The first member of the JOMARTZ family to arrive in Australia was a Shipwright called JOHN ERNEST JOMARTZ. On his Naturalisation Papers he claimed that he arrived onboard the "LOCH GARRY" in 1880, however his name doesn't appear anywhere on the Loch Garry's shipping list. His name does appear in a reference book which can be found in the Victorian State Library, titled:-
"VICTORIA AND IT'S METROPOLIS PAST & PRESENT" Vol. II
The following is an extract from above mention book:-In 1885 John E. Jomertz entered into a partnership with a Mr. Bryson, the firm was called "BRYSON & JOMERTZ Contractors & Builders" and they had an office in Ross Street, Port Melbourne. They were known to have constructed homes and other general buildings in most suburbs of Melbourne but mostly in the Port Melbourne & Hawthorn areas.
( Note that JOMARTZ is spelt JOMERTZ, this is the only time I have come across this form of our family's surname.)John Ernest JOMARTZ was born in Riga, Latvia, Russia on 9th. May 1855, he was the son of John JOMARTZ, (a carpenter) and his wife Elizabeth COLNING. Nothing of his early life is known but it is known that he could read & write in both English & Russian so it is likely that he had some schooling. Research into the origin of the names "JOMARTZ & COLNING" have been of very limited success however it appears that "Jomartz or Jomertz" is Germanic in origin as "ertz" at the end of a name refers to "Doctor" & "Jo" may be an abreviated form of "Johann' . As yet the name in the form that we know it appears only in Australia, all descendants of John Ernest JOMARTZ & Frances Emily COOK. The name "COLNING" appears to be a native Lativian name which also can be found in a number of forms such as Kolning or Kolnin, and it is said to means "small hill".
We know the birthdate of John Ernest JOMARTZ as it is listed in the Birthday Book which was kept by his wife's neice a Miss Louisa Angelina FRANZI. John married on the 12th of September 1889 at the Port Melbourne Wesleyan Church, his bride was a Miss Frances Emily COOK, a local tailoress, who was the youngest daughter of Mr Firmin Harcourt COOK and his wife Susan COOK nee GEEVES(JEEVES). Frances Emily COOK was born in Sandhurst (Bendigo) Victoria in 7th. Sept. 1856, where her father was trying his luck on the Gold fields.
John & Fanny were known to have lived at Esplanade East, Port Melbourne (it was while living here that their son Ernest Harcourt JOMARTZ was born on the 7th. Jan. 1891. By 1892 they were living at Ross Street, Port Melbourne. This house was a 3 room, brick house which John rented from a Mr. George Thomas POTTER,(this we know from the Port Melbourne Rate Books). Their second child, Elsie Maud JOMARTZ, was born on the 24th. Sept. 1892 & in 1894 their youngest child William Charles JOMARTZ was born. All three children were born in Port Melbourne. John's wife died in December 1908, at this time it is believed that all three of his children were still living at home. In 1914 the two boys joined the Army and went off to War & both returned home. Ernest the older son was a victim of Mustard Gas which left him weakened for the rest of his life.
In the last months of his life John lived with his only daughter, Mrs. Elsie Maud LIDSTON & her husband Albert Victor LIDSTON at their home at 36 Hawson Ave., Glen Huntly, Victoria, Australia. John Ernest JOMARTZ died at the home & was later buried at Booroondara (Kew) Cemetery in the same grave as his wife, the headstone no longer stands over them. From his 3 children he had 10 grandchildren, 19 great grand children & many great-great grandchildren, in 1995 his youngest male descendant (who carries on the name) was Harrison Elsdon JOMARTZ born 4th. Jan. 1990.
1 st. Generation
John JOMARTZ & Elizabeth COLNING
Of Riga, Latvia, Russia.2. John Ernest JOMARTZ
Born:- 9th. May 1855, Riga, Latvia, Russia.
Died:- 8th. Sept. 1922, Glen Huntly, Victoria, Australia.
Married:- 12th. Sept. 1889, Port Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Spouse:- Frances Emily COOK (daughter of Firmin Harcourt COOK & Susan GEEVES/JEEVES)
Born: 7th. Sept. 1856, Sandhurst (now Bendigo), Victoria, Australia.
Died: 1908, Port Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.3. Ernest Harcourt JOMARTZ
Born: 7th. Jan. 1891, Port Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Died: 30th. July 1943, Caulfield, Victoria, Australia.
Married: 7th. June 1917, London, England.
Spouse: Hilda May WOOTON
(daughter of Sydney Henry WOOTON & Frances Norris RALPH)4. Frances Elsie May JOMARTZ
sp: Alfred Charles KING
5. Kathleen Patricia May KING
sp: Robert NOBLE
sp: Walter Howard JOYCE
sp: Leslie JAMIESON
5. Daniel KING sp: Susan HITCHIN
5. Barry John Harcourt KING 1940-1945
5. Frances Maree KING sp: Triffen DOKOS
5. Anthony Charles KING sp: Denise LEES4. Ernest John JOMARTZ 1919-1919
4. John JOMARTZ 1920-1920
4. Alfred Harcourt JOMARTZ sp: Eileen Joyce HAYES
5. Raelene Joy JOMARTZ sp: Peter David RYAN
5. Leanne Maree JOMARTZ sp: Keith ANDERSON
5. Paulene May JOMARTZ sp: James MacKAY4. Horace Ralph JOMARTZ sp: Beryl Alice BAINBRIDGE
5. Terence Arthur JOMARTZ sp: Rosalyn BADDELEY
5. Linda May JOMARTZ sp: Terence KNOWLES4. Edward Firman JOMARTZ sp: Elizabeth Charlotte WATERHOUSE
5. Dian Elizabeth JOMARTZ sp: Kenneth Norman TREWARTHA
5. Michael Edward JOMARTZ 1950-19504. Loraine Margaret JOMARTZ sp: Stanley John ASHMORE
5. Jennifer May ASHMORE sp: Byran ORENSHAW
sp: Jeff Arthur QUINN
5. Wendy Jean ASHMORE sp: Shane BARRY4. Robert Eldson JOMARTZ sp: Patricia May HABERLE
5. Stephen Wayne JOMARTZ sp: Kelly McGRATH
sp: Sophia MARSHELL
5. Michael Stuart JOMARTZ
5. Allison Maree JOMARTZ3. Elsie Maud JOMARTZ
Born: 24th. Sept. 1892, Port Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Died: ?? May 1980, Caulfield, Victoria, Australia.
Spouse 1st: Albert Victor LIDSTON 1895-1987
Married 1st. 1918, Victoria, Australia.
4. Sadie Viola LIDSTON/HAWKINS sp: Denis BUTLER
5. John Ranald BUTLER
5. Marina BUTLER sp: Ian BEDIER
Married 2nd. Edward Ranald HAWKINS
Married 2nd. 1929, Victoria, Australia.3. William Charles JOMARTZ
Born: 1894, Port Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Died: 25th. Jan. 1973, Preston, Victoria, Australia.
Married: 1st. 24th. Nov. 1919, Port Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Spouse: 1st. Jessi Guildford WALLIS (daughter of Alfred WALLIS & Marie NEILSON)
4. William Joseph JOMARTZ sp: Thelma Mabel CALINAN
5. Loraine JOMARTZ sp: Graham POLLERD
Married: 2nd. 1962, Benalla, Victoria, Australia.
Spouse: 2nd. Emily Jane Laura HOUGH
(daughter of Joseph HOUGH & Sarah Sophia PERRY. Widow of Arthur Cecil Edward ADAMS. Mother of Cecil Charles ADAMS, Gwendoline Emily ADAMS, Ina Ruby ADAMS & Arthur William ADAMS)