[Index]
Mary MATHIESON (1833 - 1915)
Children Self + Spouses Parents Grandparents Greatgrandparents
Mary MATHIESON (1833 - 1915)

+

Peter SHUMACK (1806 - 1883)

Finlay MCDONALD (1839 - 1906)
 William MATHIESON











Jane SCOTT











b. abt 1833 at Aberdeenshire, Scotland
m. (1) 02 Jan 1862 Peter SHUMACK (1806 - 1883) at Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
m. (2) 04 Mar 1886 Finlay MCDONALD (1839 - 1906) at Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
d. 13 Oct 1915 at Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia aged 82
Near Relatives of Mary MATHIESON (1833 - 1915)
Relationship Person Born Birth Place Died Death Place Age
Father in Law Peter SHOEMAKER abt 1781
Mother in Law Elizabeth (SHOEMAKER)
Father in Law Alexander MCDONALD abt 1811 Glen Morrison, Inverness-shire, Scotland abt 1856 45
Mother in Law Catherine MCDONALD abt 1813 Urchard, Inverness-shire, Scotland 11 Nov 1875 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 62

Father William MATHIESON
Mother Jane SCOTT

Self Mary MATHIESON abt 1833 Aberdeenshire, Scotland 13 Oct 1915 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 82

Husband Peter SHUMACK abt 1806 Kilfinane, Co Limerick, Ireland 29 Sep 1883 Canberra, ACT, Australia 77
Husband Finlay MCDONALD 1839 Glen Morrison, Inverness-shire, Scotland 02 Jun 1906 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 67

Adopted Daughter Sarah PEARCE 1862 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Adopted Daughter Annie Maria PEARCE abt 1868 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Adopted Son George POTTER BATE 27 Dec 1891 Sydney, New South Wales, Australia 01 Sep 1918 Peronne, France 26

Brother William MATHIESON abt 1837 Aberdeenshire, Scotland 02 May 1882 Jeir, New South Wales, Australia 45

Niece Mary J MATHIESON 1866 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Niece Ann MATHIESON 1868 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Niece May MATHIESON 1869 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Nephew William Scott MATHIESON 1871 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 1873 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 2
Niece Catherine B MATHIESON 1882 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Nephew Richard SHUMACK abt 1837 Ireland
Niece Margaret SHUMACK abt 1839 Ireland
Nephew John SHUMACK 1843 Bowenfels, New South Wales, Australia
Niece Elizabeth SHUMACK 1845 Kelso, New South Wales, Australia
Niece Mary A SHUMACK 1847 Kelso, New South Wales, Australia
Nephew William SHUMACK 1849 New South Wales, Australia
Nephew Samuel SHUMACK 1851 New South Wales, Australia
Niece Ann Jane SHUMACK 1853 Abercrombie, New South Wales, Australia
Nephew George SHUMACK 1855 New South Wales, Australia
Niece Isabella E SHUMACK 1858 New South Wales, Australia abt 1858 0
Niece Ellen M SHUMACK abt 1860 New South Wales, Australia
Nephew William J SHUMACK 1853 Mudgee, New South Wales, Australia 1860 7
Niece Ellen Lucy SHUMACK 1856 Bowenfels, New South Wales, Australia
Nephew Joseph Ayra SHUMACK abt 1836 Ireland 23 Dec 1901 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 65
Niece Eliza Elizabeth SHUMACK 05 Jan 1840 Castletown, Co Cork, Ireland 21 Oct 1907 Sutton, New South Wales, Australia 67
Nephew Richard SHUMACK 19 Jan 1842 Canberra, ACT, Australia 29 Aug 1931 Ainsley, ACT, Australia 89
Nephew Peter (Big Pete) SHUMACK 16 May 1844 Canberra, ACT, Australia 14 Feb 1912 Canberra, ACT, Australia 67
Niece Elizabeth SHUMACK 1849 Mudgee, New South Wales, Australia
Niece Mary A SHUMACK 1851 Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia
Nephew John SHUMACK 1853 Mudgee, New South Wales, Australia
Niece Rachel SHUMACK 1857 Rylstone, New South Wales, Australia
Nephew Samuel G SHUMACK 1859 Rylstone, New South Wales, Australia
Niece Frances G SHUMACK 1861 Rylstone, New South Wales, Australia
Nephew Joseph SHUMACK 1863 Rylstone, New South Wales, Australia
Nephew George SHUMACK 1865 Rylstone, New South Wales, Australia
Nephew Peter William SHUMACK 1867 Rylstone, New South Wales, Australia
Niece Margaret Jane SHUMACK 1869 Rylstone, New South Wales, Australia
Nephew Thomas SHUMACK 1871 Rylstone, New South Wales, Australia
Nephew Richard SHUMACK 1873 Rylstone, New South Wales, Australia
Niece Lydia Catherine SHUMACK 1878 Rylstone, New South Wales, Australia 1878 Rylstone, New South Wales, Australia 0
Niece Elizabeth SHUMACK 1842 Buttevant, Co Cork, Ireland 20 Dec 1876 New South Wales, Australia 34
Niece Margaret SHUMACK 09 May 1844 Buttevant, Co Cork, Ireland 19 Jul 1938 Ainsley, ACT, Australia 94
Nephew John SHUMACK abt 1847 Buttevant, Co Cork, Ireland 25 May 1896 Weetangera, New South Wales, Australia 49
Nephew Samuel SHUMACK 18 Jul 1850 Mallow, Co Cork, Ireland 05 Apr 1940 Peakhurst, New South Wales, Australia 89
Niece Phoebe Anna Laura SHUMACK 04 Dec 1857 Duntroon, ACT, Australia 01 Apr 1943 Tumut, New South Wales, Australia 85
Niece Emily SHUMACK 11 Jun 1860 Ginninderra, ACT, Australia 25 Mar 1927 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 66
Nephew George Edward SHUMACK 23 Apr 1863 Canberra, ACT, Australia 03 Feb 1937 Yass, New South Wales, Australia 73
Niece Mary Armstrong SHUMACK 1882 Canberra, ACT, Australia
Niece Ida SHUMACK 1883 Canberra, ACT, Australia
Niece Susannah SHUMACK 1884 Canberra, ACT, Australia
Nephew Richard SHUMACK 1886 Canberra, ACT, Australia
Niece Alice SHUMACK 1887 Canberra, ACT, Australia 1887 Canberra, ACT, Australia 0
Nephew George SHUMACK 1846 Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Nephew William SHUMACK 1848 Kelso, New South Wales, Australia
Nephew John SHUMACK 1850 Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia
Niece Mary Jane SHUMACK 1852 Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia
Niece Elizabeth SHUMACK 1854 Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia
Niece Sarah SHUMACK 1856 Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia
Nephew Samuel SHUMACK 1858 Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia 1860 Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia 2
Niece Elizabeth ANDERSON 1872 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 22 Dec 1934 Sydney, New South Wales, Australia 62
Niece Elizabeth Margaret DONNELLY 1872 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Nephew William Thomas DONNELLY 1872 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Niece Christina Catherine DONNELLY 1875 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 1896 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 21
Nephew Alexander DONNELLY 1877 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 1958 Hurstville, New South Wales, Australia 81
Niece Hughie DONNELLY 1880 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Niece Georgina Jane DONNELLY 1882 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Niece Florence Mary DONNELLY 1886 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Niece Ida McDonald DONNELLY 1888 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 16 Jan 1973 Glen Innes, New South Wales, Australia 85

Brother in Law William SHUMACK abt 1804 Co Cork, Ireland 1877 Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia 73
Brother in Law George SHUMACK abt 1810 Kilfinane, Co Limerick, Ireland 1857 Bowenfels, New South Wales, Australia 47
Brother in Law John SHUMACK abt 1811 Kilfinane, Co Limerick, Ireland 04 Mar 1849 Duntroon, ACT, Australia 38
Brother in Law Joseph SHUMACK abt 1813 Kilfinane, Co Limerick, Ireland 1880 Rylstone, New South Wales, Australia 67
Brother in Law Richard SHUMACK abt 1816 Kilfinane, Co Limerick, Ireland 09 Oct 1887 Weetangera, New South Wales, Australia 71
Brother in Law Samuel SHUMACK abt 1819 Co Limerick, Ireland 1884 Sunny Corner, New South Wales, Australia 65
Sister in Law Elizabeth MCDONALD 1836 Urchard, Inverness-shire, Scotland 09 Jun 1893 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 57
Sister in Law Mary MCDONALD 1843 Urchard, Inverness-shire, Scotland 03 Jan 1918 Bowral, New South Wales, Australia 75
Sister in Law Catherine GRADY 1846 New South Wales, Australia 10 Oct 1933 Yass, New South Wales, Australia 87
Events in Mary MATHIESON (1833 - 1915)'s life
Date Age Event Place Notes Src
abt 1833 Mary MATHIESON was born Aberdeenshire, Scotland 6
1861 28 Immigration Australia 6
1862 29 Birth of adopted daughter Sarah PEARCE Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 6
02 Jan 1862 29 Married Peter SHUMACK (aged 56) Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 2862/1862 St John's Canberra 6
abt 1868 35 Birth of adopted daughter Annie Maria PEARCE Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 6
29 Sep 1883 50 Death of husband Peter SHUMACK (aged 77) Canberra, ACT, Australia 6
04 Mar 1886 53 Married Finlay MCDONALD (aged 47) Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia Note 1 6
27 Dec 1891 58 Birth of adopted son George POTTER BATE Sydney, New South Wales, Australia 80
02 Jun 1906 73 Death of husband Finlay MCDONALD (aged 67) Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 10232/1906 6
13 Oct 1915 82 Mary MATHIESON died Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 16705/1915 6
Note 1: 7194/1886 at St Stephen's Church, Queanbeyan
Source References:
6. Type: Book, Abbr: Queanbeyan Register, Title: Biographical register of Canberra and Queanbeyan: from the district to the Australian Capital Territory 1820-1930, Auth: Peter Proctor, Publ: The Heraldry & Genealogical Society of Canberra, Date: 2001
- Reference = 193 (Marriage)
- Reference = 193 (Marriage)
- Reference = 193 (Name, Notes)
- Reference = 193 (Immigration)
- Reference = 193 (Death)
- Reference = 193 (Birth)
80. Type: Web Page, Abbr: Hall Museum, Title: Hall School Museum and Heritage Centre, Locn: https://museum.hall.act.au/
- Reference = https://museum.hall.act.au/display/1939/person/4176/mary-mathieson.html (Name, Notes)
- Notes: Born: 1835; Died: 1915; Married: [Shumack] [McDonald]

Related Places
Hawthorn Cottage
Peter Shumack selected Portion 34 of 100 acres on Yass Road around 1856 and established his...

Mary Mathieson [Shumack / McDonald] was born around 1835 in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, to farmer William and Jane [nee Scott] Mathieson. Her brother, William Mathieson, had emigrated to Australia around 1860 and soon sent home for Mary to join him. She arrived in 1861, and became housekeeper for him.

"Early in 1860 a young Scotchman (sic) named William Mathieson came to Ginninderra and was employed as a shepherd. He took charge of the Bald Hill runs as John Coppin moved to the head station. Mathieson's run joined Shumack's on the south.
He was about six months on the run when he sent home to Aberdeen for his sister, Mary, and she arrived in 1861 and kept house for William.

On 3.8.1865 William Mathieson, bachelor, born Scotland, shepherd aged 28 of Ginninderra, son of William Mathieson and Jane Scott, married Cath Grady, spinster born NSW, housemaid aged 19 of Queanbeyan, daughter of James Grady, Police Constable, and Jane Clarke. The witnesses were John Smallhorn and Chris McDonald. Rev Father Patrick White officiated. [Register of Marriages St Gregory's RC Church Queanbeyan]. William Mathieson died in 1882".

Mary married Peter Shumack Snr in 1862 at St John's Church. Peter, then in his mid-50s, married twenty-seven year old Mary Mathieson on 2 Jan 1862 at St John's Canberra. Peter Shumack (1803-1883) had selected Portion 34 of 100 acres on Yass Road in 1856 and established 'Hawthorn Cottage', with cattle, an orchard, a dairy and a garden.

"Peter Shumack farmer aged 48 of Canberry Plain born Co Limerick Ireland, son of Peter Shumack farmer and Elizabeth Shumack, married Mary Mathieson aged 27 of Canberry, born Aberdeen shire, daughter of William Mathieson farmer and Jane Mathieson nee Scott on 2.1.1862 at St John's Church Canberra. Witnesses were William Mathieson and Margaret Shumack. Marriage Register St John's Church Canberra".

"Report of a small slab chapel just erected at Canberra for the use of the Wesleyan denomination being formally set apart for religious worship on Sunday afternoon a tea meeting was held afterwards followed by a public meeting with Mr Peter Shumack in the chair. The land on which the church was built was the generous gift of Mr Peter Shumack. [Queanbeyan Age 11.2.1869]".

"Advertisement seeking tenders for removal of the old Scotch Church Canberra tender to be returned to Peter Shumack Snr Canberra". [Queanbeyan Age 7.3.1870].

"Planted a magnificent elm tree near St Ninian's Church in 1871".

Mary was about 25 years his younger and they had no children, but adopted Annie Maria Pearce (born about 1868) as an infant.

"Report of William Mathieson's mother-in-law Mrs Jane Pearse being drowned while he was assisting her to cross the swollen river at Canberra after she had been at his place on a visit. He described himself as a farmer and shepherd at Round Hill Ginninderra. [Queanbeyan Age 18.2.1869].
The young couple adopted Sarah, the eldest child of the Catherine's mother's second marriage".

"Anna Maria Pearce - adopted as an infant by Peter & Mary {Shumack} after her mother drowned in 1869 after a cart driven by Mary's brother William overturned in a river".

"Thought to be related through her mother's second husband to the notorious Jingera Mob of bushrangers, sometimes referred to as the 'Jinden murders'".

They lived at Hawthorn Cottage until Peter's death in 1883 aged 74. He was buried on 1 October 1883 in St John's C of E Churchyard. Mary continued working the farm as a dairy.

"Died early on Saturday morning 29 September 1883 at his home near Canberra Inn. Had been a resident of Canberra for upwards of 40 years and was 77 years of age. Had for some years been in a very feeble state of health and his death though regretted by all was not unexpected. Funeral held on 2 October on same day as Thomas Priests. Both men were buried at Canberra C of E Church." [Wizard's Notes Post 4.10.1883].

"Mary was left a piece of land just north of St Ninian's Church by old Peter Shumack. Mary is warmly and widely remembered. Life's work care of orphans and neglected children, one of her adopted sons, George Potter killed during War... Mrs McDonald died 1915 aged 82... Lyndsey Gardiner Witness in Stone pages 25 and 60".

Mary re-married on 4 March 1886 at St Stephen's Church, Queanbeyan to Finley McDonald.

F McDonald, Hawthorn Cottage shown as growing wheat and oats and dairy farming. Yemen's Directory of Landholders of NSW 1900

Mary fostered or adopted several Potter/Bate children.

"George Potter was born George Bate on 27 December 1891 at the Sydney Benevolent Asylum, a site long since occupied by Central Railway Station. Bate was his mother's maiden name and, although she had married a man named Potter in 1884, George's father is unknown.

George and his older brother and younger sister returned to the Benevolent Asylum in early 1897 and afterwards became wards of the State and were fostered {or adopted} by Mrs Mary McDonald of 'Hawthorn' in Upper Canberra".

Mary was again widowed in 1906, but she continued running the farm and dairy with her adopted son George Potter.

"A very old resident of Canberra, Mr Finlay McDonald, passed away on Saturday last at the age of 65 years. The deceased was preparing to go to the Ginninderra Sports but feeling unwell decided to remain at home. Shortly after feeling the first symptoms of illness he lapsed into a state of stupor. Dr Blackall who was in the vicinity was called in and arrived shortly before Mr McDonald's death. The Doctor found he had been stricken with apoplexy and pronounced the case as hopeless. The remains were interred in the Presbyterian portion of the General Cemetery yesterday. The Rev E S Henderson officiating at the grave".[Queanbeyan Age 5.6.1906]

3.1.1913 Queanbeyan Observer - "Report of a social at Hawthorn Cottage the residence of Mrs F McDonald on 26 December to celebrate the coming of age of Mr George Potter".

The farm was acquired by the Federal Capital Territory (100 acres for £823-18-0) in March 1915.

Mary died in 1915 and was buried with her first husband Peter Shumack.

"Died 13th October 1915 aged 82 years, a native of Aberdeenshire Scotland. Buried in the same grave as her first husband Peter Shumack. Tombstone St John's Church. Commemorative window in St Ninians".

"One of the oldest identities of the Canberra District passed away on Wednesday night in the person of Mrs Finlay McDonald at the great age of 82 years. Mrs McDonald had been ailing very much for the past three years but her end was in keeping with her life, for she passed peacefully away after a severe attack of her old complaint. Mrs McDonald was one of the older Presbyterian in the district, of many years standing and held in the highest esteem by all ministers of the Parish for her outstanding Christian works. Her work for the church was completed some years ago as far as active service went but her wonderful spirit of peaceful resignation in the face of trial has been a lesson to all even the evening of her death...The funeral takes place at Canberra".[Queanbeyan Age 15.10.1915]

George Potter grew up at 'Hawthorn', went to Gungahleen School and helped run the dairy. He was employed by the federal government at the gravel pit, Duntroon as a road contractor. He became involved in local sporting organizations, building courts for the Ainslie Tennis Club on part of 'Hawthorn' and joining the Ainslie Cricket Club when it was formed in 1914. He settled the estate of Mary McDonald and then enlisted in the AIF on 5 December 1915 and joined the 53rd Battalion in France at the end of July 1916.

He participated in the 5th Division's campaigns at Flers and Gueudecourt in the winter of 1916, and on the Bapaume-Cambrai road, at Bullecourt and Passchendaele during 1917 and was appointed as a Lance Sergeant at the end of that year. He was wounded in the arm near Villers-Bretonneux in April 1918 but returned to his unit four months later.

At the end of August 1918 the 2nd Division assaulted Mont St. Quentin, a hill overlooking the walled town of Péronne on the Somme River.

The 53rd Battalion had to clear the road to Péronne. As they advanced, Potter's company was faced by German machine guns firing from behind several unbroken belts of wire and a barrage of shells. Potter was the main figure in the attack and became the focus of the German machine guns, sacrificing himself for the sake of his fellow soldiers – "George Potter firing burst after burst from the Lewis gun at his hip silenced a nest of German machine-guns and enabled us to stream through the narrow inlet.".

It is believed that George Potter was the closest resident to the site of the future Australian War Memorial at the time he enlisted.

– "Last Sunday afternoon the Presbyterian Church Upper Canberra was crowded to excess at the service held in memory of the late Sgt George Potter Killed in Action on 1 September somewhere in France. Rev D Finlayson conducted the service". [Queanbeyan Age 8.10.1918]

Henry Edward Gozzard jnr then took over the lease to Hawthorn Cottage which he continued to run as a dairy until he eventually moved to Forbes, NSW.
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