Emma Eliza (Jarrett) Best (1852 - 1942)

Born 1852 in New South Wales, Australia

Ancestors

Wife of Samuel Best — married 1 Oct 1875 in Grafton, New South Wales, Australia

Died 1942 at about age 90 in Bellingen, New South Wales, Australia

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Katrina Weekes [send private message]

Biography

EMMA ELIZA JARRETT WAS BORN IN 1852. SHE MARRIED HER COUSIN SAMUEL BEST, her aunt Maria's son, in GOSFORD, NSW IN OCTOBER OF 1875. THE PAIR RAISED A LARGE FAMILY ON THEIR BELLINGEN FARM.

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EMMA JARRETT BEST's, SON ROLAND HECTOR BEST, WAS BORN IN BELLINGEN and he ENLISTED IN THE ARMED FORCES IN 1916 IN NSW, AUSTRALIA. HE IS DISCRIBED AS BEING 28 YEARS AND 9 MONTHS OF AGE ON HIS ATTESTATION PAPER.

ROLAND HECTOR BEST...WAR SERVICE RECORDS....FROM NAA-[1]

ROLAND BEST IS 5FT AND 3/4 INCHES TALL. HAS GREY EYES, BROWN HAIR AND A FAIR COMPLEXION. HIS OCCUPATION IS LABOURER AND HE STATES THAT HE HAS ALREADY SERVED 5 WEEKS IN THE 7TH LIGHT HORSE.

HE IS LISTED AS SINGLE AT FIRST AND HIS FATHER, SAMUEL BEST OF BELLINGEN IS LISTED AS HIS NEXT OF KIN. ☆THIS NOK ENTRY IS LATER CHANGED TO NEXT OF KIN NOW ROLAND'S WIFE, FLORENCE BEST NEE HAMMOND, OF COFFS HARBOUR, NSW, AUSTRALIA.

ROLAND HECTOR BEST IS SENT OVERSEAS AND FIGHTS IN FRANCE WHERE HE IS ADMITTED TO HOSPITAL SICK WITH INFLUENZA BEFORE REJOINING HIS UNIT IN THE FIELD.

IN THE FIELD IN 1917 ROLAND IS WOUNDED, RECIEVING A SEVERE GUN SHOT WOUND TO HIS RIGHT SHOULDER.

HE LATER RETURNS TO HIS UNIT IN THE FIELDS OF FRANCE WHERE HE BECOMES VERY ILL IN 1918 AND IS SENT TO IENGLAND WHERE PASSES AWAY IN 1919 OF INFLUENZA

HIS FAMILY IS INFORMED THAT ROLAND HECTOR BEST WAS BURIED WITH FULL MILITARY HONORS IN ENGLAND. SMALL COMFORT FOR HIS POOR GRIEVING MOTHER, EMMA BEST, AND HIS YOUNG WIDOW FAR FAR AWAY BACK HOME IN AUSTRALIA.

LEST WE FORGET

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IN AUGUST, 1938 EMMA JARRETT WOOD'S HUSBAND/ COUSIN, SAMUEL BEST DIED IN BELLINGEN RIVER DISTRICT, NSW.

26 th AUGUST, 1938. THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD NSW-[2]

DEATH OF NORTH COAST PIONEER.

BELLINGEN, Thursday.

The death has occurred at the Bellinger River District Hospital, at the age of 92, of Mr. Samuel Best, one of the district's oldest residents and a pioneer of the Bellinger River.

Mr. Best is survived by his widow (formerly Miss Emma Jarrett, a member of one of the First families to settle on the Bellinger), two sons, and two daughters. He was a son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Best, was born in Gosford, and lived with his parents in that locality until he was 22 years of age. The family moved to the Bellinger River and established a home in the almost virgin south arm district. At that time there were only three settlers' huts where Bellingen now stands. The family selected an area of land In the area now known as Sunny Comer, which has remained with the family for 70 years.

25 th AUGUST, 1938. THE DAILY EXAMINER OF GRAFTON NSW.-[3]

Death Of Mr. Samuel Best AFTER 70 YEARS ON THE BELLINGEN

BELLINGEN, Wednesday.

The death occurred at the Bellinger River District Hospital of Mr. Samuel Best, aged 92, one of the district's oldest and mostly highly esteemed pioneers of early settlement. A large gathering attended the funeral, at which the last rites were conducted by Rev. P. F. Tilghman, of St. Margaret's Church of England, Bellingen.

The late Mr. Best, though not of big stature, was a man of remarkable physical ability and strength, and a hard worker right up to the time of his death.

The deceased is survived by his widow (formerly -Miss Emma Jarrett, also a member of one of the earliest pioneering families on the river), and two sons and two daughters. Three sons predeceased him, one 'paying' the supreme sacrifice at the Great War.

The late Mr. Best, who was a son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Best, was born at Gosford in 1846. and lived with his parents in that locality until he was 22 years of age. The family then moved north to the Bellingen River, where Mr. Best's father decided to establish a home in the then very little settled section of the South Arm district. When they arrived the only signs of habitation where Bellingen now stands were three settlers' huts, and the whole of the area was practically all dense standing scrub, containing much valuable cedar.

The family moved into the section of the South Arm, now known as Sunny Corner, and selected an area of land on which to grow maize and carry on farm work generally. Until such time as clearing could be effected, the soil tilled, and a crop harvested, other activities had to be carried on, and timber-getting was the ready source from which an income could be derived. TheSouth Arm contained considerable quantities of valuable cedar and this was cut by Mr. Best and his sons and rolled down or hauled by bullocks to the river's edge, where rafts were formed, and. flood waters were awaited to carry them downstream to the Bellingen Heads, where they were shipped to Sydney and other ports. To obtain rations from the Heads, members of the family had to row down and back by way of the river; and during flood periods this was a hazardous task.

When the, .'Best family first arrived aborigines were present in hundreds in the neighboring scrub lands, but they very rarely displayed any signs of hostility. A petty theft here andthere was not uncommon, but for the most part they allowed the white men to establish settlement unmolested. As time proceeded and the farm area came into production, more effort was concentrated on its development, and the area originally acquired has remained with the family now for 70 years. At various times the property was en larged by the purchase of adjoining areas, while a part of it has since been disposed of.

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IN 1939 EMMA ELIZA JARRETT BEST's sister, JANET/ JENNETT JARRETT, passes away.

IN THE NOTICE ANNOUNCING JANET'S DEATH HER SISTER, MRS BEST IS MENTIONED AS BEING 84 AND ALIVE AND WELL.

3rd AUGUST, 1939. THE DAILY EXAMINER OF GRAFTON, NSW-[4]

MRS. BEST of KALANG ROAD, BELLINGEN RIVER, has received a message announcing the DEATH OF HER ONLY SURVIVING SISTER, MISS JANET JARRETT, in MARRICKVILLE HOSPITAL at the age of 76 years.

DECEASED was the FIFTH DAUGHTER OF the LATE MR. AND MRS. WILLIAM JARRETT, EARLY SETTLERS ON the BELLINGEN, and HER BROTHER, THE LATE MR. JOHN JARRETT, who PASSED AWAY about 12 MONTHS AGO, was the FIRST WHITE CHILD BORN at BELLINGEN.

MRS BEST is NOW the ONLY "SURVIVING" MEMBER of the FAMILY of SIX DAUGHTERS AND SIX SONS. SHE is IN the BEST OF HEALTH, and CELEBRATED her 84th BIRTHDAY.

☆Message from S.D Weekes....Please note that John Jarrett was the first white child born in that area whose birth was registered and he had two siblings born before him whose births were not registered. There is a memorial for John Jarret in Bellingen District that states the fact he was first registered birth.

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EMMA ELIZA JARRETT BEST DIED IN 1942 IN BELLINGEN, NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA.

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Compiled by S.D Weekes 2019

Sources

• NSW birth certificate 14271855
• NSW marriage certificate 2670/1875
• NSW death certificate 7684/1942
• National Library of Australia
• NATIONAL ARCHIVES OF AUSTRALIA