Information on Jessie Caroline Hoschke & George Davis compiled and shared with thanks by Pat Davis & Bruce Davis prior to his passing.
| Jessie Caroline Hoschke | George Davis |
|---|---|
 |  |
| BORN: Georges Plains (near Bathurst) on 24 December 1875. DIED: 29 September 1969 Grafton Base Hospital. Buried: Clarence Lawn Cemetery South Grafton Parents: Amandus August Ludwig Hoschke 1844-1928 & Mary Ann Drew 1847-1923 Both buried at Church of England Historical Cemetery Coffs Harbour | BORN: Woodford Island (Clarence River) on 13 March 1869 DIED: Coffs Harbour 11 February 1923 Buried Coffs Harbour Historical Cemetery. Parents: James Davis 1833-1890 & Rachael (Fredericka) SHANNOCH 1839-1912 Both died at Upper Orara but buried Methodist Old Cemetery Maclean. |
At age 20, Jessie Married George Davis aged 27. On 21 September 1896, working in what was termed at those times, Domestic Duties, residing at Ferndale, Upper Orara.
George was employed by his brother-in-law James Marles as a Storekeeper at Coramba. James was married to his older sister Catherine Ann Davis.
During Jessie & George’s earlier married life George continued managing Marles store at Coramba then moved to Bucca Creek, when Marles opened another branch in the thriving Gold Mining district.
When the mines and store closed the family remained in the Orara district working at the McDowell farm at Upper Orara. Soon after George selected and purchased 100 acres at Friday Creek. George and his young brother Charles worked together in clearing the land so he and Jessie could live and raised their family on this property. Jessie remained there until it was sold to Nell & Bill Casson in 1940, (George & Jessie daughter and son-in-law). Later this property was sold to the Australia Paper Mills. The property was next door to S J Bailey’s property that now belongs to the Hoschke’s. Ada Davis always referred to the property as ‘The Solitude’.
George died from stomach cancer at his residence at Friday Creek in 11 February 1923. Jessie and her children remained living at Friday Creek for another 17 years. In 1940 the family moved to Upper Copmanhurst with siblings Allan, Ted & young Jess purchasing a farm, when Jess married in 1944 Ada purchased her share, then when Ted married in 1947 Allan & Ada purchased his share of the farm. In
1964 Ada purchased a house in Ryan St South Grafton; both her mother Jessie and brother Allan then moved into the house with her. Jessie died in 1969 at age of 93 in the Grafton Hospital; this was 46 years after the death of her beloved husband George.
Jessie & George had eight children as follows:
- James Clarence born at Upper Bucca Creek in 1897
- Allan Frank, Born 1898 in Upper Orara and delivered by George & Jessie’s mothers Rachael Davis & Mary Ann Hoschke
- Herbert (Bert) Bruce Born 1900 in Upper Orara and delivered by George & Jessie’s mothers Rachael Davis & Mary Ann Hoschke
- Ada Mary Born 1902 in Upper Orara and delivered by George & Jessie’s mothers Rachael Davis & Mary Ann Hoschke
- Nellie Edith Born 1904 in Upper Orara and delivered by George & Jessie’s mothers Rachael Davis & Mary Ann Hoschke
- Arthur George Born 1908 in Upper Orara and delivered by George & Jessie’s mothers Rachael Davis & Mary Ann Hoschke
- Edward (Ted) Norman Born 1911 in Upper Orara and delivered by George & Jessie’s mothers Rachael Davis & Mary Ann Hoschke
- Jessie Norma was born in 1917 at Coffs Harbour.
90th Birthday To-day
COPMANHURST Thurs. Mrs Jessie Davis, of Copmanhurst, who will be 90 on December 24, was born at Georges Plains, near Bathurst, but came to theUpper Orara River with her father in 1889.
She recalled the trip from Grafton to the Upper Orara, walking behind a bullock wagon which conveyed the family belongings.
Her father, Mr Amandus Hoschke, was a pioneer of the district.
She married Mr George Davis and had a family of eight. Mr Davis died 45 years ago.
Mrs Davis moved to Copmanhurst 25 years ago with her son, Alan. Her son-in-law, Mr W H Casson, bought the old home on the Orara.
Her motto is: “Do what you can with what you have and don’t waste time worrying over what you haven’t got.” She is still able to live a normal life and loves to go out visiting friends. She has 15 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren.
The photograph shows Mrs Davis reading some of many birthday wishes.
George Davis was a son of the German born Sophie Friederike Schoeneck, (not “SHANNOCH” as shown here) who emigrated to NSW in 1849. Later, after her marriage to James Davis, she was known as Rachel (or Rachael) Davis.
Unfortunately, “Shannoch” is the spelling used in a book which was privately published in 1988 for the Davis family reunion which was held in Grafton, NSW.[11] This book, which is mostly unsourced, is still in circulation and available in libraries which is probably why this particular mispelling has proliferated so widely and persists at Ancestry.com and elsewhere. Why this particular (mis)spelling was chosen for the book is a bit of a mystery. It may have been taken from an early Australian marriage index.[30] The corresponding entry in the NSW Marriages Index actually shows “Shannock” which is closer to the original.[31]
Although the name “Schoeneck” can be rendered in a number of different ways (eg in the original German records, it is variously written “Schönek”, “Schoenek” and “Schoeneck”; the Beulah passenger list shows “Shoeneck”), there is no evidence the family themselves ever used either “SHANNOCH” or Shannock” during their life times.
I have written a detailed narrative for Sophie Friederike Schoeneck, aka Rachel Davis, which I have published on Wikitree here: https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Schoeneck-4 There you will find more information about the various spellings of her names and her name changes, including sources and some images I have found, collated, transcribed and translated.
Regards, Susan
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Hi Susan,
Thank you so very much for this, we will definitely follow up on the information you have provided!
The spelling of German surnames is such an interesting discussion, it’s a wonder the Hoschke name came through unscathed, although those of us with the surname now definitely have the experience of many multiple spellings!
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