| Notes |
- From Whence We Came, The Ridley Saga
Marian was the fifth child of William and Ann, two girls and two boys
before her. She was born in Adelaide on the 28th July, 1859, and when about
nine years old, left South Australia with her parents, and travelled by buggy
and wagons to Bungowannah. All of her girlhood years were spent there, as she
would have been twenty-six when the family moved to Bena.
William's description of the journey from Bungowannah says it w
Louisa, and Marian who accompanied them in the buggy, so the other daughters
must have come to Bena by other means.
Marian married Walter James Bassett on the 12th March, 1886, at
Forbes. It is probable that she met her husband when living in the Albu
district, as the name Bassett is found in William's records of that time. Her
husband had the nickname (Rooster), but unfortunately, we don't know the story
of how or why he was given it.
Walter and Marian, we believe, lived near Derriwong, a locality
between Condobolin and Forbes. They had two sons, Harold Walter Hasland born
at Condobolin, on the 25th December, 1886, and Lynton Alfred Harvey born at
Condobolin on the 2nd January, 1888.
Sadly Marian did not live very long to have the joy of bringing up her
boys. Only seven years after the family came to the Condobolin area and six
years after her marriage, she developed Bright's Disease and died at the age
of 33 years. We believe she was the first person to be buried in the
Condobolin Cemetery.
Walter and the two youngs boys then made their home in the Coonamble
District. Lynton, (Len), died as a young man in his early twentie
Harold married Juanita Fletcher on the 23rd January, 1912 when he was
twenty-five. They had three sons: Ronald, Harold and Lynton.
Marian's son Harold, had a most colourful life. He had different
properties in the Coonamble district. He moved into town and ran a taxi
service with one of the first cars in that district. He later served, we
believe, as Mayor of Coonamble and was on the town council. He, at one time,
ran a butcher's shop, relieved when needed at Wright Heatons and was also a
train driver.
He was considered handy with his fists, a very good athlete, and was
able to outrun his grandson, when in his sixties. He enjoyed greatly, talking
with his fellow-man, and deemed it good that he had never tasted alcohol in
his life. Harold died at Coonamble on the 5th July, 1967, at the age of 80
years.
Lynton, (Len) is the only one of Marian's grandsons living and is a
Fire Brigade Captain, at Fairlight, Sydney.
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Bassett Family Association Database
1859 - 1892 (33 years)