Obituaries Australia

It is with extreme regret that we have to record the accidental death of a widely known colonist in the person of Mr. Samuel Richard Hamersley. Between 10 and 11 o'clock on Wednesday night Mr. Hamersley, with his brother, Mr. Hugh Hamersley, was driving from Guildford to his home at Lockridge, just out of Guildford. Not far from the Police Station the horse was startled by something and dashed off at a high speed. Mr. Hamersley managed to keep the animal in the roadway till the bridge across the Swan River was reached. There the runaway brought the buggy in contact with one of the posts of the bridge, with the result that the vehicle was overturned. Mr. Hamersley was thrown with some force on to his head and rendered unconscious. Mr. Hugh Hamersley obtained assistance to carry the sufferer to his residence, and Dr. Stewart was summoned. The doctor soon ascertained that the injured gentleman's skull was fractured, and that his condition was hopeless. In two or three hours' time Mr. Hamersley expired without having regained consciousness. His family were stunned by the suddenness of the calamity, and when the news of the fatality became known in the city on Thursday morning great regret was expressed on all sides at the sad death of one who was a universal favourite. Mr Hugh Hamersley fortunately escaped with a shaking and abrasions of the skin of the hands.

The deceased gentleman was born in Western Australia in 1842, and was therefore in his 54th year when he met his death. His father was Mr. Edward Hamersley, one of the earliest colonists, who came from England and entered heartily into the toil and tribulations incidental to the settlement of Western Australia. Mr. Hamersley, sen., acquired large landed interests, and at his death Mr. Samuel Hamersley inherited a good deal of property in different parts of the colony. The subject of this notice travelled in England and in Europe. He visited the home of the Hamersleys, at Pyrton Manor, in Oxfordshire, being first cousin to the present owner. He sat for many years as representative of the Murray-Williams district in the old Legislative Council, and had been for many years a justice of the peace. He married Matilda, eldest daughter of the late Mr. Thomas Brown, formerly resident magistrate at Fremantle and Geraldton, and sister to Mr. Maitland Brown, the present Government resident of the latter place. Two sons and three daughters were born to him. Mr. Hamersley was a brother to Lady Forrest and Mrs. F. D. North, his brothers being Messrs. Hugh, George, and Bevan Hamersley. The body was brought from Lockridge to the residence in Perth of Sir John Forrest (the Premier), from which place the funeral will start at 4.30 o'clock this afternoon. The burial will take place in the family vault in the Anglican cemetery. Great sympathy is felt with the widow and family of the unfortunate gentleman and they have received messages of condolence from several parts of the colony.