EFFORD, CHARLES WITH MARGARET AND ROBERT THOMPSON
c. 1890Sepia print. Studio portrait of Charles Efford, his sister Margaret (Maggie) and her second husband, Robert (Bob) Thompson Jnr. Charles, on the left, is wearing a dark, three piece suit with cut away jacket, high buttoned waistcoat and shirt with high, stiff collar. Bob, a stocky man, is wearing a less tailored suit with softer shirt and tie. Both men have full moustaches. Seated between them, Maggie is wearing a dark skirt and boned bodice with leg-o-mutton sleeves, heavily trimmed with lace and fine pleating. Her full face is framed by curled hair. Printed in ink on the rear [CHARLES NORMAN EFFORD/ with BROTHER in LAW + BOB THOMPSON/ + wife MARGARET (MAGGIE)/ nee EFFORD = SISTER]
Charles John Efford was born in the Roundhouse, Fremantle, Western Australia. And was baptised at the Fremantle Church of England on 10 Nov. 1894. A devout man. Efford was a postmaster at Norseman, Widgiemooltha, Ravensthorpe, Katanning, Hopetoun, Tambellup, Coolgardie. He was also a dedicated violinist.
Efford married Ruth Jane Porter with whom he had three children: William Charles Samuel 'Sam' (1903), Mabel Bernice (1908) and Ruth Ivy Margaret Frances (1901). Retired to their home at 30 Shenton Road, Claremont. Margaret Patience Efford was born in the UK, the third child of Samuel I and Eliza Efford, she was known as "Maggie". Arrived with parents & siblings in Fremantle 1863 on "Lord Dalhousie". Was 6th registered school teacher in WA. First holder of the office of postmistress/master of Claremont in 1883. Post Office operated from a store in Gugeri Street between present Post Office and Butler's siding.
Margaret married John McMullen (1840-'69) in 1867, to whom she had one child, Elizabeth Ann (Beth) McMullen, and was widowed at age nineteen. She later married Robert James Thompson, Jnr (1861-1932) in 1886 to whom she had another daughter, Edna Margaret Thompson.
