8.

Johann Friedrich HELLMERS, son of Christian Friedrich HELLMERS and Almuth Margret SCHWANEWEDEL, was born on 12 Jan 1829 in Steinhausen , Bockhorn, Grand duchy of Oldenburg, Germany.^{7 6} burial details indicate 80 years, i.e.1827. Johann was a Cabinet maker, Farmer. He married Elizabeth CROOK on 23 Sep 1855 in Catholic Church, West Maitland, N.S.W.⁶ He married Annie KREMER on 25 Nov 1905 in St. David's Church, Sydney, N.S.W., Australia.¹ 8656. Johann died on 30 Mar 1907 in 28 Norton St., Leichardt, Sydney.^{6 7 2} Regn. no.5308. Senile cardiac failure. Johann was buried on 1 Apr 1907 in Rookwood cemetery, Sydney. Old Wesleyan cemetery section 4C grave 270.^{8 9 10} Listed as Fred J. Hellmers. Same grave as wife, Elizabeth.

An extensive history of the Hellmers family can be found in Grant Franklyn-Smith's research document PDF "Descendants of Christian Von Hellmers".

Migrated to Australia in 1854. Cabinet maker.

On marriage certificate details Johann Friedrich Hellmers, his signature, is marked with an X showing he could not write his name, so he is listed as John Frederick (Herms), a spelling error but would always be known as John Frederick Hellmers now he was in Australia.

Business.1.: 1863, Cabinet Maker, 10 Smith Street, Newtown. Business.2.: 1864, Cabinet Maker, 15 Samuel Street, Newtown. Business.3.: 1865, Cabinet Maker, 3 Samuel Street, Newtown. Business.4.: Bet. 1866 - 1870, Cabinet Maker, Denison Street,

Newtown. Business.5.: Bet. 1871 - 1877, Cabinet Maker, Newtown Road, Newtown. Business.6.: Bet. 1879 - 1880, Cabinet Maker, Albert Street, Macdonaldtown. Business.7.: Bet. 1882 - 1885, Cabinet Maker, Malcolm Street, Macdonaldtown.

Johann bought a winemaking business at Canley Vale and owned 10 houses in Sydney. His property was divided by the 3 sons. Ancestral property in Nth. Germany viewed by Aust. descendants.

NSW PO Directory 1904 has -

Hellmers Albt., orehardist, Canley Vale

Hellmers Fred., cabinet maker, Canley Vale

Hellmers John, grazier, Craigie

Helmers John F., vignron, Canley Vale

"Johann Friedrich was born in Steinhausen, Bockhorn, Grand Duchy of Oldenburg, in 1829.

He was the son of Almuth Margaret & Christian Friedrich Hellmers, a Damask Weaver, they lived on a farming estate owned by the Hellmers since 1750 at Steinhausen in the Municipality of Bockhorn in the old Grand Duchy of Oldenburg - which later became Schleswig Holstein.

He learnt the trade of Cabinet Making & later was noted to be a Master Cabinet Maker living in Hamburg in 1853.

It seems there was a form of army conscription and Johann had moved to Hamburg to avoid being drafted into the army, he received a letter from his brother-in-law Johann Hopken, warning him if he was thinking of staying in Germany, he should front up around the 4th of April to the appropriate authority as announced in the public newspapers, and then the punishment won't be too hazardous. This led him to embrace the thought of leaving his homeland.

He shortly after emigrated on the " Meteor " from Hamburg sailing to New South Wales, Australia in 1854 aged 25 to start a whole new life.

He later met & married Elizabeth Crook the following year, on the twenty third of September 1855, at West Maitland, they were to have a long life together with a large family of 14 children & 36 grandchildren.

Naturalization was granted in January 1860, and he took the Oath on the twenty second day of September 1862. (Naturalization Papers of 1860-62)"

"Died at his residence 28A Norton St. Leichardt, Frederick John, in his 80th year^1,2,11,12"

Annie KREMER, daughter of Michael KREMER ( - ) and Mary CONNOR ( - ), was born in 1867 in Goulburn, N.S.W., Australia.¹ She was a Bookkeeper. She died in 1961 in Newtown District, Sydney.³

"Annie Kremer ,born Abt,1866 in Goulburn,N.S.W. daughter of Michael Kremer a Farmer & Mary Kremer (nee

Conner).She married John in 1905 her 1st marriage aged 39,he was 76,but he died in1907,no children were born of

this marriage. She was Informant on his death certificate, dated 2nd April 1907"³

9.

Elizabeth CROOK, daughter of Henry Patrick CROOK and Mary FOLEY, was born on 10 Jun 1836 in Sydney. .V1836.838.126/1836. Elizabeth was baptised on 10 Jul 1836 in St. Mary-s Cathedral, Sydney. see. R.C. Baptisms 1832-1837. vol 126 no.838. Elizabeth was 1836 - Roman Catholic. 1902Wesleyan.² She died on 13 May 1902 in Canley Vale, Liverpool, Sydney.^{6 6} Regn. no.5722. Cardiac disease. Elizabeth was buried on 14 May 1902 in Rookwood cemetery.^{8 9 10 2} A double grave shared with her husband John Frederick Hellmers who joined her in 1907.

Elizabeth Crook was the second of 8 children to Henry Crook and Mary Foley, born in Sydney in 1836 and died in 1902 after producing 14 children with Johann Hellmers. She was buried in a double grave shared with her husband John Frederick Hellmers who joined her in 1907.

In 1855 it's noted that Elizabeth, could not sign her name on the marriage certificate to John Hellmers and is marked with an X.

In 1894 she was referred to as Betsy Hellmers nee Crook, on the death registration of her daughter, Wilhelmina's death.

Residence.1.: 1836, Sydney, Colony of New South Wales, Australia.717

Residence.2.: 1838, Black Creek, near Maitland, N.S.W.718

Residence.3.: Bet. 1840 - 1857, Maitland and West Maitland, N.S.W. [birth of daughter Margaret].719,720,721

Residence.4.: 1858, "Victoria Place", Sussex Street, Sydney, N.S.W. [birth of daughter Minna].722

Residence.5.: Bet. 1858 - 1860, Kingston, Sydney, N.S.W. [birth of daughter Sophia].723,724

Residence.6.: Bet. 1862 - 1863, 10 Smith Street, Newtown, N.S.W. [birth of daughter Mary Elizabeth].

Residence.7.: 1865, Kingston, (near Newtown). [birth of daughter Ada].

Residence.8.: 1870, St. George District, N.S.W. [birth of son Frederick Christian].

Residence.9.: 1872, Newtown, N.S.W,. [birth of daughter Lucy - 1872]. [birth of son Joseph Albert - 1874]. [birth of daughter Charlotte 1876].

Residence.10.: 1879, Albert Street, MacDonaldtown, N.S.W. [birth of daughter Marth Eva].725

Residence.11.: 1880, Vine Street, Redfern, [birth of son George].726

Residence.12.: Bet. 1880 - 1902, Canly Vale, N.S.W.727,728,729

"THE FRIENDS of Mr. GEORGE ADOLPHUS GEE are respectfully invited to attend the Funeral of his deceased MOTHER, Eliza, to move from his residence, No. 3, Vine-street, Redfern, THIS (Tuesday) MORNING, at half-past 8 o'clock, for the Necropolis.

The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : Tue 6 May 1879 Page 10 Family Notices).^2,13"

Johann Friedrich HELLMERS and Elizabeth CROOK had the following children:

10.

Christian Friedrich HELLMERS, son of Christian Friedrich HELLMERS and Sophia Elisabeth JURGENS, was born on 15 Oct 1782 in Steinhausen, Bockhorn Municipality, Germany.⁷ He was a Damask weaver.³ He married Almuth Margret SCHWANEWEDEL on 20 Dec 1807 in Steinhausen, Bockhorn Municipality, Schleswig Holstein, Germany.⁷ He died on 4 Jun 1854 in Steinhausen, Bockhorn Municipality, Germany.⁷

An extensive history of the Hellmers family can be found in Grant Franklyn-Smith's research document PDF "Descendants of Christian Von Hellmers".

Damask weaver

"There are no Hellmers listed as living in the Municipality of Bockhorn area in 1786, as are the Schwanewedel family (Johann a Cobler, Marten a Barrel-maker both of Steinhausen & Heinrich also a Barrel-maker from Bockhorn)."^1,6

11.

Almuth Margret SCHWANEWEDEL,⁶ daughter of Gerd SCHWANEWEDEL and Almuth LUBBERS, was born on 12 Feb 1789 in Steinhausen.⁷ She died on 21 Feb 1842 in Steinhausen.⁷ She and Christian Friedrich HELLMERS had the following children:

13.

Mary FOLEY, daughter of Patrick FOLEY, was born in 1807 in Limerick, Ireland.⁶ She was a Convict. Maid. She was R.C.¹ She died on 26 Jun 1898 in Newington Asylum, Sydney. Reg. no. 5554. Senile marasmus. Exhaustion. Grave No: 2004, Section 0, Grave no 236, Old Catholic Cemetery, Rookwood. Mary was buried on 28 Jun 1898 in Rookwood cemetery. R.C. section. No record on S.A.G.Rookwood transcriptions.

Notes from Grant Franklyn-Smith:

"Mary Crook, wife of Henry Crook ,was born between 1807-1811 in Limerick, Ireland. Mary Foley was sentenced 7 years at Limerick, on the 7th day of March, 1827 for stealing clothes. She was a nurse girl ( or maid ) aged Abt 20 years old of Roman Catholic Religion, single and could not read or write. She had no former convictions, and her native place of abode was Limerick. Described as being 5 feet 1/2 inch tall. Ruddy fair complexion , light brown hair, hazel eyes, a small perpendicular scar at inner part of her left eyebrow. "IF" on upper part of right arm (probably a birthmark or tattoo). She wasn't transported till four years after her conviction, it is not known where she spent this time, but was finally transported to Australia on the Ship "Palambam" , which left Cork on 23rd March, 1831 arriving in Sydney on 31st July 1831.The Master of the ship was Geo Willis and the accompanying Surgeon Superintendent was James Osborne ( State Archives

Micro Film No 698/3 ) From Convict Films 317-331 Indent No 112 State Archives. On arrival in Sydney she was sent to work for a Mr Jas. Rufsell. It's later noted on the Catholic Church Reel of St Mary, ( Reel no 722 4/2151..4..of 1832), William Baker aged 20 "BONDED" who arrived on the ship "Champion" in 1827, and applied to marry Mary Foley aged 20 . Obviously this did not take place as later noted , at St Philip's Church, Sydney, ( Reel 722...4/2151.2 of 1832) , Application of marriage, with Governor's Consent to Marry,( They had to receive the Governors consent , as she was still on bond for a few more years, Convict permission to marry No 74 State Archives ) ,Mary Foley ,aged 21 "BONDED" , arrived on the ship , "Palambam" in 1831, to Henry Crook, aged 35 yrs, a free , new settler, from Great Britain arrived on the Ship " Young William " in 1809, they were wed on the 24th March 1832, at St Philips Sydney.

Mary received her Certificate of Freedom No 34/1116. Dated 9th September 1834.

It is noted on the 14th October 1856, she attended the birth of her granddaughter, Margaret Hellmers, helping her daughter Elizabeth during Labor, at Maitland. She lived in Maitland from 1838 to 1870.

Noted that the Marriage of her son Joseph Henry Crook and Ann Kirkwood took place at the residence of Mrs Mary Crook of Horse Shoe Bend, West Maitland in 1863.

Mary is noted as the witness [signing her name with a cross] at the wedding of her son Henry Crook, to Selina Sexton on the 1st August 1870, West Maitland. Mary is noted as Mary Crook, Midwife of West Maitland, attending her daughter-in-law Selina Crook during her birth of her son Robert Henry Crook dated 31st August 1870.

"After having a large family and living in Maitland from around 1837, Mary is noted to be still living in Maitland as late as the 1st August 1870, at the wedding of Henry Crook to Selina Sexton, Mary is noted as being a witness signing her name with a cross as her mark Mary X Crook.

The family started to appear in the Redfern area, with daughter Elizabeth Hellmers in Sydney c1858, John and family were in Redfern by 1867, as were William's family in 1868, followed later by Henry and Selina also settling in the Redfern area with their son Robert who wed in Redfern in 1878.

I would say that at a guess Mary finally traveled down to live in Sydney with her sons after 1870, after the marriage of Henry jr, living another 28 years around her children, at least 34 grandchildren and 35 great grandchildren that had been born before her death in 1898, including my grandmother Irene Mary Hall who was born in 1895. Mary would spend her last years in Newington Asylum, Sydney, passing away on the 26 June 1898".

Henry probably died Abt 1886. Mary died at Newington Asylum for Old Woman on the 26th June ,1898 aged 88 years old of Senile Marasmus and Exhaustion and was buried in Rookwood ,Roman Catholic Section on 28th June 1898. Leaving only four surviving children Joseph, Elizabeth, John and William."

There is some uncertainty about Mary's age as there is a baptism for mary Foley on 31st december 1806 at St. Michael's in Limerick City to a Cornelius Foley and Ellen Hushen. However she stated her father's name as Patrick^1,2,6.

Henry Patrick CROOK and Mary FOLEY had the following children:

18.

Joseph CROOK^{1 5} was born c. 1760 in Christ Church Parish, Hampshire, England.^{5 2} He was a Convict. Servant. Labourer. Baker. He married Elizabeth J BRIDGENS on 20 Sep 1788 in St. Luke, Old Street, Finsbury, London, Middlesex, England.^{1 5 2 2} by Banns. Joseph died in May 1828 in Sydney AsylumSydney, County of Cumberland, Colony of N.S.W., Australia.^{1 5}

The "Descendants of Joseph Crook" research by Grant Franklyn-Smith is the best reference for this family line.

Joseph Crook was born in Hampshire around 1760 and married Elizabeth Bridgens in London in 1788. They produced 7 children before his Transportation to Australia as a convict, and he died in Sydney in 1828.

Joseph Crook deserted the British army, was court- martialled with a sentence of life, and transported in 1807 to Australia on the 'Duke of Portland' and his family came on the accompanying ship 'Young William'.

"The "Duke of Portland", a convict ship of 192 male prisoners, sailed in the company of the store ship "Young William", carrying Cargo, New Settlers and Visitors and a Regiment of Soldiers, Joseph's family had been able to secure passage on the "Young William" to come to Australia and be close to husband andfather Joseph. They included his wife Elizabeth, sons Joseph, John and Henry, and daughters Elizabeth Margaret, Sarah, and Emma. They are all listed as individual adults travelling except for Henry and Emma who are listed as two children traveling with their mother Elizabeth Crook."

"Joseph Crook voluntarily enlisted in His Majesty's Army and or the Forces of the East India Company, [At this time the English were still at war with the French called the Napoleonic Wars, so many English men were being rounded up for compulsory enlistments to fight in the wars against Napoleon's Army] He did not report for service and so was charged with desertion, he was arrested and faced trial. Joseph Crook was convicted on the 18th March 1806 at Parkhurst Barracks, Isle of Wight, England. He was tried for Desertion by Court Martial and sentenced to Life, and transported on the "Duke of Portland" ,a store ship of 523 tons, [The Master was John Clarke] arriving in Port Jackson, in the Colony of New South Wales on the 27th July 1807, after a voyage of 189 days. "

"Occupation.2.: 08 September 1821, Labourer, Stores. Colonial Secretary Papers.40

Occupation.3.: 1828, Baker.41 Parish: 1828, St. James Parish, Sydney, County of Cumberland.41 Religion: 1828, Church of England, St. James Parish.41 Residence: 1828, Sydney Asylum, Sydney, Colony of N.S.W., Australia.41 "

Convict Education:: 1807, Could read and Write.

Ticket of Leave: 30 July 1810, * Ticket of Leave within the District of Sydney

Convict Pardon:: 29 February 1812, * Crook, Joseph: pardon no 87. Given a Conditional Parden [CP²]