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Rebecca Hicks nee
Griffin
REBECCA GRIFFIN was
born 11 Jan 1875 in St Olave, Surrey, London to parents Ebenezer and Mary
Ann Griffin, and was just six months, when she with her family was
transported to New Zealand on the ship "Mataura".
Her daughter Roslyn related her mother Rebecca's story of
the journey (Ref. Janice Griffin -"Griffin Family") as was described to
her by Mary Ann, her grandmother:
"The sailing
ship the family travelled in, came round the Cape of Good Hope taking
about 3 1/2 months. Rebecca was the only surviving infant when they
reached New Plymouth - thirteen babies being buried at sea. Also there was
supposed to be quite an adventure with an iceberg. Something like this...
The boat sailed between two icebergs apparently drifting towards
each other and caused terror; the women praying for safety. Some little
while later after they were clear of the danger, the icebergs crashed. As
a small girl, this story sent shivers down my spine".
No record found of Rebecca's schooling however by 1898 she
was an attendant nursing at Mt View Asylum at Wellington. Her older
sister Alice and her husband Richard Arthur Woodger and children were
living not far away. She met Percy Fisher who was working there as a
carpenterand became engaged to be married to him. This relationship ended
in the courts with Fisher being charged with serious assault and intent to
do Rebecca grievous bodily harm and was found to use the alias Smith
and was a married man. She and Percy went for a walk in July
1899 in the Wellington College grounds and sat for some time. She
declined to allow him to kiss her, and as he persisted she tried to get
away from him, but he detained her, put his hand across her mouth, threw
her on the ground, knelt upon her, and produced a clasp
knife, with which he threatened to kill her and himself unless she stopped
her screaming. She managed to get the knife from him, and thrust it into
the ground. She eventually got away from him, and appealed, for protection
to a man who came up, who took her to her brother-in-law's house where the
doctor found marks upon her face and body. That man was the French master
at Wellington College - he said he heard screams in the College grounds on
the night in question and found Rebecca leaning against a fence, and as he
came up, a man disappeared into the darkness. She told him to save her -
that she had been assaulted by her fiancee and he assisted her home.
At the
time of the trial, Rebecca resigned from the hospital. It is not known
when she went to Australia to make a new start - the trial had been
widely reported even in Taranaki papers... however it is very likely she
travelled with her sister Alice and her husband Richard Woodger. Sydney Morning Herald - Saturday 13 March
1909 Howard's parents, GEORGE HICKS and MARY WENHAM BITTER PIT. FOREST REEFS.-In
experimenting in his apple orchard for bitter pit, Mr. H. Hicks has
noticed a decided improvement this season as a result of twining several
turns of wire round the trunks of tho trees, and preventing the overflow
of sap, to which he attributes the trouble, especially with Northern Spy
variety, which seems particularly prone to bitter pit. Mr. Hicks says that
since he tried the experiment this season's crop have got better and come
to maturity 1911- FOREST REEFS.-Some attention which has been
given apple-growing, especially in the 'vicinity of Long Swamps, has shown
It to be a profitable employment Several have disposed of hundreds of
cases -perhaps amongst the best, Mr. H. Hicks who has already disposed of
about 600 cases, are Five Crown Pippins, Winter Magento, and Granny
Smiths, which have been found to be in a perfect state of preservation
after being packed for twelve months. This grower especially will now give
more attention to this variety , for the best all round results. The
prices, have stood locally at 5/6 and 6/ a case. 1913 MOUNTAIN ORCHARD TROPHY.
KATOOMBA.-At the last meeting of the Blue Mountains
Agricultural Bureau, presided over by Mr. H. Hicks, and
held at Katoomba, a letter was received from the Agricultural Department
requesting local orchardists and gardeners to collect specimens of all
Insects in the various mountain gardens and orchards, and forward them to
the department. The secretary (Mr. le. Wooller) reported that, accompanied
by Mr. Bryan, fruit expert from the Agricultural Department, an inspection
had been made of the Megalong Valley farms and
orchards. KATOOMBA. -For the Empire Day celebrations today
there was a record attendance at the Public school to hear addresses songs
and witness the presentations The president of the Parents and Citizens
Association Mr H Hicks was chairman and speeches were given by the Major
Alderman Goyder Alderman Dash and Alderman Sands Rev Mr
Rowsell.............. 1. ROSLYN DOREEN HICKS was born 1911 in
Drummoyne, NSW, Australia, and died 09 May 2003 in Drummoyne, NSW,
Australia. She married FREDERICK ARTHUR* CORY in 1945 at
Drummoyne, son of FREDERICK ERNEST CORY and BLANCHE HICKS. He
was born 19 Apr 1902 in Maitland, NSW, and died 27 Aug 1979 in Drummoyne,
NSW, Australia. FREDERICK ARTHUR CORY (No
134803) was a Leading Aircraftman at East Moree who enlisted on 8
June 1943 at Sydney and served in the Royal Australian Air Force WW2. He married 1945 and his
discharge came 11 March 1948 and he was posted to Eastern Area
Headquarters. Their son :
(1) FREDERICK PETER* CORY who
married COLLEEN. 2. JOHN (Jack) HOWARD HICKS was born 15 Jul 1912 in
Walcha, and died 07 Nov 2004 in Paterson. John married OLIVE
EMILY STONE in 1940 at Paterson. She was
born 04 Jul 1919 in Wingham, and died 30 Oct 1974 in Paterson and Jack and
Olive are buried together in Paterson Presbyterian Cemetery. Their
children:
2. ROBERT 3.
R 4. D 5. TERRENCE OLIVER (TERRY) HICKS was
born in Maitland. He married CHRISTINE MURRAY and they have two sons
Mark and Daniel Hicks 3. REX NEWLYN HICKS (b: 1913 in
Walcha, NSW; d: 10 Sep 1996 in Paterson Gloucester, NSW aged 82yrs) In
1936 he was a Dairyman at Wingham, Cowper, and in 1942 he
mar: ENA GWENDOLINE (ENID) PAYNE in Taree. (b: 1912 in
Taree, NSW; d: 26 Apr 2003 in Gloucester Mount George, NSW aged 90yrs) Rex
Hicks bought property in the Gloucester area and was a grazier. They
are bur: at the Gloucester Lawn Cem. Family are : i.
D ii. HOWARD HICKS infant son who
died. 4. EDGAR HICKS - this son was named
after Rebecca's brother but died as an infant and is buried at
"Claraville" in the orchard, the homestead of Rebecca's in-laws at Stroud.
5. RUTH WOODS - Rebecca fostered Ruth as a
3 week old baby abt. 1927 and she lived all her life as a loved member of
the family She married quite late in life to Gordon Green and they lived
at Balmain in Sydney. Gordon predeceased Ruth who passed away in her
70's
After Howard's death, Rebecca opened up her
home to boarders and travellers and Rebecca and daughter Roslyn moved to
Drummoyne when Roslyn started nursing. Jack and Rex stayed around the
Gloucester/Mt George area after their mother moved to Sydney and in 1942
Jack moved to Patersonto work with the Dept. of Railways. Rex Hicks bought
property in the Gloucester area and was a grazier for his entire life and
he and wife Ena are buried at Gloucester Cemetery.
Details of family descendants were formulated
by Rebecca's grand-daughter, Dianne Rapson and we are endebted to Peter Cory of Sydney, son of Roslyn for
sending photos. Can you help identify these unknown family images?.
Rebecca
Hicks photo Page Rebecca
Hicks Ancestry Page |
They had a plant nursery outlet
at Molesworth Street, Wellington but the financial downturn saw
them in difficulties and they sold up in 1899 and went to Sydney with
their 2 children.
