Shep's Place Family Tree

Gilbert and Jane were married at Trinity Church Adelaide, the same church as her parents. The Register announced the marriage "On the 6th April, 1867, at Trinity Church, Adelaide, by licence, by the Rev Dean Farrell, Gilbert, son of the late Daniel Ferguson, of Glenunga, Glen Osmond, to Jane, second daughter of the late W. I. Forrester, of the Bow and Arrow Hotel, Gilberton."

Gibert died when Jane was 53 years old. He left his estate valued at £1,300 "unto my dear wife and nine children". He left £300 to his wife, £200 to his eldest son Lindsay "as soon as he requires it" and £100 to his second son, Gilbert. His wife was "to have the proceeds made on the property to maintain and educate the children until the youngest is 15 years of age." The property was then to be divided between his wife and children. He also stated "my youngest daughter Elsie is to be under the control of her mother till she is 21 of age." He appointed his wife and son Lindsay as executors. His brother Alex Ferguson and brother-in-law Mark Goldsack witnessed the will.

Delta was sold. According to the diary kept by his son Glen, Delta was first advertised for sale more than 12 months before the auction was finally held on 23.2.1910. Some of the land had been sold in February 1909 for £3.15.0 an acre and Glen recorded that horses brought a good price from £41 to £46. Glen sold 100 of his own sheep for 7/2. The proceeds of the sale of Delta were divided amongst his children, the family retaining Winterlake, the income from the property providing for Jane. Glen records in his diary that he looked after the sheep on Winterlake, taking them to be shorn.

After Gilbert's death, the Fergusons moved into Bordertown, to a house in Binnie Street, occupied by members of the family until for over 50 years until 1958. It is a solid, stone house with high verandas on three sides. Her grand daughter Doris remembered children used to enjoy roller-skating around it, although at the risk of ending up in the garden below. Another granddaughter, Jean recalls the plum trees in the large garden.

Jane's main interest in life was her family. Religion played an important part in her life. On Sundays, she attended the Congregational Church in Bordertown. The family had its own pew, with a long padded cushion. At home, Jane assembled her family every day to read verses from the Bible. Her granddaughter Jean recalls her grandmother Jane calling her inside from the garden to listen to the readings.

A photograph of Jane in later years shows her with snowy white hair, with the same stocky build as her youngest sons. She always wore a bonnet with a big bow, refusing her daughters suggestions that she wear a hat. She was cared for at home by her unmarried daughters, Violet and Elsie, who despite their advancing age, were referred to as the girls. Her grand daughter Gwen remembers her once saying quite unexpectedly to her daughter "that's an abominable dress you have on Elsie." It sounded so funny that Else and Violet went into peals of laughter.

At the age of 75, she suffered the first of three strokes. Her son Alex was summonsed by the doctor, in the belief that there was no hope of her recovering. For the last 12 years of her life, she was confined to a wheelchair, towards the end unable to speak. Violet and Else continued to care for, later assisted by a nurse, Sally Umpherston, a relative of James Umpherston. Jane died on 22.2.1936 aged 91. She was buried in the family grave in Bordertown, the inscription reading "Jane beloved wife of Gilbert Ferguson 22 Jan 1936 in her 91st year For children arise up and call her blessed Beautiful life at set of sun Our mother"

She left her estate of £5,929, to her daughters Violet Julia and Elsie Jean, with provision also that payments be made to four of her children, Margaret, Gilbert, Emma and Lindsay, who had received lesser shares of their father's estate. Her daughters continued to live for a number of years in the same house in Bordertown.

The Border Chronicle paid tribute, "At the great age of 90 years, Mrs Jane Ferguson, one of the very oldest residents of the Tatiara passed peacefully away at her home in Bordertown last Wednesday, January 22. With her death, the Tatiara lost one of its most gracious and dignified Christian women, who had accomplished much in a courageous life, the long eventide of which had been characterised by great fortitude. Mrs Ferguson, who was the widow of the late Mr Gilbert Ferguson, of "Delta," had been a resident of the Tatiara for nearly half a century. She leaves a family of four sons and five daughters: Messrs L. Ferguson ‎(Menindie, SA)‎, G. F. Ferguson ‎(Glencoe)‎, A. R. Ferguson ‎(Caulfield, Vic.)‎, G.D. Ferguson ‎(Bordertown)‎, Mrs John Hay ‎(Olive Grove)‎, Mrs A E. Virgo ‎(Bordertown)‎, Mrs D. A. Collins ‎(Mount Gambier)‎, and Misses V. and E. Ferguson ‎(Bordertown)‎. The burial took place in Bordertown cemetery yesterday afternoon, the service being conducted by the Rev. E. Philpott, assisted by Mr. A. E Milne."

When Bordertown celebrated its centenary in 1976, the Border Chronicle in 1976 reported "Doubtless there were many family re-unions during the celebrations. One such was held at the Woolshed Inn on Sunday, when some 52 descendants of the late Mr and Mrs Gilbert Ferguson of "Delta" gathered for a luncheon, together with Miss E J Ferguson. A family roll call conducted by Mr Gordon Butler, a nephew-in-law, showed that each branch of the family was represented. Mr C H Kentish, husband of a niece, expressed the feeling of all present in a very sincere tribute of affection and respect to Miss Ferguson."