Mary Morris
Source: O'Brien family collection
NB: This photo was not labelled or dated but is thought to depict Mary Morris as it was stored with a card from her funeral (see below)
Mary Morris was born in 1827 in Ireland. On the birth certificate of her son, William, she is named "Mary Maxwell (late) formerly Judge".
Mary married Thomas Morris in England in 1858. Thomas was a farmer from Ireland prior to coming to Australia and later a hotel keeper of O’Connell Plains. Their children included:
- Thomas (born c 1859)
- Francis (born c 1861 in Bathurst)
- Mary Jane (born 1863 in Bathurst; married Robert Vines in 1886)
- William (born 17 August 1865 in Bathurst)
Hotel at O'Connell near Bathurst
Source: Bathurst Heritage Matters
Source: Bathurst Heritage Matters
Mary Morris was the mother of William Morris (born 1865) and the grandmother of Grace O'Brien (nee Morris)
Morris licence applications
Morris licence applications
- 1894 - Publican's licence renewed, Mary Morris, Post Office Hotel, Sofala.
- 1894 (June) - Mary Morris, Post Office Hotel, Wattle Flat
- 1895 - Licence renewed for Mary Morris, Post Office Hotel, Wattle Flat
- 1896 - Publican's licence renewed, Royal, Wattle Flat; Application to renew billiard licence granted
- 1897 - Billiard licence renewed, Royal Hotel Wattle Flat
- 1898 - Publican's licence renewed, Royal Hotel Wattle Flat; Billiard licence renewed
- 1900 - Publican's licence renewed, Royal Hotel Wattle Flat; Billiard licence renewed
- 1901 - Publican's licence renewed, Royal Hotel Wattle Flat; Application to renew billiard licence granted
- 1902 - Publican's licence renewed, Royal Hotel Wattle Flat
- 1904 - Publican's licence renewed, Royal Hotel Wattle Flat; Billiard licence renewed
- 1905 - Publican's licence renewed, Royal Hotel Wattle Flat;
- 1906 - Booth-license at the Bathurst Licensing Court: Thomas Morris, Royal Hotel, Wattle Flat;
- 1907 - Thomas Morris, Royal Hotel, Wattle Flat, assessment £52, license £20
- 1908 - License Transferred. The license of the Royal Hotel, Wattle Flat, has been transferred from Thomas Morris to William Foster.
- 1908 - Publican's licence renewed, Royal Hotel Wattle Flat;
Wattle Flat in 1890
Source: Trove
1896 - Booth Licence
At the Bathurst Licensing Court yesterday morning, before Dr. W. F. Bassett, a booth license was granted Mary Morris in connection with races to be held at Wattle Flat on St. Patrick's Day.
1902- Wattle Flat Races
For the Wattle Flat Races, Mary Morris of the Royal Hotel, Wattle Flat, yesterday obtained a booth license at the Licensing Court. The license will extend from 10 a.m. to 6.30 p.m. each day.
At the Bathurst Licensing Court yesterday, Mary Morris, of the Royal Hotel, Wattle Flat, was granted a booth license for the Wattle Flat races on the 30th inst.
1905 - RETIREMENT
Mrs M Morris, the popular landlady of the Royal Hotel [Wattle Flat], after carrying on business for 12 years, has decided to retire and reside in Sydney. Her son, Mr T Morris, well known in sporting circles, will be the new landlord and will no doubt; carry on the business successfully.
1905 - Wattle Flat and Sofala - SOMETHING ABOUT THIS DISTRICT - PROSPEROUS TIME AHEAD. (By Our Travelling Correspondent.)
One of the most picturesque and interesting trips from Bathurst is certainly that to Wattle Flat and Sofala. Apart from the historical interest attached to these once so important mining centres, the scenery passed through is unique and never to be forgotten.
Travelling at this time of the year is very pleasant. The country is changing its summer hue to one of bright green, and the weather conditions are all that could be desired. A representative of the National Advocate travelled with Mr. Maloney, who has been identified with the Sofala road for well over thirty years, and is full of interesting reminiscences, so that the time passes pleasantly, and Wattle Flat and Sofala are reached before the traveller is really expecting to do so.
The best of welcomes awaits him at the well-appointed hotels of Mrs. Morris and Mr. Crawford at Wattle flat, and Mrs. Hyland and Mr. Burton at Sofala. Wattle Flat had about 8 inches of rain lately, and the winter grass is starting nicely. Potatoes and pumpkins promise a very fair crop.
Mining matters are still depressed on account of want of water, yet new discoveries are constantly being made, and with rain prospecting, reefing and sluicing on an extensive scale will eventuate. Even now over 100 men are following mining on this field. From Messrs. Riley and Co.'s claim on Shepperd's Reef, at Middle Creek, 80 tons of good looking ore have reached the mill, and at the mine a nice paddock of stone awaits carting. Crushing will start as soon as water is available, both the hotels and all the stores are doing a fair share of business. Mr. Crawford has put up some improvements to his hotel, and Mrs. Morris and Messrs. Tom and Jim Morris see that visitors find every comfort, and the best of liquor at their excellent hostelry.
Mr Sanden, the popular tobacconist and stationer, furnishes in his establishment a rendezvous for residents and miners, and here a visitor will obtain from the proprietor all information desired and always of a reliable nature as regards town and district.
The Post and Telegraph Office is under the efficient management of Mr W Walters, while Mr W Hodges is the local Auctioneer and Commission Agent. Cheshire Creek Police District has been added to Wattle Flat district now under Constable Cullen's control, and Constable McLeod has been retired after many years of meritorious service.
With some rain there is nothing to prevent this splendid gold-bearing district from coming to the front again. By about five miles of excellent road through rugged mountain scenery, past the celebrated Surface Hill, whence eight tons of gold was taken in the early days the coaches reaches Sofala, the centre of the celebrated Turon diggings, once the boss field of N.S.W. Lately 350 points of rain have fallen here, and the country looks beautifully green, so that good grass for the winter is now assured.
The health of the places is excellent and with Dr Cobb as resident medico longevity is the general rule. All the hotels and stores are doing a brisk business. This is no doubt due to the presence of the two dredges on the Turon River. The only representation of industry is a tannery employing a number of hands. In an interview with Mr Mackintosh, manager of the Queenslander mine, it was ascertained that at present ore is being raised for a crushing. The claim is now on sulphide ore, and the reef is of really phenomenal width carrying 1oz stuff. All indications point to the fact that this mine will be worked full-handed and shortly employ a large number of men. Otherwise reefing, prospecting and sluicing is awaiting further rain. The moment the gullies get a good clean out there is no doubt that plenty of gold will come into the place again. There is every likelihood of more rain. In the daytime the weather is hot, but the nights are cool and mosquitoes are conspicuous by their absence.
Both at Mrs. Hyland's and Mr Burton's well-appointed hotels, man and beasts can find all creature comforts, and as regards the general comfort of visitors and the quality of grog these hostelries compare most favorably with anything in the State.
Mr. Sibbald is a baker of over 50 years' experience, and Sofala and Wattle Flat certainly can be congratulated upon the excellent quality of his bread, while Mr Farrington supplies the best of beefs, etc. A well-appointed barber's shop is kept by Mr. Griffiths, Mr Hinton is the local chemist, and Mr Oldfield blacksmith and coachbuilder, Mr Herriott, an old mining identity, apart from his store attends to the cultivation of some 25 acres which area is partly under lucerne, and also an orchard comprising apples, pears, nectarines, apricots and figs, and also grape vines in splendid order.
The visiting stranger will do well to call on Mr Alfred Taylor, who is one might say the Bible and Dictionary of the place. You will receive the most courteous and reliable information from this gentleman at all times. Here residents and miners congregate, discuss all matters of import and exchange the news of the district.
From early morning till evening the rhythm of the anvils at the dredge shop pervades the whole town. Here all repairs for the dredges are executed under the supervision of Mr J. McDiarmid, engineer, by Mr W. Smith blacksmith, and his staff of able assistants.
Sargeant Hicks, with Constable Matheson as second, look after the general peace and order of Sofala. The Sergeant also attends to all court work, and has any amount of other departments to supervise. Mr. Hayes, who is Post and Telegraph master, has, in addition to the onerous duties entailed by this position, also to perform those of Warden's clerk and Mining and Electorate Registrar, and Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages.
There are about 70 to 90 pupils on the roll of the State school under Mr. Nicholson, with Mr. Hoad as pupil teacher. Some 50 children attend the adjoining Convent school. With some more rain there ought to be a real prosperous winter before Sofala and district.
1906 - [ILLNESS]
Mr Thomas Morris, licensee of the Royal Hotel, Wattle Flat, is rapidly recovering from the attack of pneumonia from which he has been suffering for the past few weeks.
Source: National Advocate (Bathurst, NSW : 1889 - 1954) Wed 11 Jul 1906 Page 3Whilst at Wattle Flat on Monday Mr J J Sullivan was told that a son of Mr Thomas Morris, licensee of the local Royal Hotel, was putting a small piece of quartz into a catapult to fire at a bird when he discovered that it was, studded with gold.
1913 - Family Notices
MORRIS.—April 16, 1913, at her daughter's residence (Mrs. Vines), John's terrace, Belmont-street, Alexandria, Mary, widow of the late Thomas Morris, late of O'Connell Plains and Wattle Flat.
Mary Morris' Funeral
Mary was buried at the Catholic Cemetery at Rookwood on 18 April 1913.
In 1919, Mary's son William moved to Mudgee and took up duties as chargeman at the Mudgee loco. shed. William died in Mudgee in 1930.
