It’s interesting as all the Haskins’ letters I found, except for this one, were written from Susannah Haskins to Benjamin Atkinson. This one, was written by Susannah’s daughter, Edith, to Ben. Were there more letters she wrote to him? If so, where did they go? Is this actually the only one? And if so, why? As always, far more questions than answers.
Somervell St.
Annerley Brisbane
10th May 1945
Dear Ben,
Mum has written to you & I suppose she has given you all the news. She was very pleased to hear from you, she wrote to someone I think it was Annie after your Mother died, but I suppose she was busy at the time.
It seems a long time since we saw you all, but when we get talking about old times it seems like yesterday. I can remember you & Will & Martha but I can’t remember any of the others. We were in Ipswich when you left Australia.
The house you lived in, on Bowen Street is still there & has not altered much; I think they have put a verandah on the side.
Some of the people who lived there then are still here. The Schillings Boys all married & have children & grandchildren I think you might remember them. Mrs. Schilling was a German woman, big & fat. She lived opposite you. Then there were the Beanlands Harry & Stead. They are both away out of Brisbane somewhere.
The old house (Our old home, Grandma Atkinson’s) is still there but there are a lot of old shops in front of it & there is a Picture Show opposite it, next to Reidel’s. Do you remember them? Mr Reidel used to make rustic chairs & tables.
We have had quite a lot of American boys & girls in Brisbane, but there are not so many here now, they are moving further North as the war progresses.
We will all be glad when this was is over, not only for the things we have to do without but so all the families can be re-united.
Mom keeps very well considering she is 77 this September, she has a few fowls & she has her bush house & garden & does it all herself. She also does some of the cooking. I am at work all day I work in the Telephone Office, not an operator now. I am doing clerical work & Dorothy does Dressmaking at home, so mum is a big help in the house.
I really can’t think of any more news. Mum has told you all the Family History.
So I will close hoping to hear from you again soon. Best regards to all our relations, those we have seen & those we haven’t.
From Your Cousin Edith
Who Was Edith Haskins?
I’ve embarked on a quest to learn more about Edith and hit a lot of dead ends. The basics, birth, residence and funeral records are all I seem to locate on dear old Edith. I’m hoping in time someone in the world will add a story or two to FindMyPast, Ancestry or the internet somewhere, anywhere, to offer more insight into her life. Until then I can only guess why Edith and her lifetime roommate, her sister Dorothy, never married. From what little I can discover on Dorothy, it seems she didn’t have an occupation, so perhaps she had some kind of disability and dear Edith cared for her?
What I do know about Edith:
1890 30 November 1890: Born in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia to John Haskins & Susannah Atkinson
Siblings: Charlotte (Lottie) Haskins, Margaret (Maggie) Haskins, Dorothy Haskins, John Bower Haskins, Ellen (Nellie) Haskins.
1896 attended Junction Park State School
1912, 1913-1916: 16 Gloucester St. Spring Hill. Occupation: Shop Assistant [Source Australia Electoral Rolls, Ancestry]
1920: listed in Commonwealth Public Service List /Civil Service? Not sure this is her.
1922: 919 George Street, Annerley. Occupation: Telephonist
1934: 1137 Hilcot, George St. Annerley. Occupation: Telephonist
1939, 1941, 1949: “Hillcott” Sumervell St. Annerley. Occupation: Telephonist. Sister Dorothy & Mother Sussannah also lived their with occupation listed as Home Duties.
1945 - worked at the general post
1958, 1959, 1963, 1972: 143 Tarragindi Rd. Targndi 412. Occupation: clerical asst. [Source Australia Electoral Rolls, Ancestry] Same address as sister Dorothy.
1977: 62 Dudley St. W. Annly 4103. No occupation listed. Same address as sister Dorothy.
1978: buried 22 Mar according to the Queensland Funeral Records on FindMyPast
Now on to the other people in the letter:
The Schillings Boys residing on Bowen Street?
A quick search and I found Carl Frederick William Schilling and Ernest William Charles Schilling in the 1906 Australia Electoral Rolls residing at “Bowen Street, 2nd on left off Ipswich Road. Carl was a grocer’s assistant and Ernest a railway employee.
Charles Frederick William Schilling, 3rd on left from Ipswich rd., railway employee date of claim: 12 Oct 1908. [1914 electoral rolls]
Ernest William Charles Schilling Bowen Street and Ipswich rd., railway employee Date of claim: 2 Dec1902; [1914 electoral rolls]
Florence Ellen Marian Schilling Bowen St and Ipswich Rd housewife, Date of claim: 9 July 1908; [1914 electoral rolls]
Rose Schilling Bowen st 7th on left from Ipswich Road housewife, date of slain 14 Mar 1913; [1914 electoral rolls]
Violet Rosetta Jane Georgina Schilling Bowen St. 3rd on left from Ipswich Rd housewife, date of claim 2 Aug 1913 [1914 electoral rolls]
William Schilling Bowen St. 3rd on Left from Ipswich road, railway employee, dat of claim 12 oct 1908 [1914 electoral rolls]
The Beanlands
Harry Beanland, Young Street, Annerley, 2nd on left from Ipswich Road, Blacksmith
Jane Beanland, Young Street, Annerley, 2nd on left from Ipswich Road, domestic duties
Stead Beanland, Young Street, Annerley, 2nd on left from Ipswich Road, millwright (60 years old in 1900, born 1840)
Stead Charles Beanland, Young Street, Annerley, 2nd on left from Ipswich Road, fitter
That’s all for now. I could dig on and on but sometimes it’s best to just move on to the next letter.
Happy Family Hunting!
