Family:Richard Porter and Phyllis Patten (1)

Richard was born at Liverpool, Lancashire, on July 10th, 1830, the son of James and Elizabeth Porter, nee Whitfield.

Shipping records state, Richard sailed from London on the “Brilliant”, on June 5th, 1854, arriving in Geelong on September 8th, 1854. His occupation being Agricultural Labourer. The “Brilliant” was a small ship carrying 23 adults, 9 of whom were Agricultural Labourers and 3 children. Phyllis was born on April 29th, 1837, at West Port in Somerset, the daughter of David and Mary Patten, nee Rowswell. She sailed from Plymouth on the 31st January 1855, an assisted passenger on the “Epaminondas”, and arrived at Geelong on June 1st 1855. Phyllis was assigned to work for Mrs, Cutts, Yarra Street, Geelong.

Richard and Phyllis married at Christ Church, Geelong, on May 1st, 1856. Both were residing at that time in Barraabool Hills. For some time Richard ferried people from Geelong to the gold fields by bullock wagon and about 1858 or early 1859, moved his family the same way to the Smythesdale area, not an easy undertaking with two small children, Sarah aged 2 years and William a baby. They set up their tent for over night stops during the journey and on one occasion woke to find the creek had risen and water was lapping against baby’s wooden cradle. They settled at Fraser’s Hill, their home being a two room cottage. At this time Richard’s occupation is recorded as Gardener.

Elizabeth and Mary were both born during their brief stay at Fraser’s Hill and by December 1862 when Jane was born the family’s address was Black Hill and Richard’s occupation, miner. In February 1862 he registered the “Happy go Lucky Co” at the mining register, Smythesdale. It was near the “Golden Gate” which in turn was near where the cemetery is today. There is however no evidence to show that it ever operated. It is believed that Richard walked to the mines at Pitfield, a distance of about six miles to work for ten shillings a week. The miners later were taken to work by coach.

Phyllis and the family kept the farm going while Richard was away working. Phyllis made butter and sold it around the district in a cart, along with home grown vegetables. All the cooking and drinking water had to be drawn from a well. The children all lined up with their utensils, buckets, for the big ones and billies for the little ones. Phyllis was not able to read or write when she arrived here but we believe Richard taught her to read from the Bible, and she certainly learnt to write as shown by an entry in her granddaughter’s autograph book. Phyllis celebrated her 18th birthday on the ship but was not alone in a strange land. Her sister, Melina, and brotherinlaw, Jonah Langdon, and their two year old daughter, Mary, travelled on the same ship and settled in Collingwood. Another sister, Mrs Hatt, arrived in May 1855, with her three sons. and her brothers, David and Charles, also emigrated here. David in June 1855 and Charles and family in September 1856.

The family regularly attended church and Sunday school at st. John’s Church of England, Scarsdale, the smaller members travelling in the horse drawn conveyance, while the older children walked. A permanent Minister was appointed to the parish in 1864. The church had its beginnings in a calico tent at Brown’s in 1858, to be replaced a year later by a small wooden building.

In 1860 it was used as a school room on week days and was finally removed to Scarsdale in 1863, where it continued to serve as a school room,. The school belonged to the Church of England but was open to all creeds. The site being near where the railway station was. There were other common schools and several private schools in the district and we believe the older Porter children would have received their education at one of these in the 1860’s.

When our forbears settled at Black Hill, Scarsdale was in the hey day of its glory, as several rich mines were being developed in the vicinity. When the Municipality of Brown’s and Scarsdale was created in 1862 there were between 5,000 and 6,000 inhabitants in the district, most of whom were engaged in mining; commercial and agricultural pursuits and were located at Brown’s, Scarsdale and Black Hill. The bush swarmed with timber getters, Every road leading to the mines was lined with teamsters. The main road through Smythesdale and Scarsdale was alive with traffic. There was stir and bustle all over the mining field.

Richard died at Black Hill on June 14th, 1906, aged 75 years. Phyllis remained in her home with members of her family until her death on June 23rd, 1927, eight weeks after her 90th birthday. Her grandson, Richard Nelson, conducted the funeral service at the home. Both are buried at the Smythesdale-Scarsdale cemetery.