Cudgegong Valley History Project

DEATH AT GULGONG. There passed away at Gulgong, on Wednesday night, 14th instant, Mrs Cleary, wife of Mr. W. Cleary, builder and contractor of that town. Deceased, who was only 32 years of age, was the daughter of Mr. Geo. Ashton of Green Hills. The grief-stricken husband is left with two little children, the youngest only a fortnight old. The funeral took place on Friday last, the remains being interred in the R.C. portion of the Gulgong cemetery, Rev. E. P. O'Donnell reading the prayers for the dead at the graveside. Mudgee Guardian, Thursday 22 July 1909, p. 14. Obituary Catherine Cleary

DEATH OF MR. GEORGE ASHTON. An old identity of the district passed away at the Gulgong Hospital on October 30th, in the person of Mr. George Ashton, senr., of Green Hills. From the meagre particulars to hand it would appear that he was in his usual state of health until a few days ago, when, after taking a bath, he sustained a stroke from which he never recovered. We extend our deepest sympathy to the bereaved family. Mudgee Guardian, Thursday 2 November 1922, p. 25. Obituary George Ashton

THE LATE MR. G. ASHTON. Mr. George Ashton, one of the oldest pioneers of the district, and a very popular man, has joined the vast majority. His genial countenance is very much missed, and to the bereaved wife and family we extend our heartfelt sympathy. Mudgee Guardian, Thursday 16 November 1922, p. 16. Obituary George Ashton

Death of Mr. Geo. Ashton FIRST WHITE CHILD BORN ON NORFOLK ISLAND. In connection with the death of Mr. George Ashton, the following appears in this week's Gulgong "Advertiser": - The death of Mr. George Ashton, of Green Hills, which occurred on October 31st, adds an-other name to the list of old district identities who have passed away during the past two years. The deceased, who was 73 years of age, was the first while child born on Norfolk Island, when it was a penal settlement in the early part of last century. His father, John Ashton, was a captain in the old New South Wales Regiment. The late Mr. Ashton came to Australia when very young, and had been a resident of Green Hills for a great number of years. He was in Gulgong at the time of the gold rush, and had seen gum trees growing in Church-street, Mudgee. Prior to his death, he was the oldest Talbragar resident living. The deceased was highly esteemed throughout the district, and he was a most interesting character. It was only at the last sitting of the Land Board that the chairman picked him out and had a long and very interesting conversation with him. Deceased's death was caused by influenza and paralysis, and he had only been ailing for about 16 days. He leaves a widow and family of seven children to mourn, to whom we extend our deepest sympathy. They are: Mrs. C. Cohen (Gular), Mrs. Raymond (Sydney), Mrs. Sullivan (Green Hills), George (Merriwa), John (Gulgong), Malachi (West Australia), and Kenneth (Green Hills). The funeral took place on Thursday last, the remains being laid to rest in the R.C. portion of the general cemetery. The Rev. Father Cooney performed the last sad rites at the graveside. Messrs. McGowan and Bayliss had charge of the funeral arrangements. Mudgee Guardian, Thursday 9 November 1922, p. 9. First white child born Norfolk Island George Ashton

DISTRICT FRIENDS The Late Mrs. Ashton REFERRING to the late Mrs. Ashton, who passed away at Merriwa and whose remains were laid to rest in Gulgong quite recently, the Merriwa paper says: The late Mrs. Ashton, who was the mother of Messrs. George and Ken Ashton, of Merriwa, had been ailing for the past couple of years. She was a woman of cheerful yesterdays and confident tomorrows, and to have lived a life, rich in its goodness and noted for its kindness, to have earned the warmest regard of all sorts and conditions of mankind and womankind, is to have made oneself ready, a smiling and willing victim, for the time when the Grim Reaper pays his fateful call. This surely was the case with the late Mrs. Ashton who responded to the last call on Saturday, July 20, 1935. The late Mrs. Ashton was a native of Bathurst, and had endeared herself to her many friends in the Mudgee, Gulgong, Cassilis and Merriwa districts. She was of a kindly disposition, and in her younger days proved a friend to many people in the districts mentioned. To these people the memory of the late Mrs. Ashton will be cherished in their grateful hearts. After leaving Gulgong she took up residence in Sydney, and about five years ago came to reside in Merriwa, where she remained up to the time of her death. Being possessed of a wonderfully retentive memory for her age, she could converse most interestingly of the "good old days." In her home circle she will be missed by those who, above all others in the community, knew best her worth and loved her best to the last. Mudgee Guardian, Thursday 8 August 1935, p. 13. Obituary Catherine Ashton

Gulgong Personal Mr. Malachy Ashton, a cousin of Mr. Jack Ashton, of Gulgong, died in the Derby Hospital (W.A.) recently, aged 63 years. Deceased was a native of Uarbry and had resided in Western Australia for 39 years. Messrs. George and Ken Ashton (Merriwa) are bers and Mrs. J. Sullivan (Binnaway) a sister. Mudgee Guardian, Thursday 19 December 1946, p. 17. Obituary Malachy Ashton