Cudgegong Valley History Project

Death of Mr. Joseph Pitt. The "Rylstone Advocate" says it is with regret that we have to record the death of Mr Joseph Pitt, of Cudgegong, which sad event took place at his residence, on Tuesday night rather suddenly. For sometime past the deceased gentle-man had been in a delicate state of health and under the care of Dr Nicholl, of Mudgee. On the day prior to his death, Mr Pitt felt in better health than he had for some time past, but on the evening of his death, he took a bad turn, and passed away peacefully, sitting in his chair, surrounded by his loving sons and daughters. The death of the deceased gentleman cast quite a gloom over Cudgegong, where he been a resident for over 28 years, and was highly respected by all who came in contact with him. The late Mr Pitt was 60 years of age, and a native of Richmond, near Windsor. The remains were interred in the Cudgegong cemetery, on Thursday morning, and were followed to the grave by his sorrowing sons, daughters, relatives, and a large concourse of friends. The Rev D Winter, R.D., read the burial services in a very impressive manner, and spoke in feeling terms of the good qualities of deceased gentleman, and the sad blow to his loving and affectionate family (Windsor and Richmond Gazette, Saturday 14 December 1895, page 22).

FATAL. GUN ACCIDENT. Rylstone, Monday. Mr. Charles Pitt, of Cudgegong, who met with a serious gun accident on Sunday week, died yesterday. Great sympathy is expressed throughout the district for his family (Australian Star, Tuesday 7 July 1896, p. 7).

OBITUARY. The death is announced of Mr Charles Pitt, third son of the late Mr Joseph Pitt, of Rose Hill, Cudgegong, and nephew of Mr Charles Pitt, of this town, at the early age of 25 years, who died on Saturday evening last from the effects of a terrible gun accident which befel him a week previous. Deceased was able to speak but little after the accident, as his face had been terribly injured and disfigured. He lingered on for nearly a week, suffering untold agony, and death must have been a happy release. The greatest care and attention was given the sufferer, but from the first the doctor pronounced the case a hopeless one. The funeral was attended by some of the deceased's Windsor relatives (Windsor and Richmond Gazette, Saturday 11 July 1896, page 9).

Charles Pitt Succumbs. Mudgee, Tuesday. Charles Pitt, the victim of the recent shooting accident at Cudgegong, when a portion of his face was blown away, succumbed to his injuries (National Advocate, Wednesday 8 July 1896, page 3).

OLDFIELD - PITT. At the Cudgegong Church of England, the Rev. Mr. Walker, of Rylstone, united in the holy bonds of matrimony, Lila, eldest daughter of Mr. James Pitt of Ironstone Creek, Cudgegong, and Mr. P. H. Oldfield, second son of Mr. James Oldfield, of Stony Pinch. Misses Ivy Pitt and Oldfield, sisters of the bride, and bridegroom respectively, were the bridesmaids, and Mr. J. W. Oldfield, bRother of the bridegroom, was best-man. The honeymoon is being spent in Sydney. The future home of the happy couple, to whom we extend our best wishes. will be at Swan Creek, Cudgegong (Mudgee Guardian and North-Western Representative, Thursday 1 June 1916, p. 19).

APPROACHING HAPPINESS. On the last day of May, Lila, eldest daughter of Mr. James Pitt, is to be married in the Church of England at Cudgegong, to Mr. P. H. Oldfield (Mudgee Guardian and North-Western Representative, Thursday 25 May 1916, page 15).

Death of Mrs E. T. Millett. RESPECTED LEADVILLE RESIDENT. It is with great regret we announce the death of Mrs. Millett, wife of Mr. E. T. Millett, the popular proprietor of the Royal Hotel, Leadville, which occurred at Mudgee yesterday afternoon. Mrs. Millett, who had been seriously ill for some time prior to her death, some time back came to Mudgee and entered a private hospital. On Friday she underwent a critical operation. She never rallied, after the operation, and, gradually sinking, passed away shortly after two o'clock yesterday afternoon. All the members of her immediate family were present at the time of her death. Mrs. Millett was all, as a wife, mother and neighbor, that a woman should be, was mostly highly respected and greatly esteemed . Her death came as a painful shock to her friends and acquaintances, particularly at Leadville. She was 60 years of age, was a daughter of Mrs. J. Pitt, Berry, who survives her, and a daughter-in-law of Mr. W. W. Millett, of Mudgee. She leaves besides her husband the following family: - Mrs. E. Madden (Brisbane) and Misses Amy, Annie, May and Maud Miilett (Leadville), daughters. Her surviving sisters and bers are Mrs. Nash (Berry), Mrs. Rayner (Mudgee), and Misses Lizzie and Eva Pitt (Cudgegong), Messrs. Austin Pitt (Mullamuddy), J. A. Pitt (Mudgee), S. Pitt (Cudgegong) and J. Pitt (Cudgegong). The funeral took place this after-noon from the residence of Mr. W. W. Millett. The remains were interred in the Church of England portion of the General Cemetery, the Rev. Canon Dunstan officiating. The funeral arrangements were carried out by Mr. Braden (Mudgee Guardian and North-Western Representative, Thursday 26 July 1917, p. 16)

MR. AUSTIN PITT. Quite a gloom was cast over Mudgee on Tuesday when it became known that Mr. Austin Pitt, of Mullamuddy, and a most highly respected and popular resident of the district in which he had spent all his life, has died on the previous night - or as it transpired early that morning. Mr. Pitt had the day be-fore complained of feeling unwell, but it was not for a moment suspected that there was anything seriously wrong with him. On Monday night he was seized with a paralytic stroke. A medical man was summoned from Mudgee, but before the doctor's arrival, with a nurse, Mr. Pitt had died. The death, which occurred shortly after midnight, was a consequence of the stroke, from the effects of which the unfortunate gentleman never rallied. Mr. Pitt was on the day of his death so far in his usual health that during the day he was mustering sheep in company with his nephew, Mr. W. Pitt. Mr Austin Pitt, who was a member of the well known district Pitt family, was at the time of his death only 38 years of age. He was a farmer and grazier carrying on business at Mullamuddy in partnership with Messrs. S. V. Pitt and Co., Cudgegomg. He married Miss M. McLachlan, sister of Mr. L. McLachlan, of Rylstone, and leaves, besides his widow, a family of three children, the youngest of whom is under three years of age. Mrs. Millett, of Leadville, whose death occurred at Mudgee, on July 25, was a sister of Mr. Austin Pitt. The following are also of the family : - Mrs. J. Pitt (Berry, mother), Mrs. Nash (Berry), Mrs. Rayner (Mudgee), and Misses Lizzie and Eva Pitt (Cudgegong), Messrs. J. A. Pitt (Mudgee), S. Pitt (Cudgegong), and J. Pitt (Cudgegong). The funeral, which was largely and influentially attended, took place on Wednesday. The interment was made in the Church of England Cemetery at Mudgee. The Rev Canon Dunstan officiated at the graveside. Tie funeral arrangements were carried out by Mr. J. C. Swords, funeral director, Mudgee (Mudgee Guardian and North-Western Representative, Thursday 2 August 1917, p. 17).

Death. MRS ELIZABETH PITT The death occurred at her residence, Rosehill, Cudgegong, early this morning, of Mrs Elizabeth Pitt, aged 86. Deceased was a native of Pitt Town, in the Windsor district, and came to Mudgee 51 years ago. Her husband predeceased her by 24 years. She leaves the following family: - William Pitt (Mcdonald's Creek), James (Cudgegong), Joseph (Mudgee, Samuel (Mullamuddy), Mrs S. Rayner (Mullamuddy), Mrs G. Nash (Berry), who is also seriously ill in Mudgee, Miss Lizzie Pitt (Cudgegong), and Miss Pitt (Berry). The funeral will leave the deceased's late residence, Rosehill, Cudgegong, at 2.30 p.m. to-morrow (Tuesday), and the remains will be interred in the Church of England section of the general cemetery, Cudgegong. The Rev. W. V. Thomson will officiate at the graveside, whilst Mr J. C. Swords will have charge of the funeral arrangements (Mudgee Guardian and North-Western Representative, Monday 7 April 1919, p. 2).

Reminiscences of the Late Mrs Pitt. (Contributed) Those who have known the late Mrs. Elizabeth Pitt, who so lately passed to a new sphere, may read with, interest something of her earlier days. This, grand old lady was noted for her loving, kindly and happy disposition a characteristic which were in her girldhood days even more emphasised. Mr. ??? ????? right hand. She was the eldest daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Robert Smith, of Wilberforce, in the Windsor district. Here her girlhood days were spent usefully and amiably. At the age of 19 she was married to the late Mr. Joseph Pitt, in the Church of England at Richmond, where she had previously been a much loved and respected teacher. Some fourteen years of her early married life were spent at Richmond, and later at Rouse Hill, Pitt Town. From thence a removal was made to the Mudgee district, in the year 1868, the selected being on a farm leased from the late Mr. William Bowman, known at that time, as Bridge Flat, now as Lillawa. Here a produce business and store was successfully conducted for a number of years. Eventually a fine property and home were acquired and built up, in the near vicinity known today as Rose Hill, where a large and respected family was reared, who are widely known throughout the whole district. The late lady was predeceased some 14 years by her beloved husband. Only six months later her fourth son, Charles, was laid beside his father. Again, so recently as 1917, the Grim Reaper appeared amongst her family, removing her eldest daughter, Mrs. E. T. Millett, of Leadville, and her youngest son, Austin, of Mullamuddy, within five days of each other. These blows the old lady bore with Christian fortitude, though it affected her health, somewhat. Mrs. Pitt had mothered a family of fifteen of which there now remain four sons and four daughters. Four having died in their infancy. There are 35 grandchildren, and about 45 great-grandchildren. Mrs. Pitt's funeral, which moved from her late residence, Rose Hill, at Cudgegong, was largely attended. Though the restrictions by the railway authorities, her youngest daughter, Miss Eva Pitt, was unable to attend her bedside nor Mrs. Nash, of Berry, who, though in Mudgee, was too ill to leave her bed at the time. So ends the career, of another of our pioneers, whose over half century residence has left its land mark's in the district (Mudgee Guardian and North-Western Representative, Monday 14 April 1919, page 4).

Sudden Death The death occurred with startling suddenness, on December 28, of Mr Joseph Abraham Pitt, Cox Street, Mudgee, aged 60 years. Deceased was engaged digging in his garden on the day in question, when he suddenly collapsed and died. He had not been in the best of health for some time, and had complained of pains in the chest. Deceased, who followed farming and grazing pursuits, was a son of the late Joseph Pitt, of Rosehill, Cudgegong, and was well known and highly esteemed right throughout the Mudgee district. He is survived by a widow, one son, and two daughters, viz: Lawson and Edna (Mudgee), and Mrs Wilfred (Puttabucca). The following bers and sisters are also left to mourn: Samuel (Mullamuddy), James (Cudgegong), William (Mudgee), Mrs G. Walsh and Miss Eva Pitt (Katoomba), and Miss Pitt (Mudgee). Universal sympathy is extended to the sorrowing ones in their hour of great trial. The funeral took place to the Church of England portion of the Mudgee cemetery, the Rev. Canon Parr officiating at the graveside Mudgee Guardian, Thursday 6 January 1927, p. 9. Obituary Joseph Abraham Pitt

Mr. W. T. Pitt Mr William Thomas Pitt 82 passed away at his Denison street residence on Friday after a period of ill health. The late Mr Pitt was born at Cudgegong, where he spent the early part of his life. For most of his life, however, he had resided at Mullamuddy. He had been living in Mudgee during the last few years. He was one of the most highly esteemed men in the Mudgee district, and his death will be the cause of widespread regret. A wife and a grown-up family survive. The funeral was held on Saturday morning after Canon Walker had conducted a service at St. John's Church of England, at which he paid a tribute to Mrs and the late Mr Pitt, who had been married 55 years. Canon Walker also officiated at the Mudgee Cemetery, where the burial was carried out by Messrs J. C. Swords and Son (Mudgee Guardian and North-Western Representative, Monday 28 June 1937, p. 3).