Charles Judkins was born in Buckinghamshire, England on 6 November 1822 and christened at Aylesbury on 25 December in the same year. He was one of 12 children to William and Sarah (nee Seamons) Judkins.
Charles was highly gifted , a keen Christian, a teacher at Whitchurch Wesleyan Day School and a local preacher.
He married Margaret Dukes on 3 February 1846 at Aylesbury. He was to develop lung trouble, a family weakness, and on advice that the climate of south-east Australia offered hope of a cure he along with his wife and young son Frederick set sail for the distant continent. They arrived in Melbourne, Australia aboard the Corramandel on 8 May 1849. Two of his brothers Henry and George were to subsequently follow to be among the early pioneers of Victoria.
He was a school teacher to the Loddon Aboriginals at the Protectorate Station at Franklinford.
He died at Franklinford on 7 Septemebr
1864 and is buried at the Franklinford Cemetery in an unmarked grave.
ISSUE | BIRTH | PLACE OF BIRTH | MARRIAGE | DEATH |
Frederick | 1847 | Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, England | Matilda Roberts 1877 | 1913 |
Mary Anne Elizabeth | 1851 | Mount Franklin | Thomas Thomas 1871 | 1938 |
Charles Henry | 1856 | The Loddon | Elizabeth Harding 1890 | Unknown |
Emma Sarah | 1859 | Hepburn | John Walmsley 1878 | 1937 |
Extract from Early days in the Loddon Valley by Edgar Morrison
There was no sudden "black-out" when the Protectorate system was abolished
on December 31st, 1849.
Mr. Parker remained the Homestead and continued his activities during
the transition period that followed.
On March 16th, 1850, he wrote his final memorandum to Supt. La Trobe:
"I have the honour to inform you that I formerly relinquished my charge
of the Loddon Aboriginal Establishment on or about the 28th ultimo."
"I have still certain duties to discharge in connection with the last
month's returns, and the induction of the Schoolmaster into the mode of
keeping and making out the accounts, returns, etc."
THE BLACKS' SCHOOL
The school master, Mr. Charles Judkins, with his wife and family occupied
the residence attached to the "Blacks' School" often referred to in this
record.
I have been told by a grand-daughter of Mr. Judkins that her mother,
in recalling the events of that period, stated that because one or two
of the aborigines camped around the vicinity were "bits of rogues," Mrs.
Judkins, in her husband's absence, kept a loaded gun handy in case of trouble.
There is no record however that any trouble occurred.
Extract from The Loddon Aborigines by Edgar Morrison
Following the famous Eureka Stockade incident in October 1854, the Government under Sir Charles Hotham sent a representative - Mr William Westgarth to visit various goldfields and investigate the conditions there. The following is taken from Westgarth's experiences in field and forest upon meeting Charles Judkins and his pupils.
"Our purpose of bathing was interfered with, by learning that we were close to the old aborigines' protectorate station, where there was still a number of aboriginal children residing under the care of a missionary or teacher appointed by the Government.
"We walked over to the establishment which at a quarter of a mile distance, appeared to us dwellars in tents, as a comparitively imposing object.
We found about twenty boys belonging to the station...................
The teacher remarked that the boys were sometime restless at first, but after they had stayed with him for12 months they showed little inclination to leave him. I could well believe it.
He had the countenance of a philanthropist, and of one who bestowed
far more care upon the dirty little creatures around him than most of us
would be inclined for."
In 1864 the Board of Control arranged for the transfer of the remaining Loddon Tribe to Corenderrk, near Healesville. The following is an extract, about the transfer, from the Daylesford Express on 4 April 1864.
"With the exception of two or three years, Mr and Mrs Judkins have presided
over this establishment since 1849. The former is suffering from ill health
which has not been improved by the dilapedated state of the building and
its thorough unfitness for a dwelling place. From a personal examination
of the black children in this school, we are in a position to vouch for
the care and attention bestowed on them by their teachers."
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This page is copyright © and has been produced from family research material collected by CAROL JUDKINS wife of George Judkins, Charles' Great Grand Nephew.
Created 12 January 2000
Modified 31 July 2005