A Mothers Despair – grave tales

While recently researching the lives of those buried in the Peak Hill Cemetery, I came across this very sad and tragic story. Catherine and George Howard had married in 1895 and, up to the time of her death in 1908, Catherine and George had six children.

Children: George Charles born 1896, George James born 1898, John Henry Howard born 1900, Nellie born 1901, Mabel born 1903 & Ethel Augustus born 1906.

Of these children, her firstborn George Charles died in the same year as the birth of her second child George James. John Henry was also to die in 1901, both boys died from Croup. George James, Nellie, and Mable would survive to adulthood and Ethel, the last born, was to die at her mother’s hand. All of the children except the first and the last child were born in Peak Hill.

I wonder what became of the other children after losing their mother and sister in such a terrible way. George didn’t remarry, maybe the children were sent to relatives. They were aged 10, 7, and 5. Sometimes, in these cases, they were placed in a children’s home or a boarding school if the father couldn’t care for them. All three seemed to remain in WA and George James stayed in Peak Hill.

HOWARD Catherine Frances nee MCCOOE, d 13 Feb 1908, Cause: Suicide by drowning, Father: Francis MCCOO, Mother: Mary Agnes CRANEY, Born: 17th May 1876 in Carlton Victoria, She married George HOWARD, in Mingenew WA in Oct 1895, Reg:- Peak Hill 1/1908, Buried Peak Hill Cemetery,

Murchison Times and Day Dawn Gazette: 22 February 1908,  At the inquest touching the death of Mrs. Howard and child, held by the  Coroner, C. U. Bagot. The evidence of the medical officer (Dr. McNaughton) went to show that the deceased had taken strychnine, and had died from suffocation, while the child had died from drowning. The jury returned a verdict that Mrs. Howard had taken strychnine and got into the tank of water and died of suffocation, who at the time was of unsound mind and the child Ethel Howard, 2 years of age, through drowning by the hands of the mother in 2 feet of water.

HOWARD Ethel Augustus, age 2 yrs, Infant child of Catherine and George  HOWARD, Born Geraldton WA, Reg: 2/1908

Murchison Times and Day Dawn Gazette 13 February 1908.

The grave of the mother and child is unmarked.

POSTSCRIPT: I was sent this article which was found by John Pritchard, which tells a bit about the surviving family:-

Magnet Mirror and Murchison Reflector 21 March 1929

On Saturday last there passed away an old identity in the person of Mr. George Howard, who arrived there in 1895 in the heyday of its gold mining career, coming overland from the Kimberleys, where he was first attracted by the Kimberley gold rush. At Peak Hill he followed the occupation of a teamster and general contractor and took up land, and occasionally dabbled in prospecting.
About 10 years, ago he practically retired after a strenuous life and went to Perth to live, but recently the ‘call of the bush’ came upon him, and he returned, but general weakness overcame him and he was taken to the Meekatharra Hospital, where he peacefully passed away. The late Mr. Howard was born in Castlemaine, Victoria 72 years ago, and leaves a grown-up family in the persons of Mr James Howard (of Peak Hill), and Mesdames Carter and Wright (of Meekatharra) to mourn their loss; his wife having pre deceased him some 20 years ago. (he is now buried in the Meekathrra Cemetery). George’s son George James Howard married Rose Levells at Peak Hill in 1920.

George Howard – Meekatharra Cemetery – Photo Find a Grave.

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Moya Sharp

Owner at Outback Family History

My name is Moya Sharp, I live in Kalgoorlie Western Australia and have worked most of my adult life in the history/museum industry. I have been passionate about history for as long as I can remember and in particular the history of my adopted home the Eastern Goldfields of Western Australia. Through my website I am committed to providing as many records and photographs free to any one who is interested in the family and local history of the region.

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