Thistleton Family

Mr. Murphy married Maria, third daughter of Mr. William Badgery, of Bombala, having been raised two years before this event to the commission of the peace. He is a member of the committee of the Bombala Agricultural Society, secretary of the Bibbenluke Jockey Club, and has acted as judge of cattle, horses, and sheep at the Candelo and Bombala annual exhibitions.

JOHN RUTHERFORD, of Minto, who was born in Scotland, accompanied his parents to Australia in 1856, and landed in Melbourne. Going hence to Launceston he became employed in the grocery business, and afterwards in the farming industry. In 1858 he came over to the Merinumbla Station, near Buckley's Crossing, the property of his uncle, and worked as a carpenter in business with his father and brothers. After sixteen years of such service he, on his father's decease, accompanied his mother and brothers to California, where for three years he followed his trade. Returning to Sydney he engaged with Mr. Robert Fowler, ex-mayor of Sydney, at the Camperdown Pottery Works, remaining in that gentleman's employ for a *twelve month. For three years he was in the drapery business, and finally established himself in a general store at Buckley's Crossing. On the death of his uncle he succeeded to the Minto property, of which mention has already been made, and disposed of his store. In 1883 Mr. Rutherford married at Newtown, Isabella, third surviving daughter of Mr. G. Murdock, of Cundle Plains, Manning River. Mr. Rutherford follows pastoral occupations on his fine estate, which is magnificent land; it is well subdivided into paddocks and embraces an area of 1000 acres. Mr. Rutherford filled for three years the position of postmaster at Buckley's Crossing.

DAVID O'Rourke, J.P., Merchant, is the oldest surviving son of the late Thomas O'Rourke, of Bolaro, ind was born in the district of Cooma in 1838. He was educated by private tutors, and at the age of fifteen years entered upon business life in the capacity of manager for his father, who' was then engaged in pastoral pursuits. After an eventful period of successive changes in different enterprises, he in 1884 settled down in the business which he now conducts with advantage to the district and profit to himself. Besides this many other occupations have engaged his time and capital, notably gold and silver mining. He ,Was the original mining prospector of the district, and like all pioneers, had to contend with great difficulties in obtaining a sufficiency of capital to complete his discoveries. After a certain amount of trouble, however, he had the satisfaction to be able to raise from a Sydney syndicate the sum of £100,000 for the purchase and development of the leases of the Bredbo silver and gold mine. The specimens from some of the claims are said by competent men to be equal in quality and appearance to those of Broken Hill; and it is fair to-consider that when the fields are properly opened a great benefit will be done the district. Mr. O'Rourke was one of the first alderman for the municipality, and has been since elected to the office of mayor. He is one of the vice-president of the P.A. and P.A. of Monaro, and a J.P. of seventeen years standing.

JAMES MILEHAM Hassall J.P., of Wambrook Lake, near Cooma, was born at Macquarie Grove, near Camden, in 1826, and is the son of the late Samuel Otoo Hassall, one of the pioneer squatters of Australia, who, during 'his lifetime, had runs at the Cow Pastures, O'Connell Plains, near Bathurst, and Burrowa. On his father's side Mr. Hassall is the grandson of the late Rev. Rowland Hassall, one of the earliest chaplains of the colony, and his mother, who was born at Parramatta in 1800, was the only daughter of Dr. James Mileham, a magistrate, who, it will be remembered, was connected with the deposition of Governor Bligh. Our subject was educated at Goulburn, and became a squatter at Burrowa. Seventeen years ago he purchased his present property, which is one of the finest in the district. Mr. Hassall has a family of six sons and eight daughters. His eldest son was unfortunately killed in a deep well out in the far West by the falling of a piece of timber. At the time of his decease he was twenty-seven years of age.

Florence Thistleton nee (Brooks)
Born 13th May 1883 at Braidwood. Daughter of George Brooks and Ellen Davis. 7 Brothers and 5 sisters. George Brooks came from England in 1858 aboard the ship Irene, he was travelling alone. Ellen Davis was on the same ship and was travelling with her family.Wether they met on the ship or not we do not know but they were married in 1861 and lived at "Brookvale" 14 miles from Braidwood and had 13 children. Brookvale remained in the Brook's Family until 1946 when it was sold.

George Thistleton
Born 10th April 1871 at Braidwood Son of George Thistleton & Caroline Taylor. George had 1 brother and 5 sisters. George came to Nimmitabel from Braidwood in 1907 and settled on the property The Ranch. Here he raised cattle and cut Telegraph Poles and Fence Posts and did fencing in the Nimmitabel area. In 1910 he brought his new Bride Florence to Nimmitabel where they settled into married life and began raising a family. Over the years they reared 8 children sadly 2 died when only very young. In 1927 George died leaving Florence with a young family to raise, theChildren ranged in age from 5 to 14. At this time the family were running a dairy and then Florence received a small pension but to supplement this she took up Dressmaking. Over the ensuing years the children grew and left home. Gordon married Mercia and for a time worked as an overseer, on a property but eventually they brought What is now The General Store and ran this for over 30 years till the early 1980's when they retired to Bombaderry where Mercia still resides. Gordon died in 1995.they had 1 son. Harold stayed on the property and helped his mother run it , He enlisted during the Second World War and for a time was in New Guinea.When he returned he once again returned to the farm. .He married Valma and she still lives at The Ranch. Harold died in 1978.

They had 6 Children. Mavis Married Geoff Newton they lived in Blacktown. After Geoff's death Mavis moved to Evans Head where she still resides.Geoff died in 1975.They had 6 children. Alma Married Norman Body they lived in Stanmore where Alma still resides.They had 3 children Netta Married Roy Griffith They lived at Dundas, Netta moved to Umina where she still resides. They had 5 children. Oliver Married Avis Alcock. They lived at Cottesloe Nimmitabel, Oliver worked at the TV station as a cleaner for many years as well as running his property. They retired to Bega in the early 1980's where Avis still resides. They had 4 Children. Oliver died in 1997.

History of "The Ranch"
The Ranch was taken up as a Homestead Grant in 1900 by Joseph Walpole Silk. George Thistleton joined him on the property in 1907. They ran cattle. In !910 George acquired the property from Silk. George also cut telegraph poles and fence posts to supplement his income. .For several years before and after George's death the farm was run as a Dairy.
After Harold returned from WW2 he and Oliver cut and delivered wood around the district from 1946 to 1950. From 1952 onwards the property ran sheep and a few cattle, it's main enterprise now is fine wool merinos and a small herd of cattle.
The property is now run by the Third generation of Thistleton's.

VALMA MARTHA THISTLETON 1922 -2005

Valma Martha Ingram was born on 17 March 1922 at Delegate, the second child of Lew and Cynthia Ingram. She was so small when she was born that she wasn’t given much hope of surviving, but her grandmother refused to give up, and kept her near the fire and fed her with an eyedropper. As she grew up 10 more sisters and brothers were added to the family. The family moved to Nimmitabel in 1937 to a property ‘Glenrock’ and they also lived in the township in several houses. They then moved to Cobargo, and during the war years Val worked in the Fish Cannery at Narooma, as well as helping her mother with her brothers and sisters. Later the family moved back to Nimmitabel to the property ‘Woodlands’. Val was bridesmaid at different times to all four of her sisters.
On 2 November 1954, she married Harold Evan Thistleton. Val had seven children, Norm, Julie, Leonie, Brenda, Dulcie Harold and Terry. Val helped Harold on the farm, and as the children grew, she became involved with the Uniting Church, and the ladies fellowship.
Sadly in 1978 Harold passed away as the result of an accident, and Val was left to run the farm, and raise her almost grown family. She did this with the same determination she showed when she was born, and with the help and advice from many friends and neighbours the farm continues.
In recent years Val suffered small strokes that left her unable to talk, and led to her needing constant care and nursing. Eventually there was no choice, and she had to go to a 24-hour care at Sir William Hudson Home, where she died peacefully in her sleep on 5 July 2005. I’m sure that Val is now with Harold, as it should be, and they are at this time having a nice cup of tea and a biscuit.
I could tell you that she was a loving mother, faithful wife, a great cook, wonderful artist with knitting needles, but above all, ever a lady. But you know this already.
How do you define a life well lived, I have thought about this, and I believe that Val’s lasting legacy is right here in this Church. Seven children, all fine respectable hardworking adults, with children of their own.
Not only 7 children, but also 20 grandchildren and 10 great grand children. In this modern world of fine achievements, as worthy as any other, our world is a lesser place because of her passing. One final thought – I would like all of you to remember that when you love someone they are here in your thoughts and in your heart. When you think about this, then you will know, that they are always with you, and they are never truly gone.
Eulogy read by Chris Svanberg (Val’s son-in-law).
Submitted by Rae Blyton

Descendants of George Mottram Thistleton

22.06.06
Dawn Hutchinson <dawnmh-at-bigpond.com> 17.11.06, 22.11.06, 20.12.06
Recompiled from the new Monaro Pioneers database: 1.10.08

1. George Mottram Thistleton, son of William Sowerby Thistleton and Eleanor Mottram Evans, was born on October 23, 1842 in Liverpool, Lancashire, England, was baptised on November 17, 1842 in Manchester Cathedral, Lancashire, England, died on January 4, 1900 in Marlow, NSW^¹ at age 57, and was buried in Charleyong, NSW.

George married Caroline Taylor, daughter of William Taylor and Eliza Bloomfield, on August 14, 1863 in Sydney, NSW.² Caroline was born in May 1842 in Wolenworth, Suffolk, England and died on January 21, 1901 in Braidwood, NSW^³ at age 58.

2 F i. Martha Thistleton was born on November 23, 1864 in Durran Durra near Braidwood, NSW^⁴ and died on June 27, 1946 in Burwood, NSW^⁵ at age 81.

3 F ii. Eleanor Leah Thistleton was born on April 22, 1866 in Durran Durra near Braidwood, NSW^⁶ and died in 1903 in Burwood, NSW^⁷ at age 37.

4 F iii. Mary Ann Thistleton was born on July 19, 1869 in Charleyong, NSW^⁸ and died on November 27, 1939 in Blacktown, NSW^⁹ at age 70.

5 M iv. George Thistleton was born on April 10, 1871 in Braidwood, NSW,^¹⁰ died on January 27, 1927 in Goulburn, NSW^¹¹ at age 55, and was buried in Nimmitabel Cemetery, NSW Grave 2.

6 F v. Dinah Thistleton was born on March 15, 1874 in Braidwood, NSW^¹² and died in 1945 in Wollongong, NSW^¹³ at age 71.

7 F vi. Eliza Caroline Thistleton was born on April 5, 1876 in Charleyong, NSW^¹⁴ and died on March 29, 1945 in Sydney, NSW^¹⁵ at age 68.

M vii. Charles Edward Thistleton was born on March 8, 1879 in Braidwood, NSW^¹⁶ and died on July 31, 1951 in Murwillumbah, NSW^¹⁷ at age 72.

Charles married Mary Ann McGovern, daughter of Terence McGovern and Bridget. Mary was born in 1881 in Sydney, NSW^¹⁸ and died on November 17, 1917 in Glebe, NSW^¹⁹ at age 36.

Charles next married Rose Ann Hedges, daughter of Joseph Hedges and Mary Ann Green, in 1932 in Murwillumbah, NSW.²⁰ Rose was born in 1894 in Singleton, NSW^²¹ and died in 1967 in Murwillumbah, NSW^²² at age 73.

F viii. Edith Amelia Thistleton was born on February 29, 1884 in Braidwood, NSW^²³ and died on October 13, 1884 in Braidwood, NSW.^²⁴

2. Martha Thistleton (George Mottram¹) was born on November 23, 1864 in Durran Durra near Braidwood, NSW^⁴ and died on June 27, 1946 in Burwood, NSW^⁵ at age 81.

Martha married Charles Vincent Nicholas Hughes, son of Charles Hughes and Lucy Ann Howell, on May 26, 1891 in Burwood, NSW.²⁵ Charles was born in 1864 in St George, NSW^²⁶ and died on October 29, 1950 in Strathfield, NSW^²⁷ at age 86.

M i. Lawrence Charles Thistleton Hughes was born in 1894 in Canterbury, NSW^²⁸ and died in 1959 in Liverpool, NSW^²⁹ at age 65.

F ii. Esme L. Hughes was born in 1897 in Burwood, NSW^³¹ and died in 1901 in Burwood, NSW^³² at age 4.

3. Eleanor Leah Thistleton (George Mottram¹) was born on April 22, 1866 in Durran Durra near Braidwood, NSW^⁶ and died in 1903 in Burwood, NSW^⁷ at age 37.

Eleanor married Alexander Jacob Dolsen, son of Alexander Dolsen and Annie, on September 2, 1884 in Canterbury, NSW.³³ Alexander was born in 1860 in Pheasant Creek, Victoria and died on November 14, 1934 in Granville, NSW^³⁴ at age 74.

M i. George Alexander Dolsen was born in 1885 in Canterbury, NSW^³⁵ and died in 1943 in Newtown, NSW^³⁶ at age 58.

M ii. Harold Arthur Dolsen was born in 1887 in Braidwood, NSW^³⁷ and died in 1964 in Burwood, NSW^³⁸ at age 77.

F iii. Alice May Dolsen was born in 1889 in Burwood, NSW^⁴⁰ and died in 1954 in Ryde, NSW^⁴¹ at age 65.

M vi. Alfred Ernest Dolsen was born in 1896 in Burwood, NSW^⁴⁴ and died in 1966 in Kogarah, NSW^⁴⁵ at age 70.

M vii. Frederick Oliver Dolsen was born in 1899 in Burwood, NSW^⁴⁷ and died in 1967 in St Leonards, NSW^⁴⁸ at age 68.

4. Mary Ann Thistleton (George Mottram¹) was born on July 19, 1869 in Charleyong, NSW^⁸ and died on November 27, 1939 in Blacktown, NSW^⁹ at age 70.

Mary married Edwin Harold Arnold, son of Edward Harold Arnold, on December 18, 1893 in Narrandera, NSW.⁵¹ Edwin was born in 1858 in Ealing, Middlesex, England and died on March 9, 1944 in Blacktown, NSW^⁵² at age 86.

M i. Edward A. Arnold was born in 1896 in Albury, NSW^⁵³ and died in 1897 in Albury, NSW^⁵⁴ at age 1.

5. George Thistleton (George Mottram¹) was born on April 10, 1871 in Braidwood, NSW,^¹⁰ died on January 27, 1927 in Goulburn, NSW^¹¹ at age 55, and was buried in Nimmitabel Cemetery, NSW Grave 2.

Notes: George was born at Braidwood NSW and in 1907 he moved to Nimmitabel and settled on a property called "The Ranch". He bought the property from Joseph Walpole Silk. Here he raised cattle and cut telegraph poles and fence posts.

George married Florence May Brooks, daughter of George Edward Brooks and Ellen Davis, in 1910 in Braidwood, NSW.⁵⁵ Florence was born on May 13, 1883 in Braidwood, NSW,^⁵⁶ died on July 28, 1959 in Cooma, NSW^⁵⁷ at age 76, and was buried in Nimmitabel Cemetery, NSW Grave 2.

M i. Everard Mottram Thistleton was born in October 1911, died on August 17, 1913 in Nimmitabel, NSW^⁵⁸ at age 1, and was buried in Nimmitabel Cemetery, NSW Grave 2.

Mavis married Geoffrey Vernon Newton, son of Arthur Patrick Newton and Mary Frances Walcott, on December 24, 1938 in Cooma, NSW.⁶⁰ Geoffrey died in 1975 in Blacktown, NSW.^⁶¹ Another name for Geoffrey was Geoff.

6. Dinah Thistleton (George Mottram¹) was born on March 15, 1874 in Braidwood, NSW^¹² and died in 1945 in Wollongong, NSW^¹³ at age 71.

Dinah married John Henry Nelson, son of Robert Nelson and Unknown, in 1902 in Sydney, NSW.⁶⁵ John was born on September 11, 1881 in Durham, Durhamshire, England and died on August 24, 1960 in Rydalmere, NSW^⁶⁶ at age 78.

M i. Ambrose W. Nelson was born in 1903 in Burwood, NSW^⁶⁷ and died in 1903 in Burwood, NSW.^⁶⁸

7. Eliza Caroline Thistleton (George Mottram¹) was born on April 5, 1876 in Charleyong, NSW^¹⁴ and died on March 29, 1945 in Sydney, NSW^¹⁵ at age 68.

Eliza married Charles Albert Hush, son of George Hush and Isabella Bowland, on December 29, 1898 in Braidwood, NSW.⁶⁹ Charles was born on May 28, 1875 in Charleyong via Braidwood, NSW^⁷⁰ and died on January 11, 1949 in Charleyong via Braidwood, NSW^⁷¹ at age 73.

F i. Mildred Josephine Hush was born in 1899 in Braidwood, NSW and died on February 13, 1978 in Sydney, NSW at age 79.

Mildred married Sydney Talbot Ricketts, son of George Ricketts and Emily, in 1931 in Sydney, NSW.⁷² Sydney died in 1947 in Randwick, NSW.^⁷³

F ii. Reita P. Hush was born in 1901 in Braidwood, NSW^⁷⁴ and died on March 7, 1998 in Waitara, NSW at age 97.

F iii. Emily Isobel Hush was born in 1903 in Braidwood, NSW^⁷⁵ and died in 1975 in Sydney, NSW^⁷⁶ at age 72.

Emily married Stanley Doran, son of George H. Doran and Alice Mary Eccleston, in 1929 in Braidwood, NSW.⁷⁷ Stanley was born in 1899 in Kiandra, NSW.^⁷⁸

F iv. Eva Caroline Hush was born in 1904 in Braidwood, NSW and died on June 6, 1982 in Ashfield, NSW at age 78.

Eva married Cecil Charles Ritchie, son of Samuel H. Ritchie and Charlotte Hyndman, in 1928 in Marrickville, NSW.⁷⁹ Cecil was born in 1899 in Marrickville, NSW^⁸⁰ and died in 1960 in Burwood, NSW^⁸¹ at age 61.

F v. Mavis Clare Hush was born in 1905 in Braidwood, NSW and died on April 10, 1992 in Punchbowl, NSW at age 87.

Mavis married Rex Bradbury in 1931 in Woollahra, NSW.⁸² Rex died on February 17, 1980 in Punchbowl, NSW.

Harold married Valma Martha Ingram, daughter of Charles Lewis Ingram and Agnes Cynthia Targett, on November 2, 1954 in Cooma, NSW.⁸³ Valma was born on March 17, 1922 in Delegate Cemetery, NSW and died on July 5, 2005 in Cooma, NSW at age 83.

VALMA MARTHA THISTLETON 1922 -2005

First Generation

Second Generation

Third Generation

Sources