Goldsworthy, Jessie (Mrs Davison)
Family background
Jessie Goldsworthy was born in London c1853, fourth of five daughters to master baker James Goldsworthy, and Elizabeth nee Kebbell. The family appears to have been well-respected, with her father admitted to the 'Freedom of the City of London' in 1856. They were also financially secure, employing at least one servant throughout Jessie's childhood and ensuring all daughters were educated. Sadly, when Jessie was eight her mother died and although schooling and the bakery business continued, this was surely a distressing event. After completing her education Jessie was employed as a governess and at age 19 left England, arriving in Sydney in January 1873 as a government sponsored immigrant, apparently without relations in Australia.
Early employment in New South Wales
She was initially employed as a 'morning governess' in Newtown, but after some months left to find a 'resident governess' situation, soon securing a position at Yass, in a boarding and day school for 'young ladies'. A significant part of Jessie's responsibility was teaching music, her musical talent evident at performances linked to St Clements, Church of England, Yass, where she also taught Sunday School ['Yass Courier', 29 December 1874, p. 2]. In 1875 she commenced a small private school teaching music and elocution ['Yass Courier', 14 December 1875, p. 2]. The following year she applied to the Council of Education to become a teacher, submitting references highlighting her musical prowess and moral character, and soon commenced training at the Yass Church of England School. The events of her ensuing career can be followed in detail as she engaged in frank and voluble correspondence with superiors.
Chain of Ponds Provisional School
In February 1876 Jessie was appointed to Chain of Ponds, west of Gunning, but soon after arriving applied for removal, considering the location too much of a change from Yass where she had 'a house and servants' and access to society. A couple of months later, after seeing the positive results of her teaching endeavours she withdrew her transfer request, realising that if these improvements were sustained, she would be able to sit a classification examination and be eligible for appointment to a larger school. She also found an outlet for her musical talents at nearby Gunning, where she was acknowledged for 'brilliancy of execution' on the piano, and for her singing ['Yass Courier', 29 June 1877, p. 2]. After two years at Chain of Ponds School Jessie asked for removal, stating the hardships she had endured there 'have been such, that I cannot return again without feelings of repugnance'.
Yass Church of England School
In January 1878 Jessie returned to the Yass CE School where she had trained, and shortly after gained a IIIA classification by examination. She soon demanded to know why her salary (£7/month) had not increased and was told that she was already being paid 'nearly double that usually granted to persons in the like circumstances'. Her complaints, moreover, caused the Council 'to repent its kindness and consideration toward her' and suggest her immediate removal to a small school. Jessie, however, appealed to remain at Yass, expressing regret for the tone of her earlier correspondence. Shortly after this she requested leave to visit England for 'urgent business', but was told she would have to resign and reapply when she returned. After two more months at Yass she advised she no longer needed to go to England, and requested removal to the Camden district.
Bulli Public School
In January 1879 Jessie was appointed Assistant teacher at Bulli where enrolments were increasing due to expanding mining activities. Unfortunately, she soon came into conflict with the Principal teacher and sent a letter of complaint about him to her superiors. She also noted her intention to resign in three months, strangely omitting to say that she was now Mrs Davison, having recently married John Davison, son of a coal mine manager. Things escalated after she sent a telegram to the Council of Education stating she had been assaulted by the Principal during a dispute over possession of a blackboard. The Principal, in reply, stated Jessie's complaints were 'wilful misrepresentations' and alleged she used 'threatening and insulting language' toward him. These conflicting versions were assessed by the Local School Board who concluded Jessie was at fault. She then declared her husband would not permit her to return to the school and asked to have her resignation backdated, simultaneously requesting the Council 'think well' of her despite her 'impulsiveness'.
An inquiry into Jessie's complaints was commenced, but after sitting idle for months, it was decided not to pursue the matter. She meanwhile seems to have settled in the Wollongong area with her husband, but only a year after resigning requested to resume teaching. She was told she could be readmitted but her previous ranking would not be recognised, so she sat (and passed) another examination.
Bundywalla Public School
In October 1880, two months after the birth of her first child, Jessie was appointed to Bundywalla north west of Berry. She was partially renumerated for travelling expenses, which included the cost of a bullock dray to get 'up this rugged mountain'. After a year at Bundywalla Jessie asked to be assessed for a higher-grade certificate, avowing that she was trying to curb her impulsiveness, but her appeal was unproductive. Six months later, clearly frustrated with the promotion system, she stated she no longer intended to strive for a higher qualification as she knew she was unlikely to be promoted despite her abilities being 'far beyond what is required to instruct ... barefooted Irish lads and lasses'. Not unsurprisingly, she incurred the displeasure of the educational hierarchy, so hastened to pen an apology. Her next request was for two weeks 'accouchement leave' which was granted, with her husband to act as substitute teacher. Sadly, this baby died at barely a month old and Jessie asked for removal from Bundywalla 'as all around speaks too plainly of the loss I have sustained'.
Albion Park Public School
In mid-1883, Jessie was given charge of Albion Park where repairs to school and residence were recognised as necessary but took three years to be completed. Despite her dilapidated surrounds, Jessie seems to have settled to the new appointment, holding annual school concerts to community approbation ['Illawarra Mercury', 21 December 1883, p. 2; 17 June 1884, p. 2; 28 Apr 1885, p. 2; 10 August 1886, p. 2]. In 1885 her husband was again employed as substitute teacher while Jessie had accouchement leave. The following year, having revived her aspiration for a higher qualification, she succeeded at examination and was provisionally granted a IIB classification which enabled her to apply for appointment to a metropolitan school.
Darlington Public School
In March 1887 Jessie was appointed 1st Assistant at Darlington, a large inner-city school, her role including management of Pupil Teachers as well as students, and her salary increasing to £144 p.a. Unfortunately, she had difficulty working under authority of the Principal teacher and Infants' Mistress so was soon transferred.
Petersham Public School
Her next appointment was a similar role at Petersham, where after two months the Infants' Mistress requested a more proficient teacher be appointed in place of Jessie who, she stated 'exhibits no tact in management' and is 'devoid of disciplinary power'. Jessie denied these criticisms and brought counter charges against the Mistress. The school inspector, who knew Jessie from Albion Park, suggested the heart of the discord was likely Jessie's temperament, describing her as 'singular in manner and bearing, energetic but very impulsive and liable ... to want of prudence and tact'. He submitted that 'although earnest and painstaking ... she is what might be termed a "difficult" person', better suited to sole charge of a small school.
Oakendale Public School
Jessie's next appointment, commencing 1888, was to Oakendale in the Hunter Valley, her request for travel expenses being refused since her transfer was due to 'unseemly conduct'. She had more success with an appeal for an oven for the single bedroom residence. After a year she requested another bedroom be added and while the local inspector supported her, his superiors stated: 'The Department does not undertake to provide residences for female teachers. If Mrs Davison wants an additional room she should provide it herself'. Shortly after this Jessie was again granted childbirth leave and her husband acted as substitute teacher. Over the ensuing year Jessie reiterated her request for an extra room, her persistence eventually paying off, with her husband's tender for the work accepted. The following year a further expansion of the residence was approved, again completed by her husband, in time for the birth of another child. Soon after this Jessie applied for a larger school, her salary at Oakendale being curtailed by a decrease in the population which was 'very poor and living on rented farms'. Meanwhile she organised concerts and her musical skills again gained admiration ['Evening News' (Sydney), 2 March 1891, p. 7; 'Australian Town and Country Journal', 16 July 1892, p. 35; 'Maitland Daily Mercury', 28 June 1894, p. 4].
In 1892, Jessie now 40, took a week's leave to have her teeth removed and false teeth fitted –remarkably almost her first instance of leave other than for childbirth! Later that year a parent complained she was teaching singing and acting to pupils and allowing them to 'do what they like during school'. Jessie, in her characteristic manner, sent a heated defence of her actions to the inspector who, while supporting her efforts to prepare the children for a concert, found the tone of her letter 'objectionable'. Overall, however, she seemed to have been well-regarded by the Oakendale community, where she remained six years.
Mount Pleasant Public School
In August 1894 Jessie accepted appointment to Mount Pleasant, a coal-mining community in the Hunter Valley. She soon gained approval for repairs to the school and residence, and continued in robust health until needing a few days leave after a stick was accidently poked into her eye, the doctor noting she was also suffering from 'severe nervous disturbance' due to fright from a mad dog on school premises! Soon after this she demanded information about the school's classification, unleashing a tirade about the unfairness of the system and stating she intended to retire soon. A few months later, the school's classification was lowered, provoking another outburst from Jessie which led to a reprimand for 'intemperate and insubordinate language' and a warning that further misconduct could lead to her removal from the service. A month later she resigned, effective 31 December 1896, having completed 20 years' service.
Later life
Jessie and her family moved to Wetherill Park in Western Sydney after her resignation, where her husband secured employment as Postmaster. In 1917, now living in Homebush, they received news that a son serving with the AIF had been killed in action in Belgium. Jessie, now describing herself as an 'incurable invalid' in contrast to her former vigorous condition, lived only another two years, dying in Callan Park Mental Hospital in August 1919, aged 67. She was buried in Rookwood Cemetery with a headstone incorporating a memorial to her son.
[Biography prepared by Joanne Toohey, 2025. Sources include NSW school teachers' rolls 1868-1908, NSW school and related records 1876-1979, National Archives of Australia, historic newspapers, NSW births, deaths and marriages index, and 'Early Education and Schools in the Canberra Region', (1999) by Lyall Gillespie.]
Schools
- Chain of Ponds
02/1877 - 01/1878