There was a large post by Randy Unger on Genforum on 18 March

UNGER
There was a large post by Randy Unger on Genforum on 18 March 2005. What I have checked
appears to correlate and so I think this post is mostly true (there is always a bit of guesswork
in this type of research).
(http://genforum.genealogy.com/unger/messages/697.html ):
The Unger name is German associated with an ancient Roman-era tribe called the Markomanni
(other spellings Marcomanni, German Markomannen, etc.) These people migrated from their
north-central homeland into what is today the Czech Republic (ancient Bohemia); from there,
many of the Marcomanni migrated into southeast Germany and established what have
become known today as the Bavarian Germans. The Markomanni were identified in Roman
records for about 500 years -- the Romans identified the greatest king of the Markomanni to
be Marobuduus (many different spellings.) In the movie 'Gladiator' you might be interested to
know that the movie begins with the Romans fighting 'Germans'. This scene was based on true
events in that the emperor, Marcus Aurelius, fought with the Markomanni during his entire
reign, exhausting the Roman treasuries, and upon his death, the Empire was required to make
a treaty with them (Aurelius' son, Commodus -- the evil emperor in the movie). What does all
of this have to do with the name Unger? Well, about 200 years after Aurelius' death, the Huns
invaded the Roman Empire. The Marcomanni were again fighting with the Romans and when
the Huns arrive (late 300s, early 400s A.D.) many Germanic tribes were either conquered by or
allied themselves with the Huns. With the Marcomanni, we're not sure whether they were
willing allies or tributes, but the Unger name derived during this time period. It's original form
was "Hunnengewehr" which in German means auxiliary or weapon of the Huns. The
Marcomanni were allied to the Huns (as were many other Germans -- Goths, Rugians,
Herulians, Vandals, etc.) and it is therefore from this alliance that the name developed. With
time, the name was modified from Hunnengewehr, to Ungerrer, and finally Unger and Ungar,
being the two most common forms. Today, 'Ungarn' is German for Hungary, and Ungar can be
interpreted as both a Hungarian citizen, or a word for 'raw' or 'not done'. The name is common
in Hungary, but Unger is not of Magyar origin; rather those Hungarian Ungers are most
certainly far distant derivatives of those Germans who ran amuk throughout the eastern
provinces during the medieval centuries (Transylvania was an ancient German (Saxon)
provincial antagonist and victim of the infamous Vlad Tepes (the historical Dracula!) during the
15th and 16th centuries. Not all of the Marcomanni left ancient Bohemia for Bavaria.
Remember, Bohemia was a German kingdom during the Medieval Ages, so a great number
Unger 1
naturally stayed behind. These Ungers spread in all directions: There are Ungers in Sweden,
the Baltic countries, as well as in the Eastern European nations (Hungary, Czech Republic,
Poland, etc.) Today, the German states of Saxony, Brandenburg, Hesse, and Bavaria probably
represent the greatest numbers of the Unger family. The name sometimes occurs as a Jewish
surname because of the intermarrying of German Ungers with Eastern European Jews prior to
WWII. Most of these Ungers arrived in the U.S. during the 20th century and usually settled in
New York City. This accounts for why the majority of American Ungers who trace their ancestry
to Eastern Europe, are often of Jewish ancestry. I point this out only because a Jewish friend of
mine (from my years in New York) thought I was Jewish because by his observation, everyone
in New York City named Unger, was Jewish. Again, the name, Unger, occurs in many countries
(even in Italy as Ungaro!); nonetheless, 'Unger' is a German name.
Ancestry.com says:
German, Jewish (Ashkenazic), and Slovenian: ethnic name for a Hungarian or a nickname for
someone who had trade relations with Hungary, from the ethnic term Unger ‘Hungarian’ (see
Ungar).
Unger 2
Unger 3
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Ahnentafel 10 and 11 - Isaac Younger and Louisa Ann Bryant ............................................................ 5
Isaac Younger – His working life - The ships and the butter factory .............................................. 19
Ahnentafel 20 and 21 - Henry Unger and Sophia Cohen (Grower) ................................................... 31
Ahnentafel 42 - Isaac Cohen.............................................................................................................. 51
Unger 4
Ahnentafel 10 and 11 - Isaac Younger and Louisa Ann Bryant
Related chaptersAncestors of Isaac Younger: See Ahnentafel 20 and 21 Henry Unger and Sophia Grower Cohen
Ancestors of Louisa Ann Bryant: See Ahnentafel 22 and 23 Samuel Bryant and Sarah Ann Hobbs (See the Bryant Line)
Descendants of Isaac Younger and Louisa Ann Bryant: See Ahnentafel 4 and 5 – William Colvin Wylie and Vida Eva Younger
I
saac Younger was born 15 February 1862 in Liverpool Lancashire1. His birth certificate
gives us this information:








Registration district –
Liverpool
Sub District – Saint Martin
County - Lancaster
When and where born –
23 Court Arley Street
Father – Henry Ounger
Mother – Sophia Ounger
formerly Cohen
Occupation of Father – Licensed Hawker
Informant - Sophia Ounger 23 Court Arley Street
Liverpool
Note that the place of Isaac’ birth is the same place as the
residence noted for Sophia. Note also that Sophia has signed
with her mark.
Louisa Ann Bryant was born on 30
June 1867 at St Germans Cornwall 2
England. This is clearly stated in my
Mother’s original family tree records and as she knew both Louisa and her daughter Vida3 I
am strongly persuaded by her advice. The birth is recorded in the England & Wales FreeBMD
Birth Index 1837 – 1915 but it is in “Births registered in July, August, September 1867”. This
is probably because she was born on the last day of June, but it was not registered until July.
1
In later chapters I will be more specific about the link between generations, but in these earlier chapters they
are known facts of me or of my Mother who recorded much of this early information.
2
Cornwall features heavily for Louisa’s ancestors. Instead of continually referencing the area in individual
chapters I will include a chapter on Cornwall in the Bryant line.
3
We lived at her (Vida’s) house in 92 Peach Street Greenslopes for around 18 months when I was around 15 or
16. This was after she had married Herb Guppy. My parents were building their block of flats at 57 Hunter
Street Greenslopes during this time. They were built by Barry Moore – husband of Jeanette Wylie, Vida’s
daughter.
Unger 5
The 1871 England Census shows Isaac age 9, living with his parents Henry and Sophia at the
civil parish
of
Liverpool4.
Louisa is also listed on the
1871 England Census living
at Trerulefoot in Cornwall
and 3 years of age5.
In the 1881 England
census Louisa is 13 and
listed as living at Trerule
Hill Head with her
parents. I could not
locate Isaac (who would
have been 19) on the 1881 England census6.
Trerulefoot, according to Wikipedia, is a small village in southeast Cornwall, located on the
A38 about halfway between the towns of Saltash and Liskeard. It has a farm shop, two cafes
and a filling station. That is as record on Wikipedia in 2015, so it would have been quite a bit
smaller in 1871. Trerule farm and Trerule hill head are located with Trerule.
At the age of 15 Louisa departed
England from Plymouth and arrived in
Cooktown Queensland on 5th March
1883 on board the Bulimba 7
(pictured). That must have been a
culture shock – even today Cooktown
is pretty remote.
Louisa and her brother and sister
arrived in Cooktown on the Bulimba on
5th March 18838, but their parents did
4
For further details of all England Census records for Isaac Younger see Ahnentafel 20 and 21 Henry Unger and
Sophia Grower Cohen
5
For further details all England Census records for Louisa Ann Bryant see Ahnentafel 22 and 23 Samuel Bryant
and Sarah Ann Hobbs
6
He does not appear at his family’s address but he may have moved or been at sea.
7
At an http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/h/o/d/Alick-Selwyn-Hodgson/PHOTO/0010photo.htmlchor
off Kangaroo Point in the Brisbane River.
8
Ancestry.com records Queensland Australia Passenger Lists 1848 - 1912
Unger 6
not arrive until 2nd April 1883 on board the Duke of
Devonshire. In my mother’s notes (attached later) she
explains this was because some of the younger
children were sick when they initially intended to sail.
The Bulimba sailed on to Brisbane and The Brisbane
Courier Mail reports the vessels arrival with a lengthy
article 9 . The article states that the vessel berthed
along Messrs. Parbury, Lamb and Raff’s wharf Eagle
Street10. Extracts from the article include
“Viewed from the wharf she looks a huge, but
nevertheless well modelled and powerful vessel, with
straight stem and elliptic stern, and schooner-rigged”.
“At 4pm on 11th January, everything being ready, she proceeded down the channel, everyone
being in the highest spirits, apparently unconscious of the fact they were leaving a good home
and friends behind, but feeling they were going where by perseverance and diligence they
might establish a better. The next two or three days may better be imagined than described,
very few indeed escaping seasickness.”
“The Bulimba again got underway, and proceeded to Batavia, at which port she arrived on the
19th, at 1 p.m. Here she was detained .... longer owing to the date of her arrival ... King of
Holland's birthday, and the ... following the Chinese New Year, and all business in the city
being suspended for festivities (sixty-five hours)”.
“She brought 600 immigrants equaling 520½ adults, also three deserters from s.s. Duke
of Buckingham, at Colombo, who were picked up in a destitute state there. The nationalities
of the immigrants were as follows :- English, 489 ; Scotch, 16 ; and Irish, 95. Their social
condition is follows :- 79 married couples, 88 single girls, and 208 single men. Of these 11
couples, 1 single girl, and 10 single men were landed at Cooktown ; 16 families, 14 girls,
and 29 men at Townsville ; 2 girls and 9 men for Bowen ; 8 families, 3 girls, and 20 men for
Mackay ; 11 families, 12 girls, and 31 men for Rockhampton ; the remainder, consisting of 36
families, 56 girls and 109 men, are for this port.”
“The surgeon-superintendent, Dr. George William Macartney, who has been here twice in
that capacity (Almora and Glamis), has had a busy time of it during the voyage. There was one
death — John Henry Harris, aged 2, on 20th February, of convulsions while in Batavia harbour.
There was one birth, on 25th February — the wife of Abraham Shipley, of a daughter. Miss
Lamond, as matron, ably performed her duties. On account of our having had a few cases of
scarlatina amongst the children, we were refused pratique11 at Townsville and Rockhampton,
although the health officer at Cooktown saw no reason to quarantine us. In consequence of
this we had a long delay coming down the coast — namely, five days at Townsville, and one
and a half at Rockhampton, where it took the health officer nine hours to get to us after our
9
Full text can be found at http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/3416150
This is now near the very centre of Brisbane city.
11
Pratique is a term used for being Quarantine cleared.
10
Unger 7
arrival, thereby in- creasing our delay. We left there at 11.30 a.m. on the 13th, and arrived
here at 7 p.m. on the 14th ; we received orders to proceed to Peel Island Quarantine Station,
and land immigrants and their baggage ; this we did on the 15th, landing them in ship's boats
; we then proceeded to disinfect the ship, land fittings and burn them. We were allowed
pratique on the 19th, and left the Quarantine Station.”
Isaac arrived at
Sydney Australia
on 30th April 1884.
He was a Seaman
aboard the Edina,
which departed
from
Liverpool.
Isaac had a close
association with
the vessel the
Edina and this
vessel
has
numerous
internet
references12. Isaac
is described as a
“Trimmer13”. It is
also important to
note that his surname is already recorded as “Younger”.
Around 30 January 1886 Isaac purchased
an allotment of land “Botany, on the
Sandgate Estate, allotment of land,
having 40 feet frontage to Hastings road,
being lot 9, sec 12, for £35 – Mr Isaac
Younger”. The bigger amount after that
is for the total sales, not just Isaac’s
purchase.
12
See following chapter “S.S. Edina”
A coal trimmer or trimmer is a position within the engineering department of a coal fired ship which involves
all coal handling tasks starting with the loading of coal into the ship and ending with the delivery of the coal to
the stoker. The trimmers worked inside the coal bunkers located on top of and between the boilers. Trimmers
used shovels and wheelbarrows to move coal around the bunkers in order to keep the coal level, and to shovel
the coal down the coal chute to the firemen below, who shoveled it into the furnaces. If too much coal built up
on one side of a coal bunker, the ship would actually list to that side. Trimmers were also involved in
extinguishing fires in the coal bunkers. Fires occurred frequently due to spontaneous combustion of the coal.
The fires had to be extinguished with fire hoses and by removing the burning coal by feeding it into the furnace.
Of the engineering crew, the trimmers were paid the least. The working conditions of a trimmer were poor,
primarily as a result of their environment: the inside of a coal bunker was poorly lighted, full of coal dust, and
extremely hot due to residual heat emanating from the boilers.
13
Unger 8
Isaac appears in Sands Directory in 1887 as an
engineer at Botany Rd Botany (Sydney).
In 1888 Isaac is listed as an Engineer at
High St Botany.
In 1889 he is still listed as an Engineer
at High Street, North Botany.
Isaac Younger and Louisa Ann Bryant
married on 28 July 1886 at St Johns
Church Brisbane with the witnesses
being Samuel Bryant and J.J. Bryant.
Note:



The place of birth for Isaac is
Liverpool and for Louisa, St
Germans Cornwall
Isaac is 24 living in Sydney and
Louisa is 19 living at Coorparoo14
Isaac’ parents are Henry Younger
(Engineer) and Sophia Grower
and Louisa’s parents are Samuel
Bryant (Farmer) and Sarah Ann
Hobbs
At first glance Isaac and Louisa marrying
in Brisbane whilst Isaac was clearly living
in Sydney appeared incorrect, but my
Mother made very good notes
explaining this and detailing other facets
of Isaac and Louisa’s life and rather than
paraphrasing I reproduce her note below.
14
From Wikipedia “Coorparoo was chosen as the name of the suburb at a public meeting on 22 March 1875,
before which it was known as Four Mile Camp. The name Coorparoo is likely derived from an Aboriginal name
for Norman Creek, probably recorded by early surveyors as Koolpuroom. The word is thought to refer to either a
place associated with mosquitoes, or a sound made by the 'gentle dove' The latter explanation appears doubtful
though, as 'gentle dove' may mean the Spotted Dove, which was introduced to the area in 1912, long after the
name Coorparoo was adopted.”
Unger 9
Unger 10
15
Together they had at least seven children:







Olive Mabel Younger (24th May 1887, Sydney – 5th March 1972),
Henry Samuel Younger (26th March 1889, Coorparoo Brisbane – 17th February 1976,
Brisbane),
Florence Louisa Younger (6th March 1892, Queensland – 11th February 1970, Eventide
home Brighton Brisbane),
Ronald Younger (1898, Benowa Southport – 23rd October 1960),
James Isaac Younger (27th May 1900, Queensland – 3rd October 1936, Brisbane),
Sophia May Younger (1900 – 5th July 1929, Brisbane),
Vida Eva Younger (born 2nd November 1904, Waverley House Southport
Queensland.)
16
15
These are handwritten notes complied by Caroline Thelma Wylie (nee Weatherall). They were written when
computers were rare, expensive and mostly owned by big corporations.
16
This photo always creeps me out a little – it looks like there is a spectral entity between Vida and James. I
think it is just a break in the background foliage.
Unger 11
It appears that Isaac and Louisa moved to Brisbane just prior to the birth
of Henry at Coorparoo in Brisbane on 26th March 1889. Coorparoo is
now an inner suburb of Brisbane but it was still very rural at that time.
(This picture is Cavendish Road, one of the main streets of Coorparoo,
in 1902.)
The Brisbane Courier Mail, 5 July 190717, prints a small article about the relieving engineer
(Isaac Younger) being injured but not seriously after a collision between the steamer
Cormorant and the small steamer Young Mat.
Isaac and Louisa are enrolled to vote in the Division of Oxley in 190818. Isaac is listed as an
Engineer and Louisa as home duties. They live at Wellington Rd. I do not think we are related
to the Wylie’s that appear on the same page, but it is possible19.
17
Trove http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/19374667?searchTerm=%22Isaac%20Younger%22&
searchLimits=#pstart1557362
18
Electoral rolls available on line at ancestry.com
19
I have not copied electoral roll records to this book. They are typewritten records and a copy does not add to
the knowledge. Copies are available on my online records.
Unger 12
In 1925 they also appear as enrolled to vote with the same
details as above. Two of their children, Sophia May and Ronald,
are also enrolled and live at that address.
Early in 1929 the vessel the Arafura suffers a damaged
propeller shaft and is in urgent need of assistance. There are
numerous newspaper reports about this at the time and of the
vessels rescue by the tugs Forceful and Coringa.
For example on 2 March 1929 The Mercury (Hobart)20 prints
this article.
On 4 March 1929 the Brisbane Courier Mail21 has a very long article which includes a picture
of the crew of the Forceful.
20
Trove http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/24235091?searchTerm=ss forceful&searchLimits=l-australian=y
Trove http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/21382081?searchTerm=arafura forceful&searchLimits=laustralian=y
21
Unger 13
Note the rag around Isaac’s shoulders22 – this is the “badge” of the Engineer. The man next
to him wearing the cap would be the Captain.
On 6 March 1929 the Brisbane Courier Mail
prints an article23 about the engineers of the
Arafura, the Coringa and the Forceful being
congratulated by the Australian Institute of
Marine and Power Engineers
In 1936 Isaac and Louisa appear as enrolled to
vote in the Division of Moreton, and all of
their details are the same, except their
address which is now Esplanade, Manly. Of their children only Ronald is listed as enrolled24 at
that address.
Their actual address at this time was 475 Royal Esplanade Manly and
it would have been a great address then but it is an amazing address
now.
My
mother wrote in her notes
that the house is still there
but it is now many years since
she died. A Google map
search in September 2013
does not show the house she
photographed but I think the house to the right of the “A” is probably it, although a balcony
has been added. Recollections of Wal Younger, reproduced later, state “Later when he retired,
he and his wife moved to Manly Qld., in the street just above the IGA store, overlooking the
yacht harbour, I can remember visiting them there. “
22
The handwriting identifying Isaac is my Mother’s. I could source a copy of the record that is not transposed
but I like this one with her written note.
23
Trove http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/21382949?searchTerm=ss forceful&searchLimits=l-australian=y
24
The voting age in Australia was 21 until 1973 when it changed to 18.
Unger 14
The Youngers definitely liked water front properties. I currently live at Sandgate Brisbane
(with views to Moreton Island) and I volunteer at Sandgate Marine Rescue. I remember my
parents telling me that an Uncle of
my father owned a property in
Shorncliffe,
which
strangely
enough is where Sandgate Marine
Rescue is, and pointing out a
house to us on occasional detours
after
visiting
Maternal
grandparents at Kippa Ring. I can
narrow the house down to about
four and I know that one of those
belonged to Charles William
Honychurch and Florence Louisa
Younger 25 , but it irks me every
time I have duty to not be able to
actually identify the house.
Charles
Honychurch
took
waterfront properties to a new
level by owning Garden Island.
On 3 October 1936 26 Isaac and Louisa
tragically lose their son James Isaac to
an explosion.
25
Florence died on 11 February 1970 at Eventide Home, Sandgate
Newsclip from Trove Sydney Morning Herald 5 October 1936
http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/17281045?searchTerm=james younger man fatally
injured&searchLimits=l-australian=y. There is a similar article on the same day in The West Australian (Perth)
http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/40965012?searchTerm=james younger man fatally
injured&searchLimits=l-australian=y
26
Unger 15
Wal Younger, son of James Isaac Younger and Winifred Bessie Fraser McDonald wrote to me
in 2013 about his recollections:
“I was always told that my Grandfather Younger was a steam engineer who came out from
Liverpool and then worked (steam engineer) at the Merrimac butter factory, just south of
Nerang. Then later transferred as engineer to the Maid of Sker, since restored by the citizens
of Nerang, and now on display in Riverside park at Nerang. The paddle steamer then would
ply cargo from Nerang along the Nerang river through Southport and up through the southern
bay islands terminating at the then coal wharves (Southbank, underneath the Captain Cook
Bridge) almost next door to the Maritime Museum today. The roads in the area were then
little more than dirt tracks and the waterways were a good alternative for moving heavy
freight. Now, all that remains of that wharf is a couple of steel pylons still sitting in the river
at that point. There is a picture of the Maid of Sker at that wharf, with crew on board. My
understanding is that Grandfather Younger then moved to Wellington Rd., opposite the East
Brisbane State school (close to the original site of Palms Chutney factory, now at Wacol). When
my parents James Isaac Younger and Winifred Bessie Fraser McDonald were married in Ann
St Presbyterian Church (1928 27 ), the Youngers were living at Wellington Rd. I believe
Grandfather Younger moved to Brisbane when he gained his new position as engineer of the
Forceful ocean going tug. Later when he retired, he and his wife moved to Manly Qld., in the
street just above the IGA store, overlooking the yacht harbour, I can remember visiting them
there.
Interestingly from my mother`s side of my family (Campbell, farmers at Murphy`s Creek and
McDonald, railway officers) grandfather McDonald was a railway station master all his life,
retiring in 1936. During their careers they get moved around every so many years, and I
haven’t done any research but, at one stage of his life his posting was Ernest Junction on the
old steam railway line to Coolangatta. Ernest Junction, like today was a branching point for
trains then, running into Southport (which was then the only city of any size in the area now
called Gold Coast). which is very close to Merimac. My mother (born in 1901, deceased 1937)
would have then been attending Nerang State school nearby. My father died in 1936,
originally worked for Evans Deakin Engineers ( I don`t know in what capacity) of course where
Dockside apartments are today, were the Evans Deakin Shipbuilding yards, the Graving dock
is still there today as a water feature of that complex. The last large ship to be built there was
the Amanda Miller, (tanker) launched in 1973, and in 1974 during it`s fitting out operations
was hit by the giant flood in January of that year and broke its moorings and was sideways
across the river and could have potentially acted as a dam from Kangaroo Point to New
Farm. Fortunately, a couple of tugs pulled her around and pointed her into the flow. I believe
my father studied mechanical engineering at night school. He also played guitar and drums in
a dance band. Two years after marrying he built a new home at 287 Wynnum Rd., Norman
Park, I being born in 1931, and my sister Jeanette born in 1935.
If you Google Merrimac railway or Tunnel, which has a curve in it, it has now become a point
of interest as you can`t see straight through it. There is a rumour that it is haunted by a ghost?”
Unger 16
Isaac died on 5 December 1938 of
Arteriosclerosis and Senility. The
illness was said to have a duration of
many years.
Information
includes:





on
this
certificate
Age at death – 77 years
Occupation – Engineer
Father – Henry Younger
Father’s occupation – Engineer
Mother – Sophia Grower
He is buried at Toowong cemetery –
Grave lot 46, section 155 portion18.
My Mother’s notes say the
headstone has been removed and
the area grassed over.
In 1943 Louisa is listed on the electoral roll as living at 86 Cedar Street Greenslopes. This is
the future address of
Ray and Thel Wylie28 in
a house they built in
195529. It appears that
the larger house in this
photo once owned all
of the land shown for
both houses.
The
smaller house occupies
land
which
was
originally a market
garden. I am unaware
exactly how the ownership of the land the smaller house is built on changed to Ray and Thel
28
29
These are my parents. Thel (Caroline) was the initial researcher who obtained much of this early information.
And also the house I grew up in with my sister Sandra.
Unger 17
Wylie but I do know that they built the smaller house and lived in it from new. This is the
house I grew up in for much of my early childhood30.
On 28 April 1943 Louisa married31 for a second time to David Childs Jackson at Greenslopes
Baptist church Brisbane.
Louisa died on 27th August 1958 32 in Brisbane and she was cremated at Mt Thompson
Crematorium Mount Gravatt Brisbane. Her ashes were scattered at T16, Bed 18, area 9.
30
There is indisputable evidence – ie some records in my Mother’s original family tree notes refer to the house.
Mine and my sister’s memories of growing up in this house and also the recollections of my Aunt Jeannette.
The larger house is now number 84 but I suspect it was 84-86 originally.
31
I haven’t found this record yet but I am confident this is correct as it is recorded in my Mother’s original notes
and she knew both Louisa and her daughter Vida Eva personally. And subsequent records support both a
marriage to Jackson and a death year of 1958.
32
I don’t have a copy of the death certificate but the registration number is B027608.
Unger 18
Isaac Younger – His working life - The ships and the butter factory
Isaac was an Engineer. In fact he was a steam engineer. He worked at Merrimac butter
factory as the steam engineer and also as engineer on the Maid of Sker and the ocean going
tug Forceful. He also worked on the vessel Edina as engineer and he arrived in Australia on
that vessel.
SS Edina
The Edina was built in 1853 by Barclay & Company of
Glasgow, she was 322 tons gross, 171 feet in length,
beam 23.7 feet and depth 12.8 feet. When launched
was a three masted steamer, barquentine rigged.
Though larger ships had figureheads, the smaller
coastal traders were built for work with no
she
unnecessary extras. An exception was Edina.
She had a female form named the Fair Maid
of Judah, which was badly smashed in a
collision. It was replaced with a crude
wooden torso with a round ball as a head.
During the Crimean War and the American
Civil War Edina served as a blockade runner
before being diverted to the Australian gold
rush trade in 1862. For a brief period she
carried as many as 350 diggers across the
Tasman sea to New Zealand.
Purchased by S.G. Henty in 1863 for £13,500
for the west coast trade making her first
voyage from Melbourne to Portland on 1
April 1863. In 1869 she was purchased by the
Western Steam Navigation Company for
£8,500 and 100 fully paid up shares. A
condition of the sales was that the Henty’s
withdraw from Warnambool trade.
During her career the Edina became famous
as a collision specialist being involved in no fewer than 14 mishaps, nine of them collisions.
Unger 19
While lying at anchor in Lady Bay in 1870 a gale swept over the harbour forcing the steamer
Dandenong across her bows smashing
her figurehead.
In May 1875 after more than 100 trips to
and from the west coast Howard Smith &
Co bought her for the North Queensland
Trade. She returned to Melbourne five
years later and made her first run in the
Bay Trade between Melbourne and
Geelong on 1st May 1880. Captain Forbes
took command of her on her first trip and
remained with her for 40 years. She
continued in this service until 1938,
averaging 312 trips per year, ninety miles
per trip and carrying about 100
passengers per day.
Finally in 1938 after more than 1,000,000
miles and more than 2,000,000
passengers her 84 year career ended
when economic conditions forced her
withdrawal from service. She was
stripped down in 1938 and used as a hulk
named Diana before being totally scrapped in 1958. (taken from internet site www.flagstaff
hill.com).
The Queenscliffe Martime Museum33 boasts having artefacts from the Edina and the website
www,flotilla-australia.com states that up until 1938 she was the oldest active steamship in a
Australian coastal service. A scale model of the Edina can be viewed at the Melbourne
Maritime Immigration Museum, Customs House Flinders St., Melbourne.
The website http://oceans1.customer.netspace.net.au/portphillip-main.html also contains
information about the Edina:
“Lawson states that at the time of writing (1927) she was the oldest operating steamer in the
world. The oldest steamer afloat is stated to be the famous Great Britain, lying as a hulk in
the Falkland Islands.


33
On 18 April 1863, she was at anchor in Portland Bay when a squall sprang up and
forced her ashore where she lay for two days, battered by heavy seas, before being
refloated and taken to Melbourne for repairs.
On 30 April 1869, when entering Port Phillip Heads on a voyage from Warrnambool to
Melbourne with a number of passengers and a full cargo, struck a submerged object
http://www.maritimequeenscliffe.org.au/ Wharf Street Queenscliff 3225.
Unger 20













and began taking water. The pumps were set to work until she reached Williamstown
where she was run ashore.
On 18 June 1869, stranded at Point Gellibrand, Port Phillip.
In 1870, during a gale at Warrnambool, the steamer Dandenong drifted close to the
Edina and finally swung broadside on to her bow, damaging the Edina’s figurehead,
which was replaced when she was overhauled during 1872-73.
In 1880 - collided with the coal hulk City of Melbourne near the mouth of the Yarra
River, Melbourne, suffering only minor damage.
In 1883, involved in collision with vessel Cerberus, Victorian waters.
In 1883, assisted in salvage of cargo from stranded steamer rodondo, Point Lonsdale.
In 1887, assisted in rescue - see SS Cheviot, 1887.
On 6 March 1893, stranded at Geelong.
In 1894, involved in collision with steamer Courier, Corio Bay.
In 1898, ashore at point Gellibrand, Port Phillip.
On the evening of 27 April 1898, she struck SS Manawatu near Williamstown. The
Manawatu, badly damaged in the bows, sank soon after, while the Edina was run
ashore on Point Gellibrand with a gaping hole in her side. The tugs Geebung, and Eagle,
attempted to get her off without success, but she managed to get off apparently
without assistance.
In 1899, she rammed and sank her rival, the Excelsior, in Hobsons Bay, Port Phillip.
Holed on the port side near the funnel, the Excelsior sank in five fathoms forty-five
minutes later, after all passengers had been transferred to the Edina. The Excelsior
was raised seven months later.
On 9 July 1924, stranded at Point Gellibrand, Port Phillip.
In 1931, July, she rammed the tug Hovell in Hobsons Bay; this being the last of her
collisions before
On 16 September 1932, stranded at Portarlington, Port Phillip. In 1934, involved in
collision with vessel Ormiston, Yarra River, Melbourne.
This website http://www.rlyachts.net/RobsStories20.asp gives an account of a man’s most
memorable birthday – when he was 8 and he had a day trip on the Edina. It has a number of
very good photos.
“Boating Stories by Rob Legg
Unger 21
Edina ran bay trips from Hobson’s bay to Geelong up until the winter of 1938 when she was
taken
out
of
service. She was
built in 1854 in
iron, and had
lasted 84 years,
and that says a lot
in favour of iron as
a durable material
in ships.
It is strange how,
as you become
older, the mention
of a name will
trigger a memory
in clear detail of
some event or
happening from a long time ago. Just this morning there was a mention on the news of some
new harbour facilities at Geelong, and here I am writing about a birthday treat in 1937.
I had been obsessed about boats ever since I can remember and way back then, and unknown
to me, my mother had seen an advertisement for an excursion to Geelong on the “Edina”.
It was summer and my eighth birthday was not far away. I had been informed by my mother
that we would be visiting a great aunt and staying the night at her place on the day before my
birthday. I was not very impressed, as messing around down at the river was a much more
inviting idea. Unusual too that my father would be taking the day off work just to visit
relatives.
My great aunt was a cranky old lady and lived in a little stone cottage in Williamstown. I don’t
think that she cared much for little boys, and I was miserable with no mates around and
nothing of interest to do. I was looking forward to going home as early as possible the next
day.
Here it was the next morning, and my birthday, but nobody seemed to have remembered.
Worse still we didn’t seem to be headed toward the station, but in the opposite direction.
When we came in sight of a pier, it didn’t seem so bad at all, because there at the end of the
pier was a ship spewing a lot of black smoke from its single funnel. What was this? My father
produced some tickets, and we were directed up a gang plank. We were going to Geelong on
a real ship.
Unger 22
Edina as she was during her
between Williamstown and Geelong.
forty
year
run Edina as she was launched in 1851. She was to become
the world’s oldest Propeller driven steam ship.
My excitement knew no bounds. I had never really been on the sea before, although I had
spent plenty of time day dreaming about it. Money was very scarce then, and Australia was
still in the grips of the great depression, so my father must have saved for months for this trip.
Edina was a main transport and supply link with Geelong and carried most of the heavy cargo at the time, as seen here
loading wool that was to be transferred to one of the clipper sailing ships loading in Geelong. On the return trip her cargo
included fresh produce and fish.
We found seats in the saloon where a women was playing a piano. It overlooked the foredeck
and we watched as the last of the cargo was being loaded. When the cargo was secure and
we were clear of the harbour, to my surprise and excitement, a huge square of canvas was
hoisted on the mast in front of us. This was great! It was far better than the chaff bag sail I
had erected on a tin canoe down on the Plenty River.
Unger 23
I must have spent
most of my time
just watching the
sail and the water,
except for the
time spent when
we went to watch
the two stokers
shovelling
coal
from the chutes
behind them to
the fires under the
boilers, and this
left
enough
impression on me
that I decided never to become a dirty stoker, but I was disappointed not to be allowed to see
the engines. (This picture is not originally in this story, but it is the Edina coming in to the wharf
at Geelong.)
All I remember of Geelong was lunch and a long wait while the cargo was removed and the
disappointment of being told that there would be no sail hoisted on the way back. As for the
rest of that trip, I think I fell asleep most
of the way home, and it must have been
quite late when we arrived home, but I
am certain that it was most likely that it
was this day when I was struck by the
sailing bug.”
Isaac worked on the Edina for some
time and was injured during one of the
Edina’s mishaps – this is from the
Courier Mail 5th July 1907.
Unger 24
Merrimac butter factory
This took me a while to understand. For instance The
Courier Mail, 8 October 1934 34 reports on a new dairy
company being formed in 1934 “for the purpose of
erecting a new and up to date butter factory at Nerang”.
1934 was far too late to be an option for Isaac to have
worked there.
It was some time
before I discovered
this article (Brisbane Courier Mail 15 November 1932)
which enlightened me that the Merrimac Cheese (butter)
factory, had been opened before this and closed down.
So I think this is Isaac’s first job in Australia, other than on
the Edina.
34
http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/35641684
Unger 25
Maid of Sker
A 35 relic of the days of the paddle steamer lies quietly at rest in Bischoff Park beside the
Nerang River. A number of steamers worked the Nerang River before the turn of the century.
Until 1930, one of these vessels, the Maid of Sker 36was still trading up and down the river.
The Maid of Sker had a long and varied working life. The Maid was an iron paddle steamer
built in 1884 by J.W. Sutton of Kangaroo Point in Brisbane. It was originally fitted with a steam
capable of sixteen horse power and the engine and boiler were mounted on deck. In 1897
after a few changes in ownership the steamer was sold to partners, Kleinschmidt and Genter.
Afterwards it was sold and registered in the names of various members of the Kleinschmidt
family. Between 1893 and 1930 the Maid of Sker made a weekly trip carrying cargo between
Brisbane, Southport and Nerang.
In 1974 Mr Ted Kleinschmidt, aged 87 years provided journalist Ted Latta with the following
information.
“Once the cargo was loaded in Brisbane, man and boat had to wait for the tide. The trip from
Brisbane to Southport was usually uneventful until the Southport Bar. The vessel had to fight
35
Information taken from http://placestories.com/story/28075 and
http://www.abc.net.au/local/audio/2013/04/16/3737928.htm
36
The original Maid of Sker was a book written in 1872 by R.D. Blackmore.
Unger 26
a constantly changing channel and a current sweeping out from the Nerang River. Sometimes
the current won...”
“The Maid of Sker would sit stranded on a sandbank until the rising tide permitted the
completion of the journey.”
“From Southport the Maid of Sker ran upstream to Nerang The crew waited until there was
enough water to get the vessel over the shallows and then two hours steaming brought them
to Nerang. They could only afford one and a half hours of time, loading and unloading produce
and goods. If things went well, the crew could turn the boat around in the river and be back
in Southport within the limits of one tide. If there was a delay the Maid of Sker was trapped
by the tide”
By the late 1920s the trip up to Nerang became unfeasible and the Maid of Sker travelled up
the Nerang River only as far as Barney Boulton’s jetty at Southport. The Nerang River was now
spanned by the Jubilee Bridge and in the late 1920s Sam Milfull was in charge of raising and
lowering the centre span of the bridge to allow vessels passage up the river. Sam’s brother
wrote in 1976 “The Maid of
Sker always came upstream
on an incoming tide and
began blowing her siren well
in advance. This gave my
brother enough time to
hurry from our home in
Scarborough Street to the
Jubilee Bridge where he
would wind up the centre
span”.
In 1930 the Maid of Sker was
stripped
of
all
superstructure and was
used as a gravel barge at Southport. Later the gravel operations were transferred to Brisbane.
Finally in 1974 the disused hull lay at moorings at the gravel depot on the Brisbane River.
In 1974 the Kleinschmidt family donated the hull to the Gold Coast City Council. In 1975 the
Maid of Sker once again made the trip from Brisbane to Southport only this time the vessel
was towed by a trawler called the Kirra Bay. On reaching her destination, the Maid sat for
nearly two years on a bank in the Southport Broadwater. In 1976 a decision was made to
remove the hull to Nerang and this was organised through the assistance of many groups and
individuals including the various Nerang Service Clubs and the Albert Shire Council. So on the
6th November 1976 the Maid of Sker came back to Nerang not via that slow journey up the
river, but via trailer and truck travelling on the Nerang Southport Road. Restoration of the
Maid of Sker was completed in January 1981 and a special dedication ceremony was held on
Australia Day.
Unger 27
It is true that the Maid of Sker is not quite the same boat. The boiler was originally part of an
arrowroot mill and the funnel was donated by an engineering firm. Still the old steamer rests
just a little upstream from its original berth on the Nerang River.
A shopping centre, “My Centre”, in Nerang also honours the Maid of Sker with a large panel
on one of the inner walls.
I visited the vessel in
January 2015 and it is
being refurbished.
Unger 28
Forceful
The Forceful is now one of the most important exhibits at
the Queensland Maritime Museum. I have already
detailed some of the Forceful’s involvement in the rescue
of the Arafura, but there have literally been books written
about the Forceful and it would be pointless for me to try
and reproduce those.
Here is a very condensed history, copied from Wikipedia.
Forceful is an ocean-going tugboat built for the
Queensland Tug Company. Forceful was built by Alexander
Stephen and Sons Ltd in Govan, Scotland. She arrived at
her homeport of Brisbane, Queensland on 7 March 1926.
While she spent most of her career operating along the
coast of Queensland, she was commissioned into the
Royal Australian Navy during most of 1942 and 1943 as
HMAS Forceful (W126).
During her war service she was based at Darwin and
operated mainly in northern Australian waters. She
received two battle honours for her wartime service:
"Darwin 1942-43" and "Pacific 1943".
Forceful was retired from service in September 1970
and was handed over to the Queensland Maritime
Museum in Brisbane on 10 June 1971. The vessel was
kept operational and used for trips along the Brisbane
River and to Moreton Bay until 2006, when a hull
survey revealed that the tugboat was not safe to
operate, and required extensive repairs.
Following a number slippings of the vessel at the
Brisbane slipway in order to preserve her in a safe
condition, Forceful now has several repairs on her hull
in order to keep her watertight and is currently being
maintained as a static exhibit at the Queensland
Maritime Museum in Brisbane. But age and lack of
funding was taking its toll. In June 2012 Forceful was
at risk of being condemned for scrap as a small leak
had developed in the vessels stern. Forceful was given
Unger 29
a deadline to be out of the water and repaired by Maritime Safety Queensland (MSQ). With
no funds available, the outlook was not good. Media attention by television and radio
networks as well as maritime newsletters and social media ended up with an anonymous
donation being made to facilitate the repairs Forceful needed. She came out of the water in
June 2012 for repairs and returned to the Queensland Maritime Museum in July 2012.
I cannot give a link for this movie clip as the site is short term hosting and will not be there
for very long. However for anyone reading this in the electronic version, here is a link to the
Forceful being towed for repairs. If you know how to access my ancestry.com site it is also
copied there to Isaac Younger.
Forceful tug boat video Wartime tug towed for repairs, Brisbane.mp4
These are photos I took of the Forceful in January 2015:
Unger 30
Ahnentafel 20 and 21 - Henry Unger and Sophia Cohen (Grower)
Related chapters
Ancestors of Henry Unger: N/A – none known
Ancestors of Sophia Cohen (Grower): See Ahnentafel 42 Isaac Cohen
Descendants of Isaac Cohen: See Ahnentafel 10 and 11 - Isaac Younger and Louisa Ann Bryant
H
enry Unger37 was born about 1816 in Kempen, Preußen. Sophia Cohen was born
about 1826 in Dobroń, Russia38.
The above statement about birth places sounds definitive but in reality it is a guess,
albeit an educated one. I will elaborate on the matter of their birth places before proceeding
further, because to do it as part of their story would make it very difficult to follow.
Henry’s birthplace
Henry Unger a merchant from Germany, appears on the list of aliens (second entry from top)
for the SS Great
Western which
arrived
in
Southampton
England on 8
May 1851. On
the passenger
manifest (A list
of
Aliens),
Henry Unger is
clearly marked
for Country as
“Germany”
37
Both Henry Younger and Sophia Grower are listed on the death certificate for Isaac Younger. On this
certificate Henry’s occupation is noted as “Engineer”. They are also both listed on the marriage certificate of
Isaac Younger and Louisa Ann Bryant where again the profession of Henry is listed as Engineer. On the birth
certificate for Isaac the father is listed as Henry Ounger and Sophia Ounger formerly Cohen. Sophia has signed
by her mark an “x” and the address is listed as 23 Court Arley Street Liverpool. Henry’s occupation is listed as
“Licensed Hawker”. The age for both is estimated from census records.
38
Henry and Sophia’s birth year and birth place are based on documentation other than birth certificates as
explained above.
Unger 31
In 1861 Henry Unger appears on the census and listed as born in Germany39.
In 1871 Henry appears on the census and is listed as born in Prussia and a name I cannot read.
In 1881 Henry appears on the census and is listed as born in Prussia/Kemp.
39
See later in this chapter where I discuss the merits of this record.
Unger 32
In 1891 Henry appears on the census and is listed as born in Kempen Prussia.
Unger 33
In the 1881 and 1891 census it is clear that Henry has advised that he was born in Kemp or
Kempen, Prussia. At earlier times he said he was born in Germany.
Kempen is the German name for the town but it is known as Kepno in Polish.
The census in these times, like in Australia today, was completed in written
format by the householder according to internet sources. However it is clear
from the written transcripts above that each entry s completed by one hand,
so it is likely that some form of interview took place40.
I doubt Henry or Sophia could read or write, or speak, English well, if at all,
and it is important to note that the detail of the information on the forms
increased (for both Henry and Sophia) as the years progessed. As their
children were educated in England I suspect that they helped their parents
complete the forms or talk to the census collectors in later years and as a
result the information improved.
As for Kemp and Kempen – maybe it was a typo when the information was
transcribed or maybe Kemp is a nickname like Brissie for Brisbane. Equally
important to note is that in 1815 (one year before Henry’s birth) the town
Kempen was restored to Prussia (see below).
Previously part of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, Kępno was annexed by the Kingdom
of Prussia in the 1793 Second Partition of Poland. Administered within South Prussia from
1793–1807, it was part of the Napoleonic Duchy of Warsaw from 1807-1815. As Kempen, it
was restored to Prussia in the 1815 Congress of Vienna and administered within the Grand
Duchy of Posen (until 1848) and the Province of Posen, within which it was the seat of the
district Kempen in Posen. The town was a 19th-century shtetl41. On 17 January 1920, after
World War I, it became part of the Second Polish Republic. Following the invasion of Poland
and the outbreak of the Second World War in September 1939, Kępno was occupied by the
Wehrmacht and annexed by Nazi Germany. It was renamed Kempen and administered as part
of the county or district (kreis) of the same name within Reichsgau Wartheland. Red Army
troops took the town on January 21, 1945 and with the end of the war, the town became part
of the People's Republic of Poland.
Sophia’s birthplace
Sophia’s census records have already been posted above, so I will not include the full census
page again and instead just report the data and post the particular part.
In 1861 Sophia reported that she was from Germany.
40
41
See my chapter on the English census in the Introduction sections if you are interested about this.
A shtetl is a small Jewish town or village in Eastern Europe.
Unger 34
In 1871 Sophia reports she was born in Poland, and what appears to be ditto under the name
I could not read previously in Henry’s section, although that seems improbable when one is
Prussia and the other Poland..
In 1881 Sophia’s census clearly shows “R. Poland Daubron”
In 1891 Sophia reports what I read as “Doberin, Poland” as her birth place
The ancestry.com interpretation of that reference
is Dobevin, Poland (see right).
It is very clear in the England census records that
Sophia considers that she was born in Poland. Although in 1795 the Russian Empire, the
kingdom of Prussia and the Austrian Hasburg Monarchy terminated the Commonwealth’s
(Polish) independence through a series of invasions and partitions. From then until 1918
there was no independent Polish state although the Poles engaged in armed resistance until
1864.42 It appears clear that Sophia considers herself Polish, although above she once made
the concession of putting an R in front of Poland43 – I think for Russia. I believe that Sophia
identified with the resistance movement at least to the extent of considering herself Polish,
despite Poland not existing at the time.
42
The Second Polish Republic was established and existed from 1918 to 1939. It was destroyed by Nazi
Germany and the Soviet Union by their Invasion of Poland at the beginning of World War II. Millions of Polish
citizens perished in the course of the Nazi occupation. The Polish government in exile kept functioning and
through the many Polish military formations on the western and eastern fronts the Poles contributed to the
Allied victory. Nazi Germany's forces were compelled to retreat from Poland as the Soviet Red Army advanced,
which led to the creation of the People's Republic of Poland. The country's geographic location was shifted to
the west and Poland existed as a Soviet satellite state. Poland largely lost its traditional multi-ethnic character
and the communist system was imposed. By the late 1980s Solidarity, a Polish reform movement, became
crucial in causing a peaceful transition from a communist state to the capitalist system and parliamentary
democracy. This process resulted in the creation of the modern Polish state.
43
1881 census.
Unger 35
I posted a message to the Polish message board site asking for information
about Daubron (the spelling on the 1881 census which has the clearest
writing). I was directed to the Jewish heritage website JewishGen44 with a
suggestion I search for Dobroń. If you accept that neither Henry nor Sophia
could write in English and that this was already in a foreign language, I think
this is most likely the town she
meant.
Dobroń is a very small village
(population 1210 around
2008). Dobroń is located at
51°38' N 19°15' E or 85.8 miles
WSW of Warszawa.
Poland at this time
Polish history is very complicated
when looking at borders over time
but this map 45 explains it pretty
well. The shaded area is the
“original” Poland. Dobroń is
slightly down from Warsaw on the
map and as such would have been
part of Russia at the time that
Sophia lived there.
Kempen would have been close to
Dobroń, but it would have been in
Prussia.
These maps show the locality of Kempen and Dobron in today’s Poland. It is clear that they
are very close – maybe they knew each other in “Poland”, we’ll probably never know.
44
45
http://data.jewishgen.org/wconnect/wc.dll?jg~jgsys~gazetteer
http://www.progenealogists.com/poland/images/PLate.jpg
Unger 36
Henry and Sophia’s story
As already stated Henry Unger
a merchant (see below) from
Germany, appears on the list
of aliens for the SS Great
Western which arrived in
Southampton England on 8
May 1851.
The SS Great Western of 1838,
was an oak-hulled paddlewheel steamship, the first
steamship purpose-built for
crossing the Atlantic, and the
initial unit of the Great
Western Steamship Company. She was the largest passenger ship in the world from 1837 to
1839.
I believe his profession says Merchant. The Merchant written a few lines
down can easily be read and all the letters appear to match the occupation
written on Henry’s line except for the t at the end. If you agree that the
letters “Merchan” are correct, the next letter must be a t despite how much
it does not look like one 46 . Note the man’s “Quality” second from the
bottom. He is a Gentleman – good work if you can get it.
46
Paraphrasing Sherlock Holmes – if you remove the impossible whatever is left, no matter how much
improbable is the answer. I am not particularly a fan of Sir Arthur Connan Doyle but it seemed appropriate
here.
Unger 37
Henry and Sophia married according to the
Rites and Ceremonies of the Jewish religion
on June 9th 1857. Henry is listed as 39 years
old, a bachelor and his profession as Jeweller.
His address is listed as Dickinson Street
Liverpool. Sophia is married under the name
Sophia Cohen, which is her maiden name as
her father is listed as Isaac Cohen. Sophia is
listed as 29 years old and a widow and her
address is Park Lane Liverpool. The marriage
was solemnized by “the new Hebrew Congregation” in the parish of Liverpool in the county
of Lancaster at what looks like School House Hope Place47.
Henry has signed with his mark – apparently Sophia did not need to sign her assent to the
marriage.
47
I sourced the old maps of Liverpool from a number of internet sources.
http://www.liverpoolhistoryprojects.co.uk/liverpoolaz/streets.htm is as good as any of them and is where most
of the information came from.
Unger 38
As can be seen on the map to the left Park Lane and
Dickinson Street intersect and the Jewish Synagogue
is also very close. (Map of Liverpool). 1 Dickinson
Street, 2 Park Lane, 3 Jewish Synagogue, Seel Street)
The Liverpool Old Hebrew Congregation 48 is the
oldest congregation in the city and its history is
inextricably intertwined with that of the wider
Jewish community here. The earliest record of Jews
in Liverpool was in 1753, when a synagogue was
mentioned in Cumberland Street, but no mention of
any members of that community has survived and
the community which grew up thirty years later
appeared not to have any knowledge of their predecessors. This latter community established
a synagogue in a small house in Turton Court in the city centre around 1780, before acquiring
the premises of 133 Upper Frederick Street in 1789. This street is now in the city’s Chinatown,
although the house, whose garden was used as the community’s burial ground, has long since
been demolished. The house was believed to hold between 50 and 70 worshippers.
The birth certificate for Isaac Younger clearly shows their address as 23 Court Arley Street
Liverpool.
It also
shows the spelling of
the
surname
as
Ounger with the
father
“Henry
Ounger” and the
Mother
“Sophia
Ounger
formerly
Cohen”.
I am not sure about Court Arley Street in Liverpool but I did find
Arley Street in that time. 49
48
Information from website Liverpool Old Hebrew Congregation (http://www.princesroad.org/#!page2/cjg9)
Please remember that if you have an electronic copy of this document you can copy and paste most pictures
or other records to a separate document and blow it up to a much larger scale than here. (Sorry if in the future
this is so obvious it is nauseating. I know that in 2015 some of the people that will receive this document will
not immediately think to do this.
49
Unger 39
The 1861 England Census shows Henry and Sophia living at 5 Smiths Court50 civil parish of
Salford, Ecclestical parish of St Simon, town of Salford and County of Lancashire. The subregistration district is Greengate. Henry Unger is listed as age 40, married to Sophia Unger
and born in Germany. Sophia Unger is age 30, and born in Germany. Listed with them are
Elizabeth Unger, daughter age 8; Abraham Unger age 6; and Eve Unger age 2. All of the
children are listed as being born in Liverpool, Lancashire, England. There is no mention of
Thomas Grower on this part of the census. Henry’s profession is listed as Shoe Maker. At the
same address Daniel Coleman, his wife Ellen and children William and Maria are also named
at this address. Despite being the same address there must have been separate
accommodation as both Henry and Daniel are named as head of their household 51.
I am convinced this is the correct census record for the Unger’s in 1861 but there are a few
things that perplex me:





Henry’s profession of the time of shoe maker is different to his normal work, but
maybe he was looking for steady work to support his family and maybe his English
needed to improve before he could resume being a merchant;
Sophia shows her birthplace as Germany – she usually lists Poland;
Henry shows his birthplace as Germany – he usually lists Prussia;
The date I have for Abraham’s birth is 1858. That would make him around 3 in 1861
not 6.
Salford is in Manchester – not Liverpool where all other records point.
50
See census record below. The address at the top of the 2nd column is 2 Smiths Court. Beneath that the
Unger’s line shows 5 do (or ditto). The other parts of the address are in the headers of the census record. To
date I have been unable to locate Smiths Court in Salford. It has probably had a name change and sometimes
that is problematic to research.
51
There is only one head of household per residence.
Unger 40
However on the plus side:




All names are consistent with this family, at this particular time;
Ages are within range for everyone but Abraham. (Both Henry and Sophia are listed
as 5 years younger than I expected, but ages are often inconsistent in the census
records – particularly for adults.
Both Henry and Sophia have shown their birthplace as Germany – not Prussia and
Poland (or Russia) but pretty close to their birthplace and as the children were young
at this time Henry and Sophia would have tried to complete the forms themselves and
this is likely to have caused some issues.
I have not located an alternate 1861 census for this family.
On the balance of probabilities I am convinced this is the correct record, but I am not
absolutely certain52.
Greengate is an area of Salford, Greater Manchester,
England, bounded by Chapel Street, Gravel Lane and
Sacred Trinity Church and across the River Irwell from
Manchester Cathedral.
Historically it was a location for textiles and dyeing, but
during the Industrial Revolution developed a reputation
for poverty and slum housing alongside sections of
manufacturing. The area housed Salford's workhouse
from 1793 until 1853.
52
I worked in law enforcement related fields for many years and at least one on my descendants has studied
law. In law, in Australia, there are two main standards of proof – beyond reasonable doubt and on the balance
of probabilities. I won’t give you a law lecture but “on the balance of probabilities” is the lesser standard of
proof – good enough in some courts but not good enough if the possible penalty is severe. I think this is the
lesser standard. For those not used to law I will equate it to high school marks – I think this is in the realm of a
60 to 75% pass mark. – You may think that on the balance of probabilities 50% would be the lower limit but law
is a much harder marker than that.
Unger 41
The 1871 England Census in ancestry.com is misfiled under the name Anger with an alternate
name of Unger. The 1871 Census shows Henry and Sophia living at the civil parish of Liverpool,
Ecclestical parish of St Simon and County of Lancashire. The sub-registration district is
Islington.
Henry is listed as the head of the house, age 60 and his occupation as “Hawker Jewellery”.
Sophia is listed as his wife age 45. Also listed are Eve Unger, age 12, Abraham Unger age 13,
Isacc Unger age 9, Samuel Unger age 6, Fanny Unger age 5 and William Unger age 1. The
children age 5 and above are noted as scholars. Again there is no mention of Thomas Grower.
Their address is
difficult to read and I
have not deciphered
it – maybe you will
have better luck:
The 1881 England
Census is ancestry.com is “misfiled” under Hy.Ungers but again it has an alternate name
Henry Unger. A street address is available on this census – 27 Cecil Street (in the civil parish
of West Derby, county of Lancashire).
Henry, in the shorthand of the time so that it does look like Hy and the surname does look
like Ungers is listed as head of the house, a jeweller, age 68 and born in Prussia Kemp. At first
glance there is an anomaly between the listed occupation of Henry as either a Jeweller or a
Hawker or a merchant on the English documents and his occupation listing as Engineer
whenever it is mentioned on any of the Australian records for his son Isaac. However my
research shows that many jewellery advanced education courses today include the word
engineering in the end qualification. I presume that is based on some history.
Sophia is listed as his wife, age 55 and born in “R. Poland Daubron”. As I have explained
previously I suspect the R stands for Russia. Abraham is listed as 23 and his occupation as
traveller, born in Liverpool Lancashire. Samuel Unger is shown as 17 and his occupation as
Unger 42
Ironmonger Porter. Fanny Unger is 15 with the occupation Dress Maker App (presumably
that means apprentice). William Unger is 11 and a scholar.
Thomas Grower appears for the first time as “Thos. Grower”. He is listed as a step son
(remember the relationship is always to the head of the house, in this case Henry, so Sophia
must be the Mother and Grower her married name from her first marriage), 30 and a Sailor.
His occupation as a sailor easily explains his absence from the 1871 census as he was probably
at sea, but in 1861 he would have been only 10 so that is unlikely, so I am not sure where he
was at that time. However I do know that the Census at this time, like now, only recorded
those who were there at the time of the census. Maybe he was staying with Paternal
Grandparents or something similar. It also appears likely that Thomas may have “influenced”
or assisted Isaac to join the Maritime Industry he worked in for the rest of his life. The name
Grower does not appear to be a Jewish name, but that can never be fully assumed as I believe
that the Jewish religion passes on the maternal line. I do not know anything more of this
relationship other than Sophia is listed as widowed.
According to the 1881 England census Thomas Grower, stepson of Henry Unger and son of
Sophia Unger was born in Liverpool so Sophia was either married in England to Mr Grower or
moved to Liverpool with him where they had their son.
This is supported by Thomas’ death records which shows him dying at the age of 92 in
Liverpool. Some of our ancestors lived very long lives in times when that was not common –
there were about 200 people on this page and Thomas was easily the oldest at the time of his
death.53
53
This is an area to be researched at some time. It is not directly related to our ancestors but Mr Grower may
be named on the death certificate for Thomas and may give us more knowledge about Sophia.
Unger 43
This map shows 27 Cecil Street and an exterior view of that address as at 2012. I do not know
if it is the same building as existed in 1881 but it does look like a fairly old building.
The 1891 Census shows Henry age
75. The address is 49 Pitt Street.
Unger 44
This is the
view from 49
Pitt Street in
2012 54 – it
appears this
area
has
been
completely
regenerated
since
the
time of our
ancestors,
albeit that the rejuvenation of this area also appears to be dated now – just not 1800 dated.
Henry’s occupation is “Gold (something I cannot read) Jeweller) and his birthplace is shown
as Kempen Prussia.
Sophia is shown as 65 born in Dobevin,
Poland according to the ancestry.com
translation, but to me it looks more like
54
Whenever I google 49 Pitt street Liverpool, the address returned is actually in upper Pitt Street.
Unger 45
Doberin Poland. Also listed at their address is Sarah Levy 16 55 who is listed as a grand
daughter.
Known children of Henry and Sophia are:







Elizabeth Unger 1853(Liverpool, England) - ?.
Alfred Abraham Unger Apr 1858 (Liverpool, England) – Jul 1914 (Prescot, Lancashire)
Eve Unger 1859 (Liverpool, England) - ? (Illinois, USA)
Issac Younger 15 Feb 1862 (Liverpool, England) – 5 Dec 1938 (Brisbane, Australia)
Samuel Unger Jan 1864 (Liverpool, England) – Mar 1917 (Liverpool, England)
Fanny Unger 1866 (Liverpool, England) – Dec 1935 (Chicago, Illinois)
William Unger About 1870 (Liverpool England) - ?
Thanks to Fanny’s descendants in the USA we have a photo of her.
Here is an example of her needlepoint (Standard Five Grade) clearly showing the spelling of
her surname as Unger. This supports my statements regarding census completion that the
55
Fanny definitely moved to the USA and it appears that Eve also did, so Sarah is most likely the daughter of
Elizabeth.
Unger 46
children would have learned to read and write English. Fanny could have just copied
something written down for her but I doubt that.
Sophia was previously
married to a Mr Grower (no other details known) but was. Known children of Mr Grower and
Sophia are:

56
Thomas Grower about 1849 (Liverpool, England) – Jun 1941 (Liverpool, England)56
See earlier in this chapter for a copy of this census record.
Unger 47
Henry died in Liverpool England on 24th November 1895 at 66 Nelson Street Liverpool of
Senile Debility Syncope57. He was described as male 79 years of age and his profession as
Hawker
of
Jewellery.
The
informant
was
“Sophia
Unger
Widow of the
deceased Present
at the death 66
Nelson Street” and
she signed with
her mark, which
was an X58.
66 Nelson Street Liverpool was very close to the house they had
previously lived in Pitt Street. The current building at that address is low set brick and I would
estimate the age as
early post war. It is
not the building that
would have been
there in 1895.
57
Syncope (/ˈsɪŋkəpi/ SING-kə-pee), also known as fainting or passing out, is defined as a short loss of
consciousness and muscle strength, characterized by a fast onset, short duration, and spontaneous recovery. It
is due to a decrease in blood flow to the entire brain usually from low blood pressure. Some causes have
prodromal symptoms before the loss of consciousness occurs. These symptoms may include: light headedness,
sweating, pale skin, blurred vision, nausea, vomiting, and feeling warm among others.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syncope_(medicine)
58
This supports my earlier comments that Sophia (and Henry) were unlikely to be able to read and write English.
As this is signed with an X it is likely that Sophia could not read or write at all.
Unger 48
Sophia died on 4th December 1910 in Liverpool England (more specifically Liverpool
Workhouse Infirmary) of Chronic bronchitis and cardiac failure. Her address at the time of her
death was 23 Moon Street Liverpool. Occupation shows “Widow of Henry Unger a Pedlar of
23 Moon Street”. She was described as female 80 years.
This, for me, highlights the changes that have occurred in a Century. Henry has been dead
for 15 years but Sophia is still defined by him and he is listed as living at a house that he
probably never saw – that would
never happen today, at least not in
Australia.
The address for Sophia of Moon
Street Liverpool is interesting,
although she died in a workhouse
infirmary (see drawing to the right
of Liverpool Workhouse as named
on her death certificate) she was
not listed as living there, she had an
address – 23 Moon Street. To go to
Unger 49
the workhouse infirmary suggests to me she was poor. Conversely to have a street address
suggests to me that she may not have been rich but she was not destitute.
Searching for this address shows a number of other people looking for Moon Street – all of
them appearing to be Jewish. Someone states that it is off Pleasant Street but I (and at least
one other person who posted a reply) have not found it yet. Despite that there is enough
evidence – from census and other researchers – for me to be sure it exists.
In a few short years it seems that Henry and Sophia moved from
Poland/Prussia/Germany/Russia or whatever other name it was known by at the time to
Liverpool, England and then their children moved on to at least the USA and Australia. At
least some of their descendants from Australia and the USA have now made contact –
hopefully more of us will connect in the future. (I have included my email below – if my fellow
Australian researcher or any of our American Cousins would like their email listed here, I am
happy to do so – please send me an email with your email address, Name and relation to
Henry and Sophia.)
Liverpool (/ˈlɪvəpuːl/) is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside,
England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as
a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880.
Historically a part of Lancashire, the urbanisation and expansion of
Liverpool were both largely brought about by the city's status as a major
port. By the 18th century, trade from the West Indies, Ireland and
mainland Europe coupled with close links with the Atlantic Slave Trade
furthered the economic expansion of Liverpool. By the early 19th century,
40% of the world's trade passed through Liverpool's docks, contributing to
Liverpool's rise as a major city. Inhabitants of Liverpool are referred to as
Liverpudlians but are also colloquially known as "Scousers", in reference to the local dish
known as "scouse", a form of stew. The word "Scouse" has also become synonymous with the
Liverpool accent and dialect. Liverpool's status as a port city has contributed to its diverse
population, which, historically, were drawn from a wide range of peoples, cultures, and
religions, particularly those from Ireland. The city is also home to the oldest Black African
community in the country and the oldest Chinese community in Europe.
Lime Street, Liverpool (illustrated here) in the 1890s,
(Henry and Sophia’s first child was born in 1861 so they
were in Liverpool before the date of this sketch),
St.George's Hall to the left, Great North Western Hotel to
the right, Walker Art Gallery and Sessions House in the
background. Statues of Prince Albert, Disraeli, Queen
Victoria and Wellington's Column in the middle ground.
Unger 50
Ahnentafel 42 - Isaac Cohen
Related chapters
Ancestors of Isaac Cohen: N/A
Descendants of Isaac Cohen: See Ahnentafel 20 and 21 - Henry Unger and Sophia Cohen
(Grower)
W
e know that Isaac Cohen was the father of Sophia Cohen as he is noted on the
wedding certificate of Henry Unger and Sophia Cohen. His profession is also noted
but hard to read – I think it says Clothier.
We can fairly safely guess that he was Jewish59 and was born in Poland or one of the other
country names that claimed this region from time to time. As Sophia was born about 1826
we can also guess that he was born between 1786 and 1808 assuming he fathered Sophia
when he was between the ages of 18 and 40.
Polish History as it pertained to Jewish citizens
From the founding of the Kingdom of Poland in 1025 through
to the early years of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
created in 1569, Poland was the most tolerant country in
Europe. Known as paradisus Iudaeorum (Latin for "Paradise
for the Jews"), it became a shelter for persecuted and
expelled European Jewish communities and the home to the
world's largest Jewish community of the time. According to
some sources, about three-quarters of all Jews lived in Poland
by the middle of the 16th century. With the weakening of the
Commonwealth and growing religious strife (due to the
Protestant Reformation and Catholic Counter-Reformation),
Poland’s traditional tolerance began to wane from the 17th
59
The name is ‘traditionally” Jewish, his daughter and son and law where married in the Jewish religion. Not
conclusive evidence but very persuading.
Unger 51
century onward. After the partitions of Poland in 1795 and the destruction of Poland as a
sovereign state, Polish Jews were subject to the laws of the partitioning powers, the
increasingly anti-Semitic Russian Empire, as well as Austro-Hungary and Kingdom of Prussia
(later a part of the German Empire). Still, as Poland regained independence in the aftermath
of World War I, it was the center of the European Jewish world with one of world's largest
Jewish communities of over 3 million. Anti-Semitism, however, from both the political
establishment and from the general population, common throughout Europe, was a growing
problem.60
Isaac would have died well before Hitler rose to power but as stated in previous chapters it is
extremely likely that we lost family members to that atrocity61. The area of Poland (or Prussia
or Russia dependant on the year) where our family lived was invaded by Germany during the
Second World War. Other areas of Poland were invaded by Russia (again).
The fate of Jewish people in the German occupied zones was horrific!
Treatment of Polish citizens under Nazi German occupation
For months prior to the beginning of World War II
in 1939, German newspapers and leaders had
carried out a national and international
propaganda campaign accusing Polish authorities
of organizing or tolerating violent ethnic cleansing
of ethnic Germans living in Poland.
From the beginning, the invasion of Poland by Nazi
Germany was intended as fulfillment of the future
plan of the German Reich described by Adolf
ETHNIC CLEANSING OF WESTERN POLAND,
Hitler in his book Mein Kampf as Lebensraum
WITH 1
("living space") for the Germans in Eastern
Europe. The occupation goal was to turn former Poland into ethnically German "living space",
by deporting or exterminating non-German populace, or relegating it to the position of slave
labour. The goal of German state under Nazi leadership during the war was to destroy the
Polish nation completely and their fate, as well as many other Slavs, was outlined in genocidal
Generalplan Ost (General Plan for the East) and a related Generalsiedlungsplan (General Plan
for Settlement). Over 30 years, approximately 12.5 million of Germans were to be resettled
into the Slavic areas, including Poland; with some versions planning for a movement of at
least 100 million Germans over a century. The Slavic inhabitants of those lands were to be
eliminated by genocidal policies; and the survivors resettled further east, into less hospitable
60
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Jews_in_Poland
Which for readers of both my books – the Paternal line and the Maternal line – makes my/our common
ancestry on the Maternal line to the Haining’s of Dunscore (Margaret Haining born in Dumfrieshire in 1759 was
my fourth great grandmother – John Haining, her father, born in Penpoint Dumfries and my 5th great
grandfather was born in 1733) and therefore our almost certain, but as yet unproven, link to the saintly Jane
Haining, who was born at Lochenhead farm Dunscore, Dumfrieshire, Scotland (A Scotswoman missionary who
refused to abandon her Jewish charges and eventually died with them in Auschwitz), all the more poignant.
61
Unger 52
parts of Euroasia beyond the Ural Mountains, such as Siberia in Russia. At the plans
fulfillment, there would be no Slavs or Jews remaining in Eastern Europe. Generalplan Ost,
essentially a grand plan for ethnic cleansing, was divided into two parts, the Kleine Planung
("Small Plan"), which covered actions which were to be taken during the war, and the Grosse
Planung ("Big Plan"), which covered actions to be undertaken after the war was won. The plan
envisaged differing percentages of the various conquered nations undergoing Germanisation,
expulsion into the depths of Russia, and other gruesome fates, including purposeful starvation
and murder, the net effect of which would be to ensure that the conquered territories would
take on an irrevocably German character. Over a longer period, only about 3–4 million Poles,
suitable for Germanization, were supposed to be left residing in the former Poland.
Those plans begun to be implemented almost immediately after the German troops took
control of Poland. As early as October 1939, many Poles were expelled from the annexed
lands to make room for German settlers. Only those Poles selected for Germanization,
approximately 1.7 million including between thousands of children who had been taken from
their parents, were permitted to remain, and if they resisted it, they were to be sent to
concentration camps, because "German blood must not be utilized in the interest of a foreign
nation". By the end of 1940, at least 325,000 Poles from annexed lands were forcibly resettled
in the General Government, forced to abandon most of their property. There were numerous
fatalities among the very young and elderly, who perished en route or in makeshift transit
camps such as those in the towns of Potulice, Smukal, and Toruń.] The expulsions continued
in 1941, with another 45,000 Poles forced to move eastwards, but following German invasion
of the Soviet Union, the expulsions slowed down, as more and more trains were diverted for
military logistics, rather than being made available for population transfers. Nonetheless, in
late 1942 and in 1943, large scale expulsions also took place in the General Government,
affecting at least 110,000 Poles in the Zamość–Lublin region. Tens of thousands of the
expelled, with no place to go, were simply imprisoned in the Auschwitz (Oświęcim) and
Majdanek concentration camps. By 1942, the number of new German arrivals in pre-war
Poland had already reached two million.
The Nazi plans called for the Poland's 3.3 million Jews to be exterminated as first group of
victims, the non-Jewish majority's extermination was planned in the long term and initiated
through the mass murder of its political, religious, and intellectual elites at first, which was
meant to make the formation of any organized top-down resistance more difficult. Further,
the populace of occupied territories was to be relegated to the role of an unskilled labor-force
for German-controlled industry and agriculture. This was in spite of racial theory that
regarded most Polish leaders as actually being of German blood, and partly because of it, on
the grounds that German blood must not be used in the service of a foreign nation.
Unger 53
The following text has been wholly lifted from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occupation_of_Poland_(1939%E2%80%9345)
These are pictures of the outside of the Holocaust museum in Berlin that I took in 2013. I
went to the small museum, which
is beneath these pictures. There
are a few rooms with numerous
exhibits about particular families
and their fate. What stood out to
me is no one spoke, no one
coughed. Despite there being no
barriers to restrict how you moved
in the exhibit, everyone moved around the rooms in
order – no one crossed from one side of the room to
the other because the line was shorter there and no
one complained no matter how long someone took
on a particular exhibit (and I hate that word when I
am talking about the horrible fate that befell these
people – they are not exhibits).
Unger 54