Spring has sprung - or at least it's trying to!

 It's October and Spring has sprung (well it's trying to) and our minds turn to gardens flourishing, spring cleaning and maybe a spot of painting, etc. to spruce the place up!

Here are a few people who fit the bill and call Rookwood home.

GEORGE KERSLAKE AND NATHANIEL TAUBMAN

GEORGE KERSLAKE

George's full name was George Henry Tuck (his mother's maiden name) Kerslake and was born @ 1854 in Teignmouth, Devon, England, the eldest son to Robert George Kerslake and Elizabeth (nee Tuck). He was the eldest son of eight. Robert was a gardener and George followed in his footsteps. 

George married Hannah Underhay in 1877 and by the 1881 Census he was listed as a market gardener. They made the journey to these shores arriving on the 13th of January 1884 stopping in Adelaide and Melbourne before disembarking in Sydney. 

George Kerslake - portrait taken @ 1905 for the Royal Horticultural Society - from Ancestry.com

He was employed by Wilheim Von Der Heyde, who with George Todman set up a successful Tobacco import and manufacturing company, before becoming Consul for Spain, as well as having stints as an Alderman on the Strathfield Council and serving as Mayor. Both he and George Todman's homes were palatial ones located in Albert Road Strathfield. George was appointed the head gardener at Ellwood House and became known for his ample chrysanthemums, carnations and dahlias to name a few. 

Ellwood House Strathfield - courtesy of History Pin

Life at the time was going very well for George and Hannah who soon had a family of five....

In early 1896, Von der Heyde died suddenly but George was retained in his previous position but a period of uncertainly prevailed. 

On the 12th of January 1897, the three Kerslake boys, George Henry (13), Phillip (10) and Stephen (8) had gone with a friend, Thomas Morrison, to the Ponds catchment area in the generally stagnant area of the Cooks River area near Strathfield. There had been recent downpours, and the ponds and pools had quickly filled up becoming in areas a fast-flowing river of varying depth and was a popular area for bathing after rain. 

Soon after Morrison in a state of distress sought out the boy's father to let him know that his three sons had disappeared in a waterhole where they were bathing. He, Hannah and another man rushed to the waterhole of about 3 metres deep and 9 metres wide near the bend of Cooks River. They found clothing on the banks, but nothing could be seen of the three boys. Two men dived into the waterhole and after much searching recovered the three lifeless bodies. The two youngest boys were naked but the eldest had his trousers on and it was surmised that he had leapt in to save his brothers but lost his life whilst trying. The coroner found the case as one of an "accidental drowning". 

The funeral and internment in Rookwood would have been the most heartbreaking scene and I don't know how George and Hannah and the remaining family coped; I won't dwell on the devasting event.

 

The Kerslake Boys grave - find-a-grave.

It seems that George may have put all his bottled-up grief into nurturing flowers and perfecting species. 

After many years of suffering with heart troubles, George Kerslake died at his residence near the cemetery on 16th of February 1911 aged 57 years and was buried in the independent section of Rookwood.

George and Hannah Kerslake headstone - author's personal collection

The Amateur Gardener magazine on the occasion of this death, carried a lengthy obituary and honoured him as the "Father of the Australian Dahlia". He was widely known and well respected for his experimentation of hybridisation. 

Hannah lived on for some time and passed away on the 28th of September 1934 aged 82, now lying peacefully with George for eternity. 

George and Hannah Kerslake's headstone - closeup - author's own collection 

NATHANIEL TAUBMAN

Nathaniel was the second child of John Taubman and his wife Sarah. John was a fireman from the Isle of Man, England, Sarah came from Lancashire. John and Sarah arrived as free settlers, married on 1 June 1861 and went on to have eight children, three dying in infancy. 

Nathaniel was educated at Cleveland Street Public School and was apprenticed to a plumber where in 1887 he filed a patent for "The Taubman bath heater and hot shower machine". His elder brother George became a signwriter. Nathaniel married Mary Higgs in September 1885 less than a year after George who wed Isabella Scott in the same church, St David's Anglican Church, Surry Hills.

Nathaniel Taubman - family photo - public access via Ancestry.com 

By 1898 George was an importer and distributor of painters' and signwriters' supplies with a shop on the corner of Park and Castlereagh Streets; at one time, he held the agency for Berger Lewis & Sons Ltd.'s Paints. George was of the belief that the forthcoming Federation would result in customs duties on his imports, so he and Nathaniel experimented in making varnish. In 1901 they set up a paint and varnish works factory in St Peters which became Taubman's Ltd from February 1912.

Nathaniel sold out his share of the business to George in 1914 and with his son Claude, founded the Serling Varnish Co. in Huntley Street Alexandria.

The volatile nature of the goods being produced, and its dangers was always in the back of the minds of all involved. Nathaniel was overcome on one occasion in June 1910 by fumes from some burning material and was admitted to the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. 

On Friday 21 February 1919, Nathaniel and Frank Brett, an employee, were standing near the boiler when a quantity of varnish burst into flame. They were both severely burnt about the arms, hands and face and conveyed to South Sydney Hospital. Owing to the inflammable nature of the materials the fire quickly took hold. By the time that the flames were subdued the factory was completely destroyed. A new factory was built, and we know that Claude was still listed as the owner in the 1960's.

Nathaniel died of heart disease on 21 December 1931 at Croydon, survived by his wife, son and daughter. He can be found with his wife and other family members in the Old Anglican area of the Cemetery. His parents, John and Sarah, rest nearby.

Nathaniel Taubman family plot - authors own collection 

Nathaniel Taubman headstone - close up - author's own collection

In the meantime, during WW1 Taubman's Ltd established selling branches in all states of Australia with a factory in Wellington, New Zealand. George retired as managing director in 1916. Following expansion during WW2, the firm established new factories in all States in the 1950's. By the mid 1960's Taubman's Industries Ltd was one of Australia's largest companies. In 2007 PPG Industries acquired the Taubman's brand.

George Kerslake had fallen on his feet when he became head gardener at Ellwood House but so soon after horrific tragedy occurred which many would never have recovered from. George devoted himself even more so to plants and hybrids. Hannah no doubt to her remaining family. I admire their stoicism. 

Nathaniel started out as a plumber but joined with his enterprising brother taking advantage of timing to make a real success of their business. 

After researching these two people, I've decided to purchase some dahlias to adorn my family members graves upon my next visit to the Cemetery and I'll get some varnish to spruce up my outdoor wooden furniture - it is Spring!

If you have any insights, reminiscences or comments please add them in the comments here of at the group Facebook page found under 

Rookwood Cemetery Discoveries

or send me a personal message at 

lorainepunch@gmail.com

Until next week!