FatherJoseph Anthony de Morton b. c 1840, d. 2 Nov 1909
MotherCharlotte Lavinia Williams b. 12 Apr 1866, d. 7 Sep 1940
Pedigree

Birth, Death, Marriage

Zilla May de Morton was born on 21 June 1884 in Shepparton, Victoria.1,2,3 
She died on 17 October 1908 in Wendouree, Victoria, at age 24.4,5,6 
ChartsWilliams, John, descendant chart

Story

Zilla May de Morton was born in Shepparton on 21 June 1884. She was the oldest child of Charlotte and Joseph.

She was also known as Zillah.3,1,2,4,5,7
 
Around March 1895, the family of six (Charlotte, Joseph and four oldest children) moved to Healesville. Youngest child, Helene, was born the following year. The four acre property was known as 'Zillandah' and was on Don Rd about 4 km south of the Healesville township. The area was later also known as Gracedale. Joseph began farming and had a few animals on the property.8,9,10,11,12,13
 
A snapshot of the family's life in Healesville can be seen in letters Zillah wrote to "The Children's Column: Cinderella's letter box" in the Leader newspaper.14
 
Don Road, Healesville, 28th | 2 | 1896.
Dear Cinderella,
I am writing this letter to ask may I be one of your nieces, and to tell you a little about Healesville; we have been living here nearly a year, and we like the place very much, there is a grand view from our house, Mt Riddell is quite close to us on the east, these are the names of some of the other Mts, Mt Juliet, Mt Monde, Mt St Lenoard [sic], Mt Don or Malleson's Lookout. In the gullies there are plenty of different kinds of ferns and flowers, the heath and sarsaparilla will soon be out in flower, we will all be very glad. I have three little sisters, Lilly, Myrtle, and Joey all younger than myself, we have a little cousin staying with us just now, she is very lively and makes plenty of fun. We live two and a half miles from the township and there is no school nearer to us than that, but I think there is one going to be built near the Badger River about a mile from here, it is wanted very much as there are a lot of children who would be very glad to go to it. The river was very high on Wednesday but it has gone down again. There is a lot of fish to be caught in it. If you like my letter I will write again soon, and tell you more about the place. - I will close this with love from your fond friend, ZILLAH MAY DE MORTON.
Aged, 11 years 8 mths.8
 
'Zillandah' Don Road Healesville 16th 4 mth 1897.
Dear 'Cinderella,'
We are having holidays at present for Easter. The weather is splendid, and the country round about looks lovely; the flowers in the gardens are all blooming beautifully, they give the place quite a gay appearance. I have seen two letters in the column from Tallygaroopna, one was from my Auntie's brother, [ Andrew Larsen ]. My Grand-parents, Aunties and Uncles live there, they all get 'The Leader,' and I know they would like to see my letter in it. My little baby sister was born up there last July, we are all very fond of her, she is such a little darling no one could help but love her. Now I am going to tell you about a concert which Myrtle, Joey and myself took part in, Myrtle sang with some other little girls, and also recited; Joey did the same only in different pieces, with girls more of her own age. I was in a sash and flower drill, which was considered very pretty. It turned out a great success, and was in aid of our Sunday School. We have plenty of milk now; Papa bought a nice little cow and calf the other day. I have nothing more very interesting to tell you, so will close, and remain your affectionate niece
ZILLAH MAY DE MORTON.
Age 12 y 10 m.9
 
'Zillandah' Don Road Healesville 4th 1 mth 1898
Dear Cinderella,
I am sending you back my collecting card with the money collected which amounts to thirteen and three-pence (13s 3d) I passed in the school examination, got my certificate, and am going into the sixth to-morrow; our holidays for the Christmas will be over, but we have holidays again in about March, for the hop picking. Christmas was very quiet with us, except having had the novelty of fighting a bush fire which came very near to the house; with a good deal of trouble we managed to keep it from doing any very great harm, except for the burning of fencing and grass. The heat at the time was almost unbearable. New Years day was beautifully cool, so we took a well-filled hamper and enjoyed a nice little picnic among ourselves, on the bank of the Badger river. Our dear Auntie at Allandale [ Maria Jane Livingstone ] sent us a box filled with all sorts of good things, she often surprises us in that way. I will now tell you a little about our baby Nellie [Helene Maude], she is more of a darling than ever, especially when she is trying to imitate everything we say, and wants to come with us wherever we go, she is nearly 1½ years old. My sisters join me in sending best wishes for the New Year to you, and now I will close hoping to see this in the 'column'. I remain with love yours affectionately
Zillah de Morton.
Age 13½ years.
[This 'best letter' earned Zillah 2s 6d.]14
 
Josephine wrote her first letter to the 'Leader' in October 1898:

Zillandah Don Road Healesville
August 1st 1893
Dear Cinderella,-
We take 'The Leader' every week. I have never written to you before. My Teacher's name is Miss Iles, I like her very much. I have four sisters, their names are Zillah, Lilly, Myrtle, and Nellie. I would like to see this letter in 'The Leader'. As this is all the news I have to tell you, except that we had snow beautiful snow upon the Mountains and here below. From your new and loving friend
JOSEPHINE DE MORTON.
Age 7 years.15

 
In 1901, Myrtle wrote a letter to the Weekly Times:

A Frog's Nest.- Badger Creek, 15/8/01.- Dear Uncle Ben,- We have been having a lot of rain. It ought to make the crops and plants in the garden grow. We have been living in Healesville for about six years. I think it is a very nice place. In many parts near the Badger River we find beautiful maiden hair and many other kinds of ferns, and also lovely mosses. Our school teacher (Miss Jack) is very fond of curiosities, and she has on the school mantel shelf a frog's nest in a bottle. The nest is a jelly-like substance, with little black specks. These are the eggs. Some day we may see some frogs jumping about in the bottle. I like going to school very much. I am in the fifth class. Now, I think I have written enough for you to read, so I will say good night. With love to the children who write to you. I remain, your new and affectionate niece.- Myrtle De Morton.16

 
The girls performed well at St John's Church of England Sunday School. In 1902, in 1st Senior Girls, Zilla received second top marks; in Third Class Girls, Myrtle received second top marks, and in Fourth Class Girls, Josephine received third top marks. The three girls also received special prizes for best answers to bible questions.17
 
In 1902, after the Badger Creek state school opened, the children began attending. They performed at concerts and were awarded prizes for their school work.18,19,20,9,17
 
[In all newspaper references to the de Morton children's activities in Healesville, Lillian is never mentioned by name, but all the others are.]
 
Around 1905, Charlotte and Joseph separated. Charlotte returned to Tallygaroopna with their daughters, while Joseph remained at 'Zillandah'.13
 
Zillah May de Morton died of general tuberculosis at the lunatic asylum in Wendouree (Ballarat) on 17 October 1908, aged 24. She was buried at Williamstown cemetery on 21 October with her brother Rupert.6,4
 
DE MORTON.- On the 19th [sic: 17th] October, at Ballarat, Zillah May, eldest daughter of Jos Antony de Morton, aged 24 years.
So loved, so mourned.5
Williamstown cemetery
Image: Australian Cemeteries

Citations

  1. [S297] Williams-Howard family tree, computer file, March 2000.
  2. [S270] Victorian Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, registry and index, 'Zilla May' de Morton entry, birth registration no. 20529, 1884.
  3. [S637] Zilla May de Morton, birth registration no. 20529, 21 June 1884.
  4. [S270] Victorian Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, registry and index, 'Zillah May DeMorton' entry, death registration no. 12373, 1908.
  5. [S171] 'Deaths: de Morton', The Age, 1854-, newspaper, 24 October 1908, p. 7, viewed 18 November 2020, https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/202186449
  6. [S642] Zillah May Demorton, death registration no. 12373, 17 October 1908.
  7. [S542] Australian Cemeteries, index and register, P Applebee, Zillah deMorton entry, headstone, Williamstown cemetery, 1908.
  8. [S446] 'The Children's Column: Correspondence', Leader, 1862-1918, newspaper, 14 March 1896, p. 34, viewed 28 November 2020, https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/196660388/…
  9. [S446] 'The Children's Column: Correspondence', Leader, 1862-1918, newspaper, 15 May 1897, p. 31, viewed 28 November 2020, https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/196838061
  10. [S640] 'Joseph Antony De Morton', VPRS 28 Probate and Administration Files, 114/293, probate, 1 March 1910.
  11. [S171] 'Public notices: Public notice', The Age, 1854-, newspaper, 4 December 1897, p. 1, viewed 18 November 2020, https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/188151752
  12. [S392] Australia, Electoral Rolls 1903-1980, online, division of Mernda, subdivision of Healesville, 1903.
  13. [S392] Australia, Electoral Rolls 1903-1980, online, division of Mernda, subdivision of Healesville, 1908.
  14. [S446] 'The Children's Column: Prize letters', Leader, 1862-1918, newspaper, 5 February 1898, p. 27, viewed 18 November 2020, https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/197308289
  15. [S446] 'The Children's Column: Correspondence|', Leader, 1862-1918, newspaper, 8 October 1898, p. 41, 7 December 2020.
  16. [S429] 'Our Letter Box', Weekly Times, 1869-1954, newspaper, 28 September 1901, p. 13, viewed 28 November 2020, https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/222784690
  17. [S641] 'St John's Church of England Sunday school', Healesville and Yarra Glen Guardian, newspaper, 18 July 1902, p. 5, viewed 26 November 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article60050251
  18. [S641] 'Badger Creek concert and prize distribution', Healesville and Yarra Glen Guardian, newspaper, 18 July 1902, p. 5, viewed 11 December 2020, https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/60050247
  19. [S641] 'Badger Creek concert', Healesville and Yarra Glen Guardian, newspaper, 25 April 1903, p. 2, viewed 11 December 2020, https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/60283202
  20. [S641] 'Festivities at Badger Creek', Healesville and Yarra Glen Guardian, newspaper, 23 July 1904, p. 2, viewed 11 December 2020, https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/60041687