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The History of Mrs Mary Wakefield

formerly...
Mrs Mary Blair,
Miss Mary Pegg

see also.. Births Deaths Marriages
 
 
This story was related by Eveline (Tilly) Drumbrell of Balmain
circa 1920 or earlier (daughter of Mary and John Blair) to
Percy George Walter Linsdell 1899-1976.
 
The notes for this story by Percy Linsdell were collated and
typed up by Heather May Blair Marriott nee Linsdell (his daughter)
after his passing and again retyped in 2025 by Heather Marriott’s
son Jeffrey Marriott (after her passing).
 
Note: There were a few re-types which now are all in one document.
 
Percy George Walter Linsdell’s wife was
Florence Maud Harriet Richards 1895-1980.
Mrs Mary Wakefield was the grand mother of
Florence Maud Harriet Richards (Linsdell)
Florence Maud Harriet Richards (Linsdell) father was
Sydney Richards and mother was Emma Amelia Blair.
 
The story begins with the Pegg Family……
 
Mr and Mrs Pegg and family arrived in the colony (Australia)
by the ship ‘William Metcalfe’ (? also known as the ‘William Mitcalf’ ?)
of 447 tonnage. The master of the ship was Captain Edward Philipson
which left London for Port Jackson on the 7th June 1845, it
arrived at Port Jackson on October 2nd 1845 at Sydney Australia.
 
Mr and Mrs Pegg and family consisting of 4 sons and two daughters
Ann and Mary, after residing in Sydney for 2-3 weeks
the father obtained employment for himself and family on a
station then called ‘Nimbodia’ (? Nymboida ?)
22 miles from the township on the Clarence river
in New South Wales.
 
The only way Mr and Mrs Pegg had in getting to the Clarence River
was by Bullock team and lorry. They left by road in the Bullock team
and lorry and travelled until they reached a spot near
Wiseman’s Ferry (Hawkesbury River)(? St Albans ?).
The family including Mrs Pegg sons and Ann and Mary
got on top of the lorry or wagon her husband then swam the Bullock
team across the river (Hawkesbury River).
The four sons, and Ann and Mary were the first white children
to come to the Clarence this way passing St Alban’s
(a town to the north of Wiseman’s Ferry).
 
After being on the station with their employer Mr Gregory Blaxland
for 9 months the father, Mr Pegg was accidentally drowned.
 
After the death of the father Mrs Pegg and family still remained
on the station for two years. During that time Miss Mary was married
to the overseer of the station, Mr John Blair (1847).
 
By this time Mr Blaxland had found that his run was too small for his stock
therefore he determined to travel and seek for new country taking Mrs Pegg
and all the family with him.
 
After travelling for over 9 months he came on the Burnett River
and formed Gin Gin station in 1848.
 
Just before reaching the Burnett Mrs Pegg met with a severe accident,
one of the drays she was riding on was upset in Baramba (? Barambah ?) Creek
(close to Gayndah) which caused Mrs Pegg to be left behind in the care of
Mrs Pegg’s oldest daughter Anne to look after her mother.
 
Two months after GinGin (Gingin Station) was formed
Mrs Blairs two oldest brothers were murdered by the blacks (Aborigines)
Peter Henry and John and at that time Mrs Blair was only by herself on the station.
The men folk were out mustering etc.
 
Blaxland took revenge on the blacks by forming an armed party
later known as the ‘Cedars Massacre’
 
Some 8 or 9 months after the death of her brothers her employer
Mr Gregory Blaxland was murdered by the blacks in retaliation
for the ‘Cedars Massacre’ (when Blaxland took revenge for the Pegg murders)
 
Two children were born at Gingin – John Blair and Mary Ann (Polly) Blair
 
Some time later than 1856 Mary and John Blair left the district as
the station fell into the hands of Mr Arthur Brown and his brother.
 
Mr and Mrs Blair still remained on the station for about 2 years longer
and then they left and went to Maryborough to reside.

 
Mrs Mary was the first white woman in Maryborough.
 
After being there for some time Mr Blair fell of his horse
rounding up cattle and was found dead at Tin Can Bay. (? 17th Sep 1877 ?)
 
Shortly after Mrs Mary Blair came with her family to Bundaberg
to be close to her remaining brothers. Later on Mrs Blair
after the arrival in Bundaberg kept a large boarding house
at North Bundaberg.
 
Sometime later Mary married Mr Charles Heeney (? Heney) 1877–1883 Charles Heney died.
 
Mary’s third marriage was to Mr William Wakefield. Married 29th April 1896
 
Mr Wakefield died a few years after (? 8th Sep 1915 ?)
his marriage to Mrs Mary Blair (now Wakefield) and
Mrs Wakefield died (? 19th April 1898 ?) a few years after
and their remains are buried beneath a large head stone in the
Bundaberg Cemetery (? Bundaberg General Cemetery, Sect A2, #P262 [9-9-15] ?)
 
Notes.. From Jeff Marriott
Where you see (? something ?) it reflects a date or comment found from research.
 •  Where it stated some conflicting research but obviously typos from that time
and others using a married name other than a birth name.
 •  One source says one thing another differs.
 •  Sarah Jane Hudson 1810-1864 wife of Peter Pegg
Sarah Jane Sutton 1810-1864 wife of Peter Pegg
Daughter Mary Pegg 1833-1898
Married ‘Heeney’ he died
Married ‘Wakefield’
Mary Wakefield Died 1898
 
Regarding St Albans NSW for travellers heading north…
Early settlers traveling north from St. Albans, NSW,.
This road provided a vital link between Sydney and the
Hunter Valley, with St. Albans becoming a significant
stopover point. The village itself was surveyed in 1837
and officially named in 1841, situated in the Macdonald Valley,
north of Wisemans Ferry.
 •  The Great North Road:
This road, also known as the Convict Trail, was crucial for early
settlers moving north from Sydney. It allowed for the transportation
of goods, livestock, and people to the fertile Hunter Valley region.
 •  St. Albans as a Stopover:
St. Albans, located in the Macdonald Valley, was a natural
stopping point for travelers heading north on the Great North Road.
The Settlers Arms Inn, established in 1836, served as a rest stop
for Cobb and Co. stagecoaches and other travelers.
 •  Early Settlement:
While the village was surveyed in 1837,
it was not officially named St. Albans until 1841.
The area had been settled earlier, with the Macdonald Valley
being an important agricultural region.
 •  Alternative Routes:
While the Great North Road was the main route, other options included
traveling by boat to Wisemans Ferry and then overland, or
using the Webb's Creek Ferry and then the largely unsealed route
to St. Albans.

Note.. from Heather Marriott nee Linsdell

My father Percy Linsdell went to school with the Wakefield family in Bundaberg

Heather May Blair Marriott (nee linsdell)


Note.. Coming soon linking to the Richards Family