The Register, Monday 29 August 1904
(Adelaide, South Australia)

DEATHS
BARTLE.—On the 28th August, at her daughter’s (Mrs Burnett) residence, Somerset Cottages, Walkerville, Elizabeth, relict of the late Peter Bartle, late of Onetree Hill and Dry Creek, aged 102 years 10 months and 11 days.

The Register, Monday 29 August 1904
(Adelaide, South Australia)

AGE 103
DEATH OF MRS BARTLE
Mrs. E. Bartle, who was within two months of her 103rd year, died at Somerset Cottages, Walkerville, South Australia, on Sunday evening. The deceased was a remarkable old lady, and the anniversaries of her natal day of recent years were remembered by numerous personal friends and others, who called to pay their respects and convey gifts to cheer the centenarian in the decline of life. This venerable woman was born in the parish of St. Hilary, Cornwall, on October 17, 1801. Though white with the hoar of her long burden of years, she was wonderfully hale. The news that filtered through England to its utmost bounds respecting the events of the Peninsular war was with Mrs. Bartle as the memories of yesterday, and she freshly recalled the announcement of the victory of the Duke of Wellington at Waterloo, when "everybody was full of joy, and all the miners were given holiday and entertained by the owners of properties." Her first recollections of the Methodist movement in the village are worth quoting. "Passing down the street with some girls one day," she said, "we came to a house where a number of people were sitting around a table, upon which a candle was burning, with their hands held up, and making a great noise. We ran home and told our mothers that there had been an accident in the mine and some was lying hurt in the house, for the occasion of an accident was the only time when the quiet of the place was disturbed. Mother told me to go away with such nonsense. The people there were good folks who were holding a meeting, the same as we did in the Church of England, but they had no building of their own." Her recollections of the early events in the reign of Queen Victoria were quite fresh. She married the late Mr. Peter Bartle, and removed from her native place to Camborne. Subsequently she returned to St. Hilary, where she resided until she left for South Australia with her husband and two children. They arrived here on September 9, 1847, in the ship Aboukir. Among those on board were Capt. Scott and his wife, Mr. and Mrs. Peck, and the late Mr. J. Blatchford. Shortly after coming to this State, Mr. Bartle, who died about 29 years ago, was appointed clerk of St. John’s Church, a position which he held until 1853. He and his son then went to the Victorian goldfields, and after their return resided at Barrow Hill Farm, near Onetree Hill. Mr. Bartle helped to build the school house there, where services were conducted until the Wesleyan Church, of which he was a trustee, was erected. With his daughter he also opened the first Sunday school at that place. After her husband’s death Mrs. Bartle resided with her daughter, Mrs. Burnett, at Dry Creek. The son (Mr. Bartle, of Teatree Gully) and the daughter are both septuagenarians. Of late years Mrs. Bartle was too feeble to move about except with the assistance of a crutch and her daughter’s support, but she could read without glasses, and rejoiced in the fact that the proceeds of her knitting contributed towards her support. The old lady held quite a levee on her 100th birthday, when over 200 persons visited the cottage, and she proudly alluded to the kindness of Lord and Lady Tennyson, who visited her on that occasion and again just before their departure for Melbourne, when they left an autograph portrait of their three children. She lived in the reigns of five monarchs.

The Advertiser, Monday 29 August 1904
(Adelaide, South Australia)

A CENTENARIAN DEAD
Mrs Elizabeth Bartle, who nearly three years ago attained her hundredth year, died on Sunday afternoon at her daughter’s residence, 16, Somerset Cottage, Walkerville, the cause of death being senile decay. She was in many respects a remarkable old lady, and until recently was able to take a lively interest in all that went on. She was born in the parish of St. Hilary, near Penzance, in the west of Cornwall, on October 17, 1801, and would if she had lived until October next been 103 years of age. Whilst in her native country Mrs. Bartle was for several years a school teacher, and it was about this time that the Wesleyans were becoming a power in the land. She joined the denomination, and during her lifetime did much in the cause of Methodism. In 1847 she embarked for South Australia with her husband the two children, and arrived here in the ship Aboukir, with Captain Scott in command, in September of that year. For some years she lived in Carrington-street, Adelaide, and in 1853 accompanied her husband to Gould’s Creek, where they entered into farming pursuits. Her husband, Mr. Peter Bartle, who died about 29 years ago, was at one time clerk of St. John’s Church. Mr. Bartle and his son joined in the rush to the Victorian goldfields previous to going into the country. The family were residents of Onetree Hill for several years. Whilst there Mr. Bartle helped to build the Wesleyan Church, and became one of its trustees, and with his daughter he opened the first Sunday-school. Of late years the old lady had lived with her daughter (Mrs. S. L. Burnett), who has supported her mother and herself by taking in sewing and doing light duties. Until quite recently Mrs. Bartle possessed a remarkably keen intellect, and was in possession of all her faculties. She could read without the aid of glasses, but she was not able to write. About eight years ago Mrs. Bartle fell and broke her hip, as a result of which she was a cripple. She could remember the day when Queen Victoria ascended the throne and the battle of Waterloo. Her son (Mr. J. R. Bartle), who is 74 years of age, lives at Teatree Gully, and Mrs. Burnett (her daughter) is in her 69th year. She has left five grandchildren—Messrs. William Bartle, of Klemzig; Peter Bartle, of Western Australia; Robert Bartle, of Victoria; Hugh Bartle, of Port Augusta; and Mrs. S. L. Williamson, of Payneham. There are also a number of great-grandchildren. The funeral of the deceased will take place at Golden Grove, where the remains of her husband lie.

Contributed by Bob Bolitho