Mary Bowen (Marshall) Steley (1865 - 1934)

Born 23 Oct 1865 in Queensland, Australia

Wife of Richard Lewis Steley — married 1886 in Howard, Queensland, Australia

Descendants

Died 16 Mar 1934 at age 68 in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Biography

Birth and Death^[1]

Mary was born in 1865.

Mary Marshall

Event date: 23/10/1865

Event type: Birth registration

QLD Birth Registration details: 1865/C/2109

Mother: Maria Kelly

Father/parent: John Marshall

She passed away in 1934.^[2][3]

Mary Steley

Event date: 16/03/1934

Event type: Death registration

QLD Death Registration details: 1934/B/23567

Mother: Maria Kelly

Father/parent: John Marshall

LETTER FROM MARY BOWEN STELEY (nee Marshall) TO HER SISTER RUTH (1908)^[4]

Howard

Nov.28 th 1908

My Dear Ruth,

I have been looking and longing for a letter from you in answer to my last. I wrote you about the beginning of October telling you of the death of my darling little Fernie. It is fourteen weeks today since my little boy left us, but the awful pain in my heart is as fresh as if it was just a day and it always will be. I cannot get over it. Oh the cruelty of it, to think of my dear good little boy gone forever. Such a little pet he was. We all loved him, perhaps too well, and I am sick with longing for him. My dear Ruth, I hope and trust you will never feel as I do. But I must not make you unhappy, but I feel as if I could not write about anything else just now.

I do hope dear you and Dick and the boys are quite well and in good health and enjoying yourselves. Louis says you said in his letter the boys were not too well. I hope Ruth it is not anything serious. He says the climate does not agree with them. I am sorry to hear it as it will spoil your trip as you will be worried about them, but Oh Ruth take care of them no matter what the trouble. I thought I could take a lease of my little darling's life and he was snatched away from me in a few hours. I did all I could and Ruth I am sure you could not stand it if you were to lose one of them -- it would kill you. I sometimes think it will kill me but I try to look to God to give me strength to bear.

Miss Mole has arrived in Melbourne from England. I suppose she will soon be home now and then Muriel will married to G. Brown that is all she is waiting for. Etie Buffey is going to be married just after Christmas to a young grocer here. Her sister Edie that was married to White has two little boys now. Bob Newsem is back in Howard just come he and his young wife. Isabel Rankin is just the same not any chance of being married yet. Did you hear that Naomi has started her new school at Didcote. She is glad to be near Jennie. It will be company for her. Mag and her boys are up there just now for a holiday. Jack and Renie are not living too happy just now.I am so sorry for them.

The last letter I had from the Dad he was in the best of health. Also his and her little family.

When do you think of coming back and are you doing any shopping.I did intend to ask you to do a little for me if things had gone different with us. But if you can get me something warm for the neck and shoulders, not too heavy. I like some on and my old fur is done for and the long blach ones very dear. Mrs B. Steley has a lovely black one of fine feathers not the large ones. If you get me one I will settle when you come home. How is the black silk sold, is it dear. I did intend to get you to get me a dress while you were there. You can if you like and I will settle with you but not if it puts you out at all.

Goodbye dear, give my love to your three boys and kiss the little ones for me. All send love to all of you and with much to your own dear self. God bless and keep you all safe and bring you all home again is the prayer of your loving sister. Mary Steley

Sources

1. ↑ https://www.familyhistory.bdm.qld.gov.au/
2. ↑ "Australia, Queensland Cemetery Records, 1802-1990," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVB8-W14M : 2 March 2021), Mary B Steley, 1934; citing Burial, Rogers Queensland index, Queensland, Australia, private collection of Jim and Alison Rogers, Bargara; FHL microfilm 1,669,658.
3. ↑ "Australia Cemetery Inscriptions, 1802-2005", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2WT-CKDH : Thu Nov 16 23:20:29 UTC 2023), Entry for Mary B Steley and Richard L, 16 Mar 1934.
4. ↑ LETTER FROM MARY BOWEN STELEY (nee Marshall) TO HER SISTER RUTH (1908)