Sherlock Life

This headstone appears at Mornington Cemetery (once known as Moorooduc Cemetery) on the Mornington Peninsula


DEATH OF MR. SAMUEL SHERLOCK, SENR. - fascinating article in Trove 
6th September 1900

On Thursday last there passed away at his residence, Mornington, one of the oldest residents of the Peninsula in the person of Mr Samuel Sherlock, senr. The deceased had suffered from asthma for many years past and about a fortnight ago was conflned to his bed. Dr Somers was called in, and by skil- ful treatment, he so far recovered as to be able to ride into Mornington and vote on polling day. However, on return- ing home, he again took ill, and des- pite all that medical aid could do, he expired about 6 p.m. on the evening abovementioned, the immediate cause of death being syncope, supervening on mitral valve disease. The deceased was well-known and very highly respected throughout the whole of the Peninsula, and ample evidence of his popularity was given on Sunday, when 60 vehicles and over 40 horsemen followed his remains to their last resting place, the Moorooduc cemetery, where a most impressive burial service was read by the 
Rev Jas Caldwell, Presbyterian minister - mentioned in my last Taphophile Tragics post.  He leaves a widow, two sons (Lieutenant Samuel Sherlock, Veterinary Surgeon with the Bushman's Contingent in South Africa - Australian Veterinary Corps is discussed in my post HERE and Andrew, who is a storekeeper at Mornington) and three daughters (Mrs W. Baxter, Sarah and Aggie) to mourn his loss, and the greatest sympathy is expressed on all sides for them. [Mr Sherlock, who at the time of his death was 64 years of age, was born at Launceston, Tasmania, 1836, and came to Victoria in 1840, being then only 4 years old. His father had a small run at Yarraville, but died four years after he arrived. His sister and her husband (the late Mr Stenniken) then had charge and they stayed at Yarraville for another 4 years, when they purchased the late Mr Kenyon's property at Tootgoorook, now called Rye, which was in those days good grazing country and not overgrown with ti-tree as it is now. They moved their stock to this property in 1848, Mr Sherlock stopping with them as stockkeeper for a number of years. He was afterwards with Mr Burrell, senr., of Arthur's Seat and Mr Barker, senr., of Cape Schanck (both of these gentlemen being dead some years) stockriding, and he used to tell many amusing stories of that life in the early days. The stockman's work at Arthur's Seat in those days was to round up the wild cattle, shoot the bulls and brand the cows and calfs. It was while he was at the latter station that he, along with Mr Robert Anderson (the only two there at the time) had to entertain the two notorious bushrangers, Brady and O'Connor, who had got away from Tasmania on a craft, and when off Cape Schanck tied up all hands, took two of the sailors and the boat, tried to sink the vessel, made for the shore, and landed safely through the surf with a broken boat. They then made the sailors walk in front of them up the cliff, to Mr.Barker's station, got some food, made a stock of bullets, gave Mr Sherlock a powder flask and the boat, and departed without doing any mis- chief. These two men were shortly afterwards captured and executed. He was next with the late Mr A. B. Balcombe, of "The Briars" (who had a good portion of the now Shire of Mornington as his run, before there was any township) stockkeeping, horse- breeding, etc. From Mr Balcombe's place he married a young lady named Janet McLellan in April 1859, and settled down at Green Island. Before the days of coaches, he used to carry the mail on horseback from Rye to Cheltenham and from King's Creek (Hastings) to the same place. He was also a contractor for roads, bridges, etc, and carried on farming in a small way. He was married, lived and died in the house he built for himself. Although for the last 20 years he suffered greatly from asthma, he always had a colt its hand, and, in fact, was never happy unless amongst horses, of which he was passionately fond. His last job was breaking in a pony, which he handled and rode himself, although very ill at the time.]


Of further note, Janet (Jessie) McLellan was one of the few survivors of the ship Ticonderoga, on its 1852 voyage from Birkenhead to Port Phillip Bay.
(The ship has a website HERE!)
The ship had a shocking death rate and was quarantined at Point Nepean near The Rip - entrance to Port Phillip Bay.
It became known as the fever ship.
Janet survived, and, like others, ventured further north on the Mornington Peninsula.
She found work with the Balcombe family at The Briars.
Janet met her husband first at the Quarantine Station where Samuel supplied meat from John Barker’s property at Cape Schanck.  Ref: HERE
Her details on the passenger list:
McLELLAN Janet (18); Lanark, domestic servant, Presbyterian, read & write

Pioneering skills
Turned his hand to many trades
Enterprising man

Linking to:
Taphophile Tragics