Decendants of The EBENEZER PIONEERS OF THE HAWKESBURY
The son of Ralph TURNBULL 1814 - 1901 and Sarah Matilda, nee REYNOLDS 1823 - 1886.
William, and his twin brother Ralph were born at Colo on the 8 June 1846. The first boys of Thirteen children.
Sarah Matilda TURNBULL 1842–1930 m: Patrick DALEY 1844-1898
Sophia TURNBULL 1844–1881
William TURNBULL 1846–1940 m: Phoebe BALDWIN 1854-1938
Ralph TURNBULL 1846–1935 m: Maria Ann DUNSTON 1850-1939
Henry George TURNBULL 1848–1926 m: Drucilla Sophia EVERINGHAM 1850-1933
John TURNBULL 1850–1938 m: Phoebe Martha COBCROFT 1854-1918
Lucinda TURNBULL 1852–1938 m: Henry LOCKART
James Benjamin TURNBULL 1854–1899 m: Mary Matilda GRAHAM 1855-1918
Reuben TURNBULL 1856–1869
Elizabeth Ann TURNBULL 1858–1942 m: Thomas Jerome SALTER 1860-1921
Edward 'Ned' TURNBULL 1860–1923 m: Mazella Adeline CROSS 1871-1912
Alfred Ernest TURNBULL 1863–1915 m: Ada Emily BOWMAN 1867-1954
Edith Grace TURNBULL 1866–1866

OBITUARY
WILLIAM TURNBULL
AS briefly announced in our last issue,
the death occurred at his residence,
"Wenona," Wilberforce, on Tuesday of last week
of one of the Hawkesbury's most widely
known and respected identities, and one
whose passing is regretted by the whole
community, in the person of Mr. William
Turnbull, at the advanced age of 94 years.
The deceased was a native of Colo, being
a twin son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Ralph
Turnbull, who were among the pioneers of
that centre, where they were engaged in
farming operations. Deceased and his twin
brother, Ralph, who were inseparable companions
for the greater period of the latter's life,
(Ralph predeceased his brother some five years ago,
in his 89th year)inherited a love of the land from
their parents, and in their younger days jointly
conducted farming operations at Wilberforce.
Later, however, after his brother was married,
the subject of this notice moved to
Queensland, where he lived for several years,
but finally the call of his native district
could be ignored no longer, and he returned
to take over a farm at Freeman's Reach.
He worked this property until, at 75 years,
he retired, and moved to Wilberforce, where
he resided until his death.
Throughout their lives there were probably
no district residents who were generally
known and widely esteemed as "the Turnbull twins,"
as they were generally known.
Coming of that sturdy pioneer stock to which
the present-day Hawkesbury owes so much,
they had inculcated in their parental training
those simple, and honest precepts which distinguished
their generation, and better neighbors or citizens
it would be difficult indeed to discover. Their
forthright honesty and invariable kindliness earned
them a legion of friendships and the severing of their
David and Jonathan partnership by the death of Ralph
was a sorrow for William which was shared by the whole community.
Deceased took a keen interest in all progressive projects
in his own area and the Hawkesbury generally, and
for many years, with his brother, served on the council of
the Hawkesbury District Agricultural Association, of
which deceased was a Life Vice-President. He had been
at all times a keen supporter of the Hawkesbury Show,
and the association owes much to the service which
he rendered it as a member of the council.
In connection with the service of the Turnbull twins on
the council, incidentally, there has arisen a tradition
probably unique in the history of such bodies. Both being
confirmed tea drinkers, the twins, for convenience at
the "cup of tea" which traditionally follows meetings
of the council even to this day, supplied their own
cups, huge affairs more than twice the size of ordinary
cups. These were a stock subject for badinage from their
colleagues, but later, after they had left the council,
it was decided that one of these cups, suitably ornamented,
be presented as a trophy for perpetual competition, and
now the "Turnbull Cup" has become, the chief and most prized
trophy in the Clydesdale section of each successive show.
And so, after a full and useful life, much
of which was devoted to the interests of his
fellow man and the district which he loved,
William Turnbull has gone to join the Great
Majority, leaving not an enemy in the
world, and an army of friends to lament
his passing. No monument will be needed
to keep his memory evergreen in the Hawkesbury.
In addition to a sister (Mrs. T. Salter,
Haberfield), deceased is survived by a family of three sons,
Malcolm (Riverstone), Ralph (Wilberforce) and Dio (Tom), of Mulgrave,
and four daughters, Fanny (Mrs.C. Greentree, Wilberforce),
Linda (Mrs. Stinson, Haberfield), Ruby (Mrs. E. Salter, Wilberforce)
and Vera (Mrs. Stewart, Haberfield), to whom heartfelt sympathy
is extended in their bereavement.
The wide esteem in which deceased had
been held by all sections of the community
was evident from the attendance at the funeral,
which moved from the residence to
St. John's Church, Wilberforce, where a
service was conducted by Rev. K. F. Saunders,
during which the hymn "Abide With
Me" was sung by the congregation, and at
the conclusion the Funeral March was played
by the organist, Mr. F. J. Palmer.
The interment took place in the family enclosure
of the Church of England cemetery, the
grave being covered with a profusion of
floral tributes, including a wreath from the
Hawkesbury District Agricultural Association, (which
was represented by a number of councillors) and one
from the Wilberforce P. and C. Association.
SOURCE:
Windsor and Richmond Gazette
Friday 16 August 1940
Page 3
Transcription, janilye
The TURNBULL twins were Councillors for many years on the
Hawkesbury District Agricultural Association and
"being confirmed tea drinkers, at afternoon tea time, supplied
their own cups - huge affairs, more than three times the size of
ordinary cups".
One of the giant size china cups was mounted and designated
the "Turnbull Cup", as an annual trophy awarded to
"the most successful exhibitor in the draught horse classes".
The trophy was awarded from 1930 to 1940. Shows were not
staged during the war years and when they resumed in 1947, the
Turnbull Cup was awarded for the last time. The tractor had replaced
the draught horse for many farm activities so there were very few
entries in that section. The cup is now a museum piece ....
[page 103, Hawkesbury Journey, ISBN 0 908120 87 7]
'Macquarie Country' is a companion volume to 'Hawkesbury Journey'.