Some William Crowley history

History Notes

Not so many visitors this week. Next week are the Mother's Day Markets which will keep everyone busy especially as we may be short of assistants. We are also looking for someone who knows about antique coloured glass and can replace a panel in an old house.

This week I have decided to write about my grandfather's uncle. He was the youngest of old William Crowley's family and was just 15 years old when William died in 1892. It should be remembered that William married twice - firstly to Emma Baines in 1845 and had ten children before losing her in childbirth in 1867. He then married Mrs Bridger and had two more sons- Herbert and Archibald. Sadly, Herbert died at the age of 8 years.

Archibald bonded with his youngest step-sister, Charlotte, and wrote letters to her after she married Edwin Wearne and went to live in Bingara. Later he went to boarding school and the letters continued into the 1900's. The Society has two letters preserved in the Crowley history recalling the family's history.

In March 1932 Archibald was present at the Opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and posted a letter to my father describing the events of the day and how he walked across the bridge after the official opening. He was living at Lindfield on the north shore at the time.

Sadly, his beloved sister, Charlotte Wearne, died in May 1957, leaving him without any brothers or sisters surviving. Mrs. Hart from the Presbyterian Historical Society remembered Archibald well - "He was a very sensitive, dear soul, who was interested in many aspects of life. He wrote poetry books, played the piano, was interested in geology, and the scouting movement and, "Chaplained" a "Troup" to England. He must have been an excellent pastor as he was so interested in people."

There is more on his church work and his pastoral work in his later years as well as his memories of Cobbadah Station. Sadly, he died as I finished boarding school but I cannot remember him coming to Cobbadah Station -this may be due to his nephew Keith living alone at Cobbadah Station at the time.