Obituaries Australia

The death of the Rev. James Samuel Hassall, reported at the beginning of the week, removes another link in the chain that connects the early days of Australia with the present. The deceased was a native of Australia, and his mother was a daughter of the Rev. Samuel Marsden, who was the second clergyman to come to Sydney, arriving there in 1794. The Rev J. S. Hassall was born in 1823, and was a pupil of King's School, which was founded by William IV and the Duke of Wellington. He was among its first scholars, who included representatives of the well known Queensland family names of McDougall, Sutton, and Lockyer (after whom Lockyer Creek was named). In subsequent years, the Hon E. B. Forrest and other well known citizens of Brisbane were pupils in the same school. The deceased clergyman was connected by marriage with Lieutenant Oxley, one-time Surveyor-General of Queensland and discoverer of the Brisbane River. The deceased was ordained in 1848. His first charge was St Peter's, Cook's River, near Sydney. Thence he went to Bungonia, New South Wales, and afterwards was appointed to the charge of the parish of Berrima, New South Wales, and chaplain to the gaol in that town—positions which he held for twenty years. He came to Queensland about thirty years ago, and was in charge of the parish comprising Sandgate, North Pine, Caboolture &c. He subsequently settled in the Oxley district, his parish including Mount Brisbane, Cressbrook &c. When Oxley and Corinda were constituted a separate parish, Mr Hassell was appointed the first incumbent, and he remained in that position till 1900, when, owing to advancing years, he retired from active chinch work. From 1900 till the time of his death Mr Hassall resided quietly at Oxley, and the evening hours of his life were doubtless made brighter by the knowledge that he was respected and loved by the many people with whom he had come in contact during his long period of service with the Church of England.