Death of Mrs Tailby, (Catherine Timmins)
Probably the oldest resident of the district.
In the death of Mrs Tailby probably the district loses its oldest
inhabitant, she having arrived in the district in 1835-70 years ago.Her
death, which took place 16-9-1905 at her residence, Rylstone,was due to
senile decay,but the end was very sudden.
She awoke on Saturday morning at 4 O'clock when her grand-daughter,Miss
Tailby,saw she was in pain at 6 O'Clock Mr George Tailby her son went for
the doctor,but before he had returned she had breathed her last. She
quietly stepped over the border line with no rude shock, as gently almost
as an infant goes to slumber.It might truly be said the candle burnt to
it's socket and the flame gently died away.
The deceased lady would have been 86 years of age in December,and belongs
to a long -lived family. Her mother lived to 100, and one of her brothers
is 96,and another over 90,and like Mrs Tailby, saw very little sickness.
Mrs Tailby was a native of Richmond,as was also her husband,whom she
survived 25 years.Old hands about that place will remember the brother last
referred to, Jack Timmins, the drover with his famous dogs who would do
more than a dozen men.
Mr and Mrs Tailby came to the district shortly after their marriage and
lived at Rockville,now the property of Mr George McQuiggin. In 1854 they
took up Fernside and also purchased what was then known as Willow Glen, a
grant to Captain Chevelle.
The district was at that time known as "Narrangra",a black's name
signifying "no grass,"having got that name from the fact that it was part
of a cattle run at Marsdens, and the black herdsmen used to keep the stock
around the part they knew until it was eaten very bare.
Mrs Tailby was noted for her attention to the sick of the district. No call
for kindness ever passed her unheeded, and she would ride at all hours and
over bad roads and bush to give assistance.Many a man and woman in the
district now getting on the shady side of life, were first clothed by the
lady who has now gone to her rest.
In church matters Mr and Mrs Tailby took a prominent part, and the Anglican
and Methodist Churches in the olden days owe a great deal to them.
Divine service was frequently held at their home. Mr Tailby paid a
considerable sum at the completion of the Anglican Church, which was
subsequently refunded to him as funds became available.
The home at Fernside represented a phase in pastoral life that does not
now exist-at least only in the back country if at all.
Mr Tailby had sheep and cattle stations at Coonamble, the latter being
Gallargumbone and the former Merri-Merri station, now owned by Mr Peacock,
one of our most wealthy squatters.
Fernside (then Willow Glen) was acquired as a shearing depot, it being a
common thing in those days to travel sheep where there was more convenience
for carriers,and where the sheep could be washed away from the cattle.
The Cudgegong (which all old hands say has much changed in character) was
very suitable for the purpose, being a chain of very long ponds. The wool
was washed on the sheep's back and shorn, and the sheep again traveled back
to Coonamble as they came.
About 7,000 sheep were brought down each year in this way, though the
number reached as high as 9,000.
Mr Tailby was the first white man to settle at Gallargumbone, but he
considered the climate unsuitable to live in, so fixed his home at
Rylstone.It is worth mentioning that in those days Mr Tailby was never
interferred by the lawless bushranging characters who were too common at
that time.
This is attributed to the fact that Mr Tailby would never have an
"assigned" servant -that the system being productive of so much cruelty.
The deceased lady left 4 sons and 9 daughters, 42 surviving grand-children,
and 29 great- grand-children.
Most of the family are married and left the district. One daughter married
Mr W.W. Armstrong, so well known as C.P.S. here for a number of years, and
another married Mr H.K. White the local chemist at the time.
Mrs Tailby died full of days and honor,and very much of the "sting of
death" is removed, but there is always avoid, where the "pale horse and his
rider" takes away a loved one. As many as possible of the family were
present to show the last token of love, and many residents attended the
funeral on Monday. We add ours to the many expressions of sympathy for
those who miss a dear familiar face now gone.
