NameAtchison, Clorinda (nee Thomas)Date of Birth1833Date of Death1926BiographyClorinda (Cloe) Thomas was born in Kent, England to William Thomas and Sarah Waller.
Clorinda, her parents and two brothers William and John, left Gravesend aboard the 'Westminster', England 25 March 1838, and arrived in Sydney 26 June 1838.
William's occupation was a carpenter and after arriving in Australia, he went to work for Henry Osbourne at Marshall Mount.
Clorinda recalled the journey to Marshall Mount. The family landed at Wollongong and back, from the landing place, was where the convicts were housed, and the land was heavily timbered. Crown Street was a bullock track and there was no wharf at the harbour so their belongings had to be carried to dry land. They were met by a Bullock driver Dan, who made his way through the pitch-black bush. The occasional Aboriginal campfire providing some light in the distance.
Clorinda also remembered Henry Osborne as a kind a considerate gentleman and his wife Sarah was liked by all who knew her. Children of the Osborne’s tenant farmers would gather at Marshall Mount homestead every Sunday for Sunday School.
Dharawal People camped at Marshall Mount in the early days, and at Christmas time a young bullock was slaughtered and roasted for them. Mrs. Osborne served them plum puddings.
Cloe also recalled a pet cow that would walk through the hallway and into the kitchen of the Osborne house to be milked.
In 1847, when Clorinda was 14 yrs old, she ran away with her cousin, Caroline Waller, to marry Thomas Graves in Sydney.
Her father had given permission for Clorinda and Caroline to travel to Jamberoo for a holiday, accompanied by Thomas Graves, not knowing that Clorinda and Thomas Graves intended to marry.
Clorinda sent a letter to her parents stating that she had married Thomas Graves and was happy and healthy.
Meanwhile, her father had accused Thomas Graves of abducting Clorinda and had offered a Five Pound Reward for the apprehension of Thomas Graves (there was a warrant issued for his apprehension).
Thomas Graves was acquitted, and Clorinda eventually returned home remaining there until she married William Watson in 1860. They lived for a short time at Jamberoo, sadly, he died soon after.
Clorinda and William Watson had three children -
Sarah A b. 1861 and married Chas. Jackson in 1883
Edward J bn. 1863.
William T bn. 1864 married Mary Quaile in 1908.
Clorinda then married Samuel Atchison and moved to Bass Point. The area at the time was heavily timbered and featured a beautiful waterfall.
The Dharawal People had a summer camp at Bass Point and searched for witchetty grubs in the post holes of fences. Rosie Johnston and her family would go to Clorinda to have their sickness and injuries treated. The Atchison family survived the hard farming life and Clorinda lived until her 90s (Samuel her husband died in 1897).
Children of Clorinda and Samuel -
James b.1866 married Mary J Keevers (Mary's mother was Mary Ann Inskip)
Frances Ann b.1868 not married.
Maria Jane b.1870 married John Bradley.
Margaret Elizabeth b.1872. not married. (known as Lizzie).
Susan James b.1875 married Samuel Alcorn Knight.
Samuel Charles b. 1877 Died 20th February 1900.
Harry b.1880 married Beatrice Lillian Elliot.
Thomas b.1882 married Alice Ella Mc Millon Dawson.
Sadly, Clorinda lost her son Samuel Charles when he was Killed in Action during the Boer War.
Sources
Birth Death and Marriages - N.S.W.
Tongarra Heritage Files
'Scandal, Slander and Interfering with our Neighbours' Lorraine Neate.
'Three Score Years and Ten', Stan Thomas.
'One Hundred Years and Thirty Years', Stan Thomas.
