Jonathon and Sarah Obituaries

On Wednesday night, April 10th, at his residence, Laura, there passed away one of Gladstone's earliest settlers and one of the most highly respected farmers in the district, in the person of Mr. Jonathan Pryor. Born in the neighbourhood of St. Austell, Cornwall, in 1839, he came with his parents to South Australia in the ship "William Moonie" in 1848. For some years the family settled in the Burra, and then commenced farming at Allendale, near Kapunda.

On reaching manhood Mr. Pryor began farming on his own account at Marrabel and was married to Miss Sarah Wyatt, who after 50 years of wedded life survives her husband. Over 40 years ago Mr. and Mrs. Pryor came to Gladstone and selected a large and fertile holding of land on which, with the exception of a short time at Laura they have resided ever since.

There are three surviving children, Thomas of Gladstone, Mrs. Flood wife of the well known Methodist minister, and William Henry in Victoria.

There are also five grand-children. The funeral arrangements were in the able hands of Mr. Bills of Laura, with Revs. J. Raymont and E. Arnold as officiating ministers at the grave. The Foresters service was read by Mr. Budge. The attendance from all parts of the district was very large.

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Through the death of Mrs. Jonathan Prior, whose maiden name was Wyatt, Gladstone has lost one of its pioneers. The deceased was born in Bristol, England, while her father was employed on the construction of the Bristol and Exeter railway. At the age of eleven years, in December 1849, she, and her parents arrived in the ship Harry Lonequear, and spent Christmas Day at anchor in Port Adelaide. The family, with others, proceeded to Kapunda by means of bullock dray, where Mr. Wyatt for some time worked at the smelters.

When gold was discovered in Victoria, she and her parents, in company with another family, travelled to the diggings, a bullock dray conveying tents and worldly goods, and also affording a ride to the women and children. On reaching the Murray the bullocks were swum across and the dray was floated over by means of casks lashed to the axle. Mrs. Prior's father was very successful in gold mining .... He returned to South Australia via Melbourne where he, with many others camped for a time on the banks of the Yarra, near the site of Prince's Bridge railway station.

Shortly after reaching Kapunda Mr. Wyatt took up land near Allendale North, where Mrs. Prior met her future husband. On their marriage the young couple occupied a selection near Marrabel and here remained for some years. On the Areas being opened up Mr. Prior selected land near Gladstone, where for nearly fifty years, with the exception of two years spent in Laura, Mrs Prior resided till her death. After being an almost helpless invalid for nearly five years the end came somewhat unexpectedly on June 2nd.

Although of a retiring disposition, she was highly esteemed by all her knew her for her unfailing cheerfulness and kindness of heart. There are three surviving children, vis., Thomas, Gladstone; William Henry, Victoria; and Mrs. Flood, Laura. There are also six grand-children and two greatgrandchildren. Her remains were interred in the Laura cemetery. The funeral arrangements were in the hands of Mr. E A. Gale, with Revs. P.H. Chennell and J. J. Kilmartin officiating at the graveside. In spite of very inclement weather the attendance from all parts of the district was large.