The Field Family Newsletter, Edition 16

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The FIELD Family Newsletter

16th Edition, November 2003, Edited by Dorothy Cefarin
Reprinted here with permission

CONGRATULATIONS

ARE IN ORDER TO BEN WYNN THE NEW GRADUATE IN ACHIEVING HIS BATCHELOR OF COMPUTER SCIENCE DEGREE

NEWCASTLE HERALD 4/10/2003
GRADUATION
BEN WYNN

Congratulations from the whole family. We are very proud of our Computer Scientist. We hope you have a successful career where ever you may go. Lots of love Mum, Dad, Jenny and Sweetie (the world's best puppy), the Wynn and Johnson families.

Maybe someone out there reading this would like to have Ben in their employment.. what a asset he would be to any company. His address:
Mr. Ben Wynn
PO Box 115
Stockton NSW 2295
e-mail: wynne@mpx.com.au

COLLITS' INN

"Best tucker by a country mile". Now owned by French chef and restaurateur Laurent Deslanders and Cyrillia van der Merwe. Collits' Inn won best regional restaurant in NSW. Built in 1823 and owned by Pierce Collits it is the oldest inn between The Blue Mountains and Bathurst. A stream of visitors, including ancestors of the original owners, ex-convict Pierce Collits and his wife Mary often visit the inn. People dine in a series of beautifully restored rooms with an open fireplace, cosy low ceilings and antique furniture.. There are no tablecloths on the tables either for authenticity.

Congratulations Collits' Inn.

Information Please

Does anyone know how Sophia Field daughter of Edward and Margaret Field (nee McMahon) who married Michael Fahey, came to be residing at Forbes?

Audrey Staines would love to hear from anyone who may know as it could possibly help with her Family Search. Phone: 02 6352 1002 or by email: audreystaines@ozemail.com.au

RUBY EVALINE OLDFIELD

Order of descendants:
Edward and Elizabeth Field
George and Frances Field
Mary Anne and Richard Oldfield
George and Ellen Oldfield
Ruby and Ernest Wood.

Ruby Evaline Oldfield 3rd child of George and Ellen Oldfield.
Born: 27/3/1893 at Nyngan and died at Toronto, NSW.
Married in 1909 at Gulgong to Ernest Leslie Wood.

They had two children, Harley Weston and Rita E.
Harley Weston Wood was born in 1911 at Gulgong.
Died: 26/6/1984 at Kenthurst
Married in 1936 to Una Muriel Johnston at Granville.
Data: Sun Newspaper page 29. August, 1974.

Dr. Wood was born at Gulgong in 1911. He first went to Mudgee High School with another lad Fred Hall (now a Condobolin Solicitor) made telescopes using a zinc tube and bought lenses.. To earn money for the telescopes Harley Wood went around Mudgee selling apples and pears. Any profits bought him books, about astronomy, of course. When only 13 or 14 he had read all astronomical books in the Mudgee School of Arts, and all that the High School had to offer.

The subject fascinated him then and has never lost its attraction. He remembers his first telescopic view of Jupiter and the moon. Even today he is not sick of looking at them. He went to the University of Sydney on a bursary, gained his BSc in 1933, his MSc in 1934 and DSc in 1965. He published 3 books and about 25 papers on astronomy, was President of the Royal Society of NSW in 1949-50, and was awarded that Society's Medal for "Distinguished contributions in the field of Astronomy" in 1963-64.

He was the first President of the Astronomical Society of Australia in 1966 and has been Chairman of the Australian National Committee for astronomy since.

He has worked at the Sydney Observatory since 1936 and has been Government Astronomer since 1943, when he was the youngest man ever appointed to this office. He joined the staff of the Sydney Observatory in 1936 at the age of 27.

The State Government Astronomer, Dr. Harley Wood, has retired on 7/8/1974. He plans to spend his retirement with a mixture of gardening and astronomy.

SMH. 28/6/1984 DEATHS

WOOD, Harley Weston 26th June, 1984 (suddenly) of Kenthurst, dearly loved husband of Una, loved father and father-in-law of Chris and Kerry, Rosamond and Richard Madden, loving grandfather of Amanda, Fiona, Samantha, Clare, David dear brother and brother-in-law of Rita and Gus (deceased) Nell, and Jack, Lesley and Noel, Phyll and Des and Madge.

Funeral held in chapel at Northern Suburbs crematorium 28/6/1984.

Joseph Jones

Fourth child of Lydia (Field) and John Jones.
Born: 25/7/1844 at Castlereagh.
Died: 30/9/1928 and buried in the Methodist portion of Canowindra cemetery.
Married: 1. Mary Ann Field daughter of Thomas Field and Rachael (Howard)
of Forbes on 8/9/1866.
Born: 9/10/1844 , bapt, 3/11/1884 at Mt. York.
Died: 28/11/1906. Buried; Cowra Cemetery.

Married: 2. Rachel Kelly in 1910 at Blaney
Died: 1927.

Biographical data:

Joseph Jones was born at Castlereagh and along with his brothers William and John, and sister Elizabeth, accompanied their step-father James Brown and their mother Lydia Brown, when they journeyed over the Blue Mountains in the early 1860's to make their home on the Belubula River. The boys, however, did not like leaving the Castlereagh and wanted to return to Penrith, where their eldest sister Maria was living having married William Banham.

When they decided to return to Penrith, James Brown told them they had better take their sister Elizabeth with them, which they did. Later on, they returned to Nyrang Creek, their sister Elizabeth having walked across the Blue Mountains three times, no mean feat for a child in those days.

The following obituary notice was published in the Canowindra Star on the death of Joseph Jones in 1928.

DEATH OF MR. JOSEPH JONES

AN OLD IDENTITY GONE

Yet another link has been wrenched from the small remaining chain of those who went before and cleared the way, the pioneers of New South Wales. It would be fallacious for us of the present generation to try and describe the titanic struggle encountered by our people of the early days - only those who experienced it can describe it; but while we can only assume to some extent the trials and difficulties which were confronted in commencing to build up New South Wales to its present prosperous state, we have the satisfaction of knowing this prosperity has been brought about by the foresight and undaunted courage of our early settlers. They paved the way and others who followed gradually improved methods until today our country has grown from infancy to manhood.

Mr. Joseph Jones who was one of the early pioneers of this district and whose death occurred at Canowindra on Sunday last at the age of 84 years, has seen a wonderful improvement in methods that were evident in his young days; really, he remarked a little time ago, it was a resolution of methods. When one heard Mr. Jones' story of the hardships of the early days and the striking incidents connected therewith, it makes us wonder and leads us to believe that we are in Heaven today compared with those roaring times gone by. Hours could be spent alone with Mr. Jones in detailing his early career and he was always interesting to listen to. Born at Castlereagh (near Penrith), on the Nepean River, the deceased when quite a boy was present at the turning of the first sod of the railway from Sydney to parramatta at Redfern. He often recalled the ceremony and told how desolate Redfern was at that time and that wiseheads in those days predicted that the railway could never go over the mountains.

With his father, Mr. Jones at the age of 13 years assisted in the carrying of good by teams from Sydney over the Blue Mountains to Forbes. Later he went to live in the latter town and was at one time stockkeeper at Bogabigal. Although he did not have any brushes with the bushrangers of this time, he knew Ben Hall well. He married Miss Mary Ann Field at Forbes in 1866 and shortly after the disastrous 1870 flood moved away to Nyrang Creek, coming there by means of a bullock dray. His intention was to follow farming pursuits and, as he related, he had an unenviable task in front of him. However, he with his wife's domestic assistance, knuckled down with the aid of early farming implements, which are now prominent relics of those arduous times, Mr. Jones set out to till the soil. He used the old wooden plough at the commencement of operations and sowed the cultivated area with wheat. There was no reaper-threshers in those days, the reaping done with reaping hooks and the threshing with a flail. When seed wheat was required the grain was spread on tables and oats etc. picked out by hand. Mr. Jones had the distinction of growing some of the first wheat produced in this district. He also acquired some sheep and the wool clip he took to Raglan by means of the bullock team. When the railway wended its way to Forbes produce, etc. , was taken to that centre and then when it reached as far as Cowra on this side Mr. Jones directed his team to the closer town and it was customary for him to take two trips a week when carting. At Nyrang Creek Mr. Jones made a success in the pursuit which was his calling and here also he reared a family of three sons and five daughters, all typically of himself - thorough Australians and a credit to their parents.

Mr. Jones was in the forefront in the inauguration of the Canowindra Show Society and was also one who was instrumental in having the Cowra to Canowindra railway construction sanctioned, which was shortly afterwards put into operation. For many years later Mr. Jones took an active interest in the Show Society and was a keen and successful exhibitor with cattle - he specialised in Jersey bred - horses and poultry, defeating many good entries for prizes.

Mr. Jones' good wife died in 1906 and later he married Mrs. Kelly, removing to "Devon" Tilga Street, in Canowindra, in 1910. His second wife pre-deceased him by about twelve months. Up to a year ago the deceased gentleman was active, considering his age, and retained a wonderful memory and could converse adequately and intelligently on almost any subject which was the topic of conversation. He could be defined as "a man of the world' for he had been through the mill, struck out for himself and had prevailed and he must have often looked back over the years with the feeling that he had done justice to the country as an early settler and this community as a citizen. Mr. Jones was then stricken with illness and although on that occasion, twelve months ago, grave fears were entertained for his recovery, the fighting spirit was still eminent and he was able to see the bright sunshine. He went on and was able to give his version of different matters as before and he liked company and a game of cards. He was a past master at 'crib' and was hard to beat.

But then came the climax. Stricken down this time a weaker man than on the previous occasion, Mr. Jones did everything possible to fight against the clutch of the Grim Reaper. It was a gallant fight, reminiscent of his struggle through the days of old, but it was of no avail. For some weeks he received skilful medical attention and untiring assistance from members of his family, who did their utmost to soothe the sufferer. It was realised that the end was near and during the closing days and even the closing hours of his existence he was still rational, although his utterances were practically inaudible towards the end. Gone is a Christian in the true sense of the word after a life spent in a moral and virtuous way.

Left to mourn their great loss is the following family of sons and daughters:-
Mr. Arthur Jones (Cowra), Mr. Ernest Jones (Moorbel) , Mr. Thomas Jones (New Zealand), Mesdames W. Boyd (Canowindra), C. Bell (Katoomba), R. Wotton (Murrarandi) , C. Wren (Sydney), and W. Kelly (Parkes); also there remains one sister Mrs. Pierce Collits (Sydney); two step-sisters, Mesdames T. Williamson and J. Williamson (Nyrang Creek); one step-brother Mr. Thomas Brown ( Eugowra) ; besides a host of grandchildren, great grandchildren and other relatives.

The funeral on Monday afternoon was largely attended, a service being conducted at Mr. Jones' late residence before the cortege proceeded to Canowindra Cemetery. The remain were interred in the Methodist portion alongside those of Mr. Jones' two brothers, John and William, the Rev. T. K. F. Taylor conducting the last sad rites and Mr. R. Ayrton having charge of mortuary arrangements. It was a lengthy funeral cortege and many beautiful wreath were in evidence. We join in the sympathy to the bereaved.

Thank you to Pan Wilcox and Tom Wynn for their stories and to Audrey Staines for using this newsletter to find out information on her family.

This is also your opportunity to get information on your particular line in the family.

SO.. get out your note book, your pen and put on your thinking cap and send in any stories or questions you may have, we love to know more on how they lived and we can all share the lives of our ancestors that have gone before.

Do you remember how your parents were raised or maybe your grandparents?

David Rawsthorne's CD on our Family Tree

David has 1202 individual pictures of headstones in 833 photographs taken from these 40 cemeteries across NSW. and one in Port Moresby.

There are 28226 individual names and 9330 families representing 4106 surnames on file and he has put ALL of the photos and names on a CD for you to see for yourself. This is a wider version than what Colin Field has, Colin has stated the direct descendants of Edward Field whereas David has stated his line which includes the Collits etc. and many more. No need to go on the internet, just slip in the disc.

Here is your chance to get a copy... Don't miss out, for only $20 which includes postage and handling, you can have it all.. Just send the $20 to:
David Rawsthorne
PO Box 139
Lithgow NSW 2790
For more information phone: 02 6353 1843
Email: daviddth@iinet.net.au

Please not the CD is no longer available!

Please send stories and/or questions to:
Dorothy Cefarin
24 Eggleton Street,
Blacktown 2148 NSW.
E-mail: doff202@comcen.com.au

Please encourage other to join our Field Family Newsletter for only $5.00 per year. Subscriptions are now due for the year 2004, so please fill in the form below and forward your $5.00 or cheque made out to: Dorothy Cefarin. If you receive a smiley stamp you have paid.

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I wish you and those you love a very blessed, peaceful and safe Christmas as you journey towards the birthday of our Blessed Saviour.. Dorothy

"JESUS IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON"