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MERRICK.- May 14, at his daughter's residence, Bungabah, Coonamble, Robert Harley Merrick, dearly beloved husband of Matilda Merrick, of 18A Womerah-avenue, Darlinghurst, in his 86th year.
Source: The SMH 17 May 1909
34. Edward Merrick
Salvation Army OfficerMR. EDWARD MERRICK.
The death occurred of Mr. Edward Merrick at. the residence of his son John Merrick, at Martindale, at the age of 92 years. He was one of the old pioneers of the Gulf country, where he spent over 30 years, and had vivid memories of the bush ranging days. He lived many years in Howe's Valley, Giants Creek, and Denman districts, and was born on the Hawesbury River. The deceased is survived by two sons and three daughters: John Edward (Martindale), James Richard (Islington), Mrs, Hensler (Normanton (Queensland), Mrs. Tyley ( England), and Mrs. Reid (Rockhampton, Queensland).
Source: The Land 28 Aug 1925
Arrived on Rajasthan in 1855?
DEATH OF MRS CAROLINE JACKSON - A PIONEER OF HOWE'S VALLEY.
..The, death occurred on Saturday evening last of Mrs Caroline Jackson, widow of Mr Henry Jackson, Senr., who died on 28th June. Both died within ten days of each other. The deceased and her late husband were pioneers of the district, she coming to Howe's Valley from Richmond-when quite a young girl, and lived there all her life to the advanced age of 92 years.. .She was well-known: for her kindly and generous disposition, and there are many in Putty, Howe's Valley, and even Martindale, whom she
brought into the world after riding all night through bush and over mountains, as far as "Wollombi even. Where ever she could help she went, and mostly on horseback. Many were the deeds of kindness recalled on Monday by friends who attended the funeral, under the numerous floral tributes testified to the love and affection in which she was held by one and all. It seemed fitting that a small plot of land of their own should be consecrated on Monday when she was laid to rest beside the one with whom she
had lived for the wonderful period of 73 years with only the 20 days' separation, so that in death they were united and at rest.
Source: Singleton Argus 12 Jly 1933
DEATH OF MR JAS. R. MERRICK.
-Mr James Robert Merrick, a resident of Howe's Valley for 82 years, passed away on Monday last at the residence of his son, Mr Joseph Merrick, Dunolly. The deceased, who was born at Richmond, was 84 years of age, and came with his parents to Howe's Valley district when two years old, the family settling at Branch Creek. When he reached man's estate the deceased became a grazier, a pursuit which he followed throughout his long life. He had been ill during the past seven months. His wife predeceased him 21 years ago, and ho is survived by six sons and three daughters, viz., Messrs James and William (Howe's Valley), Joseph (Dunolly), Albert, Roland, and
Leo (Putty), Mesdames S. Taylor (Rylstone), J. Medhurst (Putty), and P. Murphy (Denman). Messrs James and William Merrick and Mrs S. Taylor are triplets. There are 63 grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. The funeral took place on Tuesday, the remains being interred in the Church of England cemetery at Howe's Valley.
Source: Singleton Argus 2 Sep 1926
Death of Mrs Jas. Merrick.
Many persons will be grieved to learn of the death of Mrs James Merrick, which took place at Branch Creek on Monday last. The deceased was. 58 years of age, and leaves a husband and eleven children to mourn their loss.
Source: Singleton Argus 11 Mar 1905
Died of burns
MIR. W. J. MERRICK
Mr. William John Merrick died at Newcastle Hospital at the age of 91. Mr. Merrick who born at Richmond, New South Wales. He later lived at Jerry's Plain, . then for many years in the Quirindi district. About 11 years ago ne and Mrs Merrick and some members of his family took up at residence at Dibbs Street, Adamstown where he lived till his death. Mrs. Merrick died more than six years ago. Mr. Merrick is survived by two sons, Percy Joseph (Pine Ridge. Quirindi), and
Enos John Thomas (Queensland), five daughters, Mrs. Mary Jane Pengilley (Point Clare), Miss Victoria Merrick (Howe's Valley). Miss Clara Maria Merrick (lAdamstown), Mrs. Mildred Emeline Hewston (Adamstown) and Mrs Colina Isabel Dines (Wickham) The funeral moved from Mr Merricks home to Sandgate Cemetery. Pastor R. A. Salton, of the Seventh Day Adventist church, assisted by Mr.. Price, officiated at the home and graveside.
Source: Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate 15 Feb 1941
MRS. JANE MERRIOK,
The death occurred at her residence, 14 Dibbs.street, Adamstown; on Sunday, May 20, of Mrs. Jane Merrick, aged 81 years, after at brief illness. Mrs. Merrick is survived by her husband, two sons, and five daughters, with 20 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. The funeral left her late residence for. the General Cemetery, Sandgate, where Pastor White and brotheor Griffin (Seventh Day Adventists) officiated, They also conducted a short service at the home. The pall-bearers were six of Mr., Merrick's grandsons. The chief mourners were her husband (Mr. W. J. Merrick),Percy and Jacks (sons) Mary, May, Clara, Mill, Coll (daughters) Mrs P. J. Merrick and Mrs E.J.T. Merrick (daughter-in-law), and Messrs. J. C. Pengilly, J. Merrick and K. Dines (sons -in-law).
Source: Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate 5 Jun 1935
MR. W. H. MERRICK SAW THE KELLYS
William Henry Merrick, who was born at Howe's Valley 92 years ago, is descended from an early Australian pioneering family. In his youth he was one of the "overlanders," who travelled from Queensland down the Cooper with mobs of store cattle to Adelaide. He has driven cattle from N.S.W. to Western Australia and from far western NSW and Queensland runs to railheads for shipment to coastal centres. During his life Unit lie saw famous Australian bushrangers, Ned and Dan Kelly, and as a lad took food to a Hunter Valley half caste bush-ranger, "Yellow Billy." who later served a long gaol sentence. His grandfather, the late Joseph Merrick, with his family,
from the Hawkesbury, were |amongst the first settlers at Howe's Valley. The Merricks established themselves at Howe's Valley when it was impossible to take a wagon in or out, and all food and materials had to be transported by packhorse. One of Mr. W. H. Merrick's earliest recollections is that of "packing" supplies from Wollombi into the Valley by pack horse—a distance of 25 miles — when he was only 10 years old. he told an "Argus" representative. He explains that packhorses are a much more satisfactory means of carrying goods than those not acquainted with them might think. Horses can go anywhere a man can take them, he said, while rain and normal floods do not deter them, and if grass grows along the track, fuel is |assured. The packhorse will carry up to 2 cwt. over fairly rough country without faltering. He thinks it is over 60 years since the first road was cut into the valley and wagon teams were able to get in and out. Before then the produce of the valley, by which the family lived, had to be carried out by packhorse. Panning was not intensified. Crops of wheat were grown and ground into flour on hand driven steel mills, and the usual vegetables and home-killed meat and home-grown fruit formed the staple diet. Although much good timber grew In the valley, difficult transport methods made it impossible to market. Good timber which would be very valuable to-day was often destroyed. LIFE CONCERNED WITH WORK Recalling his youth, Mr. Merrick said he didn't play much sport; much of his life was concerned with work. He only had a few weeks schooling at Howes' Valley school, which was attended by about 30 pupils. Mr. Richard Fawcett taught the school in those days, and the family is still represented here, Mr. Merrick said. As a young man. he spent much of his time getting timber and building fences and
learning droving, which, in his twenties, was to take him far inland and interstate. It was during this period that he met bushranger "Yellow Billy," wanted by the N.S.W. police for horse stealing. "Billy," who was an intelligent half-caste, according to Mr. Merrick, first came into conflict with the troopers when he broke into the Wollombi
Court House, stealing nothing, but leaving behind his pipe, by which he was identified. It took the police from 12 to 18 months to catch him. He was sentenced to three years' gaol, which he served at Parramatta. On his release, "Yellow Billy" was far from home and without friends. He stole a horse and made his way to Howe's Valley, where he was known and would get a feed. "Yellow Billy" was not a vicious type, Mr. Merrick said, and excepting for robbing one or two drovers of a "few bob,'' never really committed what could be called a serious crime—other than "shaking" the horse. After a further period of hunting, the police again ran him down. ' DEPORTED TO AMERICA He was sentenced to 21 years, but was released on good behaviour and deported to America. Other bushrangers were also given remitted sentences and
allowed to go to America. Mr. Merrick gave for example the notorious Frank Gardiner, whom he did not know, but who was a really "tough character." He held up coaches, often shooting the lead horses to stop them, stole Her Majesty's mail and robbed the passengers. Frank Gardiner also shot and wounded policemen. When finally caught, Gardiner was given a long sentence, Mr. Merrick said, but was also released later and sent to America. SAW NED AND DAN KELLY During a trip to Victoria with a mate, whose name he cannot recall, but who came from the Hunter River district, Mr. Merrick saw Ned and Dan Kelly and other bushrangers. "We did not interfere with them and they did not interfere with us," Mr. Merrick explained. His friend was later shot by a blackfellow. During his droving days, Mr. Merrick knew other men who were killed by blacks. One man. Mr. Jack Hall, was killed and chopped to pieces and his body thrown into a waterhole, the killing being carried out by uncivilised blacks,
who sneaked on him during the daytime. Far from being cruel to the aborigines, Mr. Hall was good to them, Mr. Merrick said, adding that this was a mistake with blacks that had not come into contact with civilised people. DROVING EXPLOITS It was not until the 1880's that he really got out into the hack country, but when he did he travelled great distances and worked long hours, moving cattle slowly during the day and guarding them at night. When he was not droving, he was working mustering on
big stations, which had from 20,000 to 30,000 breeders. This was hard work under the same conditions, as more often than not there were no yards to accommodate the big mobs which had to be guarded at night, branded and drafted during the day. and stock for, sale herded for the stock route. Droughts and floods broke the monotony of the plains and dried grass. Mr. Merrick has seen the Dimentina River flooded for as far as 80 miles from its channel across miles and miles of water-logged plains. Recalling the big floods he has seen on New South Wales, Queensland and South Australian rivers, this old-time drover said that there was either too much or not enough water.
Flood or drought, he said, was the contributing reason for his coming back to the coast to settle down. On occasions it was necessary to step across dead beasts to get water for drinking. He has seen what appeared to be a big mob of store cattle drinking at a water hole, but when approached' proved to be a huge mob of cattle bogged
and dead at a dry hole. Mr. Merrick said not only had he driven cattle from 'Queensland down Cooper's Creek to Adelaide, but he has driven them from Big River in NSW to Mount Ararat in Western Australia.
Source: Singleton Argus 6 Aug 1949