Thomas Chipper
Although a resident of Kojonup, and later Wagin, Thomas Chipper was the father of Mary Jane Elizabeth Piesse, wife of Frederick Henry Piesse C.M.G., M.L.A, and Martha Amelia Ellen, wife of Charles Austin Piesse. Both of these men were responsible for the establishment and subsequent growth of Katanning. I have therefore added the obituary of their father-in-law to this website.
THE LATE MR THOMAS CHIPPER
AN OLD WEST AUSTRALIAN.
Great Southern Herald
11 April, 1903
In the person of Mr Thomas Chipper, father of Mary Jane Elizabeth Chipper, wife of the Hon. F. H. Piesse, M.L.A., Martha Amelia Ellen Chipper, wife of C. A. Piesse, Mrs. W. A. George, and of Mr. T. J. Chipper, of Narrogin, and uncle of Messrs Donald J. and Stephen J. Chipper, of Perth, and brother of Mr. J. C. Chipper, of Mundaring, death removed at an early hour on Saturday morning last, April 4, one of the oldest identities of this State. He is believed to have been the second white male born in the state.
Mr Chipper was in his 73rd year, and had been an invalid for several years, necessitating the attention of a regular attendant. He had been living at Wagin till recently when he came to live at “Kobeelya” the residence of his daughter, Mrs Piesse. He passed away peacefully in his sleep owing to failure the hearts action. The late gentleman was probably the oldest living male West Australian, as he was born in the year after the foundation of Western Australia as a colony in 1830, at Bassendean, on the Swan River, near Perth.
For between 28 and 30 years he was Government mail contractor on the old Perth and Albany road, and for the remainder of the period of 30 years, with brief intermissions, until in 1881 the Government decided to do the mail carrying work themselves, and the control of the service was then given to Messrs J. T. and the late A. C. Chipper, sons of the deceased.
Subsequent to his retirement from active participation in the mail contract work the late Mr Chipper followed farming and pastoral pursuits in the Kojonup district, his estate, Minerellup, being one of the finest. His wife died 25 years ago.
The funeral took place on Sunday afternoon, April 5, and was a large one. The cortege left “Kobeelya” at 3.30, and proceeded to St. Andrew’s Anglican Church, of which Mr Chipper was a communicant, the bell tolling the while. A surpliced choir met the coffin at the entrance of the church wherein the beautiful hymns “Brief Life is Here Our Portion,” and “Moments Quickly Flying” were sung.
At the conclusion of the first portion of the burial service, conducted by the Rev Jas. A. Howes, the choir again headed the procession to the strains of “The Dead March,” effectively played by Miss Hatswell, proceeded out of church when they divided, and the coffin was carried through the ranks of white robed choristers. The bell again tolled out its mournful message as the cortege proceeded to the Katanning general cemetery.
Full 200 townsfolk followed the funeral. Those present included Dr F. H. House, R.M., Messrs M. and D. Cronin, W. Grover, C. W. Couchman, E. H. Spencer, T. A. White, J. Rawlings (Mr. Chipper’s late attendant). E. J. Gratwick, W. Ware, R. J. and B. Bahlinger, A. Wilson, F. Humphries, M. Lebad, J. Barkley, W. Quartermaine, W. Drouin, G. McLeod, A. G. Goldring, Murphy, R. Wilcox, J. Terlich sen., T. Tussler, H. Hill, H. Chrystal, J. Heinzel, F. Gray, H. S. Ranford, C. B. and H. Ranford, T. H. Stanbury, C. A. Harris, M. F. Laurie, E. Johnston, C. Temby, E. Hill, A. Richter, Anderson, J. Rowe, L. Roth, J. S. Rogers, T. Haddleton and Sons, Mesdames Haddleton, Lebad, Pemble, Tussler, Quartermaine. Misses Cronin, E. and L. Bailey, Modra, Brown and Tussler.
At the graveside the Rev Jas A. Howes concluded the burial. The chief mourners were Messrs J. T. Chipper (son), Miss Chipper (daughter), F. H. and C. A. Piesse. (sons-in-law), Messrs F. T. R. Harold and Cecil Piesse, Arthur and J. Maley Chipper (grandsons), and Mr. Arnold E. Piesse, whose late wife was a niece of the deceased. The funeral arrangements were conducted by Messrs J. J. Squires and Sons.
The disinterment of the body of the late Mrs Chipper, wife of the late Thos. Chipper, was effected in the Kojonup Cemetery early on Tuesday. The heavy jarrah coffin was found to be in remarkable state of preservation, after having been buried for a quarter of a century. The disinterment was made for the purpose of reinterring the remains of Mrs Chipper alongside those of her husband in the Katanning Cemetery, and this was done at sundown on Tuesday in the presence of a number of relatives. The Rev J. A. Howes, of St George’s Anglican Church, officiated at the service.
MR. THOMAS CHIPPER.
The Western Mail
11 April, 1903
At Katanning on Sunday, Mr. Thomas Chipper, who was believed to be the second white male child born in Western Australia, died from a heart trouble at the age of 72. He was the eldest son of Mr. John Chipper, who came out from England in 1829. He was at one time in his career contractor for the mails, which had to be carried overland from Perth to Albany, sometimes taking a week in transit.
He had been living for some considerable time past at Wagin but owing to failing heath was staying during the last few months at the residence of his son-in-law, Mr. F. H. Piesse, where his death occurred. Mrs. George, wife of Mr. W. A. George, superintendent of the Fremantle prison, is a sister of the deceased gentleman.
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