Thursday, July 31, 2014
An Obituary to beat all Obituary's! The things one finds when researching one's family!
1884 'Glenroy' Windsor.
Richard William Cobcroft with wife Gertrude holding baby George with Olive standing.A few years later below, Richard and Gertrude with some of their six children
Now... Beautifully restored 'Glenroy'
Richard William Cobcroft 1854-1900
OBITUARY.
The Late Mr. R. W. Cobcroft.
With feelings of extreme sorrow we have this week to record the death of Mr Richard William Cobcroft. than whom no man was more highly respected throughout the length and breadth of the Hawkesbury District. To those who were near and dear to him, as well as to his intimate friends, it was no secret that the late Mr Cobcroft had been in failing health for a couple of years or more prior to his demise, but they always looked on the better and brighter side, and hoped even up to a few days before he died that he might rally and be spared to live for many years to come, and enjoy the competence he had acquired, and the pleasures and comforts of a happy domestic life and a beautiful home. But it was not to be. In the summer of his life he has crossed the dark stream, and Windsor mourns the loss of one of its best citizens.
The subject of this notice did much good by stealth. 'Never let the left hand know what the right hand doeth' was his maxim through life. He was a charitable man, and as he had been blessed with the means wherewith to do good and make his fellow creatures happy, he sent none empty-handed away. Many are the cases of distress that he has relieved, but no one heard of it from his own lips, for his unostentatious nature hated publicity, while his heart was large and sympathetic
As we have said, those who knew him had noticed a remarkable change in him during the past couple of years ; he suffered a great deal more than people knew and the agonies of a serious kidney and heart complication left its mark upon him. He had gone through some severe bouts of illness, all of which helped to shatter his system, though he was able to be about till within a week of his death. His death cast a gloom over the district, and unfeigned sorrow was expressed when the news became known on Friday night last, death having occurred shortly after 9 o'clock.
The deceased gentleman was 46 years of age. He was a native of Wilberforce, and the eldest son of the late Mr George Cobcroft, who in the early days kept the Old Retreat Hotel at that township. Ii was then kept for some time by the widow of the late Mr G Cobcroft, who was succeeded by her son, Mr John F Cobcroft. and a few years ago another son, Mr Will Cobcroft took over the old hotel and is still the licensee The late Mr R W Cobcroft served an apprenticeship to the tanning trade at Wilberforce under Mr LA Simpson, who now keeps a store there. He was always a hard worker and a conscientious employee. Later he went to Sydney, and soon became foreman of Mr Dunn's yard He was married to Miss Gertrude Bushell whilst employed in Sydney, the nuptials having been celebrated in St Matthew's Church of England, Windsor, by the late Rev Mr Stretton.
About 14 years ago he decided to commence business on his own account, and was in treaty for the tannery at the rear of Mrs Bushell’s handsome cottage in Macquarie street, when he learned that the Newtown tannery, then being run by Mr George Carroll, was in the market. He abandoned the first-named project, and secured the Newtown tannery. Here he started business in a very modest way, and for a time all the work was done by himself and a boy. To get an idea of how his business progressed it is only necessary to pay a visit to the Newtown tannery to day. Gradually his trade expanded and his business grew in keeping with this expansion. There were only four pits in the Newtown tannery when the late Mr Cobcroft started here. Now there are dozens of them, and the industry gives employment to some 25 men and boys, Mr Alf Motteram being the foreman. All the latest appliances and machinery for the fellmongering trade are to be found there, and the leather turned out is of such good quality that it finds a ready market all over the continent. The deceased gentleman paid a large sum every week in wages, and the employees speak of him in kindly and affectionate terms. He was a good master, and a good townsman in every sense of the word. No man will be more missed than generous-hearted and genial ' Dick' Cobcroft, as his friends were wont to call him.
He never sought notoriety, his quiet and unassuming nature detested pomp and circumstance; but he shirked none of the duties of citizenship, gave liberally to public charities, and subscribed and supported all worthy public institutions, He had been requested more than once to allow himself to be nominated for a seat in the local Borough Council, but always declined, preferring to apply his undivided attention to his large business interests and spend his spare time in the home circle with his much-loved wife and children. Some years ago he was appointed to the Commission of the Peace, but rarely sat on the Bench. He was a director of the New South Wales Savings Bank, and also of the Sydney Cycle Company, and was interested in other big concerns in Sydney. He was also a member of the Hawkesbury Benevolent Society, and of (the Hawkesbury District Agricultural Society, being on the Council of the last named institution.
The deceased's medical adviser had always been D.1 Gibson, and during the last days of his illness Dr Sydney Jones came up from Sydney and a consultation was held between the two medical men. He also had the attention of Nurse Stewart, together with the loving ministrations of a devoted wife, and Mrs G T Bushell, between whom and the deceased there had always existed a strong bond of affection. In addition to his sorrowing wife there are: six children to mourn the loss of a good father. The eldest is Miss Olive Cobcroft, and the youngest a fine little boy of three years. The others are Mr George Cobcroft, Miss Carrie Cobcroft, Masters Roy and Richard, and the youngest Harrie. Six brothers and two sisters survive the deceased. They are : Mr George Cobcroft (Commercial Hotel, Richmond), Mr John F Cobcroft (Sydney), Mr Harvey Cobcroft (Sydney), Mr Will Cobcroft (Old Retreat Hotel, Wilberforce), A Cobcroft (Commercial Hotel, Windsor), and Mrs H Patterson and Mrs J Baker.
THE FUNERAL. Acting on the advice of the medical attendant, the funeral took place as soon as practicable, and thus very short notice was given to persons living outside the town. Despite this fact, long before 4 o'clock on Saturday afternoon a large concourse of people from all parts of the Hawkesbury. together with Sydney visitors, assembled at 'Glenroy,' and as the cortege moved off, preceded by the members of the, Richard Coley Lodge of Freemasons, of which the deceased was a member, the funeral was a very large one.
At the old Church of St Matthew's a large crowd of people had also assembled to pay their last respects to one beloved by all. The pall bearers were Messrs W. Morgan, M.L.A, P H Ridge, P. B. Hall, J.P., and N. Hall, J.P. Immediately behind the hearse came the chief mourners, followed by about 160 persons on foot, and then a long line of vehicles. On reaching the Church, the coffin was carried from the hearse by the five brothers of the deceased and Mr H. Beecroft, and placed in the centre of the Church. It was carried from the house to the hearse by five employees of the late gentleman.
The beautiful service for the dead was conducted by the Rev S. G. Fielding, at the conclusion of which the choir sang ‘Jesus, Son of Mary, hear.' As the coffin was borne from the Church the Dead March was played by Mrs Eather. At the grave the burial service was conducted by the Rev S. G. Fielding, after which the solemn and impressive Masonic service was read by Very Worshipful Brother J. J. Paina. The funeral arrangements were carried out by Mr. Thomas Collison the coffin was a beautiful casket of polished cedar, with chaste mountings, and everything was splendidly carried out.
The chief mourners at the funeral were : Mr George, and Masters Roy and Richard Cobcroft (sons), Messrs George, John E, William, Arthur, and Harvey Cobcroft (brothers), Mr David Cobcroft (uncle), Master Rowland Cobcroft (nephew). Mr Harry Paterson (brother-in-law). There were also present : The Hon W Walker, M.L.C., Mr W Morgan, M.L A., Mr J J Paine, J.P , (Mayor of Windsor), Mr J W Hill (Mayor of Richmond), Mr Andrew Thompson (St Mary's), Messrs J R Clark, Alex Hunter, A Law, J Collins, P Brian Wadley, Goddard, J. R. Williamson, the representative of Messrs Wilcox and Co (Sydney), Rev J Howell Price (Richmond), Messrs B Hall, J P N Hall, J.P., T Lobb, G M Pitt, J:P., J T M Pitt, C M Pitt, S M Pitt, P H Ridge, J.P., E Campbell T G Allen, W J Kelly. W Mitchell, J.P., W Moses, J.P.. H Ryan, JP., G McCauley, J.P,, C S Guest, JP., R Greentree, H Beecroft, J Alford, S Adams, T Primrose, J.P., J Ross, J.P., J Dunstan, J P., H . Ezzy, E V Ezzy, R A Pye, Geo Bush, Dr Gibson, Dr Callaghan, T Waters, R Cruickshank, A Berckelman, T Richards. I H Bloome. Hutchinson. R. Baldry, Simpson, Benson, and many others.
Wreaths were sent by the following relatives and friends, and taken as a whole, they were the most magnificent floral tributes ever seen in Windsor. They were conveyed to the funeral in the deceased gentleman's buggy, and afterwards placed on the grave : — Mr and Mrs H Paterson (this wreath was enclosed in the coffin), Mr Harvey Cobcroft (brother), the employees F. F and Ice Coy., Sydney Cycle Coy., Ltd., Mr and Mrs A Fleckman (Sydney), Mr and Mrs Ward, Mr and Mrs B Hall, Mr and Mrs John Hunter and family (Sydney;, Mr Benson, Mr and Mrs F J Mortley, Mr and Mrs T Lobb, Mr and Mrs Bloome, Members of the Cleveland Cycling Club, Mr and Mrs G .Kirwan, Mr and Mrs Vadley (Sydney), Miss Myra Linsley, Mrs B Barnett and family, Mr and Mrs G Davis, the factory bands John Hunter and Son, Ltd., (Sydney), Mr Alex Hunter (Sydney); Mr and Mrs G M Pitt and family (North Richmond), the employees of the deceased's tannery, warehouse employees of John Hunter and Son, Ltd,, Messrs F Alderson and Co. (Sydney), Mr and Mrs Turk .
Letters and telegrams or condolence were also sent by the following: — Mrs Pye, Mr and Mrs Paine (Mayor and Mayoress of Windsor), Mr and Mrs Beazley, Mr C Collins (Sydney), Mrs Kelso (Sydney). Mrs Pope (Syd ney), Mr E Kelso (Sydney), Messrs G Wilcox and Co (Sydney), G Robertson (Sydney), J G Leslie (Sydney). J McQuillan (Sydney), H Wood (Sydney), Mr and Mrs Goddard (Sydney), C Gosney (Sydney), Clive Callaghan (Sydney), Frank Head (Sydney), W Mitchell (Richmond), Thos Dunn (Sydney), Mr and Mrs Young (Neutral Bay), Mr and Mrs Onus (Sydney), Mrs Jeidan, Mr G S Greenwell, Mr and Mrs J Williamson (Neutral Bay), Mr and Mrs W Moses and family, Miss Josephine Moses, Mr and Mrs D Holland, Mrs B Hall, Mr F J Vindin (Richmond)
Labels: Cobcroft
# posted by Pennie @ July 31, 2014 
