Catherine Martha (Mannix) CLAYTON 1875 – 1947

 

Catherine (on right) was born into a poor Catholic Irish family. Her father Jacobus or James was a farm labourer and her mother Johanna (Finnaughty) a baby making machine. Over a 25-year period Johanna gave birth to 15 children – the first three in Tralee, County Kerry Ireland, and then another dozen born in Victoria where they emigrated to in 1862. The Mannix family moved around as James sought work on farms until they settled in the Mandurang district where Catherine was born in 1875. She was child #11.

Mandurang is about 8km south east of Bendigo and the name is believed to originate from an Aboriginal word meaning black cicada. It was a settlement of gold miners, wood cutters and farmers. It must have been a hard life growing up as the family was dirt poor. Catherine’s mother died in 1900 and an inquest found she had died from heart disease. The police constable and her husband both said at the inquest that Johanna was addicted to drink.

Three years after her mother’s death, Catherine aged 27, married Robert Clayton at St Pauls (Church of England) in Bendigo. Robert was born in Victoria to Irish parents from Armagh, Northern Ireland. The Claytons were protestant while the Mannix family were catholic. The Catholic-Protestant divide was deeply entrenched, even in Australia, so it must have been true love for Catherine and Robert to endure the wrath of both families and proceed with their union.

Catherine and Robert made a home at Kyabram where Robert worked as a contractor for the Shire of Deakin. Their first child Robert James Clayton was only 5 days old when he died on 14 August 1904. Shortly after, they decided to move to Western Australia to start a new life. They landed in Albany in June 1905 and Robert proceeded to the Lands Office to select a homestead block. The couple caught the train to Broomehill and then walked 1½ miles east to their new home which they called ‘Mantonvale’ using their surnames Mannix and Clayton.

Catherine bore a further six children and all survived. Both Catherine and Robert contributed greatly to the Broomehill community. Catherine was a great cook and organiser and was often in charge of catering arrangements for fund raising events for the local church or CWA or red cross appeals. Robert was very involved in civic life as a member of the Broomehill Road Board, foundation chairman of the Broomehill Cooperative and a Justice of the Peace.

Catherine was a supportive wife and loving mother and she ran the household. Her son Maurice said she was a wonderful mother to all the children, and he felt as the youngest he received the full benefit of her love and attention.

In 1923 Catherine took her two youngest children Kathy (aged 10) and Maurice (aged 7) back to Victoria to visit the Mannix and Clayton families. They travelled by rail, changing trains several times. Maurice recalled meeting and staying with many aunts and uncles on both sides of the family.  

Catherine and Robert retired from the farm in 1938 and moved to Katanning. Catherine died of a brain haemorrhage on 25 May 1947, aged 71 years. She is buried in the Katanning Cemetery, as is her husband Robert who died five years later.