A Family Tragedy by John Freesmith
In those early days, when contagious diseases such as diphtheria and whooping cough were common, and medical help distant, and only available as fast as a horse could gallop, few families were reared to adulthood without bereavements. The irony was that none of Mark and Maria’s children died from contagious diseases, though their infant son, Joseph, was to die in tragic circumstances.
Joseph Hayes, who was born on 13 November 1863, was accidentally drowned in a water hole in a paddock close to the house, on 28 September, 1866. Our knowledge of this incident comes from the McIvor Times[1] which drew upon information provided by Mark, Maria and their eldest son, George Hayes, in the Magisterial Inquiry held on Tuesday 1 October, 1866.
On the ill fated day, Saturday 28th September, 1866, Mark had gone into Heathcote, presumably to get supplies, leaving Maria and their children at home. Some three months earlier, on 21 June 1866, Maria had given birth to her second last child, Alfred, so she would understandably have been very preoccupied, tending to the needs of her new baby.
Maria told the magisterial enquiry that she last saw Joseph at about two o’clock in the afternoon and did not look for him until about half past four. She had thought Joseph was with the other children, and they in turn had thought that he was with their mother. When Maria became aware that Joseph was missing she started to search for him. Maria found George digging in the garden and asked him if Joseph was with him. George told her Joseph was not with him, and according to George’s evidence, his mother became alarmed and called his attention to the water hole where the children had been playing. George said that there had been scum on the water but he saw it had been disturbed. Maria asked George to try the hole which he did with a stick. At his second attempt, George brought Joseph’s body to the surface and took it out of the hole and laid it on the grass. It would appear that the body could have been in the water hole for quite some time before it was discovered. Maria took the body up to the kitchen, undressed and bathed him with warm water, and rubbed his body for an hour or more, to try and restore animation.
George had the unfortunate task of meeting his father, Mark, as he was returning from Heathcote, and informing him that Joseph had drowned in a water hole near their house. Mark proceeded to his home where found Joseph dead on the kitchen table.
The Magisterial Inquiry, held on Tuesday 1 October 1866, recorded a verdict of death through drowning.
Within three generations the true circumstances surrounding Joseph’s death has been conveniently forgotten or subconsciously suppressed. The story handed down in the family was that Joseph had been drowned in a flash flood near Leicester House. Maria would no doubt have been tormented with regret over this tragic accident which would have likely played on her mind until her dying day.
[1] McIvor Times 5 October 1866
In those early days, when contagious diseases such as diphtheria and whooping cough were common, and medical help distant, and only available as fast as a horse could gallop, few families were reared to adulthood without bereavements. The irony was that none of Mark and Maria’s children died from contagious diseases, though their infant son, Joseph, was to die in tragic circumstances.
Joseph Hayes, who was born on 13 November 1863, was accidentally drowned in a water hole in a paddock close to the house, on 28 September, 1866. Our knowledge of this incident comes from the McIvor Times[1] which drew upon information provided by Mark, Maria and their eldest son, George Hayes, in the Magisterial Inquiry held on Tuesday 1 October, 1866.
On the ill fated day, Saturday 28th September, 1866, Mark had gone into Heathcote, presumably to get supplies, leaving Maria and their children at home. Some three months earlier, on 21 June 1866, Maria had given birth to her second last child, Alfred, so she would understandably have been very preoccupied, tending to the needs of her new baby.
Maria told the magisterial enquiry that she last saw Joseph at about two o’clock in the afternoon and did not look for him until about half past four. She had thought Joseph was with the other children, and they in turn had thought that he was with their mother. When Maria became aware that Joseph was missing she started to search for him. Maria found George digging in the garden and asked him if Joseph was with him. George told her Joseph was not with him, and according to George’s evidence, his mother became alarmed and called his attention to the water hole where the children had been playing. George said that there had been scum on the water but he saw it had been disturbed. Maria asked George to try the hole which he did with a stick. At his second attempt, George brought Joseph’s body to the surface and took it out of the hole and laid it on the grass. It would appear that the body could have been in the water hole for quite some time before it was discovered. Maria took the body up to the kitchen, undressed and bathed him with warm water, and rubbed his body for an hour or more, to try and restore animation.
George had the unfortunate task of meeting his father, Mark, as he was returning from Heathcote, and informing him that Joseph had drowned in a water hole near their house. Mark proceeded to his home where found Joseph dead on the kitchen table.
The Magisterial Inquiry, held on Tuesday 1 October 1866, recorded a verdict of death through drowning.
Within three generations the true circumstances surrounding Joseph’s death has been conveniently forgotten or subconsciously suppressed. The story handed down in the family was that Joseph had been drowned in a flash flood near Leicester House. Maria would no doubt have been tormented with regret over this tragic accident which would have likely played on her mind until her dying day.
[1] McIvor Times 5 October 1866