Reuben Sheather &

Lucy Evenden/Elizabeth Sullivan

        1.  Reuben⁹ Sheather  (Henry⁸, William⁷, William⁶, John⁵, Thomas⁴, Thomas³, John² Stace,

Thomas¹) was born 1827 in Udimore, Sussex, England, and died 29 Apr 1904 in Tumbarumba,

New South Wales. 

He married (1) Lucy Evenden (Source: Joy Winthrop (nee Sheather) Dec 15 1995.) 30 Mar 1852

in Church of England Gundaroo, Gunning, Yass, New South Wales (Source: Australian Vital

Records.), daughter of John Evenden and Susannah Evenden.  She was born 07 Nov 1821 in

Sussex, England, and died 25 Apr 1886 in Central Cumberland, New South Wales. 

He married (2) Elizabeth Rosina Sullivan 1887 in Corryong, Victoria, daughter of James Sullivan

and Catherine McDermott.  She was born 1862 in Indigo, near Barnawatha, Victoria, and died

1948 in Oakleigh, Victoria (Source: Victorian Death Index 1921-1985.).

Notes for Reuben Sheather:

The First Settlement of the Upper Murray 1835 - 1845 (By Dr Arthur Andrews)

Reuben Sheather

(pages 150 & 161)

ADGINTOOTHBUNG WEST (co. Selwyn)

Probably originally part of Adingtoothbung holding, it became a separate property in 1862, when Reuben

Sheather, with two of his stepsons, W.H. and E.J. Scammell, who took possession, it then being regarded as

a "No man's land," It lies to the west of the last and the area is given as 32,000 acres. In 1871, Thomas

Robertson held it at a rent of £10, and transferred to James Hillas. By 1875, the rent had been raised to £50,

and Joseph Copeland, a brother of Agent-General Copeland, came into possession.  Shortly after, Mr

Graham, of Ballina, Richmond River, became interested and  ultimately took possession. Much selection

took place and Graham abandoned the  lease. Page 150.

_________________________

GREG GREG, GRIK GRIK, or COROC COROC (Frogs). (co. Selwyn)

On the right bank of the Murray between Welaregang and Bringembrong. This station was not formed till

about 1850, when W. and M. Hervey held 13,000  acres here. Old maps show Hervey's head station here. In

1858, W. Hervey sold to John Pierce, previously and employee of Mungabarrena. In 1865, he held 17,000

acres supposed to carry 600 cattle at a rent of £40. By 1875, much alienation had taken place and the rent

was reduced to £10. Portion No. 1 of the parish of Greg Greg, taken up by Reuben Sheather, was the first

selection on that part of the Upper Murray. Much of the original run remains with Pierce's descendants as

freehold. Page 161.

_________________________

Reuben was apprecticed to a bootmaker at Camden but moved to Maitland where he completed his

apprenticeship. He accompanied the Hassals who took up land atBurrowye/Boorawa/Burrawa. Around this

time he met and married Lucy Scammell (nee Evenden) a widow with 6 children. The family went to Sydney

for a time. They then moved to "the College", an outstation on the Junee run. When the property was sold, 

they moved to Arran-go-arran near Wantabadgery. In 1855 they returned to the Upper Murray to take

charge of "Indi" for Sir John Hay where they remained for about 5  years. Reuben then took up land at

Yungell on the Swampy Plain River and lived there for 4 years. He then selected land at Greg Greg. After 2

years he sold this to John Pierce and returned to Khancoban on the Swampy Plain River. Tiring of life in the

bush he left the property in the care of his stepson William Scammell and the family moved to Parramatta.

He later returned to Khancoban. After his wife Lucy died in 1886, he married Elizabeth Sullivan. They had 4 children.

Reuben spent his remaining years at Khancoban.

..... Joy Winthrop (Dec 15 1995)

-------------------------------------------------------------

Reuben Sheather b. April 8 1827

Extract from "Early Days of the Upper Murray" by Jean Carmody 1981

Page 13/14

"The Scammell children, three boys and two girls, were quite young when their father died in 1849, and a

younger sister born after his death. Their widowed mother, Lucy, later married a younger man named

Reuben Sheather. In 1855, after several moves, Reuben brought his wife and children to the Upper Murray

where, for five years, he managed the Indi run for Sir John Hay and his partner, Chalmers. This run was

eventually purchased by Basil Gray for his mother, so Reuben then moved on to part of Adintoothbung.

The story goes that, after the family crossed the Swampy Plains River in a bullock wagon, Lucy wandered

up the river bank while the boys unyoked the bullocks. She was so impressed by the country she saw that

on returning she called out to her sons, "Come on boys! Yoke up the bullocks! I've just selected the sport

for the homestead." After a dwelling was erected, Lucy made the boys dig a deep pit into the side of a  steep

bank and this, with framework over it covered with bark, was where she set her  milk preparatory to her

butter-making" Reuben and the boys planted willows along  the bank of the river, the cuttings of which were

obtained from those introduced into  the district by the Hervey brothers on their Indi station. A fig tree still

grows to mark  the spot where all this activity took place, well over a hundred years ago. But an unpleasant

shock was in store for Reuben Sheather and his family. One day the Douglas brothers, Henry and Charlie,

rode up to the Sheather home and said, "You're squatting on part of our run!" The Douglases owned four

Upper Murray runs at the time: Indi, Khancoban, Bringenbrong and, after some rearrangements of

boundries, part of Adingtoothbung as well. One of the brothers then said in a friendly tone to Reuben, "You

give us five pounds a year and you're welcome to stay and use this end of the run". Reuben handed over five

sovereigns and they had him "in the bag". By agreeing  to their demand he had admitted, in front of

witnesses, that he knew he was  trespassing on Douglas land. An Eviction order was taken out against him

and the family had to go. Although there is no way of verifying the truth of this eviction incident, so many

Upper Murray families make some reference to it, that this must give some credence to the tale.

It is believed that Reuben moved to Maragle Creek, where there had been a gold strike; there he worked at

the snobbing trade, mending miner's boots. When the selection laws came in, Reuben drew number one

marble for a block at Greg Greg, and Bill Scammell selected at Green Camp (on Indi, opposite the present-

day Khancoban Station Homestead). Fred Scammell and Edwin were the first to select at Khancoban, but

soon Reuben and Bill had sold out and taken up blocks adjoining theirs. And so once again the family was

united."

More About Reuben Sheather:

1893 Greg Greg Land Map showing Reuben's land holding: 300 acres

(Also on the same map is his brother, Edgar's land holdings)

South Khancoban Land Map showing Reuben's Land Holdings: 200a, 80a. and 40 acres

Baptism: 08 April 1827, Udimore, Sussex, England

Burial: 01 May 1905, Corryong Memorial Cemetery, Victoria

Death Ref.: No. 7336/1904

Immigration: 10 Mar 1839, Royal George

Medical Information: dc7336

Notes for Lucy Evenden:

HEADSTONE INSCRIPTION

Erected by Ruben Sheather in remberance of his wife LUCY who departed

this life 25 April 1886, aged 65 yrs. "Thy will be done"

More About Lucy Evenden:

Burial: Miller's Hill Cemetery, Victoria

More About Elizabeth Rosina Sullivan:

Death Ref.: Vic - 1877/1948

Child of Reuben Sheather and Lucy Evenden is:

        2                 i.    Christina McLean¹⁰ Sheather (Source: Joy Winthrop (nee Sheather) Dec 15 1995.), born 1866.

Children of Reuben Sheather and Elizabeth Sullivan are:

        3                 i.    Reuben Daniel¹⁰ Sheather, born 1889 in Hume/Albury, New South Wales. 

                                 He married (1) Alice Maria Smith. 

                                 He married (2) Ivy May Firman 1925 in Albury, New South Wales;

                                 born 1904 in Bendigo, Victoria.

More About Reuben Daniel Sheather:

Birth Ref.: No. 13506/1889

Electoral Roll: 1930, 21 Temple Street, Petersham, Sydney, New South Wales

Electoral Roll-1: 1930,  Home Duties - 40 Pidcock Street, Camperdown, Sydney, New

South Wales

More About Ivy May Firman:

        4                ii.    James Evelyn Sheather (Source: Joy Winthrop (nee Sheather) Dec 15 1995.), born 1890 in Tumbarumba, New South Wales; died 29 Nov 1959 in Lalor, Victoria. 

                                 He married Alice Maria Smith (Source: Joy Winthrop (nee Sheather) Dec 15 1995.) 1924 in Victoria; born 1900 in Wonga, Victoria.

Notes for James Evelyn Sheather:

James enlisted with the A.I.F. on the 20th October 1916 at Melbourne, Victoria. He is

described as 5ft 9 1/2in. 160lbs with a Medium complexion, Blue eyes and Brown hair.

James saw service in Egypt and Palestine. James returned to Australia on the 7th

August 1919 and was discharged from service on the 14th September 1919

 WW1 Enlistment

First World War Embarkation Roll
James Evelyn Sheather
Number 3132
Rank Private
Unit 8 LHR [Light Horse Regiment] - 15 to 31 Reinforcements (April 1916 - November 1917)
Ship Name HMAT Anglo Egyptian
Ship number A25
Date of embarkation 31 January 1917
Place of embarkation Melbourne

More About James Evelyn Sheather:

Birth Ref.: No. 34313/1890

Occupation: 1916, Labourer

Religion: Roman Catholic

Burial: 02 Dec 1959, Fawkner Cemetery, Melbourne, Victoria

Death Ref.: Vic - 28603/1959

Military service: Pte 3132 8th Light Horse 05.10.16 - 03.07.19

        5               iii.    Edgar Herbert Sheather (Source: Joy Winthrop (nee Sheather) Dec 15 1995.), born 1891 in Tumbarumba, New South Wales; died 15 Jul 1961 in Seaford, Victoria. 

                                 He married Myra Paterson 1925 in Ardlethan, New South Wales.

Notes for Edgar Herbert Sheather:

Edgar enlisted in the A.I.F. on 5th October 1916 He is described as 5ft 6in. 160 lbs

with a Red complexion, Blue eyes and brown hair and a Roman Catholic.
Edgar served in Egypt where he was addmitted to hospital with Diptheria on 15th

October 1917 .
He was discharged in Egypt at own request on 22nd August 1919 after being posted to

the Australian Soldiers club in Cairo, in August 1918.
On Edgar's Application for Discharge, he gives the following as his reason for

application "I wish to commence business in Egypt. I have already laid out 100

(pounds) to  my interests in Cairo...." Edgar's application was approved.

 WW1 Enlistment

First World War Embarkation Roll
Edgar Herbert Sheather
Number 3133
Rank Private
Unit 8 LHR [Light Horse Regiment] - 15 to 31 Reinforcements (April 1916 - November 1917)
Ship Name HMAT Anglo Egyptian
Ship number A25
Date of embarkation 31 January 1917
Place of embarkation Melbourne

More About Edgar Herbert Sheather:

Birth Ref.: No. 34803/1891

Death Ref.: Vic - 13181/1961

Electoral Roll: 1930, Lineman - Bendee Street, Barellan, New South Wales

Residence: 1935, 300 Quay Street, Melbourne, Victoria

Military service: Pte 3133 8th Light Brig. 05.10.15 - 22.08.16

        6               iv.    Rosilea Sheather (Source: Joy Winthrop (nee Sheather) Dec 15 1995.), died 29 Jan 1980 in Frankston, Victoria. 

                                 She married Arthur Norton 1940 in Victoria.

More About Rosilea Sheather:

Education: 1914, Upper Towong State School (Source: Betty Lebner, Bush Schools and Scholars,  (1998).)

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