Birth GRO 4th qtr 1838
CHATFIELD, Ruth Ann Uckfield 7 403
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Entry from Framfield St Thomas a Becket of Canterbury
First names Ruth Anne
Surname CHATFIELD
Baptism Date 02-Dec 1838
Father first names Levi CHATFIELD
Mother first names Harriet CHATFIELD
Occupation Labourer
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SA death recs: 14 Aug 1930 District Prospect (DH) b522 p549.
d. shown as 1933 in "Biographical Index of South Australians 1836-1885".
Died 1930 aged 94 according to gravestone but that is in error..
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Burial Lower A75
Find A Grave Memorial# 53720567
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The Register News-Pictorial (Adelaide, SA : 16 August 1930)
Mrs. R. A. McDonald, 94, of Prospect (arrived in South Australia on [the Buffalo in 1836], with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Chatfield; lived at Golden Grove, Canowie, Yongala, and Prospect). [Actually arrived on the 'Somersetshire' 1839.]
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Newspaper report.
OBITUARY - Ruth Ann McDonald nee Chatfield. 1836 - 1930
The death at Prospect yesterday of Mrs. R. A. McDonald removed one of the oldest ot the South Australian Pioneers. Mrs. McDonald was born at Kent, England, in 1836, and arrived in South Australia on the Buffalo (error in 1839 'Somersetshire') with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. L. Chatfield when she was twelve months old. The family lived in a house which was built in what is now George-street, Southwark (Thebarton), and the building still stands.
Mrs. McDonald obtained the greater part of her education at a night school in Morphett-street. After her marriage with Mr. Hugh McDonald in 1850 (typo 1859) she lived at, Golden Grove, and, subsequently, at Canowie station, where her husband was manager for many years. Later they lived at Yongala, but shortly after Mr. McDonald's death, in 1908, Mrs. McDonald took up her residence at Prospect. Although her sight had failed her in recent years, Mrs. McDonald had a remarkable memory of happenings in the early days.
She leaves two daughters and eight sons.
They are:-
Mr B. J. Rettalick, of Loxton;
Miss A. McDonald. of Prospect;
Mr. A. McDonald, of Western Australia:
Mr. G. M. McDonald, of East Bungaree;
Mr. A. McDonald, of Dry Creek;
Mr. H. McDonald, of Ardrossan;
Mr. H. McDonald, of Leighton;
Mr, J. MCDonald, of Bute;
and Mr. M. A. McDonald (secretary of the Tramway Employees' Union), of Millswood.
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The headstone for Ruth & Eli has been in the cemetery since she died in 1930. Some graves are being re-used, so the stone was removed & anyone from the family could have it. Eli was buried in allot. 75, with Ruth in the same grave.
Zone Lower A-Z. Allot. 75,
Shares tombstone with brother Eli Chatfield.
In Loving Memory of
Ruth Ann McDonald
Died 14 August 1930
Aged 94 Years
also
Eli Chatfield
brother
accidentally drowned
6th Nov 1847
aged 15 years
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To Australia 1839 on 'Somersetshire' in 1839 with parents.
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She became blind from cataracts, but knew each of her grandchildren by touch without hearing them speak.
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One descendant is Stuart McDonald of Tumbullup WA. who is gr gr gr grndson
of Ruth Ann Chatfield and Hugh McDonald.
Records not imported into INDI (individual) Gramps ID I2015:
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