John, Edward's father was an Anglican, but his wife was Catholic, and the child was baptised into the Catholic church.
By all accounts, Edward was not a man of sober habits. Lynelle recalls that “so bad was his drinking, that no one in my family drank alcohol (other than a bit of brandy before bed) until my generation.”
He came before the court at Mudgee in January 1866 (aged 17), charged with uttering a forged order, alongside William Gore, the second husband of his mother. So far, no trial outcome has been located.
After that brush with the police and courts, and despite William Gore having many more mentions in the Police Gazettes - being involved with theft, assault and obtaining money under false pretences - there seem to be no further records of Edward being involved with the law.Gore may have been a convict, like Edward’s father, John. There are records of several William Gores arriving in the colony - at least three convicts (one in NSW, two to Van Diemens Land), and a
number of free immigrants. But nothing definitive can identify this William Gore at this time.
Edward most likely stayed with his mother and step-father and half-siblings, and his sister was sent to live with their aunt.
Marriage and children
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| Edward and Louisa's wedding. |
Together Edward and Louisa had five children:
John, born 15 April 1887, died aged six months 7th November 1887 at Tabrubuuca;
The circumstances of baby John’s death speak of the times. The cause of death was given as “dentition and thrush” from which he had been suffering for approximately 6 weeks.
This cause of death is unusual in modern times. ‘Dentition’ is the formation of teeth. Childhood teething was thought to sometimes cause death. Thrush in infants was a mouth infection.
Teething infants sometimes suffer infection of the gums as the teeth erupt, leading to pain and swelling. If the infection becomes systemic, it can lead to convulsions, diarrhoea and death via the infection, dehydration and so on. Today modern antibiotics deal with infections in developed countries.
In addition, infants were often weaned at the time of first teething, and may have encountered contaminated food or milk.
Mary Elizabeth Charlotte, born 24 February 1889, died 1926, married Tom Farrer in June 1912;
Jean Louisa, born 24 July 1891, married Cyril Taylor on 5 May 1915;
Edward ‘Ted’ James (grandfather), born 15 March 1895 at Ilford, married Thessel “Tessa” Moore (grandmother);
Lily May, born 21 Sep 1897, died 1899.
The book Over Cherry Tree Hill: 150 Years of Pioneer Settlement (ed Margaret Piddington, 1989) says:
“The first Briggs to come to Australia [John Briggs] did not reach Ilford*, but his son, Edward went to Bathurst and Wattle Flat, and drove the mail to Ilford and Cudgegong by horse team. " [* However, John was in the district - he was probably assigned to the Mudgee area on his arrival as a convict, lived at Dabee (Rylstone) and died in the Carwell district at age 35.]
"He married Louisa Harding at Ilford in 1886. They lived first at Cudgegong, and three of their five children were born there: John, Mary and Jean.
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| Cudgegong before Windemere dam drowned it Source |
"In 1890 Edward took up ‘Hillgrove’, Ilford, and he and Louisa and their children lived in a slab cottage there and farmed. Two more children, Edward James (1895) and Lily May (1897) were born at Ilford.
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| Hillgrove |
"Edward (‘Old Ted’) drove the school bus (horse-drawn) from ‘Hillgrove’ to Tabrabucca and thence to Warragunyah school. The bus used to detour around the Crudine Loops and some of the boys (Hector and Reg Harding among them) used to hop off the bus, do some rabbiting and rejoin the bus on its return. On one of these adventures, Hector Harding got so dirty the teacher did not know him on his arrival at school. On another occasion, some loose horses frightened the horses drawing the bus, and the bus turned over. apparently the children were unhurt. "
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| Landscape around Tabrabucca and Warragunyah |
As well as children John and Lily, who died as infants, Edward and Louisa were pre-deceased by Mary, who had died by suicide in 1926. Ivy Farrar, a grand-daughter of Edward and Louisa recounts her mother's death in her memoir:
"Edward and Louisa’s daughter, Mary Elizabeth Charlotte was born on February 24, 1889 at Cudgegong. She married Thomas Farrar in June 1912. Daughter Ivy was born in Rylstone that year, and son Victor in 1916. Mary died aged 36. A coronial inquest held at the Rylstone Court House on 12 November found that she died on the family property of “strychnine poisoning [carefully] administered by herself.”Ivy Farrar's evocative memoir about growing up at the beginning of the 20th century in the Capertee Valley with her parents, siblings and cousins can be read in full in a separate entry (click here). It was written in the 1980s.
Life at "Hillgrove", Ilford
Ivy Farrar paints a portrait of her grandparents, Edward and Louisa (née Harding) Briggs, and their life at Ilford:
“Our maternal grandparents lived at Ilford on a property called “Hillgrove”. It had very steep grassy hills and lovely fertile flats with two creeks flowing through. One was named Cunningham’s Creek after the explorer, the other was called Beckalls Creek. The two met and after a heavy storm it was quite a sight to see the rolling waters come together and splash high into the air.
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| Bridge over Cunningham's Creek on Hillgrove. |
“Earlier in Gran & Grandfather Briggs’s married life they lived at Cudgegong. My mother and Aunty Jean were born there. Uncle Ted was born at “Tabrabucca” which the Harding family had established after first owning property in the “Kanimbla Valley”. There were two more children born to Gran & Grandfather but both died very young. Lillian died from convulsions, and a baby boy named Jack died in Gran’s arms when a baby.
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| Tabrabucca, established by the Hardings. Louisa Harding married Edward Briggs |
“Edward Briggs was born at St Mary’s near Penrith in 1847. When he grew up he became a bullock driver. He married Louisa Harding. That is how our family roots began."On her great grandmother, Elizabeth Harding (née Strains), Ivy recalls:
"Great Grandma Harding was a fine looking woman. A large portrait of her hung in the sitting room at “Hillgrove” for years. When the boat with the migrants on board arrived in Sydney Elizabeth lost [her sister with whom she emigrated] Louisa. She was never to see her again and she always thought that she was evidently pushed into the sea when the new settlers surged ashore an was drowned*. Rather a sad beginning to Elizabeth’s new life in Australia."[*This may or may not be true. There is a contemporary newspaper report of a death upon arrival, however, it is a young boy. There is a marriage recorded in 1849 between a Louisa Strain and William Wootton of Tamworth. Some family historians claim this is Elizabeth’s sister. There are other reasons they may have become separated, and perhaps Elizabeth conflated the stories. There is more about Elizabeth's arrival in a subsequent entry]
“Tabrabucca was established in 1875 and it is still in the Harding family’s possession today. They held a reunion in 1975 at which many descendants were present.
“During our childhood we were told stories of brave pioneers, our great grandparents and grandparents being amongst those who had struggled to live in isolated places. Of the small homes being the only shelter from the blazing sun, of the women who had nursed babies through childish and more serious illness under the most primitive conditions. There were floods, droughts, snake bite, sunstroke, near starvation and every kind of accident.
“The early migrants really had a fearless adventurous spirit. The womenfolk shared their triumphs and disappointments, their conquests and their joys and sorrows. Life was hard for our ancestors in those early days. When Gran Briggs [Louisa née Harding] was only sixteen years old, she and her brother Jesse aged thirteen drove cattle from their property at Kanimbla Valley to “Tabrabucca” at Ilford. Getting the cattle through the rugged Jenolan Caves area must have been quite a major task for the two youthful drovers.
“Gran worked hard from an early age & had no education. She could neither read nor write but was efficient at managing her home and rearing her family.
“There was a butter factory at Cudgegong at the time when the Briggs family lived there. My mother and Aunty Jean could remember hearing the horse drawn vehicles thundering down the road to the factory. They were laden with milk which they would separate to cream in the separators provided. The cream was sold to the factory and the separated milk would mostly be taken home in the cans to feed pigs and poddy calves.
“Gran Briggs loved cows and when they settled at “Hillgrove” near Ilford she always
Louisa Briggs née Harding
had some good milkers. She separated the milk and churned the rich cream into butter. Each Friday afternoon she harnessed her horse to the sulky and set off to Ilford to sell her butter and eggs. Some of her butter and eggs were sold to the shop and she also had some private customers who lived in the little village. With the proceeds of the sales she bought groceries.
Left: Ilford General Store about 1876. Martha Harris's General Store and Bakery on the Mudgee Road, directly opposite the entrance to Ilford school. Photo from History of Woodlands by Lynn Ryan 1994. Source.
“Long after Gran’s death an old docket was found showing that she had received 4 pence a pound for her butter. She kept lots of fowls and turkeys, also Indian Runner ducks. The latter were often a source of worry to her if they didn’t return home to their “duck house” at night especially after she was somewhat crippled with arthritis. She was afraid a fox would kill them. Sometimes one would come home lame and Gran would say that a water rat had bitten its leg. Of course from when I could remember she received more than 4d a pound for her butter. The ducks and turkeys were fattened and sold at Christmas. She was a very generous old lady and at Easter and Christmas she loved to give a present to her friends at Ilford. Mostly it would be a cup and saucer or some piece of crockery. Gran loved nice china and the sitting room at Hillgrove was a real treasure trove of pieces. There could scarcely have been room to fot another piece in anywhere.
“Our mother and Aunty Jean worked hard on “Hillgrove” helping to clear the land and assisting with all kind of work even while they were still school children. They walked to the school in Warragunyah every day, a distance of three miles.
“The kitchen at “Hillgrove” was of slab walls and they were papered inside and it had no ceiling. The floor was plain boards and had to be scrubbed regularly by the down on the knees method. It was the largest kitchen I ever remember seeing. The rest of the home was weatherboard. It was built a little away from the kitchen. Later a new kitchen was erected. It joined the main house.
Right: Chimney remains of the "new kitchen" at Hillgrove, 198
"The dairy was a fine construction which is mud plastered over wire netting which made quite thick strong walls. Outside they were thickly covered with ivy creeper which helped keep the dairy cool.
“I can remember a funny episode which happened in Gran’s dairy late one afternoon. Grandfather was in the habit of setting a rat trap, having seen a rat disappearing down the drainpipe. Alas! Gran had been there earlier and set the trap. In the dim light he didn’t notice that it was already set with the result that his fingers got caught in it. Aunt said he was a bullock driver and he swore like one, but he was a good sport and saw the funny side as did everyone else.
Louisa Briggs 1920
“It seems that there was always one woman in each area who could perform the duties of a midwife should the need arise. Great Grandma Harding was one who could be called upon.
“When my Aunty Jean was only fourteen years old she was staying with a lady who was expecting a baby. Well the inevitable happened, and no help to be had, so the brave mother to be had to instruct Aunty as to what she had to do. The result was successful. I feel sure that Aunty must have been one of the youngest persons to deliver a baby. The only antiseptic in those times was lysol."
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| Louisa Briggs with children Mary (Ivy's mother), Jean and Ted |
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| Cudgegong Cemetery 29 May 2016 |
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| Cudgegong Cemetery 29 May 2016 |
Louisa Briggs née Harding died 12 October 1827 at Rylstone and is buried at Cudgegong. Edward died in Louee St, Rylstone in a naval residence on 22 June 1931, aged 82. The causes were cited as old age and a cerebral haemorrhage, which he had suffered seven days earlier. He is also buried in the Church of England section at Cudgegong cemetery.
Lydia (great-great aunt)
Edward’s sister, Lydia Anne, was born 25 December 1852, her birth being registered in the Wellington district. Her brother was nearly three. She lived quite a different life to that of her brother.
Their father, John Briggs, had died in the Carwell District (Rylstone) ten days before her birth.
Edwards and Lydia’s mother, Bridget, remarried to William Gore of of Cudgegong in July 1855. There is no official record of this, but one family historian says the date is recorded on one of their children’s birth certificates.
Lydia's early life
Lydia's obituary in Nepean Times on Thursday 30 November 1939 reveals that "at the age of 11 years she travelled by horseback, with the late Mr James Byrnes, uncle, from Rylstone to St. Marys." Lydia's husband's obituary in Nepean Times on 16 November 1918 said “Miss Lydia Briggs, a native of the Mudgee district…came to reside with her aunt, the late Mrs. James Byrne, at St. Marys at an early age."
This would have been around 1864, Lydia having turned 11 on Christmas Day 1863. At this time her mother, Bridget had Lydia's older brother, Edward, and three or four younger children with her second husband, William Gore. William was in frequent trouble with the law (see Bridget Dowd chapter). Perhaps Bridget sought to protect Lydia from that life? She would have lived in relatively greater comfort with the Byrnes, as the obituary for James Byrne would indicate. Her married life was lived in great material comfort.
Catherine and James Byrne
The aunt with whom Lydia went to live was her mother Bridget's sister, Catherine. When Bridget arrived on the Forth in 1841 she was under the protection of her sister and brother. Catherine Dowd was two years older. The obituary for James Byrne of Penrith in the Nepean Times, Saturday 30 June, 1906 tells us:
"The late Mr James Byrne, for many years licensee of the Commercial Hotel, St. Marys, was born on March 15th, 1820, in Dublin, County Limerick, Ireland. He came to N.S.W. in 1838, when 18 years of age. Soon after landing he went to Windsor, where he worked at various jobs for some little time, eventually working for a blacksmith, having to walk four and a half miles daily to the shop. While following this occupation he married his first wife, Catherine Dowd, in 1844. Shortly after this he went to the Turon diggings with his brother-in-law, James [sic] Dowd. They met with fair success, but the claim became flooded and they lost all their gear and returned with but little.Left: Turon Gold Diggings. Engraved views c1853, published in the Illustrated London News January22, 1853. Source
"On their return Mr Byrne joined the mounted police, and was stationed first at Windsor, then Penrith, then St. Marys, returning again to Windsor, where he shortly after resigned from the police in 1865. He then began his career, as hotelkeeper, his first venture being in the Carriers' Arms, St. Marys, then kept by the late Edward Creasy, the house being situated a few doors lower than the present Volunteer Hotel, opposite Victoria Park, lately occupied by Mrs A. Shadlow. He stayed there about five years, during which time he bought the property where the Commercial Hotel now stands from the late James Landers, and on selling out the Strangers' Home to the late James Hackett, jun, he went over to his own property (Dan Paskin being then licensee). Mr Byrne soon after re-built the house. He also erected cattle sale yards, and the principal sales were held there for many years. He remained there till his death, being licensee from 1870—so he had been hotelkeeping in St. Marys for 41 years, during which time he never once came into collision with the authorities. His first wife died on January 18th, 1882, aged 58, and was buried at Cranebrook. He married his second wife (Mary Byrne), who survives him, in October, 1884. A peculiarity about Mr Byrne was that for many years he never wore a watch, for the reason that while in the police he once had his horse fall with him, smashing his watch to atoms. When he was stationed in Penrith his first wife took service with Sir John Jamison, and they thus saved enough money to make their first start in business. There were no children by either wife."
(By "Japonica.")
"The death of Mr Byrne, of the Carriers' Arms first, and subsequently the Commercial Hotel, removes a familiar landmark in the history of St. Marys. When he left the police force in Windsor in 1865 and opened the Carriers' Arms, opposite the old Square, as all the old hands called it, St. Marys was in a flourishing condition. Saylhurst Park Tannery, which was established in 1857 by good old John Page, of happy memory, was then in full swing. No one was turned away who wanted work. Scores of men and boys were kept busy trimming the wild trees and raking and cleaning up the debris. At night the Square was generally filled with camping carriers, and the funny jingling of the bells of horses and bullocks turned out to grass could be heard throughout the night far and near. All the carriers, and most of the tanners and curriers earned £5 or £6 a week in those days, and spent all they earned at Byrne's pub. And who in St. Marys but remembers "Old Tom," the blind fiddler, who enlivened the nights with his songs and music? It was then that the gay and festive James "Smashem" Peckham used to perform in great style, and tell how many loads of wood—and change the crimson wheels (they kept one pair of wheels to serve two carts)—and how many loads of water he could draw in a day. Then he would unjoint himself and recite—
Caddal Crick, croodenem crum, Grico banco butterco cheps rum-de-dum.
"And then he would undertake to run a mile bare-footed on the metal for a pint of beer, or eat a pound of soap, or chew up a tallow candle and so on. Every carrier on the Western Road was acquainted with the genial landlady of the Carriers Arms. She kept the best table on the whole length of the Western Road, and the best liquor was kept in the bar. The curriers made it lively on Saturday nights. They were nearly all single young fellows from Bermondsey, and could all sing; they used to dance round the room bonnetting each other, singing "Slap bang, fill 'em up again, jolly dogs are we." Host Byrne was the first publican in St. Marys to introduce a bagatelle table, and being a novelty it was fairly rushed. It was marvellous the interest and enthusiasm a game would compel. Closing time always came too soon for players. It was in after years, when the teams slackened off and times grow quieter, when the respectful subject of this notice purchased the Commercial Hotel, vacated by the late James Landers. It was in this house that they established their reputation for preparing smart dinners. When the foundation stone of the public school was laid by Sir John Robertson, the spread was far away ahead of anything previous; and when the school was completed Sir Alfred Stephen opened it, and the Commercial Hotel distinguished itself again. James Byrne always went about minding his own business, and into nobody's 'tater patch poked. Both he and Mrs Byrne were always dead against sectarianism. The late Dr. Lang, clergyman, statesman and historian, occasionally came to St. Marys to preach, and he always put up at the Commercial. Mrs Byrne would divest him of his coat and boots and put a soft pair of slippers on his feet, and tuck him up in the arm chair. The Dr. told the late Mr Guild and me one night that he had travelled all over the colony but had never been treated with such kindness. It was a great misfortune when Mr Byrne lost his good wife. The whole district grieved over it, but after a reasonable lapse of time the old man took to himself a second wife, who proved herself to be in every way most suited for him. But for some years past he has been physically incapable of properly looking after a hotel of the dimensions of the Commercial. Our heartfelt sympathy is with Mrs Byrne in her sad bereavement. Exit James Byrne of happy memory!"
The Nepean Times Saturday 30 June 1906. Sourced from Trove
Lydia married Andrew Thompson on 19 March 1873. They were both aged 20.
Andrew was born 11 April 1852 at Werrington, NSW.
Thompson was a tanner, the son of Samuel Thompson, who started a tanning business in St Mary’s. Samuel died in 1863. Andrew, at age 12, went to work for Mr. John Page*, who had started a tannery in 1850. By age 30, in 1882, Andrew had expanded his tannery, to take up 77 hectares.
When sold in 2014, the real estate sales site said “He [Andrew Thompson] had started his first tannery with the help of an Irishman named John Briggs* and he was the first Australian tanner to import the South African “Mimosa” bark which he found superior to the local product - this "Mimosa" emblem was used as his trade mark on his products and his family home in Pages Road."
St Mary’s and District Historical Society says: “Andrew started his first tannery with the help of an Irishman named John Briggs…Andrew married John's daughter Lydia in 1873.”
[* Comment: Andrew Thompson could not have started the tannery with John Briggs. Briggs was dead in 1852. Could it have been John Page, not John Briggs that is referred to as working with Andrew.]
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| Andrew Thompson's first tannery, Saddington Street, St Marys. |
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| Andrew Thompson is in the middle of this group in the light suit |
Mimosa created "...considerable interest at the time, the local newspaper making frequent references to its progress. The house was at first lit by acetylene gas, chosen by Andrew Thompson in preference to electricity as being the most economic. Some of the original gas fittings still remain a feature of its beautiful restored house. This fine example of late-Victorian architecture was classified by the National Trust in October, 1980." Source.
Former owner, Dr David Chandler restored the house to its former glory. It was sold for $2 million in May 2014 to the Catholic Church, and in 2018 was the home for a some Opus Dei priests.
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| The exterior of 'Mimosa', 2014 |
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| Interiors of 'Mimosa', 2014. |
Lexina born 13 Jan 1874 Penrith died 16 Jan 1874
Herbert James L born 1875 Penrith died 1912 St Mary’s
Mary Teresa born 1877 Penrith died 1953
Isabella born 16 Aug 1879 Penrith died 1919
Andrew Ernest Tremayne born 1881 Penrith died 1964
Stella born 20 Oct 1884 Penrith died 1884 Penrith
Lindsay born 1885 Penrith died 1968
D’Arcy Daniel born 1888 Penrith died 1985
Gerald born 1890 St Marys died 1966
James Byrne born 1892 St Mary’s died 1922
Pearl born 1896 St Mary’s died 1983
Andrew Thompson's death
Thompson died on his property “Lenore” on 30th October, 1918, aged 66. He willed the family home, Mimosa to his unmarried daughter Mary Thompson.
Obituary of Andrew Thompson
Nepean Times (Penrith, NSW), Saturday 16 November 1918, page 1
"The Late Mr. A. Thompson
"By the death of the above-named gentleman (which occurred on October 30th last, at his country home, 'Tyrone,' Erskine Park), St Marys has lost one who since early manhood was rightly appreciated by every citizen, as he not only helped to build up his native town, but was acknowledged in every respect for his numerous acts of public and private generosity, his unostentatious help to those in distress, and his consistent and chivalrous loyalty to those who claimed his friendship which so justly merited the sincere admiration of his fellow citizens. There was never a movement in the old town that the late Mr. Thompson did not give his practical assistance and support whether it be in connection with sport, charity, church, or patriotic purposes. The whole district, in fact, benefited by his unselfish generosity, for he gave liberally everywhere, and no man will be missed more than the well-known and popular 'Andy' Thompson.
"The late Mr. Andrew Thompson, J.P, was born at Werrington Road, St. Marys, being the eldest son of the late Mr. Samuel Thompson (a native of the North of Ireland), who conducted a tanning business in premises situated on the eastern side of South Creek Bridge (the resident portion of which, used one time as a private school, now stands), the pits for which he dug after his usual daily labour at another local tannery.
"Mr. Samuel Thompson died when the subject of this article was only 11 years of age, and 12 months after the latter went to work for the late Mr. John Page.
"A few years later this young man returned to his late father's tannery (which had been conducted in the meantime by his mother), and worked at it for three years.
"At the age of 20 years he established a business of his own on the same property, and was married a month previous to his 21st birthday to Miss Lydia Briggs, a native of the Mudgee district (who came to reside with her aunt, the late Mrs. James Byrne, at St. Marys at an early age).
"While conducting this business he was stricken down with fever, and also suffered monetary loss through a flood passing over his premises. Having recovered from his illness he went to work at his first employer's yards (which in the meantime had been taken over by the late Mr. Saddington,) and after again saving up money bought an allotment of land in Saddington-street, where he put down pits, erected sheds, and at 36 years bought his first lot of hides, and made his second start in business.
"From that day through sheer determination and being possessed of wonderful energy, working day and night very often, Mr. Thompson made well-deserved progress. He was a keen business man, employing as many as 40 hands when in full swing and tanning as many as 700 hides per week. He also conducted a second tannery for several years, almost opposite the post office. The big tannery was burnt out in August, 1890, while Mr. Thompson was on his journey back from a trip round the world, the damage being estimated at £8,000 with an insurance cover of £5,000.
"On his return he had larger buildings erected, and everything put into working order again, and the industry was conducted until nearly three years ago, when the same gentleman shut down and retired.
"Prior to leaving for the tour round the world taking same on the advice of his medical attendant just after recovering from an accident received while participating in a hunt, Mr. Thompson was given a public farewell at St. Marys, representatives from every part of the district and other centres being present to bid bon voyage to St. Marys' best friend. This was in March 1899, and he returned in October of the same year, after having visited England, Ireland (where he met several relatives), Scotland, France, America, and other parts of the world.
"Mr. Thompson owned considerable property in St. Marys— his own home, 'Mimosa,' a fine two-storeyed building, costing nearly £3,000, and was erected about 25 years ago— while at Erskine Park he had over 2,000 acres, on which there is also a fine homestead. In connection with the latter property, he had constructed one of the best-equipped dairying plants in the State, and at the time of his death 80 cows were being milked daily.
"This gentleman spent a good deal of his latter years at Erskine Park property, which is known as Lenore, Lockwood, Rosedale, Eastmuir, and Martin's. His stock comprise mostly pedigree Jerseys, bred from the late Hon. James White's stock, and he was awarded prizes at various shows, receiving a gold medal for a Jersey cow at the Royal Show on one occasion.
"He also owned property on the banks of the Nepean River, known as the Old Factory, Regentville, Penrith. Besides being an alderman for several years (occupying the mayoral chair for a couple of terms), patron and president of football and cricket clubs, chairman of the first meeting in connection with the Old Buffers' reunion (originated by Mr. G. T. Bennett and the late Mr. W. Fleming in 1899), Mr. Thompson was a member of the Nepean District A. H. and I. Society's Committee of Management (holding the position of President for several years) and the Luddenham A. and H. Society, and gave liberally to the prize funds.
"On one occasion he was judge of the leather section at the Royal Show, and was a member of Tattersall's Club. At his instigation a number of St. Marys folk formed a committee and held several successful shows on his property, east of the town, known as Mimosa Park. Last year he arranged a potato show in connection with his employees at St. Marys and Erskine Park, when some very fine samples were exhibited. This year he intended to have it on a larger scale, and admit public entries as well, and only recently, had appointed the Judges for same.
"As abovementioned, Mr. Thompson was a big-hearted man, and generous in every respect, for his name headed all subscription lists that were placed before him, no matter what they were for, and by his death St. Marys has certainly lost its best friend. He undoubtedly helped more than any other one person to make St. Marys what it is today, and quite recently presented the local Masonic Lodge (of which he was a member) with a fine allotment of land, next to the Presbyterian Church, for the erection of a temple.
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| Billiard room, Mimosa, 2014 |
"For many years Mr. Thompson kept Tuesday evenings free from engagements for entertaining his many friends and visitors at billiard evenings at his local residence.
"He had always enjoyed good health, with the one exception, when he had the fever, until some six weeks prior to his death, and at that time had a paralytic stroke. He, however, did not give in, and went to Sydney for several days, but shortly after his return he got worse, and passed away as above stated.
"Mr. Thompson's mother was married twice, the members of the first family living being Messrs. William and Leslie, and Mesdames G. Hope, sen., and W. Barlow; and those of the second family Mr. R. Mitchell and Mrs. W. Anderson.
"His own children are: Messrs. Andrew, Lindsay, James, Gerald, Darcy, Mrs. H. H. Mathews. Mrs. H. Dale, and Miss Mary Thompson. Messrs. James and Darcy are on active service. Some six years ago Mr. Thompson received a severe blow by the death of his eldest son, Mr. Herb Thompson, which came unexpectedly.
"The funeral took place on the 1st instant, the cortege moving from 'Mimosa' House, St. Marys, in the afternoon for the Presbyterian portion of the General Cemetery, and was a very large and representative one. It was headed by the Mayor, K. Campbell, and the aldermen of St. Marys Council, then followed President D. Fitch and the Committee of the Nepean District A. H. and I. Society, with Wor. Bro. C. A. Williams, W.M., and members of the Queen's Masonic Lodge immediately in front of the hearse, and hundreds of other friends and relatives making up a large attendance. Bros. Sutton, Lambert, John Fyvie, W. C. Kent, and F. G. Harvey were the pall-bearers. At the graveside the Revs. G. Milne and A. Smith (of Maitland, and one time of St. Marys), conducted the service, while Wor. Bro. C. A. Williams read the Masonic service. Mrs. John Price and Son were the funeral directors."Lydia's death
Lydia outlived her husband by 21 years and died aged 86 on 16 November 1939. In 1934 she had been living in Saddington St, St Mary's according to the electoral roll for that year, while daughter Mary was living at "Mimosa", which she had inherited from her father. Lydia died at the Earlwood home of her youngest daughter Pearl, who had married Henry Dale in 1918.
Nepean Times (Penrith, NSW : 1882 - 1962), Thursday 30 November 1939, page 1
Death of Mrs. L Thompson
"Mrs Lydia Thompson, relict of the late Andrew Thompson, of St. Marys, died at the residence of her daughter, Mrs H. Dale, 263 William Street, Earlwood, on 16th inst., at the age of 86 years. She would have been 87 on Christmas Day.
"Deceased was born in the Rylstone district, her maiden name being Briggs. Her father died when she was a child, and at the age of 11 years she travelled by horseback, with the late Mr James Byrnes, uncle, from Rylstone to St. Marys. He had the licence of the old Commercial Hotel on the Western Road near the bridge that now bears his name. She was married in Sydney to the late Andrew Thompson, who died in October, 1918. Mrs Thompson continued to reside in St. Marys until about twelve months ago, since when she has been living with her daughter, Mrs Dale, at Earlwood.
"Deceased was widely known in the Nepean district, and her very fine characteristics and excellent qualities earned her the esteem of numerous friends. In her quiet unostentatious manner she did much good, always being ready to help those in trouble.
"Deceased is survived by five sons and two daughters, viz.: Mary (St. Marys), Pearl (Mrs Dale, Earlwood), Andrew (Byron Bay), Darcy (Swan Bay, Woodburn), Lindsay, Gerald, and James (St. Marys). Another daughter, Isabel (Mrs Mathews), and a son, Herbert, predeceased her, Mrs B. Connell, of Castlereagh, is a niece.
"The funeral took place on 17th inst., when the remains were cremated at Rookwood. The service was conducted by Rev. Jackson, Presbyterian." (soured from Trove)
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