Maria Steley (1848 - 1869)

Born 29 Dec 1848 in Beaufort, Monmouthshire, Wales, United Kingdom

Ancestors

Died 14 Nov 1869 at age 20 in Agnes Vale, Queensland, Australia

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Biography

Birth^[1]

Name Maria Steley

Event Type Birth Registration

Event Date 1856

Event Place Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, England

Maria was killed in a horseriding accident, believed to have hit her head on a low branch. There is a creek in Howard, named Maria creek, also believed to be named after her. She also was given a gold nugget from a bushranger she met when she was younger.

Maria Steley was born to Leah and Abel Steley on 29 December 1848 in Monmouthshire in the south of Wales. The Steley family emigrated to Queensland when Maria was fifteen, leaving Liverpool 6 October 1863, on board the Ariadne,arriving Brisbane January 1864. The family included Maria’s mother and father, her four younger brothers and her younger sister Mary Leah. The Steley family were the only assisted emigrants from Wales on board ship. The ship and those aboard were quarantined until February 1864 due to measles. ^{[2] [3]}Maria Steley's log book of their voyage to Australia see no 4 at the address below at the John Oxley Library

^[4] Maria Steley’s Log Book Diary kept by Maria Steley during her voyage from England to Brisbane on board the Ariadne, and subsequent detainment in a quarantine camp on North Stradbroke Island due to an outbreak of measles on board ship. The journal is addressed to her friend Elenor and Maria often passes on useful information about what clothing and food Elenor should bring with her when she comes to Australia. The weather is described on a daily basis, as well as activities on board ship, and the food eaten. There is also included toward the end of the diary a poem/song titled The Ariadne composed by the steward Mr R Leytham.

After arriving in Brisbane, the Steley family lived first in Rockhampton with Maria’s older sister Maltilda, who was already living in Australia with her husband and children, and then Maryborough, where Maria’s father Abel Steley was involved with the Burrum Coal Mine.

Maria Steley died on 14 November 1869 at the age of 20. She was killed in a horse riding accident as she was riding home after a visit to Agnes Vale Homestead, west of Maryborough. She was buried at Agnes Vale Station the following day.

Maria Steley Gravestone

Trial of Palmer for the Murder of Halligan^[5]

MARIA STALEY: deposed that she lived at the Hartley Colliery on the Burrum, with her father; had seen prisoner on the 13th May at the Burrum River; he was alone and on foot; she afterwards saw him with a horse; first saw him between 4 & 5 in the afternoon of the 30th April; had never seen him before; the first thing he said was-- Would you like to see some gold?. Her mother was there; witness said, Yes, and the prisoner took gold from his pocket; witness said she did not think it was gold; prisoner said it was gold in the amalgum; it was in the shape of a half-moon; he put it back in his pocket, and said he was a gold buyer and sharebroker at Ridgelands and Gympie; he said he was a married man, and his wife was at Gympie; He took two portraits from his pocket, and said one was his wife and the other his sister; he had a revolver in his belt; he stayed there until next morning; after tea he spoke about Alick Archibald, and said he was a great friend of his, and that he had been a partner of his for four years, and of he had not given Alick money he would have failed long ago; he said the public did not know it; he showed a stain on his revolver case which he said was blood; said he had lost a horse, with saddle, bridle and swag, in the Fitzroy River, and with them the remainder of the gold; after showing the stain he said a man attempted to stick him up, and that he, prisoner, shot him through the shoulder, and that he carried him away to the bush to get well the best way he could; he asked her if she would like enough gold to make a ring; said she would; her brother,at prisoner's request brought a hammer; he gave her the gold he cut off, and said it would make rings for all in the house; he left their place about 9 o'clock on Friday morning; on the 24th May she gave the gold he gave her to Detective Smith; Prisoner left on horseback; the gold produced was like what she gave Smith. By Mr. Baird: Was quite sure that prisoner spoke of the blood on the revolver; she forgot to mention it when she was before the Magistrate; no one reminded her of it; she thought of it since; She had mentioned it in Maryborough before coming to Rockhampton.

Samuel Smith, detective officer, deposed that in May last he received from last witness the gold produced; received it from her in Maryborough.

ABEL STALEY, coal agent, corroborated the evidence of his daughter.

THE DEATH OF MARIA STELEY^[6]

Just two months after the bankruptcy hearing, an event occurred which overshadowed all other recent happenings. On Sunday 14th November, a Mr. West arrived at their house with the news that Maria had met with an accident while on her way home from a visit to Agnes Vale, about twenty-eight miles away. Maria had left their home the previous afternoon accompanied by a young man named William Broom. Abel and Leah left immediately for the scene of the accident which had occurred about eight miles from Agnes Vale. They arrived there about four or five o'clock, only to find that Maria had died not long after the accident happened. Abel examined the body and found a deep cut on the right temple which he later testified "had the appearance of being inflicted by the head coming in contact with some hard sharp substance."

The nearest resident Magistrate, Mr. Corfield was absent from his home at the time so Abel himself caused the body to be removed to Agnes Vale for burial - a cart having been brought from the station for this purpose. The coffin was made from pine boards taken from the ceiling of the Agnes Vale homestead and the following day Maria was laid to rest beside the father and brother of the man who she was soon to have married, Thomas Broom. The events which occurred after Maria left the Burrum on 13th November, were outlined at the inquest held on 22nd November and presided over by Mr. George Faircloth P.M.

Maria had arrived at Agnes Vale about 3 or 4 o'clock in the afternoon. (Agnes Vale at the time was owned by Mrs. Broom who had been left with eight children to bring up when her husband was accidentally killed in 1859). It is believed that a dance was held on the Saturday night at the home of a neighbour Mrs. Starkey, which would have been the reason for Maria's visit.

The next morning, Mary Ann Broom, daughter of the owner of Agnes Vale, and Alexander Christie Walker, a stockman from Bingera Station on the Burnett River, left with Maria to accompany her on the return journey to the Burrum. Some miles out on the journey, Maria and Mary Ann decided to have a canter and Mary ann probably being the better rider soon got in front - Alexander Walker was riding some way behind. It appears that Maria hit her shoulder on a sapling when her horse swerved suddenly - she was unseated but her skirt evidently caught on the pommel.

The horse then took fright and dragged her along until she hit into a tree and a few yards further on fell to the ground. Mr. Walker and Miss Broom came up to her about the same time - they got some water to bathe her face and she groaned a couple of times but never spoke a word.

Mr. Walker left for Agnes Vale for assistance and after a couple of hours returned with a buggy and accompanied by John Broom, brother of Mary Ann. Mr. West arrived at the scene and took the news to Maria's parents at the Burrum. Though it has been disputed by some, the newspaper report of 18th November 1869, stated that Maria was to have been married to Thomas Broom on New Years Day 1870.

ACCOUNT OF THE DEATH OF MARIA STELEY ^[7]

A correspondent furnishes the particulars of a distressing and fatal accident which happened to Miss Steley, daughter of Mr. A. Steley of the Burrum Coal Mine, on Sunday morning last. The young lady referred to was returning from a visit to an adjacent station, Mrs. Starkeys, Agnes Vale in company with Miss Broom and Mr. A.C. Walker of Bingera.

While cantering at a moderate pace along a bush track, her horse suddenly swerved, and brought her shoulder in contact with a sapling, which partially unseated her, the horse then took fright and rushed headlong amongst the trees, causing her head to strike against one of them. She was dashed to the ground, the horse dragging her by the skirt for some distance, and causing her death in a few minutes, without the utterance of a sound.

Mr. Walker galloped to Agnes Vale eight miles for assistance leaving Miss Broom with her silent charge. A messenger was despatched to the Burrum, who soon returned with the Father and Mother of the unfortunate girl. Her remains were conveyed to Agnes Vale and there buried on the following day.

The sad fate of this amiable young lady has caused a sad blank in the neighbourhood. She was engaged to be married on New Year's Day next, to Mr. Thomas Broom. A general gloom prevails in that portion of the district, where she was so well known as a sincere and affectionate daughter, sister and friend. The brute which caused the catastrophe is still away, with saddle and bridle.

Magisterial Inquiry into death ^[8]

A magisterial inquiry was held on 22 Nov 1869 at Maryborough by George Faircloth. Deponents were Abel Steley, Mary Ann Broom and Alexander Christie Walker.

Verdict.

Accidental death from the fall off a horse ..........................George Faircloth P.M.

^[9]Burial Agnes Vale Station Cemetery, Childers, Bundaberg Region, Queensland, Australia (see photos of grave)

Sources

1. ↑ "England and Wales Birth Registration Index, 1837-2008," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2651-9NT : 1 October 2014), Maria Steley, 1856; from "England & Wales Births, 1837-2006," database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing Birth Registration, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, England, citing General Register Office, Southport, England.
2. ↑ https://www.slq.qld.gov.au/blog/tale-quarantine-queensland-maria-steley-diary-1863-64
3. ↑ http://blogs.slq.qld.gov.au/jol/2015/09/03/5-fantastic-sea-voyage-diaries/ 4. MARIA STELEY DIARY 1863-1864 Maria Steley Diary 1863-1864. John Oxley Library. State Library of Queensland
4. ↑ Maria Steley’s diary has been digitised and can be viewed via SLQ’s One Search catalogue. http://hdl.handle.net/10462/comp/781
5. ↑ Trial of Palmer for the murder of Halligan: Statement by MARIA STELEY 16th October 1869 at Rockhampton Court
6. ↑ "A History of The Steley Family in Australia" by Stephan and Dennis Steley
7. ↑ Maryborough Chronicle, Nov..18, 1869
8. ↑ Magisterial enquiry held at the Court House Maryborough on the 22nd November 1869 before one of her Majesty's Justices of the Peace in and for the Colony of Queensland touching the death of one Maria Steley ......George Faircloth P.M.
9. ↑ Maria Steley (1849-1869) on Find A Grave: Memorial #193351049 retrieved 25 June 2020