Margaret CRAWFORD ^7,9,10

  General Notes:

OBITUARY

It is with sincere regret that we this week have to report the death of another of the very oldest identities of the province - one who at the time of her death was without doubt the oldest surviving passenger that arrived by the Philip Laing just 51 years ago. We refer to the death of Mrs F. Marshall which took place on Saturday forenoon at the residence of her daughter (Mrs Bower) in Balclutha. Mrs Marshall was born in the Craoft, Paisley, in 1806, and had she lived till August next, would have completed her 93rd year. The day of her death was the 51st anniversary of her arrival in the colony, the Philip Laing having cast anchor in the Port of Otago on the 15th April 1858. Her husband, who died 12 years ago, and a family of three sons and three daughters arrived by the same vessel. Of these, the three sons, M. Marshall (Hillend), the eldest, Francis Marshall (Mosgiel), and Alexander Marshall (Milton) all survive. Of the daughters two, Mrs Bower, (Blaclcutha), and Mrs Dewar (Ratanui) are still alive, the third one, Mrs Frew (Woodside), having died three years ago. Three children were born after the arrival of the parents in the colony - Mrs Dall (Invercargill), Messrs R. Marshall (Otatara), and John Marshall (Waikawa), all of whom survive. For some time after their arrival in the colony, Mr Marshall found employment with the surveyors subsequently becoming manager of Captain Scargill's Hillside property, a position which he held for seven years. In those days the whole of Princes street south and out by Kensington and South Dunedin was an impassable bog, and Mr F. Marshall speaks of an extraordinary bog that existed at that time near the present breakoff of the Andersons Bay Road. He tied several long sticks together to try and find "bottom" but failed. The journey from Dunedin to Hillside, round by the ridges in those days, occupied half a day. After this the family settled in Halfway Bush where the old people lived almost continuously ever since, the family getting married one by one, and going in different directions. Two years ago the deceased lady came to reside permanently in Balclutha. She was a woman possessed of great spirit, and of a lively and jovial disposition. The hardships, trials, and privations of the early days - and with her large family of young children she experienced her full share of them - led her to view with a lightness of heart what are regarded as hardships at the present day. Twelve months ago, in company with her daughters - Mrs Bower and Mrs Dewar - she took part in the jubilee celebrations. She enjoyed them immensely and was in her element meeting old friends and recounting stories and incidents of life in the early days. Indeed, it was a matter of remark by many then that she was younger looking than her daughters. Up to the time of her death she enjoyed the best of health. About a fortnight ago she returned from a visit to Milton suffering from a cold. From the effects of this she never recovered; even the strongest of human frames has little reserve in hand after having stood the buffettings of over 90 winters. She collapsed in a memnt; her light had burned itself out. She was sensible to the last, however, and her buoyancy of spirit never left her. Indeed on the morning of her death she insisted on getting up for a short time. In addition to the members of her family already mentioned, the deceased is survived by 46 grand children and 45 great grand children. The funeral takes place to-day, deceased being buried in the Southern cemetery, Dunedin, beside her husband. The deceased was a fine type of conolist, and her cheery homely disposition endeared her to a wide circle of friends, and the notice of her death with call up many recollections of the early days of Otago.

  Noted events in her life were:

• Baptised: 18 Sep 1808, Paisley Abbey, Rfw, Sct. ⁸

• Buried: Southern Cemetery, Dunedin, Otg, Nz. ¹⁵

Margaret married Francis MARSHALL, son of Francis MARSHALL and Agnes MURRAY, on 31 Aug 1832 in Paisley Abbey, Rfw, Sct ^7,8.^,10 (Francis MARSHALL was born on 27 Jan 1808 in Abbey, Paisley, Rfw, Sct ^7,8,9,10,16 and died on 26 Feb 1887 in Dunedin, Otg, Nz ^10,17.)