Fred & Martha

Frederick and Martha married on the 17th April 1876 at St John’s Anglican Church, Gundagai, New South Wales. He was 22 years of age, while she was 17 years old. Frederick’s occupation was noted as a Blacksmith, and his usual residence as Bethungra, while Martha was living at Gundagai, and, as she was under age her Mother had to give her consent. By this time her mother had been re-married to a Conrad Grauss. It cannot be confirmed as to what happened to Robert Fishpool as no death registration can be found.

Sometime between arriving in the Gundagai area and the Marriage of Fred & Martha, Fred took up residence in Bethungra, because in 1876 he and Chas Carroll dissolved the partnership of their Wheelwright & Blacksmiths Shop. With Fred remaining in the business.

{In the Gundagai Times & Tumut, Adelong & Murrumbidge Advertiser

dated Fri 3rd November 1876 an advert was placed stating the Partnership between Carroll & Muller as Blacksmiths & Wheel-wrights has been dissolved by mutual consent. All debts owing to the firm to be received by Frederick Muller, whose receipt alone will be recognised. }

A description of Bethungra dated Sat 12th May 1877 taken from the Australian Town and Country Journal. is as follows

{A change has taken place after the long continuance of drought. Since the last few showers, the place has quite changed in appearance from a dirty grey russet to a bright green. One or two of our leading business men intend having a grand kangaroo hunt on the 24th May 1877 the anniversary of Her Majesty's Birthday and have called a meeting to appoint stewards and slippers to carry out the programme. The hunt is to take place at Mount Oak, situated between the Billabong and Ironbark runs ; and after the hunt there is to be a select ball at Host Treweek's Hotel. After the late rains the plough has once more set to work. There is still a great number of cattle located on the Oaks. There is any quantity of water since the late rains.

Mr. Mackay, our late Manager of Railway Works, has resigned his office, and has taken the hotel lately, occupied by our late respected and well-known townsman, Mr. John Byrnes, known as the Iron House Hotel.

Mr. Charles Day has, I believe, accepted the office of manager of our railway works.

We have now in this little township, as inhabitants, between 3000 and 5000 people. In addition to four public-houses and a great many boarding-houses, there are two stores, butcher and bakers shop, boot and shoe and wheelwright and black smith's shop ; and all the people in business seem to be satisfied.

Sickness is very prevalent here at present. One death occurred here this week and two of our leading townsmen have taken upon themselves to make a collection for the widow and orphans, and succeeded in raising a very nice sum of money in a very short time, which was presented to the widow(s), and thankfully received.

I almost forgot to mention that we have a public school and a competent master and mistress, also a good attendance.}

It is known that Frederick had several Smithy’s and during the 1880’s he also had the “Commercial Hotel’ he also at that time had one quarter of an acre planted with grape vines, and assets valued at 200 pounds, but he also had a mortgage with the bank of NSW and they would not extend him any more credit. (From papers dated 23rd Jan 1884)

It would appear that he sold his alcohol on time payment and he was very rarely paid.

It must have been around the turn of the century that things were very tight as one family member told of being hungry to the point of stealing food, particularly potatoes to roast in the coals of the forge of the Blacksmith shop. There are also stories of the house being a Coaching Inn, the name of which is most probably the “Duke of York” as this was Aunt Kate’s old house, “the family home” and there was a cellar under the floor-boards.

When Martha died in 1903 from cancer of the Liver, there was a notice placed in the Cootamundra Herald dated 10th June 1903 and reads as follows:

We regret to have to report the death, on Monday, of the wife of Mr Frederick Muller, of Bethungra, the deceased lady had suffered a protracted illness, Mr and Mrs Muller have been old and well respected residents of Bethungra district, where they have dwelt for the last 25 years. In this issue Mr Muller returns thanks to those neighbours and friends who showed sympathy during the illness of his deceased wife

There was also a notice in the Junee Southern Cross dated Friday June 12th. District News, Bethungra, - Personal:

After a lengthy and lingering illness the death took place on Monday last of Mrs Muller, wife of Mr Frederick Muller, the local Blacksmith.

In Martha’s will dated 25th March 1903, she left the land, house, improvements etc, to Martha Beatrice Muller (youngest daughter) until she reached the age of 21, it was then to pass on to Frederick. This means that everything was in Martha’s name as Frederick was never naturalised and so could not own property.

It is noted that on 3rd December 1924 Frederick Muller applied for Naturalisation, which was granted on the 4th February 1925, receipt of Certificate No. A. A. 2671 was posted from Cootamundra on the 11th May 1925, Fred was to pass away just a few months later.

During the 1st World War all Germans were detained as Aliens and interred as a safety measure, but as Frederick was well known and liked, in the area the seniors of the town requested that the family change their name to Miller and so avoid being detained, this he did and both Martha and Frederick are buried in the Bethungra Cemetery under the name of Miller.

Frederick Muller died 3rd October 1925 and the notice in the Cootamundra Herald dated 7th October 1925 was thus:

Mr Muller Snr, aged 71, of Illabo, died at the residence of his Daughter, Mrs J Hulm, on Sunday night. The remains were interred on Monday in the Roman Catholic Cemetery, at Bethungra. His wife pre-deceased him by many years and was buried there. At one time Mr Muller kept an hotel on the hill – the late Mr Coughlan’s home. There are 4 sons and 4 daughters, Mrs Harry Curry of Bethungra, and Mrs Cecil Akers of Gundagai are daughters.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/155778085/frederick-miller__m%C3%BCller