On the 11th Sep 1928, the ‘Rainbow Argus’ in Rainbow, Victoria, reported the death of John Watts Gregson. It said he was a highly respected resident of the town. He was born in Chepstone, Victoria, in 1871 and was the eldest son of Mrs Elizabeth Gregson nee LUMSDEN of Ararat, Victoria and Charles Gregson from Tasmania. He was in business in Wycheproof, Vic, but after hearing of the discovery of gold in Coolgardie, he sold up and headed for Western Australia in 1898.
John Watts GREGSON and Amelia nee LANCASTER with children: front Lily, behind Ethel and baby Ivy – Coolgardie 1901 – Image Ancestry.com
When he left Coolgardie, he received engraved silverware from both The West Australian Goldfields Miners Union and the Amalgamated Miners Association for services rendered to these groups. He remained mining in Coolgardie and Bonnievale for over 20 years before returning to Victoria after the death of his wife, where he remained until he died in Rainbow, Vic, in 1928.
John and Amelia married in Coolgardie:-
On the 17th Dec 1896 at the District Registrar’s Office, Coolgardie, John Watts GREGSON, age 25, married Amelia LANCASTER, age 19. His address was given as Bonnievale and hers as Coolgardie (formerly of Mooreland, VIC). His parents were given as Charles Gregson & Elizabeth LUMSDEN, and hers as Richard Alfred LANCASTER and Sarah Ann RAVENSCROFT (address Brunswick, Melb Vic); Charles Gregson was one of the witnesses.
Of the 12 children that John and his wife Amelia had, 10 survived to adulthood. Two of the daughters, Lily and Ethel, married and remained in Western Australia; the other children returned to Victoria with their father.
The children were: Ethel May born 1897, Lily Victoria born 1899, Alfred Charles Watts born 1901, Ivy Amelia born 1902, Walter John born 1904, John Watts ‘Jackie’ born 1905, Myrtle Olive born 1907, Daphne Ida born 1909, Nellie Elizabeth born 1911, William Charles Albert born 1913, Stanley George born 1915 and unnamed female born 1917. Amelia died in childbirth with her last baby on the 3rd April 1917 in Leederville, Perth, WA and is buried in the Karrakatta Cemetery.
Amelia GREGSON nee LANCASTER – Photo Ancestry.com
