Cudgegong Valley History Project

The Coonamble Epidemic. Further Details. [By Telegraph.] COONAMBLE, Wednesday. The fever epidemic seems to be abating, fewer cases being reported. The total number is now over 260. Mr. Francis Stewart Caswell, stock agent and ex-manager of the Commercial Bank here, who has been in the hospital since the start of the outbreak, died early this morning, aged 41 years. He will be buried this evening, and accorded a masonic and Oddfellows' funeral. Mrs. Bridget Halpin, a married woman, aged 22, died last night. The latter was not an inmate of the hospital. Dr. Ashburton Thompson is expected by today's train. A very numerously-signed petition from medical men and rate-payers was presented at last night's council meeting urging the immediate removal of the present nightsoil depot, which is very close to the town, and the nightsoil is only covered a few inches. The council intends to consult Dr. Ashburton Thompson on the matter. Mudgee Guardian, Thursday 5 March 1903, p. 10. Obituary Bridget Halpin

TYPHOID FEVER. COONAMBLE, Wednesday. Mr. F. S. Caswell, general agent, and Mrs. Halpin died at the hospital from typhoid, making 11 deaths. One fresh case was reported yesterday and two this morning. The weather is very oppressive and unfavourable. Sydney Morning Herald, Thursday 5 March 1903, p. 8. Typhoid fever Bridget Halpin

The Passing. AN OLD IDENTITY. Another of Gulgong's old identities died on Saturday morning last, in the person of Mrs. M. Derwin. The deceased came to Gulgong in the first rush. She was 68 years of age, and leaves a large number of children, and grandchildren to mourn. Mudgee Guardian, Thursday 9 May 1912, p. 21. Obituary Johanna Derwin

Death of Mr. Martin Derwin. Sydney last week, Mr. Martin Derwin (80) a one time resident of Gulgong. Deceased left about seven years ago for Sydney. He came to Gulgong when the gold rush broke out and set up as a bootmaker. His was the first business of its kind to open in Gulgong. His wife predeceased him by seven years. Deceased is survived by the following sons and daughters:- Mrs. Somerfield (Gulgong), Mrs. T. Boddle (Rooty Hill), James Derwin (Coonamble), Mr Patrick Derwin (Queensland) and Private Cornelius Derwin who is on active service, another daughter is residing in Coonamble. The remains were brought to Gulgong. The burial service was conducted at St. John's Church, and in the afternoon the remains were interred in the Catholic portion of the cemetery. Mudgee Guardian, Monday 7 April 1919, p. 3. Obituary Martin Derwin

MRS MARY LYONS. There passed to her eternal reward recently, Mrs Mary Lyons, of 35 Dowling-street, Kensington, fortified by the rites of Holy Church. Mrs Lyons was born at Gulgong, and was the eldest daughter of the late Martin and Johanna Derwin. She married Henri Lyons, of Harve, France, who predeceased her 23 years ago. Twenty years of her life was spent in Coonamble, where she worked untiringly for the Church and Convent. For 21 years Mrs. Lyons resided in the Manly district, still doing her work for the Church she loved. The last four years of her life were spent at Kensington. She was only ill two weeks, and during that time was attended untiringly by Rev. Father McGinley. Deceased leaves four sons, Harry (Adelaide), Joseph, Leon and Louis (Sydney), and two daughters, Pauline (Sydney) and Marie (Mrs. Carew, of Oakleigh, Victoria) to mourn the loss of a wonderful mother. She was buried in Manly alongside her husband, the prayers at the church and graveside being recited by Rev. Father McGinley, of Kensington, and Rev. Father McDonnell, of Manly. - "Freeman's Journal." Mudgee Guardian, Thursday 29 July 1937, p. 17. Obituary Mary Lyons

MEBUL - YAMBLE NEWS Mr. Patrick Derwin, of Mudgee, a Gulgong native and ber of Mrs. M. Somerfield, Mrs. H. Bowie, of Sydney (formerly of Gulgong) has died. Our sympathy is extended to the bereaved. Mudgee Guardian, Thursday 6 January 1938, p. 8. Death Patrick Derwin

DEATH OF GULGONG NATIVE Mr. James Derwin A NATIVE of Gulgong, Mr. James Derwin, aged 77 years, died in the district hospital at Coonamble recently. Mrs. R. A. Somerfield, of Mayne street, Gulgong, is a sister, and our sympathy is extended to her. The "Coonamble Times" says: - "Son of the late Mr. Martin Derwin, of Gulgong, he saw Coonamble grow since he was about 18 years of age. His first venture in life was that of a bootmaker, an occupation in the early days. Later deceased engaged in tank-sinking in various parts of the district, after which he returned to the bootmaking trade and conducted a shop in Tooloon Street for a long time. Subsequently he discarded the hammer and last, and embraced the bicycle trade, which form of business he conducted up to the time of his illness. "When a young man the late Jim Derwin was a noted cyclist. He often told of the days when he took part in big cycling events in Sydney and at some of the larger western towns, his prowess as a road-racer being often acknowledged in the provincial and metropolitan press. It was as an alderman of the municipal council for many years that deceased gained considerable notoriety. Invariably outspoken and trenchant in criticism, he often engaged in heated verbal battle with his ber aldermen, whether it be the occupant of the mayoral chair or a new chum to the council table. Sympathetically disposed towards the poor - or what he termed the underdog - he fought for their rights and voiced their grievances in a way that merited admiration from even those who did not always see eye-to-eye with him in matters of municipal debate. In the late ex-Alderman Derwin the poor always had a good friend, many of whom benefited by his advocacy and the measure of relief that came their way through the influence he exerted at the council table." Mudgee Guardian, Thursday 12 February 1942, p. 15. Obituary James Derwin

GULGONG PERSONAL Mrs. R. A. Somerfield, of Mayne Street, has received a letter of condolence from Mr. W. F. Dunn, M.L.A., and Mrs. Dunn, owing to the death of her ber, Mr. J. Derwin a Gulgong native. Mr. Dunn said he never visited the West without calling at Coonamble to see how he was getting on. It could be truly said of him that he loved his fellow men, for the poor had in him a never-failing and generous friend, added Mr Dunn. Mudgee Guardian, Thursday 26 February 1942, p. 10. Dunn MLA James Derwin

DEATH Mrs. J. Briggs A Gulgong native, Mrs. Johannah Briggs, relict of the late Mr. George J. Briggs, died in the Mater Misericordiae Hospital, North Sydney, recently. Deceased, who was 69 years of age, was a daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Martin Derwin, who were highly respected residents of the town many years ago. After attending the Convent School during the time the late Rev. Father Long was parish priest, the late Mrs. Briggs left for Sydney. Surviving sisters and a ber are: Mesdames Rose Somerfield (Gulgong), Nell Hassard (Edgecliff), and Mr. Cornelius Derwin (Chatswood). The funeral took place to the Catholic portion of the Northern Suburbs' cemetery. Our sympathy is extended to the bereaved ones. Mudgee Guardian, Thursday 5 August 1948, p. 10. Obituary Johannah Briggs

Deaths HASSARD, Ellen. - December 8 1967, at hospital, of 28 Moore Park Road, Paddington, dearly beloved wife of the late Jason Hassard, loved mother of John (Charlie), Mary Elizabeth (Mrs. Sheehan), Jean (Mrs. Widdifield) and Olive Geraldine (Mrs. Newton, U.S.A.) Sydney Morning Herald, Monday 11 December 1967, p. 25. Death Notice Ellen Hassard