Shep's Place Family Tree

"To My Dear Sister,
Just a few lines in answer to your very welcome and long looked for letter and was more than pleased to hear from you and that you are all well and you are able to write again I have writen to you and Brother Richard and got none dear Sister is your health good now I would of come down when you was sick but I was not able to travel alone I am never well I am very thin and frail is it any wonder at my age ‎[70 years]‎ I often wish the Lord would take me from my suffering my limbs are very bad but I must wate the Lords time his will be done dear Sister I am sending you the photo of Georges house they are liveing in Gilgandra to school the children Frances and family is coming in to. Sarah is in to she has bilt a house in Gilgandra and we are liveing near to school Evelyn she is getting on well dear Sister. I would of sent this Letter away before but I have been wateing for the Photo I think it is a very poor one George and Clara is on he right side coming out of the house Mrs Isley next Mr Isley next I am in the gate with the baby the oldest and youngest the two boys are out side George has two boys and two girls poor George suffers a lot with the headache all the rest are well
How is Richard and family I hope they are all quite well how is Emily getting on poor girl what is Elsie doing now I thought she would of stoped with you is her health good is Mrs Copeman better now
Well dear Sister I must stop I think this is all the news for this time give my love to all and except the same your dearself from your ever loveing and affectionate Sister M E Edwards
dear Sister please excuse all mistake as my hand and head is shaky so I must say good bye my dear sister good bye." This letter was supplied by Rupert C. Moulton.

Though of English and Scotch parentage, the late Mrs Margaret Elizabeth Edwards was born at Rathmelton, county Donegal, Ireland in the year 1830. It was while her father, Mr R H Moulton was surveying in the north of Ireland that she first saw light. Nine years later she came with her parents to Australia, her father being one of the staff of surveyors sent out by the English Governement to survey the country surrounding the city of Adelaide. After a hazardous voyage of over four months on "The Old Recovery," she landed at Port Adelaide on September 23, 1839 and was conveyed by bullock team - then the only means of transport - to Adelaide, consisting at that time of Government House, a few scattered Huts and tents, and the only indication of streets being painted boards nailed to trees. The prospects at this time were anything but encouraging. ?South Australia was suffering from the effect of drought; the Torrens being almost dry, and great distress prevailed consequent of the failure of the Wakefield system. Owing to the absence of housing accommodation each man - when on a surveying expedition - was compelled to take his family, and many interesting stories Mrs Edwards would tell of their experiences with the natives in those early days. Supplied by Government with every convenience and comfort for themselves and a plenteous supply of flour and sugar to placate the natives and with Jimmy their native interpreter, they would go out into the wild bush sometimes for five or six months, truly a novel experience for the young English family; but these were happy days which the late Mrs Edwards would lovingly refer to as among the happiest of her life. Thanks to the faithful Jimmy, they were never molested by the natives, in fact always won their friendship which they would prove by buying every kind of wild fruit they could procure. At the age of 20 Mrs Edwards married and at 24 was left a widow with two children. She subsequently married Mr Francis Edwards of Bletchely, SA and some years later moved with her husband and family to the Moama district NSW. After eleven years she was again widowed and finally moved with her children to the Gilgandra district. She leaves a family of three sons and two daughters, 27 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren. Was predeceased by two sons and two daughters. Her sons are Messrs RJ, Kyogle, RE, Curlewis and GM Edwards of Gilgandra. Her daughter Mrs E R Turner and Mrs Bairstow of Gilgandra."