Extract from: Trevor Byard "More Merriment - writ in remembrance", Neptune Press, Newtown, Victoria, Australia, 1984 pp.196-199

OBITUARY - ELIZABETH TREBILCOCK (nee Gilbert)
Born Cornwall, October 12, 1814.
Died Forth, Tasmania, June 7, 1898. Aged 84.
We have just laid in God's little acre, hard by the main road between Hamilton on Forth and Ulverstone, the last mortal remains of the dear old Mother of Israel whose name appears above, one who for a period of over sixty years was a sincere and devoted member of the Wesleyan Methodist Church and during a long and chequered life 'adorned the doctrine of God her Saviour in all things'. In her early life brought up in gay and Godless family, Elizabeth Gilbert (her maiden name) tho' possessed of lively and volatile disposition, was so graciously visited by the Holy Spirit that she was led to see her sinful state by nature and under the selfsame influence at a service conducted by the Rev. W. Blamey (a mighty man as a revivalist) in'St Columb Chapel, Cornwall', was led to a decision for Christ, and so clearly was there revealed to her the vanity and insufficienty of those worldly anlusements that had been her passion and delight, that she at once renounced them and chose to suffer affliction with the people of God rather than enjoy these pleasures. She was then just eighteen years old; none of her friends were Methodists, her parents being nominally of the established Church, and her father vowed that none of her Methodist notions should be brought to their house. However, the influence of the great change wrought in Lizzie was so apparent that in a short time the aged father and other members of the family rejoiced in the same salvation.
 
In the year 1836, being then twenty-two years old, she was united in marriage to Thomas Glanvil Trebilcock, and as all who visited that hospitable home testified, the union was a most happy one. Her husband was a most earnest and devout Christian, ruling his house well, and walking blameless in the sight of the Lord; in disposition he was complement of his wife, being staid, quiet, reserved, cultivating always the devotional side of religion, while hers was the active side. He was a most useful and effective class leader for many years.
 
In the year 1843, owing to the inducement of a brother-in-law who had emigrated to Van Diemen's Land some years before, also a friend who had returned from thence to Cornwall on a visit, Mr Trebilcock resolved to emigrate also, and a passage was taken in the Brig'Indian'. The party embarked at Falmouth in August, and after a voyage of over eighteen weeks landed in Launceston on the 3l st of December, 1843, just in time to see the old year out and launch into fresh surroundings with the new. Fancy what that voyage meant; can we in these days of large steam ships and quick passages imagine a young mother of 29 with a family of six children, the eldest only seven years, pent up in a little vessel only a trifle over 200 tons, for nearly five months, and over twenty other passengers. However, the strong, active, tactful spirit was equal to the task, and notwithstanding that she suffered from distressing forms of sick headaches her buoyancy and cheerfulness made the protracted voyage not only tolerable but happy and enjoyable.
 
In 1852 Mrs Trebilcock sustained the great sorrow of her life in the early death ofher husband, and now at the age of38, with ten of her children, the eldest not yet sixteen; and in a most unsettled state of society owing to the gold discoveries in Victoria, she finds herself in what many would call most adverse circumstances. Her farm which was a large dairy one near Launceston and now most lucrative, and which she could have managed without much difficulty, has been relet over her head. She has notice to quit, and seems, humanly speaking, in sore straits. She has to make a fresh home in new surroundings, but she is young and brave and resourceful, and the very woman so fearful of bush life that she would not go back into the country when with a husband to protect, now counts not the cost, and in a month has bought goodwill and growing crops of a farm near Deloraine, 'Drumreagh', and soon the family is settled there.
 
At this time there were no regular Wesleyan services at this new township. Occasionally one had been held by the late Henry Reed, Esq., when on his way to his estate at Wesleydale, but at no stated times; however, a few Methodist families from Canada settled there. (Messrs Brown, Mulligan, and Elliot.) Cottage services were held, and bye and bye the present Church followed. 'Drumreagh Farm' was well known by the young Ministers (Revs. Rigg, Crisp, Lelean, Abel, Orton, and others). They found it a home; the mother, a mother to them; and they could testify to its open handed hospitality.
 
A few years later Mrs Trebilcock bought a farm at Forth, adjoining Canadian friends before mentioned, all wild dense forest for miles. Soon sufficient clearing was done for a house, and in 1859 the family removed thence. On the sea beach facing Bass Strait a rude little Chapel with its slab seats had been put up and regular services were held. This was no ordinary missioning of a new place, these families took their religion there with them and at once entered into the wealth of spiritual privileges they brought. True it was a rude sanc1uary, true they had no minister, but they had the presence of the Great Head of the Church and the power of the Holy Spirit. There were wholehearted Christian men and women all around whose hearts God had touched, hence it became a Church at once. There were local preachers, class leaders, praying people; the thing at once a live going concern ready for any demands, so no wonder the great revivals came in after years.
 
In 1861. under the administration of the Rev. R.O. Cook, there was a gracious visitation. and the widow's heart danced with joy as she saw all her children together with many others, savingly converted. Soon her two sons, Thomas and Phillip, began preaching, and have continued to do so till now. It may here be mentioned that three of her daughtcrs are married to Ministers - the Revs. R.O. Cook, E.W. Nye, and W.K. Mather; and two others to local preachers now of over 30 years standing; besides several grandchildren engaged in both Ministerial and local work. For thus she magnified the grace of God; for years she had sowed; now reaping had come, or at least part of it.
 
In 1886, owing to increasing years and the distance of the old 'Beach Chapel', she gave up the farm and went to Hamilton on Forth to reside with her lately widowed daughter (Mrs Capt. Thomson). Here she was close to our Church and became a most regular attendant at all the means ofgrace; but now being over three score and ten, the busy active brain is not so keen, the memory is failing, and the Minister of these later years knows not the clear headed woman of years gone by. It is eventide, the sun is sinking behind the hill. Still as the ruins betoken the massive structure that had been, so the years of four score and more revealed somewhat even to them of what had been. To one coming into the house there was the dear, calm, placid face so full of character, taking a lively interest in everything, making such mistakes through imperfect hearing as occasionally amused, always brimful of gratitude to God for what He had done for her and hers - this was her theme. Beside her, as she sat knitting, was a large print copy of the Psalms of David, also some other devotional book, and the Bible.
 
But, now has the time come to die. Early in April came an attack of Influenza; this caused such prostration that the 'once' sound frame became weak and soon she had to take to her room, and here for six weeks she suffered severe muscular pain day and night, but never a murmur. Occasionally she prayed if it were His will to be taken home; also for strength to enable her to bear the paroxysm when she felt it come on. Surrounded by daughters and granddaughters, everything that loving hands could do was done, but on the 7th June she passed into the presence of Him whom she loved so long.
 
As she lived so she died. Here was a strong abiding confidence in the Lord. She never doubted His wisdom, never questioned His dealings, always acquiesced in His will; and now in the influence springing from her long and useful life, she being dead yet speaketh.
 
Ted Solomon (son in law)

The North West Post, 9 June 1898
(Tasmania)

(Elizabeth Trebilcock, Forth Methodist Cemetery, Died 7th Jun 1898, Age 83 years)
During the current year the last summons has come to many old and respected residents of West Devon, particularly at the Forth where the ranks of the pioneers have been sadly thinned. On Tuesday evening yet another passed away, in the person of Mrs. Elizabeth Trebilcock, who died at the residence of her daughter (Mrs. Thompson) at the ripe old age of 84. Deceased, who in her comparative youth, some fifty years ago, was left a widow with a large family of three sons and six daughters has been a resident of Forth since the early days. All her children survive her and all are honoured members of the communities in which they reside. The deceased lady also leaves a number of grandchildren and several great grand children. Three of the daughters are married to Wesleyan ministers – one to the Rev. R. O. Cook, another to the Rev. W. B. Matthews and the Rev. E. Nye, of New Norfolk, is a grandson of the
deceased. The funeral will leave the residence of the daughter of the deceased, Mrs. P. Thompson, at 3 o’clock this afternoon, for the Forth Wesleyan Cemetery.

Contributed by Michael Wadsley