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Obituary - Colonial news from England published in Australia - A sub project of Obituary Portal
The Colonies "held true" to the traditions that they left behind, and sometimes even more so. An excellent example is the scathing Obituary for Harriett Wilson (Du Bochet). The people in the colonies loved to hear in great detail what was happening in London, the reports and their "take" on things is quite innocently funny at times. The news would take months to get to the out posts, and sometimes "poetic liscense" and "Chinese whispers" occur.
Obituaries are an excellent way to find information, or confirm facts about a persons life, relationships, occupation and ethnic background. Eventually this will become a portal for minor projects that will be sorted by year of death.
If you find a person on the tree, or add someone that has his/her obituary here, please copy it to their profile and add them to the project or the sub project that is appropriate and contains the obituary. Also add a link in the list below under the appropriate year.
Please use this icon for all sub projects.
At the bottom of a group retrieved, is the link to the Public Domain source, it shows the where the obituary came from and when it was published.
TROVE is the best source for Australian colonial news, sometimes it is still a bit scrambled so the original need to be read to correct the text first. In the South Australian Register, all of 4 pages, page 3 is often where these stories are. Searches can also retrieve lists that other users have created, this is also a great place to find shipping news.
To add an obituary you will need to either request to collaborate, or, message the obituary to a collaborator. Please get involved. (keep in mind sometimes they have mistakes)
1830's
1840's
- 1845 William Wellesley-Pole (Wesley), 3rd Earl of Mornington
- 1845 Lately, at Whiteparish, near Romsey, Hampshire, in her 109th year, Mrs Betty Heath. It is a singular fact that, when in her 50th year, she was, after a severe illness, pronounced dead by her medical attendant. Preparations were made for her funeral, and the carpenter was about to screw her down, when she evinced symptoms of returning life, and in a few days recovered tolerable health.
- 1845 On the 6th March, at a very advanced age, at Middle Gloucester place, Dublin, suffocated by his clothes catching fire, Sir H. F. Barrington, Bart., brother of the late Sir Jonah Barrington.
- 1845On the 12th March, at Kensington, the Hon. Caroline Fox, niece of Charles James Fox, and sister of the late Lord Holland.
- 1845 In March last, at Islington, London, aged 47, Wm. Frederick Deacon, Esq. He was a distinguished writer in some of our best periodicals, and was employed for nearly twenty years on the Sun newspaper.
- 1845 On the 6th March, aged 64, M. Nugent, Esq., many years one of the parliamentary reporters of the Times.
- 1845 On the 3rd March, at Leicester, (the town which had the honour of giving her birth) Miss Linwood, well known as a talented artist in needle work, and almost the first person who introduced that art. The deceased was born in the year 1756, and was in the 90th year of her age. She was taken ill last year, while on her annual visit to her inimitable exhibition of needle work, in London, and was brought to Leicester, in an invalid carriage, on the 27th September last. Although she did not rally again to any considerable extent, hopes were entertained until about New Year's Day that she would recover strength, but an attack of influenza seizing her at that time, it became evident that debility would gain the mastery, and since which period she gradually sunk until the hour of her death.
- 1845 On the 10th March, at No. 3, Draycott place, Chelsea. The notorious Harriette Wilson. It will be recollected that in the year 1825, the well known John Joseph Stockdale, published the memoirs of this infamous woman. The book made a considerable stir at the time, the names of several important personages in the country having been given to the world as individuals who had indulged in amours with her. One gentleman, a Mr Blore, an architect, brought an action for libel against Stockdale, and recovered a verdict of £300 damages. Many noblemen and gentlemen, who had paid visits to Harriette, contrived to avoid exposure by paying over to her, at various times, large sums of money, and those payments were actually continued till within a day or two of her death. But her chief dependence was upon an annuity which she received quarterly. Lately, Harriette Wilson was a confirmed brandy drinker; and, until within twenty four hours of her death, she indulged freely in the intoxicating spirit. It became evident, however, to her attendants, that though alcoliolic potations acted as a stimulus for a time, she was sinking under their influence. She expired leaving scarcely any money behind her, although fifty pounds, it is said, were sent for her use, by the Duke of ———, within forty-eight hours of her dissolution.
On the 17th March, the deceased was interred at the cemetery at Fulham, and thus has the grave closed upon the remains of one, who when alive was a thorough disgrace to her sex. Previous to her death, Harriette Wilson embraced the Catholic faith, and outwardly exhibited the sign of a pious penitent woman. She has bequeathed to a priest a Virgin Mary and a Mary Magdalene; and it is believed that this gentleman, anticipating that an undue use would be made of her papers, by those scandal mongers, who are ever ready to prey upon the character of public men has caused many documents to be destroyed which, if publicity were given to thorn, would involve several families in grief and bitter mortification. According to the inscription on the coffin plate, Harrette Wilson was fifty five years of age when she closed her earthly career. For a period of twenty years, by threats of exposure, she managed to draw large sums from those who visited her when the bloom of beauty tinged her cheeks. Independently of the sum we alluded to above, she received £20 from Sir F. ——;£2 from Lord—— , and a gift from the Duke of ——-, within a few days of her death; and it has been intimated to us that the event has been kept snug, in order that more money may be secured, on the plea that is required for Harriette's use. We think we may safely state, that further exposures will not be made, unless, indeed, the harpies of the press dish up a parcel of lies, and send them forth to the world in the garb of truth. We have one letter before us, written by a clergyman, who had been threatened, we suppose, with exposure, unless he furnished Hariette with money.
The reverend gentleman says, that having to meet his rev. brother, on his arrival from the North, he could not see her that day, but would make arrangements that she should not be disappointed on the following day! We secured this communication, and have since committed it to the flames, together with many little matters which, in the hands of any vulgar scoundrel, might have been worked up to his pecuniary advantage. We have now done with this woman, and we hope no stone will be erected to commemorate her memory, and disgrace the place of her burial.— Weekly Dispatch, 6th April.
Lovers
- Field Marshal Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
- William Craven, 1st Earl of Craven
- Prince of Wales
- 4 Future Prime Ministers of England
Ref: WikiPedia
1850's
- 1850 DEATH OF SIR BOBERT PEEL.
LAST MOMENTS OF SIR ROBERT PEEL.
The following account of the sufferings endured by Sir Robert Peel, up to the time of his lamented death, will be read with a painful interest.
Sir James Clarke having consulted with Lady Peel, immediately on the arrival of Sir Robert at "Whitehall, it was arranged to send at once for Sir Benjamin Brodie and Sir Csesar Hawkins. Dr Seymour and Mr Hodgson, the family physician and surgeon, were also sent for at the same time. Sir James Clarke and Dr Foucert remained in attendance until Mr Shaw (Sir Benjamin Brodie's assistant) came, when the former left.' At length Sir Benjamin arrived, and a consultation took place between tbe six gentlemen whose names are above given.
A formidable difficulty presented itself at the very outset of the ease, from the distressing fact that Sir Robert's sufferings were so acute that he would not permit any minute examination of his injuries to be made by the medical men. The slightest touch in the vicinity of the injured parts gave him intense agony, and the only manner in which he could be treated, under the circumstances, was to assume that the comminuted fracture of the clavicle (which was evident to the eye, on the right hon. baronet's being undressed) was the only broken bone and that the ribs were uninjured. After the consultation it was determined to reduce the fracture, but owing to the extreme sensibility of the patient, the operation was not completely performed, and at the expiration of a few hours the patient entreated that he might be released from the bandages, and they were accordingly taken off.
During Sunday evening, June 29th, Sir Robert was permitted to see Lady Peel and the members of his family ; but after this time it was thought advisable to exclude all strangers from the apartment, in order to lessen the probability of subjecting the patient to any degree of excitement. Sir Robert passed a restless night on Saturday, his extreme sensibility to touch increased hourly, and his symptoms altogether becoming alarming, which at the first, we believe we are correct in stating, some of the medical gentlemen in attendance did not consider them to be. On the Sunday evening the patient's pulse having increased from between eighty and ninety, at which it had ranged after the accident, to upwards of 100, it was deemed necessary to take some blood, with a view of reducing inflammation. Twenty leeches were accordingly applied to the left shoulder by Dr Foueart, and a large quantity of blood was obtained. There was no positive improvement in the condition of the patient from this operation,' and he continued in a very precarious state throughout the whole of Sunday and Monday, On Monday night the alarming symptoms were greatly increased.
About seven o'clock Sir Robert became delirious, and attempted to raise himself up in bed. In this state he continued during the greater part of the night, and at intervals he became so much exhausted that his medical attendants several times were of opinion that he could not survive through the night, In the paroxysms of his sufferings, Sir Robert's thoughts were with his oldest and dearest friends, and the names of Hardinge, and Graham, and Bunsen, were frequently upon his lips. At four o'clock on Tuesday morning, Sir Robert fell into a sound sleep, in which he continued uninterruptedly until eight o'clock. On awaking, his mind was quite composed, and his medical attendants considered him to be much refreshed by the rest he had enjoyed. There was still, however, intense cause for anxiety. From the :period of the accident up to this time (nearly seventy hours), Sir Robert had taken no other sustenance than a glass of champagne and the yolk of one egg beaten up, which he was induced with some difficulty to swallow. Medicine had been administered, as a matter of course, but throughout the same lengthened period the system had remained per fectly inactive. The pulse had greatly increased on Tuesday, marking from 112 to 118, and becomming very weak.
At noon, on Tuesday, Sir Robert expressed himself to be a little easier. This relief was, unhappily, of short duration. At two o'dock, far more dangerous symptoms than any yet observed presented themselves. At this time Sir Robert began to breathe stertorously, and his senses again failed him. He ceased to answer the questions addressed to him, and appeared to be sinking into ' a comatose state. Sir Benjamin Brodie, who had left the mansion, was again sent for, and on his arrival agreed with Br Foueart and the other medi cal gentleman that the case now assumed a most dangerous aspect." The pulse had become very weak, aud marked 118. From two to six o'clock, the change for the worse in the right hon. baronet's symtoms was progressive, the pnlse increasing to 130, and becoming generally weaker. Stimulants I were administered, but had no apparent effect, and the stertorous breathing became more and more painful. The relatives were now informed that all |the relief medical science could afford was exhausted, and that no hope whatever existed of j being able to prolong Sir Robert's life twenty-four hours. The Bishop of Gibraltar (The Rev Dr Tomlinson), a very old friend of Sir Robert's, was now sent for to administer the last offices of the church.
On the arrival of the right reverend prelate it was intimated to Lady Peel and the members of the family that "they might now, without risk of in creasing the dangerous condition of the patient, be admitted to the apartment in which he was lying. In a few moments the whole family were assembled in the presence of their beloved relative, whose exhausted condition, at this time, scarcely enabled him to recognise their identity.
It is not the province of the journalist to violate the sanctity of private feeling, and therefore this! portion of our narrative necessarily omits all matters of detail. It is sufficient to say that the lamented sufferer's energies were sufficiently revived during one period of the interview to enable him to identify the features of those beloved ones surround ing his couch towards whom he at length extended his faltering hand, and in an attitude bespeaking the intensity of his feelings, whispered in a scarcely audible voice—" God bless you!"
At nine o'clock Sir Robert had become so exhausted as to be callous to all external expressions. The members of his family still remained near him, with the exception of Lady Peel, whose painfully excited feelings rendered it absolutely necessary to remove her from the apartment, the sufferer's strength was, however, so far exhausted, that although he gave occasional indications of being sensible of their presence, the power of utterance had altogether ceased, and it soon became evident that his end was rapidly approaching.
Sir Robert ceased to exist at nine minutes after eleven o'clock. Sensibility to pain had ceased some time before death, and the last moments of the right hon. baronet were not disturbed by any physical suffering.
After death an examination of the body was made, when a most important fact was for the first time discovered, viz., that the fifth rib on the left side was fractured. This, was the region where Sir Robert complained of the greatest pain, and there is much reason to fear it was the seat of mortal in jury, the broken rib pressing on the lung, and producing what is technically known as effusion and pulmonary engorgement.
The family were consulted as to their wishes on the subject of a post mortem examination, but both Mr Frederick Peel and Captain Peel objected to allow the remains to be disturbed in any way, and the precise cause of death will therefore be never ascertained. An application for permission to take a cast of the face, from an eminent sculptor, was also refused.
Lady Peel continued, throughout Tuesday night, in a state of the deepest prostration, aRd on Wednesday morning her illness had so much increased, that it was found necessary to call in Sir Benjamin Brodie. The Queen sent to inquire after her lady ship at an early hour. The Duchess of Gloucester, and other members of the Royal Family, also sent to make enquiries, and his Royal Highness Prince George called personally to ascertain the state of her ladyship. The Duke of Wellington called at one o'clock to see Lady Peel, but her ladyship was not sufficiently well to receive him. The Duchess of Inverness, the Russian Minister, and several other members of the nobility, called to enquire after Lady Peel during the day.
Several of the principal mercantile establishments in the City and at the West End manifested their high respect for the lamented deceased, and their deep regret at his premature demise, by closing their windows, a proceeding almost universally adopted in the neighbourhood of Whitehall. The flags of many vessels on the river, and also on many public buildings, were hoisted half-mast high, as a mark of respect to the memory of the deceased.
The body was placed in a shell on Wednesday evening, and the funeral was to take place in the mausoleum of the family at Drayton, near Tamworth, in the early part of the ensuing week.
REMOVAL OF THE BODY OF THE DECEASED.
About six o'clock on Friday evening, a plain hearse drawn by four horses, and followed by a mourning coach and four, entered Whitehall Gardens. On nearing the residence of the lamented deceased, a handsome coffin, covered with crimson velvet, was removed from the hearse and carried on the shoulders of eight men into the mansion. The hearse and mourning coach presently withdrew into Privy Gardens, where they remained in waiting.
At seven o'clock they returned into Whitehall Gardens, and in a few moments afterwards the coffin, now containing the remains of the lamented deceased, was borne from the mansion through the courtyard, and deposited in the house, which had drawn up at the gates to receive it. The coffin was enclosed in a dark wrapper, but not covered with any pall. It was preceded by two footmen in livery, and followed by Mr Townes, steward for many years past in the right, hon, baronet's family.
After the coffin had been placed in the hearse, the coach drew up and received Mr Frederick Peel,j M.P., Viscount Hardinge, Sir James Graham, and the Right Hon. H. Goulburn, M.P. The hearse and coach then proceeded at a slow pace through Whitehall and up St Martin's lane, in the direction of the North Western Railway station.
The removal was witnessed by a large number of persons who had assembled in Whitehall Gardens, and as the cortege proceeded the crowd in creased, many persons accompanying the procession throughout the whole line of route. Neither the hearse nor the coach had any feathers, and it was observed that no pages nor undertakers' men did accompany the removal. Mr Inspector Field, with Sergeant Kendall and Sergeant Thornton of the detective force, and Mr Inspector Darkin of the A division were in attendance, the three former officers proceeding to Euston-square with the cortege.
Application had been made to the railway authorities to allow the hearse to be placed on a truck and conveyed through to Tamworth by the mail train. This proceeding is not usual, in consequence of the objection many passengers entertain against travelling in the same train which conveys a deceased person. The company have carriages for the purchasers, but in consequence of a request on the part of the family, Captain Huish, the manager of the company, communicated with Mr Glynn, M.P., (chairman of the board of directors,) and the result was that instructions were given that the hearse should be conveyed as desired.
On the arrival of the cortege at the station, the horses were taken out and the hearse placed upon a truck, under the direction of Mr Brooks, the superintendent of the station. The truck was sub sequently attached to the train, which left town at the usual hour, a quarter to nine.
Viscount Hardinge, Sir James Graham, and Mr Goulburn remained until after the departure of the train, and then returned home. Mr Frederick Peel alone accompanied the remains to Tamworth, at which place arrangements have been made to receive them by a local undertaker.
The funeral was to take place on Tuesday, the 9th of July.
The horse from which Sir Robert Peel received his fall was bought at Tattersall's, on the 22nd of April last, by Mr Beckett Denison, and intended to be offered to Sir Robert Peel. Mr Denison rode him daily for a week. He met the troops with their bands playing, as well as omnibusses and carriages in Piccadilly all which the horse passed without showing the smallest disposition to shy. Mr Denison insisted upon Sir Robert riding him for a week before he decided on keeping him. He did so, and then requested he might have him. The horse had been regularly hunted, was eight years old, and had been ridden by Lord Villiers, who thought he would suit his father-in-law exceedingly well. For the last two mouths Sir Robert had ridden this horse regularly.
- 1854 .
On the 22nd September last, at Blandford, Dorsetshire, in the 76th year of his age, the Rev. Richard Keynes, for 51 years pastor of the Independent Church in that Town, and father of Joseph Keynes. Esq., North Rhine.
1860's
1870's
1880's
1890's
1900's
1910's
1920's
1930's
1940's
1950's
1960's
1970's
1980's
1990's
2000's
2010's
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