James Wignell

People Buried Here

Description

Mary Ann - A EUROA PIONEER.

REMARKABLE CAREER CLOSED.

Mrs Mary Ann Wignell, who died on August 16, at Euroa, had a remarkable career. She was born at Bathurst (N.S.W.) in 1833. Her mother dying shortly after her birth, she was adopted by Mr and Mrs Chas. Green. Soon after she journeyed overland to Melbourne, where Mr Green started business as a bootmaker. At the time there were few permanent buildings in the city, and the place was a dense scrub. While still in her teens her foster parents allowed her to go as help to a Mrs Rielly. While at this place Governor Latrobe called, and the young woman took a prominent part in his reception.

LATE MRS MARY ANN WIGNELL.

In 1845 the family removed to Euroa, where Mr Green again followed his trade as a bootmaker. Mrs Wignell was then employed by Mrs Kirkland, of Kirklands Station. At the time her foster parents were living on the opposite banks of the Seven Creeks (on which the station homestead was built). They were provided with rations from the homestead, and when the creek was in flood the young woman used to call a Newfoundland dog across with one end of a wire rope. The rope was fastened to a bundle of rations, which was in this way pulled across the stream. She married Thomas Wignell, a boundary rider, and went to live some six miles out of the town. Many times native blacks would come to the house and sharpen their tomahawks on the grindstone. Mrs Wignell's husband would be away on the run mustering cattle or sheep, and it was with no feeling of comfort that she would watch through the window as the dusky tribe sharpened their weapons. The familiar stockwhip crack at such a time was the sweetest music that she knew. She resided in the district till the time of her death, and reared a family of 13 children. Five sons, six daughters, together with 50 grandchildren and 20 great grandchildren survive her.

Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic. : 1869 - 1954), Saturday 11 September 1909, page 36