Prisk Genealogy Worldwide

Nundle, New South Wales, Australia

This page contains various information relating to the pioneering Prisk family who settled in Nundle, New South Wales, Australia. Special thanks to Carol Dale of Australia for locating much of this information.


Extracts from Memories of a Golden Era by Thomas McClelland

Alfred James Prisk

Alfred James Prisk was born the son of Paul and Annie Prisk in 1892. He married R. Merle (surname and date unknown). Alfred James Prisk passed away on 15 August 1922, aged 30 years and is buried between his parents in the Roman Catholic portion of the Nundle Cemetery. R. Merle Prisk later married Paddy McCormack.

John and Mary Prisk (1839 - 1867)

John Prisk was born the son of William and Avis Prisk (nee Peneluna) of Gwennap, Corwall and brother to Paul Prisk, Hanging Rock. He was baptised at Carharrack Wesleyan Church, Cornwall on 8 January 1839. At the age of 20 years he came to Australia aboard the "Zeminder" arriving at Moreton Bay on 23 August 1857, paying a passage of four pounds for the trip.

In 1860, he married Mary Banfield, the daughter of George and Ann Banfield (nee Sullivan) of Paterson at Maitland. Mary at the time being around 15 years of age. Later they moved to Nundle where John worked as a goldminer. He was accidently killed at Butchers Gully, Nundle on 20 November 1867, aged 28 years. After her husband's death, Mary Banfield Prisk married John Rackham at Nundle in 1868.

John and Mary's children were:

  1. Elizabeth PRISK (b.12 Jun 1861-Nundle, NSW d.8 Mar 1940-Tamworth, NSW). She married: Samuel James PARKINS (b.31 Dec 1855-Hanging Rock, NSW m.21 Dec 1880 d.13 May 1922-Tamworth, NSW)
  2. George PRISK (b.1862-Tamworth, NSW d.1934-Cessnock, NSW). He married Charlotte PRIDUE (m.1882 d.1910-Kurri Kurri, NSW)
  3. Ann PRISK (b.1865-Tamworth, NSW d.1945-Randwick, NSW). She married William Henry KENNEDY (m.1883 d.1926)
  4. Margaret PRISK (b.1867-Tamworth, NSW d.1867-Tamworth, NSW)
  5. John PRISK (b.1868-Nundle, NSW d.11 Oct 1925-Tamworth, NSW) . He married Annie COGAN in 1888

John Alfred Prisk (1892 - 1899)

John Alfred Prisk was born the third child and second son of John and Annie Prisk (nee Cogan) in 1892. He passed away on 2 January 1899 aged 7 years and is buried alongside his grandfathr John Prisk.

Paul and Elizabeth Prisk

Paul Prisk was born the son of William and Avis Prisk (nee Peneluma) of Gwennap in Cornwall, England. It is not known when he came to Australia, however reports confirm that before arriving he had been mining in Cornwall for tin, North America for copper and South America for silver. At the age of 31 years he married Elizabeth Windsor Parkins on 2 September 1858 at Tamworth. Elizabeth then being 36 years of age. In 1860 he was registered as the licensee of the "Our House Inn" at Hanging Rock above Nundle. The Inn supposedly having 10 guest rooms. Elizabeth Prisk passed away on 15 March 1890, aged 67 years.

Paul and Elizabeth had four children:

  1. John Parkins PRISK (b.30 Jun 1859-Nundle, NSW d.1917-Tamworth,NSW). He married Caroline SMITH (b.7 Aug 1860-Singleton, NSW m.30 Oct 1883 d.30 Dec 1944-Bowling Alley Point, NSW)
  2. William PRISK (b.31 Mar 1861-Nundle, NSW d.29 Jun 1939-Nundle, NSW). He married Agnes Charlotte SMITH (b.1 May 1865-Murrurundi, NSW m.1885)
  3. James PRISK (b.1862-Tamworth,NSW d.1862-Tamworth, NSW)
  4. Paul Alfred PRISK (b.23 May 1865-Nundle, NSW d.2 Feb 1917-Hanging Rock, NSW). He married Annie WEBSTER (b.10 Aug 1868-Bowling Alley Point, NSW m.27 May 1891 d.6 Oct 1946-Tamworth, NSW)

After the death of Elizabeth, Paul Prisk married Mary Paull at Saint Mary's Church of England, Woolomin on 18 June 1895. Mary being the widow of Stephen Paull and daughter of Phillip and Anora Simmons who was born on the Clarence River. Paul Prisk passed away on 24 September 1897, aged 69 years. His second wife, Mary Simmons Paull passed away on 17 March 1906, aged 59 years and is buried in the West Tamworth Cemetery.

Paul and Rita Prisk

Paul Prisk was born the fifth child of Paul Alfred and Annie Prisk (nee Webster) in 1900. He later married Rita (surname and date unknown). He passed away on 6 May 1955 aged 54 years and his wife Rita on 15 August 1935, aged 37 years. Both are buried in the Roman Catholic portion of the Nundle Cemetery.

Paul Alfred and Annie Prisk (1865 - 1946)

Paul Alfred Prisk was born the son of Paul and Elizabeth Prisk at Hanging Rock on 23 May 1865. Generally known as Fred, he married Annie Webster of Tamworth on 27 May 1891. Annie being the daughter of Richard Webster and Mary Routledge who was born at Bowling Alley Point on 10 August 1868. In later years Paul Alfred and Annie Prisk settled at "Wendron" Hanging Rock and this is where he passed away in his 51st year on 2 February 1917. Annie Prisk passed away in Tamworth Base Hospital on 6 October 1946, aged 78 years.

William Prisk (1861 - 1939)

William Prisk was born the son of Paul and Elizabeth Prisk on 31 March 1861. He married Agnes Charlotte Smith but later separated with the marriage ending in divorce. After becoming blind, he was looked after by his sister-in-law, Caroline Prisk (Wife of John Parkins Prisk) and her daughter, Lillian, until he passed away on 29 June 1939, aged 78 years.

Final Resting Places

A number of photos of the graves of the Prisk family and descendants are available. They are as follows:

  1. Eliza Lillian Prisk
  2. Elizabeth Prisk, nee Windsor, wife of Paul Prisk
  3. lizabeth Windsor Chaffey, nee Prisk and her husband, Clarence Mervyn Chaffey
  4. John Prisk, one of the founding Prisk brothers
  5. John Parsons Prisk and his wife, Carolyn Prisk, nee Smith
  6. Paul Prisk, born 1901
  7. Paul Prisk, born 1828, one of the founding Prisk brothers
  8. Paul Alfred Prisk, Alfred James Prisk and Anne Prisk, nee Webster
  9. Rita Prisk, nee unknown, second wife of Paul Prisk, son of Paul Alfred and Annie Prisk
  10. William Prisk, son of Paul Prisk and Elizabeth Windsor

John Parkins Prisk (1859 - 1917)

John Parkins Prisk was born the eldest child of Paul and Elizabeth Prisk on 30 June 1859, Nundle. On 30 October 1883 he married Caroline Smith, the daughter of James and Eliza Smith at Saint Paul's Church of England, Tamworth. Shortly after their marriage the couple moved to Manilla for a short time where their eldest child Ada Elizabeth was born before moving to Woolomin and building the family home with a shop attached on their property "Burncoose". Throughout his life John Parkins Prisk remained a keen horseman with a good knowledge of draught horses and was held in high esteem by his fellow members of the Manchester Unity Order of Oddfellows. On 12 October 1917, he was leading two horses across his property when he was accidently knocked down and trampled by the animals causing multiple injuries. Although medical attention was applied, he passed away a short time later in the Tamworth Base Hospital.

Caroline Prisk (1860 - 1944)

Caroline Prisk was born the daughter of James and Eliza Smith at Singleton. Whilst most of her childhood days were spent in the Nundle and Hanging Rock districts, her early married life with John Parkins Prisk was spent at Manilla and later "Burncoose" Woolamin where they raised their family.

Living in an era filled with struggle and hardship, Caroline's home was always filled with warmth and hospitality as she greeted all visitors with a hearty welcome, entertaining from time to time the bishop and other members of the clergy.

At a special dedication ceremony held on 28 April 1934 at Saint Mary's Church of England, Woolomin, the bishop presented her with a beautifully bound hymn and prayer book in remembrance that she had assisted him last February in the laying of the foundation stone of the church. In return, the church received a gift of a communion rail from the Prisk family in memory of her late husband, John Parkins Prisk. Caroline passed away on 30 December 1944, aged 84 years. Her husband had pre-deceased her 27 years earlier.

Their children were:

  1. Ada Elizabeth PRISK (b.6 Oct 1884-Manilla, NSW d.17 Aug 1961-Tamworth, NSW). She married Harold E HANNAFORD (b.30 Oct 1882-Tamworth, NSW m.19 Feb 1908)
  2. Paul Alfred PRISK (b.22 Apr 1886-Manilla, NSW d.1973). He married Mary Ellen JONES on 30 April 1912
  3. John Gordon PRISK (b.1 Jun 1889-Manilla, NSW d. Feb 1961-Willow Tree, NSW). He married Alice Edith LOGAN on 20 December 1919
  4. Eliza Lillian PRISK (b.26 Jul 1891-Manilla, NSW d.25 Sep 1955-Woolamin, NSW)
  5. William James PRISK (b.1 Jul 1893-Manilla, NSW d.16 Dec 1984-Taree, NSW). He married Tresera F WARD in 1923
  6. Arthur Henry PRISK (b.25 Jan 1898-Manilla, NSW d.1935-Tamworth, NSW). He married Mary Ellen FERRY on 15 July 1925

Eliza Lillian Prisk (1891 - 1955)

Eliza Lillian Prisk was born the fourth child of John Parkins and Caroline Prisk on 26 July 1891. Although she never married, Eliza played an active role in charitable community activities and was secretary of the Duncans Creek and Woolomin patriotic war fund for the Nundle Shire for many years.

A delightful story retold by her great niece Gwendoline Joy Griffin (nee Hannaford) tells of her favourite aunt and a little girl walking around the property "Burncoose", Woolomin. As they strolled , Gwendoline commented on a large bull in the paddock when Auntie Eliza turned and replied, "Gwenie dear that is a gentleman cow not a bull"!!

Eliza Lillian Prisk passed away on 25 September 1955, aged 64 years.


Paul Prisk

PRISK, Paul, (1828-1897); miner and hotel proprietor; of Hanging Rock, Nundle NSW; b 9 Aug 1828 Gwennap CON; par William PRISK/E and Avis PENALUNA both of Wendron CON; arr ?; marr (1) Elizabeth PARKINS nee WINSOR (1819-1890) dau of William WINSOR and Alice/Anne HOPE, (2) Mary PAULL nee SIMMONS?; (1) 2 Sept 1858 Tamworth NSW, CE, (2) 18 June 1895 Woolomin via Tamworth NSW, CE; iss John Parkins (1859-1917), William (1861-1939), Paul Alfred (Fred) (1865-1917), James (1862-1862); d 24 Sept 1897, Nundle NSW; bur Nundle NSW.

Paul Prisk arrived in the 1850s and descendants believe he was mining in South America before coming to Australia from Gwennap in Cornwall. It is thought he was the eldest in his family, born 9 September 1828. Several of his brothers emigrated. John came aboard 'Zemindar' in 1857, being sponsored by Paul and joining him in Nundle. James came aboard 'Hotspur' in 1861. Paul went to Nundle to the goldmines and married Elizabeth Winsor Parkins there in 1858. He did well at mining and during the 1860s owned 'The Our House Inn' at Hanging Rock near Nundle. Later he built a house at Woolomin and called it 'Burncoose'. It had a small general store attached to it and there was also a barn on the property in which many dances were held. It was still standing in 1989, the oldest house in Woolomin. His wife died in 1890 and Paul remarried in 1895. He died in December 1897 and is buried in Nundle cemetery.

Submitted by Mrs Gwen Griffin (great-great-grand-daughter)

Cornish-Australian Heritage: A biographical register of Cornish Australians 1788-1998, Patricia Lay.


Children of William Prisk and Avis Penaluna

The following information was kindly submitted by Lorraine Johns of Australia.

I have been able to track down all but two of the siblings of William Prisk and Avis Peneluna from Gwennap, Cornwall..

Paul - migrated to Australia via California and South America. He arrived here in 18 Sept 1854 on board the 'Lalla Rookh' from the Port of Valparaiso in Chile. He died of a stroke in Tamworth, NSW, on 24 Sept 1897. I am Paul's Great Great Granddaughter.

William - migrated to South Australia on the "Adamant in 1865 and died in the Moonta Mines in 1873. His widow, Elizabeth Spargo, married again in Moonta in 1884 to a Joseph Woodhall and moved interstate to Broken Hill, New South Wales where she died in 1916.

Catherine married William Murton/Merton in Cornwall in 1855.She appears in the 1881 British Census as a 50 year old widow (Occupation Charwoman) with three children, aged 23, 20 and 9, living with her and in the 1891 British Census as a 60 year old widow, head of her household with two children (aged 30 & 19) living with her as well as her 87 year old mother, Avice Prisk, and a grandson, William Warren, aged 3. I believe she died in Cambourne in 1904.

James migrated to Australia on the 'Hotspur' in 1861 but about 1869 moved to New Zealand. In 1892 he married a widow, Jane Lumsden nee Brooking (she had 4 children) and died of cirrhosis of the liver in Sandon, New Zealand, on 13th July 1894. He is buried in Sandon Cemetery. Jane was buried next to him in 1946.

I believe Elizabeth married a James Trewin in Cornwall in 1870 and subsequently moved to Feilding (in the south of the North Island of New Zealand). Elizabeth died in Feilding in 1936. She and James and their son, William James Trewin are buried side by side in Feilding Cemetery. I am waiting on a Death Certificate from New Zealand to confirm this.

John also migrated to Australia on the 'Zemindar' in 1857. He married Mary Banfield in East Maitland, New South Wales in 1860 but was killed in an accident in the mine on 20th November 1867. He is buried in Nundle Cemetery.

That leaves the two girls, Ann and Eliza, who appear in the 1841 British Census but then seem to disappear. Does anyone have any information on them?

I believe there are a number of people out there working on this family. I am finding it very frustrating not being able to get in touch with some of them. If you are one of those people please get in touch with me.


Nundle Cemetery

The following images of headstones in the Nundle cemetery were kindly provided by Carol Dale. Click the images to download and view higher quality images.

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Last updated 04 April 2005