Mary Cathleen Ellen Freestone

Mary Cathleen Ellen Freestone was born on 21 August 1888 in Wollombi, New South Wales, Australia. She was the daughter of John Freestone, aged 32, and Jane Freestone, aged 29.

Mary married Hubert James O’Mullane (1883–1942), and they made their home in Manilla, New South Wales. Together they had four children:

• Leo Vincent O’Mullane (1 December 1911 – 21 January 1995), born in Manilla. He married Doris Frances May Smith in 1936 in Manilla. They had four children during their 11-year marriage. Leo remained in Manilla throughout his life and died there at the age of 83. He was buried in Manilla.
• Amanda Maude O’Mullane (1913 – 29 January 1915), born in Manilla. She died as a young child and was buried in Manilla.
• Doris Jane O’Mullane (March 1915 – 6 September 1915), born in Manilla. She died in infancy and was buried in Manilla.
• Doreen Mary O’Mullane (16 June 1917 – 24 July 1994), born in Manilla. She married Eric Alexander Stewart in 1936 in Manilla, and they had five children. Doreen died in Manilla at the age of 77 and was buried there.

After their marriage ended in divorce on 27 July 1927 in Tamworth, New South Wales, Mary remained in the Manilla district.

On 10 July 1940, Mary married Edward Victor Jones in Manilla, New South Wales. She was known thereafter as Mary Cathleen Ellen Jones.

Mary lived a long life in the Manilla community and died on 26 October 1974 in Manilla, New South Wales, aged 86. She was buried in the Manilla Cemetery alongside many members of her family.

Mary’s life spanned a period of great change in rural New South Wales. Despite the loss of two young daughters in infancy and the end of her first marriage, she remained devoted to her family. Through her son Leo and daughter Doreen, she became the matriarch of a large family whose descendants continued to live in and around the Manilla district for generations.