Thomas Ohalam Smith

Notes:

From Dan Byrnes:

His mother died a few weeks after he was born at Gilgandra. He was given to a family named Johnsn/Johnston to be cared for. He saw his father only once, when he was about three years old. Thomas applied for his birth certificate in 1928, when he was 40. Or, Ohalam. He may be John Thomas O Smith? Larkin has notes from general records, births, of Smith, 1888, Thomas O. Smith, to John T. and Catherine of Coonamble, in 1885 a John Thomas S, to John and Hannah at Brisbane Waters. This Thomas is of Waverly in the Larkin tree. Late in his life, his lost parents were once identified but he never bothered to delve further into who were his siblings. Where is that info? Grandfather of compiler Daniel Thomas Byrnes. Cf., David Austin Larkin, Cornwall to Coogee: Taylor, Rooke and Windle Family Histories. Self-published, Burpengary Qld, 1989. ISBN 0 9592440 1 8.



From daughter Marge Kelly 26/1/2008:

Tom's mother Catherine died when Tom was only 3 weeks old and Tom was raised on a farm by the Johnson family of Gilgandra. Tom's only memory of his father was when Tom was 3 years old his father came to visit him and gave him a bag of marbles, he watched his Dad ride away and never saw him again.

Tom became friendly with the Hamilton family who owned a hotel in Dubbo, and accompanied some of the Hamilton boys to Sydney. This was a permanent move for Tom. The Hamiltons also had an electrical store in Sydney and Tom acquired appliances from them. He owned a radio at a time when they were not common and also a clock which he kept all his life and which stayed in the possession of Elizabeth after his death. Those that knew Tom and Elizabeth probably remember the clock sitting on the mantelpiece and the ritual winding of same. Tom always kept in touch with the Hamiltons, one of the Hamilton sisters attended Elizabeth's 90th birthday in Tamworth and commented at the time that Tom "was always a good boy". Tom always said he was the youngest of 7 siblings.

Marge remembers Tom said that he slept his first night in Sydney on a Manly ferry (stowed away?)

Tom's foster parents only gave him two years of primary education prior to putting him to work on their farm. After moving to Sydney, Tom realised the he needed further education and studied as a mature age student. He turned out to be a good mathmetician and Marge remembers evening visits by Vaucluse Council engineers to discuss with Tom how a road should be designed and to work out the curves etc.

From Debbie Musgrave:

Grave details: Anglican 5D Row 7 Grave no. 87


From Debbie Musgrave:

Tom's mother did NOT die shortly after he was born, this was just a story that Tom handed down to his family. His parents actually abandoned him. His mother died at Redfern 33 years later just a short distance from where her abandoned son Tom was living.

Buried:
Eastern Suburbs Memorial Park
A5D - Anglican FM 5D - 87

Tom's burial was delayed by a strike at the cemetery.

Died:
Prince Henry Hospital (The Coast Hospital)

Thomas married Elizabeth Emily Windle on 12 Jul 1915 in Waverley, NSW, Australia. Elizabeth (daughter of Alfred Ernest Windle and Sarah Rebecca Meades) was born on 26 Nov 1893 in Coogee Bay, NSW, Australia; died on 29 Apr 1985 in The Entrance, NSW, Australia; was buried on 2 May 1985 in Botany, NSW, Australia. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

From Marjorie Smith:

After Tom and Elizabeth were married they lived with Elizabeth's mother Sarah at Bondi Junction (Mill Hill Road) for a period before moving to St, Leonards where Tom had secured employment as a labouror. When Tom secured employment with Vaucluse Council they moved to Vaucluse and lived a small house which was only half built and was called "The Rest". Around 1928 they moved to Watson's Bay where the children grew up and which was always a "special place" for them.



From Debbie Musgrave (marriage certificate):

Tom and Elizabeth wre married on 12 Jul 1915 at St. Barnabus' church, Mill Hill, Waverly by Robert Lyle Houston, minister.

1. Phyllis Smith was born on 26 Apr 1916 in Waverley, NSW, Australia; died on 07 Nov 2000.
2. Sarah Smith was born on 12 May 1917 in Bondi Junction, NSW, Australia; died on 31 Jul 2000 in Tamworth, NSW, Australia.
3. Lionel Keith Smith was born on 09 Sep 1918 in St. Leonards, NSW, Australia; died on 24 Dec 1980 in Maroubra, NSW, Australia; was buried on 10 Feb 1981 in Botany, NSW, Australia.
4. Marjorie Smith was born on 14 Feb 1921 in Willoughby, NSW, Australia; died on 12 Jun 2014 in Kirrawee, NSW, Australia; was buried on 20 Jun 2014 in Woronora Cemetery, Sutherland, NSW, Australia.

Other Events:

• Residence: 23 Jun 1888, Merrigal, NSW, Australia; : 39

John married Catherine Elizabeth Donnelly on 09 Sep 1881 in Gulgong, NSW, Australia. Catherine (daughter of John Donnelly and Margaret) was born on 1 Oct 1848 in Bathurst, NSW, Australia; died on 17 Aug 1919 in Redfern, NSW, Australia; was buried on 19 Aug 1919 in Rookwood, NSW, Australia. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Residence: 16 Oct 1876, Uarbry, NSW, Australia

Notes:

Thomas Ohalam always said his mother died when he was a child, but this is not correct. Anyway, Tom had no memories of his mother, he was raised by the Johnson family of Gilgandra.

From Debbie Musgrave 2013:

following on from my research dated 10 November 2011 which included the following details:

Smith Catherine 71 19/08/1919 SEC*M2*E*2116 Burial Rookwood

Rookwood Catholic Cemetery : Mortuary 2 : Area E : Grave 2116

I contacted the Rookwood catholic Cemetery and was given the following information:

* No headstone
* Catherine was buried with Emily M Hagar
* Emily was 18 years old and buried on 11 May 1917
* The owner/contact of the grave was Sidney Collins (husband of granddaughter)

_______________________________________________________

1 I found a death registration for Emily M Hagar in teh same district as Catherine Smith

Death: 5211/1917 Hagar Emily M Thomas J Sarah A Redfern

I found information on the Catholic Cemeteries site

Burial: Hagar Emily M 18 11/5/1917 SEC*M2*E*2116 Rookwood

Location: Rookwood Catholic Cemetery : Mortuary 2 : Area E : Grave 2116


________________________________________________________

2 I found a marriage registration fpr Sarah A Smith and Thomas Hagar

Marriage: 3144/1898 Hagur Thomas Smith Sarah A Cobar

Birth:
Winburndale

Died:
NSW BDM 14263/1919

Buried:
Catholic section - 19/08/1919 SEC*M2*E*2116 Burial Rookwood - no headstone

Notes:

Possible child Sarah Ellen Smith ---->

Married:
NSW BDM 4899/1881

Notes:

Occupation: Farmer

John married Margaret. [Group Sheet]