Edward R Brigden
Taken at Ada’s Wedding, 18/12/1896 in Botany
Edward Brigden was the sone of John Brigden (carpenter) and Juliana Drayton.
He was born in Waterloo, Sydney, and married Jane Saunders in Mudgee in 1878 (he was just 19). He had the Cobbora mail contract and ran the Prince of Wales hotel, Gulgong.
[*Jane Brigden nee Saunders' mother was Margaret Carroll who first married John Saunders and later married William Turner. Jane Brigden died in 1942 in Sydney. Obituary below.]
Jane Brigden nee Saunders
1890-1900
Edward and Jane's children were:
- EDWARD ERNEST - born 1878, died 1954 (in NZ)
- LILY MAUD - born 1880, married John Copas in 1901 in Wellington, later married Albert Thompson in 1910 in Mudgee. She died in Botany aged 71 in 1952.
- WILLIAM OLIVER - born 1883 - died 1902*
- HARVEY/HARRY W - born 1885
- FREDERICK O - born 1887
- HILDA D (pictured below) - born 1889 married Mr James G Yates in 1918 in Sydney
- ELSIE M - born 1891, married Edgar H Deves/Deaves in Sydney in 1920
- IVY C - born 1893 married Mr Val Taylor in Gulgong in 1911
- ESTELLE/STELLA - born 1895
- CLARICE R (pictured below) - born 1900
*William Oliver Brigden suffered from "rheumatism of the heart" for many years and died of "acute dial heart rheumatism" on 6 September 1902 (news articles below).
Edward Richard Brigden died 20 July 1905 aged 46 from "injuries received capsizing of a vehicle" (news articles below).
Ted Brigden's Coach next to the Bank of NSW, Herbert Street, Gulgong
The man seated on the box seat is Harry Stahl who was part of the Gulgong Brass Band with Harry Brigden (below) in 1899. There are 17 passengers on top of the coach and many more inside.
Advertisements on the coach exterior are for Curran's cordials, F S Moore, Gulgong Guardian, J Judge Butchery, Parker's stores and Pure Henderson's soap.
Source: Gulgong Pioneers MuseumBRIGDENs in the NEWS
1899 - BROKEN LEGWe are glad to hear that Mr. E. R. Brigden, of Cobbora, whose leg was recently broken is making a splendid recovery under the care of Dr. McCreadie.
1901 - MAIL CONTRACTS
Edward R. Brigden, Cobborah:—Leadville, Denison Town, Bolaro and Cobbora, 20 miles, twice a week.1 horse 2-wheeled vehicle, £31 19s per annum.
1901 - COACHING FATALITY. GULGONG, Saturday.An inquiry was held by Mr S T Bishop at Niven's Spring Ridge Hotel, Cobbora, 13 miles from here, in regard to the death of James Long, mail coach driver. Mrs Niven stated that when deceased drove up he told her the brake had broken coming down the last hill, and that he did not like going down the next hill, which was very steep. The accident occurred about two miles from Niven's. Edward Brigden stated he found the dead body at 9 p m under the offside of the front wheel. He rode back to Cobbora and reported the accident. The police procured a vehicle and returned with a constable, and they took the mails and deceased to Cobbora. Constable Scheibel deposed it took six men to lift the coach to release the body. He examined the scene of the accident, and it appeared that one of the polers had fallen and been dragged a considerable distance. Deceased drove three horses. Two horses were attached to the coach when the body was found. A verdict of accidentally killed by the coach overturning was returned.
Source: The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954) Mon 16 Sep 1901 Page 4
There are reports of "ladies" teams being formed in New South Wales as early as 1903, but the first public match of association football between two women's teams occurred when North Brisbane defeated South Brisbane 2-0 at the Brisbane Cricket Ground (now The Gabba) on 24 September 1921.
Source: Football Australia
Mr E R Brigden, of the Prince of Wales Hotel, Gulgong, has presented a handsome cup to the Gulgong Football Club for competition purposes. Perhaps some of our local boniface will follow suit, now that the "LH Browne" cup has been won and disposed of after 7 years competition in Orange.
Source: Leader (Orange, NSW : 1899 - 1945) Sat 23 May 1903 Page 2
The Gulgong footballers have decided to hand over the 'Brown' Cup, when suitably inscribed, to Mrs. E. Brigden, as a slight appreciation of the great services rendered to the Gulgong footballers by the late Mr. E. R. Brigden.
1905 - Larceny.
William Alfred Jones was charged that he did steal, on Monday night last, a coat, the property of Edward Brigden, valued at 10s.Constable O, Milling deposed: On Wednesday afternoon last from information received, I went to where accused was; accused was travelling with a man named Scott; I saw Scott and in the accused's presence I asked him where he camped on Monday night, and he replied near the bridge at Home Rule; Scott said Jones had been in his employ for three months; in reply to me Jones said he was not in Gulgong on Monday night; Jones said he had some things in the van, and produced a chaff bag in which were some things, among them being an overcoat; he said a man gave him the coat at Home Rule on Monday night; I asked Scott was Jones away from the camp on Monday night, and he replied yes; "he went away after supper and remained away all night; Jones said, in answer to me, that he was not in Gulgong on Monday night, and that he camped at Home Rule; I then asked Jones to accompany me; and took him to the lock-up; at the lock-up Jones said nobody gave him the coat, but that he took it from Brigden's Hotel on Monday night; I then charged him with stealing the coat, valued at 10s, the property of Edward Brigden, of Gulgong, on or about July 1st; I cautioned accused in the usual manner, but he made no reply.
Edward Brigden deposed: I am the licensee of the Prince of Wales Hotel, Gulgong; have seen the accused before the court once or twice; recognise the coat; it belongs to my son Edward, who was away from home, and it was in my custody; I value the coat at 10s; on Saturday night last I lent the coat to my groom, who hung it up to dry; did not authorise anyone to take the coat away.
Frank Moon deposed: I am a groom, in the employ of Mr. Brigden, of Gulgong; saw the accused at Gulgong on Monday night last about 11 p.m. I occupied a room in the back of the hotel; heard someone moving and sang out, "Who's there," and accused came to the door and asked me to let him sleep there, as he was camped at Home Rule, and did not want to go there that night; told accused to lay down, which he did; before going to sleep accused said he would leave at daylight, which he did; when I got up the coat was missing; did not authorise accused to take the coat.
Accused pleaded guilty, and elected to be dealt with summarily. Sentence was deferred until the hearing of a further charge against accused was concluded. [Second charge not reproduced here]. The bench inflicted a fine of £2 or a month's hard labor in the first case ... An order was made for the return of the stolen property to the rightful owners.
Source: Mudgee Guardian and North-Western Representative (NSW : 1890 - 1954) Mon 10 Jul 1905 Page 2
1905 - BREVITIES
Owing to the horses swerving in turning a corner, Mr. Edward Brigden, licensee of the Prince of Wales Hotel, Gulgong, and two ladies were thrown out of a vehicle, and rendered unconscious. Miss Muriel Highfield and Miss Rose Riley, the ladies in question, were unconscious for some hours.
Source: Evening News (Sydney, NSW : 1869 - 1931) Fri 21 Jul 1905 Page 1
1905 - GULGONG, Thursday.A serious accident happened last night to Mr. Edward Brigden, landlord of the Prince of Wales Hotel. He was bringing home in a large vehicle many passengers who had been to the Mudgee-Gulgong football match. In turning sharply the corner of Mayne and Medley streets, the leaders swerved and the wheels skidded, throwing Mr. Brigden on to his forehead. Blood was flowing from his ears and nose, and he was rendered unconscious.Miss Muriel Hughfleld and Miss Rose Riley were also thrown out of the vehicle, and were unconscious for some hours. Miss Rose Riley had a deep cut in her neck. Mr. Brigden was still unconscious at midday to-day.
1905 - DEATH OF MR. BRIGDEN. GULGONG, Friday.Mr. Edward Brigden, lessee of the Prince of Wales Hotel, who was thrown from a vehicle on Wednesday night whilst returning from a football match at Mudgee, died last night. He never regained consciousness.
1905 - The Gulgong Accident. Death of Mr. Edward Brigden.It is with most sincere regret that we have to announce that the accident which occurred to Mr. Edward Brigden, while driving home from the football match on Wednesday terminated fatally.Throughout the day on Thursday the greatest anxiety was expressed, and this was increased when a telephone message came through from a reliable source about 6 p.m., saying that the patient's life was despaired of, and that it was probable he would not live through the night. The sad end presaged in that message came even sooner than was expected, and at 8.30 p.m. the end came.The circumstances of the death are inexpressibly sad, for the fatal journey was undertaken by deceased as an ardent advocate of the sport of football. Since he became located in Gulgong, Mr. Brigden was the very life and soul of local football, and no man ever showed greater enthusiasm, or gave more liberal support.To his widow and children we offer our deepest sympathy in their irreparable loss.
Source: Mudgee Guardian and North-Western Representative (NSW : 1890 - 1954) Mon 24 Jul 1905 Page 2
1905 - THE FUNERAL.
On Friday afternoon the funeral of the deceased took place, and was very largely attended, people from Mudgee, Cobbora, and other places being present to show their deep sympathy with a most popular man who has passed away to the Great Beyond.The sad cortege was headed by members of the local Oddfellows' Lodge, Mudgee Football Union Committee, and Gulgong footballers, among them being representatives of the Mudgee Waratah team. The Ven. Archdeacon Geer officiated at the grave, and Bro. J. Naughton, N.G., read the Oddfellows' burial service.
1905 - [REMEMBERED]Gulgong can ill afford to lose men so useful in the life of a place as was the late Mr. Edward Brigden. To encourage sport, his capable services were ever ready, and it is sad to think that it was at the conclusion of a duty to his town that the fatal ending came. Before leaving Mudgee that evening he expressed his desire to a friend that he would have to take extra caution, as the young ladies who accompanied the contingent from Gulgong were anxious that he should drive them on the return. Few men were better known or better respected in this district.
Source: Mudgee Guardian and North-Western Representative (NSW : 1890 - 1954) Thu 27 Jul 1905 Page 15
1905 - FATAL ACCIDENTWe regret to have to announce the death of Mr Edward R Brigden, licensee of the Prince of Wales' Hotel, Gulgong, which sad event took place on Thursday, 20th instant. He was driving a coach load of ladies from Mudgee on the Wednesday, and when turning the corner of Mayne and Medley streets, Gulgong, one of the reins fell from his hand, causing the horses to swerve. A wheel struck the kerb-stone, resulting in the overturning of the coach. The driver was thrown out on to his head, and when picked up it was found that the skull was fractured.He remained unconscious until next day, when death supervened. The late Mr Brigden once had an interest in a cordial factory in Mudgee, and afterwards carried on the business of hotelkeeper and cordial manufacturer at Cobbora, where he was widely known and respected; and he also had many friends at Leadville, Coolah, Merrygoen Mundooran, and other places. From Cobbora he went to Gulgong, and for years kept the Prince of Wales' Hotel.The deceased was a good townsman, a great enthusiast of sport, cricket and football being much boomed by him for years past. He leaves a widow and large family to mourn their loss and for whom the deepest sympathy is felt.
1905 - THE INQUEST. - HOW THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED.On Friday morning, Mr. George Stewart, J.P., deputy coroner, held an inquest into the circumstances of the death. Constable Milling deposed that on the previous Wednesday evening, he was standing in the street about 11 p.m., talking to Constable Kennedy. He heard some vehicles coming, and took them to be the footballers returning from Mudgee. When the vehicle arrived at the corner of Mayne and Medley-streets, he heard it capsize and he and Kennedy at once rushed down. On arriving at the scene of the accident, he found the vehicle overturned, and all the passengers thrown out. The deceased, Edward Brigden, was in the gutter on the right hand side of Mayne-street. He was being attended to by Mr. Albert Souter, and was bleeding profusely from wounds on the head and face. A messenger was at once sent for a doctor, and Dr. McCreadie arrived in a few minutes, and under his instructions a door was procured and deceased was carried to tho Prince of Wales Hotel, of which he was licensee.Albert Edward Souter deposed that on the evening in question he was at a house in Mayne-street, when he heard the footballers returning from Mudgee. When the trap reached the corner, he heard it capsize, and he at once ran out, and came across the deceased who was lying in the gutter face downwards. Witness stayed with deceased until his removal to his home. He was unconscious, and never spoke.Gerald Garling, a member of the football team, stated that he left Mudgee about 9 o'clock on the previous evening. The deceased was driving, and there were eight girls in the trap. Deceased was quite sober. They travelled at a smart, pace to Green-Swamp where they pulled up at Norris' Hotel, and deceased had a small glass of brandy. From Green Swamp to Gulgong the vehicle which contained the football team continually tried to pass the one being driven by deceased, and each time the attempt was made deceased drove faster, and prevented the other vehicle passing him. When opposite the Gulgong police station the vehicle containing the footballers made another attempt to get past, but deceased galloped his horses until they came to the junction of Medley and Mayne-Streets. There was a sulky in front, and there was not room for the vehicle driven by deceased to pass between it and the kerb, and as deceased tried to slow down he dropped one rein and just as he recovered it the vehicle struck the kerb-stone.Witness had foreseen the capsize, and managed to jump clear of the vehicle. He turned and caught one of the passengers just as she was falling, and saw, the vehicle lying on its side, with the horses standing in their harness. Deceased was lying, almost in the gutter in Mayne-street, and was bleeding profusely. Witness afterwards saw the deceased being removed to his residence.To the Coroner: The deceased was perfectly sober at the time of the accident.To the Police: We were nearly at the corner of Mayne-street when deceased dropped the rein.Dr. McCreadie was the next witness, and he told how he heard between 11 and 12 o'clock on Wednesday night cries of 'Doctor, doctor!' He went to the Corner of Mayne and Medley streets, and there he saw the deceased lying towards the gutter opposite Barr's store. He was unconscious and bleeding from wounds in the face. Witness ordered his removal to his home and when he examined him there he found him bruised over both eyes and on both cheeks. There were two or three cuts on the forehead, and he was bleeding from the left nostril and right ear. The skin of both hands was torn, and the flesh of the right hip and thigh bruised.The injured man suffered severely from shock, and all the symptoms pointed to shock and laceration of the brain. The deceased never regained consciousness; and between 8 and 9 p.m. on Thursday evening he died from the injuries described.Albert Edward Brigden, brother of the deceased gave evidence of identification, and stated that the widow of deceased was quite unable to attend the inquiry.The Coroner brought in a verdict of accidental death, and specifically found that intemperance had nothing to do with, the cause of death.
Source: Mudgee Guardian and North-Western Representative (NSW : 1890 - 1954) Mon 24 Jul 1905 Page 2
1942 - TELLING YOU BRIEFLY
Not 'the babes in the woods,' but two old school males could, be seen bawling along in sulky turn out during the week. They were Mr. Herbert A. Brigden and Mr. B. J. Naughton, who are cronies again after not having been to gether since school days. They are now living the old days over again.
Brigden Burials in the Gulgong Cemetery
Church of England Portion
Walter Brigden
Died 23.01.1874
Aged 7 months
Son of J & J Brigden
Also
Harry Brigden
Died 23.01.1884
Age 19 years
William Oliver Brigden
Died 06.09.1902
Aged 19 years 9 months
Second son of
E.R. & J. Brigden
Edward Richard Brigden
Died 20.07.1905
Aged 46 years
Presbyterian and Methodist Portion
Albert Ernest Brigden
Died 30.11.1927
Aged 58 years
&
Clara Brigden
Died 28.03.1973
Aged 95 years
Alfred Brigden
Died 06.10.1929
Aged 68 years
&
Katherine Brigden
Died 30.04.1920
Aged 57 years
Jennie Brigden
1872-1941
Herbert A Brigden
1981-1945
Buried with Robert & Anna Brown
BRIGDENS in the NEWS
