Mary Matilda Shain1

F, #6541, b. 6 September 1870, d. 26 July 1951
FatherJohn Shain2 d. 27 Jul 1891
MotherLouisa Pike2 b. 6 Feb 1838, d. 8 Nov 1920
Relationship1st cousin 3 times removed of Keith Graham Bassett
Last Edited6 Apr 2022
Birth*6 September 1870 Albury, NSW, Australia;
Name: Mary Matilda Shain
Sex of Child: Female
Date of Birth: 6th September 1870
Place of Birth: Albury

Father: John Shain
Occupation: Farmer
Birthplace: Canada
Age: 33

Date of Marriage: 28th March 1868 1867
Place of Marriage: Albury

Mother: Louisa Pike
Birthplace: Burrowa
Age: 31

Previous Issue: 1 femaile deceased

Informant: John Shain, Father, Albury2 
Married Name14 August 1888 Peters3 
Marriage*14 August 1888 Hume, NSW, Australia;Groom=John Peters3 
Death of Father27 July 1891 Albury Flat, NSW, Australia;
A LAMENTABLE SHOOTING ACCIDENT.
DEATH OF THE VICTIM.
A man named John Shain, an old resident of the Albury Flat, was the victim of a shooting misadventure on Sunday afternoon, attended with very distressing circumstances. It seems that earlier in the day he paid a neighborly visit to the residence of Mr John Kennedy, the poundkeeper, and was induced to to remain for dinner. In the afternoon Kennedy and his guest left on a hare-shooting excursion in the paddocks surrounding the house. They had walked a considerable distance, and when in some long grass Shain started a quail. The bird flew a short distance in front of the party, and alighted in the long grass, whereupon Shain suggested to Kennedy that he should go on ahead and try and get a shot at the bird. Kennedy immediately moved forward, while Shain, unknown to him, proceeded in a circuitous direction towards where the game was supposed to be. Kennedy was about 40 yards ahead when he started the quail, which took flight to one side, and towards where Shain had gone. Kennedy fired at the quail, and the greater portion of a charge of No. 2 shot lodged in the chest, thighs, and abdomen of the unfortunate man Shain, whom Kennedy supposed had remained immediately at the rear, but whom he most unaccountably had not seen when he fired on the bird. On being struck, Shain exclaimed, "Oh, God, I'm shot" He fell backwards, and appeared to go off in a swoon. Kennedy was greatly distressed, and at once obtained some water from the river and tried to revive the injured man. When the extent of his injuries were ascertained, Shain was removed to his home, and Dr Woods was sought for. The
doctor at once saw the wounding was most serious, and, as there would be greater facilities at the hospital than were obtainable at the home of the unfortunate man in such a serious case, the doctor ordered his immediate removal to the institution, where he was admitted after nightfall. It was found that the shot had entered the chest, thighs, and abdomen, piercing the liver and intestines, and that little hope could be held out of his recovery.
As the man appeared likely to die, the police magistrate was sent for and his dying depositions, as follows, were taken:- John Shain, believing that he is in danger of dying, deposes as follows, having been duly sworn:- I went out shooting this afternoon with Mr John Kennedy; he shot at a quail and, not seeing me, shot me. I was about 40 yards from him. It was purely accidental. I said, "Oh, my God, I'm shot." He was much distressed; I can hardly say what he said. I believe that I am seriously injured, and may probably die. - (Signed) John Shain.
The injured man also made his will, and his wife, children and other relatives were allowed to see him. He had a very bad night. Mr C. Magee, the superintendent, sat up with him throughout to relieve his suffering by frequent injections of morphia, and on Monday, after remaining in a state of collapse for some hours, he expired during the afternoon. An inquest was hold on Tuesday afternoon, when a verdict of accidental death was recorded.
Shain was 57 years of age, and formerly resided near Germanton. He was an American by birth, and was well respected.
;Principal=John Shain4 
Death of Mother8 November 1920 Kenmore Mental Hospital, Goulburn, NSW, Australia;
Name: Louisa Shain
Date of Death: 8 Nov 1920
Place of Death: Kenmore Mental Hospital, Mulwaree Shire
Occupation:
Sex: Female
Age: 83
Conjugal Status:
Place of Birth: Burrowa NSW
Time in Aust Colonies:

Father: Pike
Occupation: Bootmaker
Mother: Unknown

Place of Marriage: Albury NSW
Age of Marriage: Not Known
Name of Spouse: John Shain
Children of Marriage: Mary M 50, Caroline F 48, Albert E 46, Edith E 44, William H 42, Rosetta 39, John G J 36 living, 1 male deceased
Informant: Certified by L Gardiner, Clerk, Mental Hospital, Kenmore, also certified by Mary M Peters, Daughter, Peel Street, Holbrook

Cause of Death: 1. Chronic Brain Disease 2. Exhaustion
Length of Illness: Unknown
Medical Attendant: C Gordon Moffitt
Date Last Seen: 8 Nov 1920

Date of Burial: 12 Nov 1920
Place of Burial: Presbyterian portion of Cemetery, Albury
Minister & Religion: Alexr Fleming, Presbyterian
Undertaker: J S Adams
Witnesses: S Mildren & Alfred Jas Michel;Deceased=Louisa Pike5 
Death of Spouse5 October 1925 Albury Hospital, Albury, NSW, Australia;Principal=John Peters6 
Married Name24 September 1930 Wittsen7 
Marriage*24 September 1930 St David's Church, Albury, NSW, Australia;
Groom: Arthur William Wittsen
Status: Widower
Place of Birth: Stratford, England
Occupation: Bootmaker
Age: 44
Usual Residence: Holbrook, N. S. Wales
Father: Arthur Wittsen (deceased)
Occupation: Architect
Mother: Mary Anne Barton

Bride: Mary Matilda Peters
Status: Widow
Place of Birth: Albury N. S. Wales
Occupation: Domestic duties
Age: 60
Usual Residence: Holbrook N. S. Wales
Father: John Shain (deceased)
Occupation: Labourer
Mother: Louisa Pike (deceased)

Date of Marriage: 24th September 1930
Place of Marriage: St David's Church, Albury
Religion: Presbyterian Church
Witnesses: Caroline Frances Miildren, C. G. Forsyth
Minister: A. S. McGook
;Groom=Arthur William Wittsen7 
News-Arct*5 November 1937 "The Albury Banner and Wodonga Express", Albury, NSW, Australia;
ALBURY QUARTER SESSIONS
Wednesday, November 3 (Before His Honor Judge Coyle)
BROKE TERMS OF BOND
In November, 1936, Augustus Adolphus Dombkins was charged at Albury Quarter Sessions with having stolen 92 pairs of shoes, valued at £51, the property of Mary Matilda Wittsen, of Holbrook. He was found guilty, but Judge Coyle gave him a chance to mend his ways, and bound him over to be of good behaviour for two years in a surety of £50, at the same time ordering him, to pay Mrs. Wittsen the value of the shoes. Dombkins had not carried out the terms of the conditions of the bond, and he was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment with hard labor. At the time the warrant was issued for him to appear before the court he was serving, a sentence of three months at a State Penitentiary on a charge of imposition.8 
Death*26 July 1951 District Hospital, Albury, NSW, Australia;
Name: Mary Matilda Wittsen
Date of Death: 26th July 1951
Place of Death: District Hospital Albury
Usual Residence: HolbrookOccupation:
Sex: Female
Age: 81
Conjugal Status:
Place of Birth: Albury N.S.W.
Time in Aust Colonies:

Father: John Shain
Occupation: Farmer
Mother: Mary Unknown

Place of Marriage 1: Albury, N. S. W. Age at Marriage 1: 18
Name of Spouse 1: John Nicholas Peters
Children of Marriage: Caroline 59, John H 57, Edith 53, William 51, Hilma 50 living, one male and one female deceased
Place of Marriage 2: Albury N. S. W. Age at Marriage 2: 60
Name of Spouse 2: William Wittsen
Children of Marriage 2: No Issue Informant: May Peters, Daughter-in-law, 259 Sydney Street, Albury

Cause of Death: Colitis, Acute
Length of Illness: 7 daystes
Medical Attendant: D. H. Mitchell
Date Last Seen:

Date of Burial: 28th July 1951
Place of Burial: Presbyterian Cemetery, Holbrook
Minister & Religion: R. E. Williamson, Presbyterian
Undertaker: George Fynney
Witnesses: Irwin A Musgrave, N Eames5 

Family 1

John Peters d. 5 Oct 1925
Children

Family 2

Arthur William Wittsen

Citations

  1. [S1304] NSW Birth Certificate.
  2. [S1472] NSW Birth Indexes, 5589/1870 Mary M Shain.
  3. [S1481] NSW Marriage Indexes, 3618/1888 John Peters & Mary M Shain.
  4. [S1565] Trove digitised newspapers, online http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/, The Wodonga and Towong Sentinel, Friday, July 31, 1891.
  5. [S1596] NSW Death Certificate.
  6. [S1565] Trove digitised newspapers, online http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/, The Albury Banner and Wodonga Express, Friday, October 16, 1925.
  7. [S1299] NSW Marriage Certificate.
  8. [S1565] Trove digitised newspapers, online http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/, The Albury Banner and Wodonga Express, Friday, November 5, 1937.
  9. [S1472] NSW Birth Indexes, 13645/1889 Archie J Peters.
  10. [S1472] NSW Birth Indexes, 13547/1893 John H Peters.
  11. [S1472] NSW Birth Indexes, 862/1896 Ethel R Peters.
  12. [S1472] NSW Birth Indexes, 784/1898 Edith M Peters.
  13. [S1472] NSW Birth Indexes, 811/1900 William T Peters.
  14. [S1472] NSW Birth Indexes, 699/1902 Hilda C Peters.