Cudgegong Valley History Project

PASTORALIST COMMIT SUICIDE. Mr. Samuel Pickett, a well-known pastoralist, residing at Long Gully, about 14 miles from Rylstone, is reported to have committed suicide. Deceased, who was 76 years of age, had been suffering from ill health for the past four or five years, and had recently been much worried with fear that his stock would perish during the coming winter. He took a dose of strychnine, and refused any emetic. He had spent the greater part of his life in the district, and had reared a family of twelve, all of whom, with their mother, survive him. (Sunday Times, Sunday 20 April 1902, p. 8).

LATEST NEWS BY WIRE. [Press Telegraph Association.] SYDNEY A SAD SUICIDE. Samuel Pickett, senr., aged 76, residing at Long Gully, near Rylstone, committed suicide by taking a dose of strychnine from a bottle kept in the house for poisoning dogs. He lingered several hours. Though evidently he underwent great agony, he resolutely refused to take an emetic. He had been in ill health for four or five years past; this, added to the fear that he would lose all his stock for want of feed during the coming winter, brought about a feeling of despondency. (Maitland Daily Mercury, Tuesday 15 April 1902, p. 3)

AN OLD RESIDENT OF LUE. POISONS HIMSELF WITH STRYCHNINE. DEPRESSED BY DROUGHT. (from our Correspondent). On Saturday morning, the 12th instant, between 9 and 10 o'clock, Mr. Samuel Pickett, farmer of Long Gully near Lue, informed his wife and son that he had taken poison, but his statement was at first not believed. Some two hours afterwards symptoms of strychnine poisoning showed them-selves, Mr. Pickett having a fit, followed by another an hour and a half later, in which he died. Deceased, who was in his 77th year, was a native England, and had been residing at Long Gully for forty years, where he made a comfortable home for himself. Mr. Pickett reared a large family of sons and daughters, all of whom are married. During the past few years Mr. Pickett suffered from bad health, especially so for the last six months, and was often heard to say that he wished he was dead, as he was only a trouble to himself and those members of his family near him, but he was never heard to threaten to take his own life. The desolation of the drought had recently worried the deceased, who became much depressed as it became more and more evident that many of his stock would perish. A bottle with a small quantity of strychnine in it was kept on a shelf in the kitchen, for the purpose of poisoning dogs, and deceased must have taken this into his bedroom the night before he took the fatal dose, as he did not leave his room on Saturday until about half-past nine in the morning, when he made the statement of having taken the poison. A cup of tea had been taken to deceased by his wife early in the morning, and appearances indicated that he poured a portion of the tea into the strychnine bottle, stirred the contents and then drank it. Deceased was much respected in the locality in which he so long resided, and very general sympathy is expressed for the members of his family, many of whom occupy good positions in the district. An inquest held at Long Gully on Tuesday, before Wm. Taylor, J.P., Coroner, and a jury of five, when a verdict was returned, of death by strychnine poisoning self administered. The re-mains were interred at Lue. (Mudgee Guardian and North Western Representative Thursday 17 April 1902, p. 11)

DEATH AT LUE.

We regret to have to record the death of a very old resident of Lue, in the person of Mrs. Ann Pickett at the advanced age of 88 years of age. Her death took place on the 28th July at the residence of her daughter, Mrs. J. Thompson, of the LueHotel, with whom she had resided since the death of her husband (Mr. Samuel Pickett) some twelve years ago. The deceased lady had been a resident of the district for over sixty years. She leaves a family of 4 sons and 8 daughters, besidesgrandchildren and great-grand children. The funeral was very largely attended. The Rev. Mr. Walker, of Rylstone, officiated at the graveside. (Mudgee Guardian and North Western Representative, Thursday 14 August 1913, p. 23).

Wedding.

KING - PICKETT. On Wednesday, May 25, at the Lue Church of England, a wedding of much interest was celebrated. The contracting parties were Mr. Athol King (youngest son of Mrs. Albert King, Narrango) and Miss Sylvia Elizabeth Pickett (eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. A. Pickett, of Lue). The church was appropriately decorated by the lady friends of the bride, and while the bride entered the church on the arm of her father, the choir sang the hymn, "The Voice that Breathed O'er Eden." The bride was prettily gowned in ivory crepe de chene, trimmed with hand embroidery, relieved with pearls and silk. She also wore a mob cap and tulle veil, with wreath of orange blossoms kindly lent by Mrs. S. King, of Bylong. Miss Violet Elston, cousin of the bride, was bridesmaid. She wore a dress of crepe cretonne net over pale blue silk with silver trimmings and satin ribbon. Mr. Herb King, brother of the bridegroom, was groomsman. The bridegroom's gift to the bride was a handsome engraved gold bangle and a bouquet of white flowers and ferns tied with satin streamers. The bride's gift to the bridegroom was a gold watch chain and pendant. The bridegroom's gifts to the bridesmaid were a gold brooch and a bouquet of assorted flowers relieved by ribbon streamers of pale blue satin. A reception was held at Mrs. W. Elston's residence, where the usual toasts were honored. The Rev. W. V. Thomson proposed the health of the bride and bridegroom. Other toasts were those of the "Bride and Bridegroom's Parents," responded to by Mr. J. Thompson, Mr. H. King, and Mr. C. Grayston; "The Bridesmaid," by Mr. H. Richards, and acknowledged by Mr. Walker. At night a dance was held, at which there was a representative gathering from Lue, Camboon, Bylong, Rawden, Rylstone and Bara. The music was supplied by Messrs. S. Fenton and J. Rope. Mr. R. Walker was M.C. A number of valuable presents were received, including several cheques.

Obituary.

SARAH JANE BATON.

There passed away at her home, Sarah Jane, wife of J. Baton, Lue, on Saturday last at the age of 63 years. The remains were interred in the Church of England cemetery, Lue, the Rev. W. Thompson, of Rylstone, officiating at the grave-side. Deceased leaves a sorrowing husband and grown up family. Mr. H. Barton had charge of the funeral arrangements. Mudgee Guardian, Monday 14 April 1924, p. 15. Obituary Sarah Batten

MRS. W. H. MASON.

Mrs. Winifred Hannah Mason, wife of Mr. Thomas Mason, passed away at the District Hospital on Friday night. The interment took place yesterday in the Church of England Cemetery. The Rev. S. Smith officiated and Messrs. Logan and Co. attended to the funeral arrangements.

North West Champion, Monday 20 August 1934, p. 3. Winifred Mason Death

MRS. W. H. MASON.

The death occurred in the Moree District Hospital on Saturday, of Mrs. Winifred Hannah Mason, wife of Mr. Thomas Mason, of Moree. The deceased, who was only 21 years of age, had been an inmate of the institution for some time. The funeral took place on Sunday afternoon, the remains being interred in the Church of England portion of the cemetery, the Rev. Smith administering the last sad rites. The mortuary arrangements were carried out by Messrs. Logan and Co.

Moree Gwydir Examiner, Monday 20 August 1934, p. 3. Winifred Mason Death

Mr. Samuel Pickett One of the fine old pioneers, in the person of Mr. Samuel Pickett, died in the Mudgee Hospital on Sunday aged 88 years. His wife predeceased him by about six years. For a very lengthy period deceased resided at Turill, where he had a nice little property. He enjoyed excellent health up till a fortnight or so ago and, always active, shore a few of his pet lambs during the shearing period. A fine old type, he enjoyed the friendship of every-one in the district where he lived so long, and his passing will be universally regretted. Among those left to mourn is Mrs. L. Imber (daughter), of Mudgee South. The funeral took place to the Church of England portion of the Mudgee cemetery this afternoon, the Rev. A. G. Powell officiating. The arrangements were carried out by Messrs. J. C. Swords and Son. Mudgee Guardian, Monday 21 February 1944, p. 3. Obituary Samuel Pickett

OBITUARY The Late Mr. Samuel Pickett Still another of our grand old citizens passed over the Great Divide when Mr. Samuel Pickett passed away at Mudgee on 20th February. He had reached the ripe old age of 88, and until a few weeks previously had been well and unusually, active for a man of his years. Before residing at Cassilis he was, for many years, a resident of Pyangle. His long life was marked by industry and usefulness and his home was known to the borders for its ready hospitality; His wife pre-deceased him,also two sons. During his declining years he was lovingly cared for by his youngest daughter, Mrs. C. F. Clarke. He was a dear old father, loved and respected, and after his wife's death he insisted on keeping the home fires burning, and doing his best for his family. Nine daughters survive, together with a number of grandchildren and great-grandchildren. To them sincere sympathy is extended. Mudgee Guardian, Monday 6 March 1944, p. 6. Obituary Samuel Pickett

Mainly About People The following daughters of the fine old pioneer, Mr. Samuel Pickett, of Autumn Hills (notice of whose death we recently published), are left to mourn, viz., Mrs. Janet Bayless (Bowenfels), Mrs. Alma Smede (Turill), Mrs. Ruth Cooper (Apple Tree Flat), Mrs. Hilda Imber Mudgee): Mrs. Bertha King (Kandos), Mrs. Phyllis Byfield (Kurrajong), Mrs. Daisy Milton (Turill), Mrs. Jemima Constable (Cassilis), and Mrs. Gwendoline Clarke (Sydney). To the bereaved our sincere sympathy is extended. Mudgee Guardian, Monday 13 March 1944, p. 2. Obituary Samuel Pickett

In Memoriam PICKETT. Treasured memories of my beloved parents, Samuel and Jane Ann, dear ber Vincent, dear sisters Janet, Alma, Ruth, Hilda, Bertha and Phyllis. “To live in the hearts of those we love, is not to die”. - Gwen. Mudgee Guardian, Tuesday 23 February 1982, p. 9. In Memoriam Pickett Family