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- Mrs Mary Ryan One of the Pioneers Of Such is History
The history of the pioneers of this still youthful country all remind us that they are of such stuff as heroes are made. many vivid incidents in the early years of the north must go unrecorded but on the other hand much has been retailed showing the wonderful spirit, the undying fortitude, and the extreme hardships shown and suffered by those who braved the wilds of the great bush and blazed the trail for those to follow. It was really wonderful the way the early pioneers faced it all out, how they eked out an existence, reared large families, and lived through it all. Those were hard times, indeed and perhaps it is good for us to read of them occasionally so that, if we will, we can compare their purple pages of history with that of our own generation.These are days of regular wages, 40-hour weeks, workmen’s compensation, widowhood endowment, jazzy nights, motor cars and trams - theirs - well, doesn’t it prosper out thoughts somewhat to recall the grand records to the dear old pioneers who braved so much for us?
We are reminded of these things by a brief recital of the life of Mrs Mary Ryan, whose death occurred so peacefully in the early hours of Monday last. her lot in this her adopted country was marked by a very grim tragedy, for she had the extremely shocking experiences of a young mother cruelly murdered by the blacks. This tragedy occurred in the Aberfoyle district. Mrs Ryan was then only 12 years old, being the second eldest of a family of four sons and three daughters, the youngest a baby in arms. Her parents were Mr and Mrs Sullivan, natives of County Kerry, Ireland, who emigrated to Australia when their eldest daughter, the subject of this obituary was but 12 years old. Mr Sullivan was a school teacher, stationed in the Aberfoyle district, and was away from home when his wife met her tragic end. The body, thrown in a dam by the murderers, was recovered three days later by the police. Mrs ryan often recalled that tragic period in her life. One night, while the police and party were searching for her mother, she sat in the fireplace, with the baby huddled in her young arms trembling at what would become of her. The pale light of the moon was all that relieved the darkness and loneliness of that old pioneer’s home on that grimmest of all nights. The responsibility of rearing the young family devolved upon her young shoulders. She became “the little mother” and surmounting many hardships, reared the baby. She had vivid recollections of her father, in those early years, out working all day and at might making clothes for his young brood of orphans. Her father later acquired the property at Arding known as Sandon Forest (now owned by Mr George Wilkinson), selling it to Mr W Low’s father 46 years ago.
It was here that her marriage with Mr John Ryan took place and the young couple lived at Uralla. As an instance of the industrious spirit of the young wife, it is worth recalling that in the busy times, she would walk to the old Arding farm, carrying a baby in a sack slung from her shoulders, would work on the farm all day and then walk home again. That incident only shows the stuff she was made of.
About 57 years ago, Mr Ryan selected the property known as The Grange, Uralla, and the family has resided there ever since. Mr Ryan who was one of three brothers who built up fine properties in this district the others being Mr William Ryan and Mr James Ryan died 21 years ago, being 68 years of age.He worked on the Rocky diggings for some years having his share of the hardships of the early days.
Mrs Ryan always had a great veneration for the Rev Septimus Hungerford recalling that he frequently visited their old home in the backwoods in the years following the tragic death of her mother. One of her oldest friends is Mrs Cowley, of Armidale, who is in her nineties. Among her other friends were John Trim, Dr Markham and Captain John Mackey, they being children together in Armidale.
The late Mrs Ryan was a great reader, and her faculties were keen to the end. She always looked for the papers, and the day before her death read for a couple of hours.
She bore a very charitable disposition. No swaggie ever left The Grange without something in his bag to help him on his way, and friends around were always remembered, with presents of a nicely-dressed chook and such like. Almost at the last her words to her family were: “Always be kind to the poor”. and right throughout her long life she endeavoured to act up to this dictum.
Several years ago Mrs Ryan sustained a broken hip as the result of an accident, and was on her back for nine months. It was never thought she would walk again, but she bore the affliction with great patience,and gradually the injury mended and she was again able to get about and take an active interest in affairs of the household, continuing this until last September, when her health began to wane.
A long and useful life ended peacefully at about 2 o’clock on Monday morning, she having died in her sleep. She was 87 years of age.
A family of six sons and two daughters blessed the union, all surviving.They are Messrs John (Armidale), Patrick, Daniel, Eugene, William and James, Misses Katherine and Nellie. They naturally venerate the fine old mother, and feel their loss deeply, although the end was not unexpected. To them a wide circle of friends extend their sympathy.
The burial took place on Tuesday on the family plot in the old cemetery. The service at the Church and graveside conducted by Rev Father McGrath, was attended by a large number of relatives and sympathisers. Uralla Times 5th May 1927
Arrived in Australia c. 1843
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1840 - 1927 (87 years)
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