FatherLaust Larsen b. 13 Jan 1843, d. 23 Jan 1917
MotherAnna Margaretha Naugardt b. 26 Jun 1848, d. 24 Sep 1904
Pedigree

Birth, Death, Marriage

Andrew Larsen was born on 14 June 1874 in New Years Flat, Victoria.1,2,3 
He died on 16 November 1877 in Congupna, Victoria, at age 3.4,2 
ChartsLarsen, Laust, descendant chart

Story

Andrew Larsen was born in New Years Flat, near Vaughan in the Victorian goldfields. He died aged three in Congupna, near Shepparton.3,2
 
On his birth registration, his mother named him Laus Andrew, and in a Larsen family history report he is Laust Andrew. In a family document he is Andreas. On his mother's death registration he is Lars Andreas. But in most other documents, including his death registration and inquest, which includes a statement by his father, he is Andrew Larsen.5,1,6,2,7,8
 
Born on the Victorian Goldfields
The three eldest children, Anna, Lars and Andrew, were born on the Victorian goldfields. They were born in the family home in New Years Flat, about 1.5 km from the township of Vaughan.9,10,3
From Goldfields to Farmland
In the summer of 1876-77, the Larsen and Riedell families travelled by wagon from Fryers Creek to Congupna. Laust and Anna Margaretha had two children, Anna Caroline and Andrew. Magnus and Catherina had six children, Magnus jnr., Wilhelmina, Peter, Charles, Annie and five month old Matilda. As well as twelve people, the wagons were loaded with all the posessions of two families plus supplies for the approximately 180 km journey.5
 
Lost in the Bush
Deputy Coroner Hector McDonald held an inquest into the death of Andrew Larsen at the Police Camp at Shepparton on 19 November 1877. He found that Andrew Larsen died between 11:30 am Wednesday 14 November and 4:30 pm Sunday 18 November 1877 at Congupna of starvation and exposure resulting from being lost in the bush. And that there were no signs of violence.

On Wednesday he was playing on the adjoining property of Magnus Riedell with two cousins aged seven (Peter Frederick Riedell) and five (Charles Riedell). Andrew headed off home about 11:30 am, but he went in the wrong direction. Magnus told his boys to bring him back, but they couldn't find him. He then got daughter Mina (Wilhelmina) to see if he had arrived home, but he hadn't. Laust (Andrew's father) and Magnus searched until midnight, assisted by over 30 neighbours, and then each day from dawn till dusk until he was found. Andrew's body was found by Henry Gelfius and Albert Danker about 5:00 pm on Sunday afternoon. All those who saw the body said there was no sign of any violence and that he appeared to have died from starvation, thirst and exposure. In his statement, Laust said that the days had been very hot and some of the nights were chilly.11,8
 
Andrew's aunt, Catherina Riedell, believed Andrew would have heard the searchers' voices, but being a shy child, hid from them.5
 
Andrew Larsen was buried at Shepparton cemetery on 19 November 1877.

His burial is believed to be one of the first in the Shepparton cemetery.2,12
 

Citations

  1. [S270] Victorian Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, registry and index, 'Laus Andrew' Larsen entry, birth registration no. 26431, 1874.
  2. [S115] Andrew Larsen, death registration no. 12488, 16 November 1877.
  3. [S478] Laus Andrew Larsen, birth registration no. 26431, 14 June 1874.
  4. [S270] Victorian Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, registry and index, Andrew Larsen entry, death registration no. 12488, 1877.
  5. [S89] The Riedell Family, letter, 1975.
  6. [S116] Anna Margaretha Larsen, death registration no. 10704, 24 September 1904.
  7. [S290] Outline Descendant Report for Laust Larsen, descendent report, unpublished, 15 March 2010.
  8. [S434] 'Andrew Larsen', VPRS 24 Inquest Deposition Files, unit 363, item 1877/1044 Male, inquest, 19 November 1877.
  9. [S480] Anna Carolina Larsen, birth registration no. 26913, 4 November 1871.
  10. [S479] Lars Peter Larsen, death registration no. 8485, 22 August 1873.
  11. [S41] Inquest Index Victoria 1840-1985, CD-ROM, Macbeth Genealogical Services, 2000.
  12. [S79] The Centenary of Congupna Schools and District 1884-1984, Congupna Centenary Committee, 1984, p. 19.