The Fullerton Family Research Project
What is the project?
I have been researching the story of the family and descendants of William and Mary FULLERTON since 2004, and have been collecting any information about their lives that I can find: certificates, documents, photographs, newspaper clippings and family stories, for example. I have also been researching general histories of places, occupations and people to help place the FULLERTON story within its historical context.Ultimately, I hope to compile all the information I have collected into a book, though publication of this book will probably not be for a few years yet.
A reunion of the descendants of William and Mary Fullerton was organised in Elmore, Victoria, on 16 October 2010, to commemorate the 170th anniversary of the arrival of William and Mary FULLERTON in Australia.
Why did I decide to research this family?
I have been interested in family history since about 2003. William and Mary FULLERTON were the earliest of my ancestors to arrive in Australia. I wanted to learn more about what motivated them to leave Ireland before the famine and come to the 'new' settlement of Melbourne. I knew a lot more about my other ancestors than I did about William and Mary. As I began looking into their story, I became very interested and eventually decided that I should preserve their story for future generations.What information am I seeking for the project?
Contact with other descendants of William and Mary Fullerton
- Are you a descendant of William and Mary?
- Would you be interested in contributing to this project?
- Do you have any photographs, documents, letters or other memorabilia related to the FULLERTONs or connected families? Would you be willing to have these photographed or scanned?
- Do you know any family stories that have been handed down through the generations?
- What sort of a family history book would you be interested in? I would love to hear your ideas or suggestions.
Contact with other family historians
- Did your ancestors also arrive in Melbourne on the 1840 voyage of the 'Himalaya'?
- Were your ancestors Irish Catholics in 1840s Melbourne?
- Were your ancestors also from Clane, County Kildare, Ireland?
- Do you have any information about the DUNNE and/or FULLER/FULLARD/FOLLIARD families from the Clane/Naas area of County Kildare or Dublin/Meath/Offaly?
Hi Aillin
ReplyDeleteso sorry I could not get the the Fullerton reunion earlier this year.
Here is a compilation of all of Elsie's letters to the Bendigo Independent. I don't think anyone had compiled them all?
Perhaps you can post it somewhere. I am sure Uncle Don would like to read them.
Love to all the family
Paul
PS I might have to do this in 3 separate posts
FULL LIST OF ELSIE FULLERTON’S LETTERS TO “LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD” LETTER COMPETITIONS IN THE BENDIGO INDEPENDENT, 1900-1904 (AGED 8-11)
ReplyDeleteLETTER COMPETITIONS. GENERAL RULES.
The Bendigo Independent Saturday 3 March 1900 p 6 Article
Competition No. 2 - Prize, Elsie Fullerton, South Elmore.
"South Elmore, Feb. 17, 1900.
Dear 'Red Riding Hood,' - This is the first time I have written to you. I would like to see this letter in the paper. I have three brothers and seven sisters. We have a new teacher; her name is Miss Hartley. Our other teacher, Mr. Dobson, went to the war. We are very sorry. My cousin, Corporal Fox, went to the war too. We have eight cows milking. We have six horses and nineteen pigs. We go to the South Elmore school, three and a half miles.
I remain, your little friend, Elsie Fullerton, aged eight years."
(You write very nicely, Elsie. I hope this will not be your last letter. "R.R.H") Feb. 7.1900.
LETTER COMPETITIONS. GENERAL RULES.
The Bendigo Independent Saturday 24 March 1900
'‘South Elmore, March 11.
"'Dear Red Riding Hood,' - I was so pleased when I saw I got the prize. We have three little pet lambs. Now, I will tell you about this part of the country. We live on the Piccaninny Creek; there is not much water in it now. We live about seven miles from the Campaspe River. My grandfather has been very ill. Everything is so dry about here. There are a lot of rabbits about. I will forward my prize money to the cot along with this letter. As this is all I can think of, I will conclude with best wishes to Red Riding Hood.
I remain your loving friend, Elsie Fullerton (aged 8 years)."
(Many thanks for your donation, Elsie which I received safely. It is very kind of you. - R.R.H.)
LETTER COMPETITIONS. GENERALRULES.
The Bendigo Independent Saturday 15 September 1900
"South Elmore, August 16.
"Dear 'Red Riding Hood,' - It is a long time since I wrote to you last. My father takes the supplement every week, and I like reading the Children's Column very much. The inspector is coming next week. I am going to try to pass. I will be going to school to-morrow. It is three and a half miles. My cousin is going to come back from the war. Please send me a picture of the cot. This is all I can think of, so I will conclude.
With love from your little friend, Elsie Fullerton.(Aged 8 years and 8 months.")
(I hope you will pass our exam., Elsie. What a long way you have to walk to school. I have not a picture of the cot at present, but hope to be able to send you one later on. - R.R.H. )
LETTER COMPETITIONS. GENERAL RULES.
The Bendigo Independent Saturday 26 January 1901
South Elmore, Dec. 17, 1900.
"Dear 'Red Riding Hood,' - I have not written to your for a long time. Our teacher's niece died, and we are having holidays. My cousin, Peter Fox, went to England, and he has to return to South Africa. We have three dogs and four cats. We are milking nine cows. We got to the creamery. My brother's birthday is on January 6. (Jim). He will be thirteen years old. As I have no more news to tell you, I will conclude. From your little
friend, Elsie Fullerton, aged 8 years. Please put my name in your birthday book. I am nine years old on New Year's Day."
(Very pleased to hear from you again, Elsie. I have put your name in my birthday book, also your brother's. - "R.R.H."
ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.
ReplyDeleteThe Bendigo Independent Saturday 6 April 1901 p 7
No. 2 Prize - Elsie Fullerton, South Elmore.
“South Elmore, March 26, 1901.
"Dear 'Red Riding Hood,' It is a long time since I wrote to you, and I hope you have not forgotten me. My brother carts water from the Campaspe River to drink. My brother, sister, and I go to school; we are getting a new teacher. Our last teacher's name was Miss Thompson; we liked her very much. There is only a little water
at the school. All the farmers around here are burning their stubbles. The school in Egerton is going to open on April 1; there will be a good many there. Please 'Red Riding Hood' send me a collecting-card, and I will try and collect a little for the cot. Now, as it is near bedtime, I must close, with love from your little friend, -
Elsie May Fullerton (age 9 years").
(I have not forgotten you, Elsie, and will forward you a card as soon-as those for 1901
are issued. I am so glad you have written to me again.—“R.R.H.”)
LETTER COMPETITIONS. GENERAL RULES.
The Bendigo Independent Saturday 25 May 1901
South Elmore, April 28.
"Dear 'Red Riding Hood,' - Our new teacher's name is Mr. Genardini. My cousin is expected to arrive at Sydney in a few days. He is coming from SouthAfrica; we are very glad. We are very glad to see the water down in the creek. My sister is going to start school to-morrow. My brother has sown three paddocks of seed,
and he has one more to sow. Now, as it is near bed-time I will conclude. - I remain your little friend, Elsie May Fullerton (age 9 years)."
(I suppose your cousin has arrived by this time, Elsie. Had he much to tell you about his travels? - 'R.R.H.')
LETTER COMPETITIONS. General Rules.
The Bendigo Independent Saturday 17 August 1901
"South Elmore, July 25.
"Dear 'Red Riding Hood,; - we are having beautiful weather up here lately. We had a picnic for the Commonwealth on May 14. Our teacher, Mr. Dobson, came home from the war. We had a social,
and presented him with a gold watch chain. My sister went up to Tocumwal, in New South Wales, on Tuesday. Father is contracting at Goornong. He will stay a fortnight. My sister and brother will go down on Sunday. This is all, so I will conclude. - Yours truly, Elsie Fullerton, aged 9 years, 7 months."
(Glad to hear your having such nice weather, Elsie. Have you had any rain lately? What a nice present you gave your teacher. - "R.R.H.")
LETTER COMPETITIONS. General Rules.
ReplyDeleteThe Bendigo Independent Saturday 13 December 1902
"South Elmore, November 8, 1902
"Dear 'Red Riding Hood, "I have not written to you for a long time, but I have not forgotten you. We
have had our picnic at the school, and I got a very nice book for a prize. I passed into the sixth class at the examination. We must be very careful of snakes now, as the hot weather has come. We killed two snakes in our dairy. I am trying for the Riddle-me-re prize. This is all the news now, so I will conclude. I remain your
little friend, Elsie Fullerton, aged 10 years.
(Glad to hear that you have not forgotten me Elsie; also that you won such a nice prize at school. - R.R.H.")
The Bendigo Independent (Vic. : 1891 - 1918) Saturday 29 October 1904 South Elmore, September 10, 1904.
"Dear 'Red-Riding-Hood, "Seeing your letter in the column I thought I would try and help you. Have
you ever been to the country at spring, time? Everything is very pretty. All the wattles round the creek are in flower also the buttercups and violets. The Elmore agricultural show will be held on the 28th. I think I am going, so I hope it will be a nice day. We live six miles from the Whipstick, and sometimes go for a picnic there. This is all I can think of, so good-bye, with love from
ELSIE FULLERTON."
Age, 12 years.
(Thank you for your thoughtfulness, Elsie. You must write and tell me how you enjoyed the show. — "R.R.H.")
Bendigo Advertiser, 3 May 1918
ReplyDeletethe speaker recounted tales of local soldiers. He told how George Fullerton had
set out with but one companion, a man named Buckland, and attacked a large party of Germans. Fullerton himself shot eight, and bayonetted two of the enemy before the remainder got away. Some days later Fullerton succeeded in capturing 30 Germans by himself.
the speaker recounted tales of local sol-
diers. He told how George Fullertonhad
set out with but one companion, a man
named Buckland, and attacked a large party
of Germans. Fullerton himself shot eight,
and bayonetted two of the enemy before
the remainder got away. Some days later
Fullerton succeeded in capturing 30 Ger-
mans by himself.
The Bendigonian, % july 1917
PRIVATE G. B. FULLERTON.
Elmore, 27th June.
Private George B. Fullerton, son of Mr.
Peter Fullerton, the well-known farmer and
contractor of Avonmore, is reported to have
died from wounds in France on the 12th
inst. The deceased soldier sailed with the
38th (Bendigo) Battalion in June of last
year, and had been seven months in the
trenches in France. He was 27 years of
age, and a popular figure in social and
athletic circles in this district. Much
sympathy has been expressed at the loss of
a fine manly character.