MR AND MRS GEORGE WOODWARD
AMONG THE PIONEERS OF THE NORTHWEST
The following is an article published in the Advocate featuring an interview with George Woodward, fifth child of William Woodward and Elizabeth Taylor. This article was written in 1927 by Richard Hilder, locally known as an authority on the early history of northwestern Tasmania. Some details may be incorrect, particularly in the period before William Woodward and Elizabeth Taylor settled at Emu Bay. For obvious reasons, it is not mentioned that William Woodward was a former convict transported to Tasmania in 1830 for a term of seven years, nor is it mentioned that his wife, Elizabeth Taylor, previously married to Edward Thomas, was residing at Longford when she became a widow in 1837.
Mr Woodward's Family History
Mr Woodward was the fifth child of a large family consisting of eight girls and four boys. His mother had previously married and had two children, a son and daughter, surnamed Thomas. His father was William Woodward of Yorkshire, England. Both he and the widow Thomas had migrated to Van Diemen's Land on account of the bad times which had fallen on the rural workers of the old Motherland. The date of arrival is uncertain but widow Thomas and William Woodward were married and residing at Norfolk Plains in the late thirties of last century, and they were attracted to the North-West Coast by the prospectus issued by the Van Diemen's Land Company regarding the sale of land and the engagement of farm servants. It appears fairly certain that Mr and Mrs Woodward became attached to the company's staff at their Emu Bay estate (which included Ridgley and Highclere) about the year 1839. Both Mrs Woodward and her husband were first class farm workers, having graduated in the well known county of Yorkshire, which produced numbers of reliable agricultural colonists for the early days of settlement in the young colony. Mr Woodward was strong and self-reliant, and Mrs Woodward was a vigorous and energetic woman that no hardships could daunt.
After some time at Emu Bay assisting in the cultivation of the company's cleared lands, which consisted of frontages of all the farms from the River Emu to Messenger Creek, and on which potatoes and wheat were grown in fair abundance, William Woodward and his young family were transferred to Ridgley in order to bring under some kind of cultivation the small open plains thereabouts. The Ridgley homestead stood close to the dray road not far from the present stockyards of the VDL Co.
Some signs of this energetic couple's cultivation are still observable to those interested enough to search for them in that now flourishing agricultural centre, which at the period of Mr Woodward's occupation consisted of small plains of native grass surrounded by a forest wilderness. The system of ring barking, scrubbing and burning was not approved by the management of the company at this outpost, and apparently was never attempted in Mr Woodward's time, for no dead trees were found standing about when Ridgley was re-settled many years later, but heaps of stones and remnants of fencing indicated that much hard work had been done. Not many families lived at Ridgley, but it was not so isolated a settlement as Hampshire Hills, for there were many callers coming and going to the other inland stations of Surrey Hills and Middlesex.
After some time at Emu Bay assisting in the cultivation of the company's cleared lands, which consisted of frontages of all the farms from the River Emu to Messenger Creek, and on which potatoes and wheat were grown in fair abundance, William Woodward and his young family were transferred to Ridgley in order to bring under some kind of cultivation the small open plains thereabouts. The Ridgley homestead stood close to the dray road not far from the present stockyards of the VDL Co.
Some signs of this energetic couple's cultivation are still observable to those interested enough to search for them in that now flourishing agricultural centre, which at the period of Mr Woodward's occupation consisted of small plains of native grass surrounded by a forest wilderness. The system of ring barking, scrubbing and burning was not approved by the management of the company at this outpost, and apparently was never attempted in Mr Woodward's time, for no dead trees were found standing about when Ridgley was re-settled many years later, but heaps of stones and remnants of fencing indicated that much hard work had been done. Not many families lived at Ridgley, but it was not so isolated a settlement as Hampshire Hills, for there were many callers coming and going to the other inland stations of Surrey Hills and Middlesex.
George Woodward Born 1843
Can readers passing through Ridgley or those who live and thrive in that progressive country settlement of today picture the actual realities surrounding the Woodward family and others residing there? There were no day or Sunday schools, no church services of any denomination and no intercourse with the very limited facilities of an outside world. Here, amid such surroundings, George Woodward was born in September 1843. The records of the company at Circular Head recorded the birth of all infants among the family of its servants at the separate estates. Hence, George Woodward was credited to Emu Bay, Ridgley being a part of that estate. There were further additions to their family while the Woodwards lived at this outpost. No wonder that George in very early life could wield an axe to perfection, and conquered the intricacies of the crosscut and pit saw and paling knife. Though well instructed by his parents in the general principles of agriculture, he preferred the life of a bushman, and with axe, saw and paling knife almost continuously exercised such natural gifts in an expert manner. A story is told that after working on a lighter at Emu Bay for two days and nights, he then walked out to the Cam before resting and won a wager by defeating a champion chopper.
More Removals and Marriage
Under the altering financial conditions which befell the company, Ridgley was abandoned as a regular homestead station and William Woodward, his wife and young family were placed in possession of two 30 acre sections of partly cleared land of good quality situated about two miles south of the township of Burnie. On this fine red soil farm the parents of George Woodward felt in a measure rewarded for the years of hard toil and isolation of Ridgley. At this farm the other members of the family were born till the number was a complete dozen. Here the girls and boys grew up, married and moved off to separate homes. The sisters of George Woodward were robust, vigorous young countrywomen, and early in their lives they became Mrs John Sutton, Mrs F Buckingham, Mrs John Lapham, Mrs William Boatwright, Mrs John Rawlings, Mrs J Johnson, Mrs McKenzie and Mrs Thomas Yaxley, respectively. Mr Charles Thomas married and settled in the Emu Bay district; so did George and Cornelius Woodward. The latter lives in honourable retirement at Devonport West. The youngest son, Frank, removed to some other State. Mr and Mrs Woodward lived to advanced years on the farm at New Country Road. For many years Woodward's potatoes were always of the primest sample due to his good cultivation. William Woodward died as the result of an accident. Mrs Woodward spent her last years quietly with a married daughter.
Editor's Note: William Woodward was found deceased on New Country Road on 17 February 1881. At an inquest, a verdict was returned that death was caused by a fall from a horse. Elizabeth Taylor passed away five years later at Ulverstone.
