Mary Lucille (Burrows) Reilly (1835 - 1902)

Born 3 Jun 1835 in Perth, Western Australia, Australia

Wife of Joseph Thomas Reilly — married 10 Apr 1855 in Perth, Western Australia, Australia

Descendants

Died 18 Nov 1902 at age 67 in Northam, Western Australia, Australia

Biography

Mary was born on 3 June 1835 in Perth, Western Australia.^[1] She was the daughter of Charles Norcott and Rachel Burrows.

Her parents were unmarried and she was adopted by Mrs. Charles Boyd.^[2]

She married Joseph Thomas Reilly on 10 April 1855 in Perth.^[3]

Northam Advertiser (WA : 1895 - 1955), Wednesday 10 December 1902, page 3
The subject of this brief memoir, Mary Lucille Reilly, who died at her private residence, Gordon Street, Northam, on Tuesday, 18th November, 1902, was born in the City of Perth in a small tenemeut, which was at one time to be found near Victoria Square, on the 3rd June, 1835. The primitive condition of Perth (now a large city) in the thirties can be fully realised, and the trials and vicissitudes which the early settlers had to patiently endure fully and duly appreciated.

At a very early age Mary Lucille was taken charge of by the wife of Capt. Picken, who lived on the Helena, with whom the deceased's mother (Rachael) came to this colony in the year 1832. The venerable and esteemed Mr. Walter Padbury, of Perth, has a clear recollection of those early days, and in a letter of con dolence, writes thus : — 404 St. George's Terrace, Perth, November 21, 1902. Dear Mr. Reilly, — I am very sorry to hear of the death of your poor wife. I've known her siucc she was a child. Her mother came out in the early days of the colony with Capt. and Mrs. Picken, who lived on the Helena. With kind regards to yourself and family, I am, yours truly, Walter Padbury.

Mrs. Picken looked after Mary Lucille in her days of childhood, and bestowed upon her a mother's care, making her her constant companion. Mrs. Picken was a devout member of the Church of England, and it was by reading the Bible morning, noon and night that Mary Lucille not only learned her alphabet, but also learned to read, and read correctly.

In thc year 1848 Bishop Brady (the first Bishop of Perth) and a number of Sisters of Mercy arrived in Perth from Ireland, and, subsequently, opening a school, had the satisfaction of having it attended by a large number of pupils whose parents were most anxious to avail themselves of such a long-desired opportunity of giving their children a first-class education. Among the pupils Mary Lucille was numbered, and her attention to her studies won for her the esteem of the good Sisters, and, eventually at her own urgent request, she was received at her own urgent request, she was received into the Catholic Church in the year 1849, at the age of fourteen years.

According to her school memorandum book, Mary Lucille was invested in the Order of the Scapular of the B.V. M. on the 26th March, 1849. This book contains the rules to be observed— written by her-elf— and among them may be mentioned : " To attend Mass regularly, or when possible ; to go to confession and receive Holy Communion on the principal festivals ; to be obedient and respectful to parents and superiors : to be kind to every one : to visit the sick when permitted; to avoid bad company ; to always assist the poor when possible ; and to do everything with the intention of pleasing God." As the necessity for providing education for the increased number of children who were in Fremantle, in the year 1851, became urgent and pressing, at the request of the Right Rev. Dr. Serra, Mary Lucille took charge of a school which was opened in that town, and for several vears discharged the arduous duties of a school mistress.

In the year 1854, as it was intimated to Mary Lucille that the Right Rev. Dr. Serra was bringing to the colony a com munity of French Nuns of the Order of St. Joseph (the Sisters arrived in Fremantle in 1855), she relinquished her position of school mistress, and returning to Perth, commenced business (in conjunction with Mrs. Thompson) as a milliner and dress maker. The capital was derived from the sale of sheep, in the Toodyay district, which had been left to her by her father for her education and training, and the business being successful, Mary Lucille found herself in the possession of a respect able sum of money, which she guarded carefully with a view to the future.^[4]

Sources

1. ↑ "Australia Births and Baptisms, 1792-1981", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XTC1-B8D : 28 January 2020), Mary Lucille Burrows, 1836.
2. ↑ The Bicentennial dictionary of Western Australians, pre-1829-1888. [compiled by Rica Erickson], https://www.friendsofbattyelibrary.org.au/bicentennial-dictionary
3. ↑ WA Marriage Index 1855/812 (as Barrows)
4. ↑ https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/211862454