The Richardson's

Alexander Ferguson (1820-1902) and his wife, Elizabeth emigrated aboard the ship Berkshire from Perthshire, Scotland in the early 1840s with their friends, William Richardson, and family. Both groups came over the Blue Mountains with bullock team in the days when the convicts were working in gangs cutting roads and Sydney was "only a scattered place" (49). In the 1903 Electoral Roll Alex's son, John Ferguson is listed as a grazer at Denmy Plains and Peter Ferguson a grazier at Rosedale.

Jane was the first of two daughters born to William and Helen Richardson, she married William Harvey in 1854. Jane became a good friend to Nancy Clark after she lost her step-mother, Eliza, in 1859. Nancy's headstone in the Sunnyside Cemetery was inscribed with Jane's name. 


Richardson Family Obituaries
Jane Richardson (1830-1917) 
Mrs Jane Harvey, relict of the late Mr Wm, Harvey, pastoralist of Sunny Side, Armatree, died at the residence of her daughter, Mrs John Ferguson, at Denmy, on Tuesday of last week. The deceased lady was one of the first white women in the Coonamble district, having arrived there as far back as l840. There were four children - Mrs John. Jones and Mrs T. Jones (both - of whom are dead), Mrs John Ferguson, of Denmy, and Mrs P. Ferguson, of Gular. Mrs Harvey was in her 87th year. She was a most estimable woman and her many kind acts during her long and useful life endeared her to a host of friends who deeply regret her death and sympathise with her relatives. The remains were interred at Armatree on Wednesday and were followed to their last resting place by a large number of relatives, friends and acquaintances (39)

Sunnyside Cemetery, Armatree NSW

Headstone of Jane Harvey, Sunnyside Cemetery, Armatree NSW

Headstone of Nancy Clark, Sunnyside Cemetery, Armatree NSW

"Erected by her sincere friend Jane Harvey, Sunny Side. I view my home and take my flight, this robe of flesh I'll drop, and rise, and shout, while passing through the air "Farewell, farewell, sweet hour of prayer"" (38).

Records for Sunnyside Cemetery

James Richardson (1823-1900) 
Crossed the Bar. Mr. James Richardson, sen. a pioneer of the Castlereagh, died at his sister's residence, Sunnyside, Armatree, last week. The deceased, who was 77 years of age, settled in the Castlereagh 60 years ago (40). 

Peter Richardson (1836-1918) 
Death of Peter Mill Richardson. There passed away at the residence of his niece Mrs. John Ferguson, of Denmy, Armatree, on June 16, Peter Mill Richardson, at the age of 81 years and seven months, after a few weeks illness. The late Mr. Richardson, who was one of the oldest, and best known residence of the Castlereagh was a native of Perth Scotland. The youngest of a family of six sons and two daughters, he came out to Australia with them in the early 40's in the sailing vessel the Berkshire. The voyage occupied six months. With his father and mother and the late Mr. and Mrs. Alex Ferguson, sen. of Youlbung, they came over the Blue Mountains in a bullock team in the days when the convicts were working in gangs cutting roads. For several years, when a young man, the late Mr. Richardson resided in Queensland, and later he purchased land in the Coonamble district. When he was getting on in years he disposed of his property, and lived a retired life with his sister, the late Mrs. Jane Harvey of Sunnyside, one finest and most benevolent women who ever resided in the Castlereagh district. Peter Mill Richardson saw a good deal of the country in the early days, when bushranging was at its height. The last survivor of the old and highly respected Richardson family, he passed away peacefully in his 82nd year, retaining his faculties till the end (41).


Ruins of Balquhidder Church, Stirling-Perthshire, Scotland

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