Sympathy Saturday - Obituary - Mrs Annie Shepherd (nee McDonald)

 

Annie Shepherd and grandson Neville

My Grandmother,Annie Shepherd, nee McDonald was the daughter of Donald McDonald and Margaret Hanlon  and she was born in Reidsdale, NSW Australia in 1869.  Annie's brother Alexander Joseph McDonald was the feature of my recent ANZAC day blog, Military Monday - 2013 Trans Tasman ANZAC Day Blog Challenge - Alexander Joseph McDonald.

Obituary - Mrs Annie Shepherd 

from Braidwood Dispatch  

By the passing of Mrs Annie Shepherd, which occurred in Sydney recently, another of our fine old pioneers has gone on her last long journey. The name Shepherd has been associated with Braidwood for almost 100 years.  Away back in the dim distant past her father, the late Mr Donald McDonald worked on the gold diggings at Bell's Creek, when the whole district, and particularly Araluen were in the throes of a great gold rush.

The deceased was born at Reidsdale in May, 1869, being the only daughter of Donald and Margaret McDonald.  She with other members of  the family received her early education at the Reidsdale School, the teacher there being the late Mr Arkins.  Leaving the district the family migrated to the South Coast, Mr McDonald setting up a timber mill at Mogo. From there the deceased married the late Lynn Shepherd at Mogo, Moruya, the ceremony being performed by the late Fr. Cassidy. The couple came to the Braidwood district to live, settling about eight miles out of Braidwood off the Mongarlowe road in the vicinity of the piece known as Torp's Lane.  Later they shifted nearer to town to a home close to Sandy Creek, two miles from Braidwood, where they lived for some years.

This home was noted for it's hospitality, many a weary traveller having the occasion to remember a good meal and often a comfortable bed there.  From there the family moved to Belle Vue, on the Araluen road, where they were exceedingly popular with all sections of the community.  Their home was on the Araluen Road, the hill just beyond being known to this day as "Shepherd's Hill". 

Mrs Shepherd was indeed a fine type, possessing all the fine traits that distinguished our worthy pioneers.  Her husband passed awry some 21 years ago at Braidwood.  The two older boys went to World War I in the great fight for freedom.  In later years the old lady has been living in Sydney.

There were 11 children of the marriage, of whom 8 are still living.  She had 18 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.  The funeral from St Francis Church, Paddington, was largely attended, marking the respect and esteem in which the deceased lady was held.

  

Several of the sons are still in the Braidwood district, while a daughter, Mrs Norman Casey, resides in Sydney.  It will be remembered that her late husband worked for the late John Musgrave on the Braidwood "Dispatch" where he was foreman and later on manager, a capable, conscientious employee, possessed of considerable journalistic talent.