BURRIDGE Mary (nee Searle)

Mary was the second eldest daughter of William & Nancy Searle, she was born at Jerramungup most likely at the Hassell property Jarramungup 30 November 1859. At the time William was working for the Hassell family.  Mary lived at Jerramungup & Pootenup as a child.

Mary’s future husband Richard Burridge was born in Nova Scotia, Canada & arrived in the port of Albany on board the “Uncle Joe ”(a coal ship which he was  working on  in) 1868. Richard worked for the Hassell Family as a General Station Hand for 5 years. Mary’s father William Searle also worked at Jarramungup.

MARY BURRIDGE (nee Searle)  c1913            #1
 

NANCY ANN  SEARLE             #2
 

When he left the employ of Mr. Hassell, Richard went Sandalwood cutting which he shipped out from Albany. Richard did this for around 10 years. He then went to the Goldfields where he set up a business as a carrying contractor in the Eastern Goldfields. After this hard life he was able to purchase a farming block in the Gnowangerup/Broomehill area called Beeginup, building up his holdings to 4,500 acres . Richard held a ‘side licence’ to sell liquor license for the Imperial Hotel in Broomehill and the Premier Hotel in Albany in later years.

WILLIAM SEARLE             #3
 

Mary & Richard married on 17 March 1877 at Albany. There were 13 children (and one stillbirth) from this marriage all of whom were born in the district. The children were Robert Frank (born at ‘Slab Hut’ in Albany Road), Henry George (known as George; m. Olive Parnell), Annie Mariah (m. Fred Richards), Richard (m. Myrtle Parnell sister to Olive), Mary Jane (aka ‘Jeanie’), May Elizabeth (m. Joseph Eastwood), Emma Eliza, John Melver (aka ‘Jack’), Charles Thomas, Margaret Grace (‘Grace’), Albert William, Agnes & Patrick James.

“In 1894 R. Burridge was listed as living at Clear Hills and the following year W. Searle was also mentioned as living there. Three years later Burridge was recorded as being resident at Glengarry.” Bignell p138 “In 1900 Burridge was leasing Glengarry...” Bignell 142

“This fine old lady raised a big family of 13 children at Old Glengarry, just a few miles South of Gnowangerup.” Hock Herbert for Pioneer Women Register in the 1960’s
 

BURRIDGE FAMILY circa late 1913/Early 1914              #4
 Back Row: 1. Stan Pember 2. Vi Burridge 3. John Burridge (query/front row) 4.Harry Searle 5. William Searle
Third Row: 1.Grace Burridge 2.Agnes Burridge 3.Jean Burridge 4.Anni Burridge 5. Emma Burridge (m.Otto Pember) 6. Olive nee Parnell (m. George Burridge) 7. Cis Gaylor or Myrtle nee Parnell 8.Maude Theresa Searle (m. Arthur Dawson)
Second Row:1. Dick Burridge 2. John Burridge (query/back row) 3. Richard (‘Dick’ Snr)Robert Burridge holding (Irene? )4. Mary Burridge nee Searle 5. George Burridge 6. Charlie BurridgeFront Row (Burridge Children) 1. Dulcie 2. Les 3.Wes 4. Grace 5. Lloyd 6.Edgar (query)7. Lovie

Note: Edgar, Dulcie, Les and Mary were children of Richard (‘Dick Jnr) and Myrtle nee Parnell. Another daughter, Florence was accidentally killed in August 1920 aged 2 years and 11 months. Perhaps she is the child sitting on Dick Senior’s knee in the above photo. NB: Mary Jane Jean was known as ‘Jeanie’ or ‘ Lovie’.

“On “Beeginup” were the Gaylors. The property was owned by Mr. R.R. Burridge. “Beeginup” at one time in the sandalwood days was a Roadside Inn and Mr. Burridge had a license to sell liquor. The Inn was mostly used by the teamsters carting sandalwood to Albany as there was no Great Southern Railway then. The “Beeginup” property is today [c1964] owned by Mr. C. Taylor.” Hock Herbert  

Richard served on both the Broomehill & Gnowangerup Roads Board. He was a supporter of the Gnowangerup Brass Band in the 1920’s. Mary died 2 March 1945 aged 84 and is buried in the Broomehill Cemetery as is her husband Richard who passed away seventeen years earlier on 26 October 1928 aged 78.
 

The Burridge Oak Flat c1924 Burridge family home c1930           #5
In the photo is Myrtle Burridge seated(m. Richard Burridge nee Parnell), with possibly Edgar (in his twenties) Lesley, Frances and Dulcie.  Later the Shannon family farmed here, their daughter married Keith Burley
 

Every endeavour has been made to accurately record the details however if you would like to provide additional images and/or newer information we are pleased to update the details on this site. Please use CONTACT at the top of this page to email us. We appreciate your involvement in recording the history of our area.

References:                 Article:      Research by Merilyn Stewart

                                  Image:     5      Lorraine Symmington 

Copyright : Gordon Freegard 2023