Catherine Belford
1833-1914
Born: Brechin, Angus, Scotland
Died: Main Street Mittagong,,New South Wales,Australia
1833-1914
Born: Brechin, Angus, Scotland
Died: Main Street Mittagong,,New South Wales,Australia
<p>During the divorce proceedings between his mother and father Roy, his brother and sisters, lived with their mother at Sophia's parents residence in the Registrar General's Building in Elizabeth Street, Sydney. This building is now part of a court complex. They attended the Castlereagh Street School, which was located between Phillip and Market Streets. In October 1892 Lillie Christison was one signatory to a petition requesting that a teacher Miss Hamilton be allowed 'to remain at our school as there has been a great improvement in our school since Miss Hamilton came here'. (Government records show that the school was in poor repair and required constant maintenance) (Archives Office of NSW 5/15336.1 Castlereagh Street School).</p><p>One afternoon Roy and his brother David were met at the school gates by their father. He took them to the Sydney Railway Station (Devonshire Street) and they caught a train to Mittagong. They were taken to John's parents' (David and Catherine Christison) home. Roy recalled in later life how miserable and dejected he felt as he alighted from the train at Mittagong Railway Station. (This story was told to me by my father Keith Hampton Christison - son of Roy.)</p><p>A court order was issued by Justice Windeyer for the return of the boys to their mother. Justice Windeyer's notebook contains the following:</p><p><em>CHRISTISON v. CHRISTISON Application for custody of children. I give the wife custody of the four children and order .... (illegible) to return the two David Belford and Roy Hampton to ..... (illegible) at parents residence at Mittagong.</em> (State Archives NSW 2/7449 Notebook Justice Windeyer No.37 p.41)</p>
<p><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:DocumentProperties> <o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template> <o:Revision>0</o:Revision> <o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime> <o:Pages>1</o:Pages> <o:Words>110</o:Words> <o:Characters>630</o:Characters> <o:Company>High Ground Consulting</o:Company> <o:Lines>5</o:Lines> <o:Paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs> <o:CharactersWithSpaces>773</o:CharactersWithSpaces> <o:Version>12.0</o:Version> </o:DocumentProperties> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0cm; mso-para-margin-right:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0cm; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-ansi-language:EN-US;} </style> <![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--></p> <p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-pagination: none; tab-ss: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 252.0pt 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: courier; color: black;">"Another </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: courier; color: black;">old identity of the district has passed away in </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: courier; color: black;">the </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: courier; color: black;">person of Mr.</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: courier; color: black;"> David Christison senr.</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: courier; color: black;">who died </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: courier; color: black;">at </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: courier; color: black;">Mittagong </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 7.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: courier; color: black;">on </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: courier; color: black;">Saturday </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: courier; color: black;">last at </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: courier; color: black;">the age </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: courier; color: black;">of </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: courier; color: black;">78 </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: courier; color: black;">years. </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: courier; color: black;">The </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: courier; color: black;">deceased was the father </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: courier; color: black;">of Mrs. </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: courier; color: black;">Jessie </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: courier; color: black;">Hyndes, </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: courier; color: black;">father-in-law </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: courier; color: black;">of </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: courier; color: black;">Mr. </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: courier; color: black;">W. </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: courier; color: black;">M. </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: courier; color: black;">Hyndes, </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: courier; color: black;">and </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: courier; color: black;">grandfather </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: courier; color: black;">of </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: courier; color: black;">George, </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: courier; color: black;">Roy. </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: courier; color: black;">Eric, </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: courier; color: black;">David </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 7.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: courier; color: black;">Bel</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: courier; color: black;">ford, </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: courier; color: black;">and </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: courier; color: black;">Leboy </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: courier; color: black;">Hyndes. </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: courier; color: black;">About </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 7.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: courier; color: black;">a </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: courier; color: black;">fortnight </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: courier; color: black;">ago </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: courier; color: black;">the </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: courier; color: black;">deceased </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 7.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: courier; color: black;">was </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: courier; color: black;">seized </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: courier; color: black;">with </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: courier; color: black;">apoplexy, and received every attention from Doctor Middleton. He came </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: courier; color: black;">to </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: courier; color: black;">this </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: courier; color: black;">State about </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: courier; color: black;">20 years </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: courier; color: black;">ago, </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: courier; color: black;">and </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 7.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: courier; color: black;">was </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: courier; color: black;">for </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 7.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: courier; color: black;">a </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: courier; color: black;">number of years </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: courier; color: black;">lamplighter </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: courier; color: black;">to </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: courier; color: black;">the </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: courier; color: black;">Mittagong council. He leaves a widow and two sons and three daughters. The </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: courier; color: black;">funeral took place </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 7.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: courier; color: black;">on </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: courier; color: black;">Sunday, </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: courier; color: black;">and the remains were</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: courier; color: black;">interred </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: courier; color: black;">in </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: courier; color: black;">the Presbyterian portion </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: courier; color: black;">of the Fitzroy cemetery, where the Rev. </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 7.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: courier; color: black;">J. </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: courier; color: black;">J. </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: courier; color: black;">Gilmore </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: courier; color: black;">rend the </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: courier; color: black;">burial service." Bowral Free Press 15 November 1905</span></p> <p><!--EndFragment--></p>
<p>This is a transcript of the article that was published in the Mittagong Free Press on 28 April 1914 relating to the death of Catherine Christison (nee Belford).</p><p><em>Mrs Christison, relict of the late Mr David Christison, Senr., passed away at her rest at Mittagong on Friday evening last. The deceased, who was 81 years of age, was a native of Scotland and came to this State on company with her husband and family in the S.S. Florida about thirty years ago. She was a certificated nurse, and the doctor, appreciating her ability, gave her the appointment of nurse on the ship. After settling for a time in the Hunter River district, Mr and Mrs Christison and family came to Joadja, and afterwards took up residence in Mittagong, where Mrs Christison has practised nursing for the past twenty five years. She was a lady possessed of wonderful vitality, and her brightness, ability, and kndness endeared her to many homes she visited. She was also of an exceedingly kind and charitable disposition, and on many occasions attended those in poor circumstances without fee or reward; whilst, as a matter of fact, she financially assisted her less fortunate human beings as far as her means permitted. The late Mrs Christison was a member of the Presbyterian Church, at which she was a constant attendant, and also a liberal supporter. She leaves a family of two sons (Messrs. John and Alexander Christison, of Sydney), and two daughters (Mrs Wm. Hyndes and Miss Lizzie Christison, of Mittagong); also thirteen grandchildren. The funeral took place on Sunday afternoon, and was very largely attended by people from all parts of the district, while the girl pupils of St. Joseph's Convent School paid their last tribute of respect to the deceased by marching in a body with the cortege. The Rev. J.H. Craig conducted the funeral service, and spoke in eloquent terms of the worth of the deceased, remarking that even in Moss Vale she was affectionately spoken of as a sunbeam in every home she entered. The remains were laid to rest in the Presbyterian portion of the Fitzroy cemetery, the funeral arrangements being carried out by Messrs. Roberts and Lippiatt. Many floral tributes and cards and telegrams of sympathy were received.</em></p>
<p>The following article was published in the Mittagong Free Press on 28 April 1914:</p><p>MEMORIAL SERVICE</p><p><em>The usual morning worship at the Mittagong Presbyterian Church on Sunday 26th inst. took the form of an "In Memoriam" service for the late Mrs Christison, widow of Mr David Christison, senr., both of whom had for a great number of years been members of the church. In the absence of the Minister in New Zealand, Mr. K.F. Partridge, BA of St Andrew's College, Sydney University, conducted the first portion of the service, after which Mr W.S. Parkinson followed, and in the course of a suitable appreciation of the deceased paid an eloquent tribute to the work and worth of Mrs Christison, who had been the oldest member of their congregation. The speaker, in alluding to the close friendship that had existed between the deceased and himself for a great length of time, mentioned that they had many things in common, enjoyed a perfect understanding one with the other, and spoke of their unity of belief in things spiritual and unseen. The members of the deceased's family who were present were told that they would be comforted in a measure by the knowledge they had that their mother had gained the love and esteem of a very large circle of friends, and they would be still further comforted when they remembered that their mother's useful, self-sacrificing, yet bright and cheerful life, although ended on earth, was, even now, being lived in perfection, ageless and endless. In closing, Mr Parkinson referred to the loyalty and thoughtfulness of the deceased for her friends - and these numbered many in every social walk in life. The church was sutiably draped in black, and hymns befitting the occasion were sung, the psalm being the 23rd, a favourite of the deceased. After the pronouncement of the benediction, Miss Eager, the hon organist, played the "Dead March", the congregation meantime standing.</em></p>