Rachel Alston CHARTERIS / LAWSON

Born 20 October 1856 in Lesmahagow, Lanarkshire, Scotland ^[28]
Daughter of labourer James CHARTERIS and Isabella MILLAR ^[28]
She was named after her maternal grandmother Rachel ALSTON ^[33]
In 1881 she was a Dairymaid and was living with her parents and brothers William and James at Muirhouse in Lesmahagow ^[20]
Married John LAWSON on 27 May 1882 in Biggar, Lanarkshire, Scotland ^[28]
Witnesses to their marriage were Thomas LAWSON and Mary Ann CHARTERIS ^[28]
In 1891 she was living with her husband and children in the farmhouse on Clerklands Farm in Lilliesleaf, Roxburghshire, Scotland ^[20]
Her husband, who was a Farm Manager, passed away at the age of 41 years at Clerklands Farm in Lilliesleaf on 14 May 1894 ^[28]
In 1901 she was working as a Dairymaid and living with her children at Faugh Hill Cottages in Bowden, Roxburghshire, Scotland ^[20]
Along with her sons Jack and Tom departed from Liverpool, England on the steamship Afric on 1 June 1911 ^[203]
Also on the same voyage of the Afric was early Marchagee farmer Charles H. EMERY of the Marchagee Estate Farm ^[203]
They disembarked from the steamship Afric in Albany, Western Australia on 7 July 1911 ^[23]
In 1925 she was housekeeping for her sons David and Tom on Bibining Farm in Kununoppin ^[50]
Resided with her son William on his Clerklands Farm in Winchester, Western Australia 1925-1927 ^[19]
Mother of Isabella Miller, David, Agnes Scott, "Jack" John, "Bill" William Miller Charteris and "Tom" Thomas ^[20]
Died 17 June 1927 in Winchester; buried at Winchester Cemetery in Carnamah, Western Australia (Row A, Plot 2) ^{[1] [14]}
She was the first person to be buried in the then newly created Winchester Cemetery ^{[4: 25-Jun-1927]}
Her funeral was undertaken by Henry Parkin & Son of Carnamah, and officiated by Rev. Walter B. KENWORTHY of Dongara ^[1]


From The West Australian newspaper, Wednesday 22 June 1927:
In Memoriam
"LAWSON - In loving memory of our mother, Rachel Alston Charteris, who died at Winchester, on June 17; aged 70 years. The bravest of the brace. Now at rest. Inserted by her sorrowing family, Mrs T. F. Wallce, Wittamuning, Kununoppin; David Lawson, Bibining, Kununoppin; Mrs A. S. Sharp, Yarrow, Carnamah; John Lawson, W. M. C. Lawson, and Thomas Lawson, all of Winchester."


From The Midlands Advertiser newspaper, Friday 24 June 1927:
Carnamah News
"The death of Mrs Lawson, of Winchester, occurred early on Friday morning, after a short illness due to heart trouble. Mrs Lawson is the mother of Messrs Jack, William and Thomas Lawson, old settlers of Winchester, also Mrs A. Sharp, of Carnamah. Deceased was well known and respected throughout the district. The funeral took place on Monday afternoon, the remains being interred in the new cemetery at Winchester. The residents of the district sympathise with the bereaved ones in their sad loss."


From The Irwin Index newspaper, Saturday 25 June 1927:
Personal
"Mrs. Lawson, an old and respected resident of Winchester, passed away at her home at the latter portion of last week. She was buried at the new Winchester cemetery on Monday last. Our deepest sympathy is extended to the sorrowing relatives."


From The West Australian newspaper, Tuesday 28 June 1927:
The Midlands
There was a large attendance at the funeral of Mrs Lawson which took place on June 20. This was the first burial in the local cemetery at Winchester, and the road board intends calling for tenders for fencing the site.


From The West Australian newspaper, Tuesday 28 June 1927:
Country News - Eastern Districts - Kununoppin
"The death of Mrs Lawson occurred suddenly at Winchester on June 17. Mrs Lawson arrived in this district with her family about 15 years ago, and her fine character made her universally loved and respected. She lived to see her four sons and two daughters prosperously settled on wheat farmers of their own."

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