1945 – Josephenna Theresa Wright (nee Cramer) is living in Castlemaine.
1958 – Josephenna Theresa Wright dies. She is 85 years old.
Further information on Castlemaine Benevolent Asylum
Castlemaine is a small town in Victoria, Australia. It was established in 1851 as a gold rush town.
Castlemaine is on the traditional lands of the Dja Dja Wurrung people, also known as the Jaara people. It was known as a rich hunting area. By 1880 it had a population of 7,500.
Josephenna Theresa Wright (nee Cramer) lives in Castlemaine for a period of her life. She is my maternal great grandmother.
In 1945, she is living in the Castlemaine Benevolent Asylum. She is diabetic and has gone blind.
Castlemaine Benevolent Asylum initially provided refuge to poor and homeless people. Then from 1900, aged and frail people, and people with disabilities.
1958 – Josephenna Theresa Wright dies. She is 85 years old.
Further information on Castlemaine Benevolent Asylum
Josephenna Theresa Wright (nee Cramer) is my maternal Great Grandmother (Cyril Wright’s mother).
Josephenna was born 15th August, 1877 in Port Pirie, South Australia. Her parents were Heinrich Christoph Cramer (1835-1885) and Margaret McNamara (1842-1910).
Josephenna married Frederick George Wright in Wentworth, NSW in 1897. They had 7 children, Cyril being their 3rd child.
Josephenna’s husband George died in Mildura in 1942. She died in 1958 in Castlemaine, Victoria at the age of 85 years.
These are the places where Josephenna lived along with key life events:
1880 Josephenna is 3 years old when her father, Heinrich deserts her mother, Margaret. He attempts suicide and is jailed for this – for 3 months.
1885 Josephenna is 8 years old when her father suicides by gunshot wound to his head.
1887 (1 April) Josephenna’s mother marries John Hill Sedgman in Balranald, NSW (Registration Number 1887/003844).
1887 (July 8) Josephenna Theresa (10 years) and her siblings, John (8 years) and Matilda Cramer (6 years) are ordered to the Royal Park Industrial School in Flemington, Victoria. Their mother, Margaret Sedgman (Cramer/McNamara) is destitute since her husband (John Hall Sedgman) has deserted her.
Josephenna (Theresa), John & Matilda: Neglected, found wandering about. Father (Henry) dead, Stepfather, J.H. Sedgman deserted
1891 (October 20) Josephenna Theresa Cramer, daughter of Margaret McNamara and Henry Cramer, is listed as living in Abbotsford during her time as a Ward of the State. She is 14 years old.
Reference: Index to the Children’s Registers of State Wards 1850-1893 (Victoria) BB=Boys’ Book, RH=Receiving House
Volume BB7, page 174 TC & TSN. RH6, page 150 (TC & TSR)
1896 Balranald, New South Wales
1896 (March 11) Theresa, John and Matilda are discharged to their sister (Mrs. Dean) in Gampang, Balranald, NSW. There is no trace of their Step-father, John Hill Sedgman. Their mother is also living in Balranald.
Reference: Index to the Children’s Registers of State Wards 1850-1893 (Victoria):
(Matilda and John) Volume BB7 (Boys’ Book), page 173 & Vol RH6 (Receiving House), page 155.
(Theresa), Volume BB7, page 174 TC and TSN & RH6, page 150 TC and TSR
