Edward Parnell 1823-1907 and Caroline Kemp 1820-1898.
Edward was born 23rd October 1823 at Richmond and married Caroline Kemp in Newcastle 30th January 1849. Caroline the daughter of Simon and Mary was born in England and died in Newcastle in 1898.
Caroline's father, Simon purchased land from the Australian Agricultural Company in 1836. In 1860, Simon gave a portion of this land to the Church of England for the purpose of erecting a church, school and parsonage.St. Andrew's Church at North Waratah, Newcastle, was opened on 21st.May 1861. (Since demolished)
The children were -Emma 1851, --Caroline 1855, --Edward Carrington 1857, --Clarissa Anne 1858, --Walter Herbert 1860, --Edith Blanche 1863. Elizabeth Francis and Mary Stella are also mentioned. Edward Carrington married Ada M Huxley in 1883.Edward was elected as a Director of sheep inspections in 1867, before becoming the District Trustee of the Newcastle branch of the Bank of NSW in 1872. Other details of his life can be seen in the main story.
He left an estate valued at £67,102. An extract from his wills indicates: - The Executors were son Walter Herbert of Mayfield, daughters Emma of Ashfield, and Elizabeth of Newcastle. In addition to the Pinnacle Estate in Qld. formally devised to his son Edward Carrington, he bequeathed to him the sum of £1000. The residue of his estate he bequeathed to the trustee's upon trust for his children Walter Herbert, Emma, Elizabeth Francis, Mary Stella, Clarissa and Blanche. He directed that the estate known, as "Carrington" at Jerry's Plains not be sold for five years after his decease unless the State Government was willing to purchase it.
The following is a copy taken from the "Newcastle Monitor" Quote: -
"The late Mr. Edward Parnell, whose death shortly after midnight on Tuesday, was briefly reported in our columns yesterday, was an elder son of Thomas Parnell, a native of Hawkesbury, where he was born at Richmond on 28th October, 1823.
At a very early age Mr. Parnell went on to the Namoi River, his first trip being undertaken when he was only about 10 years old. Later, when still quite young, he managed his father's stations near Gunnedah, amongst them, Tulcumbah, Weetalibah, and Rangiri, and also became owner of several himself, of which Woolabra was one. After spending some seven years in the northwest, Mr. Parnell purchased Carrington Park, at Jerry's Plains and resided in that district until June, 1867, when he moved with his family to Newcastle, to continue there until the time of his decease, so that was for more than 40 years he was a citizen of this city (Newcastle).
The only occasion upon which Mr. Parnell essayed into Parliament was when, at the earnest solicitation of the late Sir James Martin, he allowed himself to be nominated for the New England electorate in opposition to Sir Charles Cowper; but his heart was not set upon membership to the Legislature, and he made no personal canvas, with the result that his opponent was elected.
It was in church work that Mr. Parnell was most deeply interested. He was elected to the first Synod of the diocese of Newcastle; in fact he was a member of the general church council which preceded Synod, and was returned to every subsequent Synod until his death. In his parish church at Jerry's Plains and afterwards at Christchurch, Newcastle, he held office as warden, practically without a break, for more than 50 years. On the magisterial bench there is not, it is thought, one surviving in the state whose commission dates back as far as Mr. Parnell's; that is, to August 1854.
Mr. Parnell leaves a family of seven - two sons and 5 daughters. The funeral will leave his late residence, King Street, at 2 PM today. The service will be held in the Cathedral, and lay clerks and choristers are requested to meet there at 2.50 PM. At the organ recital to-night in Christchurch Cathedral the dead march from "Saul" will be played by Mr. Edward King in memory of Mr. Parnell".