Margaret Campbell : Short Biography

Margaret Evans (nee Campbell) 1842-1924

Margaret Campbell, born abt 1842 Woodfield, County Roscommon, Ireland, but no birth or baptismal certificate has been found.

Margaret's parent's were Susan (nee Johnstone) and Owen Campbell, there were three other  known siblings: William b. abt 1849, James b. abt 1833 and Joseph b.abt 1869 there are possibly other siblings. There is a possibility that the children were born in another County such as Louth, where there are many Campbell's and Johnstone's..

Margaret arrives in Australia on board the sailing ship Shackamaxon, in 1861  she worked in the Town of Geelong Victoria as a cook in 1864 she marries a John Evans from County Fermanagh, they move to  Darlington Victoria, John takes up work at Larra Station which had its own village for workers, two of their children were born their Susan b.1865 Mary Ann b.1867, later on John and Margaret were able to buy land close to Darlington and Derrinallium, where they started several businesses notibaly a dariy farm here is where the last five children were born Elizabeth b1870., Margaret b.1871 John Johnstone b 1873,  Charlotte b. 1875 and Henry b.1878. The family built up a strong portfilo of properties, but in 1884 John Evan's dies of Diptheria, in his will John left land and houses and farms to his two sons which was to be given to them on turning  21. He left his daughters 0ne thousand pounds also on turning 21 and to his wife Margaret Campbell 5 pounds sterling per year as long as she remains a widow and looks after their children! Margaret died of TB, in 1924 sadly she dies alone at Kew Mental Hospital where they locked up people with TB, Margaret is buried at Lismore cemetry Victoria with her husband John Evans. On the same day of her death the authorities placed  her coffin on the train to Lismore, for her funeral service and burial at Lismore, the grave stone still stands today and is in good condition a motive of hands across the sea and four leaf clovers appear on the headstone. 

Margarets family become pioneers of the district her daughters during their life time travel back to the old country and visit the Vactican where one of their Campbell cousins was been ordained as a Nun. The two youngers daughters Charlotte and Margaret run the local Post Office for many years, her son Henry runs the farms while the eldest boy travels Australia ending up in Western Australia mining in later years he goes to war and manages to come home to Australia.. The other three daughters marry two having had families, sadly Elizabeth marries but dies the same year of her marriage of kidney disease.

Birth certificate of her daughter Maryanne Evans states that her mother came from County Roscommon Ireland. Margaret left a will leaving the bulk of her estate to Charlotte and Margaret Evans her two youngest daughters.