Light Blue Descendants - Fords of Katandra

Margaret Sarah COUTTS
1910-1997

Spouse of Joseph Victor FORD

LIGHT BLUE

Photo Below

Albert & Sarah (Hewitt) Coutts and Children
L-R

Margaret Sarah, Elsie Jane, Thomas Hewitt, & Florence Alberta
photo kindly supplied by Coutts Family Descendants

JOSEPH & MARGARET FORD HAD 6 CHILDREN
Living Female	19xx
Living Female	19xx
Living Male	19xx
Raymond Leslie	1939-2014
Living Female	19xx
Living Male	19xx

NAME	Margaret Sarah COUTTS
FATHER	Albert Walter COUTTS
MOTHER	Sarah Mary COUTTS (nee HEWITT)
BIRTH DATE	24 November 1909
BIRTH PLACE	Buangor, Victoria, Australia
SIBLINGS	Florence Alberta (WELSH)	1908-1991
	Thomas Hewitt	1912-2005
	Elsie Jane (RUDD)	1913-1999
	Nancy Janet (ASHTON)	1917-yyyy
	Living male	1931-yyyy
EDUCATION	Name of School
OCCUPATION	Home Duties
SPOUSE	Joseph Victor FORD
MARRIAGE DATE	14 October 1931
MARRIAGE PLACE	Methodist Church, Shepparton, Victoria, Australia
DEATH DATE	11 January 1997
DEATH PLACE	Town, Victoria, Australia
BURIAL DATE	15 January 1997
BURIAL PLACE	Pine Lodge Cemetery, Section, Tamerisk Glade 135, Pine Lodge, Victoria, Australia.
CAUSE OF DEATH	info from death cert
KNOWN RESIDENCES	Waaia, Victoria, Australia	1931
	farm at Katamatite, Victoria, Australia	1936-1942
	11 Barker Avenue, Shepparton, Victoria, Australia	1949-1997

Photo to the right

Plaque at the Pine Lodge Cemetery

Family Memories

Click here for earlier ancestors of Margaret Sarah COUTTS.

Albert Walter COUTTS born a twin on 9 Oct 1878 at Rupanyup Victoria Australia and died on 22 Nov 1968 at Mooroopna Victoria Australia (his twin Margaret died 11 months later). Albert married on 14 March 1906 at North Rupanyup Victoria to Sarah Mary HEWITT (born at Carlton Victoria on 10 March 1885 and died at Shepparton Victoria on 16 April 1952) daughter of Thomas HEWITT (farmer) (born 24 Dec 1855 at Blackwood Victora and died at Minyip Victoria in 1904) and Hannah Mary Augusta WALLIS. On Sarah's death Certificate her middle name was listed as "May", she was 67 years old and her place of residence was Hayes Street Shepparton. The cause of her death was:- Coronary Thrombosis and Atherosclerosis. She passed away at Mooroopna Hospital and was buried in the Methodist Section at Shepparton Cemetery.

Albert Walter COUTTS and Sarah Mary HEWITT had 6 children, the second child being Margaret Sarah COUTTS who married Joseph Victor FORD. Albert and Sarah's eldest child - Florence Alberta COUTTS was born on 10 March 1908 at Minyip Victoria, married John Murray WELSH (1908-1972) on 14 April 1928 at Shepparton Victoria and died at Wangaratta Victoria on 18 December 1999.
Child number 3 was Thomas Hewitt COUTTS born 30 June 1912 at Narromine NSW, married Living TAIT and died on 1 June 2005 at Numurkah Victoria. Their 4th child - Elsie Jane COUTTS was born 30 Oct 1913 at Narromine NSW married Living RUDD in Victoria in 1935 and passed away at Brisbane QLD on 23 Sept 1999.

On the 1903 Australian Voters List Margaret FORD (nee COUTTS) father - Albert Walter COUTTS was listed living with his mother and siblings at Lallat, Grampians Victoria as follows:-
Albert COUTTS farmer
Arthur COUTTS farmer
Charles - farmer
James - farmer
Janet - Home Duties
John - farmer
Margaret Home Duties
Thomas - farmer.

On the 1909 Voters List it shows Albert Walter COUTTS, Yallopoora?, farmer and Sara Mary COUTTS, Ballyrogan, Home Duties in the subdistrict of Willaura Grampians Victoria.

1919 saw Albert Walter COUTTS, Lah, farmer and Sarah Mary COUTTS, Lah, home duties at Wimmera Warracknabeal Victoria, along with his brother and sister-in-law:- George Condie COUTTS, Batchica, farmer and Elizabeth Jane COUTTS, Batchica, home duties.

1924 the voters list of Indi, Benalla - shows Albert and Sarah Mary COUTTS,, Grazier and home duties at Bangalore Park Swanpool Victoria, and Andrew COUTTS, grazier and Christina Jane COUTTS, home duties at Thomas Street Benalla Victoria.

1931 Margaret Sarah COUTTS could now vote and she is registered on Echuca Numurkah list as living at Waaia Victoria- occupation as Home Duties (can't find her parents?)

1936 Margaret is now married and herself and husband Joseph Victor FORD are on the Echuca Katamatite Voters list. Their address is Katamatite and Occupations are labourer and home duties.

1936 Echuca, Katamatite voters list:- Albert Walter COUTTS (labourer) and Sara Mary COUTTS (home duties) at Katamatite Victoria.

1937 Indi, Numurkah
Albert Walter COUTTS, labourer, Katamatite Victoria.
Sara Mary COUTTS, home duties, Katamatite Victoria.
Thomas Hewitt COUTTS, labourer, Katamatite Victoria.
Margaret Sarah FORD, home duties Katamatite Victoria.
Joseph Victor FORD, labourer, Katamatite Victoria

1942 Margaret Sarah FORD and Joseph Victor FORD have same details as 1937.

1943 Voters List at Deakin, Mansfield Victoria, shows an Albert Walter COUTTS, labourer, C/- Mitchell & Evans Bonnie Doon along with Thos COUTTS.

1949 and 1954 (Murray Shepparton) Margaret Sarah FORD and Joseph Victor FORD are living at 11 Barker Street Shepparton Victoria, occupations are Poultry farmer and home duties.

1954 Murray Shepparton Voters List:
Albert Walter COUTTS 144/154 Hayes Street Shepparton Victoria
& Albert's youngest son (living) address 144 Hayes Street Shepparton, occupation :-SEC employee.

Margaret was working as a domestic at Joseph and Mary Florence FORD's home at Katandra where she meet her future husband, Vic.

Photo to left

Ruby FORD, Vic & Margaret, Frank FORD

References:
Marriage Certificate No# 9998/57

Vernon Henderson WILLIAMS
1896-1957

Spouse of Florence Ruby FORD

LIGHT BLUE

Photo Below

Vernon Henderson & Florence Ruby (Ford) WILLIAMS

VERNON & RUBY WILLIAMS HAD 2 CHILDREN
Gerald Vernon	1930-1953
Living Male	19xx

NAME	Vernon Henderson WILLIAMS
FATHER	Matthew Henry WILLIAMS
MOTHER	Grace Henrica OLDFIELD
BIRTH DATE	1 November 1896
BIRTH PLACE	Hawthorn, Victoria, Australia
SIBLINGS	Clive Gowan	1898-1973
	Henry (Harry) Lenthall	1901-1991
	Noel Swifte	1905-1955
EDUCATION	Name of School
OCCUPATION	Clerk in Holy Orders. Church of England
SPOUSE	Florence Ruby FORD
MARRIAGE DATE	28 October 1929
MARRIAGE PLACE	All Saints Church, East St Kilda, Victoria, Australia.
DEATH DATE	29 January 1957
DEATH PLACE	Rutherglen Hospital, Rutherglen, Victoria, Australia
BURIAL DATE	31 January 1957
BURIAL PLACE	Shepparton Cemetery, Section, C of E U35, Shepparton, Victoria, Australia.
CAUSE OF DEATH	Auricular Fibrillation (Arrythmia), Congestive Heart Failure, Ateriesclerosis.
KNOWN RESIDENCES	22 Mason St, Hawthorn	1919
	Murrayville, Vic	1931
	Melville St, Numurkah, Vic	1936-1937
	Wheeler St, Corryong, Vic	1949
	The Rectory, Murchison, Vic	1954
	St Stephens Rectory, High Street, Rutherglen, Victoria, Australia	1957

Photo to the Vernon & Gerald

Family Memories

Charles Williams b. 1798, Middlesex, England, (Blacksmith), married Sarah ? b. 1799, sackmaker
children -
Ann 1822 -
Harriet 1822 -
John 1824 -
Frederick 1827-

John Williams
b. 1824, Middlesex England, married April 1852
Robina Gowan b. 6th June, 1825, Berwick Upon Tweed Northumberland England
(3rd child of Arthur Bryan Gowan 1791- yyyy and Margaret Denaven 1796-yyyy )
d.1876 Melbourne Victoria, age 51
children-
Margaret Davidson 1854-
Arthur Gowan Shann 1856-
John Andrews Gowan 1858-
Matthew Henry 1863-1931
Thomas Andrew Williams 1866-
Robina Gowan 1867-

Matthew Henry WILLIAMS
b.15th January 1863 - 1931
married 15th March 1893, in South Melbourne.
Grace Henrica OLDFIELD b.19 April 1863, Hobart Tasmania

Frederick Oldfield b. 1788, Rotherhithe, Surrey England, married 23rd December 1810
Mary Howard 1790-1870
d. 18th November 1860
Children
Marian Howard 1812-1906
Fredrica Juliana 1815-1901
Lavinia Sarah 1816-
Frederick Henry Howard 18-817-
Alfred Bennett 1819-1874
Augustus Frederick 1821-1887
Edwin Douglas 1822-1915
Juliana Maria Lousia 1828-1904
Vincent Leopold Howard 1834-1917

Edwin Douglas OLDFIELD
b. 22 November 1822
married 28th August 1851, in Hobart Tasmania,
Wilhelmina Susanna Sara Erica Swifte (2nd child of Edmund Lewis Lenthal Swifte 1777-1875 and Susanna Robson 1796-1834)
b. d.
children
Douglas Allan 1852-1852
Mary Howard (SMITH) 1853-1942
Edwin Lenthal 1856-1906
Edith Juliana Susan 1858-1945
Frederick Augustus 1860-1926
Grace Henrica (WILLIAMS) 1963-1965
Bernam Howard 1865-1928
Rose Adele 1868-1869
Violet Lousia 1868-

Headstone at the Shepparton Cemetery

References:
Marriage Certificate No# 10360 /342
Death Certificate No# .18419/3215

FODEN STEAM ENGINE

Owned by Joseph Herbert FORD

LIGHT BLUE

The photo below was taken at Numurkah, Victoria of Joseph and his Foden steam traction engine. The photo was taken by photographer
E A KRUTLI from Numurkah.

foden traction engine owned by joseph herbert ford

In the photo above, a couple of Joseph's children are standing in the foreground.
In the background, you can see the building of
W A Fairless Commission Agent and Sunshine Harvester Dealership.
On the other side of the street is a Deere Machinery dealer.

On each of the wagons you can make out the names J H Ford and Numurkah Foundry.

The following text is taken from an article in "The Newletter of Engineering Heritage Australia" dated December 2001. This article gives some background regarding the Numurkah Foundry that built the wagons pulled by Joseph's Foden.

The Coxon Foundry operated in Numurkah from 1894. Edward Coxon was born in Ballarat in 1866 and moved with his family to Invergordon in 1874. He worked at Furphy's foundry in Shepparton in the early 1890's as a "Striker" at the rate of 10 shillings ($1) per week. A striker worked around a fire and with the aid of an assistant would hammer hot pieces of metal into the required shape, using anvils, swages and dies. The striker, usually the younger of the two men, would be allocated the heaviest hammer. Over the next 3 years Coxon learnt all he could from Furphy about blacksmithing and foundry operation. In July 1894, in partnership with a Mr Gourley, he took over the Agricultural Department of House Brothers. Soon Coxon had brought out his partner. He began with one fire doing general blacksmithing and horseshoeing, he added a wheelwright shop and production of farm drays, box wagons, buggies, gigs, jinkers, cream carts and sprung carts commenced. Later products included ploughs, disc harrows, water carts, wool presses etc.
Up to 40 local men were employed. The son of H V McKay also spent time at Coxon's Foundry. To publicise his products, Coxon would hire a traction engine to tow trailers carrying his products to regional shows, well up into the Riverina. The team could be away for up to a month and return with just the engine and orders, having sold the wagons and their load.
Both HV McKay and Furphy took Edward Coxon to court. In Furphy's case the dispute was over the water cart (items now keenly sought by collectors). Coxon proved that his water cart wasn't the same as Furphy's, as it had a square filling lid and Furphy had a round lid. The introduction of the motor car and tractor, coupled with the Depression made it difficult for regional manufacturing businesses, however Coxon saw the future in motor cars. The Foundry closed virtually overnight and he built a garage alongside. He was a pioneer in the motor trade and was one of the first Ford Dealers in country Victoria.
Edward Coxon died in 1946.
Such was the standard of his products that many still survive to this day with some still in regular use.

In 1913, Joseph Herbert FORD registered a steam traction engine for driving on the road. As well as being a farmer, Joseph also carted grain, chaff and wood.
He purchased a new Foden Steam Engine, which was imported from England from Langwill Bros & Davies Ptd Ltd.
The wagons were made by Numurkah Foundry

The above advertisement was kindly supplied by the Melbourne Steam Traction Club, who also provided the following information on the photo of Joseph's engine.

"The photo was interesting to see. It confirmed for me that the engine is a Foden Compound traction engine. Langwill Bros. & Davies were their agents. Unfortunately their records have not survived, so finding whom it was first sold to, or identifying the engine is very difficult. Many rural engines did not fall under the government boiler inspection scheme and checking my records did not show any possible engines. There are some records of early vehicle registrations in Victoria, and J H Ford, Katandra is recorded in 1913 as owning a traction engine registered to drive on the road. The engine in the photo is most likely this engine, and the engine is most likely a pre WW1 build engine. I've attached an advert from Langwill Bros & Davies for Foden engines which shows the typical canopy, wood basket, and large rear driving wheels with more spokes than other makers. I cannot say if this engine has survived, the engine number is on a plate on the side of the cylinder block, this is too dark in the photo and the number would be too small to work out anyway. I'd suggest trying local newspapers, I've seen accounts, particularly if an engine was the first in the district, mentioned when the engine first arrives."

" I don't know if you have noticed the maker of the wagons, they were made locally by Edward Coxon at his Numurkah foundry. A short article about Coxon is attached for some background."

FOR PHOTOS AND INFORMATION REGARDING STEAM TRACTION ENGINES IN GENERAL - THE MELBOURNE STEAM ENGINE TRACTION CLUB WEBSITE ADDRESS IS

http:/home.vicnet.net.au/~mstec/

Unfortunatley, neither Foden's or the importer Langwill Bros and Davies Pty Ltd documentation has survived. Langwill Bros & Davies went bankrupt and little remains of their records today. Interestingly - during the bankruptcy proceedings - one of their directors shot himself in the head in the toilets of the courthouse. He was found after he failed to appear after his summons.

Joseph's grandson can recall that someone had to follow about 1/4 mile behind the steam engine to put out the fires it lit along the roadside.

Apparently this was a common occurance, below are some newspaper articles relating to Steam Traction Engines in the Katandra district around the same time Joseph owned his Foden Traction Engine.

"The ARGUS"
(Melbourne Vic) Saturday 25 December 1915

DOOKIE, Friday- A fire, believed to be started by a passing Traction engine, broke out on a road at Katandra North, and rapidly spread in Mr. F.A. Batey's property. The fire quickly burned its way over about 7 acres of stubble, and entered a growing crop, where stripping operations were being carried on.
Fortunately, with a change to the wind, the flames were turned towards a fallowed paddock, where they were extinguished. The loss substained by Mr Batey was about a quarter of acre of crop burned and about 10 bags of wheat partly charred.

Family Memories

Joseph and his son, Lem, used to camp out over night, on trips with the Engine. They often camped by the bridge over the Goulburn River near Nagambie.

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Fords of Katandra

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