[Index]
Richard SHUMACK (1816 - 1887)
grazier
Children Self + Spouses Parents Grandparents Greatgrandparents
Elizabeth SHUMACK (1842 - 1876)
Margaret SHUMACK (1844 - 1938)
John SHUMACK (1847 - 1896)
Samuel SHUMACK (1850 - 1940)
Phoebe Anna Laura SHUMACK (1857 - 1943)
Emily SHUMACK (1860 - 1927)
George Edward SHUMACK (1863 - 1937)
Mary Armstrong SHUMACK (1882 - )
Ida SHUMACK (1883 - )
Susannah SHUMACK (1884 - )
Richard SHUMACK (1886 - )
Alice SHUMACK (1887 - 1887)
 Richard SHUMACK (1816 - 1887)

+

Anne SHOEMAKER (1821 - 1873)

Eastern Jane ARMSTRONG (1853 - 1913)
 Peter SHOEMAKER (1781 - )











Elizabeth (SHOEMAKER)











b. abt 1816 at Kilfinane, Co Limerick, Ireland
m. (1) 13 Oct 1840 Anne SHOEMAKER (1821 - 1873) at Rathkeale, Ireland
m. (2) 1880 Eastern Jane ARMSTRONG (1853 - 1913) at Gunning, New South Wales, Australia
d. 09 Oct 1887 at Weetangera, New South Wales, Australia aged 71
Near Relatives of Richard SHUMACK (1816 - 1887)
Relationship Person Born Birth Place Died Death Place Age
Father in Law George SHOEMAKER
Mother in Law Catherine (SHOEMAKER)
Father in Law Robert ARMSTRONG
Mother in Law Elizabeth (ARMSTRONG)

Father Peter SHOEMAKER abt 1781
Mother Elizabeth (SHOEMAKER)

Self Richard SHUMACK abt 1816 Kilfinane, Co Limerick, Ireland 09 Oct 1887 Weetangera, New South Wales, Australia 71

Wife Anne SHOEMAKER abt 1821 Ireland 30 May 1873 Weetangera, New South Wales, Australia 52
Wife Eastern Jane ARMSTRONG abt 1853 21 Jun 1913 Drummoyne, New South Wales, Australia 60

Daughter Elizabeth SHUMACK 1842 Buttevant, Co Cork, Ireland 20 Dec 1876 New South Wales, Australia 34
Daughter Margaret SHUMACK 09 May 1844 Buttevant, Co Cork, Ireland 19 Jul 1938 Ainsley, ACT, Australia 94
Son John SHUMACK abt 1847 Buttevant, Co Cork, Ireland 25 May 1896 Weetangera, New South Wales, Australia 49
Son Samuel SHUMACK 18 Jul 1850 Mallow, Co Cork, Ireland 05 Apr 1940 Peakhurst, New South Wales, Australia 89
Daughter Phoebe Anna Laura SHUMACK 04 Dec 1857 Duntroon, ACT, Australia 01 Apr 1943 Tumut, New South Wales, Australia 85
Daughter Emily SHUMACK 11 Jun 1860 Ginninderra, ACT, Australia 25 Mar 1927 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 66
Son George Edward SHUMACK 23 Apr 1863 Canberra, ACT, Australia 03 Feb 1937 Yass, New South Wales, Australia 73
Daughter Mary Armstrong SHUMACK 1882 Canberra, ACT, Australia
Daughter Ida SHUMACK 1883 Canberra, ACT, Australia
Daughter Susannah SHUMACK 1884 Canberra, ACT, Australia
Son Richard SHUMACK 1886 Canberra, ACT, Australia
Daughter Alice SHUMACK 1887 Canberra, ACT, Australia 1887 Canberra, ACT, Australia 0

Brother William SHUMACK abt 1804 Co Cork, Ireland 1877 Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia 73
Brother Peter SHUMACK abt 1806 Kilfinane, Co Limerick, Ireland 29 Sep 1883 Canberra, ACT, Australia 77
Brother George SHUMACK abt 1810 Kilfinane, Co Limerick, Ireland 1857 Bowenfels, New South Wales, Australia 47
Brother John SHUMACK abt 1811 Kilfinane, Co Limerick, Ireland 04 Mar 1849 Duntroon, ACT, Australia 38
Brother Joseph SHUMACK abt 1813 Kilfinane, Co Limerick, Ireland 1880 Rylstone, New South Wales, Australia 67
Brother Samuel SHUMACK abt 1819 Co Limerick, Ireland 1884 Sunny Corner, New South Wales, Australia 65

Daughter in Law Mary Maria READ 1863 Gundaroo, New South Wales, Australia 26 Nov 1891 Weetangera, New South Wales, Australia 28
Daughter in Law Sarah WINTER 1871 Canberra, ACT, Australia abt 1954 83
Son in Law Abraham BLUNDELL 1847 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 05 Jun 1884 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 37
Son in Law John BLUNDELL 1843 Liverpool Plains, New South Wales, Australia 30 Oct 1927 Tumut, New South Wales, Australia 84
Son in Law Isaac BLUNDELL 1851 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 09 May 1910 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 59
Daughter in Law Isabella WINTER 1869 Canberra, ACT, Australia

Granddaughter Marion SHUMACK Feb 1891 Weetangera, New South Wales, Australia 28 Sep 1924 Goulburn, New South Wales, Australia 33
Granddaughter Jemima Ann SHUMACK 1894 Ginninderra, ACT, Australia
Grandson John Everest SHUMACK 1896 Ginninderra, ACT, Australia
Granddaughter Elmira Ruth SHUMACK 1899 Ginninderra, ACT, Australia
Grandson David Henry Bright SHUMACK 1901 Ginninderra, ACT, Australia
Granddaughter Sarah Clementina Selina Adeline SHUMACK 1904 Ginninderra, ACT, Australia
Grandson Samuel Heber SHUMACK 1907 Ginninderra, ACT, Australia
Grandson Stephen Rupert Wilberforce SHUMACK 1910 Ginninderra, ACT, Australia
Granddaughter Ethel Margaret Catherine Eileen SHUMACK 1912 New South Wales, Australia
Granddaughter Clara Malvina Ann BLUNDELL 1878 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 1951 Tumut, New South Wales, Australia 73
Granddaughter Dora Emily BLUNDELL 1880 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 1941 Yass, New South Wales, Australia 61
Granddaughter Daisy Irene BLUNDELL 1882 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 1964 Tumut, New South Wales, Australia 82
Granddaughter Lilian Jessie Stella BLUNDELL 1885 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 17 Sep 1965 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 80
Grandson Howard Norman SCHUMACK BLUNDELL 1886 Canberra, ACT, Australia 1920 Tumut, New South Wales, Australia 34
Granddaughter Muriel Pearl BLUNDELL 1888 New South Wales, Australia 1963 Wamberal, New South Wales, Australia 75
Granddaughter Naomi Edith Sylvia BLUNDELL 1891 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 1990 Tumut, New South Wales, Australia 99
Grandson Everard Vivian Abraham BLUNDELL 1895 Canberra, ACT, Australia 1964 Tumut, New South Wales, Australia 69
Granddaughter Bernice Sophia Hyacinth BLUNDELL 1899 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 1916 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 17
Granddaughter Audrey Esmerelda Phoebe Merle BLUNDELL 1902 Canberra, ACT, Australia 1996 Goulburn, New South Wales, Australia 94
Grandson Charles Henry BLUNDELL 1883 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 1902 Liverpool, New South Wales, Australia 19
Grandson Edward BLUNDELL 1885 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Grandson William BLUNDELL 1888 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 24 Apr 1960 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 72
Granddaughter Susan Mary BLUNDELL 1891 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Granddaughter Beatrice Ann BLUNDELL 1894 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Granddaughter Sarah Rosaline BLUNDELL 1896 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Granddaughter Irene Emily BLUNDELL 1899 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Grandson Adrian Isaac BLUNDELL 1905 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 1977 New South Wales, Australia 72
Granddaughter Elizabeth Ethel SHUMACK 1890 Canberra, ACT, Australia 23 Aug 1967 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 77
Granddaughter Jean Jemima SHUMACK 12 Feb 1894 Canberra, ACT, Australia 24 Sep 1973 79

Nephew Richard SHUMACK abt 1837 Ireland
Niece Margaret SHUMACK abt 1839 Ireland
Nephew John SHUMACK 1843 Bowenfels, New South Wales, Australia
Niece Elizabeth SHUMACK 1845 Kelso, New South Wales, Australia
Niece Mary A SHUMACK 1847 Kelso, New South Wales, Australia
Nephew William SHUMACK 1849 New South Wales, Australia
Nephew Samuel SHUMACK 1851 New South Wales, Australia
Niece Ann Jane SHUMACK 1853 Abercrombie, New South Wales, Australia
Nephew George SHUMACK 1855 New South Wales, Australia
Niece Isabella E SHUMACK 1858 New South Wales, Australia abt 1858 0
Niece Ellen M SHUMACK abt 1860 New South Wales, Australia
Niece Sarah PEARCE 1862 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Niece Annie Maria PEARCE abt 1868 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Nephew William J SHUMACK 1853 Mudgee, New South Wales, Australia 1860 7
Niece Ellen Lucy SHUMACK 1856 Bowenfels, New South Wales, Australia
Nephew Joseph Ayra SHUMACK abt 1836 Ireland 23 Dec 1901 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 65
Niece Eliza Elizabeth SHUMACK 05 Jan 1840 Castletown, Co Cork, Ireland 21 Oct 1907 Sutton, New South Wales, Australia 67
Nephew Richard SHUMACK 19 Jan 1842 Canberra, ACT, Australia 29 Aug 1931 Ainsley, ACT, Australia 89
Nephew Peter (Big Pete) SHUMACK 16 May 1844 Canberra, ACT, Australia 14 Feb 1912 Canberra, ACT, Australia 67
Niece Elizabeth SHUMACK 1849 Mudgee, New South Wales, Australia
Niece Mary A SHUMACK 1851 Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia
Nephew John SHUMACK 1853 Mudgee, New South Wales, Australia
Niece Rachel SHUMACK 1857 Rylstone, New South Wales, Australia
Nephew Samuel G SHUMACK 1859 Rylstone, New South Wales, Australia
Niece Frances G SHUMACK 1861 Rylstone, New South Wales, Australia
Nephew Joseph SHUMACK 1863 Rylstone, New South Wales, Australia
Nephew George SHUMACK 1865 Rylstone, New South Wales, Australia
Nephew Peter William SHUMACK 1867 Rylstone, New South Wales, Australia
Niece Margaret Jane SHUMACK 1869 Rylstone, New South Wales, Australia
Nephew Thomas SHUMACK 1871 Rylstone, New South Wales, Australia
Nephew Richard SHUMACK 1873 Rylstone, New South Wales, Australia
Niece Lydia Catherine SHUMACK 1878 Rylstone, New South Wales, Australia 1878 Rylstone, New South Wales, Australia 0
Nephew George SHUMACK 1846 Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Nephew William SHUMACK 1848 Kelso, New South Wales, Australia
Nephew John SHUMACK 1850 Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia
Niece Mary Jane SHUMACK 1852 Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia
Niece Elizabeth SHUMACK 1854 Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia
Niece Sarah SHUMACK 1856 Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia
Nephew Samuel SHUMACK 1858 Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia 1860 Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia 2

Sister in Law Eliza DOHERTY Ireland
Sister in Law Mary MATHIESON abt 1833 Aberdeenshire, Scotland 13 Oct 1915 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 82
Sister in Law Lucy BONNETON
Sister in Law Margaret O'TOOLE abt 1809 Co Cork, Ireland 12 May 1879 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 70
Sister in Law Margaret SHEEDY
Sister in Law Ellen CONNORS 1844
Sister in Law Sarah BROWN
Events in Richard SHUMACK (1816 - 1887)'s life
Date Age Event Place Notes Src
abt 1816 Richard SHUMACK was born Kilfinane, Co Limerick, Ireland 6
13 Oct 1840 24 Married Anne SHOEMAKER (aged 19) Rathkeale, Ireland 6
1842 26 Birth of daughter Elizabeth SHUMACK Buttevant, Co Cork, Ireland 6
09 May 1844 28 Birth of daughter Margaret SHUMACK Buttevant, Co Cork, Ireland 6
abt 1847 31 Birth of son John SHUMACK Buttevant, Co Cork, Ireland 6
18 Jul 1850 34 Birth of son Samuel SHUMACK Mallow, Co Cork, Ireland 6
21 Aug 1856 40 Immigration Sydney, New South Wales, Australia per 'Bermondsey' 6
04 Dec 1857 41 Birth of daughter Phoebe Anna Laura SHUMACK Duntroon, ACT, Australia 6
11 Jun 1860 44 Birth of daughter Emily SHUMACK Ginninderra, ACT, Australia 6
23 Apr 1863 47 Birth of son George Edward SHUMACK Canberra, ACT, Australia 6
30 May 1873 57 Death of wife Anne SHOEMAKER (aged 52) Weetangera, New South Wales, Australia 6
20 Dec 1876 60 Death of daughter Elizabeth SHUMACK (aged 34) New South Wales, Australia 6
1880 64 Married Eastern Jane ARMSTRONG (aged 27) Gunning, New South Wales, Australia 6
1882 66 Birth of daughter Mary Armstrong SHUMACK Canberra, ACT, Australia 6
1883 67 Birth of daughter Ida SHUMACK Canberra, ACT, Australia 6
1884 68 Birth of daughter Susannah SHUMACK Canberra, ACT, Australia 6
1886 70 Birth of son Richard SHUMACK Canberra, ACT, Australia 6
1887 71 Birth of daughter Alice SHUMACK Canberra, ACT, Australia 6
1887 71 Death of daughter Alice SHUMACK Canberra, ACT, Australia 6
09 Oct 1887 71 Richard SHUMACK died Weetangera, New South Wales, Australia 6
Personal Notes:
Notes on Richard Shumack
Richard Shumack was born in Kilfinane, Limerick in 1816, the son of Peter Shumacher and Elizabeth (nee Fitzelle). He married Ann (surname unknown) in Rathkeale, Limerick in 1840. They travelled to Australia as bounty migrants with their children in 1856 aboard theBermondsey. He first worked for the Campbells at Duntroon before moving across to a position at Palmerville estate for William Davis (junior), where they lived at Emu Bank (in modern Belconnen Town Centre, close to the Belconnen Public Library). Emu Bank was one a number of 'outstations' on the extensive Ginninderra estate. With his son Samuel he eventually selected land at Weetangerra, where they built Springvale homestead. Samuel and John would work for William Davis during the day, then get on with building there future home Samuel later recorded: William Davis - who was father’s employer and the squatter on whose land we selected - has 20,000 acres, excluding some thousands of acres of Crown land for which he paid very little, yet he resented our efforts to strike out for ourselves and laughed at what he derisively called ‘Shumack’s Folly’. ‘Three years’, he said, ‘will see Shumack and his family sadder and wiser, for shortage of water will drive them out.’ His prophecy miscarried! Although the area was in the grip of drought they found the property had a waterhole that never went dry, and through hard work they transformed Springvale into a flourishing farm. Despite droughts and flooding rains they grew wheat, raised cattle and pigs, and were able to expand their holding. It was not until 1881 that farmers built dams in this region to store water. At Easter 1869 William Davis gave the Shumacks notice to quit Emu Bank, and the family from then on lived together at Springvale. Joseph Hall moved into Emu Bank. Anne died in 1873. They had had eight children together. Richard remarried seven years later at Gunning to Eastern Jane Armstrong with whom he was to have another five children. He died in 1887 and is buried at St Johns in Reid. Samuel Shumack married Sarah Winter in 1893. They lived at Springvale Homestead until their land was resumed in 1915, when they moved to the Hunter Valley. Springvale homestead was still standing in 1957. Cook Primary School was later built on Samuel's land. Children playing on the school oval found it became very boggy after rain. Could this be the site of Samuels waterhole? The site of Springvale is marked by a heritage sign on a bike path between Redfern Street and Biffin Street in Cook. The homestead is commemorated in the naming of Springvale Drive, and Richard in the naming of Shumack Street, Weetangera.
Source References:
6. Type: Book, Abbr: Queanbeyan Register, Title: Biographical register of Canberra and Queanbeyan: from the district to the Australian Capital Territory 1820-1930, Auth: Peter Proctor, Publ: The Heraldry & Genealogical Society of Canberra, Date: 2001
- Reference = 291 (Death)
- Reference = 290 (Name, Notes)
- Reference = 291 (Birth)
- Reference = 291 (Marriage)
- Reference = 291 (Marriage)
- Reference = 291 (Immigration)
80. Type: Web Page, Abbr: Hall Museum, Title: Hall School Museum and Heritage Centre, Locn: https://museum.hall.act.au/
- Reference = https://museum.hall.act.au/display/1939/person/2201/richard-shumack.html (Name, Notes)
- Notes: Richard Shumack

Born: 1816; Died: 1887; Married: 1. Ann; 2. Eastern Jane Armstrong

Related Places
Palmerville estate
European exploration and discovery of the Limestone Plains region (1820-1825) was very closely...

Rosebud Apiary / Rosebud Cottage / Hillview
The slab cottage known as 'Rosebud Apiary' or 'Rosebud Cottage' was built around 1866 by...

Springvale
Springvale was the Shumack family's homestead in the old Weetangerra Parish. In 1865 Richard...

Related Files
Shumack, Richard and Ann (Shoemark) ⧉ (RTF 916.9 kb)
Shumack, Richard and Ann (Shoemark) - Family Group Sheet

Richard was one of seven sons born to Peter and Eliza Shoemaker of Kilfinane, County Limerick, all of whom emigrated to Australia. Brothers George, Samuel and William (with his wife and two children) arrived on the 'Resource' in 1840. Peter, Joseph and John (with his wife and two children) arrived in Sydney on the 'Lascar' in October 1841. Richard was the last to arrive - on 31 August 1856 - on the 'Bermondsey' with his wife Anne (Shoemaker) and their four children. Peter married Ann Shoemaker in Rathkeale, Limerick in 1840. According to his son Samuel, Richard and his wife had stayed on in Ireland to care for their aged parents. Four brothers settled in the Bathurst area; Peter, John and Richard settled in in what was to become the Capital Territory

Richard was listed as 'Farm labourer or House Servant and Coachman'; Anne as a Nurse. Richard was stated to have five brothers already in the colony - William, Peter, George, Joseph and Samuel; John had already died in 1849, but his widow Margaret and their children were still living at the house they had built at St John's Glebe, and were able to provide a welcome and temporary home for the newcomers. Of the brothers, Peter alone was in the Canberra district, the others living in Bathurst.

Richard first worked for the Campbells at Duntroon. Immigration records show that George Campbell paid ₤25 for Richard's family - ₤20 towards the cost of their passages and ₤5 emigrants benefit before embarkation. They were at Duntroon for two years, living in a two-roomed house of slab and bark construction, initially using their cabin trunks as furniture. Mrs Campbell helped them financially by giving Anne some part time work as a laundress.

In 1858 Richard heard that William Davis Jnr of the Ginninderra estate had a vacancy for a shepherd at ₤60 a year with three rations, to replace Thomas Flint who was leaving. He got the job and for the next eleven years the family lived at the Emu Bank outstation. The benefits included a paddock of four acres for the family's own use, which Richard sowed with wheat in 1859. After a year at Emu Bank, ten year old Samuel was entrusted with a flock of sheep on the Round Hill run (Mt Painter); his younger brother John was to be assigned the Bandicoot Plain run (Gungahlin).

In 1865 Richard selected 100 acres of land at Weetangerra (Portion 14), where they completed their Springvale homestead in 1868. Samuel and brother John would work for William Davis during the day, then get on with building their future home. Although the area was in the grip of drought they found the property had a waterhole that never went dry, and through hard work they transformed Springvale into a flourishing farm. (It was not until the 1880's that farmers built dams in this region to store water). Despite droughts and flooding rains they grew wheat, raised cattle and pigs, and were able to expand their holding. According to Samuel his father's initial 100 acres was gradually extended until he, John and George had substantial adjoining properties:

"In 1872 my brother John and I took up some land for our brother George who was not eight years of age. In 1875 John and I started to work on our own account and when this separation took place George had 300 acres of land - John had 260 acres and I had 240 acres"

Samuel later recorded that the 'Squire of Ginninderra' was not impressed:

William Davis - who was father's employer and the squatter on whose land we selected - has 20,000 acres, excluding some thousands of acres of Crown land for which he paid very little, yet he resented our efforts to strike out for ourselves and laughed at what he derisively called 'Shumack's Folly'. 'Three years', he said, 'will see Shumack and his family sadder and wiser, for shortage of water will drive them out.' His prophecy miscarried!

At Easter 1869 William Davis gave the Shumacks notice to quite Emu Bank, and the family from then on lived together at Springvale. Joseph Hall moved into Emu Bank.

Anne Shumack died in 1873. They had eight children together. Samuel records that his two young daughters Phoebe (15) and Emily (12) ran the household following Anne's death - and worked in the fields as well. Richard remarried in 1880 at Gunning to Eastern Jane Armstrong, with whom he was to have another five children. Around 1877 he bought out the local holdings of Mark and Samuel Southwell (263 acres) and a couple of years later Samuel removed their house to his block at Round Hill where it became known as Rosebud Aviary. Richard died in 1887 and is buried at St Johns in Reid.

Samuel Shumack married Sarah Winter in 1893. They lived at Springvale homestead until their land was resumed in 1915, when they moved to the Hunter Valley. Richard's daughters Phoebe and Emily married brothers Abraham and Isaac Blundell, while his sons Samuel and George married the Winter sisters Sarah and Isabella.

Springvale homestead was still standing in 1957. When Cook Primary School was later built on Samuel's land, children playing on the school oval found it became very boggy after rain. Could this be the site of Samuel's spring? Today the site of Springvale is marked by a heritage sign on a bike path between Redfern Street and Biffin Street in Cook. The homestead is commemorated in the naming of Springvale Drive, and Richard in the naming of Shumack Street, Weetangera.

Related Photos

Springvale homestead and woolshed, Weetangerra ⧉
Springvale homestead, Weetangerra ⧉
Rosebud Cottage ⧉
Shumack's 'Springvale', Weetangera ⧉
Site of 'Emu Bank' ⧉
References
Clough, M., Spilt Milk: a History of Weetangerra School, 1875-2004, Canberra, 2004
Gillespie, L. L., Ginninderra: Forerunner to Canberra, Campbell, 1992
Maher, B., Planting the Celtic Cross: Foundation of the Catholic Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn, Canberra, 1997
Shumack, S. An Autobiography, or, Tales and Legends of Canberra Pioneers (ed. J. E. and S. Shumack), Canberra, 1967
Smith, L. R., Memories of Hall, Canberra, 1975
White, E. 1993. A Shumack Family. c.1668-1992 & connected families. Eastwood, NSW.
Created on a Mac™ using iFamily for Mac™ on 2 May 2025