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Obituary.
IT is our painful duty this week to have to record the death of Mrs. William Colless, of Castlereagh. Mrs Colless has for a considerable time suffered from an affection of the heart, although it was only at long intervals that she was so severely ill as to have lay up. Of late, the illness has been of much more frequent occurrence, and during the
last month she caught the complaint that has been going the rounds of the district, a kind of influenza. This compelled her to take to her bed, and shortly afterwards she took bronchitis. It was at this stage that matters became serious, and telegrams were sent to her children and friends throughout the colony, informing them of her critical state; none, however, arrived in time to see her before her death, and she passed peacefully away on Wednesday evening at six o'clock. Mrs. Colless was one of the oldest residents, and native of the district, being born at Castlereagh in the year 1813 She was married in 1829, and has been a widow for 14 years. She has had 15 children, 12 of whom are living, with grand children, great grand children, and great great grand children innumerable. Her children are scattered all over the colonies, four only being in this district, the youngest of whom is about 27 years of age ; two are unmarried. Mrs.Colless is a sister of Mrs. G. Colless, mother of the proprietor of this journal. She has ever been a good worker in Sunday School, and Church work, and she will be greatly missed by the Wesleyan congregation. Her remains were interred at Castlereagh on Friday last.
Source: Nepean Times 12 Sep 1885
23. Oratia Colless
Obituary — Mrs. Irish.
Mrs. Oratia Irish, wife of Mr. James Irish, of Brisbane-street, passed away on Saturday afternoon. She had been in indifferent health for a long time, and her demise was not unexpected, although she was still in the prime of life, being but 57 years old. Mrs.Irish was a native of Penrith, and for a number of years she resided with her husband at Nyngan, whence they removed to Dubbo some years ago. Mrs. Irish was a member of the Methodist Church, and she was buried in that denominations portion of the cemetery on Sunday afternoon, the Rev. F. J. Curwood officiating in the presence of a number of friends. Mr. J. R. Tighe made the funeral arrangements.
Source: The Dubbo Liberal and Macquarie Adovcate 9 Mar 1910
Convicted at Warwick. Arrived on the Baring.
Cause of death - Asthma
Death of Mr. Charles Colless.
We take the following from the "Mudgee Post " of Monday last:— Another old identity passed away on Wednesday morning, in the person of Mr Charles Colless, of Fairy Dale. For a long time past the deceased had been ailing in fact, he had enjoyed but very indifferent health during the last 10 years or more, but it was only within the last few months that his condition showed alarming symptoms. During the month of December last he was prostrated by a severe attack of diarrhoea, and although medical aid was early procured, the disease held to its victim with such tenacity that he was never entirely free from it since. From the first Dr. Lester had pronounced the prognosis as unfavorable, and had warned the family that a sudden change for the worse might occur at any time. His condition, however, improved somewhat, and at times it was thought that he might yet get right again ; but on Monday he was unable to leave his bed, and it was feared that the ' dread messenger ' was really close at hand at last. On Tuesday Dr Lester advised the sending for the various members of the family, as he did not think the patient could live through the night. Accordingly wires were despatched with all haste, and in response to the numerous calls, most of the family arrived early on Wednesday morning, but were too late to see the end. Exhausted nature had at last been compelled to effect the final separation of souI and body, and at 7.86 that morning Mr Charles Colless bade farewell to the joys and sorrows of this sublunary sphere, and entered peacefully into the realm of the Unseen. By a strange coincidence the train was about half-an-hour late that morning, and thus four of the daughters, who had been so hastily summoned from Sydney and Lithgow, arrived just too late to see the end. Mr John Colless was more fortunate, for, though in Guntawang at the time the wire was sent off, he managed to reach Mudgee during the night. A sadder fate was that of the eldest brother—Mr George Colless, of Box Ridge—who could not so much as hear of the impending trouble until it was all over, while harder still was the lot of the youngest daughter—Captain Helen Colless (S.A.)—who was in Victoria at the time, and was not able to reach home to see the end. The deceased was within a few months of his 74th birthday, having been born at Castlereagh, near Penrith, on 11th June, 1824. Although brought up by his father as a farmer, he never settled to the life, and was for some years well-known as a teamster in the old days. It was while still working for his father that the Rev S. Wilkinson joined him in wedlock to the wife who now survives him. About 25 years ago he left his own property at Penrith and came to Mudgee, where he has ever since resided. He was the father of 14 children, 11 of whom are still living. Mr Colless was well and favorably known in the Penrith District, and had been a local preacher in connection first with the Wesleyan and then with the Primitive Methodist Churches from early manhood. Much sympathy is expressed on all sides for the bereaved ones, for the deceased had ever been an upright, worthy citizen, a model husband, and a kind and indulgent father. The funeral took place on Friday, the melancholy procession starting from the deceased's late residence at a few minutes past 10 o'clock. The coffin was taken into the Primitive Methodist Church, where a short service was conducted by the Rev J. W. Horberry, and several of the late Mr Colless' favorite hymns were sung. The cortege was after wards re-formed, and proceeded to the cemetery, where the remains were interred in the Primitive Methodist portion of the ground, the Rev Horberry officiating at the grave. There was a large attendance of mourners and friends, both in the Church and at the cemetery. On Sunday morning a memorial service was held in the Primitive Methodist Church, when the Rev J. W. Horberry made special reference to the veteran who had so lately been removed from his earthly work. For half a century, he said, the one whom they had lost had been an active worker, occupying the position of local preacher for nearly all that time. While health permitted he had ever been a most zealous laborer in the great field, and had, at different times, filled all the offices open to laymen in the Church. Of late years failing strength had prevented him from taking much active part in public work, but he had still been ever anxious to continue his work of visiting the sick, his last offices in this connection being performed but a few weeks prior to his death. His suffering had been great, but he (Mr Horberry) was happy to be able to say that he knew of nothing in his life with which to find fault. He was broad and liberal in his views, constant and consistent in his life, and earnest and eager in his endeavors to do good. They all deeply felt and deplored
the loss they had sustained.
Source: Nepean Times 2 Apr 1898
A Veteran Native
The late Mary Ann Colless, of Mudgee whose death occurred recently, was born at Castlereagh, near Penrith, on June 26, 1834. Her father and mother were also Australian natives. Her father, John Lees, was born at Castlereagh on September 18, 1807, and her mother was born at the same village on March 13, 1814. Mrs Colless' grandfather, Mr John Lees, gave the block of land for the first Methodist Church that was erected in Australia, at Castlereagh, on the Nepean, about 1817. Her mother, Ann Lees, was the first white woman to cross the Blue Mountains, making the then adventurous journey when she was only a girl. Mrs Colless was married at Windsor on September 13, 1851, to the late Charles Colless. Mr Colless was also an Australian native, having been born, also at Castlereagh, on June 11, 1824. The Colless and Lees families have records for longevity. Mr Colless' father was born on November 5, 1771 and came to Australia in 1804. He lived his life at Castlereagh
following the occupation of a farmer, and he died on July 17, 1851. Mrs Lees, Mrs Colless' mother, has only been dead 16 years. She attained the age of 87 years. The late Charles and Mrs Colless made their home on the banks of the Nepean River, at Castlereagh, where they saw many of the ups and downs of life. They were amongst other experiences washed out by the big flood in 1867, which left not many homes in the low-lying parts of the village intact. Eventually they left the home and started for Mudgee on June 26, 1873. Having arrived in Mudgee, Mr and Mrs Colless made their home at "Fairy Dale," well known by the many friends of the family. Of the family (who are scattered all over NSW South Wales) of 14 children, four sons and seven daughters survive. There are 52 grandchildren, and 62 great-grandchildren. Mrs Colless lived at "Fairy Dale" until 1912, when, her health beginning to fail, she moved to town where she resided with her daughter, Miss Jessie Colless, up to the time of her death. In the death of Mrs Colless, Australia has lost one of its oldest natives and one who was a wonderful woman in every respect. She was able to converse about old times up to a few days before her end. Her husband pre-deceased her by 19 years. He died on March 23, 1898, being then 73 years old. Mrs Colless has one son and several grandchildren at the front in France. The family wish to make an acknowledgment of the faithfulness and attention of Miss Jessie Colless, with whom the deceased lady lived for the last five years of her life and from whom she received unremitting attention and the most constant and solicitous care. The following are the surviving children:— Messrs G H Colless, Lutterworth, Coonamble; J W Colless, Fairy Dale, Mudgee; (Private) E S Colless, Marrickville (now on his return to Australia); A E Colless, Mortimer Street, Mudgee; Mesdames Hallshom, Strathfield; Pack, Perry Street, Mudgee; John Flack, Gladstone Street, Mudgee; R Graves, Emu Plains; A C Ward, Croydon (late of Penrith); Misses Jessie Colless, Gladstone Street, Mudgee; F Colless, Therlmere (on the Southern line).—"Mudgee Guardian."
Source: Nepean Times 30 Jun 1917
81. James Colless
COLLESS - July 28 James Colless, late NSW Government Tramway Department, aged 75 years Privately interred Rookwood July 30 At rest.
Source: The SMH 1 Aug 1932
84. John Colless
OUT TO PIECES.
John Colless, a tramway ganger, was walking on the rail-way line under the viaduct between Lewisham and Summer Hill this morning, when he was caught by a fast goods train and practically cut to pieces.
Source: Dungog Chronicle 12 Sep 1924