19th century crowdfunding

** more to come **

On 19 August 1894, James Adams was thrown off his horse when returning to his home near Frederickton. He was taken home, but died there the next day. The horse had tripped over a peg in the road, left for roadworks.

Fatal Accident on the Gladstone Road. (1894, August 22). Macleay Argus (Kempsey, NSW : 1885 - 1907; 1909 - 1910; 1912 - 1913; 1915 - 1916; 1918 - 1954), p. 5 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article233882283

His widow, Jane Mary Teresa Adams, took on a court case against the local council, even as she became the matriarch of three families: her first marriage to Walter George Mason which gave her four sons followed by three children; James' first marriage to Ann Thompson with six surviving children; and their own family of four daughters. Their eldest daughter together, Ida May Adams, married Joseph Judd just two years before her father's death. 

Kempsey Road Accident. (1894, August 23). Evening News (Sydney, NSW : 1869 - 1931), p.5 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article113326809

This was not the first time that Jane had been left destitute. Her first husband Walter Mason died when she was pregnant. The Mason family was well known in Sydney, especially for the wood engraving work, and consequently a fundraiser was planned. 

Jane Mason with her daughter Robinniana

Source: https://mychildrensancestors.weebly.com/jane-mary-teresa-brady.html

Jane's parents, William Brady and Margaret Smith, were married in Cavan, County Cavan on 2 November 1838. Jane was baptised on 19 January 1840 in the same Roman Catholic Church where her parents wed. Working back from her immigration record dated 25 December 1841, arriving in Australia aged one year and nine months old, Jane was born in early April 1839.