Some Bottom Family History

as found on Eaglehawk Heritage - Lost Eaglehawk Facebook page.

This stained glass window is found in the foyer and was has the inscription "In memory of William and Fanny Bottoms, presented by their family".


William Bottoms, Mine Manager, landed in Geelong in 1856 from his birthplace, Scotia in Durham, England. By 1857 he was on the Eaglehawk diggings where he was a pioneer of the Primitive Methodist church. In 1863 William reported that various items had been stolen from his dwelling at Peg Leg Gully on the afternoon of June 11th - 2 black cloth coats, 2 black cloth vests, a pair of black cloth trousers, a pair of light tweed trousers with a vest of the same pattern, 2 pairs of half wellington boots, a red Crimean shirt, a flannel shirt, a pair of flannel drawers, a white linen shirt, a cotton inside shirt and an old rug. The 1864 Borough of Eaglehawk rates lists William as owning a weatherboard tent with a zinc roof & land at Peg Leg Gully, the property had a net annual valuation of £5. He married Fanny Jeen Scantlebury in 1865 and the couple had ten children. In 1890 William wrote to his son, Martin who was now living in Carlton where he was employed as a clerk - May 22, 1890 Dear Martin, this is Mother 42nd birthday, she is getting an old woman now. [p52 Martin Henry Bottoms, A Wonderful Life. Mac Nicoll 2003].
William was an athlete in his younger days and a champion runner. His second child William entered the Methodist Ministry in 1890. The fourth child, Martin rose from a 17 year old class 5 clerk with the public service department in March 1889 to Secretary to the Minister for Education at his retirement in March 1937. Two other sons Ern & George went to West Africa mining and another son, Alf changed his name to Bartleman when he was becoming well known as an Opera Singer, once sang with Nellie Melba. Goulburn Evening Penny Post (NSW) Saturday 23 March 1907 - Page 4
GOULBURN MUSICAL AND OPERATIC SOCIETY.
The second grand concert and third appearance of this society promises to afford a treat to the musical public. The committee have arranged for the special appearance of the great Melbourne singer, Mr. Alfred C. Bottoms, who is regarded as the finest baritone in Australia. The Melbourne Argus, in a report of a recent recital given by this artist, says- "Glen's Hall was crowded last night, when Mr. Alfred C. Bottoms gave a song recital. Mr. Bottoms is an old pupil of the Marshall Hall Conservatorium, and has taken part in the annual operatic performances there with great success. His recital last night proved at once his excellent artistic taste and the thoroughness of his technical training. His voice is a genuine bass of good compass and fine resonant quality, and he possesses great gifts of sympathy and of dramatic realisation of the atmosphere of his songs.
William Bottoms died on December 7, 1899 aged 64 years. His wife whom he described as an old woman on 1890 lived til 1933 dying at age 85.
Bendigo Advertiser Friday 8 December 1899 p 1 Family Notices
I.O.R., REFUGE TENT, No. 14.
THE Officers and Brethren of the above Tent are requested to Attend the Funeral of our late Brother, WILLIAM BOTTOMS. Funeral to move This Day, four o'clock, from his residence, Caldwell's road, to the Eaglehawk Cemetery.
WM. ROGERS, C.R.
THE Teachers and Scholars of the Primitive Methodist Sunday School are requested to meet at the residence of the late W. BOTTOMS, at half-past four o'clock.
THE Friends of Mr. WILLIAM BOTTOMS are respectfully invited to Follow his Remains from his late residence, Caldwell's, road, Eaglehawk, to the Eaglehawk Cemetery, to-day (Friday).Funeral to move at 4 o'clock. E. C. BROWN, Undertaker, Eaglehawk. The Caldwell’s Road area of Eaglehawk was known as Snob’s Hill and also Temperance Hill. It was the home of local aristocrats, John Joseph Hall and Joseph Highmore both former Mayors of the Borough of Eaglehawk.