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Matilda Martha Lovegrove
and Henry James Cornish

Matilda Martha Lovegrove was born on 24 Nov 1886, the second daughter and ninth of the twelve children of James and Elizabeth Lovegrove, probably at her parent's property on the ‘Willy Wally’, East of Borambil, NSW. She was baptised at the ‘Willy Wally’ on 4 Jan 1897 by Rev Warner. It is likely that she spent her early years there and her movements would have been much the same as for her parents.

It is likely that she started her education at the small subsidized schoolhouse built on her parent’s property on the present Merriwa/Cassilis Road to the east of the stock route leading into the Rawlinson’s property ‘Willy Wally’. It is likely that she finished her schooling at the Borambil Public School.

"Bellevue" Farmhouse

At sixteen or seventeen years of age she married Henry James Cornish at Quirindi, NSW during 1903. The young couple moved to the property, ‘Bellevue’ which Henry had established at Bundella near Pandora’s Pass on the Liverpool Ranges.

During 1904 their only child, a daughter was born at Cassilis; she was named Lorna May Cornish.

The marriage was not destined to be a long one; in August 1905, Matilda, then aged only nineteen years, contracted Rheumatic Fever and Pneumonia and died at her home on 30 Aug 1905. Her obituary, published in the local press shortly afterwards, read as follows:

Mrs H. J. Cornish

It is with regret we chronicle the death of Mrs H J Cornish which sad event took place at her home ‘Bellevue’, Bundella, on 30 August after an illness of three weeks.

The deceased, who was only 19 years of age, was the second daughter of Mr and Mrs James Lovegrove, ‘Glenfern’, Yarraman. She was of gentle and affectionate disposition and loved by all who knew her.

Three weeks ago she contracted Rheumatic Fever and Pneumonia but owing to her always being so healthy, hopes of her recovery were entertained by her relatives. However, on Wednesday morning, she slipped peacefully away. The immediate cause of her death being failure of the heart’s action. During her illness she was attended by Dr Richard Belle, Coolah.

 

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