Table of Contents
William Brill and Rachel Batty
introduction:
- William BRILL was born in Warboys in Huntingdonshire, England, 1st May 1844 & registered as Ebenezer Jame Letchfield, son of John Litchfield (b. 1811 in Elmsworth, Cambridge) & Caroline Elizabeth Pedley (b. 1816 in Fenstanton, Huntingdonshire) who died later that year. His father John, re-married to Ann Skeels, his former housekeeper and in 1854, they emigrated to Australia arriving on the “America” on 4th May 1854 & landed at Geelong in Victoria which was in the middle of its gold rush period. William (then known as James Litchfield) was a gold miner in Ballarat while his older brother Joseph remained in Geelong as a butcher.
- William's wife, Rachel was born as Rachel BATTY on 23/7/1851, the daughter of Abraham Batty, an agricultural labourer & Martha Wilson. Rachel's parents & older siblings (Kezia, Charlotta, Dawson Wilson and Jemima) arrived on the “Andromache” on 8th Nov 1848 & were also settled in Geelong and belonging to the Primitive Methodist Church.
- William married Rachel at her parent's home in Elizabeth St, Kildare on 20th Aug. 1866. They moved around Victoria, eventually settling in Diggorra near Rochester, where the majority of their children were born. They decided to move to Ganmain (by walking alongside wagons for several weeks to make the trip). Being staunch Methodists, the first Methodist Church services in Ganmain were held in their new home.
- it seems James Litchfield aka William Brill and his wife Rachel had a falling out with his father, step-mother and their family whilst on a trip to Witchipool near Donald to select land and the bitterness resulted in James & Rachel changing their names and opting to live in obscurity away from his family. The Litchfields never heard from them again, even though his father searched for him. William & Rachel lived in Yallook, then at Diggorra, near Rochester, from 1878-1892 when William moved to Ganmain, NSW with his older sons to select land & prepare it for the eventual move by his whole family, leaving behind 3 daughters, Maria, Martha Jane (my great grandmother) & Jessie May.
- I wonder whether this falling out arose following the death of their 11yr old niece, Elizabeth Ann LITCHFIELD on 31/3/1874 as she was buried in Mt Moriac and then the family went to live in Donald. The problem with this is that Martha Jane BRILL was the 1st LITCHFIELD child to be named a BRILL and she was born a month earlier on 4th Feb 1874 in Bendigo.
- the 3 brothers that went to Ganmain - Alfred, William and John Brill - made an enormous contribution by developing a new treatment for chaff - the chaff steamer (c. 1901) which made the region the biggest chaff producer in the Southern Hemisphere.
- Joseph Litchfield and his family did move to Witchipool where Joseph operated a post office, resulting in the town becoming known as Litchfield to which it was officially renamed in 1907.
- the previously lost link between William & Rachel Brill and the LITCHFIELD and BATTY surname became evident from Rachel's death certificate when her son John stated her father as “Not known Batty”. This was confirmed by the birth certificate of this son (Joseph) showing his mother to be “Rachel Litchfield / Batty” and his father was now known as James Ebenzer Litchfield and the birth certificate of James Alfred showing his mother to be “Rachel Batty” and his father was now known as James Litchfield.
- it appears that Phyllis BRILL born in 1893 may actually have been the daughter of the unmarried Maria BRILL as apparently her birth certificate indicates her parents as being Maria BRILL and father unknown, although she was raised as “daughter” of William and Rachel BRILL.
A brief list of descendants of William BRILL (1844-1920) and Rachel BATTY/BROWN (1851-1939):
William and Rachel BRILL
- James Alfred Litchfield later BRILL (1867-1931)
- born in Sebastopol, near Ballarat, Victoria.
- co-founder of Ganmain's chaff industry with brothers William & John
- the prime mover for moving Methodist services to Ganmain
- m. Sarah Elizabeth “Lizzie” COX
- Amy Esther BRILL (1897-1936) church organist
- m. Bertram Walter EZZY (c1883-) in 1921
- contracted polio in his 20's requiring him to use crutches
- Allan Alfred BRILL (1900-1976) of Narrandera
- farmer and keen musician, started the Ganmain Brass Band
- he & his wife died after a car accident in 1976
- m. Ethel Amy EZZY (Bertram's sister) in 1924
- see here
- Noel Vivian BRILL
- m. Athena HURSULA
- May Beatrice BRILL (1902-dec)
- m. Walter HETHERINGTON
- Joseph William LITCHFIELD later BRILL (1869-1939) born in Kildare farmer
- co-founder of Ganmain's chaff industry with brothers Alfred & John
- m. Martha Fillary COX (family pic at bottom)
- Emily Eva BRILL (1893-1968)
- sold the farm & moved to Sydney after her father died
- m. John “Jack” William JAMES (1880-1962)
- Harold Victor BRILL (1900-1988)
- farmer & Methodist Sunday School superintendent for over 30yrs
- played on the wing in Ganmain's premiership team of 1925
- ringmaster & senior vice president of Ganmain Show
- m. Evelyn Maude HOSKIN
- Raymond Victor BRILL (1925-)
- Leonard William BRILL (1926-)
- Alice Muriel BRILL (1928-)
- Reginald Harold BRILL (1931-)
- Alan Lindsay BRILL (1935-)
- Barrie Francis BRILL (1938-)
- Charlotte Maria “Ria” LITCHFIELD later BRILL (1870-1935) - born in Ashby, near Geelong.
- She remained in Rochester when rest of family moved to Ganmain & was a witness at the weddings of her sisters, Martha Jane in 1893 & Jessie May in 1902.
- m. Charles ROBBINS - had 2 children to a previous marriage.
- William John ROBBINS (1912-)
- m. Dorothy JENKINS - no offspring
- John Ebenezer LITCHFIELD later BRILL (1872-1967) farmer
- co-founder of Ganmain's chaff industry with brothers William & John
- m. Rebekah MARTIN
- Mary Myrtle BRILL (1905-1982)
- m. Henry James NASH in 1934
- Mavis NASH (1957-1973)
- Barbara NASH
- Martha “Jane” BRILL (1874-1965) - my great, grandmother
- 1st child to be born as a BRILL, born 4th Feb 1874 at Sailor's Gully, Eaglehawk, Bendigo & usually known as Jane.
- After marriage, moved to Jung Jung near Mildura, Victoria and all her children were born there.
- m. Arthur HUTCHESSON (1869-1960) - m. at Rochester according to rites of the Bible Christian Church on 21/2/1893.
- Arthur Gilbert HUTCHESSON (1895) aged 2 months and 21 days.
- Jessie May HUTCHESSON (1896-1994)
- m. John Henry GLARE (1891-1968)
- Arthur John GLARE (1922-2006)
- Joyce GLARE (1923-2018)
- Alice May GLARE (1920-1967)
- Reta GLARE (1926-2019)
- Olive Ruth GLARE (1929-2017)
- Mary Janetta GLARE (1933-2020)
- David Roy GLARE (1936-)
- Rachel Elizabeth HUTCHESSON (1898-1964)
- m. James BOND Leslie BOND (1926-)
- Murray BOND (1928-1967)
- Ruth HUTCHESSON aka Bonnie (1902-dec)
- Cyril HUTCHESSON
- m. Irene MCINTYRE
- John HUTCHESSON
- Judith HUTCHESSON
- Phillip HUTCHESSON
- Leonie HUTCHESSON
- Ada Ethel HUTCHESSON (1909-)
- m. Joseph DEMPSEY
- Eliza Ann “Tess” BRILL (1875-1962) never married, lived with her parents
- George Ernest BRILL (1877-1942) farmer raising turkeys, pigs & cows
- m. Amelia May WINNELL (1877-1938)
- Albert George Winnell BRILL (1905-1907) died from pneumonia
- William Robert “Buster” BRILL (1907-1986) labourer, keen tennis player & cricketer did not marry
- Rita Florence BRILL (1909-) seamstress
- m. James LINSELL
- Raymond Barbara Elva Ann BRILL (1911-) church organist
- m. Syd HARRIS in 1937
- Gladys BRILL (1913-1913)
- Phillis BRILL (1913-1913)
- Amy Iris BRILL (1915-1994)
- m. Ron LINSELL (Jim and Ron shared the same great grandfather - Thomas LINSELL) in 1943 and divorced in 1949
- Ian LINSELL
- Jack Lewis BRILL (1919-1972) did not marry, keen golfer & tennis player
- Edward “Ted” BRILL (1878-1959) farmer in Derain via Matong for over 60yrs
- life member of Matong - Grong Grong football club very involved with the local church
- m. Bertha LOGIE (1887-1941)
- James Edward BRILL (1906-2000)
- seed production officer for Dept. Agriculture;
- played Aussie Rules football for 12yrs
- m. Neita Myrtle HARRIS (sister of Syd) (1914-2004)
- Hilda Jean BRILL (1909-1980)
- m. William Frederick PIEPER
- Kenneth Claude BRILL (1911-1991)
- farmer, bus driver & social worker life member of Ardlethan Football Club Ardlethan's Citizen of the Year in 1988
- m. Olive WHITE (1913-1998)
- Rex Barry Keith William Lloyd BRILL (1916-1964)
- served in WWII in the 1st Aust. Lighthorse & became a pilot & Wing Commander leading to a career in the RAAF in Townsville.
- became involved in the Scout Assoc. & Masonic Lodge.
- m. Ilma Margaret KITTO
- Edna Grace BRILL (1919-)
- m. Allan Stewart HANSELL
- Victor Vincent BRILL (1921-) served in WWII in the RAAF; primary school teacher
- m. Tess Florence JOHNSON
- Fay Elinor BRILL (1930-)
- involved in community work eg. Red Cross, CWA
- m. Gordon David JONES
- Jessie May BRILL (1880-1920)
- lived in Rochester East, then moved to “Sunnyside” in Fairy Dell in 1915
- died after complications following premature birth of her 10th child on the same day her father died.
- William MOORE married again, to Victoria MAY who cared for the younger children while the older children left home early, some cared for by aunties Eva & Ria.
- m. William Ernest MOORE in 1902, brickmaker then carrier
- William John MOORE (1903-)
- Ivy May Irene MOORE (1904-)
- Eileen Della MOORE (1906-1966)
- Reginald Eric MOORE (1908-)
- Lillian Eva MOORE (1909-1944)
- Doris Elvery MOORE (1911-1978)
- Olive Jessie MOORE (1913-)
- Bernard Ronald MOORE (1914-1981)
- Daisy Emily MOORE (1917-)
- Ernest David MOORE (1920-1920)
- Rachel BRILL (1883-1883) - in Diggorra at 10 days old.
- David BRILL (1884-1965) farm labourer & later farmer, keen cyclist and footballer with Ganmain Club;
- m. Catherine Louise HUNT (1889-1971)
- Ronald David BRILL (1913-)
- Lancelot William BRILL (1924-) farmer; served in the Navy in WWII; keen cricketer, tennis player & angler.
- Laurence Charles BRILL (1924-1925)
- Helen Kathryn Louise BRILL (1933-)
- Elizabeth Eva BRILL (1888-1975)
- m. George Isaac Richard SYMES (1887-1960)
- Reginald William SYMES (1911-1970)
- Stanley George SYMES (1913-1965)
- Margaret Rachel SYMES (1914-1916)
- Elvery Glady SYMES (1918-)
- James Alan SYMES (1928-)
- Walter Leslie BRILL (1891-1976)
- took over his father's farm “Railway View” and was a leader in hay & chaff production. A dedicated church worker;
- m. Marion “ Edith” RENNIE
- Leslie Arthur BRILL (1916-) radio repairs; sound engineer;angler; took over his father's farm; member Ganmain Brass Band; Masonic Lodge;
- Albert John BRILL (1918-2008) served WWII; motor mechanic;
- Phyllis May BRILL (1893-1975)
- ? daughter of Maria BRILL but raised as “daughter” of William and Rachel BRILL
- m. Herbert George CEELY (1894-1972) in Narrandera
- the CEELY family also had lived in DIGGORA so perhaps that is where they met the BRILL family before both families moved to Ganmain
- Herbert Ronald CEELY (1919-)
- Isabel May CEELY (1920-)
- Jessie Jane CEELY (1922-)
- Reginald Lloyd CEELY (1924-)
- Alma Anne CEELY (1931-)
- Elvina BRILL (1894-1975)
- m. Leslie Robert FARRANDS (1888-1956)
- Winifred Nancy FARRANDS (1920-)
- Mervyn Robert FARRANDS (1922-)
- Sheila Merle FARRANDS (1926-)
- Jeanette Lesley FARRANDS (1934-)
photos
James Alfred BRILL
James Alfred's wife, Lizzie
Emily BRILL and husband Jack JAMES
Jack (John) BRILL
Mary BRILL daughter of John Ebenezer BRILL
Jessie May Hutchesson (my maternal grandmother)
Eva BRILL, husband George Symes on their wedding day
Eva BRILL, husband George Symes and children Reg and Stan
Walter Leslie BRILL
Walter Leslie and Marion Edith BRILL
Walter Leslie BRILL at Ganmain show in the 1970's.
Edith BRILL with sons Albert and Leslie at her 90th
Brill family - Phillis is on the left in white shirt, Martha “Jane” (my GGM) is in the middle of the back row with Rachel and William BRILL sitting in the middle of the front row.
Back L to R – Phyllis, Wal, Ted, Martha Jane, George, Maria, John, Jessie, Dave, Eva.
Front L to R – Gladys, Alf, Rachel, William, Will, Eliza.
Joseph William BRILL, his wife Martha COX, and children Harold and Emily
Martha Jane BRILL at rear, her husband Arthur HUTCHESSON (my great prandparents) and daughters Rachel, Bonnie and Ethel (front) … hmmm… definitely can see my mother in Martha Jane
and again, Arthur Hutchesson, his wife Martha Jane BRILL and 3 of his daughters, from left Ethel, Rachel and Bonnie.
John PEDLEY and Sophia SEWELL:
- John PEDLEY (William BRILL's maternal grandfather)
- m. Sophia SEWELL in 1815
- Caroline Elizabeth PEDLEY b. 1816 in Fenstanton, Huntingdonshire, died in 1851 in Cambridge.
- m. John LITCHFIELD b. 1811 in Elmsworth, Cambridge; m. 1836 in Chatteris
- Joseph LITCHFIELD b. 1839 in Fenstanton, Huntingdonshire
- m. Matilda WALTER b. in Bradworthy, Devonshire; m. in 1862 in 'Waterlands' Mount Moriac, Victoria, Aust.
- Elizabeth Ann LITCHFIELD b. 1863 d. 1874 in Mt Moriac
- Herbert Ernest LITCHFIELD b. 1864 d. 1902
- m. Julia LE PAGE b. 1867 m. in 1893 in Berringa; d. 1934;
- Laura May LITCHFIELD b. 1894 in Carron
- Ella Alice LITCHFIELD b. 1896 in Donald
- Herbert Joseph LITCHFIELD b. 1897
- Albert David LITCHFIELD b. 1899 in Donald
- Edgar Ernest LITCHFIELD b. 1901 in Donald
- Caroline Matilda LITCHFIELD b. 1866 d. 1902
- Clara Edith LITCHFIELD b. 1870 d. 1963
- m. Henry Esau GROVES b. 1870
- Elsie Irene GROVES b. 1895
- Edith Lilian GROVES b. 1897
- Edgar Joseph Henry GROVES b. 1898
- Edgar Joseph LITCHFIELD b. 1871 d. 1937
- Elizabeth PETERS b. 1872 in Dandenong
- Charles Henry LITCHFIELD b. 1872
- Eva Allin LITCHFIELD b. 1874 d. 1874
- Florence Ethel LITCHFIELD b. 1875 in Donald d. 1944
- m. Francis Robert MCKENZIE b. 1870
- Robert Alfred MCKENZIE b. 1899
- Jessie Florence MCKENZIE b. 1901
- Alfred John LITCHFIELD b. 1879 d. 1922 in Werribee, Vic.
- Laura Amy LITCHFIELD b. 1885 in Donald d. 1960
- Louis Theophilus EMONSON b. 1885 m. in Litchfield
- living EMONSON
- Elizabeth LITCHFIELD b. 1841 in Colne, Huntingdonshire; d. 1908 in Warburton, Vic.
- m. John Herbert PETERS b. 1837. m. 1863
- Herbert Albert PETERS b. 1867 in Malvern
- Henry Arthur PETERS b. 1869 in Dandenong
- John Letchfuld PETERS b. 1871
- Caroline PETERS b. 1875 in Dandenong
- Elizabeth PETERS b. 1872 in Dandenong
- William PETERS b. 1883 in Scoresby
- Ebenezer James LITCHFIELD (William BRILL) b. 1844 in Warboys, Huntingdonshire
- see above for William BRILL
- Caroline LITCHFIELD b. 1851
Riverina Cemeteries monumental inscriptions & burial records relating to BRILLS:
- BRILL Charles Douglas Born 1899 Died 2 Jun 1969 Buried Griffith Sec C/E 2 Row J Lot 11 Aged 70 yrs. ILMO. At rest.
- BRILL Garry John Born 31 Mar 1965 Died 1 Apr 1965 Buried Griffith Sec Pres Row G Lot 52A Children of Jack & Valerie Brill.
- BRILL Ida May Born 1905 Died 7 Apr 1978 Buried Griffith Sec C/E 2 Row J Lot 11 Aged 73 yrs. ILMO. At rest.
- BRILL Kenneth Claude Born 1 Sep 1911 Died 4 Sep 1991 Buried Ardlethan Sec Lawn Row C Lot 15 ILMO. Loving husband of Olive. Loving father of Rex, Barry and Keith. Always in our hearts.
- BRILL Lorna Anne Born 20 May 1962 Died 22 May 1962 Buried Griffith Sec Pres Row G Lot 52A Children of Jack & Valerie Brill.
- BRILL Loy Isobel Died 22 Sep 1964 Buried Whitton Sec C/E 2 Row A Lot 10 Aged 43 yrs. ILMO. (Shire Records 22 Sep 1969)
- BRILL Olive Born 18 May 1913 Died 19 Apr 1998 Buried Ardlethan Sec Lawn Row C Lot 15 ILMO. Loving wife of Ken. Loving mother of Rex, Barry and Keith. Always in our hearts.
- BRILL Valerie Lorna Born 27 Nov 1938 Died 3 Dec 1987 Buried Griffith Sec Lawn2 Row H Lot 09 Beloved wife of John 'Jack'. Devoted mother of Gaye & Karen. Your treasured memories, kindness and love will remain with us forever.
- thanks to Jenny Hodges for supplying this
Information from Shirley Brill regarding a separate BRILL family in Griffith:
- Charles BRILL
- Daniel Kenrick Douglas BRILL of Ealing, Middlesex
- Charles Douglas BRILL (1874?-) of Ealing, Middlesex, arrived in Australia between 1925 & 1934
- NB. there was a Charles Douglas BRILL b. Dec 1899 in Brentford (2 miles from Ealing), Middlesex which I presume is the above person or his son and the one who was buried in the Griffith cemetery as outlined above. See birth here.
References:
- “The Brill Family”, Gloria Primmer, 1990
- “Litchfield to Brill”, Gloria Primmer, 1990
- “The Settlers and Settlement of Ganmain”, Ganmain Historical Society, 4 Devlin Street , Ganmain NSW 2702.
- thanks to my 3rd cousin Kylie for providing images of Walter Brill and family.
- thanks also for correspondence and pics from my 3rd cousin, Michelle Moss (nee Ceely), whose GGM is Phillis BRILL.
- if any others have a photo of any of the above, I would be happy to include them with your permission if you email to me at gna@netspace.net.au.