unknown Charles Street Launceston Tasmania Australia John Lay John Linnington, Harry Arthur, Florence, Frank Herbert Eugene, Charles Edward, Walter Alfred, James Ernest & Leslie

Mrs Florence Lay, nee Bird, was born in England about 1848, the daughter of John Henry Bird and Harriet Larter. The family came to Victoria in 1853 from London when Florence was five years old. In 1871 she married John Lay, who was born in Suffolk, England, to Linnington Lay and Mary Ann Leggett. At the time of the Tasmanian Exhibition in 1891-92 John Lay was a chemist in Charles Street, Launceston.

The couple had eight children, the first four born in Melbourne: John Linnington, 1872-1921; Harry Arthur, 1873-1956; Florence, 1875; Frank Herbert Eugene, 1877-1945. Charles Edward, 1879-1884 and Walter Alfred, 1881-1952 were born in Ararat. The two youngest sons were born in Launceston. James Ernest was born on 13 Oct 1883 but died on 8 Aug 1884. Leslie was born on 25 Sep 1886 and died in 1928. Their only daughter Florence and son Walter are also in the Family Album.

The family moved to Eaglehawk, near Bendigo, Victoria, a few years after the Exhibition. John died aged 65 on 14 Apr 1911 at St Kilda after a short illness. Florence died aged 86 in Sandringham, Victoria, in 1935.

Prue McCausland Feb 2010 & Marion Sargent Sep 2011