March 2017

Page 81

against Paul Van Suylen for 36 pounds; we are left to guess whether it was father or son. The Van Suylen Family

Above: The Tower House Hotel, prior to its transformation to Hope Lodge Farm, as sketched by the Reverend Morton. And featured in his book "Drifting Wreckage". Below: Marriage of William Davies and Elizabeth Van Suylen, 1876.

The year 1866 had brought sadness to the family when the eldest son, Philip, then 19, fell from his horse when returning from Mornington and died in the dam from where the clay had been dug to make the bricks for their home. The death certificate stated that he died from apoplexy and suffocation in the mud. Although “Old Van”, as he was often called to distinguish him from Paul junior, exerted strict control over the family, he suffered a setback in 1876. When Elizabeth Van Suylen and William Davies from Bittern began to show more than a passing interest in each other, the match was strongly opposed by both families; the Van Suylens were Roman Catholics and the Davies were Anglicans. The young couple continued to see each other in secret, although her father had threatened to disown Elizabeth if she had anything more to do with William. However Elizabeth was a very strongwilled young lady and, at the age of 18, arranged her elopement and marriage on Christmas Day, 1876, at St. Peter's at Mornington. She gave her age as 21. Her father carried out his threat and for years there was no communication between Elizabeth and her parents. Further sadness came to the family with the death of Annie Maria at the age of 17 in 1878. Her death certificate gave the cause as exhaustion after four months of illness. In May, 1880, Paul Van Suylen junior married Elizabeth Hurley whose parents had come to Balnarring in 1863, the same year as the Van Suylens. William Hurley, who came from Limerick in Ireland with his wife Johanna, was apparently quite a character and his personality was in some respects similar to that of Old Van. It is said that when he stepped off the boat in Adelaide he asked “Is there a Government here?”and, on being told “Yes, there is.” he replied continued next page...

March 2017

E ssence | 81

PENINSULA


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March 2017 by Peninsula Essence - Issuu