Hugh Ritchie (abt. 1839 - 1865)

Husband of Harriet (Bishop) Bulmer — married 1861 in Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia

Died 15 Sep 1865 at about age 26 in Taree, New South Wales, Australia

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Biography

Hugh was born about 1839 and died in 1865, He is buried in the Taree Estate Cemetery, New South Wales. ^[1]

Research Notes

RITCHIE-GOW.-On the 2nd January, 1886, at the Scots Church, Sydney, by the Rev. A. MIilne Jarvis, Wm. John Ritchie, oldest son of the late Hugh Ritchie, of the Manning River, to Whilhelmina Catherine, third daughter of the late David Gow, of Newcastle.^[2]

• NSW BDM Birth RITCHIE JOHN W 15030/1862 son of HUGH and HARRIET. District WOLLONGONG.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/162374338/wilhelmina-catherine-ritchie https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/162374339/william-john-ritchie

• NSW BDM Death RITCHIE WILLIAM JOHN 24940/1937 son of HUGH and HARRIETT. District STOCKTON.

Reverend William John Ritchie

CORONER'S INQUEST An inquest was held by the district coroner, Mr S. Robinson, at the court-house Young, on Wednesday last, relative to the death of Susan Ritchie. The jury having proceeded to the hospital to view the body of the deceased, the following evidence was taken on their return.

Arthur Carey Hutchings deposed : I am a duly qualified medical practitioner, residing at Young ; about 20 minutes to 1 o'clock the the morning of March 23rd (Tuesday) I was called by Mr. Sivell, who informed me that the servant at Mr. Burrows' had been burnt; I went at once and found the deceased in bed, complaining of very great pain and she was suffering very severely from shock ; I immediately set to work to dress the burns, which extended over nearly the whole anterior surface of the body, from the chin to the knees ; the arms were also severely burned and the backs of the thighs ; I applied suitable remedies, and in the morning she seemed rather better and free from pain ; she continued in this state up to 8 o'clock p.m., when I last saw her alive; about half past 10, she, I believe, took a change and was dead when I saw her at 1 o'clock a.m. ; the cause of death was shock from the extensive nature of the burns; deceased was moved to the hospital by my direction.

Alfred Burrows deposed : I am a saddler residing at Young; deceased, Susan Ritchie was my servant; she was between 17 and 18 years of age; she had lived with us at different times about four years and a half ; about 11 o'clock on Monday night I spoke to her in the kitchen; I asked her to be careful with the fire ; I then went inside; about a quarter past 12 in the morning, Mrs. Burrows awoke me and I heard terrible screams : I went as quick as possible to the back door, and when I opened it, I saw by the window of the bed-room that the servant's room must be on fire ; I burst open the door; deceased was on her hands and knees on the floor; her clothes were ablaze; I lifted her up; she was still screaming ; I did what I could to extinguish the blaze; Mrs. Burrows and myself then took her inside ; her clothes were taken off and she was put to bed, and the doctor was at once sent for ; she told Mrs. Burrows that she was reading for about five minutes and went to sleep, leaving the candle burning; just as we removed her from the room, John Sivell junr came and put out the fire in the room ; I did not notice any candle when I went into the room ; I afterwards picked up a candle in a candlestick on the floor of the room; she was moved to the hospital yesterday at about 11 o'clock.

Hugh Ritchie deposed: I am a farmer residing near Young ; I am the father of deceased; she is seventeen years of age; I heard of her being burnt and came to see her ; she told me that when she went to her room she locked the door, and picked up a paper and was reading it, holding the candle in her other hand, and she dozed off to sleep, and awoke, finding herself on fire ; she screamed and tried to open the door but did not succeed, and she also tried to smother the flames with a blanket, and again tried to open the door but failed; she then threw herself down in despair, and eventually the door was hurst open.

The jury found "That deceased died from the effects of severe burns, caused by her clothes accidentally catching fire, together with shock to her system." ^[3]

Sources

• NSW Marriage Registration 3140/1861
• NSW BDM Death RITCHIE HUGH son of 8416/1883 HUGH and HARRIET. District WINGHAM

1. ↑ https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/162374336/hugh-ritchie Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 19 January 2021), memorial page for Hugh Ritchie (1839–15 Sep 1865), Find a Grave Memorial no. 162374336, citing Taree Estate Cemetery, Taree, Mid-Coast Council, New South Wales, Australia ; Maintained by Stombell (contributor 48335209) .
2. ↑ Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate, Sat 9 Jan 1886. p. 4. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/138799960
3. ↑ The Burrangong Argus, Sat 27 Mar 1886. p. 2. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/247403609

• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, "Pedigree Resource File," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/2:2:SGVM-J3M : accessed 2015-09-09), entry for Hugh /Ritchie/.