Australian Royalty: Genealogy of the colony of NSW

Born at 115 George Street Sydney.
115 George Street was part of the first hospital complex serving the early colony. The second brick ward/store was erected on this site. After the hospital moved in 1816 the land remained vacant. William Charles divided his Town grant of 1842 into three lots. The northern lot (No 111) remained vacant till 1845, when a single storey timber and shingle house and shop was built and tenanted for various commercial uses until its demolition in 1861. In 1841 a two storey brick walled and shingle roofed shop and dwelling (No 113) was erected, which was also demolished in 1861. The southern lot (No 115) was first built on in 1832, with a two storey brick walled and shingled roofed house and shop with outhouses, which was replaced in 1862. In 1862, Elizabeth Charles (William's wife) replaced the existing buildings with new three storey brick walled slate roofed shops and dwellings on all three lots, and they continued to be tenanted by various small business uses. The Charles family retained ownership of the original grant until 1900 when it was resumed by the New South Wales Government under the Observatory Hill Resumption Act. During 1920 the land granted to William Charles was cleared of buildings, and by the end of that year two new shop frontages were erected to replace the three previous ones.
The site has significant research potential as an archaeological resource, the underfloor deposits appear to remain undisturbed from the demolition of the 1862 buildings. Evidence may still exist which has the potential to inform about previous developments on the site including the 1862 building and even structures erected or land use before this on the site.

Family oral history has it that after her mother, Sarah Sen.died, Sarah, aged about 2, was brought up by another family. Her father died when she was 4. He had been a seaman and was also recorded as a 'dealer' or shopkeeper.
On 9 April 1888, when Sarah was 14, Esthelia Radley nee Bowden gave Sarah a bible. Sarah was probably at Parramatta at that time, and so was Ethelia Radley. In it Ethelia inscribed:
'Presented to Sarah Ann Griffiths on her fourteenth birthday by her loving friend, Esthelia [sic] Radley'.
Ethelia was the wife of George Henry Moulds. It is possible that Sarah was cared for after her mother died by individuals in the Moulds family. Her future husband, Simon Peter Purnell was connected to the Moulds family. His mother, Rosetta Moulds, was the sister of George Henry. This may well have been how Sarah first met Simon.
The bible became the 'family bible' and in 1931 Sarah gave it to her second eldest daughter daughter Gladys. She inscribed it:
'Presented to
Gladys Irene Purnell by her mother.
Sunday 8th November 1931
Keepsake'
The bible is still in the possession of Gladys's grand-daughter, Linda May Price.

St David's Church. Simon was described as a farmer and bachelor, aged 25 born in Galston and living at Galston near Parramatta. Sarah was a general servant and spinster, aged 18 born in Sydney and living at Pennant Hills near Parramatta. The consent of Charles H. Hickey a guardian of __ was given to the marriage. Simon's parents were recorded as Stephen Purnell a farmer and Rosetta Moles [sic]. The only parent that was recorded for Sarah was her father George Griffiths. Rosetta Purnell nee Moulds and Harriet Telfer stood as witnesses. Rosetta Purnell made her X mark. St David's Church has since been demolished.

The many friends of Mrs Simon Purnell of Galston will regret to hear of her serious illness. She has been very poorly of late and during Christmas week, Drs Kearney and Brown found that she had developed typhoid and advised her removal to the Parramatta District Hospital.

Purnell, Sarah Ann, Brook's Parade, Belmont, home duties
Purnell, Simon Peter, Brook's Parade, Belmont, labourer

Purnell, Mildred Thelma, Walter Street, Belmont, costumiere
Purnell, Sarah Ann, Brook's Parade, Belmont home duties
Purnell, Simon Peter, Brooks Parade, Belmont, labourer

Purnell, Mildred Thelma, Walter Street, Belmont, costumiere
Purnell, Sarah Ann, Brook's Parade, Belmont home duties
Purnell, Simon Peter, Brooks Parade, Belmont, labourer

Sylvia Mavis Purnell recollected that Sarah Ann had a shop on the waterfront at Belmont and that she sold a lot of ice cream and cakes.

Purnell, Alfred Maxwell, Lake View Pde, Pelican Flat, labourer
Purnell, Donald Leopold Gerrard, 112 Evans Street Belmont, meat supervisor
Purnell, Doris Meville, Lake View Pde, Pelican Flat, home duties
Purnell, Herbert Lloyd, 112 Evans Street, Belmont labourer
Purnell, Herbert Clifton, 112 Evans Street, Belmont, labourer
Purnell, Ivy May, Walter Street, Belmont, home duties
Purnell, Lenard Charles, Walter Street, Belmont, wheeler
Purnell, Mavis Mary, 112 Evans Street, Belmont, home duties
Purnell, Sarah Ann, Walter Street, Belmont, home duties
Purnell, Simon Peter, Walter Street, Belmont, pensioner.

Mildred and her mother Sarah were the ones who did all the cooking at Christmas. Sometimes there were 20-30 people there at Sarah and Simon's house at Belmont. There were always threepences and sixpences in the Christmas pudding. The puddings were probably made by Eileen and Amelia (sisters of Benjamin Clarence Coutman) in Tamworth and Benjamin, Millie and family brought them down when they came to Belmont on the train. When the family came down, they also brought 4 or 5 pairs of dressed chickens from Benjamin's poultry farm.

Sarah died in the house in the corner of Margaret and Kathleen Streets, Tamworth. Her usual address was recorded as 17 Edgar Street Belmont. The informant was her son in law: Irwin C. Luke, 35 Kanilba Hall, Tusculum Street, Potts Point.

Mrs. Sarah Ann Purnell, who died age 87, left five sons, five daughters, 20 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.
Mrs Purnell was the widow of Mr Simon Peter Purnell, who died seven years ago.
She was born at George Street, Greater Sydney, and attended school in Sydney. Later she moved with her parents to Parramatta and after that to Galston near Hornsby, where she married.
After some years at Wyong, she shifted to Mayfield in 1914 and lived there 14 years. For the last 32 years she lived at Belmont.
The funeral was to the Church of England section of the Sandgate Cemetery. Canon A.C.A. Blaxell held services at the funeral parlours and at the graveside.
The five sons who survive Mrs Purnell are George (Taree), Herbert (Hamilton), Alfred (Pelican), Frank (Belmont) and Lenord (sic) (Belmont).
The daughters are Mrs V. Tucker (Casula), Mrs. T. Price (Mayfield), Mrs. I. Laverty (Sydney), Mrs. I Luke (Sydney), and Mrs B. Coutman (Tamworth).

They are in Anglican 1, section 56, lots 73 and 75. It is right up near the Pacific Highway at Sandgate and virtually behind the Admin Building. Unfortunately there are no headstones so no inscriptions. All that one can go on is the lot numbers - Sarah Ann Purnell Lot 73 (on Left) and Simon Peter Purnell Lot 75 on the right. The two headstones on the photo that you can see are the graves on the other side of the row.