Richard Tiller

Richard Tiller

Male 1868 - 1937  (69 years)

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  • Name Richard Tiller 
    Birth 9 Jan 1868  Para Plains, South Australia, Australia Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    Death 19 Oct 1937  Mallala, South Australia, Australia Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Burial 20 Oct 1937  Mallala, South Australia, Australia Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Person ID I0638  Tucker Family Tree | The descendants of James Tucker
    Last Modified 2 Mar 2007 

    Father Richard Hall Tiller,   b. 22 Jan 1838, Fordingbridge, Hampshire, England Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 27 Dec 1908, Grace Plains, South Australia, Australia Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 70 years) 
    Mother Sarah Tucker,   b. 5 May 1838, Melbourne, nr Swindon, Wiltshire, England Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 7 Sep 1909, Dalkey, South Australia, Australia Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 71 years) 
    Marriage 3 Nov 1859  Wesleyan Chapel, Mt. Barker, South Australia, Australia Find all individuals with events at this location  [1, 2
    • In 1847, there were seven Wesleyan Churches in South Aus. and Mt. Barker was one of them.

      When the mill was built, it was used as a place of worship and Sunday School was also held in it. Later, a slab church was built in Cameron Street, of red gum posts with an earthen floor and bags for windows. The first stone church, which is now the Lecture Hall was opened in 1851. The Rev. J. Hall preached morning and evening, the collection for the day amounting to ?44-2-6 (a record even for today). The Rev. J. Dann, D.D., who was 21 years of age, walked from Adelaide to Mt. Barker to take charge of this church. The parsonage was built in 1857.

      The present fine structure, the Dunn Memorial Church built in 1881, donated to the Mt. Barker Methodists by the late John Dunn, now stands alongside the old church.

      In 1847, there were seven Wesleyan Churches in South Aus. and Mt. Barker was one of them.

      When the mill was built, it was used as a place of worship and Sunday School was also held in it. Later, a slab church was built in Cameron Street, of red gum posts with an earthen floor and bags for windows. The first stone church, which is now the Lecture Hall was opened in 1851. The Rev. J. Hall preached morning and evening, the collection for the day amounting to ?44-2-6 (a record even for today). The Rev. J. Dann, D.D., who was 21 years of age, walked from Adelaide to Mt. Barker to take charge of this church. The parsonage was built in 1857.

      The present fine structure, the Dunn Memorial Church built in 1881, donated to the Mt. Barker Methodists by the late John Dunn, now stands alongside the old church.

      The address of the Dunn Memorial Uniting Church is 13 Mann Street Mount Barker, South Australia.

    Marriage Registration - Sarah Tucker and Richard Tiller
    Marriage Registration - Sarah Tucker and Richard Tiller
    Sarah Tucker married Richard Tiller 03 November 1859 at the Wesleyan Chapel (now known as the Dunn Memorial Uniting Church, Mt Barker, South Australia.

    Methodist Church, Mt Barker, South Australia, Australia
    Methodist Church, Mt Barker, South Australia, Australia
    The Dunn Memorial Church, Mt Barker, stands alongside the old Wesleyan Chapel,which is now used as the Lecture Hall.
    Family ID F0063  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Eliza Marshman,   b. 4 Jul 1870, Grace Plains, South Australia, Australia Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 7 Oct 1940, Mallala, South Australia, Australia Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 70 years) 
    Marriage 29 Jul 1891  Grace Plains, South Australia, Australia Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Children 
    +1. Effie Linda Tiller,   b. 25 Apr 1892, Grace Plains, South Australia, Australia Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 2 Oct 1974 (Age 82 years)
    +2. Richard Henry Claude Tiller,   b. 3 Feb 1897, Grace Plains, South Australia, Australia Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 17 Feb 1974 (Age 77 years)
    +3. Mervyn Havelock Tiller,   b. 22 Oct 1900, Inkerman, South Australia, Australia Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 30 Jul 1980 (Age 79 years)
    +4. Sidney Garfield Tiller,   b. 10 Mar 1906, Dalkey, Owen, South Australia, Australia Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 11 Aug 1987 (Age 81 years)
     5. Reta Joyce Tiller,   b. 13 Dec 1911, Grace Plains, South Australia, Australia Find all individuals with events at this locationd. Mar 1993 (Age 81 years)
    Family ID F0269  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 8 Jul 2022 

  • Photos
    Richard Tiller
    Richard Tiller
    Richard Tiller, 6th child of Richard Hall Tiller and Sarah Tiller (nee Tucker)
    The Family of Richard and Sarah Tiller (nee Tucker)
    The Family of Richard and Sarah Tiller (nee Tucker)
    Back row (l to r): Henry Steven Tiller, Harriett Tiller, Charles Tiller,Henrietta Grace Rosedew Tiller, George Tiller, Mary Tiller, Richard Tiller
    Front row (l to r): Eliza Tiller, Richard Hall Tiller (father), John Tiller, Sarah Tiller (nee Tucker)(mother), Sarah Tiller (daughter)
    Sitting at front: Rosetta Eveline Blanche Tiller
    The Sons of Richard and Sarah Tiller
    The Sons of Richard and Sarah Tiller
    l to r: Richard, George, Rev. John, Charles Frederick
    The Children of Richard and Sarah Tiller
    The Children of Richard and Sarah Tiller
    Back l to r: Henrietta, John Mary, Charles, Harriett
    Front 1 to r: George, Eliza, Sarah, Rose and Richard
    Eliza Marshman and Richard Tiller
    Eliza Marshman and Richard Tiller
    Richard and Eliza Tiller (n. Marshman)- Photo taken 1900
    Richard and Eliza Tiller (n.Marshman) - 1936
    Richard and Eliza Tiller (n.Marshman) - 1936
    Richard and Eliza Tiller (n. Marshman), photo taken 1936.

  • Notes 
    • Birth details recorded District Adelaide reference book 60 page 367.
      Richard was buried on 20/10/1937 at the Mallala Cemetery and Rev. H. C. Hill officiated at the funeral ceremony.

      Richard was born at Salisbury in his parents' home and at a young age went with them to live at Grace Plains. His schooling at Grace Plains was rather limited as Richard was required to stay home to mind the sheep, as fences were few on the property. One shilling per week was the charge for each child attending school. A Mr Adams was the school master and during the winter months he conducted night classes for young adults, giving instruction in reading, writing and arithmetic. As a child, Richard slept in the box of the old-fashioned stripper.
      Some land was acquired at Kybunga by his father and they travelled with horses and implements to farm this property but the project was abandoned after a time.
      A story often told by Richard occurred in his youth at Grace Plains. At a party held in someone's barn, possibly on New Year's Eve, several of the local lads decided to have fun. At a convenient interval they adjourned out of doors to where the vehicles and horses were situated. Here they quickly proceeded to change the wheels. Next morning in the light of day various people discovered they had different coloured wheels on their cart, buggy or sulky; maybe two red wheels with two green ones, or one rusty dirty wheel with one shiny new varnished one. They really had fun. The end of the story is forgotten; whether the culprits were found out, or whether they confessed to the trick, unfortunately is not known.
      After marriage Richard and Eliza settled on a farm, at Grace Plains, belonging to a Mr A March (an uncle) for rental of approximately 25 pound per year. Times were difficult before the days of fertilizers and even the small rental was hard to find. There was a well on the property situated in the Stockyard creek and during dry periods this was extensively used by folk living nearby. At times it ran dry and then it was necessary to wait a few hours for the water to refill the well, so the bucket could be used. During this period camel trains were still travelling northward with Afghan attendants. Two children were born there.
      About March 1897 the family moved to Inkerman on the Port Wakefield Road for several years. Richard and Eliza entered into the life of the small church which reopened for worship. There was timber on the property and this provided a better livelihood than their wheat farming. Wood was cut and carted to Part Lorne and loaded on the ketch 'Annie Watt'. Richard served for a term on the Port Wakefield Council. Shopping was done at either Port Wakefield or the Long Plains Store kept by the late C.W. Burnard. Either was a long drive with horse and cart. Another son was born while they lived at Inkerman.
      They moved in approximately 1902 to a farm at Owen. As there was no church building in the town. Sunday Services were held either in the Council Chamber or at the Institute. Eliza at times supplied music on the piano. They worked hard for a building. Richard helping to cart stone for the Church. Their dream eventually came true and the Methodist Church became a reality. Richard was an original Trustee. Another son was born here.
      In 1911 a farm property at Mallala was purchased for 12 pounds per acre from the late W. Vawser. The term of payment was 15 years and it took that long to pay. The drought of 1914 almost meant ruin; horses were sent away for agistment, several cows died and without the earnings of the eldest son Claud, whose money came home to supply daily needs, life would have been almost unbearable. Good years followed and this helped establish security. The family attended the Mallala Methodist Church and joined in all celebrations. Richard became a Trustee and Steward, positions he held until his death. Several ministers complemented him on his listening ability; a not of the head meant approval and likewise a sideways movement of the head meant disapproval. Another daughter was born here.
      Richard loved cricket and in his younger years played in country teams and also in a team consisting of cousins known as the Tiller Cricket Team.
      He died suddenly while assisting his son Sid with hay cutting operations. By this time Richard and Eliza had retired to a home in Mallala with their daughter Joyce. (The Tucker Family in Australia, 1992)

  • Sources 
    1. [S1] Cynthis Henley-Smith, The Tucker Family in Australia, (Gillingham Printers Pty Ltd Adelaide, South Australia), 1992, 100 (Reliability: 3).

    2. [S27] South Australian Genealogy and Heraldry Society Inc, South Australian Marriages Registrations 1842 - 1916, (South Australian Genealogy and Heraldry), 3 Nov 1859, Registration number 40/54 (Reliability: 3).
      See attached transcription of South Australia Marriages 1842-1937 - Sarah Tucker and Richard Tiller.


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