Fanny Isabel Ross 1866-1929
janilye
Fanny was born in Armidale, New South Wales on the 10 April 1866 the eldest daughter of six children born to Scotish immigrant James Ross 1835-1892 and his wife Isabella, nee Mitchellhill 1839-1918.
James Ross was well-known in Armidale in the early days, having at one time occupied a seat in the Borough Council, and also contested an election for the mayoralty. He was for some time manager of Mr. Jackes' store, and after leaving Armidale he proceeded to Grafton, where he opened a large haberdashery business known as London House.
It was in Armidale that Fanny met and married William George Seabrook. William was the 4th. of six children born to William Seabrook 1835-1889 of Armidale, a member of the building firm of Seabrook and Brown and his wife Fanny, nee Slade 1833-1893.
On the 21st. April 1891, James Ross turned on a splendid wedding for Fanny and William at his beautiful home "Rosslyn" in Alice street, Grafton. The following year, on the 5 December 1892 James Ross inexplicably committed suicide. Isabella died at Fanny and William's home Linden Court, Five Dock on the 10 October 1918.
Between 1892 and 1908, Fanny and William had eight children, one, a daughter dying in infancy.
1.George Ross Seabrook 1892 ? 1917 m. Winifred Millicent Kean 1892-1916 in Sydney in 1913
2.Theo Lesley Seabrook 1893 ? 1917
3.Beatrice Isabel Seabrook 1895 ? 1896
4.William Keith F Seabrook 1896 ? 1917
5.Florence May Seabrook 1901 ? 1980 m Alfred Leonard Lalor 1897-1969 in Sydney in 1917
6.Eric James Seabrook 1902 ? 1977 m. Janet Kay in Sydney in 1927
7.Edward Clarence Seabrook 1906 ? 1964 m. Emily Barton in Sydney in 1934
8.Jean Isabel Seabrook 1908 ? 1977 m. Arthur Thomas Sheen 1903-1954 in Sydney in 1925
Fanny lost her three eldest boys in 1917.
They were known as The Seabrook Brothers All three killed at Passchendaele in the course of just two days. The oldest was only 23 years of age and all were in the 17th. battalion of infantry. The three left Sydney on the same day.
The elder two of the brothers, Private George Ross Seabrook and Private Theo. Leslie Seabrook, were killed in action, on 20 September. The former was a master painter, well known around Petersham and Bankstown, Sydney suburbs and the latter was a fireman with the loco, works at Eveleigh, and well known in Armidale. The youngest of the three, Lieutenant William (Keith) Seabrook, was 21 years of age, and was engaged as a telephonist at Ashfield. He died of wounds on September 21. For 12 months prior to leaving for the front he was a lieutenant at Casula, Liverpool, and Cootamundra, and being too young to hold a commission, he went away as a sergeant, receiving his commission as second-lieutenant in France.
The photograph I have below, kindly submitted by the Cooper Family is of Fanny.
It was found in her son William's breast pocket, at the 10th casualty clearing station,
after he died,
The photograph shows the hole made by the fatal bullet
by janilye
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janilye - 7th generation, Convict stock. Born in New South Wales now living in Victoria, carrying, with pride 'The Birthstain'.
Comments
janilye on 2013-04-24 18:19:30Today we remember the ANZACS.
Most often through tears I've disvovered the stories of the young diggers who gave their lives.
What began as research several years ago, has now become very personal. They are my boys. Many of them dying without family to tell their story. Not just their war history; which often was very short, but who they were, as schoolboys, mates, larrikans and lovers.
Today I'm not just remembering the boys, but also their mothers.
What unspeakable grief mothers endure when they are told their darling boys are never coming home.
Try to explain to a mother "Honourable Death. "A deed nobly done" "For The Country".
As a mother and indeed a grandmother, who has felt that grief, I'm reminded of Mary Gilmore's poem 'War'
Out in the dust he lies;
Flies in his mouth,
Ants in his eyes ...
I stood at the door
Where he went out;
Full-grown man,
Ruddy and stout;
I heard the march
Of the trampling feet,
Slow and steady
Come down the street;
The beat of the drum
Was clods on the heart,
For all that the regiment
Looked so smart!
I heard the crackle
Of hasty cheers
Run like the breaking
Of unshed tears,
And just for a moment,
As he went by,
I had sight of his face,
And the flash of his eye.
He died a hero's death,
They said,
When they came to tell me
My boy was dead;
But out in the street
A dead dog lies;
Flies in his mouth,
Ants in his eyes.
Palmer2 on 2013-09-06 22:09:03Hi, I am searching for the twin brother of Isabella Ross from Ross-shire, born about 1843/4 (their father Alexander Ross, mother unknown). Isabella's twin brother went to Australia and apparently had some kind of general or hardware store near the main wharf in Sydney. Isabella came to New Zealand and married Hector McLeod from Kilmachalmag, Ross-shire. There may have been other brothers that went to Australia and thought there might be a slim chance of a connection to James?
Regards,
Gwenda