Thomas and Annie had many children. Their children were as follows; Sophia, Charlotte Maud, Walter Charles, George Buckingham (listed as Rockingham in some sources), Alfred Jonathan, the first William Leopold, Thomas Herbert and the second William Leopold. However, reflecting the fact that child mortality was high during the Victorian era, the older William Leopold Humphreys died of pneumonia in 1871 at 11 weeks of age. Initially buried in the Wesleyan section, this little body was moved to the grave of his father later on. Together there are three bodies lying together. The final death will be dealt with in due course. On the birth certificate of little Thomas Herbert in 1874 the children are listed as being of the ages as follow; Sophia 12, Charlotte 10, Walter 8, Alfred and George were confirmed as twins at the age of 5. This would make their rough birth years as 1862, 1864, 1866 and 1869. Annie was pregnant with regularity.
A few glimpses of their lives are found in the Ovens and Murray Advertiser. Thomas is listed by the shire as completing works with regularity, even building the original Salvation Army building in Ford Street. There is quite a story to be told concerning some graffiti on the door of the new building and a reward set by Thomas for information pertaining to the culprit. He also served on juries in the court house and is seen advertising for a bricklayer or selling a cart. However, one nearly tragic narrative comes down to us through the halls of time. In 1885 a serious incident with a firearm occurred within the confines of Thomas Humphrey’s property in Mellish St. One of the boys who was aged 11 in 1884 (possibly Thomas Herbert) was accidently shot by another brother who was about 14 years old (possibly one of the twins). Three Humphreys boys were examining a revolver which was not believed to be loaded. Unfortunately, the gun was loaded and the little boy was shot in the left side of the neck. The local doctor, Dr. Skinner managed to extract the bullet and the child was saved.
The other death alluded to earlier as the third body in the grave with Thomas and his baby son was their eldest son, Walter Charles. His death occurred after the 1886 death of his father, in 1888 on 15th December. Walter had been living in Melbourne with his new wife Kate. He came back to visit his mother. The Advertiser states that the cause of death was pleurisy although without the death certificate, this has to be confirmed. Although he had been ‘ailing for some time’ he passed away shortly after arriving in Beechworth. This must have been a blow to Annie as she had lost Thomas not long before. Walter joined his father and younger brother in the plot at Beechworth at the young age of 22.
Thomas Humphreys passed away on 12th February 1886. The death certificate states that he was only 49 years of age. The cause of death was heart disease. He was attended by the Rev Henry Swan from the Presbyterian Church in Beechworth. In his obituary he was described as being a carpenter and contractor. It was stated that he ‘burst two blood vessels’ prior to his death. He was described as a ‘good and conscientious workman’ which is a lovely epitaph. The editor believed he over exerted himself at his work and that this led to his early demise.
Annie’s continuing story and the fate of the Little Beechworth House will be discussed in the next update.
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