LACCO AND DURHAM OF ROSEBUD, VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA AND JUDITH DURHAM OF THE SEEKERS.
Judith Mavis Cock, daughter of William Alexander Cock and Hazel, nee Durham,was born in Essendon in 1943 while her father was overseas performing the war service for which he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. She is better known as Judith Durham of The Seekers. She adopted the maiden name of her mother as her stage name when she started singing with Frank Trainor's band. Judith spent her first six summers in the timber house (long-demolished)in the middle of crown allotment 20, Rosebud Fishing Village, on the west side of Durham Place, Rosebud. Judith was unsure of the spelling of the surname of her Greek great grandfather who married Emily,nee King and the following Lacco records supplied by Family Tree Circles' tonkin will explain why details are so hard to find.
I have known for ages about the Lacco,Durham connection. Vin Burnham hinted at the relationship in his memoirs of early days at Rosebud but made the mistake of assuming that Mr Durham was Judith's father. Fort Lacco's wife, Elizabeth, nee King, was the sister of Emily, known as Mrs Emily Durham by 1900 re assessments on c/a 20 Rosebud Fishing Village. The use of her given name was a sure sign that she had (again) become a widow. Tony Durham was the son of her first marriage and Judith Durham's grandfather. Due to huge variations in spelling it is almost impossible to find any records of Tony's Greek father. However, after years of wondering about the identity of Tony's stepfather, including incorrect information in one of Tony's death notices that he was the son of Emily and Demetra Durham, which led me to suppose that both of Emily's husbands were Greeks, the identity of Emily's second husband has been established. He was FRANCIS WILLIAM DURHAM who married Emily in 1887 and died in 1893.
It was while I was researching the entry for Mrs Elizabeth Lacco for my chronology of burials at Dromana Cemetery that I determined to find the identity of Emily's second husband, which Judith Durham's biography did not mention, she being a descendant of Tony, not the offspring of the second marriage.
ELIZABETH LACCO'S BURIAL ENTRY.
7-8-1934. MRS ELIZABETH LACCO (nee King*.)
LACCO. — The Friends of the late Mrs. ELIZABETH LACCO arc respectfully informed that her remains will be interred ln the Dromana Cemetery. The funeral Is appolnted to leave her residence, Rosebud, THIS DAY (Tuesday), 7th August, at 2 o'clock.
LACCO. On the 6th August, at Rosebud, passed peacefully away, Elizabeth, wlfe of the late Fort Lacco, beloved mother of Mary, John (dec.), Christi (decd.), Annie,Emily, Mitchell, Margaret, grandmother of Poppy, Lucy, Edna, Kenneth, Harold, Alick,George and Gwen, great gramdmother of Douglas, aged 80 years, a colonist of 77 years. At rest.
LACCO- On the 6th August, passed peacefully at Rosebud, Elizabeth Lacco, dearly beloved sister Emily, Ellen, Clara and the late William King. (All P.1, The Age, 7-8-1934)
I happened to already know that Elizabeth’s surname was King and that she was a sister of Emily Durham, the great grandmother of Judith Mavis Cock (better known to the world as Judith Durham of The Seekers.)
Elizabeth’s death record.
Event-Death Event registration number-16170 Registration year-1934
Personal information
Family name-LACCO Given names-Elizth Sex-Unknown
Father's name-King Jno Mother's name-Unknown (Unknown) Place of birth
Place of death-Dromana Age-79
Emily Durham’s death notice.
Emily’s death record appears to be more reliable about their father’s name, given that their mother’s name is given as well. Emily married a Greek fisherman, the father of Tony (grandfather of Judith Mavis Cock) and later Mr Durham whose given name** indicates that he was also Greek. HOWEVER, IT IS LIKELY THAT ONE OF TONY’S DAUGHTERS HAD MADE A MISTAKE WITH THE SURNAME OF TONY’S FATHER IN THE THIRD DEATH NOTICE IN ITALICS BELOW. DEMETRA WAS EMILY’S FIRST HUSBAND, NOT MR DURHAM. SEE THE BIRTH RECORD IN BOLD TYPE BELOW WHICH GIVES HER SECOND HUSBAND’S NAME AS FRANCIS WILLIAM DURHAM.
DURHAM-On June 15 at Melbourne,Emily (late of Rosebud) mother of Tony Paniocta* loved mother of Richard (deceased) and Joseph Durham. (P.12, Argus, 17-6-1950.)
*Tony had adopted Durham as his surname. Judith Mavis Cock used her mother, Hazel’s, maiden name as her stage name. As can be found from Judith Durham’s biography, Beverley was her sister. Judith’s father William Alexander Cock was a winner of the D.F.C.
DURHAM.—On March 11 (suddenly), Tony, loving husband of Jessie, son of Emily Durham, late of Rosebud.—Sadly missed.
DURHAM. — Tony, loving father of Hazel, father-in-law of Bill, loving grandfather of Beverley and Judith. —Sadly missed. ( P.10, Argus, 14-3-1950.)
** DURHAM. — On March 11 (suddenly). Anthony (Tony), beloved husband of Jessie Durham, loved father of Mavis (Mrs Riddle), and Hazel (Mrs. Cock),and fond son of Emily (late of Rosebud), and the late Demetra Durham.(P.2, The Age, 14-3-1950.)
EMILY DURHAM’S DEATH RECORD.
Event- Death Event registration number-6672 Registration year-1950
Personal information
Family name-DURHAM Given names-Emily Trin Sex-Female
Father's name -KING William Elijah Mother's name-Elizabeth (Lane)
Place of birth-PORT MELBOURNE Place of death-PARKVILLE Age-88
THE NAME OF EMILY’S SECOND HUSBAND WAS NOT DEMETRA BUT FRANCIS WILLIAM DURHAM. INTERESTINGLY EMILY’S MAIDEN, NOT MARRIED, NAME IS GIVEN AS THE CHILD’S MOTHER.
Event-Birth Event registration number-25146 Registration year-1890
Personal information
Family name-DURHAM Given names-Francis Richd Sex-Male Father's name-Francis Wm
Mother's name-Emily (King) Place of birth-SOUTH MELBOURNE
NOW ARMED WITH MR DURHSAM’S GIVEN NAME, I WAS ABLE TO FIND THE RECORD OF HIS MARRIAGE TO EMILY WHOSE MARRIED NAME IS GIVEN, ALTHOUGH ALMOST CERTAINLY WITH THE WRONG SPELLING.
Event-Marriage Event registration number-5814 Registration year-1887
Personal information
Family name-DURHAM Given names-Francis William Sex-Male
Spouse's family namePUNWETO Spouse's given names-Emily
BY 1900 MRS EMILY DURHAM WAS BEING ASSESSED ON CROWN ALLOTMENT 20, ROSEBUD FISHING VILLAGE (ON THE WEST SIDE OF DURHAM PLACE, A SURE SIGN SHE WAS A WIDOW. THIS IS ALMOST CERTAINLY THE DEATH RECORD OF HER SECOND HUSBAND.
Event-Death Event registration number-7854 Registration year1893
Personal information
Family name-DURHAM Given names Frank Wm Sex Male
Father's name-Frank Mother's name-Fanny Elizabeth (Unknown) Place of birth
Place of death-St Kilda Age-50
(All birth, death and marriage records are from:
https://online.justice.vic.gov.au/bdm/indexsearch.doj)
Emily Durham’s residence was on the west side of Durham Place, Rosebud on crown allotment 20, Rosebud Fishing Village, granted to Fort Lacco on 16-10-1872.
Old Mrs Lacco (Elizabeth) lived on crown allotments 11 and 12 of the Fishing Village on which the Banksia Point apartment / café complex is (in 2016) being constructed. The house was called Pier Cottage and was destroyed by fire after Elizabeth’s death while owned by one-time Lord Mayor of Melbourne, Edward Campbell, who replaced it with the double-storey house demolished for the said complex. Cr Campbell was probably leasing the cottage in 1925 because Elizabeth was at Queenscliff while her son, Mitch, was honing the boat-building skill that brought him nation-wide fame.
Mrs. Eddie Campbell is with her small family spending the holiday vacation at "Pier Cottage," Rosebud Cr.E. Campbell will join the party for the week-end.
(P.37, Table Talk, 10-9-1925.)
HOUSE BURNT OUT IN 10 MINUTES Footballers Act As Firefighters MELBOURNE, Thursday. Fanned by a strong wind, fire destroyed Pier Cottage, the seaside home of Cr. E. Campbell, of the Melbourne City Council, at Rosebud early today. Damage was estimated at £lOOO.
The cause of the fire is unknown. The building was razed to the ground within ten minutes. Only the chimney was left standing. Nobody was in the house at the time.Members of the Rosebud Football Club, returning from a party, saved neighboring houses by forming a bucket-chain and throwing water on the flames. (P.5, Shepparton Advertiser, 25-9-1936.)
LACCO GENEALOGY SUPPLIED BY TONKIN OF FAMILY TREE CIRCLES.
LOCCO Fort married Elizabeth KING 1872
Journal by tonkin
Groom: Fort LACCO.
Birth place: Given as Greece.
Bride: Elizabeth KING.
Birth place: Given as London.
Year married: 1872.
Place: Victoria, Australia.
Marriage note.
LACCO recorded VMI under TELO.
I have used the correct spelling for this family record.
Fort died 1915 in Dromona, Victoria.
Age: 72 years.
Parents named as John LACCO and Mary COMEO.
Elizabeth died 1934 in Dromona, Victoria.
Age: 79 years.
Father named as John KING. Mother unknown.
Seven children located Victorian records for Fort and Elizabeth.
Fort also recorded as Forte.
[1]
Mary Helen LACCO.
Born: 1874 Dromana, Victoria.
Birth recorded under LAVCO.
Died: 1952 Williamstown, Victoria.
Death recorded as Mary Ellen LACCO.
Age: 79 years.
[2]
John William LACCO.
Born: 1875 Sandringham, Victoria.
Birth recorded under LAOCO.
Died: 1875 Sandringham, Victoria.
Death recorded as John William LAOCO.
Age: 10 weeks.
[3]
Christi LACCO
Born: 1876 Dromana, Victoria.
Birth recorded under LAOCO.
Died: 1880 not recored, Victoria.
Death recorded as Christa LAOCO.
Age: 03 years.
[4]
Annie Athena LACCO.
Born: 1879 Queenscliff, Victoria.
Died: 1967 Mentone, Victoria.
Age: 88 years.
Married: James George ELLIS.
Year: 1901.
Place: Victoria.
James died 1961, Williamstown, Victoria.
Age: 83 years.
Parents named as James ELLIS and unknown HOOPER.
Birth note.
James was born 18 November 1877 in Adelaide, South Australia.
Parents named as James ELLIS and Emma HOOPER.
Two children located for James and Annie.
1.
Clara Emma ELLIS.
Born: 1902 Carlton, Victoria.
Died: -
Married: Ronald Charles ELLIS.
Year: 1925.
Place: Victoria.
2.
Grace Evelyn ELLIS.
Born: 1904 Dromona, Victoria.
Died: 1911 Clifton Hill, Victoria.
Age: 08 years.
[5]
Emily Christina LACCO.
Born: 1880 Dromona, Victoria.
Died: 1947 Mont Albert, Victoria.
Age: 64 years.
Married: Henry Ernest ELLIS.
Year: 1909.
Place: Victoria.
Birth note.
Henry was born 28 December 1879 in Goodwood, South Australia.
Parents named as James ELLIS and Emma COOPER.
[6]
Patrick Mitchell LACCO.
Born: 1883 Carlton, Victoria.
Died: 1974 Dromona, Victoria.
Age: 74 years.
Married: Lucy Marie WICKHAM.
Year: 1907.
Place: Victoria.
Lucy died 1947, Dromona, Victoria.
Age: 63 years.
Parents named as John WICKHAM and Mary Ann KING.
Birth note.
Lucy was born 12 April 1884 in Queensland.
Parents named as John WICKHAM and Mary Ann KING.
Six children located for Patrick and Lucy.
1.
Lucy Marie LACCO.
Born: 1909 Sandringham, Victoria.
Died: -
Married: William Alfred HURST.
Year: 1939.
Place: Victoria.
2.
Edna May LACCO.
Born: 1910 Dromona, Victoria.
Died: 1971 Rosebud, Victoria.
Age: 61 years.
Married: Adam Edward DUNK.
Year: 1934.
Place: Victoria.
3.
Kenneth Mitchell LACCO.
Born: 1914 Dromona, Victoria.
Died: -
Married: Betty McMaster HARDY.
Year: 1936.
Place: Victoria.
4.
Harold LACCO.
Born: 1917 Queenscliff, Victoria.
Died: -
Married: Eileen May Miller DEAN.
Year: 1942.
Place: Victoria.
5.
Alexander LACCO.
Born: 1919 Queenscliff, Victoria.
Died: 1978 Mornington, Victoria.
Age: 59 years.
6.
George LACCO.
Born: circa 1922.
Died: 1983 Mornington, Victoria.
Age: 61 years.
Married: Mary Jean ELLIOTT.
Year: 1942.
Place: Victoria.
[7]
Margaret Elizabeth LACCO.
Born: 1886 Carlton, Victoria.
Died: 1968 East Melbourne, Victoria.
Age: 83 years.
Married: Walter STOREY.
Year: 1910.
Place: Victoria.
Walter died 1957 in Dromona, Victoria.
Age: 68 years.
Parents named as Henry STOREY and Ellen KING.
Birth note.
Walter was born 1889 in Collingwood, Victoria.
Parents named as Henry STOREY and Ellen KING.
One child located for Walter and Margaret.
1.
Gwendoline Betsworth STOREY.
Born: 1915 Dromona, Victoria.
Died: -
Sources:
Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages Victoria.
Registry of Births, Queensland.
Registry of Births, South Australia.
Updated 09 August 2014.
With my thanks to itellya for the information appearing in the comments section below.
JN 54192
Surnames: 54192 COMEO DEAN DUNK ELLIOTT ELLIS HARDY HOOPER HURST KING LACCO LAOCO LAVCO STOREY TELO WICKHAM
Viewed: 1196 times
by tonkin
on 2013-03-18 03:33:39
TONKIN lives in Victoria, Australia.
Please note.
Journals are intended to assist new researchers locate family lines in Australia and should only be used as a guide for follow up research and record searches as intended.
Due to spelling and informant errors appearing in the records, typo errors and my misreading of the records mistakes must be expected. Errors will be corrected when detected.
Comments
by itellya on 2014-08-08 00:01:48
While trying unsuccessfully to find the correct spelling of the surname of the first husband of Emily Durham (nee King), I came across this website which gives details of the marriage of Emily's sister Elizabeth. See bold type below.Given the varied spelling of Lacco below, it is not surprising to see such wildly different versions of Tony Durham's original surname. (Tony's surname was given as Paniocta in Emily's death notice while her other two sons were recorded as Durhams.)
RootsWeb: GENANZ-L Re: A lookup please on the Vic Cd's
archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com GENANZ 1999-10
Children
Annie LACCO to Fort LACCO and Elizabeth KING at Quee Vic Yr 1879 / 4775
Emily Christina to Fort LACCO and Eliz H KING at Dromana Vic yr 1880 /
15122
Margaret Elizabeth to Fort LACCO and Elizabeth KING Carlton Vic Yr 1886 /
24538
Patrick Mitchell to Fort LACCOand Elizabeth KING Carlton Vic yr 1883 /
7534
Christi LAOCO to Fort LAOCO and Elizabeth KING at Dromana yr 1876 / 22460
John William LAOCO to Forte LAOCO & Elizabeth KING at Sand. Vic yr 1875 /
19331
Marriage
Fort LACCO to Elizabeth KING Victoria 1872 / 1453R
Death
Christa LAOCO age 8 birthplace unknown year1880 / 3983
John William LAOCO Sandringham Vic Year 1875 / 15109
Hope this helps. Info. from AVR
by tonkin on 2014-08-09 02:50:38
Thank you itellya, I appreciate you taking the time to pass on the above details. Did a few searches today and located the marriage for Fort and Elizabeth. Fort was recorded under TELO which explains why I did not locate the marriage. Also located the missing children recorded under different spellings. The family record has now been updated. Hope it helps other LACCO researchers. Cheers.
on 2016-11-19 23:47:12
Itellya is researching local history on the Mornington Peninsula and is willing to help family historians with information about the area between Somerville and Blairgowrie. He has extensive information about Henry Gomm of Somerville, Joseph Porta (Victoria's first bellows manufacturer) and Captain Adams of Rosebud.