Mary Elizabeth Sampson 1880-1951 & George H. Grenfell 1864-1925

Married in 1897 at the home of Mrs Sampson’s “Dwelling place” at Great Boulder. Witnesses Janet Ann Hopkins (sister) and James Sampson (brother).

George & Mary Elizabeth Grenfell with children
Photo: George & Mary Elizabeth “Maude” Grenfell with presumably daughters Maude and Florence Eva.

Mary Elizabeth “Maude” Sampson

Tenth child of William and Elizabeth Sampson

Born: 17 Oct 1880 Kooringa, Burra

Died: 4 June 1951 Boulder, Western Australia

Buried: Boulder Cemetery

George Henry Grenfell

Eldest son of Henry Grenfell (1842-1890) & Selina Leggo (1841-1873)

Born: 4 Feb 1864 St Just in Penwith, Cornwall

Baptised: 8 Mar 1864 Wesleyan Methodist Church, St Just in Penwith, Cornwall

Died: 18 August 1925 Boulder, Western Australia

Buried: Boulder Cemetery, Western Australia

Occupation: Miner

The electoral rolls indicate that in 1903 and 1906 that George and Maude (Mary Elizabeth was commonly referred to as Maude) lived at 832 Johnston Street, Boulder (This street number does not exist on Google maps). By 1916 George and Maude shift location to 27 York Street, Boulder. This places them a couple of doors down from Maude’s brother in Thomas Sampson. Their home in York Street has since been demolished and replaced with a brick residence.
George was born in St Just in Penwith, Cornwall. George had two brothers, Edward Charles and Thomas Richard Grenfell. They came out to Australia with their father Henry and his second wife Mary (nee Wass) about 1877, and settled in Tank Street, Lithgow, NSW. George was engaged in mining all of his working life. It is believed he worked in Burra, and then at Broken Hill. Later he moved to Boulder, WA, where he engaged in mining and prospecting. From a prospecting point of view, George took a great interest in the Golden Ridge area, south-east of Boulder, and spent a fair amount of time in that locality.
George Sampson, George Grenfell’s brother-in-law, must have held George Grenfell in respect as he named his second son after him in 1904.
A brief obituary for George appeared in the Westralian Worker newspaper of 21 Aug 1925 on page 14 as follows:

George Grenfell, whose death occurred at Boulder on Tuesday last, was an old and well-known identity of the Eastern Goldfields, where for many years he followed the occupation of a miner. It is over three years since he has worked, having fallen a victim to the dreaded disease of miner’s complaint. Prior to coming to these fields he worked at Broken Hill, but like many other stalwarts found it difficult to get work there after the big strike. He worked for many years on the Golden Ridge mine, but his last place of employment was the Ivanhoe mine. He was always a member of the Miners’ Union, and did much for Labor in a quiet way. Deceased, who is a brother-in-law to Mr. George McKennay, leaves a wife and five children to mourn their sad loss, and the greatest sympathy is felt for
them and the bereaved relatives.
Photo of Mother and daughters Boulder 1911.  From left to right: Amy Mckennay, Janet Hopkins (seated), Clara O’Brien, Elizabeth Sampson (seated) and Maude Grenfell.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Postcard written to Sarah Sampson (wife of George Sampson) and written by George’s sister Maude.

Dear Sarah just a few lines on a postcard to let you know we are all well. We are having delightful weather here just now. Mother received your p.c. They are all right how the baby has grown. I wanted to know who that was. Alice has got another daughter yesterday. They are doing well. This makes 3 girls and one boy. The baby has got such a lot of hair  and it is red. How are you keeping? I am feeling much better since I had the trip at Christmas time. I was away seven weeks. Hope you are all well. With love to dear George and yourself and all the dear children. From Maud.

The postcard can be precisely dated as Maude indicated in her writing that Alice Forward gave birth to her fourth child the day before she penned the letter. The fourth child of Alice Forward was Daphne Forward who was born on 8 June 1911 in Kalgoorlie. That means Maude wrote this letter on Friday 9 June 1911. It can also be assumed that the photograph was taken in that year.

Kalgoorlie Miner Wed 19 Aug 1925 p.4 TROVE
Kalgoorlie Miner Wed 19 Aug 1925 p.4 TROVE
Westralian Worker Fri 21 Aug 1925 p.14 TROVE
Kalgoorlie Miner Thu 3 Sep 1925 p.4 TROVE