Florence TOPLIS was born on the 20th October, 1894 at 24 Dickens Street, Pendleton, Salford, part of Greater Manchester City, Lancashire. She was the third child of eight of William TOPLIS (1869 Manchester - ?) and Louisa FRODSHAM (1871 Aston, Warwickshire - 1954 Bowen QLD). William's occupation is listed as Electrician (Journeyman).
This part of suburban Pendleton does not exist any more. During the 1960s, major slum redevelopments occurred, and this area was turned into Salford Shopping City and high density, high-rise housing estates.
The 1901 Census shows Florence, aged 6, and her family living at what looks like 1 Print St, Manchester. I have had a look at the other Census pages in this area, and they are all streets close to Manchester Piccadilly Station. However, Google Maps do not show anything remotely like Print St. Florence's father William's occupation is listed as Stationery Engine Driver, and her mother's occupation as Office Cleaner. There are two young ladies living with them whose occupations are listed as General Domestics. They may well be the Toplis servants.
Florence's parents either divorced, or William passed away prior to her mother and siblings emigrating to Australia on the SS Owestry Grange. The ship arrived in Townsville from London on the 17th March 1910.
On the 19th of March 1914, Florence married 29 year old Ernest Vincent O'NEILL in the Church of the Holy Redeemer in Prairie, Queensland - a tiny little town on the Flinders Highway about 50km from Hughenden. Her marriage certificate states that at the time, Florence resided in Prairie, whilst Ernest resided in Sellheim, some 221km distance from each other. The were married according to the rites of the Church of England. The witnesses to their marriage were Michael Christian Romer (unknown) and Rosina Toplis (Florence's sister).
In 1918, the infant daughter of Ernest and Florence, Mavis, passes away from infantile tetanus (have certificate but have temporarily misplaced it).
The electoral roll for 1919 shows Ernest and Florence residing at Fourteenth Avenue, Railway Estate, Townsville, with Florence's occupation listed as "Home Duties". 1919 also sees the arrival of their son, Ronald, born on the 18th of April of that year.
The electoral roll for 1925 shows both Ernest and Florence living at Sellheim, near Charters Towers. I would presume that Florence and family have moved here for Ernest's work reasons.
Five years later, and the O'Neills are back at Fourteenth Avenue, Railway Estate.
In 1942, their son Ronald enlists to join the fight for empire in World War II from Merinda in Bowen.
During WW2 in the early 1940's, Flo was known to turn up on the platform of the Bowen Railway Station and serve tea and homemade cakes and biscuits to the troops as they passed through Bowen.
The 1949 electoral roll again shows family movement; this time the O'Neills are living in Bowen, Far North Queensland. Ernest was working at the Merinda Meatworks as a carpenter. The Meatworks closed in 1998 and were completely demolished in 2004.
In 1954, Florence's mother Louisa passed away in Bowen. Florence provided the certification and details on her death certificate, and stated that the O'Neills then lived at Queen's Beach, Bowen.
Florence's husband passes away on the 8th of October, 1958 in Bowen.
Florence's only living child, Ronald Francis O'Neill dies in May 1976, leaving Florence a widow, and childless.
Florence's generosity is known to many in Bowen, as she hosts afternoon teas for the children of the neighbourhood.
At the age of 94, Florence died in July 1989 in Bowen North Qld.
*With thanks to Ray & Judy Clitheroe (a Toplis descendant) and Julie Dern for BDM & burial information look-ups
*Birth Cert on file.
*Marriage Cert 1914/1818 on file.
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