Deaths, Inquests & Obituaries
19th Century News
Newspaper articles that offer insights into life in Bothwell during the 1800s.
Sources Used: TROVE. https://trove.nla.gov.au; FamilySearch: Australia, Tasmania, Government Gazette, 1833-1925. https://www.familysearch.org.
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You will have doubtless heard of the sad affair of the murder of Mr Thomas Axford, senior, an old resident in this neighbourhood of more than thirty years' standing. He left his home on Tuesday fortnight last, intending to spend a few days with a relative. His family, not hearing from or of him for more than a week, became anxious on his account, and during some days last past, the police and most of the neighbours commenced an active search in the locality where he was last seen. This was near the highest part of Constitution Hill. He had left the mill near that spot on the Tuesday afternoon, purposing to walk forward on the main road till the coach should overtake him. After an active but unavailing search for a long time, his body, which had been obviously lifeless for many days, was at length discovered about two hundred paces away from the high road, and about a hundred yards before you come to Palmer's Inn, at the foot of the hill. The remains presented a shocking spectacle. The body was found lying on an open spot of ground that was surrounded by thin bushes. His son and another person had, in the search, actually twice passed within ten yards of the spot. His coat and trousers were stripped from him, as well as one boot; the other had only been unlaced. The hinder part of the head had been beaten in by a large stone, as well as one of the temples, and the stone itself, covered with blood and hair, was laid close by the corpse. The body had been rifled by the murderer, and a gold watch and seven sovereigns had been taken away. The victim of this horrid outrage was a peculiarly mild, harmless and inoffensive man. His age was sixty-four, and he was grey-haired. The inquest was held at Palmer's Inn, on Saturday last, and the remains will be interred at Bothwell, this day. This shocking murder has excited the deepest sympathy and further more we may add, alarm too, as it was perpetrated in the day time, within almost a stone's throw of the high road between Hobart Town and Launceston. It is some consolation to know that there is considerable probability of the wretch committing this offence being brought to justice; but you will feel that it is not right now to publish any matters upon this point.
On Thursday last, 6th July, the remains of an old and respected colonist were consigned to their last resting-place in the Bothwell cemetery. The deceased, Mr William Moyes, arrived in the colony in the year 1830 in the merchant ship Drummore from Leith, and since that date, a period of forty-six years, has resided in the Bothwell district, where he has reared a family of nine children, besides grandchildren, who are left with his widow to mourn their loss.
Another of the early pioneers of this neighbourhood has passed from amongst us. Today the remains of the late Mr John Ibbott were consigned to the grave in the cemetery used jointly by Episcopalians and Presbyterians for the past half century. The regard in which the deceased was held was evidenced by the large attendance at the funeral, many coming from a distance to pay a last tribute to the memory of one whose exemplary life had made him universally respected. Emigrating from England to this colony at an early age with his father, he not long after settled on the property which became his future home, and where he expired on the 8th instant, having attained the allotted three score and ten years. He entered his 71st year in the month of March last. His illness was of short duration, and the sudden termination was unexpected, although he had shown signs of failing strength for some months. He leaves a widow and grown-up family of three sons and one daughter married to Mr Magrath, of the post office, to mourn the loss of a kind and affectionate husband and indulgent father. Mr Ibbott served as a magistrate of the Territory for the last 17 years, and was also a member of the Municipal Council for a number of years, an office, which he recently expressed a desire to be relieved from at the next annual election, intending to retire in favour of some younger man. Inexorable death has, however, stepped in and relieved him of this and all earthly responsibilities.
Verdict of Manslaughter Recorded, Bothwell, Sunday. At the adjourned inquest held yesterday as to the cause of death of Andrew O'Hearns, the jury found a verdict of manslaughter against James Robinson, who was fully committed by the Coroner, Mr William Langdon, to take his trial.
The Attorney-General (Mr Dodds) has had under his consideration the depositions in connection with the case of James Robinson, who was committed for trial for manslaughter at the coronial enquiry, held at Bothwell on January 10, touching the death of a resident of that place named Andrew O'Hearns, a shoemaker by trade. The two men had been fighting in the taproom of a public-house in the township, and during the scuffle O'Hearns fell heavily on the floor, with Robinson on top of him, and sustained injuries from which he succumbed in 20 minutes time. After careful consideration of the case, Mr Dodds decided that the circumstances were not such as would warrant him in filing a bill of manslaughter against Robinson, who will therefore be discharged.
BOTHWELL. Quite a gloom was cast over our township - in fact, all through the district on Thursday, 1st August, 1889, when it became known that Clarence Allen, the only son of Richard Allen, of Sherwood, had died that morning in Hobart, where he had been taken only a few days previously for medical treatment in consequence of an accidental gunshot wound which happened to him at Sherwood on the 24th of last month. Very much sympathy prevails here for the bereaved father in the sad loss of his son, who, although he was only 16 years of age, was far and beyond his years in manliness and ability, and, notwithstanding his youth, was quite competent to manage his father’s estate, thus holding out to his fond parent the hope that he had in the future a brilliant gem in the shape of a son, not only to help, but to soothe and comfort him in his declining years. His remains were interred in the public cemetery at Bothwell on Saturday, by the side of his once loving mother, who died some years ago. The Rev. A. Beresford officiated, and made some very kind and befitting remarks, dwelling especially on the good and moral life the deceased had always led. The cortege of friends that followed the remains to their last resting place was very large, comprising many young men of the district, who gathered to pay their last respects to a departed comrade whom they all had loved.
It is my painful duty to record the death of Mr Humphrey Thomas Savage, a very highly respected resident of Bothwell. Mr Savage arrived here from England about 40 years ago, and ever since has been closely connected with well-nigh everything which has had for its aim the welfare of the people and of the district. For many years after his arrival he was engaged chiefly in farming, but latterly had gone into business, having built in Bothwell a very handsome and substantial stone residence, which easily occupies the premier position amongst the best specimens of local architecture. Part of this was devoted to the purposes of a general store. He still, however, had time to devote to other matters concerning the public polity, taking a warm interest in all municipal matters, and for many years being one of the most active members of the local Road Trust. Mr Savage was a member of the Church of England, for which he had an especial affection; and whose interests he always had at heart. For a considerable time he filled the office of a church warden, in which capacity he was also a valued assistant to the resident clergyman. But the chief work of his life for the church was done as superintendent of the Sunday school, a position which he occupied for above 20 years; and few of the past or present generation are there in this parish who have not felt his kindly, helpful influence. He was universally loved by the children, and was frequently in receipt of letters in the most affectionate terms from old scholars who had grown up and settled elsewhere. Recently Mr Savage's health has been very broken, though he was never absent from his beloved Sunday school. About a fortnight ago he ruptured a blood vessel in the brain, and after suffering greatly for days, to the deep regret of everyone, passed away on Tuesday, September 29, at 67. The funeral took place on the following Friday, and few who witnessed the scene will be likely to readily forget it. In the cortege I noticed all the Sunday school children, each of whom had some design in beautiful spring flowers, and by (as it seemed to me) every male in the district, whilst the approaches were lined by numbers of the mothers of the children. The grief on all sides was too genuine to be mistaken. The old parish church was not large enough to hold all who sought to hear the grand old service of the Prayer Book and to help sing one or two of the deceased's favourite hymns. At the grave, however, a large crowd assembled, and at the conclusion of the service the children, accompanied by the people, sang the sweet and ever popular hymn, ''There is a happy land." Then followed a very touching scene. All the children, numbering about 120, approached the grave in turns, and cast upon the coffin the beautiful white flowers they bore, until the grave was well nigh full; nor could we be but struck with the universal grief on the faces of all the youthful mourners - a grief not unshared, indeed, by all present. We have never met heretofore an instance so striking, nor witnessed a sight more pathetic. It was the highest praise of, and tribute to, such a loving saintly life that could be given. On Sunday evening the incumbent (whom I omitted to add officiated at the funeral) dealt at some length upon the singleness of heart in the Redeemer's cause shown all through the life of Mr Savage. He described him as a manly, fearless Christian, one who was not afraid of his opinion, but who never did an injury, and who never had an enemy, and never lacked a friend. One who never omitted, when opportunity offered, doing a kind action - or failed to cheer and help the downfallen and unfortunate; in a word, it was one of the most perfect and spotless lives he had ever met. Their friend's affection for, and power over, children was but a copy of the Redeemer's love for the little ones. It would not be possible, during the lives of those who knew him, that he should be forgotten, for in the hearts of hundreds will that memory, sweet and pure, ever be enshrined. But it would not only be a pity, but an act of negligence, if such a life, productive of such good, and forming, as it had done, the characters of so many, had no visible memorial to perpetuate it, and the preacher suggested that a scheme to erect an "In Memoriam" stained-glass window - which had already been set on foot by the teacher and scholars of the Sunday school - should have the warm support and aid of every soul in the parish, a suggestion which I very cordially endorse. Mr Savage leaves a widow and eight children, three of whom are sons, and settled in various parts of Australia.
AN OLD COLONIST. On Wednesday, January 6, 1898, Mr Archibald McDowall, of Logan, Bothwell, passed away after a lingering illness of a year and nine months. In March, 1890, he was stricken with paralysis, and gradually became worse until death relieved him from his sufferings. Mr McDowall was born in Leith, Scotland, on March 7, 1818, and left his birthplace with his parents and other members of the family on April 1, 1824, arriving in Tasmania on September 10. Among his fellow passengers on the voyage out were: Messrs Thomas Young (father of Russell Young), Thomas Pitcairn, John Walker, John Young (father of Mrs Tarleton) and George Burn. The family settled at Bothwell in the month of February 1825, and Mr McDowall had resided on the family property, known as Logan, ever since, with the exception of three years, when he was away in Victoria. When Mr McDowall arrived in Bothwell, the population consisted of five individuals, occupying three dwellings, viz., a carpenter's shop, owned by Alexander Denholm and a blacksmith named Andrew Reid, with their wives, and a single man named Steton. The neighbourhood then consisted of Captain Wood, of Dennistoun; the late Philip Russell; Alexander Reid, of Ratho; Robert Barr, of Fordell; Edward Nicholas, of Nant, great-grandfather of Mr Harold Nicholas; H. M. Howells, of the Shannon; Captain Clark, of Cluny; and Thomas Axford, of Thorpe, who was afterwards barbarously murdered by the notorious bushranger, Rooky Whelan, at Constitution Hill. In 1841 Mr McDowall married Charlotte Gill, aunt of Mr J. W. Gill, of Hobart. His start in life was not a bright one, but he succeeded in rearing and educating nine children, eight of whom are still surviving, the eldest at present holding the important position of Surveyor-General of Queensland. In 1857 he was asked by the Colonial Secretary to accept the office of Stipendiary Magistrate at Bothwell, which he did, and was only relieved of the duties when the people undertook municipal government. Mr McDowall had the honour of being elected the first Warden, and was elected unopposed on seven successive occasions, but finding the duties interfered with his own interests, he resigned in January, 1870. The deceased showed no desire to resume work, but being requested by a majority of his brother councillors to allow himself to be nominated, he was re-elected in 1883, and occupied the position until some years ago. At the Queen's Jubilee in 1887, he presided over and successfully carried out all the local arrangements for the celebration of the event. A lasting memento of him will always remain with the Bothwell people in the "Queen's Square" which he had planted to beautify the township, Mrs McDowall planting the first tree on August 20, 1884. Mr McDowall undertook, in company with Mr A. Mandeville, to procure some young trout for the River Clyde and the Lakes, which they successfully accomplished. Those were the first trout placed in the waters of the Bothwell district. Before this he had procured some young tench for the water on his own estate, whence they have long since spread to the river. In 1891 Mr and Mrs McDowall celebrated their golden wedding, and the latter died in December, 1893. Out of a large family of brothers and sisters, Mrs F. A. DuCroz, of Courtlands, Sussex, England, his youngest sister, is now the only member left. Mr McDowall's death will be regretted by all who knew him.
With a feeling of profound regret - which is shared by all classes of our small community - I have to announce the death of an old and valued public servant, Simon Arnett. The deceased, who died on Thursday, 13th last, had been ailing for several months, his illness assuming an acute form only a few days prior to his death. Mr Arnett was an old Bothwell resident, having lived here from childhood, a period of upwards of 60 years. He served the township as councillor for 11 years, and resigning that office he succeeded the late Mr Robinson as Council Clerk, serving faithfully in that position for 17 years - up to the time of his death. The funeral on Sunday, 16th inst., was a large one - the councillors, magistrates, police, and most of the people of the township assembled to pay a last mark of respect to their old officer.