John Worland was born circa 1837 in Cambridgeshire, England. His wife Susan Wright was born circa 1836 in Foxton, Cambridgeshire, England. It is believed that John’s parents were William Worland and Mary Barnes (both born circa 1800-1810) and Susan’s father was Newman Nightingdale Wright (born circa 1790-1810 in Cambridgeshire).
John and Susan Worland lived in Dean, Victoria, and had seven children all of whom died from diptheria between 21 December 1871 and 8 January 1872.
The Wagga Wagga Advertiser and Riverine Reporter (NSW) of Wednesday 10 January 1872, noting the outbreak of diptheria, quoted the Creswick Advertiser of 9 January 1872: 'A more distressing item of news never found its way into newspaper columns. Our contemporary writes: - 'We deeply regret to learn that diptheria is committing terrible ravages in the family of Mr Worland, farmer, between Dean and Happy Valley. During the past fortnight four sons and one daughter have fallen victims to this disease, the last of which will be buried today. A sixth is in all probability added to the list by this time, as he was not expected to survive on Tuesday; and a seventh is in a very dangerous state. The ages of the deceased range from two to seventeen years. The disease is attended by great effusion of blood, principally from the nose, and is termed by some bleeding diptheria. The family previously was remarked strong and health. Mr and Mrs Worland, who are deservedly respected, have the deepest sympathy of who who knkow them and, indeed, of all who hear of the calamity which has befallen them.'
The McIvor Times and Rodney Advertiser (Heathcote, Victoria) and Alexandra Times (Victoria) of Friday 19 January 1872, both quoting The Age newspaper, noted that outbreak of diptheria in Victoria and 'of the fatal results to be feared in cases of diptheria, the Worland family, at Dean, in the Creswick district, is a painful example, the remains of five sons and two daughters having been consigned to the grave, the victims of this disease, the space of twenty days'
The Melbourne Argus on 1 February 1872, noting '... the fatal nature of the disease has been sadly exemplified in the case of a family named Worland in the Creswick district where, out of seven children, six were carried off in a few days'.
Seven (not six) children, ranging from 2 1/2 to 14 years old, were buried in the Creswick Cemetery (about 20kms from Ballarat in Victoria).
Some of the details below are on this site, sourced to Vicki Doody (nee Worland), and from Vicki directly.
See this site for details of Joseph and Betsy Worland and their families in England.
Joseph and Betsy Worland departed from Birkenhead, England on 29 September 1856 aboard the Arabian, arriving at Geelong on 27th January 1857. According to Vicki Doody, the family first started off in a quarry business at Portland and did very well before taking up land and farming first around Geelong and then Euroa. Joseph Worland's parent's names are not recorded on his death certificate.
Joseph and Elizabeth Worland had the following children (including Betsy's son Edgar and two more born in the UK):
See below for further information about the lives of each of the children.
The following details were provided by Vicki Doody (nee Worland).
Edgar Cooper/Worland (1 February 1846, Foxton - 18 July 1906, Euroa, Victoria). When Edgar arrived in the district of Creighton via Euroa in Victoria, he selected part of what is called the "Green Hills". Today they are known as the Worland Hills. Edgar named his property "Foxton Park after the parish of Foxton in Cambridgeshire where his parents came from. He was a noted breeder of Lincoln Sheep and had a top stud farm. He exhibited wool in London, gaining a special award. and presented one of his prize fleeces to Queen Victoria. In the boom prices of the middle 1890's he received 18 pounds 18 shillings for full grown Lincoln sheep.
Edgar Worland married Isabella Davis (1852, Inverness, Scotland - 1884, Mortlake, Victoria, Australia), the daughter of John Davis of Scotland in 1876 and they had four children.
Edgar's wife Isabella died in 1884 aged only 32. The death certificate states that she died of an asthma attack in the district of Mortlake, near Geelong. Edgar then married Elizabeth Isabella Halsall, daughter of Gilbert and Charlotte Halsall of Creighton, on 17 January 1889 at Creighton in the district of Longwood. They had six children:
These were the families of Foxton Park, the sheep property at Euroa named after the Parish of Foxton the parents had left in England. The Worland children attended school in Longwood until a school opened at Creighton in 1884.
Charles Worland (1852/1854, Foxton - 27 April 1916, Branjee via Euroa, Victoria). Charles married Susannah Lilian Looker (1865, Geelong - 1927, East Melbourne) on 22 May 1889 in Geelong, Victoria. Susannah was one of four children born to Phillip Looker and Susan Wright. Charles and Susannah Worland had four children, all born in Euroa:
Edward Myhill Worland (June 1855, Royston - 4 December 1867, drowned in a dam where he working on a farm at Highton, Geelong).
Walter Worland (1857, Murguibolue, Victoria - 1909). Married in Henrietta Parish 1858. Walter was a successful business man. He owned the Corduroy Creek Bridge Hotel at Clarendon via Geelong and a two story home called 'Morongo' in Geelong. When Walter's father Edgar died his daughter Violet Worland went to live with her uncle Walter and his family for a number of years. Their home was called 'Morongo', which became a Presbyterian Girls College of Geelong. During the Second World War the house served as a home for WAAFs.
William Worland (1859, Barabool Hills, Highton, Geelong - 15 April 1930, Geelong, Victoria). William lived with the Larcombe family at Petraville near Geelong for a while. It is not believed that William ever married.
George Worland (1861, Barabool Hills, Highton, Geelong - 6 December 1929, Euroa, Victoria)). Married Ellen Jane (Nellie) Groth (1875, Yandoit - ) in Euroa in 1896, and they had the following children, all born in Euroa:
George bought a farm on the Goulburn River near Nagambie. The property was put in the wife's name, she subsequently left him and he was unable to claim anything for himself. Ellen and George Worland divorced some time after 1912. She later re-married. George then lived with his nephew Edward Alfred ('Alf') Worland and his wife Ada for a few years later in his life.
Elizabeth Emily Worland (1865, Highton, Victoria - 13 November 1901, Seymour or Benalla, Victoria). Married Albert/Alfred N Knight in 1891 in Seymour, Victoria, and had the following children:
Elizabeth appears to have died in November 1901 after giving birth to Walter.
Charlotte Amelia Worland (1867, Geelong - 1898, Waterloo, NSW). Married Amos Edward Sharratt on 19 December 1893 in Glebe, NSW. Amos died in 1940. They had one son, Henry (Harry) Edgar Sharratt (1895 - ). Gunner Henry Sharratt served in WW1 where he was gassed, buried alive and received schrapnel in the back of his neck - and survived. Harry Sharratt married Katherine (Kitty) S Norris.
Louise Jane Worland (1870, Highton, Victoria - 8 July 1890, Geelong, Victoria). Married William Henry Larcombe in 1896. The marriage was celebrated at Foxton Park (Louise's father Edgar's property at Euroa). The Larcombes lived on a property at Petaville out of Geelong. Their children were:
Joseph Cooper Worland (18 January 1873, Geelong - 8 July 1890, Geelong). Lived at Euroa before his early death.
A William Worland married an Ellen Steere in 1895 at Warrnambool. Their children were Doris Mary Emma Worland (1893 - ), William Worland (1895 - ), and Jack Miller Worland (1901 - )( father unknown ?) also born at Warrnambool.
George Worland, a bank clerk, was killed in a motor vehicle accident in early April 1935.
The Camperdown Chronicle of 12 March 1908 recorded the following under the headline 'Attempted Suicide: A Sad Case at Newfield'. It is not believed this refers to Richard Worland born 1848 as he would not have had 'six young children' at the time.
Richard Worland, a resident of Newfield, made an attempt to commit suicide on Tuesday (10 March 1908). For some time past he has had business worriess which have preyed upon his mind to an extent that affected his reason, and on Sunday last he exhibited symptoms which alarmed his family and friends. On Tuesday he became worse and, procuring a loaded gun, declared his intention of ending his life. The weapon was wrested from him before he could carry out his purpose and steps were taken to guard against any further attempt. Worland has a wife and family of six young children, and the case [words illegible] which has evoked general sympathy.
Page created 7 April 2013, updated 9 April 2020. Copyright © Andrew Warland. (andrewwarland(at)gmail.com)