| After their marriage,
George and Grace returned to 'Newlands' where George ran
his 900 sheep, with his father's flock of 4000. Their future seemed assured and
the arrival of the first born, Grace Gertrude,in November
1892 and Mary Ann in June 1894, just added to their
happiness on 'Moonbie Island'. Little did they know what
was to follow.
The advent of the new
year changed their life forever, as Mary Ann took ill and
died in the summer heat of the second day of 1895.The
heartache was eased with the arrival and survival of
Martha, a sister for little Grace,in 1896; only to return
with the death of 10 weeks old Sarah Junetta, in August
1898.
Finally George's wish
for a son was fufilled with the arrival of George William
Allen in 1899 and the arrival of Margaret at the
beginning of the new millennium lifted the veil from
their lives.
Again the rollercoaster
hit the depths as patriach, William, took ill and died on
1st September 1902. His death brought, not only sorrow,
but also shock, followed by bitterness and discord
amongst family members when it was learnt William had
died intestate. Without the direction of a will the
family members engaged in a long and costly battle for
'Newlands' which culminated in the sale of the property
to Mr O A(Mick) McPhillamy, a Bathurst solicitor,
for three pounds ($6) per acre.
As the family were heavily indebted
to Mr McPhillamy for legal fees they lost their heritage
in return for a pittance.
During this time tragedy struck
threefold when Wilhelmina b.1903, Vivien b.1905 and
Thomas V. b. 1907 died between August 7th and September
11th 1907.
Family oral history has it that they
were poisoned with a mixture of quince jam and
strychnine, made up as a pest bait.
The following are extracts from the
doctor's reports:-
Aug
7th
1907 …"4 1/2
years old daughter, died(lead pellet lodged in her
appendix after eating some plover her father had
shot)"
Aug
14th
1907…"2nd
child has died. 2 1/2 years old daughter took ill on the
7th
and died on the 9th.
Post mortem held certain specimens sent to Sydney
awaiting results- no foul play suspected - child possibly
swallowed a foreign matter.
Sept
11th
1907. Mr & Mrs G
Crampton of Moonbie Island had the misfortune to lose
their third child within a month the infant a few months
old died of convulsions.
It can be reliably argued that these
reports do not dispel the 'poison' theory.
* the odds of two siblings dying in
an unconnected manner as attributed by the reports would
be very high indeed.
* the baby could have received
minute amount(s) on a 'dummy'(pacifier) which took longer
to act.
In support of the reports is the
fact that there is no connection made between deaths #2
& #3 which would indicate that the specimen report
had not indicated anything untoward.
With the sale of the property, the
family moved, and the pain and suffering followed as
Georgina, born 1911, in Forbes, died there in 1912. The
same year Arthur C. was born, another son for George
however at Canowindra in 1915, Arthur died.
In a period of 20 years, George and
Grace had 11 children only to see 4, Grace, Martha,
George and Margaret survive past 4 years.
George was a champion shooter but,
even there he had to deal with adversity , having lost an
arm.
They finally settled on a small farm
'Springvale' near Eugowra where they lived till George
died on 6th May 1928, at the age of 77 years. Grace
joined him just 15 months later when she died on 20th
August 1929, aged 58 years.
Grace 51, Martha 43, Margaret 33,
all died young however they had all married and together
with George jnr, who married in 1926, were able to give
George and Grace the joy of grandchildren.
George and Grace were my
grandparents and I missed not having them around during
by early years, and whilst I look at 'Newlands' today and
think what might have been, I think of my Grandparents,
of the tiny graves at Condobolin, Forbes and Canowindra,
of my family, the life I have had and give thanks for
what I have.
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