The Stickler's of Australia

Jeanetta Arthur (1861-1939) and Thomas Stickler (1858-1931)

Jeanetta Arthur, eldest daughter of Thomas Arthur VC, married Thomas Stickler (the son of Charles Stickler 1832-1891, and Sarah Everett 1834-1912) in Bristol on 20th October 1879. The 1881 Census showed them as living at 28 Parkfield Ranks, Pucklechurch, Bristol (pictured above), and Thomas as an Engine Driver for the local coalmines.

Jeanetta and Thomas had two children, a daughter who married and raised her own children in Bristol (three sons and a daughter), and Albert Thomas Arthur Stickler (1882-1910), who married Maud Lilley Burgess (1875-1962) on 4th February 1906. Albert and Maud emigrated to Australia in 1909 where a year later, on the 21st December 1910, Albert was tragically killed by a crocodile.

Below: Transcript of a 1929 Bristol Newspaper Article of Thomas and Jeanetta Stickler's Golden Wedding

"On October 20th 1879, at St. Philip and Jacob Church, Bristol, the Rev, Seymour Harris united Jeanetta Arthur, eldest daughter of the late Thomas Arthur VC, and Thomas Stickler, of Pucklechurch, in marriage. Mr Stickler is much respected for the interest he has always taken in the welfare of Pucklechurch, the village of his birth, some 72 years ago.

There were two children, a son and daughter, the son, unfortunately being drowned in Australia, where they still have two grandsons and one great grandson: besides three grandsons and one granddaughter in Bristol.

In 1894 Mr Stickler was elected a member of the first Parish Council, and served as chairman for over 20 years, being also a member of the Board of Guardians and Rural District Council of Chipping Sodbury for 12 years. He was trustee and hon. Secretary to the Mr. John Atwell's Charity for the Apprenticing of Boys, and manager of the Church and Council Schools, holding this position for 37 years. Since 16 years of age he has been connected with the Congregational Church and still acts as deacon and secretary.

Through Mr Stickler's activities, with the assistance of Mr Mark Whitwill, a public recreation ground was secured, and he has always taken on active part in local celebrations, and still enjoys the watching of cricket and football. For mans,' years, too, he acted as secretary of the local branch of the United Patriots' Benefit Society, and was honoured with the Society's Regalia and a gold medal for his 37 years service.

In his many callings Mrs Stickler has been a real helpmate and it is of Interest to note that her father, Thomas Arthur, was one of the first to receive the Victoria Cross in the Crimean War, and was personally congratulated by Queen Victoria. Florence Nightingale saved his life.

The Couple are still enjoying good health, and were in attendance at the golden wedding celebrations held on Sunday at their daughter's residence, 46 Strathmore Road, Horfield. Bristol."

Albert Thomas Arthur Stickler (1882-1910)

Son of Jeanetta Arthur (1861-1939) and Thomas Stickler (1858-1931)

Albert, son of Thomas Stickler and Jeanetta Arthur was born in Bristol on 14th January 1882. Albert Stickler ran a Confectionery & Tobacconist in Bristol, he was also a Silversmith. He married Maud Lilley Burgess (1875-1962), the daughter of George Burgess (1829-1905) in Bristol on 4th February 1906. They had two children:-

• Harold Thomas Arthur Stickler, born in Bristol on 9th March 1907, and

• Donald Arthur Stickler, born in Australia on 22nd June 1911.

On 28th August 1909 Albert Stickler and his family left London on the SS Rippingham Grange. They arrived in Brisbane, Australia on 21st October. In Australia he worked at the Einsley Station (A large sheep and cattle station near the border of Queensland and Northern Territory). Traditionally, at this Station, when one person wasn't busy they would lend a hand to someone else. They still kill their own stock for meat at the Station. on the 21st December 1910 Albert was tragically killed by a crocodile, only just over a year after after arriving in Australia.

Left; his gravestone at Einsleigh Station. A dingo fence surrounds the Cemetery, and below is an extract from Pat Helen Bang (née Stickler) letter dated 20th November 1987 describing the unfortunate event:

"My Grandfather Albert Thomas Arthur Stickler was taken by a Crocodile at Einsley Station. This happened within a year or two of arriving in Australia. On the Station when one wasn't busy with his work, one would help another. This day my Grandfather was helping the Butcher on the Station. After the butchering was done Grandfather went to the nearest creek they used (in place of a bathroom) to wash off the blood etc. He couldn't swim very well either and was shy at practising so preferred to do so in private (I think the other men used to tease him about it) Unfortunately it is this that led to his death. Later that day when people realised he wasn't "around the Station" a search was made. They found him half buried in the bottom of the creek. Crocodiles don't eat their victims straight away they let them decompose first. My Grandfather was buried at Einsley Station, a little cemetery of the Station with a dingo proof fence around it. Dad told me his father was buried two days before the Police came (on horseback of course), They had to bury their people quickly up north, after all there wasn't any refrigeration in those days. This happened when Grandma was three months pregnant with Dad (Donald Arthur Stickler). It was a hard life out West in those days. Even with modern equipment it can still he a very hard and rugged life, with the bores drying up and no rain etc".

Maud Lilley Burgess (1875-1962)

Daughter of George Burgess (1829-1905) and Eliza Knight (1844-1878)

Maud Lilley Burgess, wife of Albert Thomas Arthur Stickler, and fourth daughter of George Burgess, was born on 11th December 1875 at Latteridge, Iron Acton, Gloucestershire (about 8 miles from Bristol as the crow flies).

After her husbands tragic death she stayed at Einsley sheep and cattle station with her children and took the position of 'House Keeper', and had a Black Nanny to look after the children.

She met Arthur Darlington Bryer while working at the Station and married him on 24th March 1913. They left the West and went to Gladstone, Bundaberg, and Rockhampton (miles from Brisbane). They found work at various times at all these towns and gradually got to Brisbane. The boys (the children Harold Thomas Arthur Stickler & Donald Arthur Stickler) would have been better educated in the towns in those days. Donald Arthur Stickler finished his schooling at the 'Technical Collage' in Brisbane. (There are a good number of boarding schools for both boys and girls nowadays.

By 1958 because her second husband Arthur Bryer was often in and out of hospital with a bad leg. Maud Lilley was often left on her own and couldn't look after herself. Therefore by September of that year she was permanently living with her son's family at Roghan Road, Fillmere, Australia, She died in 1952. Her second husband, Arthur Bryer, was born in England on 25th November 1875, and was a Saddler by trade.