Hi Wendy, Yes, I do have a little incidental information on the Stone family of Hillsborough ('little' Maria married Richard Milne). Maria's father was Brainerd Heber Stone, an American. Maria's mother was 'big' Maria Stone, and her honestly was called into question by some of the other women. Do you already have Brainerd Stone's obituary? He died in 1895 and is buried at Yack. This is a statement by Brainerd Josiah Stone in 1885 (young brother of Maria) Brainerd Stone statement 1885 Inspector Rix gets statements from the school pupils. I, Brainard Stone, 11 years in July next, am in the 4th class. When bringing the milk in the morning have seen on Saturday Mrs Anderson mopping the school out, about twice in the month - have never seen a scrubbing brush used, Mrs Anderson stood up all the time. Have never on other mornings seen Mrs Anderson sweeping the room out - the room looked each morning as if it had not been swept. Have seen Percy and Violet Anderson often running about the room every day, never any other child. Have seen Rosetta Paull sometimes running about. Mess was made by the hat room door, it took place two or three times a week. It took place where I am standing about three weeks ago. Brainard Stone Emma Anderson - Mrs Maria Stone (Part of a letter from teacher Emma Anderson, to Inspector Rix) Hillsborough Mary 12th 1885 H.Rix, Esq. Sir, I take the liberty of writing and hope it may not reach you too late for your report - Dear, Sir, I think even you will allow that in common justice when the children's word is accepted against the Teacher's at least you should know something of the parents so as to judge somewhat of the home training. The chief witnesses against me yesterday were the Stones and their parents are not respectable even. Mr Ralph was a fellow servant of Mrs Stones years ago and in her own language she said "Its well known Stone is not married to her, he can't if he would for she's married already to a man called Noonan - was last heard of at Chiltern. Her children and his are all in the Industrial Schools and she sometimes gets letter from there addressed through this Office to Maria Noonan, but she took up with two or three men before she picked up with Stone and she's stuck to him." I think a good one to prove that assertion to your satisfaction is Mr Frank Vale who has been here among them for ten years. I don't know him in the least but it does seem so hard to have my character taken away by those who have none to lose, that I shall try to prove the truth of my statements yesterday in every possible way. I could not prove what I did not know, and although suspecting falsehood it was quite impossible for me to guess the nature of it. I wrote to Mr Jamieson to engage a servant for me as the one I had in Gippsland would not come so far away. He engaged Amelia Stone, at 6/- per week. Mr Wilberforce, an old resident of Hillsborough (of I think 28 years) met me at Beechworth, and brought me out here. While on the road he told me the girl I was getting was a bird from a bad nest. I afterwards learned by Mrs Ralph and Mrs McGowan coming to interview me the 1st Sunday I was here what he meant..................... (Mr Frank Vale and Mr Jamieson are previous teachers at Hillsborough) All the best, Ronda ----- Original Message ----- From: "Wendy" <wendyfensom@optusnet.com.au> To: <AUS-VIC-HIGH-COUNTRY-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Friday, November 12, 2004 9:37 PM Subject: Re: [HC] Assorted Research Interests > Ronda, > Did you have STONE amongst your Hillsborough dramas?? My memory might be > playing tricks - again - but I just thought I'd check! I lost my entire > INBOX for some unexplained reason about three weeks ago......... so can't > check. > Cheers, > Wendy > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Ronda Shambrook" <shambrookdr@dcsi.net.au> > To: <AUS-VIC-HIGH-COUNTRY-L@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Thursday, November 11, 2004 10:46 PM > Subject: [HC] Assorted Research Interests > > > > Hi list members, > > > > My interests are as follows: > > ANYTHING to do with Hillsborough especially the Hillsborough School No. > 889, or the Homeward Bound mine. Also Sutton and Bruarong, especially the > Bruarong school. > > Families: Waterson, Blewett, Shugg, Folster, Colville, McKibbin, Hays, > Magee, McCullough > > > > Black Springs Bakery, Black Springs (Melbourne Road) School No. 1740 > > Price family: James & Harriett Price of Black Springs, Willliam Price & > Mary Elizabeth (Bessie) Stollard of the Black Springs bakery, Charles Henry > Price & Margaret OGrady of Three Mile, then Red Bluff. > > > > McEvoy Mine Disaster at Eldorado in 1895, especially James Thompson (son > of William Thompson & Ann Barry). > > > > I'm sure you've all seen these dozens of times before, but you never > know....... > > > > All the best, > > > > Ronda > > >