Sarah Ann Starkey 1844 - 1935

"TO LET, Unfurnished, the HOUSE, at Limestone, formerly occupied by George Bashford. Apply to the QUEENSLAND NATIONAL BANK LIMITED" .

Name of Deceased Proprietor.-Sarah Fullelove aforesaid.

Date of Death.-13th February, 1898.

Claimant.-Sarah Ann (otherwise Sarah Ann Starkey) Bashford,  of Ipswich, wife of George Bashford, of the  same place.

Description and Situation of Land.-Sub-division 6 of allotment 62 (near Ipswich) and subdivision 6 of allotment 81, county of Stanley, parish of Ipswich.

Estate Claimed to be Transmitted.-Fee simple.      

Particulars of Will or Otherwise.-Will and codicils as aforesaid.

Date within which Caveat may be Lodged.-10th October, 1898. ,

MRS. S. A. BASHFORD.
63 YEARS IN QUEENSLAND.
EARLY DAYS IN IPSWICH.
Almost any day Mrs. Sarah Ann Bashford may be seen in her garden among her beloved plants. Despite the fact that she is 84 years of age, she delights in her garden, her flowers, and her vegetables, of which she is justly proud, finding her chief pleasure in. caring for them and planting successive crops to replace the good harvests she reaps. Sixty-three years in Queensland, most of them spent in Ipswich, have served to make her love an open air life,, and it has been a dull day for her when she has not been able to spend an hour in the well-kept grounds that surround her home at Basin Pocket.

Mrs. Bashford came to Queensland in '64.in the Warren Hastings with her mother, Mrs. Thomas Fullelove. having been born in Leicestershire 21 years previously. In England Mr. Fullelove was employed making reservoirs, and it was while he was engaged on a contract of this description at Accrlngton, in Lancashire, that the family decided to 'come to Queensland. Mr. Fullelove had made the journey to the new land some 18 months previously in the Queen of the Colony, and had started work as a road contractor in the Ipswich district Mrs. Bashford relates that though the voyage was long, the weather was' good. She celebrated her 21st birthday on the boat. On landing in Queensland the captain of the boat and the doctor made her a presentation for her industry and willingness to help her fellow shipmates on the voyage.

The family first lived at Little Ipswich, but shortly afterwards moved to Basin Pocket, where Mrs. Fullelove started a small shop. Mr. Fullelove had a contract for building the Brisbane-road when the new Methodist Church at Bundanba was being built. In the old country the family had at
tended the Wesleyan Church, and in Queensland they continued to take a big part in religious work. The Bundanba Church was the nearest, and Mrs. Bashford relates that it was considered nothing in those days to walk to service at Bundanba after finishing the day's work.

The first years in Queensland were days of hardship. Men could rough it, and forget the trials in the hard work of opening up the new country, but for the womenfolk they were very hard times. Many a time did the gently nurtured girl and her mother regret coming to Queensland. There were no streets in Brisbane or Ipswich, and very few houses. What shops there were, were low, one storey places. "We were the pioneers and we knew it too well," said Mrs. Bashford.

In 1866 Mrs. Bashford married Mr. George Bashford, a name well known in railway construction circles at that time. He was born in Worthing, Sussex, and had arrived in Queensland some time after Mrs.. Bashford. He built three sections of the Great Western Railway, the Sandgate, Harrisville to Dugandan, a section of the Brisbane line in the, vicinity of Dinmore, Cooktown, Mourilyan Harbour, Cairns lines, and was engaged on the construction of the Beenleigh to Southport line when he died. Mr. Bashford's first job in Queensland was to wait on the tables at the function at Bigge's Camp celebrating the opening of the first railway line in Queensland. Mr. John Smith, the pioneer engine driver, popularly known as "Hellfire Jack," on account of the high speed at which he drove his train, often had charge of the ballast trains employed on Mr. Bashford's construction work.

Ever since Mrs. Bashford came to Queensland she has been an enthusiastic Church worker. It was some years after she landed that the Basin Pocket Methodist Church was erected. Previously services were conducted in a little humpy, in which a cement barrel served for a pulpit Services were also held in her mother's home. It is somewhere about 58 years since the first church in Basin Pocket was built. It was known as the Primitive Methodist Church, and for 16 years it was regularly filled at each service by large congregations. Then 42 years ago it was replaced by the present structure, the earlier building having been sold as a work shop. The builder was Mr. John Porter, father of Mrs. W. R. Johnson, who had such a prominent part in the church fete a few weeks ago. Mrs. Bashford's daughter, Mrs. D. Patterson, collected £100 to build this church, and Mr. G. Bashford gave the first organ. It is noteworthy to record that the church was opened free of debt. The Minister at that time was Rev. J. Addison. Some years after wards the building was renovated by Mr. Geo. Wilkinson. In June, 1909, during the ministry of Rev. T. Dews bury, the Women's Church Help Society, which was responsible for the recent successful fete for the provision of a new pulpit and other improvements, was formed, with Mrs. Bashford as its first President, and Mrs. M. E. Bain (Mrs. Bashford's daughter) as the first Secretary. The ante-room at the rear of the church was added in 1923. It was built by voluntary labour, and was opened by Mrs. J. W. Dalton, All her life Mrs. Bashford has been ready to assist the work of any church. 

Mrs. Bashford is in excellent health, though she suffers from a little deafness. She has lived a full and busy life. and now lives in contented retirement surrounded by the hosts of friends of a long, successful life.

MRS. S. A. BASHFORD'S DEATH.
Long Ipswich Residence.
"A grand old lady - the Mother of the Pocket," is how citizens used to refer to the late Mrs. Sarah Ann Bashford, who passed away at her residence in Blackall-street, East Ipswlch, on Saturday evening. The late Mrs. Bashford was in her 91st year, and had spent 70 years in Ipswich.

She was born in Leicester, In Leicestershire, in 1844, and came with her family to Queensland at the age of 20. Residence Immediately was taken up in Ipswich, and except for a break of about 10 months the late Mrs. Bashford resided In the city for the rest of her life. Her late father, Mr. George Fullelove, was employed in making reservoirs in England, and he came to Queensland about 18 months before the rest of his family and started work as a road contractor in the Ipswich district. Some evidence of the cheerful help given always by the late Mrs. Bashford is shown in the fact that on landing in Queensland, the captain of the boat (the Warren Hastings), and the doctor aboard, made her -a presentation for her industry and willingness to help her fellow shipmates on the voyage.

The family resided first at Little Ipswich, but shortly afterwards moved to Basin Pocket, where Mrs. Fullelove commenced a small buslness. The family took a keen interest in the Wesleyan Church, and the late Mrs. Bashford and others of her family thought nothing of walking to service at Bundamba. In 1866 the late Mrs. Bashford married Mr. George Bashford, who was born in Worthing, Sussex. Her husband, who died in 1894, was a well-known railway contractor, and built sections of the Great Western railway, the Sandgate section, the Harrisviile to Dugandan section, portion of the Brisbane , line near Dinmore, and the Cooktown, Mourilyan Harbour, and Cairns line. He was engaged in the construction of the Beenlelgh-Southport line at the time of his death.

Throughout a very useful life, the late Mrs. Bashford's principal interests were in her Church and in helping needy people. Because of her ever-ready assistance in the latter regard she was referred to as the '"Mother of the Pocket," and her kindly efforts took her into almost every home in the vicinity. It was some years after she landed that the Basin Pocket Methodist Church was erected. Previously services were conducted in a little humpy and in her mother's home. Some years later the building was replaced by a more elaborate structure, and towards the cost of this, Mrs. Bashford's daughter, Mrs. D. Patterson, collected £100. Mr. G. Bashford gave the first organ. In June, 1909, the Women's Church Help Society was formed with Mrs. Bashford as its President. and Mrs. E. M. Bain (Mrs. Bashford's daughter) as Secretary. The late  Mrs. Bashford's activities, however, were not confined to her own Church, as she assisted on many occasions in the work of other denominations..

Her long life had been particularly free from serious illness, and the longest sickness she ever had was that which commenced three weeks prior to her death. Then, she contracted influenza and developments hastened her end. Her life was exemplary; her name was respected among a very wide circle of friends and acquaintances; and those who referred sincerely to her as a grand old lady did so because of their realisation of her worth in the district. She had a kindly word for all and ample evidence of the esteem in which she had heen held is in the fact that yesterday hundreds of sympathisers called to pay their last respects.

The funeral will take place to the Ipswich cemetery this morning. The service at her late residence and at the graveside will be conducted by Rev. W. Shenton. The late Mrs. Bashford was pre deceased by her husband, a daughter Mrs. Patterson, and three sons. Messrs. Henry, Charles, and George Thomas Bashford. The late Mr. Henry Bashford was for a long term a member of the Maryborough City Council, and for a time occupied the Mayoral position in that city. Mrs. Bashford is survived by three daughters, Mesdames . M.E. Bain (East Ipswich). E. Cook (Brisbane), and W. S. Johnslon (North Ipswich): and three sons, Messrs. Thomas J. (Brisbane) George F. (North Ipswich). and Phillip *Wallaville. via Bundaberg). There also are 23 grand children and 17 great grandchildren.