I was staggered when I could find no mention of Peter Pidota of Dromana on trove. He was obviously part of the area's folklore. Not only was he discussed in some detail in Colin McLear's A DREAMTIME OF DROMANA, but also in Isabel Moresby's ROSEBUD FLOWER OF THE PENINSULA; Isabel only knew OF Peter and called him Antonio Pidota, confusing his name with that of Rosebud fisherman, Antonio Bosina, but she knew the name of his vessel, "Little Angelina". C.N.Hollinshed has confused family historians with the genealogy in his LIME LAND LEISURE, but to give him credit, he did get the spelling of Peter's surname right-PIDOTO. As I was only scanning his book for information not presented in other local histories, I did not notice this at the time. As soon as I changed my search to Pidoto,the results came flooding in,revealing other Pidoto mariners at Williamstown.

There is plenty of information about Peter in my journals so this journal deals only with Peter's family.


PIDOTO -On the 20th inst, at his residence, Dromana house, Rowe street, North Fitzroy, Carmello (Peter), the beloved husband of F.E. Pidoto, late of Dromana. R.I.P.(P.1, Argus, 28-9-1891.)


The friends of the late Captain P. PIDOTO, late of Dromana, are respectfully invited to follow his remains to the place of interment, Melbourne Cemetery.
The funeral will leave his late residence Dromana house, Rowe street, North Fitzroy, THIS DAY (Monday, 28th inst.) at half past 3 o'clock. JOHN DALEY, Undertakcr, Latrobe and Spring streets, Melbourne Telephone 827. (P.1,Argus, 28-9-1891.)

Name--------Birth Place/Date--------Father---------Mother
Rose Pidoto-Dromana, Australia,1866-Carmelo Pidoto-Taylor Frances Pidoto

WALLACE —PIDOTO. —On the 26th December,1900, at St. John's R.C. Church, Clifton Hill,by the Rev. R. Collins, assisted by the Rev.M. Dolan, William Wallace, department of Mines, Melbourne, son of the late William Wallace, of Sale, Gippsland, to Carmela, daughter of the late Captain Carmelo Pidoto, of North Fitzroy and Dromana.
(P.9,Argus,2-2-1901.)

PIDOTO.—On the 5th October, at her residence, 16 Brennand-street,North Fitzroy, Frances Elizabeth, relict of
the late Captain Carmelo Pidoto, dearly loved mother of Rose (Mrs Grogan, Elmore), Mary (Mrs. Hayes,Prahran), Josephine (deceased), Annie (Mrs.Williams, Western Australia), Carmela (Mrs. Wallace, Preston) Lottie (North
Fitzroy ),Nena (Mrs Burren, North Fitzroy, Jack (South Australia)*, and Will (Drouin),aged 85 years, late of
Dromana. R I.P. Our darling mother. —Interred privately, 7th October, by Alfred Allison, Clifton Hill.
(P.21, Advocate,15-10-1931.)

* JACK IN S.A.-Cable Extensions in Pirie.
Five men under Mr. J. Pidoto (line foreman at Wallaroo) are engaged in extensions of telephone cables along The Terrace and Goode road, Pirie West. It is expected that they will be some weeks on the job.As a result of the extensions, portion of the overhead gear will be eliminated, and some of the poles in the two thoroughfares affected will be removed. Mr.Pidoto was in charge of similar work in Ellen street some time ago.
(Recorder (Port Pirie, SA : 1919 - 1954) Saturday 16 May 1936 p 1 Article.)

Frances Elizabeth Taylor (1846-1931) - Familypedia
familypedia.wikia.com/wiki/Frances_Elizabeth_Taylor_(1846-1931)
Frances Elizabeth Taylor was born 1846 in Derbyshire, England, United Kingdom to William Taylor (c1806-1885) and Mary Harrison (c1808-1885) and died 1931 in Clifton Hill, Victoria, Australia of unspecified causes. She married Carmelo Pidoto (1836-1891) 1869 in Victoria, Australia. Ancestors are from the United Kingdom.

Frances Elizabeth Taylor
Birth: 1846 Derbyshire, England, United Kingdom Ω
Death: 1931 Clifton Hill, Victoria, Australia
Father: William Taylor (c1806-1885)
Mother: Mary Harrison (c1808-1885)
Spouse/partner:
Carmelo Pidoto (1836-1891)
Wedding: 1869 Victoria, Australia ₪

Offspring of Frances Elizabeth Taylor and Carmelo Pidoto (1836-1891)
Rose Pidoto (1866-1967)
Mary Jane Pidoto (1868-1951)
Guiseppa Pidoto (1870-)
Angelina Pidoto (1873-1947)
Carmela Elizabeth Pidoto (1875-1942)
Maude Charlotte Pidoto (1878-1960)
Guivania Pidoto (1880-1964)
Giovanni Pidoto (1882-1972)
William Henry Pidoto (1884-1973)

The parents of Frances Elizabeth seem to have lived near Dromana and it is possible that there was a relationship with Alf Harrison after whom Harrisons Rd was named.

POSTSCRIPT.It is ironic that the 1869 Post Office Directory was found during an idle moment when I googled Peter Pidoto. Not having seen the genealogical information below,this entry did tickle my fancy; I wondered if he was related to the Father Of Keilor,not knowing he was Peter Pidoto's father in law!

Taylor Wm., farmer, Kangerong

my family and need to look for diway - Australia - Family History & Genealogy Message Board - Ancestry.com.au - Message Boards
boards.ancestry.com.au › Topics › Lost Family & Friends › Australia

This tree is by again another cousin who also descends from Anthony Taylor: http://trees.ancestry.com.au/tree/46863269/person/6825186735 . It also has a death for Anthony's father William, and there is a death registration to match this death, father's name given was John Taylor. No mother's name given. Birth about 1806 in Nottinghamshire (this place of birth is incorrect as he said born Derbyshire in 1841, and his wife Mary born outside Derbyshire.) The death registration gives date of death as 1 Sep 1885 at Kangerong, Mornington and buried at Dromana Cemetery on 3 Sep 1885. His occupation farmer (miller in 1841 census) and his father's occupation rate collector. Died of old age (but it could have been grief - see below). Wife Mary Harrison. Informant his son William. Married Nottinghamshire (this may be correct). 34 years in Victoria (arrived about 1851). Children Jane deceased, John 54, Henry 51, Anthony deceased, Thomas 46, Sarah Anne 41, Frances Elizabeth 39, William 36, Emma deceased.

Fortuitously the death of William's wife Mary is the one immediately above his on the death registration. This is why he may have died of grief. She died of hemiplegia (paralysis of one side of the body) caused by a stroke 3 weeks earlier. She died at Kangerong on 16 Aug 1885. Her parents names are unknown. Her son William was the informant. Buried at Dromana Cemetery. Born Nottinghamshire (this may be correct) about 1808.

Your ancestors John Taylor (who married Mary Ann Norton) and Thomas Taylor (who married Phoebe Isabella Camden) had a sister Frances Elizabeth Taylor born about 1846 according to the age given on their parent’s death registrations. She died in 1931 as Frances Elizabeth Pidoto, the daughter of William Taylor and Mary Harrison.

This is a family tree from a cousin by marriage. This person descends from a brother of the husband of Frances Elizabeth Taylor, the sister of John Taylor and Thomas Taylor. It has good details about Frances Elizabeth’s children.
http://trees.ancestry.com.au/tree/26384438/person/1324277053...

This family tree is from a cousin, a descendant of Frances Elizabeth Taylor through her daughter Carmelo Elizabeth Pidoto. It has the wrong parents and place of birth for Frances Elizabeth Taylor, and many marriages that are not hers as well, and a child by the name of Annie Selina Taylor who also was not her child. She only married Carmelo Pidoto. It is also missing some of Frances Elizabeth Taylor’s children with Carmelo Pidoto. http://trees.ancestry.com.au/tree/37210066/person/1905294684...=

Carmelo Pidoto, died 1891
Carmelo Pidoto was born to Giovanni Pidoto and Rosa Pidoto (born Strana).
Giovanni was born in 1800, in Italy.
Rosa was born in 1806.
Carmelo had one brother: Mariano James Pidoto.
Carmelo married Frances Elizabeth Pidoto (born Taylor).
Frances was born in 1846.
They had 9 children: Rose Pidoto, Mary Jane Pidoto and 7 other children.
Carmelo passed away in month 1891, at death place.

Where did the name of Peter's ship,"little Angelina" come from? Did he name it after his fourth child? This would seem to dispel such a theory.

Mr. William Duthie reports the sale on account of the Gipps Land S N Company, of the schooner Little Angelina, 33 tons register, to Captain P. Pidoto, at a satisfactory price.
(The Argus Saturday 25 June 1881 p 6 Article)

However,Peter must have been leasing the schooner since 1875 when Angelina was only about two years old.

FOR DROMANA_The clipper schooner LITTLE ANGELINA, now RECEIVING CARGO at New Dock, will be despatched early next week, and take the place of the Saucy Jack. For rate of freight, &&, apply to P. PIDOTO, on board, New Dock. (P.1, Argus, 11-9-1875.)

In an unobtrusive way, -says-the-Argus, Williamstown now and again contributes its mild share in shipbuilding to the commercial marine of the colony, and the latest craft launched from the local stocks is the Little
Angeline, a fore-and-aft schooner, built at Mr. Legg's yard for Captain Peter Pidoto, of Dromana, and intended for trading there, or the adjacent colonies if necessary. She is a pretty model, and a well-finished vessel in
all respects, and the following are her dimensions :-Length, 67ft. 4in. ; beam, 16ft. 8 in.; and depth of hold, 5ft. 3in. She is 35 tons register, but can carry 70 tons dead weight on a draught of 4ft. 6in.; which will
prove serviceable in shallows or bar harbours.

The schooner is substantially put together, and colonial woods have been used in her construction. The framework is made of blue gum and red gum, the planking of blue gum, and the decks and spars of Kauri pine.
She is also fitted with two centre boards, and has a very pretty shield figure-head. On being launched on Saturday, hearty wishes were expressed for a successful career for the Little Angeline.
(P.2,Williamstown Chronicle,28-8-1875.)

Peter's brother Mariano, of Williamstown,was also a master mariner. There is plenty of genealogical information on trove about his family. Mariano seems to have been definitely born in 1834 but the U.K. website, where I found the details of Peter's death in 1891 (scans of death and funeral notices)states that Peter was born in 1831. Another website above states that Peter was born in 1836.

Peter seems to have had command of many vessels over the years. The ADMIRAL was probably the first.
FOR DROMANA.-The ADMIRAL, cutter, now lying at the New Dock, will sail on Monday, the 4th June.
(P.1,Argus,2-6-1866.)

FOR DROMANA.-Cutter ITALIA, lying in the New Dock, is ready to RECEIVE CARGO. Will sail about Thursday next.
(P.1, Argus, 11-2-1867.)

FOR DROMANA, on Tuesday next, from New Dock, the cutter G. F. VERDON. Freight, 12s. for less than three tons, and 10s. upwards, to be paid on delivery.Captain PETER PIDOTO.
(P.1,Argus,27-5-1867.)

FOR DROMANA.-Tho ROSA and MARY JANE will RECEIVE CARGO THIS DAY at the New Dock, and sail Tuesday.
P. PIDOTO, Master. (P.1, Argus,18-12-1871.)

SAUCY JACK < 1875 > LITTLE ANGELINA.

PETER'S LETTER. Still Little Angelina. THE DROMANA JETTY. TO THE EDITOR OF THE ARGUS.
The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957) Wednesday 4 July 1883 p 5 Article

DROMANA.
During the very-stormy weather on Friday night, the ketch "Ripple" trading between Dromana and Melbourne,and owned by Capt. Pidoto broke away from her moorings at the jetty. It appears that at about half past eleven at night the ropes by which the craft was fastened to the jetty gave way, and for a while she was held by her anchors but the gale becoming stronger than ever drove the vessel over the sand bar and landed her on the beach. The tide must have been very high at the time for it is now possible to walk along between the stranded vessel and the water. It is thought that little trouble will be experienced in getting her off again.I understand that the schooner "Little Angelina", also owned by Capt. Pidoto, will take up the running until the
Ripple is again ready for service. (P.2, Mornington Standard, 1-11-1890.)

In my special Pidoto rate research, I found that one year the address of the widowed Frances was given as Balmain N.S.W. Trying to find why, I discovered another of Peter's ships.
The vessel was found to be the Templar, a small wooden schooner of 29 tons register, 57 feet long, 16 feet beam and 6 feet 4 inches depth of hold, built at Sandridge, Victoria, in 1879, and owned by Mr. Peter Pidoto.
(A SCHOONER LOST.
Australian Town and Country Journal (Sydney, NSW : 1870 - 1907) Saturday 16 January 1892 p 12 Article)

WRECK OF A KETCH.
A message from Flinders (Vic.) says.-The wrecked ketch Little Angelina on Phillip Island shore is still holding together. She is right up on the rocks, and at low tide can be discerned from Flinders, distant across the bay
about five miles. There does not appear to be much hope of getting her afloat. It is not known here whether any
steps are likely to be taken with this object. The Little Angelina belonged formerly to the late Mr.Pidoto, of
Dromana, and was a regular trader between Dromana and Melbourne.
(The Sydney Morning Herald Saturday 17 June 1899 p 10 Article.)



THE PIDOTO LAND IN DROMANA.
A.EAST HALF CROWN ALLOTMENT 5, SECTION 1, KANGERONG.
The land along the Esplanade east of McCulloch St was not part of the township of Dromana and consisted of crown allotments 1 to 8 of section 1,parish of Kangerong. Crown allotment 5 consisting of 36 acres and 25 perches was between the east end of Gibson St and the Kangerong Avenue/Carrigg St midline,extending to Palmerston Ave (the freeway.) Two one acre blocks housed a store run by James Holden (and later his widow who died at over 100 years old) and a house occupied by fisherman John McLear and his son,Nip. See my journal PIONEERING NEIGHBOURS NEAR CARRIGG ST.The remaining 34 acres were sold in two equal parts,the eastern 17 acres becoming Peter's and the western half including the Dromana Hotel,built in 1862, with the north end of Carrigg St separating them.

DROMANA Esplanade - Eight-roomed HOUSE,kitchen, stable, coachhouse outbuildings, fruit flower gardens and 16 acres land under English grasses. Peter Pidoto 40 Elizabeth street N. (P.11,Argus,14-2-1885.)

Advertising
South Bourke and Mornington Journal (Richmond, Vic. : 1872 - 1920) Wednesday 11 May 1887 p 2 Advertising
... SCOTT havcbeen favored wJith instructions from P. Pidoto, Esq., in consequence of his removal from the .

Messrs. Howard and Scott report having held a very satisfactory clearing sale of cattle, household furniture &c., on account of P. Pidoto, Esq., Dromana.
(South Bourke and Mornington Journal (Richmond, Vic. : 1872 - 1920) Wednesday 25 May 1887 p 2 Article)


Sporting Notes.
The Dromana Sports Club committee have decided to alter the date of the proposed race meeting for November 9th, to the second week in January. The change was made on account of there being very few horses in training in November, while in January it will be held when other clubs on the Peninsula will be having theirs. The
Dromana racecourse,is now the sole property of Mr G. S. Edwards, of the Dromana Hotel, he having purchased
the paddock from Mrs Pidoto.

I'd often wondered whether the racecourse behind the Dromana Hotel was just on the hotel's 17 acres or Peter's half as well. Peter would have had to move his cattle during the race meetings. The Football Club used the racecourse for home games until 1927 when it became Spencer Jackson's Foreshore Estate as shown on page 172 of A DREAMTIME OF DROMANA* and a new recreation ground was virtually donated by the blackmith discussed on the plaque located on the south east corner of Charles and Pier Sts. There were two courses being used at Dromana,the other being on the Dromana Secondary College site but in late 1923 or early 1924,the club received notice from the Victorian Chief Secretary that he would authorise meetings at only one of the courses and this probably prompted Lou Carrigg ,who had been a stalwart of the racing and footy clubs,to sell his 34 acres.

*A close inspection of the aerial photo shows that the track is just visible,occupying the whole 34 acres.

B. DROMANA TOWNSHIP BLOCKS.
C/A 9 SECT.12. J.PIDOTO. 27-7-1864.FRONTAGES TO CODRINGTON AND VERDON BETWEEN POINTS 80 AND 100 METRES NORTH OF LIGAR ST.
C/A 3,SECT.11, P.PIDOTO. 27-7-1864.FRONTAGES TO SAME STREETS BETWEEN POINTS 40 AND 60 METRES SOUTH OF LIGAR ST.
C/A 7 SECT.4. P.PIDOTO.12-7-1864.FRONTAGES OF 40M AND 37.71M TO WEST SIDE HEALES AND NORTH SIDE HODGKINSON.
C/A 5 AND 7 SECT.15. P.PIDOTO. 8-8-65 AND 8-6-65. FRONTAGES TO VERDON AND HEALES FROM 80-100 M AND 120-140M SOUTH OF HODGKINSON.
C/A 1, 2 SECT. 18. P.PIDOTO. 2-11-64 AND 10-10-84. FRONTING SOUTH SIDE HODGKINSON AND 40 METRES IN MCCULLOCH AND HEALES.


C. THE RAILWAY ESTATE.
1910-11.
EMILY BLAKELY,CARLTON, LOTS 29,20 BAIB ESTATE.
WM.BROUGHTON BUTCHER RICHMOND LOTS 15, 16 RAIL ESTATE.
MRS. M.E.DYSON, BOARDING HOUSE KEEPER, LAND RAILWAY ESTATE.CHAS DUHAM MELB (SOLD TO MISS DEBNEY,MT.ALEX RD FLEM)LOT 38 OF 13 RAILWAY ESTATE.
MRS A FOLEY* IVANHOE LOT 28 RAIL ESTATE.
MRS FITZGERALD 1 LOT RAIL ESTATE.
MRSE. FLETCHER, HAWTHORN 1 LOT RAIL ESTATE.
JONAH GRIFFITH **(INSPECTOR?), 1 LOT AND BUILDINGS, RAIL ESTATE.
F.W.HILLYARD, STH. MELB.,1 LOT RAIL ESTATE (65 LOT 13 SECT.1.)
MRS MOVIS, BALLARAT,LOT 28 RY EST.
MRS PIDOTO,CLIFTON HILL (W.E.THOMPSON OCC.,G.S.EDWARDS OWNER)17 ACRES KANGERONG N.A.V. 50 POUNDS, RAILWAY ESTATE UNSOLD LOTS N.A.V. 30 POUNDS.
NELSON RUDDUCK & CO. 2 LOTS 13 RAIL ESTATE
SILL H.A.? I LOT RAIL ESTATE
KATE TALBOT 1 LOT AND BUILDINGS RAIL ESTATE.
- ARTHUR LOT 35 RAIL ESTATE.

*The Pidotos continued their involvement at Dromana after Peter's death. Pidoto, Foley and Co. was complimented about contributions. I didn't open the article but I'll bet it was in regard to fund-raising for the establishment of the Catholic Church,in which Lawrence Murphy played such a prominent part.
find article when internet signal returns

Just as well I'm not a gambler. The Pidoto family obviously followed the Roman Catholic faith but the donation was to the Presbyterians. The donation was also before Peter's death.Oh well,you can't get them all right. However I was right about the family's continued involvement at Dromana. The girls were involved in a fund-raising concert for the Catholic Church in 1905 and attended the Fleming-Hazedine wedding in 1912. John Cain had devised a nickname for Lena to introduced her at the concert. The Cains had enabled early masses for Southern Peninsula residents, priest coming across the Bay to preach at Owen Cain's Tyrone between Rye Township and Canterbury Jetty Rd.

Our Presbyterian friends are very busy preparing for a bazaar, to be held in January next. The proceeds, I believe, are to be devoted to the purchase of a second allotment of land on which to erect a manse. An adjoining allotment was presented to the denomination by Messrs.Pidoto, Foley and Co. some time ago.
(P.3,Mornington Standard,19-10-1989.)

Miss L. Pidoto.(referred to by the chairman as the " prima donna" from Croajingalong).. next sang "'The carnival," in a pleasing manner. (P.2, Mornington Standard, 19-8-1905.)

Members of R C. Church,Dromana (Mrs and Misses O'Connor, Noble and Pidoto)-tea set;
( Orange Blossom. FLEMING—HAZLEDINE.
Mornington Standard (Frankston, Vic. : 1911 - 1920) Saturday 4 May 1912 p 3 Article)

** Jonah Griffith's nickname was Dohn. Famous American illustrator,Ewart (Melbourne) Brindle lived in Dromana from 1904-1918 and his fabulous map of Dromana,which he drew decades later, not only shows Dohn's house and where Young Ewart helped him to build his boat but gives a fair indication where the unsold lots on the railway estate were.



With such pitiful handwriting that led me to transcribe the first entry as the baib estate and usually inadequate descriptions of properties (the first part of Frances' assessment should have read 17 acres of east half crown allotment 5, section 1 Kangerong, 8 roomed house and outbuildings, the buildings providing most of the 50 pounds N.A.V.), it is amazing that I worked out where the railway estate was. it was crown allotment 13, section 1,Kangerong,consisting of about 37 acres granted to Charles Barnett. It was bounded by Palmerston Ave,Jetty Rd and Boundary Rd.






CARMELO PIDOTO Deceased-Pursuant to the provisions of the Trusts Act 1890 notice is hereby given that all persons having any claims against the estate of Carmelo Pidoto (usually known as Peter Pidoto) late of "Dromana", Rowe street, North Fitzroy, in the colony of Victoria, master mariner, deceased, who died on the 20th day of September 1891 and Letters of Administration of whose estate (with the will annexed) was granted by
the Supreme Court of the Colony of Victoria, in its Probate Jurisdiction on the 26th day of November 1891 to the Perpetual Executors and Trustees Association of Australia Limited the said company being duly authorised by Frances Elizabeth Pidoto the widow of the said deceased to apply for and obtain letters of Administration with the said will annexed are hereby required to SEND PARTICULARS of such CLAIMS in writing to the said Perpetual
Executors and Trustees Association of Australia Limited of 40 Queen street, Melbourne on or before the 1st day of July next after which date the said company will proceed to distribute the assets of the said Carmelo Pidoto amongst the persons entitled thereto having regard only to the claims of which it shall then have had notice and it will not be liable for the assets or any part thereof so distributed of whose claim it shall not then have had notice.
Dated the 26th day of May, 1892.
THOS. G. BOYD 450 Chancery lane, Melbourne, proctor for the said company. (P.3, Argus,1-6-1892.)

THIS BLOKE'S GOT TO BE ON DROMANA'S ROLL OF HONOUR!
John PIDOTO
Regimental number 10781
Religion Roman Catholic
Occupation Telegraph linesman
Address Glenelg, South Australia
Marital status Single
Age at embarkation 33
Next of kin Mother, Mrs F E Pidoto, 364 Queen Street, Clifton Hill, Victoria
Enlistment date 3 September 1915
Date of enlistment from Nominal Roll 27 August 1915
Rank on enlistment Gunner
Unit name Field Artillery Brigade 6, Reinforcement 2
AWM Embarkation Roll number 13/34/2
Embarkation details Unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A19 Afric on 5 January 1916
Rank from Nominal Roll Driver
Unit from Nominal Roll 6th Field Artillery Brigade
Recommendations (Medals and Awards)
Military Medal


Consistent valuable services and gallantry under fire as linesman.
Recommendation date: 2 October 1916
Mention in Despatches


Awarded, and promulgated, 'London Gazette', second Supplement, No. 29890 (2 January 1917); 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 103 (29 June 1917).
Fate Returned to Australia 20 December 1917
Medals
Military Medal


Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 169
Date: 4 October 1917
(A.I.F.PROJECT SEARCH.)

DANGEROUSLY WOUNDED 1917.
PIDOTO.-Mrs. Pidoto, Clifton Hill, has been informed that her son, Gunner J. Pidoto, who was mentioned in despatches, and was awarded the Military Medal for conspicuous bravery, has been wounded in the chest, and left arm, and is returning to Australia. Before enlisting Gunner Pidoto was a linesman in the post-office in South
Australia. He has been on active service for two and a half years. (P.6, Argus, 7-2-1918.)