Mary Temple Calnan
Mary Temple Calnan was born in Woolloomooloo, New South Wales, on 25 August 1883. Her parents were John Temple Calnan and Mary Squelch. Mary was the second of eight children. Her older brother was John George Temple Calnan, and her younger siblings (in order of birth) were Harry Temple Calnan, Sydney Temple Calnan, Annie Temple Calnan, Priscilla (Cilla) Temple Calnan and Cassie Temple Calnan.
Mary's first child, Edith May Calnan was born in 1905 (birth registered with surname "Calman", registration number 7960/1906 in Singleton, New South Wales).
Mary married Ernest Clifton on the 17th of May, 1905 at the Presbyterian Church in Aberdeen, N.S.W. They soon moved to Scone, N.S.W (where many of the Clifton family lived).
In 1908 Mary gave birth to her second daughter, Hilda Gertrude Clifton, who died in the same year at only 6 months. In 1910, she gave birth to her third daughter, Aileen Mabel Clifton. In approximately 1922, the Clifton family moved to Cardiff, a suburb of Newcastle, New South Wales, where they established a large house in Oxley Parade and settled into the community.
"Inglebrae", Oxley Parade, Cardiff. photograph c.1936
click on picture for enlargement
After a family disagreement, Edith left home sometime in the 1920s and severed ties with her mother and sister. Her marriage to Edward W. Chalmers is registered twice, first as Edith M. Calman (NSW regn. 2803/1927) and then as Edith M. Howard (NSW regn. 2806/1927) . It is unclear if Howard was her father's name or a surname she assumed sometime around 1927. She was found by an aunt in the 1940s by which time time she had assumed the name Hilda (that of her dead infant sister).
Mary's mother, Mrs. Calnan (ne Squelch) lived with Mary and Ern before passing away at Oxley parade in the 1940s.
Mary and Ern would have been much affected by the death, in childbirth, of their daughter, Mabel, in 1936. However their involvement in raising their young grandson, Des Endacott, would certainly have put purpose and happiness into their lives.
Young Des with his grandmother, Mary,
in Hunter St., Newcastle
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Young Des with his grandfather, Ern at
their Oxley Parade home
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Home in The Crescent, Jesmond, near Jesmond shopping Centre
photograph late. 1950s
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Mary and Ern left to live in The Cresent in Jesmond during 1945. For many years, Mary's profession was ironing clothes for the Lord Mayor of Newcastle. Ern was a truck driver and, over the years, had been in several accidents. In one accident, he lost the sight in one eye.
Ern passed away on the 25th of October, 1953 at 68 years. Mary continued to live at the Crescent with Des for many years until Des married and settled in Wallsend. In the 1960's, aged in her 80's, Mary left her home in the Crescent to live with Des and his family.
"Nana Clifton", as she was known, is remembered by Mabel's cousins as a very kind and loving lady. Mary Temple Clifton (or Nana Clifton) passed away on the 14th of November, 1966 at 83 years.
Thanks to Matthew J. Endacott, Mary's great great grandson,
for both information and pictures.
