Alice Jane Marshall - The Story Of A Pioneer Woman In Subiaco.
This was a difficult post to research and write. Many of the newspaper articles accessed on Trove, the database at the National Library of Australia about many women during the early years identify them by their marital status as a Miss or Mrs and if married by their husband’s initials and married name. There is often no mention of their Christian names.
Many women shared some wonderful experiences through the newspapers of the early years such as Mrs W. F. Marshall, a pioneer who lived in Roberts Road, Subiaco. She was married to the Anglican minister the Reverend W. F. Marshall, successfully raised a family, nursed her husband when he became ill and actively contributed to the social life of the community.
In 1850 William Frederick Marshall (originally born in England in Yorkshire in 1845 and migrated to South Australia when he was 19) was ordained in Adelaide. Over 20 years he travelled and worked in churches at Penola, Mallala, Stanebury and Dublin. In articles about the Reverend W. F. Marshal mention briefly he married a “Miss Packard” who played the organ at one his parishes in South Australia, Penola. She was born in England, came out to Australia with her family when a small child in 1850. She was educated in South Australia. “...While at Penola he met Miss Pickard who was the organist at St. Luke’s Church in Adelaide and he was deacon-in-charge there...They moved to Western Australia in 1900...together they had two sons and three daughters... (The West Australian, 16 December 1930).
But what was Mrs W. F. Marshall’s Christian name as none of the articles researched mentioned this. The Post Office Directories for Western Australia and the address show that Mrs W. F. Marshall continued to live in their family home in Roberts Road, Subiaco after the death of her husband. The Births, Deaths and Marriages of Western Australia records provide no further help as the couple were not born or married in Western Australia. After an extensive search a small family notice in the Adelaide Observer on the 21 November 1874 provides the only clue. “MARSHALL - PACKARD - On the 17 th November, at S. Mary’s, Penola, by the Rev. F. Hocter, M.A. Incumbent of Christchurch, Mount Gambier, the Rev. William Federick Marshall, third son of the late Rev. P. C. Marshall, M. A. to Alice Jane, fourth daughter of the late Rev. D. Packard, M.A. Incumbent of S. Andrew’s, Walkerville, near Adelaide. “
In 1937 Mrs Marshall celebrated her 88 the birthday with her family and friends. The West Australian newspaper wrote an article “Woman’s Realm Mrs. W. F. Marshall, 88th Birthday Celebrated... “...Her advancing years seem to have had little or no effect on Mrs Marshall’s vitality, for she does a great deal of fine embroidery, is an excellent cook, and still enjoys showing her prowess at that art: and moreover takes an interest in various missions and other activities...” (West Australian, 11 May, 1937)
Another article “NONAGENARIAN PIONEER. Mrs. W. F. Marshall Celebrates 90th Birthday.” was written as she celebrated her 90 th birthday and shared stories from her pioneering and family life. “... “It was certainly a hard life and a trying one," said Mrs. Marshall yesterday, "but I didn't let it worry me. The old days were different and wonderfully interesting and I much prefer them to modern times. The modern age had to come, I suppose, but I'm sorry it came in my day." (The West Australian 10 May, 1939) The article is copied below.
The Metropolitan Cemeteries Board records show that Alice May Marshall died soon after this interview on 6 October, 1939 aged 90. She was buried at Karrakatta Cemetery. The Rev. William Frederick Marshall had died nine years earlier on the 15 December, 1930 aged 85. He was also buried at Karrakatta Cemetery.
The articles are from Trove, the database at the National Library of Australia. No copyright infringement intended.
West Australian, 10 May 1939.
NONAGENARIAN PIONEER.
Mrs. W. F. Marshall Celebrates 90th Birthday.
Ninety years-nearly the span of a century! This is what Mrs. W. F. Marshall, of Roberts-road, Subiaco, will have behind her today when she celebrates her 90th birthday and enters for the first time into the select few of Perth's nonagenarians.
Mrs. Marshall came out to Australia from England with her parents as a small child in the sailing ship, the Asia, and settled in Adelaide. About 50 years ago, she left the comparative civilisation of that city and came to the wild, open spaces of Western Australia's bushland with her husband, the late Canon William Frederick Marshall. For many years in the Arthur River district, she experienced the loneliness, hardship and privations of the pioneer and brought up her five children under conditions which now seem insuperable.
As rector of the Arthur River district, Canon Marshall had long trips to make to the surrounding centres, and Mrs. Marshall has vivid memories of dangerous roads, with the horses sometimes up to their knees in swamps, of bushfires on either side of the road, and of accidents which occurred when necessary help was not forthcoming. Housekeeping difficulties were perhaps the worst of all, the trouble being the lack of fresh foods and the predominance of tinned stuffs, especially tinned butter, in the diet. Practice in baking bread made her an excellent baker, especially with the use of the big brick ovens.
“It was certainly a hard life and a trying one," said Mrs. Marshall yesterday, "but I didn't let it worry me. The old days were different and wonderfully interesting and I much prefer them to modern times. The modern age had to come, I suppose, but I'm sorry it came in my day." Time has dealt gently with Mrs. Marshall, and despite the hardship of her married life, her serenity is untouched. Meeting and talking to this active woman, with her well-preserved skin and softly greying hair, her sense of humour and alert perceptive qualities, one gets no clue as to the maturity of her years. Today she will be the guest of honour at a family party at her home.
