History of Item
Blouse belonged to Esme Snell (nee Thompson). Marion Esme Thompson (1881-1962) was the daughter of Sophia Victoria Mate and George Arthur Thompson. Esme (as she was known) married Edward (Ted) James Snell in 1921. They lived at “Morningside” on Elm Street, Albury.
George Arthur Thompson (1854-1925) married Mate’s daughter, Sophia Victoria, in 1880. At the time, Thompson was a member of the Stock and Share broking business carried on by his father, under the trading name of T. J. Thompson and Sons. George A. Thompson arrived in Albury in 1886 to take charge of (his father-in-law) Mate’s store. Thompson retained the position of manager when the store formed into the company of T. H. Mate and Co., and he later purchased the business. When the business was floated into a company under the name of Mates Limited, Mr. Thompson was appointed managing director. Thompson served as alderman in the Albury Municipal Council, and was mayor in 1899 and 1900. George Arthur Thompson and his wife Sophia Victoria lived in a house named ‘Caerleon’, on the corner of Hume and Townsend Streets. This is where they raised their children, including Esme. The land had been purchased by T. H. Mate in 1871, who also built the home.
George Arthur Thompson and Sophia Victoria Mate had five children together, with Marion Esme being the firstborn.
Marion Esme Thompson was the granddaughter of Thomas Hodges Mate, founder of T. H. Mate & Co. (later Mates Limited). Her father, George Arthur Thompson, was the son of Thomas James Thompson (known as “James”) and Jane Jones. "James" was a stockbroker and is known as one of the founders of the Sydney Stock Exchange. Jane was the second daughter of David Jones (founder of David Jones department store).
As a young man, John Henwood developed an interest in local history and often rescued historical material related to Albury families from auctions. When Esme Snell died in 1962 (Ted having predeceased her), John collected photographs, clothing, letters and other items that had been cleared from 'Morningside'.
The items in this collection date from the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Many relate to the period when the Thompson family lived at 'Caerleon' on Wodonga Place. Numerous photographs feature members of the Mate and Thompson families or connect to Ted Snell and his life, including his service during the First World War.
Online Collection