Miss Amy Craggs

(1872-1946)

Amy Craggs was an extraordinary musician and teacher and she ran the ‘Miss Craggs Private School’ in Fremantle from 1895 until 1907.

Amy Agnes Craggs, born 6 June 1872, was the third daughter of English Frederick William Craggs (1840-1905) who arrived in Western Australia in June 1853 on the vessel Sabrina and Irish born Elizabeth Sarah Wimbridge (1845-1924), who arrived in 1853 on the ship Pyrenees with her parents (William Thomas Wimbridge, 29th Light Infantry/Pensioner Guard and Elenor McCloy-the first Matron of what is now Royal Perth Hospital ). They married in Perth in 1865. Frederick Craggs worked in the Government Service for 36 years, 15 of which he was in charge of the Invalid Depot. (reference)

Her siblings were all born in Fremantle: Minnie Jane (1866-1951), Mary Elizabeth ‘Mim’ (1869-1938), Ethell ‘Lucy’ Craggs (1876), Frederick William  Nelson Craggs (2) (1882) and George (1888).

The family valued education and the children were all sent to the Government School in the area. Education of women was beginning to be promoted at the time as important for the future morality of mothers:

Archdeacon Watkins (Chairman of the District Board of Education), address to the students of the Government Girl’s School in Fremantle:

“It was more important that girls should be trained than boys, because all the world was in the hands of woman at the most important time of life. Everyone was trained by a woman, and for the first five years of life everything was in the care of mother, sister, or nurse, and in those years they learnt more than in any similar period afterwards. Therefore a great responsibility devolved upon the women, when they were mothers, sisters or nurses. They had in their hands the training, be it right or wrong, of the whole race… ( reference)

 In June 1879 Amy was one of the girls attending the Perth Government School, invited to join the Jubilee Procession in Perth.  (reference)

She was a gifted musician and played many benefit concerts to raise money for worthy causes:

18 Dec 1894 An enjoyable concert was given at the Sailor's Rest, Fremantle, on Saturday evening to an appreciative audience. The concert was opened by Miss Amy Craggs and was opened in the usual way by the singing of a hymn. A well-executed pianoforte duet formed the opening number, in which Misses Craggs and Webster played with marked ability. (reference)

Teaching was seen as one of the few appropriate careers for educated middle-class women and trail-blazing women were able to established private schools as new leadership opportunities for women developed from the mid-1870s. From the 1870s and 1880s, when Australian universities allowed women to sit entrance exams and then welcomed them as students, attitudes towards girls' educational needs changed. While Methodists and Presbyterians opened their 'ladies' colleges' (MLCs and PLCs) with male principals and headmistresses the Anglicans tended to appoint women principals. 

Amy opened her private school in 1895 and by 1897 she was one of twelve women running private schools in Western Australia. She may have been renting a room at Mrs Lovegroves, who operated a boarding house in Henry St, Fremantle.

27 April 1895 LOST, between Miss Cragg's School, Fremantle, and her residence, Gold Brooch, set with pearls. Finder bringing same Mrs. Wm. Lovegrove, Fremantle, will be rewarded. (reference)

13 March 1896- NOTICE- Miss A CRAGGS has removed her private School to the Protestant Hall, High-street, Fremantle. Pupils will be received also for Music and Drawing. (reference)

All three of Amy’s sisters were important to her and supported her endeavours throughout her life.

Amy’s elder sister Minnie Jane married Thomas George Doonan in 1891. Thomas and his brothers had a business in Adelaide-street- J Doonan and Son. One brother John Robert Doonan (1865-1901), who for six years represented the west ward in the Fremantle Municipal Council, died from heart disease at only 36 years old in 1901. (reference and see photo) Minnie and Thomas had three children- Ada (1892), Gordon (1893) and Harold (1898), (see photo opposite).

Mary Elizabeth ‘Mim’ married Leslie William Hardy in 1897. She had daughters Miriam ‘Mim’ in 1898 (married Fred Growns) and Bessie (married Frank Wrighton) and sons Bill and Frank.

As her sisters married –Amy continued to live with her parents at 7 Dorothy St, Fremantle but was listed professionally as working as a teacher in a ‘Miss Craggs private school’ at the Temperance Hall, High St, Fremantle.

Perhaps Amy had most in common with her younger sister Lucy Ethell Craggs (1876) who also became a teacher; working at Fremantle Government Infants school in 1893-4 and North Fremantle school in June 1895 (reference)

Lucy was also gifted in entertaining;

Oct 1900 Woman's Electoral League. A musical and dramatic entertainment will be held at St George's Hall on Wednesday, next, October 3 under the patronage and in the presence of His Excellency the Administrator (Sir Alex. Onslow) Lady Onslow and suite, Lady Forrest…The entertainment will conclude with a performance of the drama, "In Honour Bound," in which the characters will be sustained by Mr. Kinane, Mrs. Ruffy Hill. Mr. Wallace and Miss Lucy Craggs. (reference)

The Ladies' Cycling Club, at the Port, held their last dance for this season, at Victoria Hall, High-street, on Wednesday evening, and it was largely attended. The floor was in perfect condition, and the music rendered by Clough's band gave satisfaction. A dainty supper was served on tables beautifully arranged with clusters of poppies and wheat, and the following ladies formed the committee: Mesdames Waugh, Letchford, Naylor, Buck, and Eales, Misses Craggs and G. Letchford…Miss Craggs wore sage green voile, the deep goffered frill on skirt ornamented with bands black velvet; bodice made with full front of white silk fichu; and trimmings of white lace and black velvet. (reference)

Lucy married Horace Daniel Robson, a watchmaker, in North Adelaide, South Australia on 25 June 1902. He was a military man, served in H Company NSW before enlisting as a mounted trooper to fight in South Africa in 1900 ( reference) and with the South Australian Infantry Regiment in 1911. (reference). A daughter Dora, was born in 1907.

At Miss Craggs Private School - end of year concerts were held every year and demonstrated the range of activities the children learned as well as the formal reading, writing, arithmetic, geography and English that was expected of ‘efficient schools’:

 West Australian, Tuesday 11 December 1900, page 4- Miss Craggs's School Concert, Fremantle. The concert given on Friday night at the Victoria Hall, Fremantle, by the pupils of Miss Craggs, was a success in every way. There was a good attendance. An attractive programme was presented and several items were encored. The clog dance by Misses Mills and Fay and sailor's hornpipe by Misses Hamburger, were much admired, as was also the drilling and marching exercises by the scholars. At the close of the entertainment, Miss Jarrett, on behalf of the children, presented Miss Craggs with a souvenir in the shape of a handsomely bound writing case, with her monogram engraved on it. Miss Craggs, who is about to take a trip to the Eastern colonies, informed the children that the gift would be very useful to her, and heartily thanked them for it. (reference)

 Concert held Nov 1902 ( reference)

 Sept 1902 To Let- COTTAGE, 5 rooms, bath, etc., East Fremantle, rent 16s. 6d. per week. Apply by letter, Miss Craggs, Temperance Hall, Fremantle. (reference)

Fremantle Mail, Tuesday 15 December 1903, page 1- Miss Craggs's School Concert.A large audience greeted the pupils of the above school on Friday evening, in the Victoria hall, Fremantle, the occasion being the annual concert in aid of the prize fund. The programme was faithfully rendered and heartily applauded. The overture "Hussaranritt '' (Spindler) was very effectively played by the Misses Herbert and Doonan, after which the whole school appeared dressed in a pleasing array of fancy costumes representing faries, gipsies, fortune tellers, etc., and rendered a gipsy chorus. An action song entitled " May's Sick Doll," by some little mites carrying dolls gained an imperative encore, the deportment of the doctor (Master Cyril Hamilton) and the little mother (Miss Olive Hicks) being especially good. Miss Jessie Anderson and Miss Daisy Harrison also received an encore for their solo singing. Club swinging by the senior girls was splendidly executed, also ring and scarf exercise and fancy drill by the tiny tots, dressed in the school colors, red and white. Several piano solos, duets, and a trio were nicely rendered by the Misses Herbert (2), Bensie and Yarrett. Two fancy dances by Miss Ada Doonan were cleverly executed and gained hearty applause. A special feature of the evening was the Maypole dance by sixteen girls in fancy dress singing a merry lay. The scholars in a body then sang a number of quaint nursery rhymes, including a little ditty about three members of parliament who "went out to chatter." The National Anthem concluded a very excellent programme. Miss Craggs acted as accompanist and the children's proficiency in their various parts proved her careful and thorough training. (reference)

In Nov 1905 Amy’s father F. W. Craggs died. A large funeral was held in the Church of England portion of the Fremantle Cemetery. (reference)

West Australian, Thursday 28 December 1905, page 7. The parents and friends of the pupils of the Girls' Private School, High-street, Fremantle, met in the Temperance Hall, Fremantle, last Friday morning, the occasion being the annual distribution of prizes. The Rev. Canon Barton Parkes presided and gave an interesting address. Miss Craggs then read the annual report which showed that satisfactory progress had been made in all branches. The prizes were presented to the successful pupils by Mrs. Fox Angelo, each of the infants receiving a toy. At the close of the performance, Miss Craggs was presented with a silver-mounted morocco purse and card-case by the pupils. (reference)

25 Dec 1906- Girl’s Private School, High St, Fremantle. A very pleasant gathering of the pupils and friends of the above school took place in the Temperance Hall last Thursday afternoon on the occasion of the annual distribution of prizes. The hall was tastefully decorated with evergreens by the scholars, who were daintily attired in pretty white dresses with touches of red, portraying the school colours. The prizes were distributed by Mrs. Barton-Parkes (who was presented with a handsomely-decorated basket of red and white roses and ferns by little Nellie Turner on behalf of the scholars. Before reading the annual report, the principal, Miss Craggs, apologised for the absence of Canon Barton-Parkes, who should have presided, but was unavoidably: absent. The report showed that steady, work had again been done throughout the year and that good progress bad been made in the different classes. There was also an increase in the number of scholars attending. During the year a letter had been received from the Education Department to say that, on the report of the inspector who recently visited the school, it had been placed on the "efficient" list. The music pupils were making good headway. The two girls that were put in for the last practical examinations of the Trinity College, London, had both passed well. Ada Doonan passed with honours in the intermediate, and Nellie Herbert in the preparatory division. An interesting programme of musical items was gone through by the pupils, showing their efficiency and careful training, among the items being a delightful rendering of "La Gazelle" (Richard Hoffman), played by Miss Ada Doonan… After the prizes were given out, one of the girls, on behalf of the scholars, presented Miss Craggs with a handsome silver and cut-glass smelling salts bottle and a jeweled hatpin in token of their affection and esteem. (reference)

In 1906 Mrs Elizabeth S Craggs, Amy’s mother continued her work with the Women’s Christian Temperance Union, in charge of the Union’s ‘headquarters’. A report into their activities and a proposal for a curfew to ‘keep young people off the street’ makes interesting reading. (reference) Elizabeth stayed living at Dorothy Street until 1912 and died in 1924.

A very old colonist of this State in the person of Mrs. Elizabeth Sarah Craggs, relict of the late Frederick William Craggs, of Fremantle, passed away on May 30, at the residence of her daughter, Mrs. M. J. Doonan, 25 Alma road, North Perth, in her 79th year. Whilst in Western Australia she spent most of her time at Fremantle, where she was well known and highly respected. She leaves four daughters, one son, 13 grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. (reference)

Amy Cragg’s school continued until the end of 1907 when she married farmer- Charles William Marsh (15 Feb 1880 – 1963) in Fremantle. Charles was 27 and Amy was 35. They didn’t have any children. Charles was born in Perth in 1880 to Edward Wellman Marsh and Ann Jane Sherwood. He and his ten siblings grew up on ‘Paradise’ farm in Armadale.

In 1910 Charles and Amy were living in Armadale and Charles was farming. He seems to have had some bad luck during the Depression- In  1934 Marsh lost a court case over a farm in Bowgada he had bought in 1929, with two other investors. (reference)

In 1936 Charles and Amy were living on a farm in Mundaring. Amy died there in 1946. She was buried in the Anglican section of Karrakatta cemetery.

West Australian Thursday 5 December 1946, page 1- MARSH. On December 4, 1946, at Royal Perth Hospital (suddenly), Amy Agnes Marsh, dearly beloved wife of Charles William Marsh, of Phillips Road, Mundaring, loved sister of Minnie (Mrs M. J. Doonan), Mary (Mrs. L. W. Hardy, deceased), Lucy (Mrs. H. Robson, Adelaide, deceased), and Fred Craggs (Fremantle); loving daughter of the late Frederick William and Elizabeth Craggs pioneers of Fremantle; aged 74 years. Treasured memories.

Amy, dearly beloved sister of Mrs. M. J. Doonan and fond aunt of Ada (Mrs. G. M. Miller), Gordon and Harold, fond aunt of Mim, Bill, Bess, Frank Hardy, late of Mundaring- an aunt and a mother. Inserted by her loving nephew, Harold Doonan. Always gratefully and ever remembered. Aunt Amy, Fond memories from Else. To know her was to love her.  ( reference)

 MARSH. A loving tribute to the memory of Eulamble (Mrs. A. Marsh), who passed away December 4. 1946. Inserted by Woodgreen Hants (Mrs. T. Malland, 44 Queen-street. Fremantle). Not just today, but every day- In silence we remember. (reference)

MARSH In loving memory of my darling Aunt Amy (Eulamble), late of Mundaring, who passed away, suddenly on December 4, 1946. Ever fondly remembered by her niece Ada :

A true and loving aunt.

A guide and friend.

The music has gone

But the melody lingers on.

MARSH (Mrs. A.). In loving memory of Eulamble, late President of the Mundaring Virgilians' Branch, who passed away December 4. Remembered always by Perth Centre Virgilians' Committee, Gosforth Park. President; Tuppence. Sadly missed by all who knew her. (reference)

 Charles William Marsh died in 1963 at the age of 83, at Wooroloo Hospital.

Amy’s brother Frederick William Nelson Craggs (2) was born in 1882 and attended the Government Boys School in Fremantle (1893). He married Isabel McKane in 1910. From 1917-1926 they lived at 145 Glyde St and Frederick worked as a worked as a Tramway driver.

Isabel and Frederick W N Craggs (2) lived at 23 May St from 1933-1949 , where Frederick W N Craggs (2) died. Isabel continued to live at 23 May St until 1972. She lived with George Mathew and Marjorie Craggs at Mahogany Creek in the years before her death in 1979.

1924 Two old Fremantle families were united in holy matrimony at St. John's, Fremantle, at 7 o'clock last Saturday evening when Frederick William, the second son of Mr. and Mrs. F. W. N. Craggs, of May-street, East Fremantle, was married to Ellen Elizabeth, only daughter of Mrs. E. Spiers, of Beaconsfield… (reference)

Their son Frederick Craggs (3) and daughter in law Ellen lived in Surbiton St.

 1948 Craggs' Marriage Went On Rocks. In days of old, lover's heads tumbled to the earth almost as regularly as pennies in a swy school. Things aren't quite so tough now, but we still have the persistent types who cuddle other chaps' wives. Take ex-POW Clarence Francis Ash, for instance. After he returned from Germany, he went to board at the home of Ellen Elizabeth Craggs and her husband, Frederick William Craggs. Result: Craggs marriage went on the rocks. Frederick Craggs realised that something was amiss one night last April when his wife, after a quarrel, dashed out to Ash and began weeping on his shoulder. Craggs told Ash he'd have to go — and Ash went. But Ellen also went, later, and was found with Ash at an East Fremantle house. Craggs got his decree from Mr. Justice Walker. (reference)

 1948 ... together again are Frederick William Craggs and Ellen Elizabeth Craggs, of Surbiton-rd, East Fremantle. Craggs had previously secured a decree because of Ellen's misconduct with Clarence Francis Ash. Both decrees were rescinded. (reference)

 In 1960 Frederick Jnr remarried- to Lorna Mabelle Shea-Smith and they lived at 62 Preston Point Road, East Fremantle. Frederick William Craggs Jnr died in 2003, aged 91 years old.

In 1980 Ellen was still living at 7 Surbiton Road, East Fremantle.  Ellen Elizabeth died in 2000, aged 87 years

In 1976 - 1987 Angela and David Craggs were living at 43 May St, East Fremantle.

These amazing photographs were put up for sale on eBay in Feb 2021. We managed to copy them before they disappeared. Please contact jo@museumofperth.com.au if you have any further information.