Mr. JOHN THOMAS DUNN
The death occurred at Liverpool on Christmas morning of Mr. John Thomas Dunn, at the age of 86 years, after a fortnight's illness. Deceased was born at Kent Street, Sydney, and he spent his youthful days droving on the Lachlan and other parts of the country, including Bowman's Hill, Taralga and Lismore. His work eventually led him to Burragorang Valley, in the days when a bridle track marked the pioneers' way up the mountain and pack horses carried provisions home. He married a Burragorang girl (Miss Ettie Gorman), a sister to Mr Maurice Gorman, of Burragorang, and Mrs. Furlong, of Sydney. Deceased was the only resident for many miles who understood the working of a sawmill, and for some years he followed, this occupation. About seventeen years ago his first wife died leaving a family of three children. They are: Mrs L. Noakes, of Liverpool and late of Camden; Mrs J. Smith, of Picton; and Mr Stanley Dunn, of Burragorang. There are also eleven grandchildren and six great grandchildren. A few years later he married Mrs Turner, a widow, who predeceased him some eight or nine years. There was no issue of this union. Rev. M. O'Dea officiated at the burial service when this old resident was laid to rest in the Catholic cemetery, Camden, on 26th December. The funeral arrangements were carried out by the firm of Walter F. Peters and Son. This firm also had charge of previous family funerals, dating back to January 13th, 1904, when deceased eldest son William John Dunn, aged 29 years, of Burragorang passed away.
Source: The Picton Post 4 Jan 1933
256. Sarah Louisa Field
aka Sophia
Mrs. Sarah Louisa Watson
As briefly indicated in the second edition of our last issue, the death of an old resident of the Forbes district, in the person of Mrs. Sarah Louisa Watson, relict of the late Samuel Watson, of North Hill, Forbes, took place in Sydney last Monday. Shortly before Christmas the deceased went on a holiday to her daughter, Mrs. Bert Tooth, of 168 Cavendish Street, Stanmore, where she passed away after a short illness. The late Mrs. Watson, who was 78 years of age, was born at Carrawobitty, Forbes. She was the daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. John Field, and only one sister (Mrs. Bessie Smith) survives from a particularly large family. A resident of the district all her life, Mrs. Watson was held in the highest esteem by a large circle of friends. Her late husband, who predeceased her by three years, was for many years a carter in the employ of the old-established firm of J. and W. Thomas (now John Meagher & Co.), and afterwards with Mr. J. P. Donaghey. They are survived by one son, Mr. Jas. L. Watson (Forbes), and two daughters, Mesdames J. Stanbury and B. Tooth (Sydney). One son (Jack) and a daughter, Mrs. Reedy (Molly) are deceased. The remains were brought to Forbes by train on Tuesday morning, and in the afternoon were interred in the Presbyterian portion of the cemetery by Mr. A. G. Jones, Rev. Stanley Parsons performing the last sad rites at the graveside.
Source: The Forbes Advocate 26 Mar 1943
263. Esther Louisa Field
SIMPSON.- September 14, at Sydney Hospital, Esther Louisa, boloved wife of Alfred Simpson; of Condobolin, aged 36. "Not lost but gone before".
Source: The Australian Star 18 Sep 1894
265. Thomas John Field
FIELD.-July 16. 1936, at his daughter's residence. 30 Melford-street, Hurlstone Park, Thomas John Field (late of Nyngan). beloved father of Tressie (Mrs. L. T. Petty). May (Mrs. S. Fisher), Tom, Beatrice (Mrs. A. Gifford). Arthur, and Alf aged 74 years.
Source: The SMH 17 Jly 1936
266. James Collit Field
LATE MR. JAMES COLLITTS FIELD (By GEO. G. REEVE)
(For the "Windsor and Richmond. Gazette")
THERE died at Ashbury, near Sydney, on the 2nd of January, 1930, a splendid type of Australian gentleman of the fifth generation, in the person of my good friend, the late James Collitts Field. The deceased gentleman was in his 66th year, having been born at his maternal grandfather's. (Mr. Pierce Collitts) famous and historic inn — then (1863) and now (1930) a private residence — on the 28th July, 1863. On the paternal side the Fields, of Castlereagh village, above. Richmond, on the Hawkesbury, are descendants of pioneer William Field, who came by the first fleet (1788). At St. John's Churchyard, Wilberforce, lies buried all that is mortal of the founder of the Australian Fields. An inscribed stone there bears the words: —
'Sacred to the memory of 'WILLIAM FIELD, who died Octbr 22nd, 1826 Aged 54 years.' with a footstone initialled: W.F. 1826 A son of the pioneer of the pioneer himself (?) was employed as the blacksmith at Castlereagh, on the Nepean, making all the tools and iron implements, and sharpening the picks and axes used for felling timber by 'Government Men' employed under the direction of Mr. William Cox (I.) and Lieut. Thomas Hobby, in making the great road over the Blue Mountains from Emu Plains to Bathurst (1814).. (See Wm., Cox's', Diary under date of July 20, 1814). About the same year the late Mr. J. C. Field's maternal grandfather was Chief Constable at. Penrith (or as it was then known, Evan) . I refer to Mr. Pierce Collitts, who was so engaged as a Government official there in that capacity, or in lesser semi-Government offices, from about the year 1808 until the year 1821, or probably to a later period. The emancipist pioneer, Mr. Pierce Collitts, who came to New South Wales about the year 1802, and his wife, Mrs. Mary Collitts, were two remarkable personages in their day. During their sojourn at Penrith (1804-1823), they reared a large family at the farm property of 70 acres of land granted during the year 1804 to (Mrs.) Mary Collitts. This was the site on which stood the original home in Australia of the Collitts. The house was only pulled down during the year 1925. It had a quaint slab kitchen with a brick chimney, and on one side of the historic building was a small baker's oven at one end, the original roof of what remained, of the adjoining rooms, also of the kitchen was of wood shingles, which, during the late fifties of last century, was covered by sheets of iron roofing. It was in a nearby slab-room attached to the main structure that Mrs. Collitts held the first school in the district of Evan (Penrith). The pioneeress and mother of all the Collitts, was a Kilkenny (Ireland) woman. On the two volumes of the Castlereagh registers (which may be seen at Sydney) all items bearing the signatures of the notable Rev. Henry Fulton, Mrs. Mary Collitts' name and likewise the name and joint signatures of attestations as witnesses to "Notices of Banns" of marriages — actual marriages — and many other human happenings, and from the scores of names there listed went forth to all parts of Australia, the first generation of sons and daughters who (in the main) were children of emancipists, and they made good in every sphere of life. Just to quote from a few of the surnames (be it noted) that they include original settlers names from both Upper and Lower Castlereagh villages. The following may be named as of interest: James Bent, father of the late Sir Thomas Bent, once Premier of Victoria; Thomas Rawsthorne, Philip Strickland (I.), the Abbletts, Peacocks, Watkins, Meurants, Martins, Stantons, Gormans, Fells, Rutledges, Weavers, Ryans, Ropes and not forgetting the free settlers names Blackman, Colless, Lees, Francis, etc., etc. The father of the late Sir Thomas Bent, was Mr. James Bent, who married Miss Maria Toomey at Castlereagh Church, March 25, 1838, the husband then being in the employment of Sir John Jamieson, of 'Regentville,' near Penrith; The sons of Mrs. Collitts and Mr. Pierce Collitts, (I.) were respectively: — (1) James, (2) John, (3) Joseph and (4) William Collitts. There were five daughters, viz., (1) Maria (later Mrs. Field, and secondly Mrs. Rope), (2) Sarah (Mrs. John Watkins), (3) Frances (Mrs. Pembroke), (4) Amelia (Mrs. John Skeene), and (5) Sophia (Mrs. James Morris, who later married a Mr. Charles Williams, of Coonamble). The eldest son, James Collitts, who married Miss Eleanor Leech, discovered the original new road from Richmond to Collitts' Inn at Mount York, during May, 1825, as can be verified, by Dr. F. Watson's records of Australia. Still later, Mr. James Collitts and his wife and growing family were the first original pioneer, pastoralist settlers along with the late Mr. Josiah Strickland, on the Lachlan River, taking up the country known as Bundaburra, during the year 1837. The last named Mr. James Collitts sold to Mr. Strickland, who was also a relative. Mr. James Collitts was the grandfather of the late Mr. J. C. Field, one of the Lachlan pioneer's daughters, Miss Caroline Collitts, marrying Mr. Thomas Field, who thus became the father of my lately departed dear friend.
The house where Mr. Field was born in 1863, was originally erected about the years 1817 to 1820. For the Records state, Series 1, Vol 10. Hist. Records of Australia (Dr. F. Watson), from a list of Public Works undertaken by direction of Governor Macquarie from 1st January, 1810 to the 30th November, 1821, both inclusive: — "At Vale of Clwyde." A weatherboarded commodious Barrack and Guard House with an enclosed kitchen garden; for the accommodation of the Military Guard stationed at this post on the Great Western Road, which was established for the keeping open the communication with Bathurst as well as for the protection of travellers. The place is situated about 81 miles from Sydney, and lies right under the shadow of Mount York, and nowadays is situated about four miles from Hartley Vale railway station. Quite a lot of nonsense has been written of the historic house, ''Collitts' Inn' at Mount York. One remarkable inaccurate statement was written by an alleged historian, who should know, better, to the effect that , during Governor Macquarie's triumphal progress westward to Bathurst in the year 1815, he slept in a room, at the residence, and the present proprietor of the house (which is now an accommodation week-end house for visitor's) still circulates the bogus story, probably pointing out the "alleged room" in which Governor Macquarie and Mrs. Elizabeth Macquarie did not sleep, for the barracks was not erected until at the very earliest possible time which would be the year 1817. I make the foregoing statement with positive assurance and veracity.
There being no further use for the building as a military barracks, Mr. Pierce Collitts (I.) took the place, and a large grant of land adjoining the property was given to him, and in the month of April, 1824, he opened the house under the sign of the 'Golden Fleece Inn.' The name was changed later to that of the 'King's Garter Inn.' The property was occupied by the Collitts until their respective deaths. Mrs. Mary, Collitts died on August 4, 1841, aged 72 years, and Mr. Pierce Collitts died September 19, 1848, aged 85 years.
Both pioneer's, along with a, numerous kindred (all appear to have the familiar old Castlereagh surnames of that village's early forefathers) rest in the little burial ground not far from the original barracks building, i.e., the once notable and famous Collitts' Inn. Mr. James Collitts is buried in Forbes cemetery, but no stone marks his grave, and the parents of the late Mr. Field of Ashbury. Mr. and Mrs. Thos. and Caroline Collitts Field are interred at the Nyngan cemetery (out west). That couple also pioneered the western district as settlers, and as carriers and teamsters where their family grew up, the late Mr. James Collitts Field being Mayor of Nyngan Municipality for a term, methinks from memory, about the year 1905.
I shall resume my story of the Collitts and the Fields at a future time. Suffice to say here that the Collitts and the Collesses of Penrith must not be confused, both the pioneers named had adjoining grants of land at the Nepean town of Penrith — from the very early period of the nineteenth century, approx, 1804 or upwards. Mr. J. C. Field was buried at the Church, of England portion of Rookwood cemetery on Friday, January 3rd. To Mrs. Lavenia Field and her family of sons and daughters I extend my sincerest sympathy in the loss of their parent and friend.
Source: Windsor and Richmond Gazette 24 Jan 1930