Deborah was born on the 28th November 1843, in Sydney, New South Wales to Eleanor and John Gorman [1]. She was christened, Doborah Gorman on the 10 December 1843 at St Philip's Church, Sydney, New South Wales [2]. At this time, the family lived at Gloucester Street, Sydney and her father worked as a Waterman [3]. In 1847, at the age of 4, Deborah's mother died and her father remarried Sarah Purcell.
Deborah moved to Queensland and had two children, Ada and Sarah before marriage. No father was recorded on their birth certificates[4][5]. At 30 years old, Deborah Gorman married Ellis Baxter Crampton on the 29th of June 1874 in Brisbane Queensland. [6]. Deborah and Ellis had two more children, Amelia and Sidney.
Deborah lived with Ellis in the attached house at the Kangaroo Point Firestation on River Terrace[7]. Deborah and her eldest daughter, Ada, were close and Deborah would frequently help out with the care of the children. Ada's children lived with Deborah as their school was next door to their residence on River Terrace. However, as was common at the time, Deborah did not believe in education and thought people were over-educated [8]. When Ellis retired from the fire brigade in Jun 1924, he and Deborah moved to Annie street with Ada and her family [9].
On Monday the 15th of August 1887, Deborah had her purse pickpocketed while standing in a crowded auction in the Grand Arcade, Queen Street, Brisbane (now the Brisbane Arcade). She turned and confronted the man and told him, "I've lost my purse; you've got my purse". Then, she sent her daughter to get a policeman. In the meantime, the pickpocket threw the purse on the ground and she grabbed him by the coat to restrain him, however, he got away. The pickpocket was later arrested and Deborah gave evidence against him. [10]
Deborah's grandson R.S. Melloy described his Granny, as being houseproud with everything needing to be neat and shiny. R.S. Melloy had the job of cleaning her stove every Saturday morning. His Granny was strict and insisted it was to be done to perfection, she often called him back to ensure it was done to her high standard [8].
She passed away at the age of 86, on 10 August 1930 in Brisbane, Queensland [11]. On her death certificate, her father is listed as John Gorman, miner and mother as Ellen Debates [12].
Deborah was buried on 11 August 1930 at the South Brisbane Cemetery, Dutton Park, Queensland, Australia with her husband Ellis [13]
Funeral Notice
CRAMPTON.— The Friends of Mr. and Mrs. C. MELLOY, Mr. and Mrs. W. SANDERS. Mr. and Mrs. W. WALKER, Mr. and Mrs. S. E. CRAMPTON and Families are invited to attend the Funeral of their deceased Mother, Mother-in-law, and Grandmother, Mrs. Deborah Ellen Crampton, to move from the Funeral Parlour, Stanley Street, South Brisbane, THIS (Monday) AFTERNOON, at 2 o'clock, to the South Brisbane Cemetery.
CANNON- & CRIPPS.[14]
Both Deborah's birth and christening records are under the name Doborah. On of wedding records, she is Deborah Gorman. After that, she appears as Deborah Ellen Crampton.
Little is known about Deborah's life before the birth of her first child. Her father, John Gorman, is listed on her death certificate as a farmer and a miner on her marriage certificate. Her mother is listed as Eleanor, but Deborah adopts the second name Ellen possibly to honour her mother. She has a brother William who lived his adult life in Victoria.
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Deborah is 16 degrees from Herbert Adair, 22 degrees from Richard Adams, 22 degrees from Mel Blanc, 28 degrees from Dick Bruna, 26 degrees from Bunny DeBarge, 30 degrees from Peter Dinklage, 24 degrees from Sam Edwards, 23 degrees from Ginnifer Goodwin, 26 degrees from Marty Krofft, 20 degrees from Junius Matthews, 19 degrees from Rachel Mellon and 23 degrees from Harold Warstler on our single family tree. Login to find your connection.
G > Gorman > Doborah Ellen Gorman
Categories: South Brisbane Cemetery, Dutton Park, Queensland
I have possible parents for you: Elienor (Ellen) Gorman https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Gorman-1525 Born 1814 in Sydney is believed to have had five children with John Darcy born Dublin 1815, died Sydney 1889
I will try to find a link between the two ladies.
I also have been having trouble with this Gorman family. Deborah Gorman was Presbyterian/Church of England (source, death certificate, and my g-grandfather biography). Additional, on her death certificate, her father John Gorman is listed as a miner and her mother is listed as Ellen Debates. Does that fit with your information? Another option I have considered is John and Ellen Gorman arriving in NSW on the Samuel Boddington in 1842. But they are Roman Catholic. Keen to hear your thoughts Regards Kathy
i really think Debates is likely a mistrancription/ misunderstanding. one of my great great grandmas went from feighery to heffernan on the death certificate!
I'm doing a name study on Gormans in NSW. I've been trying to identify your John. I haven't found an exact match, but I have a possibility. Your family knowledge will help work it out. John Gorman 1817 and Ellen Debates. note Debates De Bates is not present as a surname in NSW Births and deaths prior to 1900. There are two John and Ellen couples who married in the right timeframe
Do you know what religion Deborah was? The children I have for John and Ellen Hayes were not registered, I found them mostly through John's will. They could easily have had more children
Note St Phillips where Deborah was christened is Anglican regards mary
edited by Elsie Gorman