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Richard Edwards, his wife Eliza; his brother John and wife Mercy Martha.
The English born family migrated to New South Wales in 1885; Richard and Eliza with their two youngest daughters, Hannah and Harriet. Richard and Eliza had married in 1855 at Ramsgate, England and had ten children, at least one, Thomas died young, and the older children remained in England. There are few references to Richard and
“We regret to have to record the death of Mrs. R, Edwards, wife of the Inspector of Nuisances. Deceased went out last Wednesday, which happened to be a very hot day, to see poor Corporal Larkin’s funeral pass. The heat proved too much for her and she succumbed early the next morning [November 9] to heat apoplexy. At the time of her demise she was 72 years of age, having passed the allotted span of three score years and ten. For the past few years she had been more or less an invalid and her death may have occurred at any moment. She was a good wife and a good mother having reared ten children who are scattered in different parts of the world. She had resided in Picton for the last 17 years and was almost as well known as her bereaved husband for whom widespread sympathy will be felt. Only two months ago the aged pair celebrated their golden wedding. After travelling through life hand in hand for 50 years the parting must bring pain – which can only be forgotten in death. ‘Tis an honorable record and her memory will be a tender recollection to her bereaved family. Deceased was laid to rest last Friday, in St. Mark’s churchyard. The Rev. W.J. Roberts officiated and held a service at which he made a few kind and appropriate remarks.”
(A column on the funeral of Corporal Ben Larkin, 36, accidentally shot at the rifle range, and a member of the Mounted Rifles, so had a military funeral, was in the same paper.)
Most of the information on the family came from Richard’s obituary, in the Picton Post of 15th September, 1915:
“We regret having to record the death of Mr. R. Edwards which took place at the private hospital Picton, on Wednesday last. The deceased had been an inmate of the hospital for over three weeks. In the first place he was suffering from an attack of pneumonia and had practically recovered from that complaint when Bright’s disease supervened and was the cause of his death. The deceased was an old identity of the town and was well known to both young and old. Honest and straightforward, the late Mr. Edwards gained the respect of all with whom he came in contact. Deceased, who was 80 years of age, was a native of Ramsgate, Kent and arrived in this state about 30 years ago. He was an engine driver in England, and in this state he worked in a similar capacity at the Clarence River Heads in connection with the making of the breakwater, and also at Mittagong in connection with a mining venture there. For the past twenty odd years he had resided in Picton, the last few with his brother Mr. John Edwards. For a number of years he was in the employ of the Municipal Council as the Inspector of Nuisances and also held the position of sexton of St. Mark’s Church of England. He leaves four daughters and one son, Mrs. Williamson and Mrs. Barracks of England, Mrs. Fell, Windham New South Wales, Mrs. Brazenost, Stanthorpe, Queensland and Mr. Walter Edwards, England.”
From his probate papers it seems that Richard owned a weatherboard cottage in Colden Street, Picton.
Less is known about John Charles Edwards who died in 1931; none of the local papers have survived from that time. Some other newspaper references show he was involved in the Picton Progress Association, and lived in a house named “Kent Villa”, possibly in Menangle Street, before moving in with his widowed brother. He was married to Mercy Martha, and had one child, Arthur, who in 1928 was on the Picton Council. One checking the records of the Picton and Wollondilly Councils, John himself served on the Picton Council in 1909-1911. John had a least one return trip to England in 1902, which was reported in the Picton Post and Advocate, April 2, 1902:
“As Mr. John Edwards is leaving on a trip to the Old Country on the 12th int., some of his friends decided to present him with a souvenir as a token of esteem. The town was not publicly canvassed, but the money donated was sufficient to purchase a handsome five guinea travelling bag, which will be presented to Mr. Edwards at the George Inn on Wednesday evening next, the 9th inst. A large gathering is expected. A further report appeared in April 16 – (a whole column, now reduced to a few lines): The Mayor presided and presented the bag and said Mr. Edwards was honest, truthful and reliable, and wished Mr. and Mrs. Edwards bon voyage. Other old friends noted that as a workman he could be depended on, plus a reference to railway men contributing to his present. And Mr. and Mrs. A Edwards, newly married were also toasted. In 1928 there was a reference to John, aged 88, being indisposed, so he may have been in poor health for the rest of his life.”
Mrs. Mercy Edwards died in 1913, as reported in the Picton Post on February 19th:
“Mrs. J.C. Edwards, an active church worker dies, 67
It is with deep feelings of regret that we have to record the death of another old and highly respected resident in the person of Mrs. Edwards, wife of Mr. J.C Edwards, which sad event occurred suddenly on Monday morning. The news of her death came as a great surprise to her many friends, who found it hard to believe that such was the case, she being such an active and energetic person. To all appearances Mrs. Edwards was in her usual state of health until a few minutes prior to her death. On Sunday night she attended church with her husband and even on the morning of her death she arose at her usual hour and prepared and partook of breakfast, and was apparently in her usual health. Just a short time before her death she was conversing with one of her tenants who had called to see her on business. At the time of her death Mr. Edwards was in the yard putting the horse in the buggy for the purpose of driving his wife down the town, as is their usual custom on Monday mornings, but such was not to be, for Mrs. Edwards suddenly felt ill and called to her daughter-in-law to assist her to a couch, but after being there for only a few minutes, she expired.
The deceased was an active and enthusiastic church worker, and was ever ready to render what assistance she could in all church and other social functions. She was also a member of the Ladies Home Mission Union, in which she took a keen interest. Mrs. Edwards, who was 67 years of age, was a native of Ramsgate, Kent, England, and with her husband and son, came to Australia about 39 years ago, 32 years of which has been spent in Picton. The funeral, which was largely attended took place on Tuesday, the interment being made in St. Mark’s Church of England cemetery. Rev. P.St.M Podmore conducted a service at the church and also officiated at the grave site. Much sympathy is felt for Mr. Edwards and his son Mr. A.H. Edwards on their sad and recent bereavement.”
Mercy Edwards died on February 17th, 1913.
So we have little more information about John Edwards’ working life, but some other research has brought some clues about his properties. In 1908 there is a reference to his property on Coull Street, which might refer to the old weatherboard house next to present day Crakanthorpe Lane. In 1913 there is another reference to a house on Railway Crescent, one of several small Cottages facing the railway line; only two of these survive, and the address is now Lumsdaine Street. A third site is in Colden Street, where Mr. Edwards seems to have owned the old weatherboard house/business on the corner (demolished in 1974), as well as the site of the old Masonic Lodge, built in 1935 and now replaced by the new Council function Centre. And then there is an argument about the rental of a house in Menangle Street in the 1920s, and this seems to have been opposite the School of Arts building and probably demolished for the construction of the Nepean County Council/Wollondilly Shire office.
