Thistleton Family

Mr. Murphy married Maria, third daughter of Mr. William Badgery, of Bombala, having been raised two years before this event to the commission of the peace. He is a member of the committee of the Bombala Agricultural Society, secretary of the Bibbenluke Jockey Club, and has acted as judge of cattle, horses, and sheep at the Candelo and Bombala annual exhibitions.

JOHN RUTHERFORD, of Minto, who was born in Scotland, accompanied his parents to Australia in 1856, and landed in Melbourne. Going hence to Launceston he became employed in the grocery business, and afterwards in the farming industry. In 1858 he came over to the Merinumbla Station, near Buckley's Crossing, the property of his uncle, and worked as a carpenter in business with his father and brothers. After sixteen years of such service he, on his father's decease, accompanied his mother and brothers to California, where for three years he followed his trade. Returning to Sydney he engaged with Mr. Robert Fowler, ex-mayor of Sydney, at the Camperdown Pottery Works, remaining in that gentleman's employ for a *twelve month. For three years he was in the drapery business, and finally established himself in a general store at Buckley's Crossing. On the death of his uncle he succeeded to the Minto property, of which mention has already been made, and disposed of his store. In 1883 Mr. Rutherford married at Newtown, Isabella, third surviving daughter of Mr. G. Murdock, of Cundle Plains, Manning River. Mr. Rutherford follows pastoral occupations on his fine estate, which is magnificent land; it is well subdivided into paddocks and embraces an area of 1000 acres. Mr. Rutherford filled for three years the position of postmaster at Buckley's Crossing.

DAVID O'Rourke, J.P., Merchant, is the oldest surviving son of the late Thomas O'Rourke, of Bolaro, ind was born in the district of Cooma in 1838. He was educated by private tutors, and at the age of fifteen years entered upon business life in the capacity of manager for his father, who' was then engaged in pastoral pursuits. After an eventful period of successive changes in different enterprises, he in 1884 settled down in the business which he now conducts with advantage to the district and profit to himself. Besides this many other occupations have engaged his time and capital, notably gold and silver mining. He ,Was the original mining prospector of the district, and like all pioneers, had to contend with great difficulties in obtaining a sufficiency of capital to complete his discoveries. After a certain amount of trouble, however, he had the satisfaction to be able to raise from a Sydney syndicate the sum of £100,000 for the purchase and development of the leases of the Bredbo silver and gold mine. The specimens from some of the claims are said by competent men to be equal in quality and appearance to those of Broken Hill; and it is fair to-consider that when the fields are properly opened a great benefit will be done the district. Mr. O'Rourke was one of the first alderman for the municipality, and has been since elected to the office of mayor. He is one of the vice-president of the P.A. and P.A. of Monaro, and a J.P. of seventeen years standing.

JAMES MILEHAM Hassall J.P., of Wambrook Lake, near Cooma, was born at Macquarie Grove, near Camden, in 1826, and is the son of the late Samuel Otoo Hassall, one of the pioneer squatters of Australia, who, during 'his lifetime, had runs at the Cow Pastures, O'Connell Plains, near Bathurst, and Burrowa. On his father's side Mr. Hassall is the grandson of the late Rev. Rowland Hassall, one of the earliest chaplains of the colony, and his mother, who was born at Parramatta in 1800, was the only daughter of Dr. James Mileham, a magistrate, who, it will be remembered, was connected with the deposition of Governor Bligh. Our subject was educated at Goulburn, and became a squatter at Burrowa. Seventeen years ago he purchased his present property, which is one of the finest in the district. Mr. Hassall has a family of six sons and eight daughters. His eldest son was unfortunately killed in a deep well out in the far West by the falling of a piece of timber. At the time of his decease he was twenty-seven years of age.

Florence Thistleton nee (Brooks)
Born 13th May 1883 at Braidwood. Daughter of George Brooks and Ellen Davis. 7 Brothers and 5 sisters. George Brooks came from England in 1858 aboard the ship Irene, he was travelling alone. Ellen Davis was on the same ship and was travelling with her family.Wether they met on the ship or not we do not know but they were married in 1861 and lived at "Brookvale" 14 miles from Braidwood and had 13 children. Brookvale remained in the Brook's Family until 1946 when it was sold.

George Thistleton
Born 10th April 1871 at Braidwood Son of George Thistleton & Caroline Taylor. George had 1 brother and 5 sisters. George came to Nimmitabel from Braidwood in 1907 and settled on the property The Ranch. Here he raised cattle and cut Telegraph Poles and Fence Posts and did fencing in the Nimmitabel area. In 1910 he brought his new Bride Florence to Nimmitabel where they settled into married life and began raising a family. Over the years they reared 8 children sadly 2 died when only very young. In 1927 George died leaving Florence with a young family to raise, theChildren ranged in age from 5 to 14. At this time the family were running a dairy and then Florence received a small pension but to supplement this she took up Dressmaking. Over the ensuing years the children grew and left home. Gordon married Mercia and for a time worked as an overseer, on a property but eventually they brought What is now The General Store and ran this for over 30 years till the early 1980's when they retired to Bombaderry where Mercia still resides. Gordon died in 1995.they had 1 son. Harold stayed on the property and helped his mother run it , He enlisted during the Second World War and for a time was in New Guinea.When he returned he once again returned to the farm. .He married Valma and she still lives at The Ranch. Harold died in 1978.

They had 6 Children. Mavis Married Geoff Newton they lived in Blacktown. After Geoff's death Mavis moved to Evans Head where she still resides.Geoff died in 1975.They had 6 children. Alma Married Norman Body they lived in Stanmore where Alma still resides.They had 3 children Netta Married Roy Griffith They lived at Dundas, Netta moved to Umina where she still resides. They had 5 children. Oliver Married Avis Alcock. They lived at Cottesloe Nimmitabel, Oliver worked at the TV station as a cleaner for many years as well as running his property. They retired to Bega in the early 1980's where Avis still resides. They had 4 Children. Oliver died in 1997.

History of "The Ranch"
The Ranch was taken up as a Homestead Grant in 1900 by Joseph Walpole Silk. George Thistleton joined him on the property in 1907. They ran cattle. In !910 George acquired the property from Silk. George also cut telegraph poles and fence posts to supplement his income. .For several years before and after George's death the farm was run as a Dairy.
After Harold returned from WW2 he and Oliver cut and delivered wood around the district from 1946 to 1950. From 1952 onwards the property ran sheep and a few cattle, it's main enterprise now is fine wool merinos and a small herd of cattle.
The property is now run by the Third generation of Thistleton's.

VALMA MARTHA THISTLETON 1922 -2005

Valma Martha Ingram was born on 17 March 1922 at Delegate, the second child of Lew and Cynthia Ingram. She was so small when she was born that she wasn’t given much hope of surviving, but her grandmother refused to give up, and kept her near the fire and fed her with an eyedropper. As she grew up 10 more sisters and brothers were added to the family. The family moved to Nimmitabel in 1937 to a property ‘Glenrock’ and they also lived in the township in several houses. They then moved to Cobargo, and during the war years Val worked in the Fish Cannery at Narooma, as well as helping her mother with her brothers and sisters. Later the family moved back to Nimmitabel to the property ‘Woodlands’. Val was bridesmaid at different times to all four of her sisters.
On 2 November 1954, she married Harold Evan Thistleton. Val had seven children, Norm, Julie, Leonie, Brenda, Dulcie Harold and Terry. Val helped Harold on the farm, and as the children grew, she became involved with the Uniting Church, and the ladies fellowship.
Sadly in 1978 Harold passed away as the result of an accident, and Val was left to run the farm, and raise her almost grown family. She did this with the same determination she showed when she was born, and with the help and advice from many friends and neighbours the farm continues.
In recent years Val suffered small strokes that left her unable to talk, and led to her needing constant care and nursing. Eventually there was no choice, and she had to go to a 24-hour care at Sir William Hudson Home, where she died peacefully in her sleep on 5 July 2005. I’m sure that Val is now with Harold, as it should be, and they are at this time having a nice cup of tea and a biscuit.
I could tell you that she was a loving mother, faithful wife, a great cook, wonderful artist with knitting needles, but above all, ever a lady. But you know this already.
How do you define a life well lived, I have thought about this, and I believe that Val’s lasting legacy is right here in this Church. Seven children, all fine respectable hardworking adults, with children of their own.
Not only 7 children, but also 20 grandchildren and 10 great grand children. In this modern world of fine achievements, as worthy as any other, our world is a lesser place because of her passing. One final thought – I would like all of you to remember that when you love someone they are here in your thoughts and in your heart. When you think about this, then you will know, that they are always with you, and they are never truly gone.
Eulogy read by Chris Svanberg (Val’s son-in-law).
Submitted by Rae Blyton

Descendants of George Mottram Thistleton

22.06.06
Dawn Hutchinson <dawnmh-at-bigpond.com> 17.11.06, 22.11.06, 20.12.06
Recompiled from the new Monaro Pioneers database: 1.10.08