Eliza Margaret Hutton Lewis

Mrs. James Lewis, mother of the Hon. J. Lewis, M.L.C., who died at Balaklava on Thursday, was one of the few remaining colo-nists whose connection with South Australia dates back to 1836. She arrived at Kangaroo Island when 12 years old with her parents in the Cygnet, a vessel of 250 tons, Capt Rowls. Even at the advanced age of 82 years Mrs. Lewis had distinct recollection of the pioneer-ing days. She remembered that the women and children were not permitted to remove to the mainland until Adelaide had been sur-veyed. They lived in tents and had abun-dance of game. The late Mr. and Mrs. Lewis lived at Richmond House, River Wakefield, in the earlier days, and for the past 25 years the latter had been in residence at Balaklava. Eleven children, 35 grand-children and 15 great grandchildren survive her. The children are Mesdames Shillabeer, Daw, Ruddock and McCleery, the Misses Lewis, and Messrs. John, James, Philip, Stephen and Harry Lewis. - Burra Record (SA : 1878 - 1954), Wednesday 11 July 1906, page 5

Obituary: http://saobits.gravesecrets.net/l.html Obituary: (1906, July 11). Burra Record (SA : 1878 - 1954), p. 5. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article37325754

CONCERNING PEOPLE. (1906, July 9). The Register (Adelaide, SA : 1901 - 1929), p. 5. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article57014235

Mrs. James Lewis, mother of the Hon. J. Lewis, M.L.C.. who died at Balaklava on Thursday, was one of the few remaining colonists whose connection with South Australia dates back to 1836. She arrived at Kangaroo Island when 12 years old with her parents in the Cygnet, a vessel of 230 tons, Capt. Rowls. There were 81 passengers on board, including Sir John Morphett, Sir George Kingston, Col. Finniss, and the surveyors who laid out Adelaide. The voyage out occupied six months. The women and children in the ship's company were landed at Kangaroo Island, while the men went on to Rapid Bay to join Col. Light, who had arrived a month before. Even at the advanced age of 82 years Mrs. Lewis had distinct recollections of the pioneering days. She remembered that the women and children were not permitted to remove to the main land until Adelaide had been surveyed. They lived, in tents, and had abundance of game, including wild fowl and kangaroos. Some time before her death, in writing of the early days, Mrs. Lewis said: — 'There was plenty of green herbage about, but no stock to eat it. When we got over to the mainland the men made trucks of pieces of wood. One would draw and another push, and by so doing we were able to carry our goods from Glenelg to Adelaide over the unmade road. Our first Christmas beef was a cow which fell into the Torrens and died. It was bled, and served for Christmas dinner. The first bread made in South Australia was baked in a hole in the barik of the Torrens.' Mrs. Lewis was present at the proclamation of the province on December 28, 1836. In 1840 she was married in Trinity Church, then only a weatherboard building, to Mr. James Lewis, who came out in the brig Rapid, and who died about 12 years ago. The deceased colonist was a great friend of Col. Light, who gave her the first dog that came to South Australia— a fine specimen of the Newfoundland breed. One day as a girl she was sewing some of his hair on to her doll's head. Col. Light appeared, and on learning what she was doing re marked— "You haven't enough there. Lend me the scissors, and I shall give you some more.' He thereupon cut off three curls and gave them to Eliza Bristow, as was her maiden name. Mrs. Lewis in her re miniscences used to say that the first child to step ashore in South Australia was the little daughter of Mrs. Beare. A sailor carried her from the boat and placed her bare feet on the beach. The late Mr. and Mrs. Lewis lived at Richmond House, River Wakefield, in the earlier days, and for the last 25 vears the latter had been in residence at Balaklava. Eleven children, 35 grandchildrea, and 15 great-grandchildren survive her. The children are Mesdames Shillabeer, Daw, Ruddock, and McCleery, the Misses Lewis, and Messrs. John, James, Philip, Stephen, and Harry Lewis.