Cudgegong Valley History Project

Death at Rylstone. The death occurred at Rylstone on September 22 of Maria Elizabeth, wife of Mr. R. T. Highfield, of that town, at the age of 70 years. Deceased was born in O'Connell-street, Sydney, and was the daughter of the late Robert Charles Howe, and grand-daughter of the late Robert Howe, first "Government Gazette" printer of New South Wales, and had resided in Rylstone for upwards of 50 years, where she was highly respected and esteemed for her many sterling qualities. She leaves a husband and family of seven to mourn her loss, they being Mrs. W. Flaxman (Chatswood), Mrs. W. Cox (Rylstone), Mr. W. R. Highfield (Hillgrove), Mrs. W. Kable (Marrickville), Mrs. C. H. Wilton (Mudgee), Mrs. H. Malvern (Havilah) and Mr. P. G. Highfield (Chatswood). The remains were interred in the Church of England portion of the Rylstone cemetery, the Rev. Walker administering the last sad rites. A large concourse of relatives and friends were present at the graveside, amongst whom was Mr. E. Chase (Sydney), nephew of deceased. We extend our sympathy to the bereaved family. Mudgee Guardian, Thursday 2 October 1913, p. 26. Obituary Maria Highfield

Death of Mr. R. T. Highfield. AN OLD RYLSTONE RESIDENT. The death occurred in Mudgee on Friday evening of Mr. Robert Thompson Highfield, a very old Rylstone resident, and until recently a resident of that town. Mr. Highfield, who had been ill for some time with pleuro pneumonia, was taken so seriously ill last week at Kerrabee, where he had been living with his daughter, Mrs. W. Cox, that it was deemed advisable to bring him into Mudgee. He was brought into town on Thursday evening by his son-in-law, Mr. E. H. Wilton, and the following day he was removed to a private hospital. There he died at seven o'clock the same evening, the immediate cause of death being heart failure. Mr. Highfield, who was 76 years of age, was a native of England, but came to Australia as a boy. When only 16 years of age he came to Rylstone, and lived there up to some three years ago, when he retired from business and went to live in Sydney. Whilst his summer residence was in Sydney he spent the greater part of every winter with his relatives in this district. Mr. Highfield was a stonemason and contractor, and was responsible for the erection of some of the principal buildings in Rylstone, amongst them being the Post Office, the Court House and the Lock-up. His last contract was for the erection of the Rylstone Shire Hall. The deceased gentleman, who was very highly respected, and whose wife predeceased him by about two years, leaves the following family: - Messrs. W. R. Highfield (Marrickville) and P. Highfield (Chatswood) sons, and Mesdames W. E. Flaxman (Chatswood), W. Cox (Kerrabee), W. Kable (Stanmore), C. H. Wilton (Mudgee); R. Malvern (Havilah) daughters, all of whom were present at the graveside. The funeral took place on Sunday. The interment was made in the Church of England cemetery, at Rylstone, the Rev. E. H. Walker officiating at the graveside. The funeral arrangements were carried out by Mr. W. ?. Barden (Mudgee) and Mr. T. ?. Taylor, funeral director, Rylstone. Mudgee Guardian, Monday 6 August 1917, p. 2. Obituary Robert Thompson Highfield

General Items. The death of Mr. R. T. Highfield came as a shock to the community, for although the deceased was well into the seventies, it was only a few weeks ago that he was in town in apparent good health. He died in a Mudgee private hospital from an attack of pleuro-pneumonia. His remains were brought to Rylstone on Saturday and interred in the local cemetery, the Rev. E. H. Walker performing the funeral rites. Mudgee Guardian, Thursday 9 August 1917, p. 26. Obituary Robert Highfield

Headstone reads;
Affectionate Remembrance
Of
James
Beloved husband of
Jane F Wilton
Who departed this life
28th June 1892
Aged 45 years
Though cast down we're not forsaken
Though affected not alone
Thou didst give and Thou hast taken
Blessed Lord thy will be done

Also

Jane Frances Wilton
Wife of above
Who departed this life
3rd April 1926
at rest