Ann (Bawden) Gribble (1830 - 1927)

Born 2 Oct 1830 in Troon, Cornwall, England, United Kingdom

Wife of Charles Gribble — married 17 Jul 1852 in Camborne, Cornwall, England

Descendants

Died 8 Sep 1927 at age 96 in Blackwood, Victoria, Australia

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Ian Gribble [send private message]

Biography

Her Childhood

Ann, the third child of Christopher and Thomasine Bawden was born at Troon in the Parish of Camborne on the 2nd October 1830. Troon is barely 2 miles from Bolenowe Crofts. ^[1] ; ^[2] Vivian, her grandson, wrote that on walking into her kitchen one evening after a day of delivering fruit around the Blackwood area, she said to him:

You’re a Reid [Reed] from Wendron This is a reflection that her maternal grandparents were Reids. ^[3]

Little is known of Ann until the 1841 Census when she was recorded as living with her parents at Newton Moor and working as a mine girl. Mine girls, called “bal maidens” were generally used on the mine surface to dress and sort ore.

Critics of the practice claimed that by being:

Taken from their hearths at so early an age, and kept at work for ten hours per day, they have little opportunity, and less inclination, to attend to the domestic and matronly duties so necessary to their future culture, and well-being^[4]

Whilst under the supervision of the master dresser, their morals were supposedly protected, save for ‘coarse joking’. However at meal times, and on going to and from their work, it was almost impossible to prevent unwanted moral degeneration - poor Ann. As a “maiden” Ann had probably commenced work in the mine at the early age of 10 years, where she would have been taught to sort the ores.

If she worked in a smaller mine, she would have learnt to ‘ buck and jig’ ---- which has nothing to do with dancing. Instead it means to crush and slurry the copper, lead, and zinc ores in water; an arduous type of work. Crushing the ore would have been exhausting for a young woman like Ann because it was done by striking lumps of varying sizes with a heavy hammer on a flat piece of iron.

In the larger ore-producing mines, huge crushers, or rollers, were employed, but in the smaller ones the “bal maidens” had to crush. It was too hard for females.

In the tin mines these girls attended to the frames; that is comparatively light and clean work, but there was again the constant exposure to wet, even in those days where hard labour was readily accepted, this was deemed unfit for females.^[5]

Lyn Mayers offered the following advice about bal maidens in the cornish mines.

As ore stuff was brought to the surface at the tin mines, it was initially broken by male labourers, and then ‘spalled’ (broken) by older women or girls, using a long handled hammer. This was then stamped and the resulting finest material sent for separation at the buddles (usually attended by boys). It then went for further separation at the trunks and kieves, until the finest slimes of all were separated at the tin frames. Girls or boys attended the first of these two operations. Framing was a highly delicate task, and was allocated to younger women and girls. The jigging (sieving) of the heavier particles was a task done by stronger boys or women (when done by hand), or by boys or girls when using the semi-mechanised jigging boxes. At the copper mines the tasks differed slightly. After spalling, the youngest girls (7-11 years) washed and sorted (picked) the different ores. This was a highly skilled (but wet and dirty) job. Next, ‘cobbers’ used a short handled hammer to break the picked ore into hazel nut sized pieces, and then ‘buckers’ used a flat faced hammer to grind the cobbed ore into a fine powder. Both of these tasks were demanding; only the most robust women and girls were able to do the latter. Buddling and jigging were carried out as for tin. Teams of women and girls were also employed in griddling or barrowing. They would work in pairs using hand barrows, carrying over 1.5 cwt between them.Girls or women were sometimes employed at the calciner, where they fed arsenical tin or copper ore into the furnace via the hopper, in order to separate out the arsenic ^[6]

In many of the larger mines, scores of ‘bal maidens’ were employed; and in certain parts of the work in equal numbers to ‘bal boys.’ ‘Bal maidens’ continued to work from an early age until either married or they died of consumption, an illness that carried off hundreds annually like Jane [Trewartha] Gribble.[Refer to Anns brother -in-law ], John Gribble]

As a typical 10 year old “bal maiden”, working up to an 8 hour day, Ann would have looked forward to the midsummer feast, the miners great annual holiday. Savings for the great day would have been extracted, well before the event from mother Thomasine,perhaps as sixpence a month out of her wages, ‘for feast’ to go with the sixpence given by the mine on the big day.^[7]

The 1851 Census

Her life as a ‘bal maiden” ceased during the next decade because the above census describes her as a dressmaker, still living at Newton Moor, a small hamlet some half mile from Charles Gribble at Bolenowe Croft. We may assume that they were probably courting by this time.

Her parents, Christopher and Thomasine [named Tomasina in the census] were still alive and heading a household of ten children: Mary Reed, 27, Miner; Thomas, 22, miner; Ann, 20, Dressmaker; James, 18, miner; Susannah, 16, miner; Grace, 14, dressmaker; Tomasina, 11, scholar; Eliza, 9, scholar; Sally, 7, home and Jane, 5, home^[8]

Given the span of ages the children’s occupations nicely reflect some of the social changes of the time. The older girls had been originally employed in the mines but some had graduated to another trade and the younger daughters, Tomasina and Eliza, were being educated. Being just a little older, as might be expected, Ann could not write or perhaps read.^[9]

Marriage and Emigration

She married Charles Gribble in late 1852. ^[10][11]

Almost immediately Charles sailed to Australia arriving on 24th January 1853, to be followed by Ann, 24, and Elizabeth ^[12] who arrived on the Mermaid on 1st May 1854.

The Mermaid, one of the famous Red Jacket Ships, was 1233 tons and left Liverpool under Master Edward Devey. She was registered to carry 408 passengers. There were 392 on the voyage, of which 283 were English, 69 were Scots and 83 were Irish. Of these 362 were adults, 61 were children and 12 were infants one of which was her young daughter Elizabeth, probably about 10 months old, Charles’s and Ann’s first born ^[13]

The Cornish Voyagers

Her fellow travellers, all listed under Embarkation Number 395 prove a most interesting group. Firstly they were an excellent example of how the Cornish people maintained close links in that the entire party originated from near Bolenowe Croft and Newton Moor. And secondly in terms of the events which later took place in the lives of Charles and Ann.

The members of the party were: Simon Davies, 24; Charles Dunn, 25; John Mayne, 26; Thos Richards, 32; James Richards 30; William Richards, 28; James Carter, 19; Henry Donnes, 20; Richard Rule, 22; James Toy and Edward Bowden, 48 [most likely Bawden]. ^[14]

Their links to the Gribble’s were as follows:

1. Simon Davies, who in 1851 lived in the village of Laity,1851, ^[15] later married Mary Jane Rule at Carnham and became the father of Elizabeth Davies who married William Gribble, the fourth child of Ann and Charles. In 1851 Simon’s future wife, Mary Jane Rule, was staying with her uncle at Newton Moor very close to the Bawden family. So Simon was likely courting Mary Jane just prior to leaving. Mary Jane Rule was probably a cousin of Ann and Susan Bawden. She is likely the daughter of Henry Rule and Jennifer Bawden who was a sister of Christopher, the father of Susan. ^[16]

2. Charles Dunn, a cousin of Charles Gribble, had already married Ann Bawden’s sister, Susan, who was to later join her husband at Ballarat.

3. John Mayne, lived within a few houses of the Gribbles at Bolenowe Croft with his mother Jane. His brother Nicholas and family lived next door. ^[17]

4. William, James and Thomas Richards are likely the sons of James and Elizabeth. It might be no coincidence that William Richards and wife Mary Ellen lived almost next to the Gribbles.

5. It is likely that Edward Bowden is actually Edward Bawden [b. 1806], uncle of Ann Gribble and Mary Jane Rule and the sixth child of Christopher and Anne Bawden [Eudy]. ^[18]

6. Richard Rule, the son of James and Martha, also lived in Newton Moor. ^[19]

7. James Toy came from Troon, a small village within a stone throw from Bolenowe Croft. ^[20]

8. James Carter was probably related to at least one of three Carter families living at Newton Moor [Possibly a brother to Elizabeth Carter who married Joseph Gribble [Wisconsin] the brother of Charles]

9. There is no trace of Henry Donnes. Donnes is probably a misspelling of Dunn.^[21]

So as far as the Gribbles, Bawdens and Dunns were concerned there is some truth in the commonly held view that Cornish friends and families kept together once they reached Australia.

Passing the Word Around

What was the chain of events that led to the formation of the party of Bolenowe Crofts, Newton Moor and Troon people? Perhaps Charles Gribble’s enthusiastic descriptions of success, opportunity and prosperity persuaded the men to accompany Ann and Elizabeth to Australia. Or did brother James Gribble, over from New Zealand, send word back home about Australia’s prospects. More likely the others were beguiled into sailing with Ann because of the generous publicity still being given to the goldfields. Besides conditions at home had not improved.

With the departure of so many young people from families living so closely together, it is easy to imagine the excitement surrounding the impending voyage, which, for weeks, would have dominated the life of the two small neighbouring hamlets.

Upon arrival, a number in the party most likely travelled to Ballarat together to link with Charles who had already been at the diggings for nearly 18 months.

Little is known about Ann’s life but Ballarat and later Blackwood diggings must have seemed luxurious to Ann compared to her earlier formidable and injurious working conditions. In fact, a number of miners wives have described their living conditions as luxurious whilst living in a tent at Ballarat.^[22]

Blackwood

It is hard to imagine from the dour, toothless and elderly woman seen in the photographs, that Ann was a girl who typically spent most of her “bal maidens” earnings allowed to her from the family income, buying pendants, necklaces and other adornments so as to attract the opposite sex. As young mothers she and Julia Gribble [Henry’s] wife] and later Susan Dunn, helped each other to deliver their babies in rough dwellings on the banks of the Lerderderg River and at Simmon’s reef. With husband Charles she was likely a regular churchgoer of temperate habits and most certainly matched his self-discipline and determination.^[23]

The Bacchus Marsh Express [22 April 1871] described the first Anniversary of the Star of Blackwood Rechabite Tent:

An extensive procession was conducted through the settlements of Red Hill, Barry’s Reef, Simmon’s Reef with visiting dignitaries leading. Many people attended the Meeting at the Mechanics Hall. It was also reported that:

---- 400 to 450 people were fed before the meeting at 6 tables with Table 5 under the management of Mesdams Gribble and Rogers

Mrs Rogers being either her sister in law Julia, now remarried to Samuel Rogers, or Mary Rogers the wife of Mathew]^[24]

Widowhood

After her husband’s death in 1887 she and her daughter Jane ran the Gribble general store at Red Hill for many years. Christina Jensen, from the family who lived on the opposite corner to the Gribble shop used to work for Ann and Jane Gribble.^[25] The 1908 Electoral Roll records Anne having ‘Home Duties’ at Blackwood. Situated at the junction of the Blackwood and Greendale Road with the Simmons Reef Road and sold out of the family after her death in 1927, it has recently operated as The Cobb and Co. café. More recently it has been a restaurant selling devonshire teas to tourists as Blackwood seeks a different sort of popularity.

The Cornish language was virtually extinct by the time Ann was born but many unusual Cornish words and an unusual brogue persisted marking the Cornish as an ethnic group.

Her grandson, Vivian Gribble, described her as a dour lady with a bite to her tongue. He always had difficulty understanding his grandmother. Ann Bawden retained her Cornish brogue but her children and grandchildren spoke with a typical Australian accent.

Perhaps her Cornish speech patterns included phraseology like the following:

Tedn right,’ he said. ‘Tedn proper. Givin’ a cheeil a name like that!. Clarence is fur a boy, not a cheeil. Tedn sense. tedn ‘uman. There’s a bad omen to ‘n, I tell ee. ‘Giss along, you great lug,’ Prudie hissed, shooving him to be quiet with her elbow. ‘Clowanc, not Clarence. Skeet out yer ear’ole‘I’m earin’ just so much as you! An tis all wrong! All wrong, I tell ee! for theres the passon flat on ‘is tiddies to prove ‘n ^[26]

Herb Cann remembers her as a very old lady, sitting quietly outside the store. She would usually greet his mother as she wheeled Herb past in his pram with the phrase:

And who be this in the perambulator?

She apparently had a remarkably healthy life. Bill Simpson who married her grand daughter Winifred, reports that Anne lived to 97.5 years and died as a result of hitting her head on a wash stand as she climbed from her bed. According to her death certificate Ann Gribble died of senility debility arthenia and was ill in bed for a week before her death which refutes the ‘falling theory’.

Interestingly her children did not know the name of her mother. She had lived in Victoria for 71 years and had outlived three of her children; Charles, Ann and Jane. By then her eldest daughter, Elizabeth, was aged 75 years. She is buried, with husband Charles, adjacent to her sister Susan Dunn at the Blackwood Cemetery.

The graves of her children Julia [Mrs Broad], Ann [Mrs. Williams] and Charles [unmarked grave] are close by.

Eventually gold mining ceased in the early 1900’s and by 1930, not long after Ann’s passing, the Gribbles had left Blackwood for ever, leaving a defunct orchard, a still inhabited house, a corner store once called the Cobb and Co. Tea Rooms, and now a restaurant.

And there are probably two other legacies of Charles and Ann that will stand for thousands of years, an almost forgotten and rarely visited tunnel in the banks of the Lerderderg River and a second cut into the steep bank behind the house at Ballan Flat.

The Cornish Ice Chest

Today, little remains of the original orchard. The original house was burnt down during the mid 1980s. A new house was built exactly on the site of its predecessor. But close to the present tank behind the new house a tunnel drives back into the hillside. Shelves cut out of the stone walls and once used to store all the butter and milk and probably fruit as well. Its cool, dank and dark environment make it an excellent storage.Apparently a Cornish crofter custom, this tunnel is similar to the holes once dug in the banks of earth onto which each of the crofters’ houses backed at Bolenowe Crofts. Jackie Searl makes reference to this after her visit to Bolenowe Crofts. ^[27]

Blackwood Cemetery

The family paid £5-05-00 for a gravesite that today is clearly visible from the cemetery gate. She now rests with Charles and within arms reach of his cousin Charles Dunn and his wife Susan Bawden and despite the 21 year differential just ten metres from brother -in -law Henry. ^[28]

Charles, Henry and their wives together with Charles and Susan Dunn will be remembered as three pioneering couples of Blackwood, whose lives remained inextricably bound together during a life of adventure and creation that took them from their land of birth, to a new country where their dreams were fulfilled beyond imagination.^[29]

Charles's Will

His wife Ann inherited all deposits at the national bank and all land and buildings on the property known as Gribble’s store. His sons James, Charles and William shared the rest of his assets equally. William, as executor declared total assets of £417-2-7.

These comprised of 5 allotments, one with a weatherboard residence, 2 slab huts and orchard worth £168, 2 allotments with weather-board houses and a store worth £25. He also owned a single allotment with weather-board house and shop worth £30 and a further allotment worth £17-10-0. He had deposits of £48-5-7 and as a general storekeeper, stock worth £70. Also valued were household furniture, £39-3-0 and his farming stock and crops at £35-4-6.

Amongst the stock in his shop was 7lbs of mustard, 4 lbs of tapioca, 8 dozen-dress pieces, 3 dozen-castor oil and 9 dozen cups and saucers. He also owned various farm animals that would have contributed to the family’s food supply. ^[30]

Sources

1. ↑ St Martins Registers, Camborne
2. ↑ International Genealogical Index
3. ↑ International Genealogical Index
4. ↑ Henwood George. “Cornwall’s Mines and Miners
5. ↑ Henwood George. “Cornwall’s Mines and Miners
6. ↑ Lynne Mayers http://www.balmaiden.co.uk/.
7. ↑ Gribble Ian: Flash in the Pan
8. ↑ Jelbert Brian . "Redruth Branch of Gribble Camborne family.". Compiled circa 1985
9. ↑ Gribble Ian: "Flash in the Pan
10. ↑ St Martins Registers, Camborne
11. ↑ "England and Wales Marriage Registration Index
12. ↑ St. Catherine's Index
13. ↑ Public Records Offices [Victoria] ;Unassisted Immigrant List at: https://prov.vic.gov.au/archive/3AF59D6E-F96C-11E9-AE98-F7100529A261?image=198
14. ↑ Public Records Offices [Victoria] ;Unassisted Immigrant List
15. ↑ Census of England
16. ↑ Births, Deaths and Marriages. Victorian
17. ↑ Census of England
18. ↑ Census of England
19. ↑ Census of England
20. ↑ Census of England
21. ↑ Gribble Ian: "Flash in the Pan
22. ↑ Gribble Ian: "Flash in the Pan
23. ↑ Gribble Ian: "Flash in the Pan
24. ↑ ®Bacchus Marsh Express.
25. ↑ Cann Herbert, Interview. 1998
26. ↑ Winston Graham. “The Black Moon®
27. ↑ Gribble Ian: "Flash in the Pan
28. ↑ Blackwood Cemetery Register
29. ↑ Gribble Ian: "Flash in the Pan
30. ↑ Charles Gribble. Will

1. Gribble Ian: "Flash in the Pan" A History of the Camborne Gribbles; Self Published; 1 Jan 2008; ISBN: 978- 0 - 9803307 -1-72. Victorian [Australia]

2. Births, Deaths and Marriages. Victorian Government Printer; Melbourne, Victoria.

3. Camborne, Cornwall, England. Headstones: St Martin's Church, Camborne.

4. Charles Gribble. Will 1887 Cnr. Spring and Lonsdale Streets, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, Victorian Public Record Office. 151 and 96 (321 and 31), 5. Gribble Family Bible - list of births

6. Electoral Roll for Port Phillip, Australia.1856. Swan Hill Genealogical Society Swan Hill, Campbell Street, Swan Hill, VIC 3585.

7. Baptismal Records, Church of England, Blackwood, Victoria, Australia. 17 December 1862.

8. Faull Jim. “The Cornish In Australia”: Australian Ethnic Heritage Series. Melbourne: AE Press, 1983.

9. Brough - Smith R.. “The Gold Fields and Mineral Districts”. Melbourne: Queensberry; Hill Press, 1980.

10. Unassisted Immigrant List. As per event and individual. Public Records Offices, North Melbourne, Australia.: Government of Victoria.

11.Census of England 1851. British Government.

13. British Government. Births Deaths and Marriages: St Catherine's Index: London:Registrar of Births Deaths and marriage, 1835 -2000]

15. Bacchus Marsh Express. Victorian State Library, Swanston St. Melbourne.

16. International Genealogical Index; Church of the Latter Day Saints, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.

17. Registers; St. Martin’s Church of England, Camborne

18. Winston Graham. “The Black Moon” . London: Collins, 1973.

19. Trustees: Blackwood Cemetery Register

20. "England and Wales Marriage Registration Index , 1837-2005," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2642-2CL : 13 December 2014), Ann Bawden, 1852; from “England & Wales Marriages, 1837-2005,” database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing 1852, quarter 3, vol. 5C, p. 368, Redruth, Cornwall, England, General Register Office, Southport, England.

21. Find a Grave, database and images accessed 20 March 2022, memorial page for Ann Bawden Gribble (3 Oct 1830–8 Sep 1927), Find a Grave Memorial ID Find A Grave: Memorial #135973163, citing Blackwood Cemetery, Blackwood, Moorabool Shire, Victoria, Australia ; Maintained by Tony (contributor 47889408) .

22. Grave record for Ann Gribble (Died: 8 Sep 1927), Billion Graves Record 7743798 Blackwood, Shire of Moorabool, Victoria, Australia. first accessed online on the 20th of March, 2022 at: https://billiongraves.com/grave/Ann-Gribble/7743798