Family of Francis GAMMON and Isabella RAEPER

Before they were married

Francis GAMMON was born on 8 December, 1899 (1) in Saint Mary, Reading, Berkshire, England, United Kingdom. His parents were Edwin Alfred GAMMON and Edith Annetta JONES. At the time, they were living at Myrtle Grove, Argyle Street, Reading, Berkshire, England, United Kingdom.

On the England & Wales census taken on 31 March 1901, Francis is one year old and living with his parents at 15 Argyle Street, Reading, Berkshire, England, United Kingdom. When Francis was a boy, the family moved to Portsmouth. In 1926, he emigrated to Australia. During the war, he worked as an inspector of Munitions at a factory in Marybenong, Melbourne.

Isabella RAEPER was born on 6th April 1904 at 3 Gladstone Lane, Turriff, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, United Kingdom. Her parents were Alexander RAEPER and Jane STEWART.

At some point, her family moved to Aberdeen. In 1934, Isabella migrated to Australia to help rear the child (Margaret) of her sister Margaret, who died in childbirth. She was living at 1 Granton Place, Aberdeen, Scotland, United Kingdom just before she emigrated. At the time of her marriage, she was living at Logan House, Toorak Road, South Yarra, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

Married life

Francis and Isabella were married on the 21st September 1940 at the Thomson Memorial Presbyterian Church, Ormond, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. At the time of their marriage, Francis was living at 38 Stuart Street, Armadale, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

Francis and Isabella had two children, Frances and Edwin. They lived in Box Hill, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Francis was the gardner for various people. Important clients were Mr Sparks who was a local councillor and owned a nursery, Mr Judkins who was a doctor, and Mr Reid who was a Member of Parliament and regularly opened Carols By Candelight and lived in North Balwyn. Francis was allowed to use a property in Middleborough Road for cultivating plants until Liverpool Road in Kilsyth was bought in about 1952. In 1956, the family moved up to Blythe Road on Mount Dandenong.

The latter years

In the 1960’s, Francis and Isabella moved to 38 Durham Raod, Kilsyth, Victoria, Australia. A pet cockatoo that was kept in the backyard at Kilsyth is a favourite memory for me in my childhood, as well as helping/hindering Grandad (Francis) as he tinkered away in the shed. When visiting, I remember playing vinyl records, and going through all of Grandma’s (Isabella) memorabilia of Scotland.

Francis GAMMON died on the 24th September 1983, in Box Hill, Victoria. Isabella continued to live in Durham Road for a while, but eventually moved to the nearby Kirkbrae retirement home. It was my pleasure to pick her up most Sundays in my new car, and bring her home to join in the family activities. She died on the 3rd December 1989 at the retirement home, Kirkbrae, Mt Dandenong Road, Kilsyth, Victoria. Australia.

Sources:

1. Francis Gammon death, 24 Sep 1983, Box Hill, Victoria, Australia
2. Email from Sue Shadbolt 10/03/2007
3. Francis Gammon birth, 8 Dec 1899, Saint Mary, County of Reading
4. Public Record Office: 1901 UK Census, RG13/1145
5. Board of Trade: Commercial and Statistical Department and successors: Outwards Passenger Lists BT27
6. Interview with Dad 6/9/05
7. Last Will and Testament of Francis Gammon, 18 September 1973
8. Gammon - Raeper marriage, 21 Sep 1940, Ormond, Victoria, Australia
9. Isabella Raeper birth, 6th April 1904, Turriff, Aberdeenshire, Scotland
10. Isabella Gammon death, 3/12/1989, Kilsyth, Victoria, Australia
11. Sale of 38 Durham Road, Kilsyth
12. Wendy Gammon: Family Tree Typed By Wendy Gammon from Notes by Isabella Raeper

Research to do:

1. Find photos of Myrtle Grove
2. Research Myrtle Grove property
3. Research Collingwood, Copnor Road, Portsmouth, Hampshire, England, United Kingdom
4. Research the ship Orsova, of the Orient Steamship Line
5. Research and get photos of 38 Stuart Street, Armadale, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
6. Research and get photos of Thomson Memorial Presbyterian Church, Ormond, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
7. Research Maribyrnong Munitions Factory durig the 2nd World War
8. Research and get phoos of 99 Severn Street, Box Hill, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
9. Research and get photos of the property in Liverpool Road, Kilsyth, Victoria, Australia
10. Research and get photos of the property in Blythes Road, Mount Dandenong, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
11. Find photos of 38 Durham Road, Kilsyth, Victoria, Australia
12. Researxh where 3 Gladstone Lane, Turriff, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, United Kingdom was
13. Find my photos of 1 Granton Place, Aberdeen, Scotland, United Kingdom
14. Research the ship Orama of the Orient Steamship Line
15. Research and get photos of Logan House, Toorak Road, South Yarra, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
16. Research and get photos of Kirkbrae, Mt Dandenong Road, Kilsyth, Victoria, Australia

Link to Family Tree:

Francis GAMMON