(Francis) William Honeyman

343

Maureen Withey on 18th June 2026

NSW BMD Marriage Reg: 192/1851. Francis W. Honeyman and Eliza J. Moore, MF district (Church of England, Sydney, St Lawrence’s) Birth Registrations of children of William and Eliza J. Honeyman. All in Ryde district. Reg: 12095/1858. Stephen E. Reg: 12682/1861, Eliza J. Male child, Reg: 14505/1864. Reg 14592/1866, Walter J. ------------------------ THE Friends of the late Mr. WILLIAM HONEYMAN are respectfully invited to attend his Funeral; to move from the residence of his son-in-law, Mr. Edward Kelly, No. 80 Mary-st, Surry-hills, TO-MORROW (SUNDAY) AFTERNOON, at. 2 o'clock, for the Waverley Cemetery. W. STEWART, Undertaker, Bathurst-st. Daily Telegraph, 21 Oct 1893. Similar invitations to attend his funeral, in the Sydney Morning Herald, dated 21 Oct 1893, on behalf of his other children: THE Friends of Mr WALTER HONEYMAN THE FRIENDS of Mr and Mrs GEORGE HONEYMAN  THE FRIENDS of Mr and Mrs WILLIAM HONEYMAN THE FRIENDS of Mr and Mrs EDWARD HONEYMAN THE FRIENDS of Mr and Mrs HARRY HONEYMAN  THE FRIENDS of Mrs Kelly.  -------------------------------------------------- Over a Hundred. EIGHTY FIVE YEARS IN SYDNEY. 47 DEATHS AT SEA. BUSHRANGERS NEAR LIVERPOOL. One of the oldest women in Australia, Mrs Eliza Jane Honeyman, celebrated the one-hundreth anniversary of her birthday on March 24 last at her residence, 44 Taylor-street, Darlinghurst. The gathering was attended by Mrs Honeyman's eldest son, about 70 years of age, and six others of her family, the youngest of whom is close on 50 years old. Besides there were present grand children and great- grandchildren, and many friends. Considering her age, Mrs Honeyman is in a remarkably good state of health. For the first time in her life she was compelled, about a fortnight ago to take her room owing to a slight attack of bronchitis, but she is fast recovering, and hopes within the next few days to be able to take her usual short walks. Her memory is good, and she can chat for hours regarding many interesting events in her career. DEATHS FROM STARVATION. It was on May 21, 1831, that Mrs. Honeyman arrived in Sydney on the sailing ship Argyle, with her father, Mr William Moore, her mother, two sisters and five brothers. Two of her sisters and 45 of the other passengers died of starvation during the voyage, owing to the ship running out of provisions between Liverpool and Capetown. "Nowadays a steamer takes about three weeks to reach Capetown from Liverpool," said Mrs. Honeyman when telling her story, 'but we were four months on the journey. We little thought when we departed from our home in Derry, Ireland, to take the ship at Liverpool for Australia, that we were in for such a trying time. The skipper of the Argyle thought he could make the Cape in about eight weeks, but at the end of that period, after encountering treacherous seas and being buffeted about, we found that we were a long way from port The captain viewed tidings very seriously, and explained the situation. He told us that the rations were very short, and we were cut down so much in food supplies that two of my sisters became so weak that we were unable to save them. The remaining 45 passengers who succumbed died within a few days of one another, and I can assure you it was heartbreaking. When you come to think of it, we had to attend 47 burials at sea, and those standing around were so weak and emaciated that most or them felt they would rather be dead than alive. "However, we reached Capetown. The ship was well provisioned, and the journey of three months to Sydney was accomplished without, any more suffering." TOUCHES OF OLD SYDNEY. On arriving at Port Jackson, Mrs. Honeyman's father, who had become private secretary to a clergyman in Ireland, was engaged by the only firm of solicitors of the day. Messrs. Want and Thirlow. Sydney in those times was mostly made up of scrub. There were few buildings, and waves lapped the sandy shores of the creek near Hunter-street, and on the eastern side of the Domain, what is now known as Woolloomooloo, was a big swamp. It was easy for a person to be bushed coming even, from Darlingburst to the General Post Office, which was then at the top of Barrack-street, near where the Hotel Grand Central now stands. There was a racecourse in Hyde Park. The cost of living was very high, and generally speaking the conditions of life were of the roughest. Government servants were employed by officials and those who were not under any ban of the authorities. "I was engaged," continued Mrs. Honeyman, "in the household of a Government officer, and was liberally paid considering the rate of wages ruling then, and well looked after. It was about the time I accepted this situation that the election took place for the first parliament. There was a gang of roughs knocking about who made matters lively. They were known as the Cabbage Tree Mob, and they wore blue jumpers and white trousers. They were a desperate lot, and election day saw them break out and pelt the people with stones. The police force was a military organisation, under Major Ennis, and his men were also attacked. It was some time before the riot was subdued. Several arrest; were made. I was well acquainted with most of the newly-elected members, who were a fine body of men." BANK NOTES IN BONNET. Severing her connection with the household of the Government. Official, Mrs. Honeyman joined a woman, friend in an hotel business, between Campbelltown and Liverpool, close to the Cross Roads. It was while here that she had experience of the many bushrangers who were roaming about at this period. Sticking up coaches and robbing passengers and mails were almost of dally occurrence. Settlers were in a state of terror. The highwaymen were desperate follows, and were not to be trifled with. They often called at the hotel in which Mrs. Honeyman was engaged, but she never had anything to do with any of them, and they hardly knew her. She often, however, went to the scenes of bailings-up and gathered letters, left on the road, which she would subsequently hand over to the authorities. The hotel was a good paying one. The licensee and Mrs Honeyman (who was still Miss Moore) had to make two trips to Sydney every month to bank the takings. Considering the characters moving about, they were taking risks, but not once was the coach in which, they travelled to Liverpool stuck up. Mrs. Honeyman had the bank notes, which generally numbered over 100, pinned in the back of her Victoria bonnet, and the owner of the hotel carried gold, silver, and copper in a bag which she secreted under her clothing. WORKED FOR DAVID JONES. Mrs. Honeyman did not stay long at Campbelltown. Her father had taken up land at Ryde, which was formely known as Kissing Point, but a clergyman from Ryde, England, went to live there, and he brought about the change of name. A short stay at home, and Mrs. Honeyman was engaged in the household of Mr. David Jones, the founder of the present firm of David Jones, Ltd. The shop, a small structure, and the family residence, stood on portion of the land on which the present building was erected. Mr. David Jones had a good reputation for straight-dealing. It was recognised by the populace that the best was to be obtained at his shop, and it was, says Mrs. Heneyman, his straightforwardness and fair treatment of his customers that helped considerably to build up the concern. The water supply in the early days was not of the best. The Government sank wells at different points in the city. Some were in Macquarie street, and Mrs. Honeyman can remember one or two in Barrack street. She tells of women having to obtain water from the pumps over the wells, and many a time squabbles occurred as to whose turn it was to work the handle and pump the waiting pail full or water. There were never any serious disturbances, catty references from one to another were usually the limit of the disagreements. FLOGGINGS AT ANNANDALE. In Johnston street, Annandale, there was a tree, to which disobedient, male servants were strapped and flogged. Some of these exhibitions were frightful, and few people dared gaze on them. "The victims," Mrs. Honeyman stated, "were brutally treated. They certainly deserved some punishment for their misdeeds, but they should not have been handled as they were. One man was flogged to death there, and, strange to say, the tree, a big pine, died shortly afterwards. For being unruly and disobedient many of the women under Government control had their hair clipped short, arid some times they were shamefully handled. Mrs Honeyman is one cf the oldest members of the Wesleyan Methodist Church in this State. Up till her recent illness she attended the services every Sunday, and has always taken a keen interest in the work of the Church. Her husband, who died some years ago, was also prominent, in church affairs. A sister of Mrs. Honeyman, Mrs. Louisa Rolls, died at Kurri Kurri a short time ago at the age of 106 years. Five brothers arid another sister were well over 90 when they died.— "Sun The Wingham Chronicle and Manning River Observer, 16 Sep 1916. ------------------------------------------- Death of his wife. HONEYMAN.—June 23, 1918, at the residence of her granddaughter, Mrs. H. Norman, Verdun, Carrington-road, Randwick, Eliza Jane, widow of the late William Honeyman, aged 103 years. Interred at Waverley Cemetery. Sydney Morning Herald, 25 June 1918.

14

mackenzie on 18th June 2026

Married Eliza Jane Moore at Parish of St Lawrence, Sydney, January 27, 1852. Witnesses John and Jane Bateman - Kissing Point. William Honeyman died October 20, 1893 in Surrey Hills, Sydney and is buried in Waverley Cemetery.

8

Karen Richardson on 16th May 2016

Married Eliza Jane Moore at Parish of St Lawrence, Sydney, January 27, 1852. Witnesses John and Jane Bateman - Kissing Point. William Honeyman died October 20, 1893 in Surrey Hills, Sydney and is buried in Waverley Cemetery.

26

Jules McDonald on 19th September 2015

Baptised at St George the Martyr, Southwark Married Eliza Jane Moore 1651 in Sydney