Maria Adelaide Hall Her Story Cuerindi Run & Highlandale

NAMOI & HALLS CREEK JUNCTION WHERE CUERINDI RUN HEAD STATION FIRST EXISTED UxÜà [ÉãtÜwËá [|áàÉÜç Y|Äxá

A Big Thank You To: MARIA’s WEDDING DAY PHOTO 1861 Harry Hall, Jean Woods, Jeannie Scott, Russell Warner, Ken Hall, Marie Summers, + Pierre DuParte & Yogi Loechner for computer help.

2 of 17 page LEY . Almost as an . Almost FRANCES HART

rneath was written rneath was

25 Dec 1862 r mother-in-law, Frances Hartley, Frances r mother-in-law,

w Hall were married, and living on w Hall e first town dwelling house erected in erected house e first town dwelling efore was on hand to assist with the with the assist hand to on efore was h Maria's father had brought to the to the brought had h Maria's father events and places that influenced her influenced her events and places that the flyleaf, and unde , and the date... nd where the town now stands. The Hall family The town now stands. where the nd for over a year and a half. He a year and half. for over Cuerindi Run - Run - Namoi Cuerindi a gave birth to a son, named Rueben Rueben named a son, to birth gave Mari a 30 Dec 1862, later, on Five days of her newly the face sheet on recorded proudly event was and this Namoi Hall, treasure. acquired family life and times. life and times. early 1830's Run, in the Cuerindi property, one such established Manilla. Run Cuerindi Introduction was born at who Devey) (nee Hall Adelaide of Maria story is This the Parramattaa story of in 1840. It is also of Manilla in the township there lived were Long pioneers before white people arou on properties living Maria's hands. on both counted be could almost the town population By 1862 th mother and step-father were occupying By Christmas of 1862 Maria and Matthe six miles along of about Maria's family made the journey 1862, At Christmas Maria's Run. Cuerindi visit to Manilla in home from their path bridle the rough whic bible her the family mother gave colony. Maria’s name was recorded on colony. impending birth of Maria's second child. impending ... as 21 Dec 1840. was added afterthought her date of birth UxÜà [ÉãtÜwËá [|áàÉÜç Y|Äxá and ther property, on the living was also that

This bible was printed in 1835and purchased from J.Challoner, Binder, of Dublin. the front name inside The cover is very faint but decipherable as Benjamin W B Davey

3 of 17 page Maria did not record the the record Maria did not son, her first born of birth Edmund H Hall, who was born early1862in but died after birth. soon a was almost 7 months pregnant with her second son, Matthew.

to “Cuerindi Run” on 25 25 on Run” Maria’s mother gave her this “Cuerindi bible during a Christmas visit to December 1862. The bible had belonged to Maria’s late father. Maria’s first surviving son was born five days later time her son, Reubin was just over 13 months of age, and Mari UxÜà [ÉãtÜwËá [|áàÉÜç Y|Äxá HALL CUERINDI BIBLE of MARIA Maria had this bible with her while suspended in the dray hoisted up into a large apple tree over theflood waters in 1864. At

sometimes recorded

4 of 17 page ey, and is iney, the spelling of Benjamin’s name this to Manilla that same year to tta on 1 June 1843. At some unknown At some unknown 1 June 1843. tta on Christian name was Christian t 80 miles from Dublin. Her father was a Her father was a from Dublin. 80 miles t early 1840, Benjamin was a Policeman in a Policeman Benjamin was early 1840, Kilkenny, located in the south-eastern sector of of sector south-eastern in the located Kilkenny, listed on the Immigrant List 1839 Vol.17 p.112 as 1839 the Immigrant List on listed Ann Beates. According to the Immigration List 1839, List 1839, to the Immigration According Ann Beates.

en they decided to immigrate to the colony of New South colony of New South to the to immigrate en they decided is buried at the St.John’s Church of England Cemetery, Cemetery, of England Church St.John’s at the is buried d north of the river Thames. Benjamin was the son of Robert of Robert son Benjamin was the Thames. of the river d north ved at Maitland before moving before ved at Maitland and his wife Hanasteen (Anastasia or Ann). Benjamin, was a native Benjamin, or Ann). (Anastasia and his wife Hanasteen 1 vys, or Davis. The vys, or Davis. original have appears The to Dav spelling been vey (nee Byrnes): Bridget Flynn. Hanasteen is Bridget Flynn. Hanasteen

is abou which crystal, me of Waterford could read and write. Late in 1839 or or write. Late in 1839 could read and Regiment and his wife Mary read. Generally known as Ann Davey, her Davey, as Ann known read. Generally amin she married James Murrell at Parrama amin years years Kilkenny, the principal town of the County of the County of town the principal Kilkenny,

Benjamin Davey: Hanasteen (Ann) Da eir three children:

Robert...... 4 2 Robert...... Catherine.... Elizabeth..... 6 years The Surname Devey has been variously recorded as Devey, Davey, Da the family bible. Maria’s Father – Davey of Benjamin the colony born daughter Maria was Maria’s Mother - of a native was Maria's mother Family Migration to : years of age wh 28 and Hanasteen of age, years was 29 Benjamin 1 Eire about 25 miles north of Waterford, ho Eire about 25 miles north with th Wales in 1839 farmer, James Byrnes, and her mother was farmer, James Byrnes, li they and in 1858 Fitzgerald Daniel later date she married being a Cook, Protestant, and able to of Benj as Anastasia. After the death of Essex, a coastal county directly north-east of London an London of north-east directly county a coastal of Essex, the 47th. Sergeant of Devey, Paymaster Benjamin was a Butler, a Protestant, and a Protestant, and was a Butler, Benjamin UxÜà [ÉãtÜwËá [|áàÉÜç Y|Äxá he 33 years; at Parramatta aged Feb 1843 He died 8 Sydney. Parramatta. t r n

5 of 17 nths after Benjamin died; it d these travellers would travellers d these the Cape, and they arrived at the Cape, page is now Lloyd Street and between northern bank of the Namoi Rive bank northern g the Fitzeralds, lived there while he buil bert Devey (22), Maria Devey (18), and (18), Maria Devey bert Devey (22), on 10 January 1841 by H.H.Hobart. Her H.H.Hobart. by 1841 on 10 January by a man named Rideout and known as known as by a man named Rideout and ains with his horse team and wagon team horse with his ains ", under the command of Archibald Phillips, Phillips, of Archibald command the ", under d according to colonial records she was born was born she records colonial to d according ing site for teamsters, an for teamsters, ing site ys, which included 7 days at late 1863. It was built on the was It late 1863. on the southern side of what Catherine married Thomas Connor, who, at the time of his at the time who, married Thomas Connor, Catherine Ann married James Murrell four mo Ann married James ily lived in the rear portion of the building. the building. rear portion of in the ily lived located on the northern side of the Namoi, fronting what is now Manilla Street. In Street. now Manilla is what fronting of the Namoi, side northern on the located

isedSt. at John'sChurch, Parramatta, n house, slab built in the early 1850's goods to the settlers on the Liverpool Pl on the Liverpool the settlers goods to d Ann Fitzgerald, Elizabeth Devey (24), Ro d Ann Fitzgerald, Manilla. One was George Veness's Store, which George opened in 1853. This was a 1853. This opened in George which Store, George Veness's Manilla. One was bible that she was born 21 December 1840, an December 1840, 21 she was born bible that " In the early days the Junction was a favourite camp Junction days the " In the early the Junction the back-loading produce. In 1858, Daniel an produce. back-loading live at Manilla. to moved Devey), (nee Connor and Catherine Thomas become customers for the store. The Veness fam Veness The the store. customers for become The second building was an accommodatio second building The at Parramatta. Records show she was bapt she at Parramatta. Records show " China the ship on board sailed they and passage, paid their Government The Maria's Birth: Maria later wrote in the family Early Settlers in Manilla: daughter where at Maitland, live to had gone Fitzgerald's The only two main buildings in were then There in business for and opened completed Hotel was Manilla North The from Waterford on 28 July 1839. Their passage out took 145 da out took 145 passage Their July 1839. from Waterford on 28 why probably is later. This years two died father, Benjamin, of carrying business marriage, was in the know which was then, and in more recent times, andManilla , building located near the junction of Namoi timber slab simply as "

Rideout’s Boarding House. This building was building House. This Boarding Rideout’s includin and his family, he Boarding House, and Connor bought Rideout's 1858, Thomas the first hotel, nearby. Sydney Cove 20 December 1839. Cove Sydney was very hard for a widow days. children to manage in those with four immediately west of the northern approach to the modern bridge, bridge, modern the to approach northern of the west immediately UxÜà [ÉãtÜwËá [|áàÉÜç Y|Äxá Manilla and Namoi Streets.

r

ad station, which

6 of 17 mund H. Hall, who was born d page n child, E erty being managed by Matthew Hall fo r first bor e mmediately took up residence at the he is means that the prop h e exception is of h e adjoining Mundowey Run, originally registered in the name of h un. T h s bible records dates of births some her children born on this ’ a i r a

Maria was in her twentieth year when, with mother's permission, she married thirty year old Matthew Hall of Cuerindi Run on 23 July 1861. The of the property according to the rites marriage ceremony was performed on the Church of Scotland by a minister named John Morison, and the witnesses were wedding Frederick R. Rogers and Elizabeth Devey (Maria's sister). The was registered in the District of Tamworth Register by John MacDonald, registrar. Matthew and Maria i comprised a group of timber slab buildings on the eastern bank Namoi River just below the junction of Namoi with Halls Creek. This spot is now a little north west and down from where the modern day homestead of Namoi Park is located. In 1852 t Joseph Fleming, who was a son of Elizabeth Hall, signed over to Elizabeth's brother, Thomas Simpson Hall of Dartbrook, and so became officially annexed to Cuerindi R his father's family at the time he married Maria comprised 106,880 acres of land. M property. T very early in 1862 but died soon after birth. Others born on Cuerindi Run were: HALL W TTHE MA

UxÜà [ÉãtÜwËá [|áàÉÜç Y|Äxá for the Fitzgeralds, Maria's mother and home built Manilla was a timber first substantial single dwelling house erected in The step-father. Built at the same time as North Manilla Hotel, this building was on western bank of River downstream below the end of present day Mandowa Bridge, almost at junction Manilla and Namoi Rivers. on his and he lived in this hut cared for a good orchard George Harrington had previously built himself a rough slab hut, land. There was also a small police depot, but this located out of the town area on Tamworth Road. Maria's Marriage:

7 of 17 page g

8 8

n what life was like in those days for pioneers such . They had little in the way of conveniences which little had They . Hall Rueben Namoi Henry Hall Matthew born: 30 December 1862 Smith Hall Cyrus born: 19 April 1864 born: 17 May 1866 Hall Winifred Frances born: 25 March 186 Arwed Walter Hall Hall George Hercules born: 10 March 1870 born: 1872 eering Life:

UxÜà [ÉãtÜwËá [|áàÉÜç Y|Äxá Pion One can only ponder o Matthew and Maria as are taken for granted today. There was water from the river, mutton, beef, or sometimes pork from their stock, grain from fields, water-fowl or fish from the river, and whatever vegetables fruit they ate well, but if the season was was good they could grow. If the season poor then they had to tighten their belts. The buildings were small and primitive by today’s standards, built with walls of split timber slabs and roofed with bark sheets laid over saplin poles for rafters, and held in place by additional poles above. The floor was invariably rammed earth. Doors were made from slabs of timber adzed to roughly 38 mm thickness, fitted with ledges and braces, hung on leather strap hinges. In the early days, in the bush, glass was not readily available for windows so the window openings had shutters fitted, made in a similar fashion to the doors, but from thinner timber. Buildings such as these were constructed by pioneers from whatever materials they had at hand, or could be obtained fashioned on the property. At time was at blacksmith's forge to Manilla the nearest original huts were erected Tamworth.

the

8 of 17 page ually designated as the bake-house, where most of at this spot. It is now a beautiful, peaceful place by the like all those years ago for those people who lived and existing

emed to be a agine what it must have been n properties the size of Cuerindi Run one huts was us ever constantever threat of snakes. Children generally played in such areas where they could be under the watchful eye of their mother, and often guarded by their own special dog. When Maria first went to Cuerindi Run the head O When available, ant-hills provided an excellent source of material for such fireplaces, otherwise they would dig clay and "puddle" it with water in a pond-like hole and reinforce the mixture straw before forming mix into blocks which were then placed in the sun to bake. Cooking was done on open hearth. Fresh bread generally baked daily. Because of the ever constant threat fire breaking out in these dry timber and bark buildings, huts were always spaced well apart, the idea being that if one caught fire others could likely be saved. The area between huts was usually kept was a precaution against grass fires setting the huts alight, and further as safeguard clear of all vegetation. This the buildings had seen much use, and Therefore probably had acquired the usual additional lean-to verandahs to provide relief from the hot summer days and nights experienced there. They probably also had grape vines growing over rough timber trellises, which se practice followed on settler’s properties; juicy grapes provided sweet fruit in season, and vines welcome cool shade in summer. Today there is no trace of the busy head station once river. One can only sit and im toiled there. It would be a hard life by modern standards, but they knew no other life. station had been established for some 25 years. UxÜà [ÉãtÜwËá [|áàÉÜç Y|Äxá communal food was prepared. This hut would typically have an adobe, or earth brick, chimney built from a stone hearth.

9 of 17 page station was relocated to higher f the lower floor was around ten feet, which iling height o esign of a home which was still popular early this century slab walled home with bark roof which dates from around slab walled home with bark roof which dates from around similar to that at Nandowra, the other buildings would have similar to that at Nandowra, the other buildings would have

round downstream after the floods of 1864. If you can visualise replacing slab walls with weatherboards and bark roof with corrugated iron, then you virtually have the d bark roof with corrugated iron, then you the first member of Hall family to take up residence on Cuerindi Run. illustration on the previous page shows a typical timber The g in rural Australia. Some doubt exists as to whether this was what the main dwelling looked like on original site of Cuerindi Run head station. It is more likely that the original building was like one which has survived, to date, on Nandowra Station old building stands on what was once Hall family property, owned by Matthew Henry who near Scone. This Nandowra building was a much more sophisticated structure. It comprised large ground floor living areas with an The upper floor used for sleeping quarters. ce upper floor provided a ceiling for the lower floor. The This allowed for timber louvre vents above the doorways. A verandah ran full length of building and both this verandah and the general lower floor area had timber flooring provided. The roof of this building was river-oak shingles, and these trees were also available on the Namoi River. On the various Hall owned properties in Hunter Valley were men experienced building, so thought persists that Matthew Henry Hall could well have brought these men up to build the original home which was be his residence on Cuerindi Run. Even if the main structure at the original head station was UxÜà [ÉãtÜwËá [|áàÉÜç Y|Äxá 1860. This would have been typical of homes built on Cuerindi Run when the head been more along the lines of building illustrated, but probably originally without rear skillion shown. There would have been a number of these other cottages; remember, there were more people living on Cuerindi Run circa 1864 than there were living in Manilla township.

10 of 17 10 of page and transmitted to the Surveyor ng safe high ground before the flood arrived they unately remained at the head station, aware of rise was dark before they were all safely settled. They did not were all safely settled. They before they was dark river, the positions of Cuerindi and Mundowey Head Stations,

"Trace offrom"Trace Namoiupwards the River " the junction with the General on 18 May 1852. This survey was drawn at a scale of forty chains to the inch and apart from showing the General on 18 May 1852. This survey was drawn at a scale of forty chains to the inch and apart from showing actual river it clearly defines the bridle tracks beside fled the who then group of aboriginals by a marauding killed in 1838 of the graves two stockmen and the location Kamilaroi territory to take refuge back in Weraerai on Myall Creek Station. The Floods of 1864: scope of flooding along the Peel, Manilla and Namoi Rivers in 1864 has, fortunately, never been duplicated. On 9 The February a cloudburst above Tamworth brought wall of water down the Peel River with such speed and force that it devastated the low-lying sectors of that town. Two people lost their lives in Tamworth, and others were lucky to escape rains the floods just in nick of time. The continued and flood was maintained at a serious level for several days. Late in the afternoon of 11 February 1864 there was a massive cloud-burst mountains upstream on Namoi River from Cuerindi Run. Those at the head station would have been able to hear, or see, severity of storm in the distance above them. Matthew and some of his men had fort then quietly, but quickly, proceeded to climb up and take refuge in the dray. Clutching her bible, seven They month pregnant Maria nursed and comforted her baby son Rueben. Matthew's younger half brother, David Hartley, mother, Frances Hartley. It was in the dray and so their The apple tree they hoisted their dray to existed in 1992 when writer visited the site of old head station. The position of the tree is clearly shown on survey map drawn by Assistant Government Surveyor, J.V.Gorman, which is entitled UxÜà [ÉãtÜwËá [|áàÉÜç Y|Äxá in the river already taking place, and with knowledge from previous flooding of how quickly torrent could flow down to where they were. Realising may have trouble reachi immediately hoisted a timber dray on rope tackle from the stout limbs of large apple tree, suspending some sixteen feet above the ground. sweeping down towards them. It hit they heard the dreadful sound of great wall water have long to wait before the head station with such force it carried away the buildings and everything in them. In the space of a few short moments the head station was no more. It must have been a horrific experience in the dark, and it was another two days before the swirling floodwaters beneath them subsided sufficiently to allow leave safety of dray.

11 of 17 11 of page wire. Some local maps show South Street running down illa was around twelve people. A third would lose their lives

Elsewhere on Cuerindi Run Donald McDonald and two other Hall stockmen had been busily mustering cattle when they high ground to make wall of water. Realising they had insufficient time they became aware of the approaching spent the next two days and nights perched in their hurriedly climbed a large tree. They tree refuge, where they were not only threatened by the swirling waters below but also numerous venomous snakes carried and seeking to share their refuge. In 1864 the total regular population of the township Man Maria's mother, Ann Fitzgerald, her sister Elizabeth, and step-father were swept away at night, house and all, drowned in raging the fork of a floodwaters. Five days later they found Elizabeth's body in large River Gum at the mouth of Greenhatches' Creek. Her mother’s body was found snagged on the opposite bank of the Namoi River. William Billsborough, George Coulton and Daniel Veness dug a single grave buried the bodies on 16 Feb 1864. The grave is just this side of the wire fence shown in the photo up from River Gum that caught Elizabeth’s body. Daniel Fitzgerald's body was found near . Access to the unmarked grave site of two ladies is presently from the street on the southern side of Showground property going down to pumping station in the is an old causeway from River Street. There paddock leading to the tree, and fenced off with A shepherd named Harper, who worked for George Veness, was tending his flock at the river junction. Worried about the rising river, he spoke with Mrs. Veness and said would move to high ground following morning. He was swept away and drowned through the night his body never found. UxÜà [ÉãtÜwËá [|áàÉÜç Y|Äxá in the flood. A massive wall of water and debris was travelling at high speed when it hit town. to the Namoi River, but this is not presently so. South Street stopped at Rushes Creek Road.

12 of 17 12 of page Thomas Connor was a teamster a ConnorThomas was " und the building surrounded by water during by water building surrounded und the Connor decided to build a hotel and go into business. He go into hotel build Connor decided and a to to the north-west. He was attracted to the country around country around to the He attracted was north-west. the to She often spoke of the times when she visited her mother's

ing house were both on the northern bank of the Namoi and were the only few days before the flood came. He fofloodcame.He days few before the engaged in the transport of supplies from the Hunter River River Hunter the from supplies of transport the in engaged Manilla bring decided his and young family to wife and there. family moved his had into hotel the a the night and got thefamily onto the roof where they stayed until rescued by boat. Maria's brother, Robert (Bob) Davey, happened to be in Manilla with a flock of sheep from Cuerindi Run. He quickly took refuge in a stout tree and after two days was rescued by the visiting surveyor, Arthur Dewhurst and others using Dewhurst’s boat. According to A.R.Macleod's book, The Transformation of Manellae, 1949, p.19 "... hotel, The Veness's store, Fitzgerald's home and the boarding house were only main buildings erected in Manilla before the flood. The hotel and board Maria's brother, Robert Davey (in some texts called Bob Davis), had gone to live and work on Cuerindi Run (incorporating Mundowey Run) from just before the time Maria and Matthew Hall had married. Thomas and Catherine Connor did not stay in the hotel business very long after floods of 1864, they sold North Manilla Hotel to William Hill in 1867 and moved to a property at Circular Bend on the Manilla River. Catherine died in 1923 aged 84 years, having spent 66 years of her life in the Manilla area. Sale of Cuerindi Run: By the early 1870's most of Hall brothers associated with establishing vast cattle were dead. At Sydney, on 26 March 1873 at 11 a.m., Cuerindi Run and Mundowey Run, together with another eight major Hall properties, were put acting on auctioneer was George Matcham Pitt at the Exchange Buildings. The under the hammer and auctioned off by instructions from George Smith Hall, the younger, executor and trustee of will William deceased, last surviving trustee of the will George Hall, deceased. At that time Cuerindi & Mundowey Runs between them contained an area of 106,880 acres, and were offered for sale with 2,900 head cattle 5,000 sheep. The Allen & R.G.Higgins. properties were bought by T.P.Wills UxÜà [ÉãtÜwËá [|áàÉÜç Y|Äxá on higher ground and continued buildings to remain after the flood. George Veness immediately erected a new building his business. home on the banks of the Manilla River and observed a large tribe of aboriginals who camped on the point between the junction of the Namoi and Manilla Rivers for months at a time.

13 of 17 13 of page three quarters of a mile east of the boundaries of the three quarters of a mile east the res, Cyrus Hall held 77 acres, and Arwed Walter Hall held Walter and Arwed 77 acres, Hall held res, Cyrus a single parcel of land. This piece land comprised 210 diate area of where Highlandale was known to be, Reuben

. Descriptions of the extent of the property vary. In general terms it was . Descriptions of the extent property Highlandale" Highlandale: After the sale of Cuerindi Run, Maria and Matthew moved to a property on the northern bank of Namoi River which was reportedly made up from part of the original Cuerindi Run and adjoining Wentworth's Run. They named this new property " Writer has not been able to ascertain the exact boundaries of Highlandale property. If it covered an area such as that indicated in the above description, then it comprised not only homestead block but also a number of smaller holdings shown to be in the name of various family members, or people associated with family. only dealings found in relation The to the property relate Donald McDonald had worked on Cuerindi Run and was a good friend of Matthew Hall and Matthew's half brother, married sisters (Veness). He signed over the title of this land to Matthew Henry Hall David Hartley. Donald and (son of Matthew Hall) on 14 November 1872, while young was still a minor. Why this selection, or any other thrown open for selection under the land was Hall when the of Matthew selection, was not taken up in the name Robertson Land Act is a complete mystery. Land was selected by some of Matthew's sons in the imme UxÜà [ÉãtÜwËá [|áàÉÜç Y|Äxá described as being located on the northern side of Namoi River, bordered north by track which later became the roadway called Namoi River Road, bounded on west by outskirts of Manilla township, and the east by part of redefined western border Cuerindi Station at a point on bend river opposite and almost half way between Yarramanbully Creek and Halls Creek. McDonald on 2 October 1871 and registered as Portion originally granted by the Crown to Donald acres and had been side of the land was located on the northern 1 in the Lands Titles Office Sydney Volume CXXV11, Folio 150. The and approximately frontage to that river, Namoi River, with a lower portion of Boundary Creek runs through the eastern land, township of Manilla. The discharging into the Namoi River. ac acres, Matthew Henry Hall held 663 held 1280 Namoi Hall 370 acres.

14 of 17 14 of page d in his will he left estate to members of this new dowra property, near Scone, on 12 December 1888. He had

born: 15 January 1884 Oscar Ernest Hall Claude Sampson Hall born: 22 December 1874 Robert Davey Hall born: 1876 Oliver Herbert Hall William Percy Hall born: February 1879 b.: 1886 (died infant-grass fire) If we take this land to form part of Highlandale, and add to it the adjoining or encircled land originally held by Donald McDonald (210 acres), held by Donald's brother Henry (50 acres), and Reuben Grono (285 & 55 acres in two lots), then Highlandale would appear to have had a total area of some 3000 acres. Here Maria gave birth to another five children: • • • • • another family by his subsequent marriage to Ann Brown, an family. Although the estate was considerable, nothing left to his son Matthew Hall, who appears have needed help at that time. UxÜà [ÉãtÜwËá [|áàÉÜç Y|Äxá after suffering paralysis for thirteen days. He had last seen his Matthew Hall died at Highlandale on 5 July 1891 doctor, Dr. Walley, on 29 June - just six days before he died. His death was notified by his son, Matthew Henry Hall, and registered by D.E. Veness. He was buried in Manilla cemetery on 7 July 1891, the undertaker David Hartley burial service was (his half brother) and the witnesses were his sons, Arwed Walter Hall Robert Davey Hall. The conducted by G.Bleazard of the Wesleyan Church. wouldsons at home whose ages This have been a very hard time for Maria as by year's end she was left with four ranged from seven to seventeen years, the remainder of her children had married. Matthew Hall's father, Henry Hall, died on his Nan mortgage block, Portion 1, became mortgaged. This death, the homestead Matthew Henry Hall's Within six months of was No.153304 dated 23 May 1889 to Charles Regan & John Patterson of Tamworth, and Augustine Coghlan of Sydney. Matthew Hall only survived his father by just over two and a half years. Almost exactly one year after Hall's 1892, Portion 1 was transferred into death the mortgage was discharged in full, and following month, on 1 August the name of Maria Adelaide Hall.

one or more of his

15 of 17 15 of page er son Oscar Ernest Hall by oore Fermor by transfer No. 482873. Finally, on 10 May 1907, Maria transferred Portion 1 to h transfer No. 460512, and on the same day Oscar discharged the mortgage held by bank. It was at this time that Maria had her new home, Heatherbrae, built in North Manilla just off the Barraba Road, where she took up residence within sight of Highlandale. She lived in this home for the rest of her life. Records indicate her son Oscar, either on his own or in collaboration with brothers, had sorted out Maria's financial problems and this allowed her to retire from Highlandale and move into her new home in town, to be free of debt, and have enough monies mortgage the property to bank of by sufficient money from the property to support herself and Highlandale to Frank Am

“HEATHERBRAE”

invested to allow her live comfortably for the rest of life. On 11 January 1908, Oscar Hall transferred Portion 1 of to have been a struggle for Maria make It would appear Not long previously Frank Fermor had purchased Crown Land comprising 117 acres and 3 roods being Portion 86 part Portion 83 Volume 1342, Folio 33, which was located near the junction of Yaramanbully Creek and Namoi River. The property previously called Highlandale was renamed Corra Lynne by Frank Fermor and he built a substantial two storey home on the property adjacent to where original homestead had been. In later years, Duncan Ross remembered, as a child, playing in the ruins of original homestead with no idea its significance at that time. UxÜà [ÉãtÜwËá [|áàÉÜç Y|Äxá her sons still at home. On 29 May 1895 she was obliged to mortgage No. 239482. Three years later she had to extend the mortgage by borrowing additional monies from bank, and this was done on No. 4110078. She took a further extension 410079, 23 February 1904.

16 of 17 16 of page ; and C.S.Hall, Farmer & Grazier, of Manilla. It was ; and C.S.Hall, Farmer & Grazier, of Manilla. a half days. Her death was recorded by her son, Oliver away at her home, Heatherbrae, on 16 August 1916, after away at her res) to Mary Honnery Hall, subject to:

with cottages thereon left to Margaret Ellen Hall, wife of Robert Davey Hall. aide Hall, a pioneer of the Manilla area, passed uffering from Broncho Pneumonia and Asthma for eight All insurance monies left to Winifred Frances Mitchell Lot 1 of Sect.9 & 5 Sect 11 "Heatherbrae" with all furniture & effects (except pictu All other real & personal property except pictures to Oliver Herbert Hall. Pictures to be distributed by the executor among members of family. Hall on 17 August; the registrar was Francis Grugeon. She buried at Manilla cemetery beside her husband Maria Adel s D. Kennedy and E.Taylor. undertakerwitnesses were John Matthew on 17 August 1916. The was Mary Elliott, and the Her regular clergyman, Rev.C. Anderson, was unavoidable absent and in his place, Rev. T.J. Redhead of the Church England conducted the burial service. Maria and Matthew's graves are presently well marked by an engraved head- stone in the north-west corner of cemetery. Clerk, of Manilla Maria's will was witnessed by W.D.Hartley, Maria left the following provisions: • • • • • Manilla of map page for See next probated 26 October 1916. John Duncan Kennedy was the sole executor. UxÜà [ÉãtÜwËá [|áàÉÜç Y|Äxá Payment by Mary Honnery Hall of 100 pounds to Reuben Namoi & Minnie Finlan r E – this is

17 of 17 17 of gn with the lette page Map of Manilla Township: map at left is of the present day township Manilla. The places locate various help you Markers have been added to mentioned in the text. Near junction of Namoi and Manilla Rivers there is a cross si where Frances Hartley was buried. was the settlers graveyard in Manilla but there are no This markers now, although the indentations of graves can be whole of this triangular shaped piece of land is seen. The used for farming because it is subject to flooding and cannot be used for housing. There is a large tree in the center of paddock and graves are around this tree. Farmers ploughing this land have always ploughed around the graves area out of respect for those pioneers buried there. Highlandale property was where Maria & Matthew selected land after they moved from Cuerindi Run it was sold. It ran east from Arthur Street, where shown on the map, bounded on the north by Namoi River Road, and south by the Namoi River. It ran for several miles upstream from there. “Heatherbrae” was the town home built for Maria after Highlandale was sold. She spent her final years there.

PROPERTY PROPERTY “HIGHLANDALE” WESTERN END OF HOTEL VENESS STORE RIDEOUT’s “HEATHERBRAE” GRAVE NEAR GRAVE TREE

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