Frederick's Younger Years
On the 7th of July 1851, a small group of people banded together and torevitalise the life of the Presbyterian Church, which had originallyformed in 1841 when Port Macquarie reached a high peak in its existence,but which had languished during the depression of the later 1840'sfollowing the cessation of convict transportation and the withdrawal ofall Government support for the settlement. This group appointed FrederickLitchfield as a deacon and treasurer, and 3 years later he submitted hisaccounts showing a total income of 29 pounds and 19 Shillings. however,in true ecumenical spirit, he still supported the activities of the newlyformed Wesleyan congregation, and it appears possible that in the latterhalf of the 1860's he even became an Anglican minister, for there is areference to a Frederick Litchfield having officiated at the burial of aRobert A Wauch at Yassabah on the Macleay River on the 25th of Novemberin 1866.
It seems likely that the Litchfield Family setup their storekeepingbusiness well before William Litchfield (Frederick's father) retired fromthe Police Force in 1853, as when Frederick married Elizabeth Harriett inMay 1852, his occupation is given as "storekeeper", though on his secondson's birth certificate 4 years later he is described as a "Tin PlateWorker", his father's trade.
An interesting fact here is the Frederick's younger brother Georgemarried Elizabeth's sister Martha in 1869.
Frederick and Elizabeth Litchfield had 11 children, the first two, GeorgeJohn (1855) and Mary Elizabeth (1856 being born in Port Macquarie andbaptised in the Presbyterian Church. The remaining 9 were probably bornin East Kempsey whilst Frederick was Post Master there, they wereFrederick (1859), Victor (1861), Unnamed female (1863), Ada (1865),Ernest Daniel (1868), Norman E (1870), Alfred Henry (1872) Unnamed (1874)and Percy Macleay (1874).
The Post OfficeIn Kempsey, about 25 miles north of Port Macquarie, the original PostOffice had been established on the east bank of the Macleay river in themid 1840's, but there had been continual squabbles between the residentsin East and West Kempsey over which side of the river it should be on.Those who had to cross the river by ferry to get to the post office hadto pay a fare each way. In 1859 the Post Office was changed to WestKempsey, but mainly due to the strong representation of the local MP,another Post Office was opened on the East Bank, "a few hundred yardsinland of the ferry terminal on a high bank", where the Allandale GuestHouse now stands. Frederick Litchfield was placed in charge of this PostOffice from it opening on the 1st of September 1860 at 12 Pound perannum. He resigned on the 21st of May 1874.
Frederick's Later YearsFrederick's subsequent movements are still untraced, his DeathCertificate (1899) is listed in the NSW Index and is probably Sydney(record yet to be viewed) as most of his descendants are in Sydney andthere is a reference in the Sydney Post Office Guide of 1876-77 to aFrederick Litchfield, Baker, Blues point Road, North Shore, and thiscould be him as his Nephew Frederick (son of brother George) would onlyhave been 6 years old.
24. Frederick William Litchfield
Frederick William Litchfield was the younger son of twins, born 1st July,1870 in Port Macquarie.
25. George Hastings (1) Litchfield
George Hastings Litchfield was the elder son of twins, born 1st July 1870in Port Macquarie, and died 3rd September, 1873.