Samuel Trevenen Bishop, son of William and Mary Bishop was born in Plymouth, England and came to Australia in about 1855.
Isabel Scott was born in about 1838 in Pittochry, Scotland. Her father was John Scott, a farmer and her mother was Jean Duff. Isabel arrived in Australia in about 1854 spending her first six years in Victoria and then moving to Gulgong NSW.
Samuel Bishop married Isabel Scott in Beechworth, Victoria in about 1855. Their first 3 children were born in Victoria. Only one of the three children born in Gulgong survived beyond infancy:
- Mary I - born ca 1865
- Isabella - born ca 1868
- John T - born ca 1870
- Annie Lydia - born 1872; died January 1873, aged 4 months from scrofula of 6 weeks duration.
- Emily Jean - born 1874; died March 1875, aged 13 months, from measles.
- Emily Emma - born 1876.
Isabel Bishop's occupation was described as "home duties". She died in 1910 at the age of 72 of "ACUTE HAEMORRHAEGE GENERAL EXHAUSTION" of two days' duration.
Samuel's occupations included: miner (in 1872); and sexton (in 1875). He died in 1915 and is buried in the Presbyterian portion of the Gulgong General cemetery.
1915 - Obituary. Mr. S. T. Bishop.
At 2.45 p.m. on Friday last, there passed away one of the oldest and most respected residents of the north-west in the person of Mr. S. T. Bishop, of Mayne-street, Gulgong. Although Mr. Bishop had passed the allotted span the news of his death came as a shock to the community, for by his death a link with Gulgong's past had been severed. For some time he had been in an indifferent state of health, and on Wednesday his condition grew worse. The old gentleman's strength was not equal to the strain and on Friday afternoon he passed peacefully away. The following children are left to mourn their loss: Mrs. J. Ross (Sydney), Mrs. Christian (Bingara), and Miss Bishop (Gulgong).The late Mr. Bishop was about the oldest resident of the Gulgong district. During his long years of association with the town and district he always manifested a keen interest in all public matters. Even in his later years, when his early vigor had passed away, he was always interested in what was going on around him. He was born at Plymouth (Eng.) and lived in this State for about 60 years.He commenced his career at sea, when 16 years of age, and was for five years on a sailing vessel that traded between Australia and China. When about 21 years of age he relinquished sailing, and came to New South Wales. Some time after he joined in the rush to the Beechworth goldfield in Victoria, and it was here he met a Miss Scot, who had not long arrived from Scotland, and after a while they married. They took a trip to the old country, returning to this State after nearly a year's absence.
Mr. Bishop went to the various diggings throughout the State and was at Junee when he heard of the remarkable gold finds at Gulgong, which was brought into existence in 1870, by the discovery of gold by T. Saunders and party— Mr. T. Saunders is still alive, and is the father of Mr. W. Saunders, licensee of the Prince of Wales Hotel on old Surface Hill.Subsequently gold was found by the party on the famous Red Hill, supposed to be the fountainhead of the goldfield. The find caused a rush to the field, and shortly after were discovered the famous Black Lead, Happy Valley Lead and Standard Lead. The manner in which the Black Lead was discovered was somewhat peculiar. There happened to be about at that time a person who it was stated was ordered by the police to leave the town, in 24 hours or procure work. He joined ... at the Black Lead, and ... ing for awhile he struck ...In working the shaft he...some black clay, from ... which the lead got its name. The discovery of gold was followed by a rush of 20,000 people amongst whom was the late Mr. Bishop.A town had sprung up as if by magic. Mr. Bishop for some time, followed the calling of a miner. When after being on the diggings all day he would sometimes go into the shop of the late Mr. Alexander McCulloch (father of Mr. Edward McCulloch, of Gulgong), who conducted a stationary business in premises on the site at present occupied by Mr. Souter's chemist shop. Mr. Bishop had a fascination for the work, and he often assisted in the shop. When the glory of the field had passed away Mr. Bishop was elected council clerk in the first municipal council. In those days the council chambers were on the land at present occupied by the Prince of Wales Hotel, in which even now resides the person to first discover gold on the Gulgong field. The late Mr. Bishop occupied the position for many years. Of the aldermen who went into the first council in 1876, Mr. John Tuxford is the only one now living in these parts.Deceased also evinced a keen jnterest in hospital matters, and he was the secretary of the first hospital established in Gulgong. In those days the institution was situated on the heights now known as Church Hill. Upon his retirement from the position, he was presented with an address by the committee, which in those days consisted of Messrs Geo. Ramsay (treas.) James C. Cosgrove, Montague Marks, C. Goghlan, John Souter, John Powell, Denis McGrath, George Turner, William Guinan, Thomas McDonough, and N. Langdon.He was the senior magistrate of the district and was a member of the local Masonic lodge. Until about 12 months ago deceased had acted as the local correspondent of the "Sydney Morning Herald." It was a hobby of the deceased's to keep a record of every item of news that he succeeded in having published, and the clippings are enough to fill a good-sized book. During the last few years deceased had led a retired life, his business being for most part conducted by his daughter (Miss Bishop). In the early years of Gulgong, ploughing matches were held annually, and for a long term deceased held the position of secretary. Out of the ploughing matches came the Gulgong Agricultural Association.Deceased had been in business for a large number of years, and met with a good deal of success. Besides being Justice of the Peace, he was Commissioner for Affidavits, and for 30 years occupied the post of Guardian of Minors. He was always known for his genial disposition and obliging manner.The funeral took place at 4 p.m. on Saturday. The remains were removed from the late residence of deceased. The pallbearers were Messrs. D. H. Spring, A. Baldwin, B. Davies, and M. Bennett. The following members of the Masonic Lodge marched at the head of the hearse: Messrs. W. Borman, T. Upham, H. Lee, D. H. Spring, J. Fletcher, Hawkins, Bleechmore; W. U. Gardner, C. A. Rossell, Souter, E. D. Stott, A. Baldwin, M. Bennett and E. W. Boulton.The chief mourners were: Miss Bishop and Mrs. Ross (daughters). Amongst others present we noticed the following: Messrs. A. Brigden, R. Harrowell, J. N. Spears, T. Gudgeon, H. Douglas, R. W. Heard Reid, Stott, C. E. Hilton, J. Tuxford, sen., J. Curran, sen., P. Curran, L. C. Naughton, C. Harris, Cook, Cross, A. Fyfe, W. Gibbs, Raisin, H. Gudgeon, and Mrs. W. Gibbs, Mrs. Cross, Mrs. E. D. Stott, Mrs. B. Davies, Mrs. Fyfe, Mrs. W. Gudgeon, and Mrs. H. Gudgeon.The remains were interred in the Presbyterian portion of the Gulgong General cemetery, the Rev. Mr. McGowan (Methodist) officiating at the graveside in the absence of the Rev. Mr. Canning. The funeral arrangements were in the hands of S. J. L. Turner.
