Cudgegong Valley History Project

Headstone reads: In Loving memory of William Thomas Atkinson Beloved son of Thomas and Ann Atkinson Died at Uargon 21st April 1903 In his 32nd year Thou didst give and thou hast taken Blessed Lord thy will be done

Death of a Limestone Resident. The death occurred of Mrs. Thos. Atkinson, sen., of Limestone, at her residence on Friday last. Death was due to hemorrhage of the brain. Deceased, who is 74 years of age, has been a resident of this country for 41 years, most of which time she had resided at Limestone. She is survived by a husband and three sons and four daughters, who will have the sympathy of a wide circle of friends. Deceased's remains were interred at Cudgegong on Sunday (Mudgee Guardian and North-Western Representative, Monday 28 August 1905, page 2).

DEATH OF A CUDGEGONG PIONEER, Another of the pioneers of the Mudgee district passed to his rest last night in the person of Mr. Atkinson, sen., of Limestone, near Cudgegong. Deceased, who was in his 81st year, has been in failing health for some time. He was a native of England, but was attracted in his early manhood to Australia. Like most of the hardy stock who transformed New South Wales from a wilderness to the paradise it is, Mr. Atkinson was a hard worker, and bravely faced danger and hardship and built a home for himself and his family. It is more than 50 years ago since he braved the dangers and inconveniences of what was then "out back," and acquired a holding at Limestone, where he spent his life, and where, with the assistance of his sons, he won from the bush solitudes a pleasant and comfortable home, by sheer hard work and perseverance. He was one of the first to take up country in the neighbourhood of Cudgegong, at about the same time as Mr. "King" Wilkins and Mr. Rhodes settled there. He lived a peaceful life, the greater portion of which was filled with strenuous toil, and he has earned the everlasting rest he entered into last night. His wife pre-deceased him about five years. He leaves a grown up family of four daughters and three suns. Two of the former live in this district, while two have their homes in Sydney. The sons live in this district. Mr. P. J. Atkinson, of Church Street, is a grandson. The funeral takes place to-morrow to the cemetery at Cudgegong, when Rev. J. B. Penman will officiate (Mudgee Guardian and North-Western Representative, Thursday 12 May 1910, page 16).

TRIBUTE TO THE LATE THOMAS ATKINSON. In the person of the late Mr Thomas Atkinson, of 'Willow Glen,' Limestone, there passed away one of Mudgee district's pioneers. The deceased gentleman had attained a ripe age, being an octogenarian. He was a man of rather a retiring disposition, and there is much, he has done that may have passed unnoticed. Honesty and straightforwardness was his policy, and in this rat er helped train his family. Mr Atkinson was born at Rycroft, Bingley, Yorkshire, England, in 1829, and married at the age of 21, in the beautiful old ivy clad and historic Church of England, Bingley, 0n December 20, 1853. In that church today may be seen sculpture work of his hand, as also in the cemetery surrounding the building are stones carved by him. Here most of his ancestors are laid to rest. His health failing him he was ordered from England, so made to Australia - his destination. He came to Victoria some 53 years since. The change evidently restored his health somewhat, so like the sterling man he was set himself to build up a home for the coming out of his good wife. For a few years he worked in Victoria, from thence he crossed to New South Wales, selecting the Mudgee district as his home. He was one of the first to take up land in Limestone, where, with the aid of his wife and family he built a home they are justly proud of. The late Mr Atkinson was a clever man and a scholar. His artistic nature showed itself in the home he has left, and also in the family he has left, every member of which has inherited art and genius besides the straight and honorable characters of both their beloved parents. They all may well feel proud of having possessed such progenitors. Not only has this man worked up his own neat property, but several are the buildings to-day standing in Mudgee showing the work of his hands. In the masonry of the beautiful old Catholic Church, and several other places of prominence he was responsible. Along the Sydney road may be found bridges of his construction, as also two very large ones across the Bell River, near Molong. In every one his good work was asserted. A family of seven are left to mourn him (three sons and four daughters) viz., Mr V. R. Atkinson (Wargon), Messrs. H. P. and A. Atkinson (Willow Glen), Mrs F. R. Atkinson (Leichhardt), Mrs A. Nicholson (Glen Innes), Mrs J. A. Pitt (Gulgamree House), and his youngest daughter, Mrs G. Harland ('Belvedere,' Liverpool). There are 15 grand-children and three great grand-children. His remains were interred in the family plot, in the Cudgegong cemetery, on Friday last. The Rev. Morris, of Rylstone, officiated, showing the esteem in which deceased and relatives were held. Tho arrangements were carried out by Mr C. Swords, of Mudgee (Mudgee Guardian and North-Western Representative, Thursday 19 May 1910, page 17).

DEATH Mr Arthur Atkinson THE death occurred in a private hospital in Mudgee on Monday night of Mr Arthur Atkinson, aged 66 years, after an illness extending over several weeks. Deceased, who was a member of an old and highly esteemed Limestone family, spent the greater portion of a useful life in this district, where he had extensive pastoral interests. His activities also extended to the Tooraweenah district, where he controlled Uargon Station. A man of fine character, he earned and held the respect and admiration of a wide circle of friends, who will be deeply grieved at the news of his death. He is survived by a widow and family, to whom the deepest sympathy will be extended. The son is Mr W. Atkinson (Sydney), while the daughters are Mrs Hector R. Lowe (Havilah), and Myrna (Mudgee). The following bers and sisters are also left to mourn: Vivian R. and Henry P. Atkinson (Mudgee), Mrs J. A. Pitt (Mudgee), Mrs A. Nicholson (Avisford), and Mrs G. Harland (Gilgandra). The funeral took place to the Methodist portion of the local cemetery on Tuesday afternoon, the Rev. P. H. Curtis performing the last sad rites at the graveside. Messrs J C. Swords and Son had charge of the arrangements (Mudgee Guardian and North-Western Representative, Thursday 10 May 1934, page 10).

MR H. P. ATKINSON. As was briefly mentioned in last Thursday's "Guardian," Mr Henry Pickles Atkinson died at his residence in Cox-street on Thursday morning at the age of 69. The late Mr Atkinson had been a very well known resident of the Limestone district, where he had conducted a farming and grazing property. He was widely known as a capable, practical engineer, with a particularly strong flair for invention. A single man, he is survived by one ber, Mr Vivian Atkinson (Mudgee), and two sisters, Mesdames J. A. Pitt (Mudgee) and Nicholson (Sydney). The funeral took place on Friday afternoon, interment being made in the Methodist portion of the Mudgee Cemetery after a service had been conducted in the church by Rev. P. H. Curtis, who also officiated at the graveside. Arrangements were in the hands of Messrs. J. C. Swords and Son (Mudgee Guardian and North-Western Representative, Monday 14 October 1935, page 8).

DEATHS Vivian R. Atkinson THE death occurred in a private hospital in Mudgee on Tuesday last of Vivian Rhodes Atkinson (82), an old resident of Gulgamree, Cudgegong district, where he carried on grazing with his bers grazing property in the Mendooran district. Of late deceased had been living In Mudgee with his sister, Mrs. J. Pitt, of Cox Street. He was a generous citizen, and quite recently gave £500 to the War Fund. The funeral took place on Wednesday afternoon to the Methodist portion of the Mudgee Cemetery, the Rev. R. N. Gledhill officiating. The arrangements were In the hands of J. C. Swords and Son (Mudgee Guardian and North-Western Representative, Thursday 8 August 1940, page 5).

Mainly About People Mrs. Mary Edith May Pitt, widow of the late Mr. Joseph Pitt, died at the residence of her son at Puta Bucca on Saturday, aged 79 years. Deceased, who was a member of the widely known Atkinson family, was born in Mudgee, and resided in the district practically all her life. Coming of a pioneering strain, she was a woman of courage and resource, and in her own way played a part in the progress of the district. Any call made upon her in the cause of charity never went unheeded, and in many directions she helped to make brighter the lives of those among whom she lived for so long. She is survived by a son aud two daughters, viz.: Lawson (Putta Bucca), Mrs. E. L. (Mudgee) and Mrs. W. (Orange). To these and other sorrowing ones the deepest sympathy is extendI ed. The funeral, which was very largely attended by old friends of the family, took place to the Church of England portion of the general cemetery on Sunday, Rev. Canon Powell officiating. The arrangements were in the hands of Messrs. Eastaugh and Carroll (Mudgee Guardian and North-Western Representative, Monday 7 December 1953, page 2).