DEATH OF THE OLDEST AUSTRALIAN NATIVE.

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 7491, 1 June 1885, Page 3

DEATH OF THE OLDEST AUSTRALIAN NATIVE.

We (Bathurst Times) learn that Mrs Morgan, senior (old “Granny Morgan,” as she was familiarly called by her friends), died at the residence of her daughter-in-law (Mrs W. Morgan), Pittstreet, Redfern, on the sth instant. This old lady was well known to residents of Kelso and Bathurst, and had a remarkable career. She had lived to be almost a centenarian, being 94 years of ago at the time of her death, which occurred after she had been confined to her bed for thfee weeks. Mrs Morgan’s maiden name was Ann Collins, and her mothercame to this Colony—a free woman —in the second fleet that arrived, about 1791, aa a servant,-wo,-boliovo, ■ -to . the Governor’s wife. Deceased was born on the voyage out, not very far from the Australian coast. Her father died when she was quite young, and she married when she was 16 years old. By this marriage .she had 15 children, nine of whom are still living. The late Mr W. Morgan, of Kelso, who was born in Sydney, was the eldest, and when he died in April, 1881, he was 73 years of age. Deceased had 60 grandchildren, a largo number of great-grandchildren—-probably more than 60—and at least throe great-great-grandchildren. She came to Bathurst 33 years ago, and lived ever afterwards with her eldest son’s family. She enjoyed wonderfully good health until her last illness, and, except a alight deafness, she possessed all her faculties. Up to the last two or three months, she was as hearty as anyone could well be, being able to walk up and down stairs to her meals three times a day. As might be expected, she had many interesting things to tell of the early history of the Colony. She saw the first cattle arrive that ever landed in Australia, and there was then only a small jetty in the harbor, and no houses to speak ot beyond the Government establishments. ■ She often spoke of a journey which she frequently walked—from " Sydney to Parramatta—carrying twin sons three or four months old, and when this was done she used to have to grind corn in a small steel mill, - to make bread for her husband’s supper. Those were the days of hard work and rough fare, and times have changed. Granny Morgan lived to see the settlement on the shores of Port Jackson grow into a magnificent city, the marvellous development of the interior, and the many interesting events in this and other colonies. She lived, too, to see her children in respectable positions.

(For continuation ot news see fourth page,;