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).

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

Headstone reads: Also Her Beloved husband JOHN Died Sept 23 1924 Aged 80 years. Gone but not forgotten.

DEATH AT GULGONG

Mrs. Emily Walsh, relict of the late Thomas Walsh, died at Gulgong on Tuesday, aged 61 years. Deceased, who was a member of the well-known Batten family, of Lue, was held in the highest esteem, and her death will be universally deplored. She is survived by the following sons and daughters. Sydney (Randwick), Michael, Jack, and Vincent (Gulgong), Mrs. Cooper (Annandale), Miss E. Walsh (Gulgong), Nurse Walsh (Cessnock) and Sister J. Walsh (Oberon Convent). To the bereaved ones we extend sincere sympathy. The funeral took place to the R.C. portion of the Gulgong cemetery on Wednesday, the Rev. Father Dahill of Mudgee, performing the last sad rites at the graveside. Messrs McGunn and Clarke carried out the arrangements. Mudgee Guardian, Thursday 13 September 1928, p. 23. Emily Batten Obituary

Death & Funeral Notice: MR. ANDREW GEORGE BATTEN Mr. Andrew George Batten, late of 58 Horatio Street, died at Mudgee District Hospital on Wednesday, aged 85. Surviving him are his wife Lidia, daughters Florence (Mrs. Haigh, Concord), Waverney (Mrs. Carter, Mudgee) and son Jack (Lue). A service for Mr. Batten will be held at St. John's Church of England, at 12.30 p.m. today, before the cortege moves to the Canobolas Crematorium, Orange, for a service there tomorrow at 11 a.m. Mudgee Guardian 21 October 1966

Funeral Notice: Mr. ANDREW GEORGE BATTEN Mr. Andrew George Batten, late of 58 Horatio Street, died at Mudgee District Hospital on Wednesday, aged 85. Surviving him are his wife Lidia, daughters Florence (Mrs. Haigh, Concord), Waverney (Mrs Carter, Mudgee) and son Jack (Lue). A service for Mr. Batten will be held at St. John's Church of England, at 12.30p.m. today, before the cortege moves to the Canobolas Crematorium, Orange, for a service there tomorrow at 11 a.m. Mudgee Guardian, 21 October 1966 page 7

Headstone reads: In Loving Memory of Sarah Jane Batten Who departed this life 12th April 1924 Aged 74 years A kind and loving mother now lies here, Who reared her children with tender care, It gave her joy to see them grown, Before she departed to her last home.