Cudgegong Valley History Project

DEATH. DWYER. - At Sydney Hospital, Sydney, MARY ANN, the beloved wife of Cornelius Dwyer (late of Rylstone), and mother of Mrs. C. Howe (Rylstone). Mrs. H. Warden (Randwick), Martha Stollery (Sydney), Joseph Stollery (America), and M. J. Stollery (Lithgow), on MONDAY, April 1, 1912, in her 64th year. "Recquiescat in pace." Mudgee Guardian. Mudgee Guardian, Thursday 4 April 1912, p. 16. Mary Ann Dwyer Death

An Appreciation On the Late Mrs Con Dwyer. [By "Old Friend.") At Waverley, on Wednesday last, was interred in her last earthly home the body of one long identified with Mudgee and the district, and known and respected by everyone, who had come in contact with her, known to us of late years as Mrs. Con. Dwyer, to an earlier generation as Mrs. M. Stollery, and earlier again as Mary Ann Merriman. She was justly entitled to be considered one of Mudgee's "old identities," in that she came to reside in the town with her father and brother some sixty years ago. Her father, the late Michael Merriman, left his home in Yorkshire (Little Barnsley, where Mary Ann was born) sixty years ago with his wife and family for this country: but his wife died at sea, and thus the children were motherless when they landed. Mr. Merriman went into business in Mudgee as a general storekeeper, and later on followed the western line as it progressed towards Bathurst. For some years his daughter, Mary Ann, was housekeeper for Father O'Donovan (now Monsignor O'Donovan, and still amongst us. Then she went to Brewongle, and from there was married to her first husband, Ephraim Joseph Stollery, at Bathurst, by the late Dr. Byrnes. There were four children by that marriage, viz., Mary (Mrs. Howe, Rylstone), Michael (foreman in the Lithgow "Mercury" office), Rose (Mrs. Henry Warden, Randwick), and Joseph (America), and Martha (now in Sydney, and unmarried). Her first husband - who, by the way, was a native of Suffolk (Woodbridge road), England - died in 1890 at Rylstone, where he had gone into business as hotelkeeper, and kept the old Shamrock Inn until his death. His widow kept the house on until her marriage with Mr. Con. Dwyer, who took the Bridge Hotel, and later on went in for journalism, and founded the Rylstone "Advocate," which made a considerable stir during its brief life. The bank smashes of '93 smashed many in their fall, and among the number Mr. and Mrs. Dwyer. Their hard earned money was lost, and they had to seek "fresh fields and pastures new," which happened to be in Sydney, where for a time they kept the Caledonian Hotel in Bathurst street. For some years things were not too bright, though they came out of the struggle all right, and for a good spell the sun shone pleasantly on them. Then, just as they were making a safe anchorage for their old age, in a pleasant suburb over the water from Sydney, the physical ailment came which ended Mrs. Dwyer's not uneventful life at the age of 64. She died in Sydney Hospital on Monday morning, at 1 o'clock, after seven weeks of suffering, during which she underwent two operations for a serious internal complaint. From Monday till Wednesday this good woman's body lay in her coffin — looking as if in a passing sleep - at Wood and Cofffill’s mortuary chapel, in George-street, where many old friends and acquaintances went to see her lying in peaceful sleep of death. At an early hour on Wednesday the body was conveyed to St. Patrick's Church, where a Solemn Mass was celebrated by the Rev. Father Ginisty, leaving the church at 8.45 for Waverley cemetery, where the interment took place shortly after 10, the funeral service of the church being celebrated by the Rev. Father Beigley. The place of interment is pleasantly situated on a gentle slope towards the blue Pacific, though a considerable elevation. Close by - a few graves away in another block - rests the earthly remains of Sheridan, the well-known actor (the original "Widow O'Brien" on whose monument is a curious inscription, viz., "And sorry I am, I am here." True enough, maybe, but seemingly a contradiction in a Christian place of sepulture. Be that as it may, Mary Ann Dwyer rests peacefully alongside a very old friend, Sarah Burns. It had been so agreed between them, and the promise. made was faithfully kept, both husband and children striving in every way to carry out the dying wishes of their loved one. Writer had the privilege of knowing Mrs. Dwyer intimately, and he feels the loss of a true friend and confidante - one not easily replaced. It has been a sad Easter for her husband and children, who had hoped to see her about and among them again. But now all is changed! A breath of wind, the faint light of the taper flickers, and then disappears! But "Dry up your tears, and place your rosemary On this fair corpse; and, as the common custom is, In all her best array bear her to church; For, though fond nature bids us all laent, Yet nature's tears are reason's merriment." Mudgee Guardian, Thursday 11 April 1912, p. 32. Mary Ann Dwyer Obituary

HOWE - GALE.

During Nuptial Mass at 8 o'clock on Easter Monday at Our Lady's of Mount Carmel Church, Sydney, Miss Doris Gladys, only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. T. Gale, of Sydney, was married to Leslie Charles, second son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Howe, of Rylstone. Rev. Father Collins performed the ceremony. The bride, who was given away by her brother (Mr. Alf. Gale), looked very pretty in a frock of white crepe de chene and georgette, with silver trimmings. She also wore the customary wreath and veil and carried a lovely bouquet of white chrysanthemums. She was attended by Misses Lily and Monica Power (cousins), who wore pretty frocks of pale pink and pale blue merve silk, with mob caps to match, and also carried bouquets of pale pink chrysanthemums. Mr. Reuben Gale acted as best man. The wedding breakfast was held at the residence of the bride's parents, where the usual toasts were honored, and later in the day the happy couple left for Katoomba, where the honeymoon was spent. The bride was attired in a frock of grey crepe de chene, with hat to match. Their future home will be in Sydney.

Rigney - Howe A lovely wedding of great interest took place at St. Malachi's Catholic Church, Rylstone, on September 26, the ceremony being performed by the Rev. Father Ring, P.P. The bride was DoRothy Monica Howe, the youngest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Howe, of Rylstone, and the groom was Sergeant Vincent Rigney, A.I.F. (returned), only son of Mrs. B. Rigney, of Hornsby. The bride was given away by her father. She was dressed in a very pretty blue ensemble with navy accessories to match. Miss Alice Howe, sister of the bride, was bridesmaid. She wore a dusty pink frock with black accessories to match. Both bride and bridesmaid carried handsome posies. The best man was L. Cpl. Alan Flannery, A.I.F. (returned). A reception was afterwards held at the home of the bride's parents. The tables were daintily arranged with flowers and flags of the bridegroom's colors. Between 70 and 80 guests were present. The guests were received by the mother of the bride and bridegroom. Many toasts were honored. After the reception the bride and bridegroom left for their honeymoon by train to Sydney. The bride travelling frock was of navy crepe with hat to match. Mudgee Guardian, Thursday 22 October 1942, p. 10. Wedding Rigney and Howe

Obituary On Thursday evening, August 14, the death occurred of Mr. Charles Howe at his residence, 6 Short Street. The late Mr. Howe was one of the oldest residents of Rylstone, where he was born 81 years ago. Deceased had resided in Rylstone all his life. In his early days he carried on pastoral and farming pursuits in the Cox's Creek district and later undertook carting and contracting. He was the last surviving member of the old original Howe family. He is survived by a widow, four daughters - Kathleen (Mrs. Hawkins), Ruby (Mrs. Frappell), Alice (Mrs. Freeman), and Doy (Mrs. Rigney), and seven sons - Hilton, Les, Jim, Jack, William, Joe and Norman. The funeral, which took place at the Rylstone cemetery on Saturday last, was largely attended. The Rev. Father Kenefick officiated at the church and grave. To the bereaved we extend our sincere sympathy. Mudgee Guardian, Thursday 21 August 1947, p. 10. Obituary Charles Howe