Hi Irene just some info for you. (Molly Kingwill (Lanigan) talking about how she went from Grant to Crooked river early 1900's) "One day my mother received a letter from her cousin to say that their uncle Mr John Nolan, of Crooked River wanted to see her. She sent dad down to Crooked river to see what he wanted. He requested that our family come down to the Crooked area to live with him on his farm until he died, and in return he would leave my mum his farm. Mum was quite elated, but dad was a bit doubtful. Uncle Johns offer was accepted though and the big pack up began. The Kingwill's were moving again! Everything was loaded onto pack horses and lots of people helped us shift down to the valley. My father thought to go into an old man's home with five young children, might be too much for the old man to suffer, but uncle John was such a dear old person and he soon came to love us all. He was a very old and even his mare would lean over for him so he could get on more easily. She too was getting weary. (she now talks about school days, the farm, what they grew stockmen, cattle, other families, (our old house the Culhanes) family outings etc..) One evening coming home from school, we were met by one of my little brothers who told us that mum had said to come home very quietly as dear old uncle John had died. To me this seemed really too much. I had just never thought of him dying, and for my parents it must have been a terrible ordeal. Dad had to go down to the paddock and catch a horse and then ride the eight miles to the little township of Talbotville to tell the people there that Uncle John had died. The owner of the store at Talbotville Mr Stout, was JP, undertaker and "jack of all trades". He prepared a coffin, and the news spread up and down the valley fairly quickly. Our mother started to prepare for a busy time. Her brother came to our house that evening and he would only talk in a whisper which made things very eerie. Mum must have been up all night as she made him a beautiful shroud out of some lovely cream material that she had in the house. I can remember the policeman from Dargo arriving to issue a death certificate. Uncle John was nearly ninety-five years old. The funeral day came, and dad had cut two saplings from the bush and striped them. He threaded them into two chaff bags to make a stretcher. Mum put a sheet and pillow case on the stretcher. This was set up in our main room. Dad and some other men carried Uncle John out of his room and placed him on the stretcher. Mum put the sheet up around him including a beautiful floral tribute that one of the neighbours had made. Dad got a large strap from the shed and made uncle John secure, as he had to be carried about eight miles to his last resting place at the Talbotville cemetery (she now talks about other events etc..) Then she is asked a question: How big was the house that thirteen of you lived in Molly? "Uncle John's house had three rooms when we arrived. There was Uncle John's bedroom and the bedroom that my parents used and they both opened onto a large living room with a big open fireplace, mum did all the cooking on this. There was no stove. Dad built two more rooms for us children, and we had a verandah out the front. The original house was from hand hewn slabs. (she now talks about how they survived with home made soap, candles, salted beef, etc.. What about old people Molly? "They were all looked after in the family home. It was just the way things were done. They were a part of the family. Our Uncle john was a wonderful part of our lives. There was no old people's homes about in those days. Will send a photo of Uncle John Nolan and the house by private e-mail Kerry ----- Original Message ----- From: "Irene R" <ivrbjr@bigpond.net.au> To: <AUS-VIC-HIGH-COUNTRY-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Saturday, August 07, 2004 8:27 AM Subject: Re: [HC] Has List departed? Hi Denise That's a relief. I was just about to have withdrawal symptoms! Regards Irene -------Original Message------- From: AUS-VIC-HIGH-COUNTRY-L@rootsweb.com Date: 08/07/04 08:10:26 To: AUS-VIC-HIGH-COUNTRY-L@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [HC] Has List departed? Hi Irene you came thru OK Denise

Thanks very much, Kerry. This helps put a little more flesh on the bones. I have no-one left to ask about things. I will print this and add it to the Family History notes. Regards Irene R -------Original Message------- From: AUS-VIC-HIGH-COUNTRY-L@rootsweb.com Date: 08/08/04 16:30:06 To: AUS-VIC-HIGH-COUNTRY-L@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [HC] Irene the Nolans Hi Irene just some info for you.