This originated from an entry started in my RED HILL DICTIONARY HISTORY when I knew not a single Connell descendant. Now there is so much information that I would fill the surnames list with surnames of just families connected with the Connells. The end of the journal will include information from Petronella Wilson's GIVING DESTINY A HAND (which is not available for borrowing) about George Young (possibly related to Robert Coxen Young) and his two wives (WILSON of the Survey/Main Ridge/ Flinders/Red Hill and WHITE, related to the Female Drover), and other relatives such as Turner, Bidgood etc.


CONNELL.
Extract from MORNINGTON HISTORY WALK, SELF GUIDED.
Turn right into Albert Street
18. St Andrews Church - 51 Barkly Street
Church - Barkly Street

This building had significant heritage to the area but unfortunately in the 1980's was been turned into a retail precinct. The church was built in 1867 by William Grover using bricks supplied by Thomas Allchin from his local brickworks. The church trustees were John Barrett, Alex Morrison, John Connell and James Butchart owner of Beleura. Reverend Caldwell came to Mornington in 1874 and commenced a long tenure with the church and town, being one of the more influential citizens. In 1979 the Mornington Historic Society applied to the National trust to preserve the church. The National Trust failed to find the building significnat on a Statewide basis. In 1984 the church was convereted to a restaurant.

It might seem strange to start an entry in a Red Hill history with a piece of Mornington History. But members of the Connell family lived in Red Hill and at least one still does. The following has been pasted from the original Red Hill Dictionary History journal so that I can ensure that I'm not repeating myself without constantly swapping between two journals.

CONNELL.

Extract from my THE FEMALE DROVER: A HISTORY OF MOOROODUC.
James Connell received the grant for allotment 12 near the boundary with Kangerong and Bittern parishes. It was possibly Anthony or James whose rates on 50 acres and a hut in Dromana were paid for him by Wilson at the deathknock on 20-1-1865. The rate collector didn?t know much. As well as not knowing the given names of Connell and Wilson, he didn?t realize that the name Dromana only applied to land west of McCulloch St.
POSTSCRIPT, 26-4-2013. It is likely that the Connell rates were for a leased farm on the Survey and were paid on 20-1-1865 by George Wilson,then aged about 31, who married Anthony Connell's daughter, Mary Jane,in 1866,the same year that the unrelated Henry William Wilson was insolvent. (Giving Destiny a Hand, Kangerong Road Board rates.)

Colin McLear tells us the following. The Connells were tenants on Jamiesons Special Survey in 1851 or shortly thereafter. (Anthony Connell?s block was probably near the one later occupied by Henry Wilson.) A descendant of Anthony?s was a silent partner of Jack Rudduck in Mornington Station in the Kimberleys in the 1950?s. Mornington Station was near Fitzroy Crossing 300 miles inland from Derby.
The Connell and White children were among the pupils of a school that operated near the Hickinbotham Winery site in the early 1850?s. This school may have closed when the teacher?s wife died or because two private schools had been opened in Dromana by Quinan and Nicholson. Its closure was probably the impetus for the establishment of a school in Moorooduc.
Anthony Connell was obviously the forerunner of the Connell family in the area. He received the grants for allotments 27 and 29, totaling 337 acres, all or part of which became the rifle range.
In 1910, James Connell, a farmer of Mornington, was leasing 238 acres (lots 3-6 of Bruce?s) and James Connell, a farmer of Tuerong, was leasing 230 acres (lots 1,2 of Bruces.) This land was just south of Ellerina Rd in the parish of Kangerong. I presume that would be James senior and James junior. Bruce?s was the northern section of the Survey fronting the Sea Lane, which is now called Bruce Rd, and is the boundary between Kangerong and Moorooduc parishes.

Anthony Connell's grants in the parish of Moorooduc, crown allotments 29 and 27, with a frontage of 1680 metres on the east side of Three Chain Road (Old Moorooduc Rd) from opposite No. 235 to opposite the Vineyard Lane corner (the south boundary of the Tuerong pre-emptive right)consisted of nearly 338 acres and had a Balnarring Rd frontage of 310 metres at the north east corner.(Melway 151 J8 to 152 A-B 6.) In 1873 Anthony was granted C.A. 11A bounded by Gillett Rd on the north, which is now the Tuerong Reserve.(152 C6.) When the property was sold, Connells were the auctioneers.

JAMES CONNELL'S GRANT.
On 17-7-1886,James Connell was granted crown allotment 12,section A, parish of Balnarring, consisting of 177 acres 2roods and 25 perches. This had frontages to Balnarring and Derril Rd. It is very difficult to be exact about its location on Melway because the creeks shown on the parish map do not appear on Melway map 152. Derril Rd is the boundary between the parishes of Moorooduc and Bittern and the road meeting the midpoint of the eastern boundary of c/a 12,being in Bittern, is not named on the Moorooduc map. It is, however, certainly Hodgins Rd. The eastern boundary was 2926 links (585 metres), so using my Melway (not superpages) map, I can state with certainty that the north east corner was latitudinally in the middle of 152 G8,just north-east of where Derril Rd(northbound) curves to deviate around the reservoir.The south east corner is at the top right corner of 152 F 10. The north and south boundaries have to be parallel with Foxey's Rd and the driveway to Donistoun Park (152 D9) could be just within its south west corner.

A Connell family living in Red Hill in the 1890's must have lost their rabbit's foot. Firstly their little girl was badly burnt as a result of her brother playing with matches (Mornington Standard 18-4-1895 page 2) and then Mr Connell was in hospital receiving treatment for his eyes by the end of 1896(M.S. 24-12-1896, P.3.)
Two young Davey girls of Marysville, Frankston (Davey's Bay)had collected donations as a Christmas present for the distressed family and the donations were to be forwarded on to Mr (H.P.)Davey of Forest Lodge, Red Hill.
The family was referred to in the first article as living near Red Hill so perhaps they were near Merricks North and Forest Lodge. As Henry Pearce Davies was involved as secretary of the Balnarring sports committee (My DISCOVERING DAVEY journal)it is possible that this family was in the parish of Bittern where J.(John?) Connell had a grant across Balnarring Rd from Anthony's. My journal also reveals that the hospitalised father was William Connell.(Mornington Standard 12-11-1896 P.3 and 10-12-1896 P.3.)

POSTSCRIPT, 22-4-2013. Mrs Trevor Connell, a descendant of Red hill pioneers, Joseph and Mary Ann Simpson, told me today that Connells lived on Eatons Cutting Rd. Most of the land along this road (7 and 7A, Kangerong) was not alienated until the 1900's so perhaps William Connell was leasing 8 acres from the Crown.

Cr Davies asked the council to provide some relief for the family and H.P.Davey pointed out that the father had previously been unable to work for six months before his eyesight problems emerged and the large family, with the oldest child only 15, was living on bread and water. (Mornington Standard 17-12-1896 P.3, F&K SHIRE.)

Evelyn Connell, daughter of Mrs Connell of Red Hill, died on 24 April, 1910 from pneumonia at the age of 19 and was buried at Mornington Cemetery. She was one of a set of triplets. (Mornington and Dromana Standard 30-4-1910 P.2.) Miss R.Connell was a member of the Red Hill Literary ans Social Club, rendering items along with Charles and Mrs Thiele, Tom Sandilants' wife, H.McIlroy, W.Simpson and Mr Prosser (sic).(Mornington Standard 29-8-1903 p.3.)

In 1900, William Connell was assessed on 8 acres Kangerong. The man who first appealed for help for William's family, A.E.Bennett, was living on Kent Orchard at the time. Kent Orchard, later occupied by the Huntleys was on Kentucky Rd (Melway 191 H 1.)

Although no details were given, Evelyn Mary (Evie) Connell who died on 11-12-1900 might have been the mother of Evelyn (above) and thus Mrs Connell of Red Hill and William's wife.

POSTSCRIPT 23-4-2013. Dot Watt's information shows that the parents of the unfortunate triplet, Evelyn,who died in 1910 were William and Rebecca (nee Bidgood.)

Today (22-4-2013) Mrs Trevor Connell provided me with Connell genealogical information compiled by Dot Watt nee Connell without the aid of a computer. I will later speak with Dot. A member of the Balnarring Historical Society has written a book about Lou Connell who was the other competitor in the formation of the legend of Foxey's Hangout. There are two or so books,including Mary Karney's THE GOLDEN PLAINS OF TUBBARUBBAREL,that give much detail about the contest and the unfortunate Jackson.

Henry Connell married Isabella (Topham?)in 1803.(Marriage licence bonds book for the diocese of Cork and Ross in Dublin Public Records Office.)

Parents of Anthony and Simon Connell arrived as bounty passengers on 30-9-1840 on the ship "Himalaya". Anthony was engaged by E.E.Manuel Esq. for 3 years. He was listed as a labourer in one section but in the list of all unmarried men he was listed as a baker. Anthony bought land on 3-10-1855,lots 46 and 48,Parish of Moorooduc,for one pound per acre.Lots 46 and 48 were shown in reports of land sale (P.R.O.code V.P.R.S.80, UNIT 4)but lot 46 was section 27. Lot 48 was section 29.

Simon Connell appears in the Port Phillip directory of 1847 as a farmer, Strathallan,Darebin Creek.

(Simon may have been leasing from Malcolm McLean, who later advertised three 220 acre farms to let on Strathallan. McLean later offered a paddock on the Strathallan Estate near the Darebin Creek, on the Upper Plenty road to the Victorian Agricultural Society at a reasonable price.(P.6, Argus, 1-5-1871.) It's a fair bet that Strathallan Rd (Melway 20 C7)and Latrobe University are on the Strathallan Estate. If Simon was there long enough he would have been a neighbour of John Brock,an early Bulla squatter whose run was absorbed into Big Clarke's Special Survey and moved to the Bundoora area by 1851 when his wife, Jane, died; Brock called his estate (north of Strathallan)Janefield.

It's a fair chance that Simon saw John McLear killed outside the Plough Inn, Bundoora's first hotel, on Boxing Day,1849. John's widow, Mary Ann,possibly his groom,William Marshall, and Anthony Connell were to become tenants on Jamieson's Special Survey not much longer than a year later. John had been leasing land from a Mr Green since 1846, possibly near Greensborough Rd,east of Strathallan.)

The Electoral Roll Victoria 1856-57 Mornington Division.
Name and Surname of Voter No.515-Connell, Anthony.
Place of Abode and description. Mt Martha, farmer.
Nature of Qualification. Freehold.
Description or Qualification. Land, Mt Martha.

Simon Connell, No.516, Mt Martha, Farmer, Freehold,Mt Martha.

Anthony Connell, born 1802, County Cork,Ireland; died 4-5-1895, Moorooduc, Reg. No. 7767.
Buried 6-5-1895, Mornington Cemetery, Pres.16. Lived Tuerong at time of death with son, James Connell.
Farmer, General Debility.

Married 21-3-1869, Reg. No. 1179.
Mary Ann Phair,born 23-7-1827, Hobart, Tasmania.
Died 31-3-1910 aged 82 years. Buried 2-4-1910, Booroondara Cemetery, Kew, Pres.B 3909 with daughter, Elizabeth Jackson.

Simon Connell,buried 28-5-1878, aged 66 years. Typhoid Pneumonia, Farmer,lived Bittern.
(Information from George Connell) Plot No. C/E 125.
Also buried in Pres. 16 (with Anthony):
James, 1 day old March 1901;
Evelyn 19 years, 26-4-1910, father-William,mother Rebecca, nee Bidgood.(Info.from James Connell.)-One of the triplets!

CONNELL-YOUNG.
James Connell, b.15-8-1854, Moorooduc,d.10-6-1926, buried 12-6-1926 C/E 324, Mornington Cemetery; his parents were Anthony and Mary Ann Connell.
Jane Ann Young, b.14-2-1856, Moorooduc, d.20-8-1938 aged 82 years, Mornington,buried 22-8-1938 with James; her parents were George Young and his first wife Jane (nee Wilson.)
James Connell and Jane Ann Young married in 1880 (Reg. No. 865.
Their children were:
1.Anthony Edward Young Connell b. 2-9-1876, Schnapper Point (Mornington), d. 12-1-1891 aged 14 years, buried 14-1-1891, Mornington Cemetery Pres. 15 with uncle and uncle John and Ellen. Killed by rock fall at quarry. (Possibly near Gillett Rd, now a park.)
2. James Thomas Young Connell b.8-6-1878 Schnapper Point.
3. John George Connell b.13-8-1880 (Reg. No. 25262)Schnapper Point, married 20-8-1908 (Bella Hooper?)
4. William Charles Connell b.25-8-1882,Schnapper point (Reg. No.25815), d. Western Australia, married 10-5-1911 at Onslow near Ashburton, W.A. to Ellen Mary Taylor. Which one died in 1947?
5. Albert Ernest Connell b. 16-3-1884 Schnapper Point (Reg. No. 12875), d. ?-7;1948 aged 64 years at the old post office at Mornington from a heart attack after riding a push bike to work from Dunns Rd. Buried 29-7-1948 at Mornington Cemetery, Meth.113. He married May Elizabeth Thorne b.1891/2 Schnapper Point (Reg. No. B.C.7003?)and died in May 1942 from a heart attack aged 52 while she was knitting at her home, Condale Cottage in Dunns Rd. She was buried on 25-5-1942 C/E 350.
Albert remarried to Gladys someone and they had no issue. (See article below re Albert's death.)
6.Mary Ann Eleanor Connell b.3-7-1888 Schnapper Point (Reg. No. 22073 1837-1888 pioneers' Index), d.22-2 1971 aged 85 years, buried Fawkner Cemetery. Married Mathew Mooney in 1910.
7. David Louis Connell b.16-1-1891 Schnapper Point, d.9-4-1968 at Mornington aged 78* from lung cancer, buried 10-4 1968 at Mornington Cemetery C/E 361, (aged 77 in cemetery records.)Married 16-6-1915 at St Peter's Church of England, Mornington (Marriage Certificate No. 782)to Ida Ellis (Ellice)Turner b.23-2-1899 Bittern, d.16-7-1930 aged 31 years,buried 18-7-1930, C/E (339/361?)
8.Charlotte Jessie Connell b.1894 Schnapper Point, d.17-2-1984 aged 89, cremated at Fawkner Cemetery. Married Alex. Simpson.
9.Elsie Florence Connell b.1895 Schnapper Point. Married James (McNaulty?

N.B. See my new journal WARNING:PLACE OF BIRTH. None of the children might have actually been born in Mornington.

OBITUARY MR. ALBERT CONNELL.
Standard (Frankston, Vic. : 1939 - 1949) Thursday 5 August 1948 p 2 Article
OBITUARY MR. ALBERT CONNELL. On. Thursday morning last the death occurred, suddenly of Mr. Albert Connell, of Dunn's Road, Mornington. The late. Mr. Connell was employed at the Mornington Post Office, and after reporting for work on Thursday morning collapsed and died. He is survived by his wife and two sons, John and James. Mr. Connell was a native of Mornington; and was 63 years of age.

Ida Ellis (Ellice) Turner, who married David Louis Connell, the seventh child of James Connell, was probably the child of R.Turner, a Justice of the Peace at Bittern by 1881 and Ellen, who was complaining about drainage in 1885. R.Turner received the grants for crown allotments 29, 28A and 28B, parish of Bittern,the last-named on 17-8-1876. Comprising almost 348 acres, these fronted the east side of Loders Rd, Graydens Rd and Hodgins Rd.J.Turner,possibly Ida's brother, was granted crown allotment 51 and 48 directly across Hodgins Rd and also fronting Turners Rd and Stumpy Gully Rd. The parts of Loders and Turners Rds (the same roadway with a name change at Hodgins Rd)and all the Turner grants are now part of the Devilbend and Bittern Reservoirs. No wonder Ellen had a problem with drainage! I wonder if there was a family connection between the Turners and the family of Smith Ellis in the parish of Flinders.


Mornington Standard (Vic. : 1889 - 1908) Saturday 31 August 1907 Edition: MORNING. p 2 Article
... belonging., to Mr. A. Downward' t. Prd' last week and four other head belonging to Mr. Messrs J. Connell, Turner, and Vale of Mornington, a Government In spector, Mr, Curlewts visited tho district. The,

Vale's Dalkeith was near the Nepean and Moorooduc Highway Junction(Melway 151 C8). The Connell grants south of the Tuerong pre-emptive right,(29 and 27 Moorooduc), fronted the east side of Old Moorooduc Rd from a point opposite No.235 to the Vineyard Lane corner. Anthony was also granted 11A, across Balnarring Rd, now the Tuerong Reserve and fronting Gillett Rd(151 K7 and 152 B6.)The Turner land was at Melway 153 B4-10, about a mile and a half east across the Devilbend Creek valley(no reservoir then!)It's easy to track the killer dogs and also to see how the Connell and Turners would have been well acquainted.

David Louis Connell was known as Lou and once commented that the site of the Devil Bend Reservoir was Connell Country, not because they owned it but because they,Lou in particular, spent so much time there shooting foxes and trapping rabbits. Lou is a third of the legend of Foxey's Hangout, the part aboriginal Tasmanian, Phillip Jackson, being his fellow competitor and Gary Downward the scorekeeper. American servicemen were fascinated by the site during W.W.2.

The following comes from the DISCOVER MORNINGTON PENINSULA website (which has several photos.)
Fascinating Historical Facts - Mornington Peninsula
Foxey's Hangout
Corner Balnarring & Tubbarubba Roads Merricks North

Foxey's Hangout
The old gum tree known as Foxey's Hangout

Foxey's Hangout is located at the corner of Balnarring and Tubbarubba Roads. The corner has been known as Foxey's Hangout since the late 1930's. The name was coined by neighbouring property owners when two trappers, Phillip (Jack) Johnson and Lou Connell used a conspicuous gum tree at this junction to separately display their catches. Johnson, a Tasmanian, came to live in the area in 1936. He made a living working for a local landowner, Herb Downward trapping foxes, for which a bounty was paid. Friendly rivalry sprang up between him and Connell as to who caught the most foxes. Garry Downward, another local, checked the tree each day to adjudicate. The winner was announced at the end of each year.

Foxey's Hangout in the late 1930's
Foxey's Hangout in the late 1930's

This site became a local curiosity and landmark. Jack continued to hang foxes from this tree until his untimely murder in 1946. Friends and neighbours later revived the custom and maintained the site. The hanging practice gradually died out over the years.

Today both Jack Johnson and the old gum tree have passed on but the stories refuse to die. The tree branches are adorned with sheet metal fox profiles as symbols of the real fox carcasses, which hung there in the 1930's. 'Foxey's Hangout' is now recognised as an historic site on the Mornington Peninsula.

FOXEY'S HANGOUT and THE GOLDEN PLAINS OF TUBBARUBBAREL give much detail about Jackson but the August 2011 issue of the Balnarring and District Historical Society newsletter (which prompted my MELBA and SALTBUSH BILL journals) does the same regarding Lou. This is a summary only.

The article states that Lou's parents were James Connell and Jane Ann Wilson but his father had married Jane Ann Young (whose parents were George Young and his first wife, Jane Wilson.)SEE DOT WATT'S INFORMATION.

The location of Anthony Connell's grants c/a 27 and 29 is described very accurately, correctly calling Old Moorooduc Rd "Three Chain Road", its official name for almost a century. The other grants are not mentioned.
N.B.THE PREVIOUS SENTENCE REMINDED ME THAT WHEN I WROTE "THE FEMALE DROVER" I HAD NOT MENTIONED JAMES CONNELL'S GRANT. I HAVE INSERTED IT IN THE EXTRACT FROM THE FEMALE DROVER BUT SO YOU CAN FIND IT EASILY IT IS UNDER THE HEADING JAMES CONNELL'S GRANT.

Lou was born in 1891,just days after "Anthony Connell, 14, eldest son of Mr James Connell of 3 chain road, was crushed to death in Bittern Quarry." Lou was shearing for the Oswins when he was about 16; later he and his older brother, John, were quarry workers and were involved in an accident at Turner's Quarry near Tuerong."

(FOUND IT!!! A serious accident occurred at Turner's Quarry, near Teurong, on Wednesday. Messrs. John and Louis Connell were engaged in blowing out stone,a hole had been drilled, and three pounds of blasting powder put in, when an accident happened with the fuse. The fuse ignited the powder while they were standing over the hole. Both had a narrow escape from being blown to pieces, and they received injuries to face, arms, and body. Dr. Hornabrok attended to the sufferers.-P.2, Mornington Standard, 2-2-1907.)

Lou became a big strong man who excelled in woodchop events at Shows and was an expert rabbit trapper who had 104 traps and caught an average of thirty rabbits a day. As rabbit was the only meat most families could afford during the 1930's depression and Dalgetys bought the skins, Lou made a good living from this and the chickens he sold to hotels, the price determined by the weight of the baskets (into which the odd lead weight happened to find its way!)Extra money came in from foxes and ducks shot in the marshy areas near his home (probably the Devil Bend Reservoir land.)

Lou was a frequent visitor to Herb Downward's "Maxwelton" and on one occasion the fox-shooting contest between Lou and Jack Johnson was initiated. Lou was a rugged footballer but even he was terrified of the Hastings team because they were not satisfied with flattening you; they'd run all over you! One bookie who was being throttled had reason to be thankful for Lou's interest in the sport of kings when Lou came to the rescue. Lou was also a keen dancer.

When Lou was 25, he married 17 year old Ida Turner. (The acquaintance with the Turners was inevitable because of the proximity of their properties, Lou's hunting in the marshy area between them, and the quarry, in which Lou could have died, probably being owned by the Turners.) They lived in Racecourse Rd, Mornington, raising four daughters and two sons but Ida died at 32 from rheumatic fever shortly after the birth of their last son.
The family was split up and Lou moved to Main St to be near his mother who cared for three of her grand daughters (perhaps William and Sarah Connell's triplets, one of whom died at 19 and was buried with Anthony Connell.)

Lou retained his love of hunting, although his shotgun had passed its use-by date, but driving was hardly a strength because his bulk made shifting levers difficult.He died in Mornington in 1968 aged 77.

There is much information about the Connells in Petonella Wilson's GIVING DESTINY A HAND which is primarily about the descendants of Oliver and Sarah Wilson. She gave the date of the Mornington Standard issue that contained Anthony Connell's obituary, and here it is.

MORNINGTON. FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT. Mr. Anthony Connell, a 50 years' resident of the district, died on Saturday last, at the mature age of 93, at his son James' residence, Moorooduc. The deceased had not been suffering from any specific ailment, and on Saturday morning, whilst Mrs. Connell was engaged preparing the breakfast he laid down on the bed and when Mrs. Connell went into the room to call him she found he had quietly passed away. As no doctor was in attendance,a magisterial inquiry was held on Monday by A. Downward, M.L.A. The cause of death being general decay. The funeral took place last Monday, and was largely attended by relatives and friends.(P.2, Mornington Standard, 9-5-1895.)
Anthony's land on three chain road was called Nag's (or Nagg's) Hill and his son,James' grant between Derril Rd and Balnarring Rd was called Home Bush.


Courtesy of steve74.
DEATH OF PENINSULA PIONEER. THE LATE MR.JAMES CONNELL. MEMORIES OF BAXTER'S FLAT RACECOURSE. The passing away of the late Mr. James Connell on June 10 has left a blank in the Tuerong district, and he will be greatly missed by all neighbors around that part. His death came as a surprise, as only the day before he was engaged in doing some fencing. Awakening at daylight he spoke to Mrs. Connell but shortly afterward he drew a long breath and passed away. The esteem in which he was held was shown by the very large attendance at the funeral on Saturday afternoon. The members of the Foresters'lodge (of which deceased was a member) joined the funeral at the Point Nepean road, and marched to the graveside in advance of the hearse. Archdeacon Aickin, of the Church of England, read the burial service, and Bro. F. Berglund the last rites of the Foresters' lodge. The pall bearers were members of the lodge -Bros. J. and E. Turner, H. Downward, P. Olsen, C. Parsons and W. Cavell. The deceased was a native of the Peninsula, having been born at Kangerong 73 years ago. He was asso- ciated in the early days with the first racing club of the Peninsula at Baxter's Flat, and acted as starter there for many years. He was also starter at Mornington until 1919, when the V.R.C. officials filled all the important positions at that course; he acted as starter at Emu Plains and Moat's Corner right up till the last meeting held this year, also at Flinders ever since the race club was re-formed there in 1906. He was, with the Hon. A. Downward and Mr. J. C. Griffeth (sic!), senr., of Dromana, one of the last three surviving members of the first Baxter's Flat Racing Club. Being of magnificent physique, he was an athlete of no mean repute, and took part in the first historic football match played on the Peninsula. This was when two teams, captained by the Barker brothers, of Barker's station, Flinders, just home from college - from the Flinders and Balnarring districts met at Balnarring. Football was played for ten minutes and then the two teams fought each other until dark, some players even being chased to their homes. He then took up land at "Tuerong" and by energy and perseverance had at one time 1000 acres of land and a large number of stock. In recent years he sold 408 acres at Kangerong to Mr. Matthewson and 200 acres near Hastings to Mr. Heggan and lived a quieter life. As a shearer in the "nineties" he used to shear along the Darling and the Murrumbidgee Rivers. In later years he and Mr. Albert Wilson, formerly of Moorooduc, put up a record at John Cleeland's, Phillip Island, which has not since been beaten on the Peninsula. They shore 292 come- back wethers in one day--Mr. Wilson 150, and "Jim" (as he was known all over the Peninsula) Connell 142. He was one of the leading stone contractors of the Peninsula-all the first metal roads were made by Messrs. J. Connell, T. Male and J. Turner. His declining years were cheered by an affectionate wife and a united family, consisting of Messrs. James and John G. Connell, of Brunswick; William, of W.A.; Albert and Louis, of Green Island, Mornington; Mrs. M. Mooney, Brunswick; Mrs. A.Simpson, Brunswick; and Mrs. J. McNulty, Echuca.
(P6, Frankston and Somerville Standard, 25-6-1926.)

The Dromana resident was Cr John Calvin Griffith who was not related to George and Charles Griffieth of the Two Bays nursery at Mooorooduc despite both families suffering from repeated mis-spelling of their surnames in the newspapers. The usual mis-spelling of the former was to add "S" and in the case of the Griffieth brothers the second "I" was left out.

There is a fair chance that the two captains had played in the first recorded game of Aussie Rules. See below.

Cordner-Eggleston Cup - This Cup is contested each year by the first football teams of Scotch and Melbourne Grammar School. It commemorates the first recorded game of Australian Rules Football, which was played between the two schools on 7 August 1858, which scotch won and is today commemorated by a statue depicting the game outside the Melbourne Cricket Ground

Biography - John Barker - Australian Dictionary of Biography
adb.anu.edu.au/biography/barker-john-2935‎
John Barker (1815-1891), pastoralist and public servant, was born on 1 May ... all of whom were educated at Scotch College

Mrs A.Simpson was not related to the Simpsons of Seaview at Red Hill South. (SOURCE:Mrs Margaret Connell, nee Simpson, who is the first connection between the two families.)

OBITUARY THE LATE MRS. JAMES CONNELL. The death occurred of Mrs. James Connell at her residence, Main Street, Mornington, on Saturday evening last. Mrs. Connell was in her 83rd year, and had resided on the Peninsula at Tuerong all her life until the death of her husband, 12 years ago, when she went to live at Mornington. The coffin-bearers were Messrs. G. Turner, J. Connell, E. Young, W. Bidgood. Pall bearers: Messrs. H. Downward, J. Turner, E. Turner, G. Connell, E. Thorne, J. McNaulty. The Rev. H. O. Watson conducted the service and Mr. James Wilson had charge of the arrangements. (P.4,Frankston and Somerville Standard,2-9-1938.)

Jane Ann,the oldest child of George Young and Jane (nee Wilson) had married James Connell in 1880. She was born on the Survey in 1856 and had probably moved from Red Hill to Tuerong in 1870 when her widowed father had married Janet White.

See the GEORGE YOUNG and (future)SARAH WILSON journals for more details about the Connells.