Joseph Cornelius

Joseph Cornelius was born in 1831 in Redruth in Cornwall. He was a carpenter by trade, later a farmer vigneron, and finally a miner. His brother William also came to Australia, settling at Beechworth in the late 1850’s. Their other brother Martin had travelled to California, America, chasing the gold, like many other early immigrants.

Life in Australia

Joseph was in the area as early as 1857, as this is when he married Ann Malone at Beechworth. He was in Rutherglen as early as 1869, as there was a reported altercation with the local Constable at the Lake Moodemere Regatta, where Joseph ended up with a fine and a sleepover!

Joseph had 27 acres of land north of and adjoining the meadows of Coopers Holdings at Carlyle where he cultivated his grapevines. He produced good quality wine which placed in the awards at the local Rutherglen Shows. In the 1883 show Joseph’s wine, a dry full-bodied red was awarded the silver medal next to G. F. Morris who was awarded the gold medal. 

Over the years, Joseph had a long running dispute with the Shire of Rutherglen about the rate charges he was annually billed, with the Shire billing him in excess of the land he owned. Joseph ended up taking legal proceedings and was awarded recompense of any fees incurred.

Joseph's Death and Burial

Joseph had been at the Rutherglen Blacksmith’s shop on the morning of the 25th of August 1890, sitting sharpening his mining tools with his friend and work mate, Charles Bone and Charles Steward when Joseph complained about feeling dizzy. He then stood up and immediately fell to the ground. Dr. Leslie was called, who shortly after pronounced him dead at 60 years old.

Dr. Leslie’s inquest details had ascertained that Joseph had died instantaneously of effusions on the brain (apoplexy). J. T. Herrin Esquire, the local Justice of the Peace presided over the inquest into Joseph’s death. 

Joseph was then buried in the Church of England section in the Carlyle Cemetery.

The Cornelius family continued to live in their Rutherglen home in Harris Street after Joseph passed away, with his wife Ann passing in 1927. She is buried in Geelong Western Cemetery.

William, Joseph’s brother, inserted an obituary inscription about him, taken from the king James Bible in the Ovens and Murray Advertiser (20th September 1890) – as below.

“I was dumb: I opened not my mouth because Thou didst it”.