Sydney Walter Jessop 1887 - 1973

Sydney Walter Jessop (known as Jack) was born on 14 December 1887 in Burragorang Valley, NSW. He was the fourth child and third son of John Crofton Jessop and Hannah Shoobridge 1859 - 1928. Not long after his birth the family moved to Granville near Sydney.

Jacks; father John deserted Hannah and his young family and ran off to Goulburn with Hannahs' sister Ellen in 1894.

In 1902 Hannahs' brothers William and John both selected land in the Tweed Valley. In 1903 Jacks elder brother Arthur travelled to the Tweed to join his uncle John, selecting 174 acres of his own on 25 Feb 1904.

By 1906 the land was sufficiently cleared with a house in place and Hannah the remainder of family - including Ray, Jack, Florrie, Cassie and Alfred - moved to Numinbah. They sailed in the ship "Cavanbah" - the aboriginal name for Byron Bay - from Sydney to Byron Bay, then travelled by train to Murwillumbah. They walked most of the way to Numinbah. Their furniture and goods were delivered to the end of only road in and out of the area - a small side horse track - and then transported by hand up the bullock tracks to the house.

It was here in the Tweed that Walter met Emily Louisa McDermott (aka Emily Agnes), the daughter of Patrick McDermott and Louisa Jane Davis. The couple married in 1914 at Byron Bay.

Jack and Hannah had a family of seven children (four sons and 3 daughters) were born:

Ina Merle Jessop. Born Jan 20 1914. Married Michael J Aboud
Esmond Earle Jessop. Born Oct 15 1916. Married Mary Agnes Darrough
Thelma Rita Jessop. Born Nov 17 1918. Married Norman Bloomer
Josephine Una Jessop. Born Jun 14 1923. Married Budwee Patrick Aboud
John Kevin Jessop. Born Dec 4 1927. Married Colleen Dawn Mills
Edwin Patrick Jessop. Born Sep 6 191929. Janette (Jean) Elizabeth Chilcott
Alfred Noel Jessop. Born May 21 1932. Married Flora McDonald

Jack selected land at...

Jac signed up to serve in WWII on 14 May 1942 at the age of 55. He enlisted in Brisbane and was a Private at 1 GARRN BN. He was discharged on 26 Oct 1943

Associated Documents

Selectors Map of Tweed