Mary Ann Higgins1,2,3

F, #6835, b. 15 September 1825, d. 10 October 1918
FatherThomas Higgins4 b. 12 Apr 1800
MotherSophia Field4 b. 21 Jun 1807, d. 21 Jul 1871
Relationship1st cousin 4 times removed of Keith Graham Bassett
Last Edited6 Jan 2019
Birth*15 September 1825 Castlereagh, NSW, Australia4 
Baptism9 October 1825 Christ Church, Castlereagh, NSW, Australia;
Oct 9th Mary Ann Daughter of Thomas and Sophia Higgins born Sept 15th and baptized this day by me
Henry Fulton4 
Death of Mother21 July 1871 Forbes, NSW, Australia;
Name: Sophia Collitt
Date of Death: 21/9/1871
Place: Forbes NSW
Occupation:
Sex: Female
Age: 63
Conjugal Status:
Place of Birth: Nepean
Time in Aust Colonies: Lifetime in NSW

Father: Edward Field
Occupation: Farmer
Mother: Unknown

Place of Marriage: Hartley
Age at Marriage: 31
Name of Spouse: James Collitt
Children of Marraige: 3 males, 4 females living; 1 male deceased
Informant: John Higgins, son, Forbes

Cause of Death: disease of heart
Length of Illness: about 15 years
Medical Attendant: None
Date Last Seen:

Date of Burial: 24/7/1871
Place of Burial: Forbes
Minister & Religion: Fred C Williams, Church of England
Undertaker: J S Toler
Witnesses: John Girdham, Phillip Currey;Principal=Sophia Collits5 
Death1 October 1918 Bundaburra, NSW, Australia6,7 
Obituary*10 October 1918 "The Western Champion", Parkes, NSW, Australia;
OBITUARY.
MRS. M. A. STRICKLAND.
The death of Mrs. M. A. Strickland, which took place at her home at Bundaburra at about 6 p.m. on Tuesday evening last (says Friday's Forbes "Times") removed from our midst a lady who for some time has projected in the distinction of being the oldest woman on the Lachlan, as well as the first white woman to venture on to the river about these parts. Mrs. Strickland celebrated her 93rd birthday on the 15th of last month. She was at that time in a very low state of health, due to an attack of bronchitis and while she partially recovered from this the struggle left her in a weakened state, and she passed away peacefully on the evening stated.
The deceased lady was the daughter of the late Mr. Thomas Higgins, who in the early days owned Nanna station near Forbes, to which property Mrs. Strickland first came in 1830—82 years ago—since when she has continually lived in the district. She was a native of the Nepean River, and at the early age of 16 years married the late Josiah Strickland, also a native of the Nepean. After their marriage at Nanima, Mr. and Mrs. Strickland went to Bundaburra, and the grand old lady, who has seen this district pass through many stages in its history, had for 77 years lived at the home to which she went as a bride, where many instances of her good work were accomplished. Naturally during her long life she was closely associated with many of the stirring events connected with the early days of the district, and being blessed with a most retentive memory, even in her declining years, her reminiscences of the past were always interesting. She saw Forbes in the days when cattle raising was the chief industry here, and when the stations were few and far between; afterwards came the sheep, and later on wheat-growing, the staple industry of this district today.
Her husband who predeceased her by some 37 years, purchased the Bundaburra and Weelong runs from the late Mr. James Collits for £8000, and later on he acquired, for the consideration of £10,000, the Boyd and Battery Hill runs from Mr. H. Hamilton, the father of Judge Hamilton.
When the gold rush came in 1861, Bundaburra was the last camping place on the road to the new Eldorado for those who were crowding in from the Murrumbidgee, and hundreds from among those 40,000 diggers then on the field could testify to the hospitality of Bundaburra even in those days.
The late Mrs. Strickland was a woman who was renowned for her hospitable and charitable deeds, and on one occasion it is related that even the notorious bushranger, Ben Hall, was the recipient of her kindly care and attention when he had the misfortune to break his leg through being kicked by a horse. After the digging days and the various institutions of a populous town were springing into existence at Forbes, Mr. and Mrs. Strickland took a leading part in many movements for the welfare and advancement of the people of this community. Both interested themselves largely in the building and furnishing of a parsonage some 12 miles down the river, and the locality still bears its name to this day. This was during the pastorage of the Rev. Mr. Browning, then Church of England minister at Forbes. Mrs. Strickland was always a devoted adherent and consistent supporter of her church, and it was largely due to her generosity that the present day Church at Barenong was established and maintained. The death of this fine old lady, though expected for some time, will he deplored by every man, woman and child in the community, for her affectionate and sympathetic nature endeared her to all. As a mark of respect to her memory the flag at the Town Hall on Wednesday was at half-mast. Her funeral yesterday morning, which was preceded by a service at the Church of England, was very largely attended, many life-long friends journeying long distances to pay their last sad respects to her memory at the graveside. The service was conducted by the Rector, the Rev. H. H. Mirrington.
The late Mrs, Strickland had a family of five sons and five daughters, but two of the latter are dead. The surviving members are: — Messrs. Phillip, Edward, John, Thomas, and Joseph Strickland, and Mrs. E. Thomas (Grenfell), Mrs. Dr. McQueen and Mrs. Morrow (Sydney). There are a number of grand-children and great-grandchildren.7 

Family

Josiah Strickland b. 28 Jan 1813, d. 3 Jan 1881
Children

Citations

  1. [S1472] NSW Birth Indexes, 5015/1857 Virginia Strickland.
  2. [S1570] NSW Early Church Records 1788-1855, baptism Philip Strickland 1844.
  3. [S49] Marriage Certificate, Edward Evan Nepean Strickland & Ruby Crowe 1897.
  4. [S1448] Castlereagh Christ Church baptisms 1826-1875, Mary Ann Higgins 1825.
  5. [S1317] Death Certificate transcript.
  6. [S1473] NSW Death Indexes, 18848/1918 Mary A Strickland.
  7. [S1565] Trove digitised newspapers, online http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/, The Western Champion, Thursday, October 10, 1918.
  8. [S1472] NSW Birth Indexes, 1150/1842 V18421150 26A Maria Strickland.
  9. [S1570] NSW Early Church Records 1788-1855, baptism Edward Evan Nepean Strickland 1847.
  10. [S1570] NSW Early Church Records 1788-1855, baptism Josiah John Strickland 1851.
  11. [S1570] NSW Early Church Records 1788-1855, baptism Mary Ann Strickland 1852.
  12. [S1472] NSW Birth Indexes, 893/1854 V1854893 159 Thomas Strickfield.
  13. [S1313] From A Distant Field.
  14. [S1472] NSW Birth Indexes, 8989/1860 Joseph R Strickland.
  15. [S1472] NSW Birth Indexes, 600/1861 Eva Strickland.