Obituaries Australia

We regret to have to record the death of Mr. Francis Jenkins (better known as Frank) Weston, which took place at the family estate, Horsley, Prospect, on Thursday morning.

Mr. Weston, who was once a familiar figure in Parramatta, has been for the last four or five years an invalid. The cause of his trouble was a blood-clot on the brain, the result of an accident a number of years back. He was thrown out of a buggy, and sustained an injury to his head, which of late years has told against him, and caused partial paralysis.

Frank Weston was one of the rare kind that even men love. A straight man, a game and upright sportsman, a true and faithful friend, he had the heart of a lion and the sweetness of disposition of a happy child. Few more honored and truly loved men haved lived their lives among us, and although the last few years have been a blank because of the mental aflliction which his accident caused, troops of friends from far and near will mourn the physical passing away of him who was one of nature's noblest gentlemen.

Francis Jenkins Weston was the youngest son of the late Captain Weston, and was approaching his 58th year. His mother, who survives him at the age of 96 years, was a sister of the late Captain Johnston, of Annandale, whose death occurred recently at the age of 94 years. Mrs. Weston is believed to be the oldest Australian now living. She was born at Annandale.

Captain Weston was one of the pioneers of this district, and received the fine family estate, 'Horsley,' as a gift from the King. The property, which consists of 2000 acres, is still intact, and is one of the best pasturages in the State. The picturesque old homestead was built by convict labour in the days when Prospect was the scene of many a tragic bushranging episode. It is substantially built, and in excellent preservation, thanks to the constant care of old Mrs. Weston. Horse and cattle breeding was the favourite pursuit of the Westons, and some magnificent animals were bred there.

The estate was managed by Frank since the death of the father, and many will remember his beautiful trotter, George Augustus (bred by himself), the winner of good races at the Driving Park and Royal Shows. Frank was a keen sportsman, and owned some pretty good performers in the old days when ' the gentry' used to congregate at what was then considered fashionable Homebush. Old Volunteer and other equine cracks of those days raced in the popular colours of the Westons.

Three members of Captain Weston's family survive. Major Weston, of Albion Park, near Kiama, the oldest son was, owing to a broken rib and other injuries received in a recent accident, prevented from attending his brother's funeral. Mrs. A. F. Smart, who has been living at Horsley since the sale of Greystanes, and Mrs. MacDougall, wife of Mr. Malcolm MacDougall (a scion of another old Parramatta district family) are Mr. Frank Weston's sisters.

Mr. Weston, in years gone by, was a very active man, and took great interest in the various agricultural shows, acting as judge at many of them. Years back he was identified with the Parramatta Agricultural Society and the Sydney Hunt Club, and followed the hounds enthusiastically. He was also a fine pigeon-shot in his day, a prominent officer of the N.S.W. Gun Club, and toed the mark with the best of the knights of the trigger. Mr. Weston was a Freemason and a member of Lodge Resurgo, which lodge forwarded a beautiful wreath, and was represented by several members at the funeral, which took place at Prospect cemetery on Friday afternoon.

Mr. Weston was married, and leaves a widow but no family. Mrs. Weston is a sister of Mrs. S. J. Pearson, of Parramatta.