The Field Family Newsletter, 2nd Edition

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The FIELD Family Newsletter

2nd Edition, April 2000, Edited by Dorothy Cefarin
Reprinted here with permission

Welcome to the second edition of our paper we hope you found the first one informative and interesting. Remember it is only as good as the information you give me, or things you want to know. The more you give, the more I print, the more often you receive. I would like to print it 4 times a year not the current 3. ED.

Received an answer on who printed the report about the cemeteries and where people are buried. They belong to David Rawsthorne. Quote: "Each of these graves of these people are in my photo collection, so the sheet you had is just one of many that were there as an index to my photographs. I have included a copy of the complete list of Field Descendants that are in the list."

David had photos in albums of these graves on display at our last Family Reunion. Requests have been made to print the remainder of these lists so see over for the complete list. David loves to hear from people and help them with their ancestry etc. So contact him and have a chat.

David Rawsthorne
PO Box 139, Lithgow 2790
Phone 0423 384 595
email: david@davidrawsthorne.com

A request from Brian Smith, 14 Blaxland Way, Westdale, 2340. You may be able to help.

"When we were in Ireland late 1995 we stayed in a B&B in Rathkeale but didn't allow enough time to have a good look around so I wrote to the people we stayed with and asked if they could do some checking about on Thomas Steven Higgins. To help them a bit I sent some copy from the History of Forbes book (by Bob Higgins) and a letter telling what I know of Thomas. They sent details of my enquires to a local Parish magazine to publish in the hope that someone may have the information required. They said it would be helpful if we knew which graveyard they were buried in, so if anyone reading this "Field Family Newsletter" have such information I would be pleased to forward it on. I am sending a copy of this first edition of FFN to my correspondents as a question I asked is answered in that article, ie. Was Thomas married before he left Ireland? Also in that article it says Thomas "was convicted (offence unknown to me)" John Dick has some authentic evidence of his crime."
(ED: Come on Dick, you have been dobbed in, what do you know?)

ED: The story about my great grandmother Lydia Broom (nee Field) stating she was among the first white people on the Lachlan River near Forbes brought some questioning from some people. The point is, she may have been the first white woman at that particular place as the Lachlan River is quite long. She was not the first woman in the Forbes area as she was not born until 1841 as this area was inhabited much earlier. These are lovely stories that have been told and handed down. It is important though for us to give another version if have one, it is a story of their life as they saw it. I love stories and it gives us visions of what it may have been like in their time. If you have a story to tell please do not hesitate to forward it to me so we can all share their experiences.

Personal Notices are most welcome in this paper. It allows those keeping records to update them.

Births:

Eve Harris Fayle was born 1999 to Michael and Pauline Fayle of Coffs Harbour. Granddaughter for Pamela and David Fayle and descended from John Rope and Maria Field.

Deaths:

Mrs. Aileen Baker of Singleton died 28th December, 1999, aged 89 years. Aileen was descended from Elizabeth Rope, daughter of John Rope and Maria Field.

Geoffrey George Rope of Castle Hill died 26th September, 1999, aged 79 years. Geoffrey was the husband of Annie and was descended from John Rope and Maria Field.

Please encourage others to join our Field Family Newsletter. Write to them, phone them, tell them, we need them NOW. Only $5 per year. PLEASE HELP.

All correspondence to:
Dorothy Cefarin
24 Eggleton St. BLACKTOWN NSW 2148.
E-mail doff202@eisa.net.au

Part 1 of THE LOWER NEPEAN

Nearly 100 Years Ago (by the Rev. F.R.Swynny)

Settlement on the lower Nepean, from the vicinity of Richmond down the river to Penrith, commenced before the days of Governor King. All the lands in the colony became open to settlement in 1831 so that by the forties settlement in this locality must have been well established. In the centre of the area of fertile river flats near the Penrith end was established in the early days of Governor Macquarie the township of Castlereagh, one of the group of towns contemporary with each other, namely, Windsor, Richmond, Wilberforce and Liverpool.

To James Rutledge, who arrived from Ireland about the year 1840 to be the schoolmaster at Castlereagh, we are indebted for some interesting observations regarding this district. In a paper written by him in 1860, treasured in the archives of the Methodist Historical Society, James Rutledge tells of his first impressions of the lower Nepean district in the year 1840, and his observations will be of interest to readers interested in matters historical. Especially does the subject commend itself to the Methodist people who are taking a keen interest in the history of their church in NSW as is evidenced by a membership of 150 at the end of the first year of the existence of the Methodist Historical society. The reason for their particular interest in this district is that in it the first Methodist chapel in the southern hemisphere was erected in Castlereagh.

James Rutledge came to Australia with his 2 brothers, one of whom settled in Victoria and another, Forster Rutledge, became a grazier at Bungendore. James Rutledge had 4 sons and 4 daughters. The sons were Sir Arthur Rutledge, who achieved political fame in Queensland; the Rev.W.Wools Rutledge, who was largely responsible for the success of Methodist union in NSW in 1902; Dr. David Rutledge, who at the age of 18 graduated B.A. then took his M.A. and went on successfully to graduate in medicine, ultimately entering the Anglican ministry in this state; and James Rutledge, who went to Vancouver, where he was interested in oil mines. The four daughters became Mesdames P.C.Louat, Joseph Parker (wife of Dr. Parker), William Newton and John Connell. The last named remarried and became the wife of the Rev.A.E.J. Ross, Anglican minister at Granville. Having thus introduced the author of our information, let us draw upon his paper and his impressions of the lower Nepean nearly 100 years ago.

Part 2, Landscape Pictured, will be continued next issue.

FIELD DAY 2001

At the Field gathering which was held at Emu Plains last year, those who were present expressed a desire to see another gathering being held in about October next year. Graham Wilcox said that he felt we could make the day entertaining and interesting along the lines of a gathering he arranged at Castlereagh in 1997 for the descendants of Lucy Ann Field and James Rutledge. He also said that there needs to be something to encourage our children and grandchildren to attend.

At this meeting eleven people indicated that they would be able to serve on a committee to arrange the function. Unfortunately the number of those people who feel that the can now do this is down to two. At the moment it appears that the reunion will not take place. Graham says he needs 6 people to form a committee to do the job. The Field family is one of Australia's oldest and there are many thousands of us. There must be some of us with a little time and enthusiasm to do this.

If you are willing to find out what we need please contact:
Graham Wilcox
Apartment 16 "Nantucket"
45 Phillips Street
Cabarita NSW 2137
Phone: (02) 8765 1112
Mobile: 0402 033 930
Fax:(02) 8765 1113

Thomas Higgins Continued:

Thomas Higgins, New South Wales, to witt:

The last will and testament of Thomas Higgins, formerly of Sydney but now of the Lachlan River in the said colony. I, Thomas Higgins, as aforesaid being sound in mind but weak in health and constitution and well knowing that all mortals must die do make this, my last will and testament in manner and form following, that is, First, I bequeath my body to the earth, and my soul to its Divine Maker in the humble hope the Almighty Creator of all things will have mercy on it and forgive me all of the sins and manifold transgressions through the merits of my Divine Redeemer.

I bequeath to my sister, Mary McMahon, now in Sydney for her family's benefit a fifty acres farm situated at Curry Jong with all my rights interest and title thereto as will appear by the deed thereof. Also to my sister three cows in calf, my black horse "Captain" and cart and harness.

I bequeath to my son Michael Higgins, now in Sydney, ten cows in calf with a filly foal for his family's benefit and by no means to sell or dispose of the aforesaid stock and the increase thereof as follows: i.e. the males to be sold when saleable and the females to be retained by him for the purpose on future increase.

My house in George Street, Sydney, known as formerly by the sign of the "Dog and Duck" I give to my wife Sophia Higgins, in trust for my son, Thomas (to be retained by her towards the support of herself and her children, Thomas, John, Mary Ann, Elizabeth and Catherine Higgins, until my said son Thomas shall attain the age of twenty-one years, then my will is that my aforesaid son Thomas shall take possession of my aforesaid described house and premises to whom I bequeath all my title, right and interest therein with a restriction never to sell, exchange or dispose of during his life time but shall fall after his decrease to his heir and if he should die without leaving male issue lawfully begotten in wedlock then the said house and premises to become the property of my son John, his heirs etc., the said premises always to be the property of a Higgins of mine and my son's offspring.

I bequeath to my son John Higgins my one hundred acre farm situate at the Curry Jong aforesaid subject to the said restriction of non-disposal but to descend to his heirs in the male line and of the name Higgins.

I bequeath to my servant Favel one cow in calf.

I will that the present male part of my stock of horses and cattle be sold (with the future male increase but no females from time to time to enable my wife to support herself and my five children aforesaid to whose parental care I bequeath them, and according as my children attain their majority, that is my sons to attain twenty-one years of age and my daughters eighteen years, the female part of my stock to be retained for the purpose of increase and at the above periods to be divided equally among my wife Sophia Higgins and my aforesaid named children, that is Thomas, John, Mary Ann, Elizabeth and Catherine Higgins with the residue of all other property, firstly paying all just and lawful debts due by me.

I appoint to this my last will my wife Sophia Higgins, executrix, Edward Markham and John Neville of Melbourne Creek and Timothy Maher of George Street, Sydney, executors.

Given under my name and seal, this twenty-fifth day of July, 1839.
Thomas Higgins
Witness V. Freeling
William Archer

And how do I come into this? I am descended from Thomas Higgins, but not from Sophia. In 1840 a daughter was born to Michael Higgins and his wife (nee Ann Ryan) who lived then in George Street, Sydney. She was named Catherine Philomena. On 8th September, 1837, there occurred the baptism of Michael Morony, of Milltown Malbay, County Clare, Ireland. At about the age of 21, Michael Morony came to Sydney.

On 10th December, 1865, at the Catholic Church in Araluen "Catherine Philomena Higgins, spinster, of Araluen, servant was married to Michael Morony, Batchelor of Araluen, golddigger". Their first born son, named Thomas St. Vincent Morony. The family stayed at Araluen until the early 1870's, then after a short sojourn in Parramatta, they went to the Gulgong goldfields, living in Gulgong and later at Home Rule, where Michael had a store and post office. Thomas, the eldest (six children survived infancy) attended school there, 'shepherded' gold claims for prospectors who had more than one claim, and delivered supplies to station properties in surrounding districts. Later he went to Cooma where he worked in a general store. In the mid 1890's he came to Sydney and later married Catherine Mary Anglim. The Aglims had lived at Eurunderee, near Mudgee, and Catherine had attended the local school, famous as Henry Lawson's old school. She became a pupil-teacher, then studied at the Hurlstone College and taught at Erskineville, Crown Street and other inner city schools.

Thomas St.Vincent and Catherine Mary had 3 sons: Gerald Thomas (a doctor, deceased), John Arthur and Thomas Anglim; I am the last named.

Thomas Higgins was my great-great-grandfather, and I came from the line that inherited 10 pregnant cows and a filly foal!

Joseph Stanton Fifth child of Joseph and Elizabeth Stanton (Nee Field)
Born: 1851 at Castlereagh
Died:15/5/1923 at Penrith and buried Methodist Portion of Penrith Cemetery, ages 72 years.
Married: 1. Susannah Margaret Ironside, daughter of John & Priscilla Ironside on 24/4/1880
2. Mary Jame Matthews in 1891

Biographical data

S.M.H. 16/5/1923 - Deaths

STANTON, 15/5/1923 at his residence "Ormonde" High Street, Penrith, Joseph beloved husband of Mary Stanton in his 72 years.

Nepean Times - Penrith

2/6/1923

Memorial Service - To Mr. Joseph Stanton

Penrith Methodist Church was taxed to its utmost last Sunday evening (27/5/1923 at 7:15pm) to accomodate the large numbers who gathered for the memorial service to the late Mr. Joseph Stanton. Seats were placed in the aisles, while many stood in the Choir stalls, there being about 300 present. The hymns sung were from the favourites of the late Mr. Stanton. The Choir sang "Abide with Me", and Mr. P L Pulton gave a beautiful rendering of "Comfort ye My People". Rev. S. C. Roberts was the preacher, and took for his text: behold the Upright Man, for the endof that man is peace giving a brief account of Mr. Stanton's live from his birth at Castlereagh and his schooling in the little Wesleyan day school and Sunday school, and his first associations of the times there, the religious and educational point of view, and the decision for righteousness helped by a kindly father. The preacher spoke of Mr. Stanton's association with Henry Gorman who was a schoolboy with him in the old building that had been erected by John Lees, and said that he had a letter from Mr. Gorman to say he was bringing five generations to see the old spot, but he did not live to do so, passing on only a week later that his old school mate - Joseph Stanton.

Mr. Roberts spoke of the splendid heritage any son or daughter had when they could go trustingly to their father in the crisis of their life for confidental advice and prayer. He exhorted his hearers to try to find for themselves the secret of Joseph Stanton's life, which kept him from many ups and downs the man of faith he was. The family had lost a good father, husband, and friend; the town had lost a good citizen; the church had lost a faithful worker; and the Kingdom had lost a witness here, for he had gone to join the witnesses over there. As a church member, a class leader, a Trustee of several Churches, Circular Steward, and Society Steward, as well as one of the best local preachers, Mr. Stanton would be sadly missed from the church, which mourned a great loss, but was gratefully proud of the more than half a century of faithful service.

After the service practically the whole of the congregation remained for the prayer on behalf of those who were going to the Healing Mission of the following morning.

Nepean Times - Penrith

15/5/1923

Death of Mr. Henry Gorman

Mr. Henry Gorman the well known Sydney Businessman who died on Wednesday aged 73 years was a native of Castlereagh. His mother was a daughter of John Lees who at Castlereagh built the first Methodist Church of Australia. Mr. Gorman was greatly interested in the centenary ceremony observed at Castlereagh on 15-10-1921 and greatly regretted that illness prevented his attendance at the service in commemoration of the work of his grandfather. But a letter was received by Rev. S.C. Roberts from Mr. Gorman on that occasion in which he expressed his pleasure that the centenary was being observed in that way, and gave practical evidence of the fact by forwarding a cheque for 10.

Nepean Times

Saturday 11th May 1929

Death of Mrs. Stanton

Mrs. Mary June Stanton relict of the late Joseph Stanton died on Saturday afternoon at her residence, Ormonde, High Street, Penrith at the age of 70 year. Deceased had been ailing for some time. She was the daughter of the late Mr. Hugh Matthews of Mudgee and was the second wife of the late Mr. Joseph Stanton who died in May, 1923. Mrs Stanton was a most estimable lady, with many qualities that endeared her to friends and relatives. Surviving daughters are: Miss H. Stanton (Penrith), Mr. Ken Stanton (Penrith) Mrs. A. Honey (Ashfield), Mrs. J. Riley (Penrith), Mrs. R. Bransdon (Hobart) and Mr. Geoff Stanton (Penrith). There are also two step-daughters Mrs. A. French (Balgowlah) and Mrs. P. Walker (Emu Plains) and several brothers and sisters of deceased.

The funeral took place on Sunday at Penrith Methodist Church the service was conducted by Rev. David C. Hughes, assisted by Rev. J. B. Penman formerly of Penrith. Mill Lillian Hand presided at the organ. Hymns 378 and 803 were sung, Psalm 90 was read by Rev. J. B. Penman.

Speaking of the deceased, Rev. Hughes referred to her long illness, patiently borne, as her faith in God enabled her to triumph over her bodily weakness. She had been a good mother, her children could bless God for her life of devotion. To her late husband she had been a wife of great consolation, encouraging him in all his devoted sacrificial and eminent service as a local preacher. They did not sorrow without hope. They rejoiced when she had gained the end of her pilgrimage, the heavenly home of glory and reunion, with Christ and the loved ones who had gone before. The whole church and community expressed it's thankfullness for the influence of such a mother, and deepest sympathy with the bereaved family.

After the Benediction, the cortege proceeded to Kingswood cemetery, where at the graveside in the Methodist portion the Rev. J. B. Penman delivered the comforting words of divine consolation to the assembled people.