Gideon Mudford

Born: 1851 and baptised 4 May 1851 in West Chinnock, Somerset, England
Died: 4/6/1890 in Taree, NSW, Australia

Gideon's Family
Spouse: Mary Cahill married 7-May-1874 in Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia
Children: Harriet Ellen Mudford, Sarah Lina Mudford, John Thomas Mudford, Mary Mudford, Florence Ethel Mudford, Elizabeth Mudford, William David Mudford, Gideon E Mudford, Walter James Mudford, Ruby M Mudford

Gideon's Heritage
Parents: John Mudford, Harriet Pattern
Siblings: Sarah Ann Mudford, Josiah Mudford, William John Mudford, Samuel Mudford, David Mudford, James Mudford

Gideon was christened at St Mary's Anglican church at West Chinnock on 4th May 1851. He travelled out on the "Cambodia" ship with his parents John and Harriet arriving at Moreton Bay on 1st August 1855. After a time at Millers Forest near Raymond Terrace they moved up to Cundletown and then to the property on Mitchell's Island.

Gideon was married in Toowoomba,Queensland to Mary Cahill where their first six children were born and later settled in the Taree area. It is understand he made a living as a boot maker because of the story of his disappearance which follows, and his probate record.

Gideon disappeared in 1890 when he went fishing on the river one moonless night and although it is unclear as to what really happened it is thought that he drowned in a boating accident. The Missing Friends column of the New South Wales Police Gazette of 2nd July 1890 said: "Cundletown.--On the 4th ultimo, Gideon Mudford, 40 years of age, of Mitchell's Island, left his residence for the purpose of fishing at the Old Bar. He had with him a red cedar boat, 18 feet long, painted black with Plate, colour top; and as neither he nor the boat can be found, it is presumed that he has been carried out to sea by the tide, or drowned." William John, his brother, believed he had been murdered although most agree that he was last seen at Wherey's Place, a popular drinking spot. Possibly having drunk too much he may have fallen out of the boat and drowned. According to Mrs Effie Layton, on the night Gideon disappeared, Mary and the children walked down to the River with him. As he pulled away in the boat Mary called out "Bring me back a big taylor" to which Gideon replied "Why are you tired of a bootmaker".

After Gideon's death Gideon junior, William and Florence were fostered out to relatives and neighbours, Wilkes, Gilmours and Atkins respectively. Harriet went into service for a Thomas Cowan. Mary went to live in Sydney with Mary's sister Edith and Sarah appears to have remained on the Island for a time. She eventually married a George Henley and was last heard of in Sydney.

In 1896 Mary senior had a son Clarence Manning and some time later went to live with her brother in Queensland, taking with her Lizzie, Ruby, John and Clarence. It is believed that Ruby died about 1984. Clarence married Elizabeth Ethelbank who died on 14-1-1980 aged 82 years and is buried at Dutton Park Cemetery Brisbane. They had four children; Joan, Ruby, Edna and John Manning. Edna is now Edna Nicol and lives in Brisbane.

Their children:-
Harriet Ellen - Born 1875 Toowoomba QLD, Sarah Lina - Born 1876 QLD, John Thomas - Born 1878 QLD, Mary - Born 1879 QLD, Florence Ethel - Born 1881 QLD, Elizabeth - Born 1883 QLD, William David - Born 1886 Mitchell's Island, Gideon E - Born 1889 Mitchell's Island, Walter James - Born 1890 Mitchell’s Island, Ruby M - Born 1892 Mitchell’s Island