Cudgegong Valley History Project

A Great Old Age.

Mr. George Lovegrove, of Cassilis, who died recently, had reached the very great age of 95. He was only ill a week or so, and up till then was wonderfully active. The deceased was the father of Mr. Ambrose Lovegrove and Mr. James Lovegrove.

Mudgee Guardian, Thursday 10 October 1901, p. 8. George Lovegrove Death

Cassilis.

(From Our Own Correspondent). Death. - We regret to learn of the death of Mr. James Lovegrove, sen., of Coolah, at the age of 70. He was the only brother of Mr. Ambrose Lovegrove, of Hampton, to whom we extend our deepest sympathy.

Mudgee Guardian, Thursday 13 January 1916, p. 20. James Lovegrove Death

Death at Merriwa.

Mr. D. T. McRae, blacksmith, of Merriwa, was found dead on the verandah of his home on Wednesday afternoon.

Mudgee Guardian, Monday 23 February 1920, p. 2. Donald McRae Death

Death of Mrs. M. A. Rawlinson.

Mrs M. A. Rawlinson, wife of the late David Rawlinson, died on Friday last, at her residence "Willy Wally," at an advanced age. The remains were interred in the Anglican portion of cemetery on Sunday. The Rev. W. J. Withycombe officiated. A short history of her life will appear in next issue.

Mudgee Guardian, Thursday 15 July 1920, p. 10. Mary Rawlinson Death

The Late Mrs. M. A. Rawlinson.

The late Mrs. M. A. Rawlinson was 78 years and 11 months old. She was born at Bramley, England, and came to Australia in 1852. Her maiden name was Mary Ann Lovegrove. She had resided many years in the Cassilis district. Her husband died on December 2, 1904. She leaves 10 children, all living, viz., George, Borambil; John, Cooba Bulga; William, Coolah; Harry, "Willy Wally;" Mrs. Hewitt, Denman; Miss J. Rawlinson, "Willy Wally;" Mrs. G. Lovegrove, Coolah; Mrs. G. Saunders, "Willy Wally;" Mrs. F. Collins, Borambil; Mrs. H. Cornish, Coolah. Mrs. Rawlinson was married at Cassilis in 1863. She has one brother living, Mr. A. Lovegrove, Hampton; and one sister, Mrs. McRae, of Merriwa. Great regret is felt at Mrs. Rawlinson's death. We extend our heartfelt sympathy to those bereaved.

Mudgee Guardian, Thursday 22 July 1920, p. 15. Mary Rawlinson Obituary

Also his beloved wife Mary Ann Who died 9th July 1920 Aged 78 years A beautiful memory left behind Of a loving mother good and kind Thy will be done

Old Pioneer Passes

AMBROSE LOVEGROVE, CASSILIS. On Thursday last another of the pioneers of Australian colonisation passed out in Mr. Ambrose Lovegrove of "Hampton,'' Cassilis.'' Mr Lovegrove was a fine type of the early pioneer, being made of that moral fibre which produced the race that Australia can take pride in. He was 79 years of age when he died, and was in this country 71 years of that time, having arrived here with his parents from England when only eight years of age. Shortly after coming to Australia, Mr. Lovegrove's father came to work on Mr. Busbys' Cassilis station, and later on his son started out as a teamster. Later he selected land and did well, until, at the time of his death he owned 4000 acres. The deceased was of a retiring nature and honorable to the last degree. With those who know him, Mr. Lovegrove's word was sufficient bond, such was the character of the man. He was greatly esteemed and respected. His wife predeceased him about seven years. Her maiden name was Sarah Ryan, daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Ryan, a one-time manager of Rotherwood station. Seven sons and five daughters survive. They are G. P. and T. J., Coolah; A. J., "Flaymount,", Uarbry-road; William, Collie; J. A., Cecil and Edward, "Hampton," Cassilis; Mrs. E. Burgees. "Hampton," Cassilis; Mrs. P. Loney, Bega; Mrs. F,. Smythe, "Dalkeith," Cassilis; Sister Laurence, Port Macquarie Convent; Mrs. Blake, "Llangollan," Cassilis. Mr. Lovegrove took a great interest in sheep breeding, and was always proud of his flock. Deceased was buried at Cassilis the Rev. Father O'Reilly, Merriwa, reading the burial service.

Mudgee Guardian, Thursday 15 June 1922, p. 3. Ambrose Lovegrove Obituary

DEATH OF A PIONEER.

An old pioneer of the early days in Cassilis passed away, in the person of Mr. Ambrose Lovegrove, sen., of Hampton, at the ripe age of 79, on Thursday last, after an illness of a week's duration. For some 12 months past his health had not been satisfactory, but it was not until recently, that he had to take to his bed, and in spite of the attention of Dr. Lawrance and a trained nurse, the end came peacefully on Thursday night, June 8. The late Mr. Lovegrove was universally liked and esteemed by all with whom he came in contact. His remains were laid to rest in the Roman Catholic cemetery on Friday afternoon last in the presence of a large gathering. The funeral rites were administered by the Rev. Father O'Reilly, of Merriwa. We extend to the bereaved family our heartfelt sympathy. A short account of the deceased's life will appear in next issue.

Mudgee Guardian, Thursday 15 June 1922, p. 3. Ambrose Lovegrove Obituary

Mr. Ambrose Lovegrove.

A fine type of pioneer passed away recently, in the person of Mr. Ambrose Lovegrove, grazier, of Hampton, near Cassilis. Mr. Lovegrove had nearly reached the age of 80. From early boyhood, when he arrived from England with his parents, he resided in the Cassilis district, where he was well-known and highly respected. He married Miss Sarah Regan, who, despite the fact that her husband continued for years the practice of his own (Church of England) religion. never abated by one jot the fervour of her Catholic faith and practice, and infused the same fine, robust spiritual life into the children. As a result, she had the satisfaction about 15 years ago of seeing her husband received into the Catholic Church. This was no formal ceremony with the late Mr. Lovegrove, but a real spiritual conversion, based on conviction and faith, as evidenced by the life of strict adherence to the practices of the religion of his adoption lived by this fine old gentleman ever since. He had the consolations of that religion in his last conscious hours, at the hands of the Very Rev. Father W. E. O'Reilly. At the obsequies, Father O'Reilly spoke feelingly, and in words of high eulogy of the departed one, with whom he had long been on terms of close friendship. Mrs. Lovegrove predeceased her husband by five or six years. A numerous family remain to mourn the loss of a loving and beneficent father. They are as follow: Mr. G. P. Lovegrove (Coolah), Mr. T. J. Lovegrove (grazier, Coolah), Mr. A. J. Lovegrove (Cassilis), Mr. W. Lovegrove (grazier, Gilgandra), Messrs. Edward, Allan and Cecil Lovegrove (Cassilis); Mrs. Burgess (Cassilis), Mesdames Blake (Cassilis), Smyth (Dalkeith, Cassilis), Mrs. Luney (Bega), and Sister M. Lawrence (of the Order of St. Joseph, Port Macquarie). The late Mr. Lovegrove experienced the usual vicissitudes of the men who pioneered the virgin lands of the continent, but managed to leave as a legacy to his family the well-improved and valuable property of "Hampton." At the time of his advent in the district, in 1852, this region was but sparsely settled, and extremely isolated. In those early days the late Mr. Lovegrove drove his wool on bullock dray to Morpeth, the port of shipment, for the northern railway was then unknown. - R.I.P.

Catholic Press, Thursday 6 July 1922, p. 12. Ambrose Lovegrove Obituary

DEATH OF MR. A. LOVEGROVE.

On Thursday last there passed away at his late residence "Hampton," Cassilis, Mr. Ambrose Lovegrove, at the age of 79 years. The remains were interred in the Roman Catholic Cemetery, Cassilis, on Friday, Father O'Reilly, of Merriwa, reading the burial service.

Mudgee Guardian, Monday 12 June 1922, p. 6. Ambrose Lovegrove Death