Spouse: Mabel Alice ELLIOTT ( COBB)-4829. Mabel Alice ELLIOTT ( COBB) and Frederick James COBB were married in 1904 in South Australia. Children were: Lillian Mercia COBB ( BURTON)-5114, Beatrice Gwendoline COBB-5115, Living, Alfred Stanton COBB-5117.

Spouse: Elder Henry Maurice BURTON-5118. Lillian Mercia COBB ( BURTON) and Elder Henry Maurice BURTON were married about 1923.

Spouse: Alice STAGG (COCK)-4619. Alice STAGG (COCK) and Phillip COCK were married about 1890. Children were: Living.

Spouse: Emma LANGMEAD (COCK)-4116. Emma LANGMEAD (COCK) and William COCK were married about 1850. Children were: Phillip COCK-4618.

Spouse: Elkanah LANGMEAD-4115. Mary Ann COCK ( LANGMEAD) and Elkanah LANGMEAD were married about 1850. Children were: Elkanah LANGMEAD-4683.

Spouse: Phillip LANGMEAD-4107. Susannah COCK (LANGMEAD) NEE TEAGUE and Phillip LANGMEAD were married on 2 April 1852 in Burra SA - Kooringa. Children were: Harriet LANGMEAD (MARTIN)-4119, Ellen LANGMEAD ( MATTERS )-4120.

Spouse: Thomas Hancock TRIPLETT-4072. Martha COLEMAN (TRIPLETT) and Thomas Hancock TRIPLETT were married on 14 April 1861 in Kapunda SA Residence of Joseph Rock.²⁴⁶ Married at the residence of Joseph Rook, Kapunda SA. Children were: John TRIPLETT-4074, Elizabeth Jane TRIPLETT (TRUSCOTT)-4076, Florence Amelia TRIPLETT (BARRETT)-4161, Mary Matha TRIPLETT-4077, William Henry TRIPLETT-4075, Sabina TRIPLETT (DILLON)-4207, Thomas Cleveland TRIPLETT-4241.

Spouse: Living. Children were: Living, Living, Living, Living, Living.

Spouse: Maud Annie CARR (COOK)-1025. Maud Annie CARR (COOK) and Edward COOK were married on 30 November 1915 in Charleville Qld - St Mary's R C. Children were: Neville James COOK I.S.O.F.A.I.V-1105, Twin Girl (unnamed) COOK-1106, Arthur COOK-1107, Living, Living, Living.

Spouse: Living.

Spouse: Aileen "Mickey" STOREY (COOMBS) (WEST)-1711. Aileen "Mickey" STOREY (COOMBS) (WEST) and Lawrence William "Bud" COOMBS were married in 1945 in Wentworth NSW - possibly. Children were: Living, Living.

Spouse: Living. Children were: Living, Living, Living.

Spouse: James Arthur KEATCH-887. Margaret COTTRELL (KEATCH) and James Arthur KEATCH were married on 3 December 1879 in Port Adelaide, St. Paul's Church..²⁵³ Children were: Edith Rose KEATCH (WAY)-933, Arthur James KEATCH-934, Violet Isabel "aka Essabel" KEATCH-4781.

Spouse: Charles SPRATT-4384. Mary COULTER (SPRATT) and Charles SPRATT were married on 9 December 1848 in Gawler SA - St George.²⁵⁵ Children were: Henry SPRATT-5071, Thomas SPRATT-5062, Mary Ann SPRATT-5097, James SPRATT-5063, Lewis SPRATT-5075, Elizabeth Ann "Lizzie" SPRATT-5076, Charles Herbert SPRATT-113, Robert Hurtle SPRATT-5098, William George SPRATT-5099, Emily Edith May "Edith" SPRATT (NIEMANN)-194.

Spouse: Living. Children were: Living, Living.

Spouse: Matthias "Matt" FITZPATRICK-4149. Dora Isabell CRISPEN ( FITZPATRICK) and Matthias "Matt" FITZPATRICK were married on 21 May 1921 in Menindee NSW.²⁵⁶

Spouse: JAMES TRIPLETT-674. Elizabeth CULLAM (TRIPLETT) and JAMES TRIPLETT were married on 5 March 1866 in Kapunda SA - Christ Church. James must have had a liking for the name Elizabeth. As well as his mother he married two women with given names of Elizabeth !!! Children were: Florence Amelia TRIPLETT (BARRETT)-4161, Elizabeth Ann Maria TRIPLETT (HOOPER)-4168, John William Henry TRIPLETT-4071, James Charles TRIPLETT-4162, Rosina Caroline "aka Roseanna" TRIPLETT-4163, Selina Agnes Emily TRIPLETT-4165, Eva TRIPLETT-4167, Clara TRIPLETT-4166, Sydney Alexander TRIPLETT-4164, Edith Sloman May "aka Soloman or Homan" TRIPLETT-4159.

Spouse: Living. Children were: Living.

Spouse: William HYNES-162. Ethel Rubina "Ruby" CURRAN (HYNES) and William HYNES were married on 9 September 1930 in Eaglehawk Vic - St Liborius RC. Witnesses were Elizabeth Hawkins & Thomas Patrick Rudkins. Children were: Living.

Spouse: Sydney George "Clement May" DEVINE-4587. Florence May DARBY (DEVINE) and Sydney George "Clement May" DEVINE were married on 8 August 1906 in Bendigo Vic. They were divorced about 1925. After being divorced from Sydney George Devine, Florence returned to live in St. Kilda and Elwood, Melbourne. Children were: Audrey DEVINE (EVERITT)-4591, Noel DEVINE (PITMAN)-4592.

Spouse: Ruby Margaret HYNES (DART )-400. Ruby Margaret HYNES (DART ) and William Ralph DART were married on 14 March 1929 in Echuca Vic - Presbyterian church. Children were: Living, Living, Living.

Spouse: Living.

Spouse: Living. Children were: Gordon F DAVIDSON-789.

Spouse: Edith Jane "Edie" HOPKINS (DAVIES)-524. Edith Jane "Edie" HOPKINS (DAVIES) and Unknown first name DAVIES were married unknown in unknown place. Edie did not have any children.Unable to find marriage record in NSWBDM.

Spouse: May Ellen BERRY (DAVIS)-1205. William Edward DAVIS and May Ellen BERRY (DAVIS) were married on 5 June 1920 in Bendigo Vic - St John's Presbyterian Forest St.

Spouse: Dorothy Agnes "Dolly" FITZGERALD (DE BRENNI)-4193. Dorothy Agnes "Dolly" FITZGERALD (DE BRENNI) and Julian Frederick DE BRENNI were married in 1921 in Broken Hill NSW.²⁶⁰

Spouse: John HANLON-370. Frances DEAN (HANLON) and John HANLON were married in 1893 in Hay NSW - St Virgilius RC.²⁶²

Spouse: Living. Children were: Living, Living, Living.

Spouse: Matilda TOMLINSON (DEVINE)-4037. Children were: Thomas Christian DEVINE Snr-300, James DEVINE-4582.

WW1 Records Devine James Edward

<http://naa12.naa.gov.au/scripts/Imagine.asp>
http://naa12.naa.gov.au/scripts/ResearcherScreen.asp

He served in the military Army Pay Corps between 1916 and 1919 in UK - England.²⁷⁰ Following his injury and time in field hospital in France he disembarked to England. He was subsequently transferred to the Pay Corp.
He never returned to the front
Jim served in the military Marriage / discharge etc. in 1919 in UK. There is a letter from him in 1935 requesting his Victory Medal and a copy of his discharge papers. which were subsequently issued.

When I first read Jim Devine's Military records I was struck by the fact that they were dominated by references to the number of times he went A.W.O.L. and the amount of time spent in Military prison, his demotion and loss of pay.
It is a mistake to know somebody's later history before knowing about his earlier life. It was easy to reach the conclusion that he was always a 'nere' do well '. We actually know too little about him prior to his enlistment.
Maybe a few months in the Tunnelling Company in France, where he sustained an undisclosed injury [ but enough to him being certified unfit for active service ] was enough to 'derail' him. World War 1, particularly in 1916 was horrendous. I no longer make a judgement about his misbehaviour after returning to England. His record isn't very good reading. Furthermore those of us who have not been to war should be cautious about making judgements.
We do not know how much his war experiences changed him into the person he was to become ... he wasn't the first and won't be the last to have his life ruined by war! He was a in Sydney NSW 26 Ruthuen St, Waverley, on 20 June 1935. He died in 1966 at the age of 74 in Melbourne Vic - Heidelburgh.^271,272 Grave : Melbourne - Fawkner Compartment S Grv 2013 Lawn - Plaque 22/8/1966 Ref 182766 Uncovering the story and connection of Jim Devine has been a twenty year exercise. The Niemann family history tells an anecdote of his connection to our family but didn't go so far as to claim him as 'ours'. It is tempting to claim the famous or infamous but until now the evidence had not been found.
We knew a lot about 'Tilly' Devine, had James' Army records but until Sue Kelly, a Devine descendant found his Death Certificate we were unable to make a definitive connection.
It is true that most of the clues are mentioned in the Niemann family history and made it possible to find the evidence.
Jim Devine is by no means as famous as his wife 'Tilly' [Matilda nee Twiss ], but he is intricately involved in her story and by any standards was a 'Gangster' in Sydney between the 1920's & 1940's.

Parents: James Henry DEVINE-4584 and Theresa GILMORE (DEVINE)-4624.

Spouse: Living.

Spouse: Matilda Mary "Tilly" TWISS (DEVINE) (PARSONS)-308. Matilda Mary "Tilly" TWISS (DEVINE) (PARSONS) and James Edward "Jim" DEVINE were married on 12 December 1917 in UK - England Camberwell Church of Sacred Heart of Jesus.^273,274 According to the Australian Women Fact File Tilly had two children before she left England. The first a daughter was stillborn and the second, a son was raised by Tilly's parents as their own, presumably under the name Twiss.
A Television program screened 15/12/2008 Paintings by Bill Leek ( Leak ?) featured the Story of Tilly Devine. The program introduced a Grandson ( Twiss)and a Neice Diedre Devine. The Grandson came to Australia from england at Tilly's invitation. This supports the contention that she had a child prior to marrying Jim Devine.
James and Matilda are reported to have had two children, who predeceased Matilda. The only record found in NSWBDM which might be one child is the following:
death: 4053/1925 Devine William J (parents) James & Matilda at *Parkes NSW
* because of the location I have not accepted this as a child of this couple, but it is a strong possibility.
There are numerous records of children connected to James Devine but no others with both James & Matilda. James' death certificate indicates 'no issue' from this marriage.

Title [Wife of J Devine seeking passage from England to Australia]
Series number A2487 Control symbol 1921/4829 <http://naa12.naa.gov.au/scripts/ItemDetail.asp?M=0&B=212324>Contents date range 1921 - 1921

Access status Open Location Canberra Barcode 212324 View digital copy <javascript:DisplayImage(212324, 1, 0)>

They^273,274 were divorced in 1943 in NSW possibly.²⁷⁵ Tilly divorced James on the grounds of cruelty. " He was a womaniser and abusive. Tilly suffered much physical abuse from him .... they apparently had stunning fights that entertained friends & neighbours alike" "In 1942 Tilly planned a spectacular 25th wedding anniversary party. It ended with a fight. Jim split Tilly's head open. She spent three weeks in hospital." Aust Women Fact File

Spouse: Theresa GILMORE (DEVINE)-4624. Theresa GILMORE (DEVINE) and James Henry DEVINE were married in 1883 in NSW - Glen Innis.²⁷⁷ Children were: James Edward "Jim" DEVINE-307, Alice Lucy "or Alice Mary Gilmore" DEVINE (MCELROY)-4625, Violet May DEVINE-4631, Thomas Henry DEVINE-4628, Francis William DEVINE-4627, Lilly A DEVINE ( CLEMENS)-4629, Sydney DEVINE-4630.

Spouse: Alice M A SMITH (DEVINE)-4597. Alice M A SMITH (DEVINE) and Samuel Thomas Morgan "Samuel Morgan" DEVINE were married in 1900 in Sydney NSW.²⁸⁰ Only three children were found up to 1905 ( limit available NSWBDM). There may have been more. Children were: Irene M DEVINE (WIGGINS)-4607, Sydney G DEVINE-4608, Samuel W DEVINE-4609.

Spouse: Esmee B ROWSWELL (DEVINE)-4611. Esmee B ROWSWELL (DEVINE) and Sydney G DEVINE were married in 1923 in Sydney NSW.²⁸³

Sydney & his wife Florence travelled the world and their two young children remained in Australia and were cared for by Aunt Georgina, Florence's sister and possibly Nana Mary Ann Darby ( Grandmother ) as an additional helper.

From: Chad Evans
Sent: Saturday, 23 April 2011 10:44 AM
To: tniemann1@
Subject: Clement May

Thanks for the reply Trent.

Clement (Sydney) was one of the world's most famous vaudevilleans of the early 20th Century, truly globally famous. He can be seen in the film Random Harvest (starring Ronald Reagon if I recall) and I have watched him in that several times. He was getting on by then and was really a pre-film superstar. He was also was a founder of "theatre-in-education" after teaching in Wellington for several years . . . he toured the western U.S. from his house on Vancouver Island each winter (chasing the sun) and gave school performances of his quick-change Dickensian roles, hundreds of schools (bear in mind some American schools at this time had some of the largest non-commercial theatres in the world). In fact he would probably hold the serious record of giving more performances of a particular role than any human in history.

Anyway, I won't go into all his history, but I will say his "archive" consisting of touring scrapbooks and family photo albums resides in Sydney at the Mitchell.

Let me tell you a tale.

I had purchased the un-named photo album at an auction in Victoria, British Columbia in 1994. No provenance, and would have been tossed in the bin if I had not bought it. But being a theatre historian (Frontier Theatre 1983) I could see the "Clement May" had been an actor cum entertainer. I could also glean after I found a summary press article about him in 1956 (when he retired and came back to Oz) that he was bord an Aussie. This added some interest for me as I was about to go back to Oz to live again in 1994.

Prior to departing I lunched with my old mentor, a famous Druidic poet, Robin Skelton (a man who would scare the shit out of mere mortals). In ill health he was, and I knew I would not see him again, and as we ended the lunch I casually said to him: "Have you ever heard of an actor named Clement May?" I have his family album, I said, procured from Lund's Auction. Robin donned his cape in readiness for the snow outside, and said: "I have his scrapbooks, come to my house before your flight and pick them up."

How's that for freaky serendipity or whatever: Robin was a real Witch incidentally, 105 books to his name. Spooky.

I gave several slide lectures about Clement at the University of Sydney in 1998.

I have a file of loose notes and images (slide and digitized). The main load of orignal material is of course at the Mitchell. Can I forward these items to you?

Chad Evans
Clement May was a retired actor in Melbourne - Elwood Flat 2, 13 Tiuna Grove in 1964. He died of Bronchopneumonia on 20 June 1964 at the age of 88 in Melbourne - South Melbourne, Elwood [ or Springvale]. He was buried on 23 June 1964 in Melbourne - Springvale. Grave : Parents: Thomas Christian DEVINE Snr-300 and Lucy NIEMANN (DEVINE) ( WINSTANLEY)-57.

Spouse: Florence May DARBY (DEVINE)-4590. Florence May DARBY (DEVINE) and Sydney George "Clement May" DEVINE were married on 8 August 1906 in Bendigo Vic. They were divorced about 1925. After being divorced from Sydney George Devine, Florence returned to live in St. Kilda and Elwood, Melbourne. Children were: Audrey DEVINE (EVERITT)-4591, Noel DEVINE (PITMAN)-4592.

Spouse: Living.

Thomas is listed in the Directory 1872/73 " Devine T., Bricklayer, St unnamed. He was a builder in Ironbark Vic - Stephenson St. in 1880. Thomas died of Consumption on 11 June 1881 at the age of 47 in Bendigo Vic - Long Gully, Stevenson St..²⁸⁵ Bendigo Advertiser 13/6/1881
"Volunteers Funeral - We regret to have to announce the death of Sergeant Thomas Devine who for some time past has been suffering from consumption, resulting from a severe cold, which settled on his lungs. The deceased had been a resident of the city for above 25 years, and was well known, liked, and respected. He joined the Bendigo rifles some sixteen years ago and has been a non commissioned officer of that corps for many years, in which position he was exceedingly painstaking, smart, and attentive to his duty. His funeral takes place tomorrow and it is notified by advertisement, that the P.W.V.V. Light Horse and Bendigo Rifle Corps are to assemble at their respective orderly rooms at 2.00 pm, for the purpose of following his remains to the White Hills cemetery. Funderal drill will take place tonight at the Orderly rooms and members are requested to attend with their rifles. It is also announced that Court Alexander A.O.F. of which he was also a member, will take part in the funeral obsequies. " He was buried on 14 June 1881 in Bendigo Vic - White Hills Cemetery.²⁸⁶ Bendigo Advertiser 15/6/1881
VOLUNTEER FUNERAL - Yesterday afternoon the funeral of the late Sergeant Thomas Devine took place, and, as upon the several late occasions on which the volunteers have taken part in a public ceremony, the weather was very unpropitious. The funeral cortege started from the late residence of the deceased and upon its arrival opposite the Orderly-rooms, View Place, the cavalry and rifles 'fell in' in the usual order.
The firing party with arms reversed, under the charge of Sergeant Bent, came first, and preceeded the Volunteer band, with muffled drums playing "The Dead March in Saul" . Then came the gun carriage bearing the coffin, covered with the Union Jack, upon which was placed the head dress and accouchments of the deceased, flanked on either side of the Corps, who acted as pall-bearers. The remainder of the cavalry and rifles followed, the rear being brought up by the officers, of whom the following were present :- Major Blackham, Captains Sibley and Anderson and Lieutenants Warren, Bell, and Cahill. The mourning coaches and long retinue of the other vehicles containing the relatives, friends and the Order of Forresters (of which the deceased was a brother ) followed.
On arrival at the White Hills Cemetery the firing party, resting on their arms reversed, formed on each side of the path, and after the corpse had passed joined the procession and were drawn up and opened ranks at the side of the grave. In the absence of the Rev. Canon, the Rev. Mr Thomas officiated, and readt the impressive service for the dead, at the conclusion of which three volleys were delivered by the firing party and the funeral ceremonies were brought to an end.
The rain which had been falling ........ etc .
This article provided by Sue Kelly via the Bendigo Regional Genealogical Society has been included because it 'paints' a vivd picture of the impressive ceremony and sheds some light on the language form employed at the time. Grave : White Hills - C of E Common A.1 Reg No. 5915 Grv 9203 ( no headstone)²⁸⁷ The Devine family name was found on graves in Bendigo, White Hills and Rochfort Vic. There may be some connection given the locations.

Devine Family History Source - mislaid

In 1856 exciting news went around the world on the winds of trade. Gold had been discovered in an Australian sheep run at a place called Bendigo, named after a famous English pugilist. A young Scot of 17 years joined the rush. He left Glasgow to board a sailing ship “The Red Jacket”bound for the fabulous land of gold. Sailing in the same vessel were the Niemann's from Bremen,Germany with their lovely daughter, a girl of 15 named Lucy. THIS IS NOT CORRECT

Thomas Devine, the youngster from Glasgow, married the Niemann’s daughter Lucy within 24 hours of their arrival in the new land and they moved into a tent in the mining camp during the frantic rush for quick riches. The speed of the marriage is quoted from my grandfather Sydney’s recollections, but fact has Lucy at 21 when she married and Thomas at 25 when they married in Epsom Bendigo in June 1858.

Thomas Devine was a first-class carpenter. Letting the others search the creeks and cracks he began building the first houses in Bendigo. The family prospered. Five boys and three girls were born to the couple.
Margaret Matilda 1859
Jane 1861
James Henry 1863 no information
Thomas Christian 1865
Edward 1868 Died 1895 Glebe
Lucy 1870
William Henry 1872
Samuel Thomas 1874
Sydney George 1876

There is little knowledge of the lives of the other children from Thomas and Lucy.

Margaret Matilda had a child Isabella Devine in 1875 at the age of 16 and unmarried . It could have been the reason that when her parents died she did not assist to bring up the young ones.
Margaret then had another 4 children and married their father Alfred Turner in 1882.

Jane Devine married Thomas Reid Treloar in Bendigo, Thomas was a Ballarat pharmacist they had 4 children of their own and raised my grandfather Sydney after the death of his parents.

Thomas Christian lived at 32 Moor St. Fitzroy South and worked as a post deliverer. His mother Lucy was living with him when she died in 1884 He married Jane Hariet Moritz and lived in Victoria Ave Albert Park. Thomas Christian took his own life in 1921.
His inquest reads 1/3/1921
At Albert Park-Found dead at the public convenience on Beaconsfield Pde died on the previous day from a gunshot wound in the head.
There were no suspicions. He was last seen the previous afternoon inspecting a revolver. His body was found by a council cleaner.
His wife Harriet identified his body. He was feeling unwell on the Saturday prior according to his wife.Who last saw him when he left for work.
His inquest notes the address of deceased as 56 Victoria Ave Albert Park

Lucy also went to Ballarat and probably lived with her sister Jane after the death of her father
There are records in Ballarat that note she was also involved with the theatre/stage.She married Arthur Fullicks an English man 1908 and I cannot find any further record of them having a family .

William Henry married Florence Briggs in 1894.He lived most of his life in Maylands West Australia. He died in 1965 and I believe that around 1961 my grandfather possibly visited him.

Samuel Thomas Morgan married Alice Smith in 1900 in Sydney NSW .and died in 1958 in Sydney.

Sydney George my grandfather was the youngest, His father Thomas died when he was five and his mother when he was ten. Sydney was taken to Ballarat to live with his married sister, Jane in Ballarat.

She brought up the lad with her own children and told him about his father’s talent. Thomas Devine had helped found the Easter Fair at Bendigo. He had come to know all the great actors who had toured Australia with a few key players, filling out their company with gifted amateurs. His father had played with Barrie Sullivan, George Rignold, Alfred Dampier, Bland Holt, Gustavus V. Brooke and William Kreswick [sic]. The young man had been offered a world tour. Dampier urged him to go on the stage. But he remained an amateur in Bendigo.
“He was a Scotsman with the most gorgeous Irish brogue. I don’t know where he got it from,” Sydney said in a interview.

Jane saw that Sydney grew up proud of his father. At the age of 14 he went to work as an apprentice printer and bookbinder at two shillings sixpence a week working up to ten shillings in the fourth year. When he was 18 he became a journeyman printer.

Jane made him study history and literature at night. His greatest joy was to get to the theatre at Ballarat or Melbourne where in a sixpenny seat he could watch Bland Holt play melodrama. The magic of the stage thrilled him and the young man was transported with the acting in “The Derby Winner,” “The Dreyfus Case,” “Inside St. Paul’s” and “The White Heather.”

In Ballarat a private debating society had grown into the Eisteddfod of Australia by adding reciting, singing, scenes from operas, plays and bands. Jane’s husband, a chemist and a remarkable man, who had acted with Thomas Devine in the Bendigo days, entered plays of his own. He considered Sydney not old enough to take a part.
At 16, however, Sydney thought he’d have a go at the festival. Everyone aid he had a lot of cheek. Everyone but Jane. She encourage him. He had a good voice, knew some comic songs like, :”Such a Don, Don’t You Know,” and so he entered.

Nothing happened.

The next year, at 17, Sydney entered the competition again. That was the year Peter Dawson, the finest ballad singer Australia has produced, won great acclaim with his voice.. The people of Adelaide sent him to England, fame and fortune.

Sydney won the comic song class that year.

Next year Sydney entered five competitions, comic song, humorous duet, Shakespearean selection with costume, Shakespearean dialogue and character recital.
He won the lot. Now he knew what he wanted. He had the heady taste of grease paint, the excitement of footlights and music, the intoxication of applause and the sweet victory of success in competition. The thrills could be continual , there could be travel and new adventures. He would change his name and become a professional. The stage name of Clement May was born.

The custom of family readings from the Bible, Dickens and Shakespeare, begun in the household of the Devine family in Bendigo was, continued in his sister’s house. His sister Jane had a talent for reading aloud and an ability to make characters live. His brother-in-law Thomas Reid Treloar a Ballarat pharmacist was also a scholar and an amateur actor. Sydney joined in his productions. The fireside readings and the amateur plays were two of the influences steering him toward a career while he was still a boy.

For two years he tried for the blue ribbon and gold medal in acting and speech arts at Australia’s National Eisteddfod. Each time he was dismissed by the tinkling of a little bell – the signal that the judges did not think him good enough to complete his performance.

The third year he was against 75 of the best performers form all over Australia. When he got back home, Ballarat gave him a civic reception. Winner of the singing award the year before was baritone Peter Dawson, who became a good friend of Sydney who by now was using the stage name Clement May. Dawson’s home town of Adelaide raised money to send him to study in Europe.

LONDON TRAINING

From the age of 16 or so, Clement May had been giving recitals and appearing in musical comedies locally. When he was 18, he joined the London Gaiety Company for a tour all over Australia.

He studied with the great Alfred Dampier in Sydney. Then he joined the Holt company in Melbourne for what was called “high-class melodrama,” such plays as “The Whip” and “The Great Ruby.”

Clement May became the company’s leading comedian, a position he held for three years. The company was disbanded after the sudden death of Holt the owner-founder.
“In 1913 I took my own company of entertainers out with the sole idea of making a name for myself, not other people.” He chose the works of Charles Dickens as his medium.

For part of the year he appeared as a “society entertainer.” There were no such things as bridge parties then. Prominent hostesses engaged entertainers, men who could sing or act a number of parts and tell stories.

Sydney Devine and Florence Darby

Sydney married Florence May Darby from Burraja NSW in 1906.at St.Pauls Church in Bendigo.He was 30 and Florence 21years old. His occupation was noted as a teacher of elocution probably in Bendigo.
Florence’s stage name was Joan De Vine They travelled the world together.Florence had a beautiful singing voice and was an accomplished pianist. He rrole was also in preparing Clement’s stage make-up and costumes for his one-man Dickens show.

They had two daughters first born Audrey Beatrice in 1907 and Noel Esme born 1908.As they continued their travels the children were looked after by their Aunt Georgina, Florence’s sister and possibly their Darby grandmother Mary Ann Darby who by then was a widow and also living in St.Kilda.
The two girls attended Oberwyl a private girls school in St.Kilda From several letters written to their parents it was obvious that they missed them greatly and visits back to Australia were not regular.

By the late 1920’s it appears that Sydney and Florence’s marriage was either over or in trouble.
While in New Zealand he meets Violet Strickland Taylor a student of his elocution class.
She becomes “the love of his life” as quoted from a newspaper interview ,and he continues his career and life overseas. With Violet I doubt that he ever returned to Australia until after Violet death in 1954 in Vancouver which was now their home ,they fell in love with the lake area of Vancouver B.C and brought a house on the lake called “Journeys End”.
It was Violet who nick named him Pete because she said that he was like Peter Pan the little boy who never grew up. Hence the name Grand Pa Pete.

Parents: James DEVINE-4036 and Matilda TOMLINSON (DEVINE)-4037.

Spouse: Lucy NIEMANN (DEVINE) ( WINSTANLEY)-57. Lucy NIEMANN (DEVINE) ( WINSTANLEY) and Thomas Christian DEVINE Snr were married on 8 June 1858 in Bendigo Vic - Epsom [Congregationalist ].²⁸⁸ Lucy's age is listed as 21 yrs but this is doubtful. In fact she was probably 17 yrs and approaching 18 yrs.
It is claimed Lucy married Thomas 24 hours after her arrival because they had spent the voyage together from England on the 'Red Jacket' . It is a good story but the time line for that is somewhat questionable; however, stranger facts have emerged from the myths and legends of our family ! The document provided by Sue Kelly - a Divine descendant (see Family 'photos' for this document ) lists the Devine family and provides an interesting version of the marriage of Thomas Devine and Lucy Niemann. There are some differences from Jessie Cafiso's version of the Niemann arrival in Australia.
At this time ( 15/10/2006) neither version has documentary evidence.

"I came to the conclusion that Lucy jnr went to live there ( Jane Treloar nee Devine - Lucy Jnr Sister, Ballarat Vic) because she also competed in an Eisteddfod competitions in Ballarat about the same time as Sydney (Clement).That information came from Peter Fruend at Her Majesty's in Ballarat who did a little research for me.But I have no paper trail on her." Courtesy Sue Kelly
Children were: Margaret Matilda "Maggie" DEVINE (MCKIMM) (RYDER)-301, Jane DEVINE (TRELOAR)-4583, James Henry DEVINE-4584, Thomas Christian DEVINE Jnr-303, Edward DEVINE-4588, Lucy DEVINE (FULLICKS)-4585, William Henry DEVINE-4595, Samuel Thomas Morgan "Samuel Morgan" DEVINE-4586, Sydney George "Clement May" DEVINE-4587.

Spouse: Harriet Jane UNKNOWN NEE (MORITZ) (DEVINE)-306. Harriet Jane UNKNOWN NEE (MORITZ) (DEVINE) and Thomas Christian DEVINE Jnr were married in 1900 in Bendigo Vic. Not sure how it is known that Thomas Devine (Divine) was married.

Spouse: Alice DEVINE ( NEE UNKNOWN)-4634. Alice DEVINE ( NEE UNKNOWN) and Thomas Henry DEVINE were married about 1910 in unknown place. NSWBDM does not list a marriage for Thomas Henry - maybe Victoria. Children were: Laurie Rees DEVINE-4635.

Spouse: Florence Angelina BRIGGS (DEVINE)-4596. Florence Angelina BRIGGS (DEVINE) and William Henry DEVINE were married in 1894 in Unknown marriage place - WA possibly.

Spouse: William N CLEMENS-4633. Lilly A DEVINE ( CLEMENS) and William N CLEMENS were married in 1923 in Sydney - Waverley.²⁴¹

Spouse: Thomas Henry DEVINE-4628. Alice DEVINE ( NEE UNKNOWN) and Thomas Henry DEVINE were married about 1910 in unknown place. NSWBDM does not list a marriage for Thomas Henry - maybe Victoria. Children were: Laurie Rees DEVINE-4635.