Letter from John Alston to John Little regarding the death of Isabella Osborne, together with research notes compiled by Geoffrey Cains

MLMSS 11952

fonds

23 March 1854, 2002-2023

9675548

0.02 metres of textual records (1 folder) - manuscript

The Osborne family were early settlers in the Yackandandah region. Isabella had travelled from Victoria, with her brother James, to marry John Alston who lived with his family at ‘Woodside,’ in Sutton Forest. Isabella and James had been staying with their sister and brother-in-law, Jane and John Morrice at ‘Eling Forest’ near the Alston family. Isabella committed suicide on what was to be the day of her wedding, 21 March 1854. There has been some speculation that Isabella had formed an attachment with John Mongan in Yackandandah but the couple were unable to marry. It is thought that this may have contributed to her mental state before her suicide. The letter provides a first-hand account by John Alston (Senior) of the events surrounding the suicide of Isabella Osborne. Isabella’s death and the developments that followed were widely reported in newspapers at the time.

Reference:
Compiled from the Library’s acquisition file.

Geoffrey Cains purchased John Alston's letter from Douglas Stewart Fine Books

Consists of one letter, dated 23 March 1854, from John Alston to his stepson, John Little, describing the suicide of the bride-to-be and his future daughter-in-law, Isabella Osborne at Sutton Forest. A transcript of the letter is also included. Research notes compiled by Geoffrey Cains include documents relating to John Mongan, Isabella's supposed 'love interest' and correspondence with Kevin Roche and Elaine Hopper.

Copyright restrictions may apply:
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales and Courtesy copyright holder

Halliday, Janet. "Isabella." Descent 51, no. 4 (December 2021): 13. Article based on details in the John Alston letter.