Matilda (Mitchell) Sonter (1832 - 1913)

Born 28 Jul 1832 in Portland Heads, New South Wales, Australia

Ancestors

Wife of John Eyles — married 31 Dec 1851 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Wife of Edward (Saunter) Sonter — married 18 May 1881 in Lismore, New South Wales, Australia

Descendants

Died 11 Apr 1913 at age 80 in Ballina, New South Wales, Australia

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Biography

She was the daughter of Michael Malcolm Morgan Mitchell, an early settler into New South Wales, and his wife Jane Grono.

Matilda was born in Portland Heads, New South Wales, on 28 Jul 1832 ^[1].

Matilda married John Eyles, as his second wife, in Sydney on 31 December 1851 ^[2] .

John, likely under influence of his brother Joseph, became involved in cedar getting around the Ballina area. He selected land at South Ballina and was involved in beach gold mining. They travelled to the region with Edward Sonter who was married to Matilda's sister, Sarah. The families remained close friends.

Their children were Alexander John Eyles, George Eyles, William Eyles, James Eyles, Reuben Eyles, John Thomas Eyles and Charles Eyles.

John drowned on 27 July 1878 at Fishery Creek, near Ballina, Northern New South Wales, Australia^[3].

Three years later Matilda married Edward Sonter, an early settler in the Northern rivers region of New South Wales, the widower of her sister Sarah on married 18 May 1881 at Lismore, New South Wales, Australia ^[4].

Matilda died at Ballina, New South Wales, Australia on 11 April 1913 and is remembered, as Matilda Sonter, at Ballina Pioneer Cemetery and Edward died soon after on 6 September 1913^[5].

Richmond River Herald and Northern Districts Advertiser (NSW : 1886 - 1942), Tuesday 15 April 1913. ^[6] Mrs. Edward Sonter, of Keith Hall, passed away in Ballina Hospital on Friday last, aged 79 years. The cause of death was mortification following on a severely burnt foot, which caused intense suffering. The deceased lady was twice married - firstly to the late Mr. Eyles (by whom she leaves a family of seven sons), and 28 years ago she was wedded to Mr. Sonter. There was no issue of this marriage. Deceased came to the Richmond with her first husband in the early cedar-getting days, over 50 years ago, and had witnessed great changes on the Richmond.

Research Notes

For research specific to the families descended from the convict Joseph Eyles (Isles) and his wife Elizabeth Smith and their respective families, including this person, it is best to include the excellent site generated by Marion Purnell in your research.

Links

• [http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=221102&id=I397
• Rootsweb][1]
• [2]
• Michael Mitchell
• https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/KC2H-6CN

Children

1. Alexander John Eyles Alexander John Eyles, b. 1852.
   NSW BDM Index search for Eyles; Alexander 1852
2. George, b. 1854.
   NSW BDM Index search for Eyles; George 1854
   George married Sarah Thompson at Ballina in 1878. He died in Ballina in 1897.
3. William, b. 1857.
   NSW BDM Index search for Eyles; William 1857
4. James, b. 1858.
   NSW BDM Index search for Eyles; James 1858
   James died at Ballina in 1923.
5. Reuben, b. 6 Feb 1860.
   "Australia, Births and Baptisms, 1792-1981," index, FamilySearch, Reuben Eyles, 18 Jul 1860; citing Ballina.
   Seems to be the Reuben Eyles married Mary Ann Matilda Marsden, abt. 1886, Lismore.
   Family details are currently noticed on this site - Mid North Coast Pioneers
   11 Children.
   Died 1913, NSW BDM Ballina, New South Wales.
6. John Thomas Eyles John Thomas Eyles, b. 28 Sep 1862, Ballina, New South Wales.
   "Australia, Births and Baptisms, 1792-1981," index, FamilySearch, John Thomas Eyles, 22 May 1863; citing Ballina.
   Likely same married Olive Sheather 1890.
   NSW BDM Marriage Eyles/Sheather 1890
7. Charles, b. 20 Nov 1863, Ballina, New South Wales.
   "Australia, Births and Baptisms, 1792-1981," index, FamilySearch Charles Eyles, 15 May 1864; citing Ballina.

Sources

1. ↑ New South Wales Australia Births: Name: MITCHELL, MATILDA - Registration number: 53/1832 V183253 162A Father's Given name(s): MALCOLM Mother's Given name(s): JANE
2. ↑ New South Wales Australia Marriages: Registration number: 143/1851 V1851143 85 Groom's Family Name: EYLES Groom's Given Name(s): JOHN Bride's Family Name(s): MITCHELL Bride's Given Name(s): MATILDA District: IA = Sydeny Wesleyan
3. ↑ New South Wales Australia Deaths: Name: EYLES JOHN Registration number: 9337/1878 Father's Given Name(s): AGE 64 YEARS Mother's Given Name(s): DIED BALLINA District: RICHMOND RIVER
4. ↑ New South Wales Australia Marriages: Registration number: 5813/1881 Groom's Family Name: SONTER Groom's Given Name(s): EDWARD Bride's Family Name(s): EYLES Bride's Given Name(s): MATILDA District: LISMORE
5. ↑ This Record fits the time and place of death but the parents are incorrect: New South Wales Australia Deaths: Name: SONTER MATILDA Registration number: 6213/1913 Father's Given Name(s): JAMES Mother's Given Name(s): ELIZABETH District: BALLINA
6. ↑ http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/127691975