Esther Amelia Millen

Father: George Millen     Mother: Anne Andrews

Spouse: Albert G. Genge

Children: Mabel Lillian Genge; born 1878; Parkes NSW

Walter William Genge; born 1879; Parkes, NSW

John Ingram Genge; born 1880; Parkes, NSW

Hubert George Genge; born 1882; Parkes, NSW

Eleanor Jane Genge; born 1883; Parkes, NSW

Birth Certificate No. 1855; Collingwood, Melbourne, Vic.

Marriage Certificate No. 2855; 1877; Parkes, NSW

Death Certificate No. 6598; 1921; Parkes, NSW

Probate No. 107790

1855, 29 May - Esther was born at Kerr Street, Collingwood, Melbourne, Victoria. Her father was a butcher and was going under the name of George Millenwood at the time. The informant was her grandmother Mary Ann Whitcombe who owned the house where Esther was born. Mary Ann signed by her mark.

1856c - When the gold rush started her father was employed as a butcher to the miners. He bought cattle on the hoof, slaughtered them, sold the skins and provided meat for the miners. He and his family followed the miners from Victoria into New South Wales.

1865, 26 December - Her future husband, Albert, arrived in Adelaide from England as a free settler. He joined his brothers, Francis, Isaac and Jacob.

1868 - Albert moved to NSW where he was a station manager at Albury, NSW.

1874, 6 February - Albert arrived at Parkes. He had left Albury with a saddle horse, pack horse and 300 pounds. He selected 320 acres on the Billabong Creek, 5 miles south of Parkes in April 1874. He cleared the land and commenced growing wheat.

1877 - Albert, was on the electoral roll for Bogan with his residence being Billabong Creek.

1877, 1 November - Esther married Albert G. Genge at St George's Church of England, Parkes, NSW. She was aged 22. He was aged 29 having been born 7 October 1848 at Mandeville, Hardington, near Yeovil, Somerset, England, to Thomas Genge (farmer) and Elizabeth Ingram. He was a farmer. Benjamin Stephens was the officiating minister and the witnesses were Jacob Genge and Fanny M. Summers. Esther lived at Currajong, Parkes, and Albert lived at The Welcome, Parkes.

1878, 31 July - They had Mabel Lillian Genge at Parkes, NSW, when she was 23.

1879, 7 October - They had Walter William Genge at Parkes, NSW, when she was 24.

1880, 14 December - They had John Ingram Genge at Parkes, NSW, when she was 25.

1882, 9 June - They had Hubert George Genge at Parkes, NSW, when she was 27.

1882 - Her husband, Albert, was on the electoral roll for Forbes Council with his residence being freehold at Billabong. He was also on the State electoral roll for Forbes with freehold property at Gold Field, Billabong.

1883, 11 January - Her son Hubert George Genge died at Parkes, NSW, aged 7 months when Esther was aged 27.

1883, 18 November - They had Eleanor Jane Genge at Parkes, NSW, when she was 28.

1885 - Her husband, Albert, is listed on the Return of Stockowners as having a property called “Coobang Creek” at Parkes of 320 acres holding 8 horses.

1890, 19 December - Her husband, Albert, was listed as a witness to the burial of Thomas William Millen, the 7 hour old son of Esther's brother, William Alfred Millen.

1902 - Her husband, Albert, is listed as an eligible voter on the Forbes Rabbit Board with one vote. His address was “Mandeville”, Parkes.

1904 - Her husband, Albert, is listed in Wise's Commercial Directory as a farmer at Parkesborough.

1908, 22 February - Her son Walter William Genge died at “Mandeville”, Parkes, NSW, aged 28. Esther was aged 42. He died of “chronic nephritis, AC uraemia, convulsions, exhaustion”. He also was a farmer.

1908, 28 February - The following appeared in the Western Champion Friday:-

Death of Mr W. Genge

We regret to report the death of Mr Walter Genge, eldest son of Mr and Mrs A. Genge, of the Welcome, which occurred on Saturday last from an acute attack of Bright's disease. Deceased, who lived at Murga, became ill on the previous Wednesday, and started with his wife and child, for his parents home. On the way they were overtaken by a heavy storm, and sought shelter at Mr Frank's place. By this time Mr Genge's condition had become serious, and the wetting received during the storm had an ill effect. As soon as possible he was removed to his father's residence, and medical aid was summoned, but he gradually sank and died as already stated on Saturday afternoon. The funeral which took place on Sunday as very largely attended, the service at the graveside being read by Mr Knight, in the unavoidable absence of the Rev. R.S. Smith. Deceased was a strong , active young man, only 29 years of age, and the greatest sympathy is expressed on all sides, with the wife, parents, and relatives in their sad bereavement.

1908 - Her husband, Albert, was an eligible voter on the Pastures Protection Board with one vote. His address was “Mandeville, Parkes.

1910 - Albert and Esther were enrolled in the State seat of Ashburnham and lived at Parkesborough. Albert was listed as a farmer. Also at Parkesborough was Helena Jane Genge who was probably Eleanor Jane Genge, their 26 year old daughter, living with them.

1914 - Albert was enrolled in the Parkes Municipal Council roll and had land at Caledonia Street, Parkes, of which he was the owner. He was listed as a farmer.

1915, 19 February - The following appeared in the Forbes Advocate Friday:

Queer Doings at Parkes

Note:- In this story fines of 5/- and 3/- costs were imposed on, among others, H. Hocking, The Welcome; A. Genge, Parkesborough; James Hocking, The Welcome; J. Pascoe, The Welcome. This was for failing to destroy rabbits on their land. The “queer doings” had to do with the head of the panel of three walking out over the lenient fines voted on by the other two panel members. This matter dragged on for some time in letters to the editor and subsequent inquiries and later ended up in the Supreme Court for slander.

1916, 27 October - The following appeared in the Forbes Advocate Friday:-

Parkes - News of the Week

Mr A. Genge of Parkesborough has been presented by residents of back Yamma with a pair of field glasses as a mark of their appreciation of his generosity in allowing them to use the private track bridge (over the Billabong Creek) on his property during the wet season.

1919 - Esther visited Julia Emily (nee Hocking) and James Sawyer at Orange and they, together with Julia and James' daughter Julia Edna Ann Sawyer, went to Orange cemetery. Esther thought that her father, George Millen, may have been buried there. Not located.

1921, 6 June - Esther died at Parkesborough, NSW, aged 66. She was survived by her husband, Albert, and children, Mabel 42, John 40 and Eleanor 37. The informant was her husband, Albert, who lived at Parkesborough, NSW. The cause of death was “cancer of gall bladder and liver, cachexia, heart failure”. Her doctor was H. Sadler who last saw Esther a week before she died. She was buried the next day in the Church of England cemetery at Parkes, NSW, (row D-38) with Chas. F. McAlpine, Presbyterian minister, officiating.

1921, 16 June - The following appeared in the Western Champion Thursday:-

Death of Mrs A. Genge

The late Mrs Genge, to whose death we briefly referred in our last issue, was a native of Melbourne, and was 66 years of age. When quite a child she came to New South Wales with her parents, and lived at Orange, Grenfell and Forbes, coming to Parkes district 48 years ago. She was married in 1877 to Mr Albert Genge, of “Mandeville”, Parkesborough, and had lived ever since at the old home. Of a family of three sons and two daughters the surviving members are Mrs G.F. Field (Parkesborough), Mr John Genge (Canowindra), and Miss Eleanor J. Genge, of “Mandeville”. The deceased was sister to Mrs Walter Ingrey (Grenfell), Mr W. Millen (Thirroul). Mr John Sawyer, Mrs T. E. Davis, Mrs R. Amos and Mrs G. Donovan, all of Sydney, and Mr Jas. Sawyer (Orange). The funeral took place on the 7th inst., to the Presbyterian cemetery, and was largely attended, the Rev. C.F. McAlpine officiating at the grave. To the bereaved husband and family we join in extending our sincerest sympathy.

Esther and her husband owned a property called “Mandeville” at Parkes. It is on this property that we believe the two boys, James and George Millen, are buried. They died of typhoid fever. The property was named after Albert's birthplace in Somerset, England. The property is now (1997) owned by Esther & Albert's great-grandsons.

1927, 17 September - The following appeared in the Sydney Morning Herald Saturday:-

Deaths

Amos - September 15 at her residence, 15 Edmund Street, Waverley, Ann, widow of the late Richard Amos, and dearly loved mother of Thelma, Ernest and Dorothy, aged 54 years.

Funerals

Amos - The friends of Mrs M. Ingrey and family, Mr A. Genge and family, Mr and Mrs W.A. Millen and family, Mrs J. Davis and family, Mr and Mrs John Sawyer and family, Mr and Mrs James Sawyer and family and of Mrs E. Donovan and family are kindly invited to attend the funeral of their dearly loved sister and aunt, Ann, to leave 15 Edmund Street, Waverley, this (Saturday) morning at 10:15 for Waverley Cemetery.

1928, 8 March - The following appeared in the Western Champion Thursday which mentions her widowed husband, Albert, in the obituary of her half-brother, John Sawyer:-

Death of Mr J. Sawyer

There passed away in Sydney on the 27th February an old Western district identity in the person of Mr John Sawyer. The deceased who was a native of Forbes was 63 years of age. Portion of his early years was spent in Parkes where he received his education at a private school before the advent of public schools in the western districts. Three weeks ago the late Mr Sawyer paid a visit to his brother-in-law, Mr A. Genge of “Mandeville”, Parkesborough, and toured the Western towns with his brother, Mr J. Sawyer of Orange, and his death, which was sudden, will come as a shock to many of his old friends in the Parkes district. He leaves a wife and grown up family.

1935, 4 January - Her husband, Albert, died at their property “Mandeville” aged 86 of “senility, auricular fibrillation”.

1935, 7 January - The following appeared in the Parkes Champion Post Monday:-

Obituary - Mr Albert Genge

Another gap in the ranks of the pioneers was made when the death occurred last Friday of Mr Albert Genge, at his home at Parkesborough at the age of 86 years. Mr Genge, who was one of the district's most respected residents, was born at Hardington-Mendeville, England in October, 1848, and arrived in Australia the Boxing day following his seventeenth birthday. 

He arrived in the Parkes district in 1874 in the place then known as “The Bushman's Lead”, the population at that time consisting mainly of gold miners. The quality of the land from an agricultural point of view and the permanency of such an occupation appealed more than the gamble of toiling in the search for gold, and to test the soil a crop was sown. At that time the other farmers in the district were Messrs J. Nash and Harris at Kurrajong, and G. Field, at the creek crossing on the Back Yamma road, which was the main road from “Bushman's Lead” to Forbes at that time. 

In 1874 320 acres were selected by Mr Genge at Parkesborough and a few months after occupation the miners told him that farmers were not wanted in the area. The miners appealed to the Goldfield Commissioner, Mr Dalton, to put a stop to agricultural activities, and the Mines Department proclaimed a reserved area “for gold-mining purposes”. This put a complete block to land settlement. Mr Genge and the farmers carried on and results proved that the district was good for cultivation purposes - especially for wheat growing. When the land was again thrown open for settlement, the progress made by the pioneer farmers attracted many who were eager to follow agricultural purposes. The ground bore the burden of golden grain - grazing areas were prepared and mixed farming established. 

Mr Genge brought the first stripper into the district in 1880. It was brought from South Australia and did service for 28 years. It is still in existence and is lying at the rear of the house at Parkesborough. A great drawback was the poor marketing facilities, for the nearest railway station was then at Raglan, on the Sydney side of Bathurst. A district agitation commenced for the extension of the railway to Parkes, and the parliamentary elections that were held during a nine-year period were “railway” elections. During this time the residents of “Bushman's Lead” decided to name the place “Parkes”, and the main street “Clarinda” Street, for Lady Parkes. The re-christening was pregnant with success, for the veteran statesman did much towards bringing the railway to this centre. With the advent of the railway, and consequently speedy transport, the prosperity of the district was assured. 

Mr Genge, together with the other pioneer farmers, did much for the district - their struggle has given us a modern town, a centre of primary production, humming with the bustle of present day competition. The late Mr Genge always took a keen interest in anything pertaining to the welfare of the district. He could be considered one of the founders of the Parkes P.A. and H. Association and was one of the first committeemen. When he eventually retired from active participation, owing to ill health, he was made a life member of the association in recognition of his sterling services. He was also a very active member of the old Farmers and Graziers Association and also of the Farmers and Settlers Association. 

In spite of his advancing years, deceased was a regular visitor to town and was never happier than when renewing old acquaintances. His property was an ideal one for picnics and each year both the Presbyterian and Methodist churches held their annual Sunday school picnics there. He would mix with the children, and nothing pleased him better than to see them romping about playing games and having a good time generally. The late Mr Genge was a strong adherent of St Andrews Presbyterian Church. The funeral took place on Saturday afternoon to the Parkes cemetery, where he was laid to rest in the Church of England portion with the late Mrs Genge, who had predeceased him in 1921. The Rev. H.S. Bunn officiated at the graveside, Mr J.T. Cock having charge of the obsequies. The surviving members of the family are two daughters (Miss Genge and Mrs Geo. Field) and one son (Mr John Genge of Eugowra). Messrs Tom and Will of Canowindra, and Albert of Wirrinya, are nephews.

Their headstone reads:-

In loving memory of

our dear mother and father

Albert Genge

died 4th January 1935 aged 88 years

Esther Amelia Genge