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Samuel (Sam) Angel (1853–1938)

Another page was turned in the history of the Wagga district when Mr. Samuel Angel, senior, died at his residence, 'Wardry,' Trail-street, yesterday morning about 9.30.

Mr Angel's death removes from the life of the community one of the earliest settlers of the Lake Albert district, and severs a link in the chain which binds the present and the earliest past —with the days when Hume and Hovell were making their courageous trek across New South Wales into Victoria. It was in 1824 that the explorers' party reached the northern bank of the Murray River and crossed into Victoria. A tree in the Hovell Tree Reserve at Albury marks the spot of the last camp in New South Wales.

A member of the Hume and Hovell party was Mr. Harry Angel, father of Mr. Samuel Angel. It is declared that Mr. Harry Angel was the first white man to swim the Murray River. When the expedition reached the Murray, Harry Angel, a good swimmer, swam the river carrying with him a line. The experience gained by him enabled a safe crossing to be made by the drays which carried the equipment of the party.

Later on Harry Angel passed down the Murrumbidgee River and settled in the Hay district. When the first bank opened at Hay he was the first man who brought to the bank its first supply of gold. To deceive any lurking bushrangers he carried the money in a tilted waggon and managed to arrive safely. After that Harry Angel settled on 'Uardry' Station (originally spelt 'Wardy') near Hay. About 1864 he came to the Wagga district and settled at Lake Albert, where he resided until his death, and was about 91 years of age when he died. Samuel was born at 'Wardry' Station, Hay, where his father first resided in that district and was the youngest of the family. In those days the railway line from Sydney went only as far as Goulburn, and, in order to take delivery of two waggons which they had bought, it was necessary for Samuel Angel and the late John Hurst to harness their horses and drive them to Goulburn to meet the train. These were very likely the first waggons to arrive in the Wagga district.

The late Mr. Samuel Angel married Miss Emma Power, daughter of the late Morgan Power, of Forest Hill, and if he had lived until next month he would have been 61 years married. He went on the land at Lake Albert and followed farming and grazing pursuits for a great many years. He owned several properties but his homestead was at Hillside on the Albury-road. Mr. Angel was acknowledged to be a good judge of land and stock and was very successful in his land transactions, buying and selling a number of properties. He retired after about half a century of active pastoral life, and came to live in Wagga, eventually building a home in Trail-street, which he named 'Wardry' after the first station his father resided upon at Hay (later changed in the spelling to 'Uardry').

Mr Samuel Angel is survived by his widow, two sons and three daughters. The sons are Mr. Albert Angel (Lake Albert), and Mr. Samuel Angel (Mangoplah). Daughters are Mrs. R. Hanson (Wagga), Mrs. J. J. Byrnes (North Sydney) and Mrs. Norman Wyld (Lithgow). Two daughters predeceased him, Mrs. Fred McGarry and Mrs. Len Willis.

Mr Angel had spent a busy, useful life, and until quite recently enjoyed wonderfully good health, notwithstanding that he had reached the ripe old age of 84 years, his last birthday being on December 18, 1937.

The funeral cortege will move from St. John's Church at 3 o'clock, after a service at 2.45 for interment in the family enclosure of the Church of England portion of the Wagga cemetery.

Original publication

Additional Resources

  • funeral, Daily Advertiser (Wagga Wagga, NSW), 23 April 1938, p 8

Citation details

'Angel, Samuel (Sam) (1853–1938)', Obituaries Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://oa.anu.edu.au/obituary/angel-samuel-sam-26162/text34136, accessed 19 March 2024.

© Copyright Obituaries Australia, 2010-2024

Life Summary [details]

Birth

18 December, 1853
Campbelltown, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Death

21 April, 1938 (aged 84)
Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia

Cause of Death

heart disease

Cultural Heritage

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Religious Influence

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Occupation