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| Catherine and George Lee on thier wedding day |
On Saturday 14th April 22 year old Catherine or as she preferred Kate McGregor was married by the Rev. McCready at his residence 313 Cleveland St, Redfern to George William Lee. Catherine was the third daughter of James and Margaret McGregor, of Booth Street Balmain.
Their wedding photo, most likely taken in the garden of her parents’
home shows them to be a handsome couple. George was 27 years old and
came from the small trading community of Nelligen
on the South Coast of NSW.
His father Thomas George Lee (dates) owned the local store in Nelligen and later purchased Acacia Farm. George lived on the family farm on the banks of the beautiful Clyde River a few mile north of the village of Nelligen.
His father Thomas George Lee (dates) owned the local store in Nelligen and later purchased Acacia Farm. George lived on the family farm on the banks of the beautiful Clyde River a few mile north of the village of Nelligen.
There few clues as to how Catherine and George met,
perhaps it was when George was visiting family members who had moved from Nelligen to live in Sydney.
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| Catherine Lee, with daughters Jessie, Florence and baby Mona |
However, soon more children followed, four sons, Clyde James, Norman and George and five daughters, Florence, Jessie, Mona, Christina (my grandmother) and Eunice. The Lee children attended the small school at Nelligen. The three eldest sons were members of the NSW police force while the youngest, George (better known as Jordie) lived on and kept Acacia farm running.
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| Catherine with Goats on Acacia Farm |
The timing of their trips would be dependent on when the tides were coming in or going out. The family thrived living on their farm. There was a plentiful supply of fish in the river, milk and eggs from the farm, vegetables were grown, and numerous fruit trees. These beautiful old trees were still standing when I visited the farm as a small child.
The small wooden
farm house had a basic kitchen with an open fire, with large black
kettle and camp ovens for cooking On two sides of the farm house were
wide wooden verandahs that looked out over the Clyde River.
It really was a beautiful outlook, down over the fields to the river.
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| View from Acacia Farm down to the Clyde River |
I
am sure Catherine would have sat out on the verandah's, doing her chores, or sewing
and watched the logging boats go up and down the river. I remember
when we visited the farm for family picnics,
these verandas were out of bounds as the boards were old and rotten.
Catherine's husband,George passed away 1936,
Catherine continued to live on the farm with her youngest son Jordie (George Alexander).
Jordie married Pat Lenehan in 1944, and about this time Catherine went to live
with her daughter Christina Carriage (my nanna) in Milton. She had spent 56 years living on
the farm on the Clyde River Nelligen and was held in high regard by the
local community.
On the 12 August 1945, Catherine passed away at her daughter's home in Milton. From all accounts, a large funeral was held at the local Methodist church and then Catherine was buried in the family plot in the Methodist section of the cemetery at Mollymook. A peaceful resting place overlooking the ocean.
On the 12 August 1945, Catherine passed away at her daughter's home in Milton. From all accounts, a large funeral was held at the local Methodist church and then Catherine was buried in the family plot in the Methodist section of the cemetery at Mollymook. A peaceful resting place overlooking the ocean.
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