Blanche Frances Ashton (1852-1934)

The Bickley Family Girls - Blanche’s parents and siblings. Blanche is likely the girl second from the right as she is the youngest.Photo courtesy of Peter Mitchell — The Bickley Family Girls - Blanche’s parents and siblings. Blanche is likely the girl second from the right as she is the youngest.
Photo courtesy of Peter Mitchell

Blanche was born in Kenwick Park, Canning, on 4 March 1853 to Samuel Wallace Alexander Walsh and Elizabeth Bickley (reference; reference). She had many siblings - Agnes Elizabeth (1846-1886), Ellen Mary (1847-1916), Florence Augusta (1849-1946), Edith Juliet (1851-1925), Wallace Izon (1854-1854) and Samuel Wallace (1855-1862) (reference). She also had a half-sister, Isa Izon (1834-1909) (reference; reference).

On 19 October 1876, Blanche married Edward Ashton (1847-1886) (reference; reference). Edward was previously married to Frances Hillman. Frances died in childbirth in 1873 at 20 years old (reference). Four months after Edward lost his first wife, his four-month-old baby boy, Francis Edward John Ashton, passed away (reference). In Edwards' new marriage with Blanche, they had four children who all survived childhood. They were Bertram Bickley (1879-1957), Llewellyn Wallace (1883-1901), Edward Ellersley (1885-1931) and Agnes Evelyn (1887-1950) (reference; reference; reference; reference; reference).

Frances Hillman, Edward Ashton’s first wife ca 1872Photo courtesy of the State Library of Western Australia slwa_b2958238_1 — Frances Hillman, Edward Ashton’s first wife ca 1872
Photo courtesy of the State Library of Western Australia slwa_b2958238_1

Edward Ashton played an 'important and responsible position in the public service of the colony', having worked in the postal service (reference; reference). Edward had been a manager of the Savings Bank, Perth and an officer in the General Post Office (reference; reference). As Edward worked for the government, Blanche was allocated gratuities to support her as a new widow with young children (reference).

On Christmas Eve of 1886, Edward and Blanche, along with their children, travelled from their Perth home to Blanche's sister Agnes' and her husband Elias Solomon's home in Fremantle (reference; reference; reference). After enjoying Christmas Eve dinner, Edward fell ill, so he went to bed and a doctor was called. However, he never recovered and passed away at 10:30 pm reference; reference; reference).

The Bunbury Hospital 1898 where Blanche workedWestern Mail Fri 9 Sep 1898Page 31 Photo courtesy of the National Library of Australia — The Bunbury Hospital 1898 where Blanche worked
Western Mail Fri 9 Sep 1898 Page 31
Photo courtesy of the National Library of Australia

Bunbury Hospital Staff 1898 - Blanche is one of these womenClare's Weekly Sat 24 Dec 1898 Page 3Photo courtesy of the National Library of Australia — Bunbury Hospital Staff 1898 - Blanche is one of these women
Clare's Weekly Sat 24 Dec 1898 Page 3
Photo courtesy of the National Library of Australia

Blanche worked for the government for twelve years as matron of the first cottage hospital in Bunbury and later at the Bridgetown and Guildford Hospitals (reference). Blanche was matron of the Bunbury Hospital from at least 1895 to 1901 (reference). In 1895 a writer visited the Bunbury Hospital and wrote their experience to the Bunbury Herald, mentioning Blanche as Matron Ashton (reference). "The writer recently visited the Bunbury Hospital, with a view to ascertaining whether material for a cause celebre, or any other individual, could not be found there to produce results a la Mr. J. M. Drew. He, like most people, had an undefined prejudice against hospitals and everything appertaining thereto, and when within the precincts walked gingerly, gazing askance — as who would know whether he ever left the place alive! The nurse, Miss White, showed him through the chief ward, in which are two typhoid fever convalescents, a young man recovering from a cut knee, an aged man (Mr. Harrison), recovering from the effects of having three of his toes nearly cut off — one of which Dr. Lovegrove amputated after his admission, and another aged man (Mr. McDonald) recently brought in by Mr. Partridge. The sufferer was tossed by a bull and had a nasty tear on the thigh and one eyebrow nearly torn off. By the time all this had been seen and noted, with the nurse's genial laughter and prattle accompaniment, the visitor longed for Mr. Partridge's bull to come along and toss him also. Her (the nurse's) genial vivacity and careful attention— under the direction of the matron (Mrs. Ashton) must be medicine indeed. The hospital is capable of accommodating 13 patients, 5 only are in it at present, one having been discharged, cured, a day or two ago. That good results are the rule with patients admitted to our hospitals can, however, only be attributed to the skill and assiduity of Dr. Lovegrove, and the kind attention of the matron and the nurse, as all are handicapped by the inappropriateness of the surroundings. It is a wonder that these buildings have been allowed to do duty for so long a time for so important a purpose, and is a tribute to the long-suffering endurance of Dr. Lovegrove, the attendants, and the public (reference)."

Davilak Estate, Fremantle Western Mail Thu 28 Nov 1946 Page 54Photo courtesy of the National Library of Australia — Davilak Estate, Fremantle
Western Mail Thu 28 Nov 1946 Page 54
Photo courtesy of the National Library of Australia

In 1906 Blanche lived at the Manning Estate, Davilak, near Hamilton Hill in Fremantle (reference; reference). Davilak homestead was her sister's Florence Augusta's home along with her husband, Lucius Alexander. The homestead was established in 1866 by Lucius' father, Charles Alexander Manning (reference). While Blanche had moved to Kelmscott by 1912 into a house called Itherunna and remained there until at least 1917, she did move back in with her sister in 1925 (reference; reference; reference; reference; reference; reference). Blanche also moved a few more times, including to Kenny Street in Guildford in 1919 and Bolton Street in Fremantle in 1931 (reference; reference).

Blanche passed away on 17 September 1934 at 81 years of age (reference; reference; reference). At the time of her death, she was living in North Fremantle (reference). Blanche's funeral occurred at the Church of England section of the Fremantle Cemetery on Wednesday, 19 September 1934 (reference; reference).