Mr. Abel John Cobcroft, a native born Australian of 95 years, passed away on Friday at the residence of his daughter, Mrs. J. H. F. Waller, East Maitland. A native of Wilberforce, Hawkesbury River, he came to the Hunter River district in 1840 with his parents, who settled on their Charlton Estate, near Singleton. He was educated at Singleton and Maitland, and afterwards spent over thirty years in the north-west, where his father owned an extensive station, Watergah, near Moree. His experiences away in the north-west were those of the pioneer. He was a fine horseman, and spent much of his time with his stock, frequently blazing the trail along routes that were unfrequented years after his first quest. For over sixty years he was associated with Maitland, which was of course the business centre for the whole of the north and north-west, but in the 'eighties he retired and settled down at East Maitland. He is well remembered as a very fine sports man, whose tartan colors were familiar to most racing men for several decades. His best remembered horses were Sunnyside, Captain Cook, Whalebone, Soldier Boy, Veto, Iona, and Volunteer (imp.) His brother, the late Mr. Enoch Cobcroft, had an interest in Volunteer, who won several big races. Of late years he has lived a retired life. His eyesight was failing him, but his memory was very clear. He had a fund of anecdotes covering incidents that occurred during his long life. He is survived by four sons and three daughters.
'Cobcroft, Abel John (1825–1920)', Obituaries Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://oa.anu.edu.au/obituary/cobcroft-abel-john-25000/text33519, accessed 21 September 2024.
24 June,
1825
Parramatta, Sydney,
New South Wales,
Australia
28 May,
1920
(aged 94)
Maitland,
New South Wales,
Australia
Includes the religion in which subjects were raised, have chosen themselves, attendance at religious schools and/or religious funeral rites; Atheism and Agnosticism have been included.