This letter book has a dark blue cover, brown leather binding, an alphabetical index with tabs and handwritten letters. The spine is damaged. .2 This letter book has a dark red cover with red binding, an alphabetical index with tabs, a handwritten label on the front cover, information on the ledger maker and the handwriting of the letter writer inside the front cover. The spine is slightly damaged. .3 This letter book has a dark red mottled cover with white binding, an alphabetical index with tabs and a handwritten label on the front cover. .4 This letter book has a dark red cover with white paper binding and a handwritten label on the cover. .5 This letter book has a dark blue cover, red binding, and alphabetical index with tabs. The spine is slightly damaged. A loose receipt is inside the front cover. .6 This letter book has a mottled blue and pink cover, black binding, an alphabetical index with tabs and handwritten personal letters. .7 This letter book has a dark green cover, brown binding, an alphabetical index with coloured tabs and handwritten private letters. .8 This letter book has a mottled cover with black binding and an alphabetical index with tabs. Many of the letter copies are upside down. .9 This letter book has a dark green cover with red binding, an alphabetical index with tabs and handwritten personal letters. .10 This letter book has a dark green cover with buff-coloured leather binding, an alphabetical index with tabs and copies of typed letters. The leather is torn on the front cover. .11 This letter book has a green cover, a brown leather spine and a paper label pasted on the cover. This book has the spine detached and is badly waterstained .2 G Sutherland Mackay 1874 Private Letter Book james mack, warrnambool, ernest powling, port fairy, george mackay, warrnambool, history of warrnambool

This letter book (1910-1922) was found in the old Mackay Taylor building in Kepler Street. The Secretary of the Presbytery of Mortlake in the early 1900s was George Mackay who established his legal business in 1891 and merged with the business of James Fletcher in 1893 to form Fletcher and Mackay. In the 1920s J. Taylor joined the business which was known from then on as Mackay and Taylor and this firm existed until the 1990s. George Mackay was prominent in Warrnambool civic and community affairs and was Secretary of St. John’s Presbyterian Church for many years. The Presbytery of Mortlake was an administrative district committee established in 1862 and included the Presbyterian churches of Port Fairy, Tower Hill, Wangoom, Allansford, Warrnambool, Woodford, Hexham, Caramut, Mortlake and Terang. The committee consisted of the local ministers, some elders and other church representatives and met monthly or quarterly to discuss church business that affected the region.This letter book is of some significance as it indicates the type of business carried out by a district church council – properties, missions, individual church problems etc. It also shows the community work of George Mackay, a prominent Warrnambool resident at the time, and the book contains his signature many times over. The book will be of interest to researchers. This is a ledger with dark blue binding and binding reinforcements on the spine and corners. The inside covers are lined with thick paper in a mottled blue, black and white coloured pattern. There are 249 pages of copies of letters written, some typed, some handwritten. Front cover: Label with typed title ‘Presbytery of Mortlake’ Spine:’ Letter Book’, ‘Mortlake Presby’. presbytery of mortlake, george mackay, warrnambool

This letter book (1922-6) was found in the old Mackay Taylor building in Kepler Street. The Secretary of the Presbytery of Mortlake in the early 1900s was George Mackay who established his legal business in 1891 and merged with the business of James Fletcher in 1893 to form Fletcher and Mackay. In the 1920s J. Taylor joined the business which was known from then on as Mackay and Taylor and this firm existed until the 1990s. George Mackay was prominent in Warrnambool civic and community affairs and was Secretary of St. John’s Presbyterian Church for many years. The Presbytery of Mortlake was an administrative district committee established in 1862 and included the Presbyterian churches of Port Fairy, Tower Hill, Wangoom, Allansford, Warrnambool, Woodford, Hexham, Caramut, Mortlake and Terang. The committee consisted of the local ministers, some elders and other church representatives and met monthly or quarterly to discuss church business that affected the region. This letter book is of some significance as it indicates the type of business carried out by a district church council – properties, missions, individual church problems etc. It also shows the community work of George Mackay, a prominent Warrnambool resident at the time, and the book contains his signature, many times over. The book will be of interest to researchers. This is a ledger with dark blue binding and binding reinforcements on the spine and corners. The inside covers are lined with thick paper in a mottled blue and black coloured pattern. There are 250 pages with entries up to page 54. The letter copies are typed with an alphabetical listing at the front.Front Cover: Label with typed title ‘Presbytery of Mortlake’ Spine: ‘Letter Book’ presbytery of mortlake, george mackay

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

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 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 46 of 62 This is a document giving details of the Will and Probate of Miles Staunton (called Miles Stanton in the Will and Myles Staunton in the official Victorian death records). He died at Tower Hill in 1898 at the age of 72. He was a farmer in the Koroit district and left real estate to the value of £2799 and personal estate to the value of £128. The chief beneficiaries were his wife and children. Miles Stanton was unable to write and signed his will with a cross. The lawyers involved, Fletcher and Mackay and Ernest Chambers, had legal offices in Warrnambool at the end of the 19th century. The document, with others, was passed down to successive lawyers occupying the legal premises in Kepler street (Fletcher and Mackay, later Mackay Taylor) and located in this building in 2014. This document is of some interest as it gives details of the Will and Probate of Miles Staunton who was a 19th century farmer in the Koroit district.This is a white piece of paper folded in two to make four pages. Three of the pages have ruled margins in red and there is handwritten material on four pages in black ink. There is no proper seal attached but there is a hand-drawn circular sketch representing the seal of the Supreme Court of Victoria. The document contains information on the Will and Probate of Miles Staunton of Koroit who died in 1898.In the Supreme Court of the Colony of Victoria In the Probate Jurisdiction In the Will of Miles Staunton in the Will named Miles Stanton late of Koroit in the Colony of Victoria farmer deceasedmiles staunton, ernest chambers, fletcher and mackay, warrnambool, tait collection

Tait collection: item 57 of 62 This document gives details of the Will and Probate of Thomas Sleeman, a Nirranda farmer. He died in 1900 at the age of 85 and left real estate to the value of £600. The main beneficiaries were his sons and £30 was left to Mary Le Couteur, his daughter. He also bequeathed to the Wesleyan Church the half acre of land that the church was on at that time (presumably in the Nirranda district). The document has been drawn up by the law firm of O’Mahony and Murray which operated in Warrnambool early in the 20th century. The document has been passed down to successive lawyers occupying the legal premises in Kepler Street and located there in 2014 in the same building, the premises last occupied by the law firm of Mackay Taylor. This document is of some interest as it gives details of the Will and Probate of Thomas Sleeman, a farmer from Nirranda.This is a piece of white paper folded in two to make four pages. Three of the pages are ruled with blue lines and have margins ruled in blue. There is handwritten material on three pages. A seal of the Supreme Court of Victoria is attached with green ribbon and there are nine red stamps of the Master in Equity of the Supreme Court and one purple stamp of the Savings Bank (Head Office). The document is a little stained and the writing is fading but legible. The document gives details of the Will and Probate of the Nirranda farmer, Thomas Sleeman who died in September 1900. In the Supreme Court of the Colony of Victoria in its Probate Jurisdiction in the Will and Codicil of Thomas Sleeman late of Naranda in the County of Heytesbury in the Colony of Victoria farmer deceased.o’mahony and murray, warrnambool lawyers, thomas sleeman, warrnambool history, tait collection, nirranda

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 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 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 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 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 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