Amy (Turner) Tansell (1893 - 1940)

Born 28 Oct 1893 in Crystal Brook, South Australia, Australia

Ancestors

Wife of James Thompson Tansell — married 31 Dec 1919 in Salisbury, South Australia, Australia

Descendants

Died 30 Dec 1940 at age 47 in Auburn, South Australia, Australia

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Kim Turner [send private message]

Biography

Amy Meller Turner was born on 28.10.1893 at Crystal Brook, South Australia, Australia to parents James and Jessie Turner (nee Meller). She was their 5th and youngest child, and 4th daughter.

Disability

There is a story about her birth that has never been verified, but it held in belief by her descendants today. Apparently, the doctor was drunk when she was being delivered in a very difficult birth, and when Amy was born the doctor apparently dropped her on the floor. This left her with a broken arm, not realised at the time, so the arm was never mended. This left Amy with a crippled arm for the rest of her life, but she never let her disability get in the way of what she wanted to achieve.

Baptism

Amy was baptised at St Silias Anglican Church in Crystal Brook between 19/11/1893 and 2/12/1893. The exact date is unknown.

Auburn

Because Amy was very young when her family returned to Auburn, all of her childhood memories are of the town and the time she spent there. Her father James had a real soft spot for Amy, and consequently Amy would ‘get away’ with a lot of things that her other sisters wouldn’t. She would ‘put on an act’ with James when necessary, and developed into a very bright, strong personality.

Governess

Amy’s first job was as a governess, and for this she went to Pernatty Station, an isolated place south east of Woomera and to the west of Lake Torrens. It was working at Pernatty that Amy met James Tansell (known as Jim), a saddler who worked on many of the far north stations. Jim was born and bred in Port Augusta, and he and Amy quickly became engaged. Jim was the son of James Thompson and Frances Tansell (nee Daw).

Unfortunately, the First World War broke out around about this time, and Jim enlisted in the 9th Lighthorse. This took him to places such as Egypt and Palestine, while Amy returned to live with her parents. While Jim was away, Amy trained in Adelaide at the teachers college, and took a position teaching at Salisbury Primary School, where her parents were now living. She may have also worked at Eudunda School for a while, but this needs to be verified.

Marriage

When the war was over, Jim returned, and he and Amy were married at St Johns Church, Salisbury on New Years Eve 1919. Both Amy and Jim were aged 25. Because she was now married, Amy had to give up her work as a teacher.

Amy and Jim started their married life in Port Augusta, Jim finding work at the salt lake as a foreman. Amy apparently hated Port Augusta however, finding the weather too hot and dusty. This sale, placed in the Transcontinental newspaper on 23rd February 1923, appears to indicate their move from the town.

Stonehearst

By 1924, they were living in Auburn at a place called ‘Stonehearst’. Stonehearst was a split level building and the Tansell family lived below a shop that was above it. Here, Amy and Jim completed their family, and Amy entertained them with playing the piano and singing. There were also regular visits between Auburn and Colonel Light Gardens, where Amy’s parents were now living.

In the Electoral Role for 1939, Amy and Jim are at Auburn, where Jim worked as a saddler.

Death

In her 40s, Amy developed breast cancer, and it took her at the relatively young age of 47 in December 1940, a day before her and Jim’s 21st wedding anniversary. She was buried at Auburn.

The 1941 Electoral Role still has Amy listed, despite her being deceased. They had not removed her from the list at this time. She does not occur for the year 1943.

Sources

• Death Citation

SA BDM (Secondary evidence) Page: Gil 632 82 Text: Surname: TANSELL First Names: Amy Meller Death Date: 30-Dec-1940 Age: 47 Gender: F Marital Status: M Place of Death: Auburn Residence: Auburn Relative: James Thompson TANSELL [H] District: Gilbert Book/Page: 632/82

• Birth Citation

SA BDM (Secondary evidence) Page: Clare 531 363 Text: Surname: TURNER Given Names: Amy Meller Date of Birth: 27-Oct-1893 Gender: F Father: James TURNER Mother: Jessie MELLER Birth Residence: Crystal Brook District: Clare Book/Page: 531/363

• Burial Citation

Genealogy SA South Australian Cemeteries (Secondary evidence) Text: Surname: TANSELL First Names: Amy Meller Death Date: Not Recorded Burial Date: 30-Dec-1940 Age: 47 Cemetery: Auburn Relations: Not Recorded Notes: Of Auburn. Source: Burial Register Source 2: Not Recorded Photo: Not Recorded District Code: 11 EventYear: 1940 Mother of Joan and Eric

• Marriage (m. TANSELL, James Thompson) Citation

SA BDM (Secondary evidence) Page: Ade S 281/1163 Text: Groom Surname: TANSELL Groom Given Names: James Thompson Bride Surname: TURNER Bride Given Names: Amy Meller Marriage Date: 31-Dec-1919 Marriage Place: St Johns Church Salisbury Groom Age: 25 Groom Marital Status: S Groom Father: James Thompson TANSELL Bride Age: 25 Bride Marital Status: S Bride Father: James TURNER District: Adelaide Book/Page: 281/1163 Notes: Symbol=S.

• South Australian Birth Certificate. 1893, District Blare, Book 531, Page 363
• South Australian Marriage Certificate, 1919, District Adelaide, Book 281, Page 1163
• South Australian Death Certificate, 1940, District Gilbert, Book 632, Page 82
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/106445689/amy-mellor-tansell: accessed 08 October 2022), memorial page for Amy Mellor Turner Tansell (28 Oct 1903–30 Dec 1940), Find a Grave Memorial ID 106445689, citing Auburn Cemetery, Auburn, District Council of Clare and Gilbert Valleys, South Australia, Australia; Maintained by Julian Tansell (contributor 46971431) .
• SCHOOL TEACHERS (1917, March 23). Daily Herald (Adelaide, SA : 1910 - 1924), p. 6. Retrieved October 8, 2022, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article105397785
• THE COUNTRY. (1919, May 31). The Register (Adelaide, SA : 1901 - 1929), p. 3. Retrieved October 8, 2022, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article62193791
• Information from Joan Canfield (nee Tansell)