Obituaries Australia

  • Tip: searches only the name field
  • Tip: use double quotes to search for a phrase
  • Tip: lists of awards, schools, organisations etc

Browse People:

Browse Lists:

Cultural Advice

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be aware that this website contains names, images, and voices of deceased persons.

In addition, some articles contain terms or views that were acceptable within mainstream Australian culture in the period in which they were written, but may no longer be considered appropriate.

These articles do not necessarily reflect the views of The Australian National University.

Maria Jenkins (1822–1924)

from Gundagai Times

Maria Jenkins, n.d.

Maria Jenkins, n.d.

photo supplied by Bob Stevens

On Tuesday morning at 5 o'clock Gundagai's grand old pioneer, Mrs. John [Maria] Jenkins, passed peacefully away to her long home, at the age of 101 years and 11 months, at the residence of her daughter, Mrs Steel Beveridge, at 'Balgowrie', Epping, where she had been tenderly cared for for about a quarter of a century. The deceased old lady was a remarkable woman in many respects, and her life leaves a bright example for younger generations to copy. In her early days she persevered through great hardships but entered into them with grit and perseverance and overcame them all.

Deceased was born at Bonnington, near Campbelltown, on May 15, 1822, her father being Mr. John Ray, who was one of the first settlers in Campbelltown. When 18 years of age deceased married the late Mr. John Jenkins and lived with her husband many years at Narandera, and in her day was a noted horsewoman of the fearless and resourceful type, in the days when the saddle or the waggon consisted of the only means of transport, and on one occasion she travelled on horseback a distance of 306 miles from Campbelltown in order to reach her destination. Later the late Mr. and. Mrs. Jenkins settled at Nangus, at which place they became better known to the old residents of this district, and remained there for close on 50 years, rearing a large family of four sons and seven daughters.

The late Mrs. Jenkins was indeed an Australian of Australians, her mother before her being born in Australia, a remarkable woman who died at the age of 98 years. Therefore, deceased came of stock that peopled Australia throughout two centuries.

Deceased's husband died in 1899, at the age of 85, and in his time owned more than 20,000 cattle before 1850 and later made Nangus famous among cattle men.

Deceased was a most interesting woman, and an encyclopaedia of early day events, and her chats about blacks and bushrangers were most interesting and her lively recollections of the stirring old days and of the exploits of the bushrangers that made life far from quiet in country districts were realistic. Ben Hall and the Moonlight gang entered into deceased's existence and her memory was keen when she spoke of them, in fact one of Moonlight's gang (Bennett) worked at Nangus.

The clouds rolled back when deceased thought of her husband and the blacks. How the natives speared cattle, and how her husband cured them of the habit, and how the mobs of cattle were taken overland to Adelaide.

Our grand old woman has gone to meet her Maker, and she leaves behind her a host of friends, grand-children and great grand-children to mourn the loss of one of the most interesting personalities that ever lived in our grand district, and whose memory will be ever cherished.

Original publication

Other Obituaries for Maria Jenkins

Additional Resources and Scholarship

  • turns 100, Tumut Advocate (NSW), 9 October 1923, p 2

Related Entries in NCB Sites

view family tree

Citation details

'Jenkins, Maria (1822–1924)', Obituaries Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://oa.anu.edu.au/obituary/jenkins-maria-25832/text34015, accessed 26 December 2024.

© Copyright Obituaries Australia, 2010-2024

Maria Jenkins, n.d.

Maria Jenkins, n.d.

photo supplied by Bob Stevens

Life Summary [details]

Birth

18 May, 1822
Campbelltown, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Death

22 April, 1924 (aged 101)
Epping, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Cause of Death

heart disease

Cultural Heritage

Includes subject's nationality; their parents' nationality; the countries in which they spent a significant part of their childhood, and their self-identity.

Religious Influence

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.

Key Events