Thomas Edward Tangee

Thomas Edward Tangee was the first born of William and Catherine Tangee, a Chinese market gardener and daughter of an Irish convict.

Born between 1864 and 1865, Thomas’ early life can be imagined having evolved around helping his father work the market gardens in the Desailly Flats.  It did not become compulsory for children to go to school in Australia until 1883 but Thomas was able to sign his marriage certificate so he did receive some education.

Between 1868 and 1881, Thomas would welcome eight siblings, two would die before they reached 6 years of age.  And then, in 1882 the 17 year old’s life would change forever when his father William would leave his young family and return to China, with his youngest son James who was five.

This act would have a profound impact on the family, in particular on his wife Catherine who was now forced to rear eight children, the youngest daughter only one year old. At a time where mixed marriages and unwed mothers were look down upon in society, Catherine may have feared being arrested for being unable to provide for their children and her children being taken and sent to Melbourne.

Thomas appears to have taken on the role of father for his younger siblings and the next few years would go by quietly.  In 1887, on April 11, Thomas would marry Margaret Pender, born in Woodend.

In 1888, the young couple would welcome their first born, William Edward.  This choice of name likely indicates that Thomas still honoured the memory of his father.  Son William and daughter Eveline who was born in 1890, would also both use these names, naming their oldest sons Edward William and perhaps following their fathers wish that William not be forgotten.

In 1891 Thomas’ mother, Catherine would die.  Medical records would show that she had ‘softening of the brain’.

In 1892, still living in the Desailly Flats, Thomas and Mary would welcome baby boy Arthur who sadly, would die in 1893.  In 1894 and 1895 Florence and Walter would be born.

Working as a labourer, Thomas was regarded well enough in the region to be called upon as a witness in a court case, testifying on behalf of testatrix, Sale pioneer Mary Wilson in 1897.  Thomas’ sister Annie also worked for Mary and testified as well.

In 1916 Margaret and Thomas were registered as living on The Plains and in 1917 Thomas would farewell his youngest son Walter who enlisted for World War One, Thomas would also petition for divorce from Margaret yet, less than a month later he would withdraw it. Whilst on paper, the couple would remain married, records indicate that they would not live together for the remainder of their lives.

Walter returned home from the war in 1919 and it seems that this also created an opportunity for Thomas to make a change.  Moving to Hawthorn, Thomas would run a timber business with his son from 513 Burwood Rd Hawthorn, T.E Tangee & Sons.  Both Thomas and Walter would be registered in the 1919 and 1921 records as being wood merchants in Hawthorn.

Hawthorn was home to many Chinese market gardeners so Thomas may have known someone from Sale in the growing suburb.  His daughter Eveline was also living in the suburb, having married Henry Heard in 1912. Henry, his father and brothers all worked as carpenters so this may have also been a motivation for Thomas’ new venture.

Thomas would remain registered as a voter living in Sale and may have lived between his country and city homes whilst Margaret would alternate living with Walter and Eveline for the next twenty years.

By 1936, the 71 year old had bought himself a block of land on the Green Hills Road in Green Hills, and was living with Mrs Collins (possibly a boarding house) on Diamond Creek Road in Greensborough, about 2 miles away from his block.

Purchasing a miners right, Thomas decided to try his luck and sink a shaft on the Green Hills Road in front of his block of land.  Working with two friends, Benjamin Partington and William Merrell, the trio of retired men had dug their 5’x2’ shaft to 20 foot in the search for alluvial deposits.

A week before Christmas, Thomas was working the mine with Benjamin and William.  Thomas was down at the bottom, having dug a lead which ran another 6 ft underground.  Sending up a bucket of dirt, Benjamin then collected the bucket to dispose and return the bucket to Thomas.  Returning to the shaft, he and William noticed that the side of the shaft appeared to have caved in and they could no longer see the miner.

“I looked down the shaft and saw some lumps of earth on the bottom but I could not see the deceased.  I called out “Pop”, the name we called him but I received no answer… I got done the shaft as quickly as I could and Mr Merrell threw me down a shovel.  After digging for about 20 minutes, we uncovered the body…”

The police were called and on arrival confirmed the death of Thomas Tangee.  His body was then removed to the Greensborough Police Station before being transported to the City Morgue where his son Walter would identify him.

By occupation, Thomas was an old age pensioner, but he was described as being an active man in spite of his age.  The father of 5 children,  Thomas turned his hand to a variety of trades during his life, to earn money for his family and, from reports appeared to be a quietly spoken man.

Thomas would be buried at the Burwood Cemetery.

Thomas Tangee 

Born: 1865, Sale, Victoria

Died:  December 16, 1936, Greensborough, Victoria

Grandfather of Edward William Heard