Abraham James Carr

Story

Abraham James Carr was born in England in 1828, the son of William and Sarah Carr.

At the age of 20 he arrived in Australia on 26 September 1849, an assisted migrant on a ship called “Kate”. His religion was C of E and he had been a farm labourer in Great Waltham, Essex. He initialy settled in the Hunter River area and worked as a farmer at “Clifden”.

On 12 July 1853 Abraham married Maria Burdett at St. James Church, Morpeth, NSW and moved to the Clarence River area in 1859.

Maria Burdett was born in 1829, the daughter of Folger and Maria Burdett. At the age of 23 years she arrived in Australia on 27 December 1852, an assisted migrant, paying one pound on a ship called “Wilson Kennedy”. She was a dressmaker from Hexham, Essex, England. She initially settled in the Hunter River area.

Abraham and Maria had five children in the Hunter River district then in 1859 they moved to the Clarence River “Top of the River” – Ulmarra where two more children were born. They were engaged in farming activities. In the 1860s Abraham purchased “Whitechapel”, Palmer’s Island. More children arrived (14 altogether). The property was eventually sold and another purchased near the river where Abraham built the first steam driven cane crusher invented by him. The farm and mill were worked by Abraham and sons for about ten years.

Maria died in 1885 at Palmer’s Island and Abraham died at Sportsman’s Creek in 1902. They are both buried in the Maclean Pioneer Cemetery.

Abraham and Maria’s 8th child, Edmund born 1866 was my great grandfather and his second child Richard Burdett Carr was my grandfather born at Dunbible Creek.

Richard Burdett Carr b.1895 married Florence May Winkler b.1901 at Ramornie on 17 April 1918. Their second child Thelma May b. 1920 was my mother who married Clyde Clarence Casey b.1910 on 23 December 1941.

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