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Rediscovering Ginninderra:
Jane Kilby [Webster]

Born: 1839; Died: 1913; Married: Robert Kilby

Jane Webster was a daughter of Arthur and Christian Webster (nee Kinloch) of 'Bloomfield', on the Murrumbidgee near Murrumbateman (and later of 'Woodside' on the Barton Highway). Christian Webster's maiden name was Kinloch, a name that was 'adopted' into the Kilby family, beginning with her grandson James Kinloch Kilby (b. 1870). 'Christian' was passed down to another grandchild - Christian Jane Kilby.

Jane married Robert Kilby at 'Bloomfield' on 19th May 1864, and moved to his home at Weetangera, which at that time did not have a name. According to family historian Liz Kilby "When a visitor [reputedly their neighbour John Coppin] arrived one day and asked if they had heard of the death of an old friend, Jane remarked that 'they heard very little news at this lands end of a place'. Robert decided that to be a suitable name for his property, so it became known as 'Lands End' ".

Jane had five children - Ann (1856), Christian Jane (1865), Sidney William (1867), James Kinloch (1870) and Edith Lavinia (1875). Ann was born before Jane and Robert married, and her father is not known. 'Lands End' was about one and a half miles from the Weetangera school which opened in 1875 with neighbour Ewan Cameron as the first teacher. Christian and Sidney were nominated in the application for a school as prospective pupils, and it is assumed that they enrolled. When the school was under threat in 1883 and parents again asked to identify prospective pupils, James (b.1870) and Edith (b.1875) were named. In 1890 when there was a temporary lack of an official teacher, James Kilby (then twenty) took charge of the school on a temporary basis until William Davis was appointed teacher [Clough].

Jane died at the only family home she had known for nearly fifty years. The Queanbeyan Observer reported on her passing as follows:

Another of the old and esteemed residents of this district in the person of Mrs Jane Kilby wife of Mr Robert Kilby of Land's End Weetangera died on Thursday last at the advanced age of 74 years. The deceased lady had been failing in health for some time and her death was not unexpected. During a residence of about 46 years in the locality the late Mrs Kilby had by reason of many excellent traits of character won the respect of all who knew her. Her husband survives her and two sons and two daughters, viz Mr James K Kilby of Hall, Mr Sidney Kilby of Weetangera and Mrs R Vest of Yarralumla, Mrs Evan Cameron Weetangera. The internment was made in the Presbyterian portion of the cemetery at Hall the funeral cortege being the largest ever seen in the locality. [Queanbeyan Observer 23.12.1913]

Note : We are especially grateful to Kilby family historian Liz Kilby for making available the work she has done on the Kilby family of 'Lands End' ', and kindly giving permission to use edited extracts of her writing.

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