Original Rootsweb Co. Tyrone Community Site
Annie Atchison, born Castlederg, 1830, died New South Wales, Australia 1915
On July 16 last, at Wattle Flat, there passed
away MRS. ANNIE HILLLER, aged 84 years and 9
months. She had lived in and
around the old mining township for 48 years and for 18 years in the town of
Bathurst itself. The late Mrs. Hillier had some very interesting, though
dangerous, experiences in her early days in this country, which seem to be
very ancient history indeed compared with modern conditions, even in the
country districts. She was born in the year 1830, at the residence of her
grandfather - DR. ROBERT ATCHISON, BLOOMFIELD CASTLE, CASTLEDERG, CO.
TYRONE, IRELAND. Her parents, MR. AND MRS. SAMUEL ATCHISON emigrated to
Australia in the year 1837, in the ship "Coromandel," taking well over five
months on the journey, leaving their eldest child, afterwards Mrs. Hillier,
in Ireland with her grand-parents, to be educated. At the age of 18 years
she joined her mother and family in Bathurst [N.S.W.] (her father having
died in the meantime). It is interesting to note here that Mrs. Hillier had
never been in a train in her life. On her arrival here, she was met at the
boat by a relative, driven to Parramatta (which is as far as the train went
in those days), and there mounted one of Cobb and Co.'s coaches bound for
Bathurst. This journey took three days, and cost well over £20 for fare,
hotel expenses, etc.
Before coming to Australia, Mrs. Hillier
(then Miss Atchison) was a teacher in the same Sunday-school as the COUNTESS
BERESFORD, OF BELMORE CASTLE, CASTLEDERG, who was aunt to the EARL OF
BELMORE, one-time Governor of N.S.W. She continued Sunday-school work almost
throughout the whole of her life, having been in connection with the Wattle
Flat institution for well over 30 years. Her knowledge of the Bible was
intimate and thorough, and it has often been said (and truly) that she knew
it word for word-from Genesis to Revelations-and could quote book, chapter,
and verse with equal ease. Indeed, history of any description was her
"forte," and she was the local authority on such subjects.
A predilection for Bible study apparently
belonged to the whole family, for the REV. CUNNYNGHAM ATCHISON, so well
known in Presbyterian circles in early days, and who built the present
Presbyterian Church at North Sydney, was Mrs. Hillier's uncle.
With regard to Mrs. Hillier's family
connections, their ramifications have spread far and wide throughout the
Empire now the GENERALS HAMILTON (at present fighting for their country in
Europe); the ATCHISONS, of the ATCHISON RAILWAYS, of Canada; and, nearer
home, the OSBORNES, of New South Wales; are some representatives. MRS. R.
GOWLAND, of Bathurst, is the only surviving near relative (sister) of the
late Mrs. Hillier.
Shortly after Mrs. Hillier's arrival in
Bathurst she married JAMES McCLAIR, and eventually proceeded with him to
Hargreaves, then in the beginning of its gold boom; and portion of that
neighbourhood is to-day known as McClair's Gully. Those were the times of
the much-dreaded bushranger, whose principal form of livelihood .in this
particular neighbourhood was, of course, "holding up" the gold escort,
guarded by mounted troopers though it was (the Government having undertaken
the escort of gold in the year 1851). Mrs. Hillier was concerned in several
"hold-ups," and, to a delicately-nurtured girl, such experiences must have
been the more trying; but she was a woman of undaunted will and courage as
well as of dainty upbringing, and continued to accompany her husband from
mine to mine as they broke out. Those were the times, too, when every type
of man was doing the same thing, when the "gold fever" was rampant.
Truly, it can be said that Mrs. Hillier had a
tenacious hold on life, for not more than three or four years ago she
suffered a burning accident serious enough to cause the death (by reason of
shock) of many a younger person, and serious enough to incapacitate her for
some months.
For fearlessness in times of danger and need,
Mrs. Hillier was noted. For instance, it takes a woman without fear (there's
many a man who would "rather not"), and with unflagging energy, to start
from Wattle Flat for Bathurst, on foot, at midnight, in order to reach her
destination in the very early morning. Yet such was Mrs. Hillier's practice
until within a couple of years of her death. She scorned such means of
conveyance as horses and traps, preferring the necessarily popular "shanks'
pony."
There is only one of her four children alive
to carry on the parental character and traditions, but it is not so much as
a peopler of this Australian land that Mrs. Hillier pioneered, but as an
exemplar of a good heart, a sound purpose, and a strong self-control-all of
which can accomplish much. She was frequently "up against" (to use modern
parlance) discomfort, in ability to procure even necessaries, and dangers to
life and limb (bear in mind her girlhood's training); but, in spite of all
these, there was no turning back, or grumbling at her lot, from Mrs.
Hillier. She was of the steadfast, virile breed that hails from Scotland and
the North of Ireland (which originally came from Scotland, of course), that
always forms such splendid foundations on which to colonise new countries.
“Bathurst Times” July 19 1915
MRS. ANNIE HELLIER [sic], an old and highly
respected resident of Wattle Flat, died at Sofala on Friday evening, at the;
advanced age of 85 years. The deceased lady was the eldest daughter of the
late MR. AND MRS. SAMUEL ATCHESON who lived for many years in Durham Street
[Bathurst], and was a sister of MRS. GOWLAND, and aunt of MR. B. FREEMAN.
Mrs. Hellier had lived in the old mining township of Wattle Flat for the
past 48 years, and had been married twice. Her first husband was MR. JAMES
McCLAIR. MR. JAMES McCLAIR of Russell Street [Bathurst] is the only member
of this family left. The remains were brought to Bathurst for interment. The
burial was in the family ground in the Presbyterian cemetery. Rev. J. H.
Robertson officiated at the graveside. It was a private funeral, taking
place on Saturday afternoon.
N.S.W. Registry of Births, Deaths and
Marriages online index
Death Reg. #11406, 1915
Annie Hillier, died Wattle Flat, N.S.W. Parents: Samuel &
Rebecca
