Rosewood History. Qld.
Rosewood Pioneers
Queensland Times (Ipswich, Qld.), Saturday, 14 August 1926, page 7
TALLEGALLA
MR. AND MRS. JOHN FREEMAN.
Mr. John Freeman, of Kunkala, came to the Tallegalla district when there were only a few humpies here and there in small clearings in the bush, and the biggest gaps in the timber were bridle tracks through the scrub. He was born in England in 1844, and came to Australia in 1871, on the sailing ship Ramsey. The passage of 78 days was the shortest that had ever been made between London and Brisbane.
Mr and Mrs. John Freeman of Kunkala, who were among the first settlers.
After nine days in quarantine he went to Goodna for a few weeks to his brother, Charles, who also became a pioneer of the Tallegalla district. He was there for a few weeks, and then went to Tallegalla, to work for the late Mr. C. Cowell. At the end of 12 months he selected a farm of 96 acres on a high hill with a magnificent view of a big part of the lower scrub land. From the first humpy he built there, and from the later better houses he has seen the scrub cleared and hundreds of farms starting, has seen the railway built through to Marburg close to his farm, and villages springing up where he first knew only forests.
His wife has been through all the hardships of the pioneering days with him, and the old couple still live together on the scrub selection. They had only been on the farm a year, and had finished most of the clearing, built a house and a barn, and had grown their first crop when a bush fire wiped out the standing maize, the house, barn, and fences. Nothing but maize was gown in the district when they first went to it. They sometimes received only seven pence or eightpence a bushel. For several years 1/6 was the highest price. After about 10 years dairying was started, and the price of butter was often no better than that of maize. At one time Mr. Freeman was taking the butter to Rosewood on horseback, and was getting only l½d. a pound for it. Two sons, Messrs. Albert and James Freeman, are now running the farm. The others of the family are Messrs. Moses Freeman, of Lanefield, and John Freeman, of Gayndah; and Mesdames Albert Embrey, of Tallegalla, T. B. Austin, of Tallegalla, and William Yarrow, of Rosewood.
Ipswich Observer and West Moreton Advocate (Qld.), Saturday, 25 November 1876, page 3
On Tuesday last, during the hottest part of the day, a destructive whirlwind swept over the clearings of the scrub. It carried away n quantity of oaten hay belonging to Mr. James Dale, and left it upon his neighbor’s land, lifted a table so high in the air that when it fell to the ground it was dashed into fragments by the violence of the fall. The same whirlwind went on farther and did more damage. Mr. John Freeman was burning off some fallen timber when the blast caught the sparks and carried them to the barn and the dwelling house, both of which were in flames in a moment, and burned down before anything could be saved. There were about 60 bags of corn in the barn, and the whole of it was consumed, along with the barn. There was no time to save anything. The greatest sympathy is felt for the sufferer, and it is proposed that sympathy should take a practical shape by collecting a fund to assist a deserving man and to give a good neighbor a fresh start in life. Rosewood, 24th November, 1876.
Brisbane Courier (Qld.), Wednesday 4 November 1931, page 18
THE DIAMOND WEDDING of Mr and Mrs John Freeman, Kunkala, was quietly celebrated at their home by members of the family on Wednesday. Mr and Mrs Freeman were married in the Church of England, Carlton, England on 28 October 1871 and came to Queensland in the year 1874, soon after taking up a farm at Kunkala, where they still reside. They have a family of seven children – John (Gayndah), Moses (Lanefield), Albert and Walter (Kunkala), Mrs W Yarrow (Rosewood), Mrs T. Austin, and Mrs Albert Embrey (Tallegalla). There are 35 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. When they arrived in the Rosewood district in the early ’70’s it was a mass of brigalow scrub, and the land had to be cleared fenced, and cultivated. Butter at that time was 2d. lb., eggs 3d. dozen and maize 8d. bushel. Mr and Mrs Freeman are two of the oldest members of the PAFSOA Lodge at Rosewood. Though feeble after a recent illness, Mrs Freeman is able to move about her home. Mr Freeman’s eyesight failed many years ago, but otherwise he is well.
[Their marriage certificate states they were married on 21st October 1871 at the parish church in Carleton by John T. Wilder. Witnesses were Moses Freeman and Harriet Symonds.]
Queensland Times, (Ipswich, Qld.) Saturday, 21 Oct 1933, page 10
DEATH OF MR JOHN FREEMAN.
The death occurred at Kunkala, on 13 October, of Mr John Freeman, one of the oldest pioneers of the Rosewood district, after a long illness. The late Mr Freeman was 89 years of age, and was born at Carlton, Cambridge (England). He came to Queensland in the year 1874, with his wife and two children in the sailing vessel “Ramsay.” Soon after his arrival in Queensland he selected land at Kunkala, via Rosewood, where he spent the remainder of his life. The late Mr Freeman endured many hardships, as the Rosewood district was a dense mass of scrub. After clearing and building a home the first year they were burnt out, Mr Freeman was a foundation member of the PAFSOA Lodge, and he was visited regularly by officers and members during his illness. He was blind for 21 years. He leaves a family of four sons and three daughters, Messrs John (Gayndah), Moses (Lanefield), Albert and Walter (Kunkala), Mrs W Yarrow (Milbong), Mrs T Austin and Mrs Albert Embrey (Tallegalla). There are also 15 grandchildren and 26 great grandchildren. Mrs Freeman died 16 months ago. He is also survived by a brother Mr W Freeman, Rosewood. The funeral service was conducted by Rev Graham Wilson at the Tallegalla Cemetery, officers and members of the PAFSOA Lodge being present. The flag was flown half-mast at the Tallegalla school as a token of respect.
Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld), Saturday, 21 October 1933, page 1
LIVED TO SEE 68 OFFSPRING
Nonagenarian’s Death ROSEWOOD. October 21.
The death has occurred of another of the earliest pioneers of this district Mr. John Freeman of Kunkala, Born at Cambridge, England, in 1843, he come to Queensland In 1874 with his wife and two children. He selected country at Kunkala where he resided until the time of his death. After clearing and erecting a home the family was burnt out during the first year when a large scrub fire occurred.
Mr Freeman was a foundation member of the Rosewood P.A.F.S.O.A. Lodge and was visited by its members during his long Illness as he was an invalid through blindness for the past 20 years. He leaves a family of four sons and three daughters. There are 35 grand-children and 26 great-grandchildren. His wife died about 16 months ago. The funeral took place to the Tallegalla cemetery and was very largely attended, Rev. T. J. Graham-Wilson, (Methodist Church), officiating at the graveside, assisted by Mr. T. B. Aitken (P.M., Rosewood Lodge).
Queensland Times (Ipswich, Qld.), Saturday, 2 July 1932, page 8
DEATH OF MRS. JOHN FREEMAN.
The death occurred at Kunkala on June 21, after a long illness, of Mrs. Freeman, wife of Mr. John Freeman, old and esteemed residents of the Rosewood district (writes our correspondent). The late Mrs. Freeman had reached the advanced age of 86 years. The funeral, which took place on June 22, at the Tallegalla Cemetery, was largely attended. Rev. C. H. Foulkes, of the Lowood Methodist Circuit, officiated at the graveside. Members of the P.A.F.S.O.A. Lodge. of which Mr. and Mrs. Freeman are very old members, were also present. The late Mrs. Freeman was born at Carlton Green, Cambridge Shire (England) on June 26, 1846. She was married on October 21, 1871, and sailed for Australia in the “Ramsay”‘ on March 1, 1874. Soon after their arrival in Queensland they took up land in the Rosewood district, where Mrs. Freeman spent the remainder of her life. Besides her aged invalid husband, she leaves a family of four sons and three daughters-Messrs. John (Gayndah), Moses (Lanefield), Albert and Walter (Kunkala); Mesdames W. Yarrow (MiIbong). T. Austin (Tallegalla). and Albert Embrey (Tallegalla). There are also 36 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren.