[Index]
Margaret SHUMACK (1875 - 1945)
Children Self + Spouses Parents Grandparents Greatgrandparents
Margaret SHUMACK (1875 - 1945) Peter (Big Pete) SHUMACK (1844 - 1912) John SHUMACK (1811 - 1849) Peter SHOEMAKER (1781 - )
Elizabeth (SHOEMAKER)
Margaret O'TOOLE (1809 - 1879)



Elizabeth (Betsy) WILLIAMS (1853 - 1918) Francis James WILLIAMS (1829 - 1910) James WILLIAMS
Elizabeth CHAMPION
Margaret LYONS (1832 - 1907) Johnstone LYONS
Elizabeth BENNET
b. 06 Sep 1875 at Canberra, ACT, Australia
d. 26 Jul 1945 aged 69
Near Relatives of Margaret SHUMACK (1875 - 1945)
Relationship Person Born Birth Place Died Death Place Age
Grandfather John SHUMACK abt 1811 Kilfinane, Co Limerick, Ireland 04 Mar 1849 Duntroon, ACT, Australia 38
Grandmother Margaret O'TOOLE abt 1809 Co Cork, Ireland 12 May 1879 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 70
Grandfather Francis James WILLIAMS 1829 Sydney, New South Wales, Australia 01 Jul 1910 Sutton, New South Wales, Australia 81
Grandmother Margaret LYONS abt 1832 Downpatrick, Ireland 26 Aug 1907 Sutton, New South Wales, Australia 75

Father Peter (Big Pete) SHUMACK 16 May 1844 Canberra, ACT, Australia 14 Feb 1912 Canberra, ACT, Australia 67
Mother Elizabeth (Betsy) WILLIAMS 1853 Warrnambool, Victoria, Australia 15 Feb 1918 Canberra, ACT, Australia 65

Self Margaret SHUMACK 06 Sep 1875 Canberra, ACT, Australia 26 Jul 1945 69

Half Brother George SHUMACK 17 Nov 1870 Canberra, ACT, Australia 12 Nov 1958 ACT, Australia 87
Half Sister Elizabeth Jane SHUMACK 1872 Canberra, ACT, Australia
Brother John SHUMACK 1874 Canberra, ACT, Australia 20 Feb 1930 Canberra, ACT, Australia 56
Sister Minerva SHUMACK 1877 Canberra, ACT, Australia
Sister Frances SHUMACK 1879 Canberra, ACT, Australia 1879 Canberra, ACT, Australia 0
Sister Clara SHUMACK 1880 Canberra, ACT, Australia 29 Apr 1931 Cessnock, New South Wales, Australia 51
Brother Alexander SHUMACK 1882 Canberra, ACT, Australia 1956 Weetangera, New South Wales, Australia 74
Brother Peter SHUMACK 1883 Canberra, ACT, Australia 1883 Canberra, ACT, Australia 0
Sister Mary SHUMACK 1884 Canberra, ACT, Australia 1935 Rotorua, New Zealand 51
Sister Ida Ada SHUMACK 1887 Canberra, ACT, Australia
Brother Edward SHUMACK 1888 Canberra, ACT, Australia
Sister Gladice SHUMACK 1890 Canberra, ACT, Australia
Sister Frances SHUMACK 1894 Canberra, ACT, Australia

Uncle Joseph Ayra SHUMACK abt 1836 Ireland 23 Dec 1901 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 65
Aunt Bridget Mary WARD abt 1836 1914 Temora, New South Wales, Australia 78
Aunt Eliza Elizabeth SHUMACK 05 Jan 1840 Castletown, Co Cork, Ireland 21 Oct 1907 Sutton, New South Wales, Australia 67
Uncle Hugh READ 1838 Tintinhull, Somerset, England 02 Sep 1894 Gundaroo, New South Wales, Australia 56
Uncle Richard SHUMACK 19 Jan 1842 Canberra, ACT, Australia 29 Aug 1931 Ainsley, ACT, Australia 89
Aunt Margaret SHUMACK
Aunt Margaret Ann WILLIAMS 1854 Warrnambool, Victoria, Australia
Uncle James WILLIAMS 1856 Warrnambool, Victoria, Australia 15 Mar 1921 Willoughby, New South Wales, Australia 65
Aunt Elizabeth (Lizzie) WHYTE
Uncle Edgar George WILLIAMS 1858 Gundaroo, New South Wales, Australia
Uncle Thomas WILLIAMS 1860 Canberra, ACT, Australia
Aunt Mary WILLIAMS 1863 Canberra, ACT, Australia
Uncle Francis WILLIAMS 1865 Canberra, ACT, Australia 01 Jul 1929 Sutton, New South Wales, Australia 64
Aunt Agnes DARMODY 1874 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 28 Feb 1934 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 60
Aunt Sarah Isabella WILLIAMS abt 1867 Canberra, ACT, Australia

Cousin John SHUMACK 1866 Ginninderra, ACT, Australia 1867 Ginninderra, ACT, Australia 1
Cousin James SHUMACK 1868 Ginninderra, ACT, Australia
Cousin John Joseph SHUMACK 1869 Ginninderra, ACT, Australia
Cousin Peter SHUMACK abt 1871 Ginninderra, ACT, Australia
Cousin Mary SHUMACK 1874 Ginninderra, ACT, Australia 1874 Ginninderra, ACT, Australia 0
Cousin Joseph SHUMACK 1876 Ginninderra, ACT, Australia
Cousin Edward Harold SHUMACK 1880 Ginninderra, ACT, Australia
Cousin Mary Maria READ 1863 Gundaroo, New South Wales, Australia 26 Nov 1891 Weetangera, New South Wales, Australia 28
Cousin Margaret 'Maggie' READ 30 Dec 1864 Gundaroo, New South Wales, Australia 16 Jul 1949 Canberra, ACT, Australia 84
Cousin Rebecca READ abt 1867 Gundaroo, New South Wales, Australia 08 Oct 1947 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 80
Cousin John (Jack) READ 1868 Gundaroo, New South Wales, Australia 18 Dec 1917 Ainsley, ACT, Australia 49
Cousin Sarah Jane Anne? READ 1870 Gundaroo, New South Wales, Australia 15 Aug 1929 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 59
Cousin George READ 1872 Gundaroo, New South Wales, Australia 14 Sep 1947 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 75
Cousin Hugh READ 1874 Gundaroo, New South Wales, Australia Jan 1930 Goulburn, New South Wales, Australia 56
Cousin Joseph READ 1877 Gundaroo, New South Wales, Australia 14 Sep 1941 Sutton, New South Wales, Australia 64
Cousin Emily Eliza READ 14 Sep 1879 Gundaroo, New South Wales, Australia 19 Aug 1941 Gunning, New South Wales, Australia 61
Cousin Ethel READ 1885 Gundaroo, New South Wales, Australia 1965 80
Cousin Margaret Esther WILLIAMS 1884 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Mabel Irene WILLIAMS 1887 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Vernon J WILLIAMS 1888 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Francis J WILLIAMS 1890 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Isabel M WILLIAMS 1893 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Everard W WILLIAMS 1895 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Francis L WILLIAMS 1902 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Cousin Thomas S WILLIAMS 1905 Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Nephew Percy Gordon SHUMACK 13 Feb 1896 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia Feb 1969 Ryde, New South Wales, Australia 73
Nephew Peter Arnold SHUMACK 17 Feb 1898 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 24 Aug 1981 Canberra, ACT, Australia 83
Nephew Silas Henry SHUMACK 05 Jun 1900 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 11 Jan 1975 New South Wales, Australia 74
Niece Edith Elvina SHUMACK 19 Jun 1902 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 28 Feb 1987 Victoria, Australia 84
Nephew Roy Amos SHUMACK 24 Jun 1904 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 27 Jul 1976 New South Wales, Australia 72
Niece Bessie L SHUMACK Mar 1907 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 09 Jun 1907 Hall, New South Wales, Australia 0
Nephew Brice Benson SHUMACK 1909 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 31 May 1988 Gunnedah, New South Wales, Australia 79
Nephew Wilbur Herbert SHUMACK 02 Sep 1911 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 26 Jun 1974 Campbelltown, New South Wales, Australia 62
Nephew Sidney Cecil SHUMACK 04 Dec 1918 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 20 Jun 1980 61
Niece Florence M SHUMACK
Niece Phyllis SHUMACK
Niece Doris E SHUMACK Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Nephew John Francis SHUMACK 1904 Canberra, ACT, Australia 02 Jan 1974 Canberra, ACT, Australia 70
Niece Violet SHUMACK 1905 Marrickville, Sydney, Australia
Niece Clara MCINTOSH
Nephew Harold MCINTOSH
Niece Hilda G MCINTOSH
Nephew John M MCINTOSH
Niece Edna M Y SHUMACK 1909 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Niece Dulcie SHUMACK 1911 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Niece Dorothy H SHUMACK 1914 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Nephew Stanley Alexander SHUMACK 21 Jan 1914 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 22 Sep 1943 New Guinea 29
Niece Joan SHUMACK 1920 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Nephew Thomas James WHITTLE 1912 New Zealand
Niece Rhonda Ellen Mildred WHITTLE 1916 New Zealand
Nephew Living or Recently Deceased

Sister in Law Edith May GOZZARD 07 Aug 1874 Ginninderra, ACT, Australia 01 May 1945 Taralga, New South Wales, Australia 70
Sister in Law Jane MARTIN 1875 Ayr, Ayrshire, Scotland 10 Feb 1942 Canberra, ACT, Australia 67
Brother in Law Evelyn John MCINTOSH abt 1870 Majura, New South Wales, Australia
Sister in Law Amy Adeline SMITH
Brother in Law James Thomas WHITTLE 1950 Taihape, New Zealand
Events in Margaret SHUMACK (1875 - 1945)'s life
Date Age Event Place Notes Src
06 Sep 1875 Margaret SHUMACK was born Canberra, ACT, Australia 6
14 Feb 1912 36 Death of father Peter (Big Pete) SHUMACK (aged 67) Canberra, ACT, Australia 6
15 Feb 1918 42 Death of mother Elizabeth (Betsy) WILLIAMS (aged 65) Canberra, ACT, Australia
26 Jul 1945 69 Margaret SHUMACK died 80
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 = 290 (Birth)
- Reference = 290 (Name, Notes)
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/4012/margaret-shumack.html (Death)
- Reference = https://museum.hall.act.au/display/1939/person/4012/margaret-shumack.html (Name, Notes)
- Notes: Margaret Shumack

Born: 1875; Died: 1945; Married: Did not marry

Related Places
Gungahlin homestead
The grand Gungahlin homestead, until recently occupied by the CSIRO, was built in two stages...

Margaret Shumack, the young girl who stitched the sampler while a student at the Stone Hut School in 1887, was a descendant of one of Canberra's early pioneer families. The sampler is now in the collection of the Hall School Museum and Heritage Centre.

John (Snr) Shumack, Margaret's grandfather, arrived in the area in 1842, when he and his wife Margaret became the first tenants of the St John's Glebe on the Molonglo River. John built a three roomed slab house, took an active part in church affairs, and helped cart the stone used in the building of St John's church. Margaret's father Peter 'Big Pete' Shumack was born at St John's Glebe in 1844 and grew up locally.

Parish maps show that Peter Shumack began acquiring land in the present day area of North Canberra in 1863, on which he built a home - his property becoming known as 'Fern Hill' (Mackennal Street, Lyneham today). His first wife died in 1872 and the following year he married Elizabeth (Betsy) Williams. Margaret was the eldest girl (born 6th September 1875) and one of nine surviving children from that marriage. Her uncle Joseph Shumack had bought blocks of land in the same area, astride the Yass road, in 1857. In 1876 Joseph converted the house that he had built on his block to a hotel - the Canberra Inn. Another uncle, Richard, farmed the area that became known as Tolldale in modern day O'Connor.

Several of the Shumack children, including Margaret, attended the Stone Hut School. The school began in 1873 and was located in an old building alongside the Yass Road a short distance past the Old Canberra Inn on the east side of the road on Edward Crace's property, Gungahlin (formerly Gungahleen). There had long been complaints about the condition of the stone building, which was described as a 'dilapidated hovel'. In January 1885, a group of influential local residents, including those from the Shumack family, wrote to the education department drawing attention to the conditions at the school.

These complaints brought results. In August 1888 the school children and teacher at Stone Hut School moved across the Yass Road to a newly constructed small timber building specifically built as a schoolhouse. Following a regular visit by school Inspector M. Willis, who appeared to see a dilemma in calling a timber school building 'Stone Hut', the name of the school was changed to Gungahleen. The small school continued to serve the local rural communities as a full-time school.

While a student at the old Stone Hut School, Margaret stitched a sampler under the guidance of her teacher Miss Mary Clare Nolan. Schoolgirl samplers are familiar and endearing embroidered textiles closely associated in the public consciousness with genteel female education, needlework artistry and early Australian colonial history. As with Margaret's, the vast majority of embroidery samplers that exist today have been sewn by young girls as part of their formal education. It may have been her needlework 'graduation piece', done at age twelve during her last year of schooling. Samplers became an integral part of the school curriculum. They were educational tools, which strived to develop a young girl's stitchery skills for both practical and ornamental purposes.

Teacher Mary Clare Nolan was born at Braidwood, and educated at Braidwood Convent. She taught at the Weetangera School until it closed in 1885 and later at the Williamsdale School. She then moved to the dilapidated Stone Hut School and finally into the replacement school, Gungahleen. Moving to the new school must have improved conditions for both teaching and learning. She remained until March 1891.

Most of Peter Shumack's holdings were sold up in 1911, to George E. Southwell of Majura, with the balance of his land known as 'Kia-Ora' (Garling Street, Lyneham today) which was farmed by his youngest son Edward (Ted) up until 1937. Electoral roll information places Margaret at Kia-Ora from 1928 – 1937, with 'home duties' as her profession, her father and mother having died in 1912 and 1918 respectively. By 1943 she was residing in Torrens Street Braddon, where she lived with her sister-in-law Monica Shumack (Edward's estranged wife) until her death on 26th July 1945. She did not marry and had no children.

Margaret was known within the family as 'Sis' and was considered the beauty of the family who had plenty of suitors: all were refused and she remained single. Some said she was too fussy in her requirements. She was still living at 'Fern Hill' in 1903 but by 1915 she was working as a domestic at 'Brindabella'. At one stage she and her sister Ida ran a boarding house in Katoomba but in 1919 her address was given as 283 Edgecliff Road, Woollahra, where she worked for the Bethune family. There is some suggestion that she may have gained this position due to the friendship between the Bethune family and the Crace family of Gungahleen. Electoral roll information places Margaret at 'Kia-Ora' from 1928 – 1937, with 'home duties' as her occupation. By 1943 she was residing in Torrens Street Braddon, where she lived with her sister-in-law Monica Shumack (Edward's estranged wife) until her death on 26th July 1945. She was buried at St John's in Canberra.

Related Photos

Shumack family, 'Fern Hill' ⧉
Peter ('Big Pete") Shumack ⧉
Stone Hut School sampler ⧉
Mary Clare Nolan ⧉
Shumack family lands in North Canberra ⧉
References
Gillespie, L. L., 1992 Ginninderra: Forerunner to Canberra, Campbell. Gillespie, L.L. 1999 Early Education and Schools in the Canberra Region, Canberra.
Shumack, S.1967 An Autobiography, or, Tales and Legends of Canberra Pioneers (ed. J. E. and S. Shumack), Canberra.
www.mpm.edu/research-collections/history/online-collections-research/schoolgirl-samplers

White, E. 1993. A Shumack Family. c.1668-1992 & connected families. Eastwood, NSW.
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