The Field Family Newsletter, Edition 30

Home    Search    Print   

The FIELD Family Newsletter

30th Edition, May 2007, Edited by Dorothy Cefarin
Reprinted here with permission

In the Forbes “Lachlan Valley Gold” newsletter put out by the Forbes Family History Group there was an article about some of our ancestors. Here are some extracts from it.

Early Midwives of Forbes and Other Private Hospitals

One of the first midwives in this area would have been Mary Ann Strickland, nee Higgins, as she married Josiah Strickland at the age of 16 years in 1840 and resided at Bundaburra Station. As the nearest doctor at this time was 90 miles away, Mary Ann became an unofficial doctor and midwife for the Bundaburra area.

Mrs. Mary Muir, fondly called “granny” came from Scotland. From here and her husband’s home, “Muirdale” in Bathurst Street, many aboriginal women delivered their babes with Mary’s help. Mary herself gave birth to her 3rd child in Forbes in 1862. A park, named in her honour, is in Barwon Street..

One of Forbes’ best known midwives was affectionately known as ‘Gran’ Morris. her real name was Ada Charlotte Morris, nee Field. During the 1890’s and into the 1930’s, a sulky drawn by a horse called Bess with Gran Morris on board was a common sight, night or day, around Forbes. Her house in Queen Street often accommodated women who were close to delivering their baby.

(The name Ganey in the next sentence is wrong it should be Jane, she married William Peasley their daughter Jessie married Orton Field)

Ganey Peasley, nee Gander, is known to have practiced midwifery until 1922 at Bedgerabong, after having arrived in this area with her husband in 1878. Jane and William settled at Pine Farm with their seven children and she is reputed to have delivered about 150 babies.

Issue No. 6 had information on Eveline Australia Field the eldest child of Pierce and Sarah Field. Eveline married Edward Owen. Below is the 3rd child of Pierce and Sarah Field
Michael Herbert Scott Field
Born: 4/6/1864 at Mt. York.
Married: Mary Jane Watkins, daughter of James Watkins and Mary Jane Watkins (nee Morgan) in 1890.
Died: 28/1/1926 at Forbes and buried Forbes Cemetery.
Mary Jane Watkins was born at Gunningbland, Lachlan. Her father James Watkins, squatter was born in 1842 at Hartley, married 9/4/1866 Bald Hills, Kurrajong, Mary Jane Morgan, born Indigo, Victoria in 1849.
Born: 8/1/1867. Died: 15/6/1924.

Biographical data

Michael Field took up a C.P. NO.372 on the 6/11/1873 of 50 acres at the Lands Office, Forbes, situated in the County of Ashburnham, Parish of Carrawabity and on the 2/2/1885 sold this property to James Rawsthorne of Carrawobity for £90 stg. At he time of the death of his father Pierce Field in 1916 Michael Field is shown as residing at Bourke.

Forbes Advocate 17th June, 1924

The death took place very suddenly on Sunday night of Mrs. Mary Jane Field. Deceased was the wife of Mr. Michael Scott Field, Manager of the Daroobalgie Freezing Works for Messrs. Angliss & Co. Death was so sudden that the family were taken without warning. Up till the time when she collapsed the late Mrs. Field looked in excellent health. Deceased was 57 years of age and death was due to heart failure. She leaves a husband, 3 sons and 4 daughters. The funeral was to the Church of England portion of the Forbes Cemetery.

Probate Office No. 135984. Series (4)

This is the last Will and Testament of me Michael Scott Field of Forbes in the State of N.S.W.., Caretaker.

I revoke all former Wills made by me and declare this to be my last Will and Testament. I appoint my daughter Daisy Florence Field sole executrix of this my Will I give devise and bequeath all the real and personal property of which I shall be possessed to my daughters Daisy Florence Field, Mary Pearl Field and Sylvia Field in equal shares. In Witness I have to this my Will set my hand this 23rd day of January, one thousand nine hundred and twenty-six. Signed. M. S. Field.

Signed by the Testator as and for his Last Will and Testament in the presence of us both and present at the same time and at his request and in his sight and presence and in the presence of each other have subscribed our names hereof as witnesses: W. D. Roberts, Law Clerk, Forbes, K. Murphy.

9/3/1926. On this date probate of the last Will of the deceased was granted to daisy Florence Field of Forbes, spinster, the executrix named in the last Will.
Testator died on 28/1/1926. Estate sworn £ 172.15.9 net.

Josiah Field 5th child of Pierce and Sarah Field.

Born: 3/11/1868 at Bedgerebong.
Died: 9/12/1951, buried C. of E. portion Forbes Cemetery.
Married: Mary Ann Sinclair in 1896
Born: 1872. Died: 29/6/1951 buried
Catholic Portion Forbes Cemetery.

Biographical data

At the time of the death of his father in 1916 Josiah (“Toss”) Field was shown as living on the Orange Road, Forbes.

Probate Office No. 386725

Field, Josiah late of Bathurst formally of Forbes, retired.

This was the last Will and Testament of me Josiah Field of Forbes in the State of N.S.W. Dairyman. I hereby revoke all former Wills and testamentary dispositions made by me I appoint my niece Daisy Florence Maher wife of Alexander Stewart Maher of 220 Rankin Street , Bathurst in the said State, Labourer sole executor and Trustee of this my Will I give devise and bequeath the whole of my Estate, both real and personal whatever and wherever situate of or of which I may be seized possessed and entitled or over which I may have any power of testamentary disposition at the time of my death after payment thereto of all my just debts funeral and testamentary expenses and Estate and Death Duties to my trustees upon trust to sell call in and convert into money such parts of my estate as shall not consist of money and to get in the other parts thereof and to stand possessed of the proceeds of such sale calling in and conversion and of the getting in upon trust as to one half thereof for the said Daisy Florence Maher and as to one quarter for Iveena Sinclair of 6 James Street, Redfern and as to the remaining quarter thereof for Margaret Barton and Imelda Barton daughters of Richard Barton of Forbes and Eileen Field of Daroobalgie in equal shares as tenants in common.

In Witness whereof I have to this my last Will and Testament hereunder set my hand this 3rd day of July, 1951
Signed: Josiah Field
Witnesses: J. Hoswell, 100 Farnell St. Forbes.
J. A. Mellion, Solicitor, Forbes

3/3/1952. Probate of the Will of the above named deceased was granted to Daisy Florence Maher the executrix named in the said Will. Testator died 9/12/ 1951. Estate sworn at £1,031.12.0 net.

Probate Office No. 380704

Field, Mary Ann late of Forbes, married woman.

This is the last Will and Testament of me Mary Ann Field wife of Josiah Field of Forbes in the State of N.S. W. dairyman. I revoke all former Wills made by me and declare this to be my last Will. I appoint my husband the said Josiah Field sole executor of this my Will. I give devise and bequeath all the real and personal estate of what kind soever and wheresoever situate of which I shall be possessed unto my husband absolutely.

In witness thereof I have to this my Will set my hand this 14th day of December, 1934
Signed: Mary Ann Field.

Signed by the said Mary Ann Field as and for her last Will and Testament in the presence of us present at the same time who at her request in her sight and presence and in the presence of each other have here unto subscribed our names as witnesses.

C.T.H. Broderick, Solicitor, Forbes
J.A. Hunter, Solicitor, Forbes.

25/9/1951. Probate of the Will of the above named deceased was granted to Josiah Field the sole executor named in the Will. Testatrix died 29/6/1951. Estate sworn at £937.0.8 net.

Obituary

Mr. Josiah Field

A life long resident of the Forbes District Mr. Josiah (“Toss”) Field passed away on Sunday at Bathurst, where he had been residing for a short period following the death of his wife at Forbes on June 29th last .

Deceased was 82 years and was a breeder and trainer of trotting horses, which he handled with success at many surrounding shows and trotting meetings. He leaves no family.

The body id being brought to Forbes for interment today, and will move from St. Johns Church of England after a short service by Canon White at 2-30pm. Mr. Godfrey Smith, Bathurst, has charge of the mortuary arrangements.

Betty Pont subscribes to the Inspiration magazine and read the following item. She decided to make two bonnets, one with the name Jane Ison and the other with Elizabeth Mitchell’s names embroidered on them. Betty has made and sent them to be included in this Female factory Historical Site in Tasmania.

Quote:- Christina Henri..

This remarkable woman who lives in Hobart, Tasmania, is coordinating a project called “Roses From The Heart” that recognises the lives of convict women. When she met Margie in Tasmania recently, Christina mentioned that she looking for people to make 25,000 bonnets! The bonnets will represent the women who were deported from the United Kingdom, to “parts unknown”, in the nineteenth century. Margie assured her she could help.

A post-graduate student studying fine arts, Christina works with the Female Factory Historical Site in Tasmania. Four separate installations of the bonnets, in Hobart, Sydney, London and Dublin, are planned for International Women’s Day on 8th March, 2007. The bonnets will be displayed in Perspex boxes representing the ships carrying the women.

To Those I Love and Those Who Love Me

When I am gone.. release me let me go
I have so many things to see and do
You mustn’t tie yourself to me with tears
Be thankful for our beautiful years.

I gave to you my love. You can only guess
How much to me you gave in happiness.
I thank you for the love you each have shown.
But now it’s time I traveled on alone.

So grieve a while for me if grieve you must,
Then let your grief be overcome with trust.
It’s only for a time that we must part
So cherish the memories locked within your heart.

I won’t be far away, for life goes on,
So if you need me call, for I will come,
Though you can’t see or touch, I will be near,
And if you listen with your heart, you’ll hear
All my love around you, soft and clear.

And then when you must come this way alone,
I’ll be waiting here to greet you with a smile
And say “Welcome home, my child“.

Alan said “Being a member of a loving family has immeasurable rewards and yet that love can be the basis of great grief and suffering when a family member passes on.
My sister was given this verse after the death of our mother and it had helped our family through the difficult times. I offer it to you in the hope that it may help other members of our extended family who have lost a loved one.”

Elizabeth AliceWilliam’s obituary appeared in the last edition.When I first saw the item below I was skeptical on the interest it would be to our readers. After reading it I was very impressed on how our country and towns came into existence, especially since I was brought up in that part of NSW at Condobolin..

Forbes Times -Tuesday, 11th September, 1917.

Early Lachlan Settlement - Winning essay at Forbes Show.

.... The Lachlan squatters generally had blocks with six mile frontage to the river and extended back about the same distance. For these runs they paid the Government a small rental, calculated on the carrying capacity of the land. The future town of Forbes was occupied by Rankin’s run, hence Rankin Street. The hill on which Forbes stands was known as Black Ridge and the lagoons surrounding it teemed with wild fowl, swans being particularly numerous.

Among the early settlers in addition to Mr. Rankin was Mr. Morris who took up Bundaburra, Jemalong, Towyal and Cadow. Another pioneer was Mr. Twaddell, whose son is now a resident of Camp Hill. Mr.Twaddell Snr. came to the district in 1837, and occupied a position of trust on Rankins run. The son now getting up in years remembers much of the interest in those by-gone days and from him and Mr. Morris much of this information has been obtained.

The settlers went in largely for cattle, which did well on the rich pastures. Some fine horses were also raised. Lachlan cattle and horses were usually sent to Melbourne but many found their way to Sydney to be sold.

The runs were unfenced and consequently many hands were employed to look after the stock. Dairying, including cheese-making, was carried on into the 30’s, butter and cheese being sent to Bathurst on bullock teams. At Wandary once known as Cumbidgewa was a dairy, named Wandary, is supposed to have been the black’s effort to say “one dairy”. Among the successful cheese makers was Mr. Rawsthorne, once owner of Bogabigal.

Flour and other necessaries of life were brought from Bathurst or Sydney. Mr. Morris states that when station supplies were running short, three or four bullocks were yoked up and sent over the mountains to Sydney. The patient bullock was a good friend of the pioneer. For years Bathurst was the nearest postal town, and the mail was brought down the river monthly by pack horse. later on it came from Cowra by the same means.

Flour was very dear, and frequently wheat was bought and ground in little steel hand mills. Each hut-keeper was expected to grind enough for himself and a couple of stockmen.

From 1837-1844 the Lachlan River settlers experienced a terrible drought. Their stock had been removed to the hilly country about Carcoar and Mr. Twaddell says that the only water between Forbes and Murrumbidgee during this terrible period was in a hole near Warroo.

Then the rain came and the whole country was like an island sea. He says that the flood in 1844 was greater than that of 1870, and Mr. Twaddell bears him out in this statement. The latter gentleman was shown a mark by his father to record the height of the river’s rise in 1844 and he states the 1870 flood was three feet lower. In the former year while the river was up, Mr. Twaddell Snr. set out with a companion from Bogabigal to bring back cattle from Carcoar. They were taken across the stream in a canoe by two blacks, and having obtained their horses, set out by Grawlin Plain. water appeared everywhere . They reached a swamp through which it was necessary to swim. This, the horses refused to do, and the riders, whose clothes were strapped to the saddles, took to the water themselves. Then the horses plunged after their mates, and Mr. Twaddell’s companion was eventually struck by his horse and rendered unconscious, for he disappeared and was seen no more. Mr.Twaddell struggled to a tree, where he remained for the night. Working free from the tree he got upon land, and reached Tomabil Station, where he was put to bed and restored.

These instances show us the difficulties of pioneering.

We now come to the most stirring period in the history of the Lachlan namely, the discovery of the gold where Forbes now stands. This precious metal was found in June, 1861, by Josiah Strickland, near the present site of Forgaty’s Hotel. News soon spread to the other mining centres, and the usual Rush took place.

Many of the miners seem to have been disappointed with the field and rushed away. It is said that some threatened to kill those who were thought to be responsible for the spreading of a false report. One of the new miners, however, stayed and was eventually successful. This was German Harry. Mr.Twaddell remembers the German well and relates an incident which must be very interesting for the Forbes people.

The sturdy miner, who had bought a claim near where Lynch’s Hotel now stands, was very fond of young Twaddell. The other Sunday he saved for his friend some fine plum pudding for the German was an excellent cook. One Sunday he called the boy about eleven o’clock and said “I vont you. I vos show you something and you vos tell no one”. Then going to his bunk he took back a pair of trousers and unrolling them showed his youthful companion which seemed to be rusty looking stuff. The boy was disgusted and disappointed, he expected pudding, but was shown what he thought to be old shoe nails, or something of no consequence. He now knows he was gazing upon four or five pounds weight of gold.

Then came the real rush, and it was estimated that 35,000 people soon swarmed over the field, it was very rich, one of the richest. An old hand remembers 31 loads of dirt yielding 52 lbs of gold. This came from Long Don’s claim, whose lot yielded up to 29lbs for 31 loads.

In 1862 the mining of gold sent to the mint was 253,044 ounces, the busy days of the Lachlan Field - Henry Lawson’s Roaring Days - were drawing to a close for by June 1863 the population had been reduced to 3,500 souls and the amount of gold won during that half year was 50,819 ounces. Most of the claims had been worked out and the miners had fled to try their fortunes elsewhere.

Prices were very high during these pour times. Mr. Reynolds sold hay at 35/- a cwt and Mr. Twaddell remembers that for a fortnight the price was £75 a ton. At one period people found it cheaper to feed their horses on bread than to buy chaff. Even grass hay was sold for as much as £25 a ton.

While the mining was at it’s height the town was being improved. Many made their homes and started industries. For instance Mr. Reymond established a saw mill which is going to this day. During the gold period bushrangers were at large on the Lachlan. In 1862 Gardiner’s Gang robbed the Escort near Eugowra getting gold worth about £20,000. The bushranger Ben Hall was well known in Forbes. He was shot not far from the town and is buried in the local cemetery.

By 1865when the mining industry at Forbes had greatly declined people began to have all agriculture and sheep farming as a means of making a living. Then followed a period when Forbes district was almost exclusively devoted to sheep raising. For several years over 200,000 sheep were shorn annually at the big Burraway Station a few miles from the town.

Later on it was found that Forbes was admirably adapted for wheat growing, the first wheat grown in this part of the country was grown by Mr. J. B. Reymond one of Forbes agricultural pioneers. The experiment was successful and of late the agricultural industry has advanced with great strides. Forbes is now the centre of the well-known wheat belt, of which it is the richest part. In 1915 the district production of wheat was greater than that of any other district in the State. With such annual wealth the Lachlan Valley especially the Forbes section of it, should have before it a bright future. It should under wise guidance become the home of a very large number of happy and prosperous people for whom, indeed the Valley will improve the golden waste.

David Rawthorne’s CD on our Family Tree is now available.