Cudgegong Valley History Project

Headstone reads: In loving memory of Jane Taylor who died 4 October 1892 Aged 51 years

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).

DEATH OF A RYLSTONE PIONEER. The death of Mr. James Taylor occurred on Friday last at his residence in Rylstone. The deceased was the oldest living resident of the district, and was born in Rylstone. He had many trying vicissitudes on the land, and in all his career he displayed an indomitable courage that carried him over the stormy seas of life. He was an able and intelligent man, possessed of a kindly heart and charitable character, ever ready to extend his help and advice to all who sought it. He leaves a large grown-up family. His remains were interred in the Methodist portion of the Rylstone cemetery on Saturday last, Rev. Mr. Laverty, of Mudgee, officiating at the graveside. His remains were followed to their last resting place by a large concourse of friends and relatives. Mudgee Guardian, Thursday 17 December 1914, p. 13. Death of Rylstone Pioneer

Headstone reads: In memory of James Taylor Who died 11th December 1914 Aged 75 years

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS OBITUARY. The death is reported from Concord of Mr. Samuel Taylor, a former well-known resident of Rylstone. Mudgee Guardian, Monday 2 December 1929, p. 4. Death Samuel Taylor

DEATHS TAYLOR - November 11, 1929, at his residence, 21 Young street Concord (late of Rylstone), Samuel Henry, beloved husband of Margaret Taylor, and father of Spencer and Vera, aged 60 years. Sydney Morning Herald, Saturday 16 November 1929, p. 16. Death notice Samuel Henry Taylor

FUNERALS TAYLOR. - The Relatives and Friends of Mrs. MARGARET TAYLOR, SPENCER, and VERA, are Invited to attend the funeral of her beloved HUSBAND and their FATHER, Samuel Taylor, to leave his late residence, 21 Young-street, Concord, THIS DAY at 2.30 p.m., for Methodist Cemetery, Rookwood, by road per motor service. Friends travelling by funeral train alight No. 3 cemetery platform and proceed to section 3a. T. J. ANDREWS. Funeral Director, 21-25 Enmore-rd, Newtown. 'Phones, L2B73 and 4.

TAYLOR. - The Officers and Members of Jubilee Lodge U.A.O. Druids, Burwood, are kindly invited to attend the Funeral of their late Bro. Samuel Henry Taylor; to leave his residence, 21 Young-street, Concord. TO-DAY, at 2 30 p.m. (per motor) for Methodist Cemetery. Redwood. J. THOMPSON. Secretary.

Sydney Morning Herald, Wednesday 13 November 1929, p. 13. Funeral Samuel Taylor

Leadville Man Killed in Smash A Leadville man, Leonard Walsh (58), father of a large family, died late on Friday night as a result of injuries he received in a road smash earlier in the night. He died in Gulgong Hospital at 11 o’clock. The accident occurred about eight miles north of Gulgong on the Gulgong-Dunedoo road at about 7.30 p.m. Walsh, a Prickly Pear Commission employee, was returning home to Leadville in a land rover when the front of the tray on a six-ton lorry driven by R. Betteridge. The force of the collision overturned the land rover, extensively damaging it and the lorry ran off the side of the road but did not overturn. Walsh was found underneath his vehicle. Betteridge escaped unharmed. Walsh received a fractured skull, fractured left arm, fractured right leg and severe lacerations. Betteridge’s truck was one of a convoy of four trucks taking oats from Birriwa Station to Widden Valley. Both men were travelling alone. The deep sympathy of town and district people will go out to his sorrowing widow and family, Carol, Robert, Maxwell, Brain, Grahame, Roger and Laurence. His funeral was to have taken place today from the Church of England, Gulgong. Eastaugh and Carroll handling arrangements. Mudgee Guardian, 5 March 1962, p. 1. Death notice Leonard Walsh

Leadville News Local Man Killed In Road Smash Gloom was cast over the town on Saturday at noon when news of the shocking fatal accident on the Gulgong-Dunedoo road the previous night was released. The dead man, Leonard Walsh (58), of Garland Street, Leadville, was employed by the Prickly Pear Commission and was on his way home when the accident occurred. Mr. Walsh, better known as 'Trapper' Walsh, leaves a wife and seven children to mourn his loss. To them we extend sincere sympathy. Mudgee Guardian, Thursday 8 March 1962, p. 22. Death notice Leonard Walsh

Obituary Mr. Leonard Walsh Residents were shocked to learn of the death of Mr Leonard Walsh as a result of injuries received in a collision on Friday, March 2, on the Gulgong-Dunedoo Road. Mr. Walsh, a Prickly Pear Commission employee, was returning home from work. The late Mr. Walsh was born at Lue 58 years ago and spent his early life in the Lue and Mudgee district and later worked at Lithgow where he married Miss Enid Ashby. Mr. Walsh was a member of the Buffalo Lodge in which he held a high position, and was also a keen worker for the A.L.P. in this electorate. He leaves a sorrowing widow and family, Carol, Robert, Maxwell, Brian, Graham, Rodger and Laurence. Also to mourn his loss is his 91 years old mother Mrs. Emily Walsh, of Corrimal, and sisters, Mrs. Elsie Wade, of Mudgee, Mrs. Gladys Crewdson and Mrs. Kathleen Newbold, of Lithgow, and bers Wallace, of Narrabri, Tom, of Coniston, Maurice of Punchbowl, and William, of Corrimal. The funeral took place on Monday, March 5, from the Church of England church, Gulgong. Rev. Barrie Close, of Coolah, conducted the service at the church and graveside at the Gulgong Cemetery. Pallbearers were Messrs. R. Marsh, W. Wheeler, J. Nobles and M. Moore; employees of the Prickly Pear Commission. Eastaugh & Carroll had charge of the funeral arrangements. Mudgee Guardian, Thursday 15 March 1962, p. 26. Obituary Leonard Walsh