Mary Castles was born on 13 May 1833 at Maitland, New South Wales. She was the daughter of Patrick Castles, aged 40, and Honora Castles, aged 29.
On 23 October 1850, Mary married Thomas Polson at Wollombi, New South Wales. Together they raised a large family of nine children over the next nineteen years. Thomas was born in 1811 at Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, the son of John and Jane Polson, before immigrating to New South Wales. He died on 6 June 1869 at Wollombi, aged 58, and was buried in the local cemetery.
Following Thomas’s death, Mary later married William Aaron Smith, and they had one daughter together, Ellen Smith, who was born in 1876 at Wollombi.
Mary spent most of her life in the Hunter Valley before later moving to the Riverina. She died on 20 August 1897 at Yanco, New South Wales, aged 64. She was laid to rest at Wollombi beside members of her family.
Children of Mary Castles and Thomas Polson
John Polson was born on 26 January 1852 at Branxton, New South Wales.
Thomas Polson was born on 14 January 1854 at Wollombi, New South Wales. He married Agnes H. Reading on 9 July 1885 at Uralla, New South Wales. They raised twelve children during their forty-year marriage. Thomas died at Uralla on 24 November 1925, aged 71, and was buried there.
Andrew Polson was born in 1856 at Wollombi. Sadly, he died as a young child on 20 April 1859 and was buried at Wollombi.
Jane Polson, the great-grandmother of the compiler, was born at Wollombi. She continued the family’s connection to northern New South Wales through her own descendants.
Annie Polson was born on 16 March 1861 at Wollombi. She married Charles Rootes on 30 August 1880 at Wollombi. They had four children before Annie died on 23 December 1890 at Manilla, New South Wales, aged only 29. She was buried at Manilla.
Mary Polson was born on 24 June 1863 at Wollombi. She married Stephen George Roberts on 7 October 1880 at Wollombi. They had seven children during their marriage. Mary died on 20 July 1949 at Manilla, aged 86, and was buried there.
Elizabeth Polson was born on 25 August 1865 at Wollombi. She died on 24 November 1867, aged two years, and was buried at Wollombi.
Barbara Polson was born on 10 October 1867 at Wollombi. She lived only a few weeks, passing away on 21 November 1867. She was buried at Wollombi.
Catherine Jane Polson was born on 15 February 1869 at Wollombi, only a few months before her father’s death. She first married John Willis, and they had one son. After John’s death, she married Henry Long, and they had two children. Catherine died on 15 March 1947 at Cessnock, New South Wales, aged 78, and was buried at Branxton.
Child of Mary Castles and William Aaron Smith
Ellen Smith was born in 1876 at Wollombi, New South Wales. She was the only child of Mary Castles and her second husband, William Aaron Smith, and represented the second family Mary raised following the death of Thomas Polson.
Mary Castles Photo Wollombi Endeavour Museum.