Artisans From England
Edward Mason was born at 186 Fleet Street, London, Middlesex, England on 7 March 1845, the second son of Walter George Mason and Eliza Whiteman. Edward was seven years old when he arrived in Sydney via the Windsor on 4 November 1852 with his parents and his three brothers. His mother died just two years later, in 1854.
Soon after his mother’s death, Edward went to live with George Tomlins and worked in his ironmonger’s shop, Tomlins and Sloman, on the corner of George and King Streets. From 1859 to 1861, Edward joined his brother, Walter George John Mason, at the New South Wales Government Printing Office. He then ran away to the Macleay River district where he worked as a farmer’s boy for Mr. Adam Johnston. Mr. Johnston had a cattle station and a maize farm where Edward learnt to plough and to ride. He stayed for eighteen months. Eventually Edward gave in to his father’s requests and returned to Sydney to assist in his wood engraving business. |
Except for a few months spent farming on the Manning River, Edward worked with his brother Frederick and their father from 1864 until the latter’s death in 1866. Their main work was for the Illustrated Sydney News and (Sydney) Punch.
On 9 October 1869, Edward Mason married Sarah Minell at St John's Church, Camden, New South Wales. Sarah was the daughter of Charles Minell and Honorah Burke. Charles Minell arrived in Sydney on 29 July 1830 on board the convict ship Lady Faversham. He had been sentenced to transportation for life on 15 August 1829 after being convicted of housebreaking and larceny at the age of 16 years. Honorah (or Norah) Burke was born in Dublin, Ireland in about 1814. She arrived in Sydney on 27 February 1835 on board the Duchess of Northumberland as an assisted immigrant, together with her sister, Margaret Burke. Honorah was engaged by a Mrs. Jones of Sydney as a house servant shortly after her arrival, Margaret Burke was engaged by Mrs. Berry of North Shore, near Sydney as a needlewoman. Charles Minell made an application to marry Norah Burke in 1837 and this was granted on 23 November 1837, and they married soon after. Charles Minell was granted his 'Ticket-of-Leave' on 11 August 1843. He was then allowed to work for his own benefit and to acquire property on the condition he resided within a prescribed area, attended a muster every few months and attended church weekly. Four years later, Charles recieved a conditional pardon.
Charles and Honorah Minell had a large family of eleven children: Richard, Louisa, Eliza, Maria, Charles, Sarah, Rose, Margaret, Charlotte, Kate and Timothy Charles. Rose Minell married Edward Mason's younger brother, Frederick Woodley Mason on 16 June 1875 in Waterloo, New South Wales. Charles Minell was a well respected contractor and builder in the Camden district for many years. Both he and Honorah lived into their eighties, Honorah Minell died on 25 May 1897 in Leichhardt, New South Wales aged 83 years and Charles Burke died a year later on 15 May 1898 at his son-in-law's residence in Booth street, Annandale, New South Wales in his 86th year.
Sadly their daughter, Sarah, died less than five months after her marriage to Edward Mason. She died on 30 March 1870 at 1 Caroline terrace, Foveaux street, Surrey Hills at the age of 20 years. In about 1872 Edward accepted an offer from John Fairfax to work on the Sydney Mail as a wood engraver. Frederick also engraved for the Sydney Mail at this time and his work was used until 1880 at least.
Charles and Honorah Minell had a large family of eleven children: Richard, Louisa, Eliza, Maria, Charles, Sarah, Rose, Margaret, Charlotte, Kate and Timothy Charles. Rose Minell married Edward Mason's younger brother, Frederick Woodley Mason on 16 June 1875 in Waterloo, New South Wales. Charles Minell was a well respected contractor and builder in the Camden district for many years. Both he and Honorah lived into their eighties, Honorah Minell died on 25 May 1897 in Leichhardt, New South Wales aged 83 years and Charles Burke died a year later on 15 May 1898 at his son-in-law's residence in Booth street, Annandale, New South Wales in his 86th year.
Sadly their daughter, Sarah, died less than five months after her marriage to Edward Mason. She died on 30 March 1870 at 1 Caroline terrace, Foveaux street, Surrey Hills at the age of 20 years. In about 1872 Edward accepted an offer from John Fairfax to work on the Sydney Mail as a wood engraver. Frederick also engraved for the Sydney Mail at this time and his work was used until 1880 at least.
Edward Mason later met Margaret Chisholm, the daughter of George Chisholm and Anne Butler Bourne. Margaret's older sister, Jane Dunlop Chisholm was married to Samuel Cook who was on the editorial staff of the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper in the 1870's. Samuel Cook went on to become General Manager of the Sydney Morning Herald and the Sydney Mail newspapers. Edward Mason may have met Margaret Chisholm through his connection to the Sydney newspapers around this time. Edward and Margaret married on 2 April 1875 in the Marrickville Congregational church.
Shortly after their marriage Edward decided to have a break from wood engraving and joined the New South Wales Government Service in the newly created classification of forest ranger, at Narrandera. He made a collection of all the trees in the district for the government, for which he received a letter of commendation from the Curator of the Sydney Botanical Gardens.
Edward & Margaret’s eldest daughter, Ruth, was born in 1877, whilst they were at Narrandera. A son, Henry Charles, was born in 1879 but Margaret was quite ill after the birth and, according to Edward, due to the nurses carelessness, Henry died at just eight days old. Edward and Margaret remained at Narrandera until he was asked to join The Bulletin as an engraver in 1880. He left the Government Service and returned to Sydney with his wife and daughter Ruth. In his diary, Edward says that he did all the early Bulletin illustrations plus occasional blocks for the Sydney Mail, Town and Country Journal and private work. He says he was at The Bulletin for three and half years. Frederick was also an engraver for The Bulletin, which used his illustrations until 1886 and where they were known as Ted and Fred. |
In 1881 William Henry Traill bought into the business. He constantly complained about the quality of the illustrations. In 1883 he went to the United States and brought back an American cartoonist, Livingston Hopkins (Hop) and with him Australia’s first photo-engraving equipment. This enabled faster and cheaper production than wood-engraving and soon ended the employment of Edward and Frederick at The Bulletin.
A second daughter, Ethel Margaret, was born on 18 March 1881 in Balmain, an inner west suburb of Sydney. Three years later, on 10 August 1884, Violet was born in Glebe, about 3 km closer to the Sydney Central Business District.
A second daughter, Ethel Margaret, was born on 18 March 1881 in Balmain, an inner west suburb of Sydney. Three years later, on 10 August 1884, Violet was born in Glebe, about 3 km closer to the Sydney Central Business District.
On 29 August 1883 the first issue of The Sydney Jester appeared and according to Edward he was the founder. The front cover was engraved by E and F Mason and several of the inside illustrations have ‘M’ as the engraver. The Jester was not a success and Edward sold it to the proprietors of Punch, losing about £300 overall. Edward began looking for new opportunities for work.
However before the family packed up and left Sydney once again, a fourth daughter, Estelle Patience, was born on 31 July 1886. Edward accepted a position as Sub-Inspector of Rabbits with New South Wales Government Service and was sent to Wilcannia on the Darling River. He had 19 men under him in three camps. His wife and their four children joined him there. However after 10 months he was instructed to pay off the men, sell up all the material and close the base. Edward was given another position in the district and lived in tents with his family on the Paroo Road near Wilcannia for 20 months. His pay was £12 per month. |
The family then moved to Beefwood, closer to Wilcannia, where they had a two-roomed hut to live in. Edward’s role was to ensure that the water tanks were filled when cattle or sheep were expected. He was able to feed his family on the abundant game in the area. Their daughter Rose was born in Wilcannia ion 6 March 1889. Edward noted in his diary that during one of his visits to town to see his wife and new daughter, he saw an advertisement in a Broken Hill paper for a first class artist and wood engraver. He applied and accepted an offer of twelve months engagement at £5 a week with travel expenses paid.
After serving two weeks notice with the Government Service he arranged for a Cobb and Co. coach to take him and his family to Silverton, 14 miles North West of Broken Hill. They drove out about 20 miles from Beefwood and camped by the roadside for two days until the Cobb and Co. coach picked them up. Edward refers to the paper he was to work on as The Broken Hill Budget. The family prospered in Broken Hill, having two houses and some land, but a strike by miners between 16 July and 2 November 1892 lead to a downturn, which cost Edward his job and all his property. On 8 April 1893 Sophie was born and Margaret Mason was quite ill for about nine months.
After serving two weeks notice with the Government Service he arranged for a Cobb and Co. coach to take him and his family to Silverton, 14 miles North West of Broken Hill. They drove out about 20 miles from Beefwood and camped by the roadside for two days until the Cobb and Co. coach picked them up. Edward refers to the paper he was to work on as The Broken Hill Budget. The family prospered in Broken Hill, having two houses and some land, but a strike by miners between 16 July and 2 November 1892 lead to a downturn, which cost Edward his job and all his property. On 8 April 1893 Sophie was born and Margaret Mason was quite ill for about nine months.
Edward says he found work at the mine but all the children got sick and on medical advice his wife took all the girls to Adelaide, except Ruth, who had a job with the BHP mines. Edward spent three months sketching and then joined them. Edward did well in Adelaide for a short time but the zinc-plate process became so generally used that engraving on wood was practically wiped out. There were three other engravers there, Bruer, Appletone and Burnerton. They all had to find other means of livelihood.
On 13 January 1897 a seventh daughter was born to Edward and Margaret Mason – Elsie Frances. Edward tried his luck in the West Australian goldfields in about 1902 and he also went mining in South Australia in 1903. He had interests in the Adelaide stock exchange around 1904. Edward was also a clever artist, painting both in water colours and oils, and his services were in constant demand. He would run Art Unions selling tickets at 1/- and had his paintings as prizes. Edward was often described as a Bohemian; in other words a slightly unconventional artistic individual. He was very popular in the art circles. |
Edward Mason was a frequent contributor to local newspapers. He wrote letters to the editor expressing his views on a wide range of subjects. He sometimes used the name ‘NOSAM’ (Mason spelled backwards) as a pseudonym in his contributions. Margaret Mason died on 7 February 1921. Edward then lived with their daughter Violet (Mrs. Stanley Pascoe) and her family in Adelaide until his death on 3 June 1923. Towards the end his health had not been good, but it was recorded that to the last he was the same genial, pleasant Ted Mason and his death was regretted by a large circle of friends both in Sydney and Adelaide.
Descendants of Edward Mason
Edward Mason was born was born on 7 March 1845 in London, Middlesex, England and died on 3 June 1923 in Fullarton, South Australia at age 78 years. Edward married Sarah Minell on 9 October 1869 in Camden, New South Wales. Sarah was born in about 1849 in New South Wales and died on 30 March 1870 in Surry Hills, New South Wales at age 20 years. Edward next married Margaretta Bourne Chisholm on 2 April 1875 in Marrickville, Sydney, New South Wales. Margaretta was born on 6 October 1849 in Marrickville, New South Wales and died on 7 February 1921 in Hindmarsh, South Australia at age 71 years. They had eight children: Ruth, Henry Charles, Ethel Margaret, Violet, Estelle Patience, Rose Alice, Sophie Doreen and Elsie Frances.
- Ruth Mason was born on 18 June 1877 in Narrandera, New South Wales and died on 5 July 1948 in South Australia at age 71 years. Ruth married John William Beaglehole on 9 March 1896 in Thebarton, South Australia. John was born on 6 June 1869 in Wallaroo, South Australia and died on 23 March 1925 in Bowden, South Australia at age 55 years. They had 12 children: Ethel B., William Harry, Thirza M., Thirza Margaret, Elsie Louise, Ellen Violet, May, Doris Estelle Rose, William, Joseph Edward, Rose and Ernest Leonard George. Of their twelve children, only seven survived to adulthood, the other five children died as infants.
- Henry Charles Mason was born in Narrandera, New South Wales in 1879 and died 8 days later.
- Ethel Margaret Mason was born on 18 March 1881 in Balmain, New South Wales and died on 24 July 1965 in Leabrook, South Australia at age 84 years. Ethel married Joseph McAllister on 23 February 1903 in West Hindmarsh, South Australia. Joseph was born on 25 February 1876 in Brompton, South Australia and died on 12 December 1951 at Magill, South Australia at age 75 years. They had seven children: Estelle Ellen, Joseph Edward, Violet Ann, Florence May, Harold Leslie, Ethel Margaret and Gordon Henry.
- Violet Mason was born on 10 August 1884 in Glebe, New South Wales and died on 18 October 1959 in Grange, South Australia at age 75 years. Violet married Stanley Everett Pascoe on 14 October 1908 in Adelaide, South Australia. Stanley was born on 26 November 1882 in Adelaide, South Australia and died on 11 June 1950 in Adelaide, South Australia at age 67 years. They had four children: Kenneth Stanley, Ernest John, Arthur Chisholm and Leonard Everett.
- Estelle Patience Mason was born on 31 July 1886 in Balmain, Sydney, New South Wales and died on 8 February 1968 in Hyde Park, South Australia at age 81 years. Estelle married Leonard Stephen Charles Brown on 20 October 1909 in Adelaide, South Australia. Leonard was born on 9 August 1887 in Adelaide, South Australia and died 26 May 1974 in South Australia at age 86 years. They had two children: Raymond William and Victor Francis.
- Rose Alice Mason was born on 6 March 1889 in Wilcannia, New South Wales and died on 29 April 1962 in Adelaide, South Australia at age 72 years. Rose married Ernest Reginald Dunbar on 1 June 1914 at the home of Edward Mason in Adelaide, South Australia. Ernest was born on 19 July 1891 in Hindmarsh, South Australia and died on 10 October 1934 in Brompton, South Australia at age 43 years. They had two children: Arthur Mason and Neville Allan.
- Sophie Doreen Mason was born on 8 April 1893 in Broken Hill, New South Wales and died on 22 July 1960 in Hyde Park, South Australia at age 67 years. Sophie married Horace Henry Trewenack on 20 August 1913 in Unley, South Australia. Horace was born on 20 August 1892 in Hyde Park, South Australia and died on 13 June 1975 in Adelaide, South Australia at age 80 years. They had three children: Anstey Edward, Harry Royden and Frederick James.
- Elsie Frances Mason was born on 13 January 1897 in Thebarton, South Australia and died on 15 March 1970 in Clare, South Australia at age 73 years. Elsie married Ernest Victor Geelen on 2 November 1918 in Adelaide, South Australia. Ernest was born on 14 April 1897 in Kensington Park, South Australia and died on 27 February 1923 in Adelaide, South Australia aged 25 years. They had one daughter: Sophie Margaret. Elsie next married William George Alfred Robins on 17 July 1926 in York, South Australia. William was born on 28 March 1886 in Hoyleton, South Australia and died on 8 June 1975 in Clare, South Australia at age 89 years. They had three children: Betty Emma, Robert William and Donald George. William was married previously to Annie Beatrice Coles. Annie was born on 7 April 1884 in Penwortham, South Australia and died on 1 July 1923 in Adelaide, South Australia at age 39 years. They had two daughters: Melvis and Lorna.