WittsDescentants

There is a believe throughout the Witts clan that there is a genetic link between the DE Witt and Witts, however there doesn't appear to be any documented evidence to support this

Not much is known-- It is known that the DeWitt's originated from France, and from there branched out to Holland possibly in the 1600's-- The most in-famous being John and Cornelius DeWitt acting reagents of Holland, who both perished when they were set upon and disembowelled by an angry mob, according to the romanticised version in the "The Black Tulip" by Alexandre Dumas
All that is known is that the DeWitt's or a branch of them emigrated to England and this is were the name most likely was abbreviated to Witts.
                                                                      WITTS

Alfred Dyts and Rebecca (nee Myles) arrived Sydney with other members of the family18th May 1838 from England, and after stocking up with provisions, horses and dray, headed off to the " Queenbeyan" Where he was employed as Policeman. One of his sons- Alfred Edward (Ed) Witts and his wife Sarah (nee Tivey ) Took up the property known as Rosemount near Bombala NSW around 1875.
Maurice Myles Witts Was born on the 28/ 2/1877 The second youngest of 11 brothers and 2 sisters. He went to school locally, and finished his education at The Sydney Grammar School as a boarder.
After this he held the position of overseer of the Indian Labourers with the Colonial Sugar Refining Company in Fegi for 14 months, and was held in high regard until he resigned.
Later he served with the 2nd. N.P. Mounted Rifles in the war in South Africa against the Boers. He was discharged with the rank of Quarter Master Sergeant in about June 1902.
   It was after this that he headed off to the New Hebrides to join his cousin Theo Thomas on a coconut plantation- and not long after started up in his own right, naming the plantation "Lelek". It was during this period That he married Mabel, and there first child Helen was born at the local mission station at Santo
23 /10/1907.
   He left the New Hebrides at the end of 1911 to return to Australia and reunite with Mabel- Who had returned some time before due to Malaria, and was living with her parents- Lesley and Kate Herring. who had a orchard at Beecroft NSW.
                   The original Maurice Witts diaries for year 1905 and 1911 are held under
                     P.M.B Manuscripts No.8
                     Pacific Manuscripts Bureau
                    The Research School Of Pacific Studies
                    The Australian National University
                    Canberra ACT.

On the 20/11/1911 Maurice and Mabel bought a Dairy at Wyong NSW, and named it "Lelek" (the same as the plantation). They lived on there for about 7 years, and it was during this time that Betty Lesley was born on the 13/7/1912.
Nancy Mabel born on the 25/12/1915 and passed away at the Westmead Hospital NSW on the 16/7/2004 shortly after suffering Cerebral Haemorrhage . She was laid to rest at the Pinegrove Cemetery at Minchinbury NSW
The Farm not being a great success, and on the Death of both Mabel's parents within a short time of each other, and with Mabel's share of the inheritance- ( which was considerable )- enabled them to sell the farm and Purchase Willow Grange a rambling house with numerous sheds and out buildings, surrounded by a picturesque Eight acres of pine trees, pasture and orchard, one mile along the Berrima road out from Moss Vale NSW.
After Maurice's wife Mabel died- 25/11/1942 he lived on- and in later years was cared for by his daughter Betty, until at the age of 89 he died on the 1/9/1966, and was laid to rest with his wife in the Berrima Cemetery NSW.
JONES

Helen Witts lived with her sisters in a secluded and protected environment of her parents- Maurice and Mabel Witts, at the family home Willow Grange, were They were raised in the faith of the Church of England, with the bulk of their education being done by private tuition. She lived in this environment until she was 23 years old about the year 1930. After which time she held a position at the Church Of England Hostel For School Girls in Wagga Wagga NSW. for about two years.
She Married Thomas Roland Jones at the old church of St Albans on the 2/6/1935 and they went to live at Wollongong NSW. She had Three children- Ruth Pauline- born 22/6/1936, Paul Lesley born- 28/9/37, and Anne Louise born- 15/2/1939.
About the year1940, Helen left Tom after a less than satisfactory marriage, and nothing is known of Thomas Roland Jones After that time. She with her three children moved back to live with her parents at Willow Grange.
Over the next few years and despite of her sister Betty becoming a deaconess in the church, her believes changed from being a devout church woman to a more radical nature, (although still holding to the believe of a higher being during her lifetime)-- until about 1944 she became a member of the then banned Australian Communist Party of Australia.
She kept this from her father who was a staunch supporter of the Liberal Party of its time, and its leader Bob Menzies.
It came to a head around 1946 When the facts came out in a heated argument between Helen and her father, which cumulated in her father pulling her nose, and she in retaliation emptying the contents of a jug of milk over his head. Following this she moved out with her children, and took up residence in the town of Moss Vale, where she became more active in Politics, founding the Moss Vale branch of the Communist Party.
By 1947 she reached an uneasy truce with her father who financed a small cottage for her and her family at Northmead NSW.where she lived and pursued her political activities until financial circumstances forced her to sell and buy, an old cottage at South Granville, with two tenanted flats attached to supplement her income.
It was here that she met and eventually married- Frank Wilson, who was to be her lifetime partner, and together they carried out an active political life, Her strong beliefs in the common working man remained with her for the rest of her life.
Helen and Frank eventually moved and lived for many years first at Quakers Hill NSW and then at Hazelbrook NSW, before retiring to live at Wellington- Where in late August 1989 at 79 years old she fell victim to a fatal stroke and was buried in the Wellington Cemetery.