Family History Mysteries

When doing Episode 275 on Simon Fraser, I came across Nangus Jack who made stockwhips. Simon described him as a master craftsman and clever teacher. Nangus Jack was born John Nangus Hughes and was of Aboriginal descent.

Alexander Rintoul died 24 March 1911. He was a second saloon steward who died on the wrecked passenger steamer Yongala that sank in a cyclone off the coast of Queensland, with the loss of all 122 passengers and crew aboard.
When his wife applied for his probate, she stated that his will went down with the Yongala, and in the course of the investigation, another two wives were uncovered!

Simon Alexander Fraser was an Australian bagpiper, stock rider, and whip-maker of Scottish descent.  
Simon was born on a boat in Port Arthur, Van Dieman's Land , on 13 February 1845, the eldest son of twelve children.
By 1848 the Fraser family relocated to Barwite, Victoria(near Mansfield). He spent most of his life living in the district.

Lucy Benson was an Australian organist, musician, theatrical entrepreneur and conductor, when all the rest of conductors in Tasmania were men. Lucy produced over 30 major operas and musicals and was the most gifted and productive leading amateurs of her time.
She was a friend of Nellie Melba and Amy Sherwin. Lucy’slegacy as a teacher, composer and director changed the musical and cultural landscape of Tasmania. Amy Sherwin, (The Tasmanian Nightingale), considered Lucy to be “one of the best teachers of voice production in the colonies."

This is the final episode in an epic 5-part set of episodes for this man!
William Henry Hayes, known commonly as Bully Hayes, was believed to have been born in 1827 in Cuyahoga County, Cleveland Heights, Ohio. He was an adventurer, swindler and blackbirder who sailed throughout the Pacific Islands and New Zealand and Australian ports from the 1850s until his death in 1877 aged only 50.
He was a strange mixture of a man. He was an astute entrepreneur and a mariner of great ability. Courageous, resourceful, determined in the face of adversity, and capable
of acts of generosity. However he was also a philanderer and a rogue, given to towering rages and sullen moods. He
regularly defrauded creditors and willingly engaged in illegal trading activities and had an enduring reputation for ruthless.
This is the story of Bully Hayes, his wives and partners and his children.
Note - It is almost impossible to separate fact from legend regarding Hayes, so I have endeavoured to only present what is likely to be accurate accounts.
*Warning – this episode contains themes related to child sexual assault, human trafficking and murder and uses terms that are not considered acceptable today.*