Cudgegong Valley History Project

Headstone reads:
In Memoriam
Thomas Harris
Who died
January 18th 1879
Aged 89 years
Thou art gone to the grave
We no longer behold thee
Nor tread the rough path
Of the world by thy side
But the wide arms of mercy
And sinners may die
For the Sinless has died
Also
Patience Harris
Who died
June 6th 1882
Aged 82 years

Rylstone April 28. Since my last report, a shocking fatal accident has occurred to an old and highly respected resident of this district, Mr Abel Harris, of Kelgoolah. The unfortunate gentleman had been placing some men to work at ringbarking, on a certain portion of his estate, and at some distance from his residence, and was returning to his home last Monday evening, driving a four course dray. Although the deceased did not return at the time he was expected, still no particular alarm was felt by hisfamily, as it was thought he had been detained at the place to which he had gone. On Wednesday, however, one of the men alluded to repaired to the station for rations, and it was then discovered that something must have occurred. Search was atonce made, and about a mile and a half from Kelgoolah at the dray was found capsised, the body of the unfortunate gentleman quite dead, two of the horses also dead, and the other two in a very distressed state, owing, doubtless, to the effortswhich they had made to extricate themselves from the dray. An enquiry was held the following day, by W W Armstrong, Esq., C P S for the district, and a verdict recorded in accordance with the facts. The body of the deceased was interred onFriday last in our local cemetery, followed by a very numerous cortege of mourners, the late Mr Harris being both widely connected and highly esteemed throughout the district (Australian Town and Country Journal, Saturday 3 May 1879, p. 39).

Headstone reads:
In memoriam
Abel Harris
Who died
April 21st 1879
Aged 54 years
In the midst of life
we are in death
Also
Marian Harris
Relict of the above \Who departed this life
August 18th 1894
Aged 75 years