Frances Nicholson

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Frances was born on Sunday, 30 November 1856 at Yass, New South Wales.¹ She was the daughter of Donald Nicholson and Margaret Brown. Frances Nicholson was baptised on Saturday, 21 March 1857 at Yass, New South Wales. It is unusual that she was baptised as Church of England - the other children of Donald & Margaret were baptised as Presbyterians.² Her baptism name was Fanny Nicolson.³

She may have attended the wedding of her sister in the marriage of Hugh Joseph Sutherland and Margaret Nicholson in a Wesleyan ceremony at the house of Donald Nicholson on Tuesday, 31 October 1865 at Forbes, New South Wales. Although not the oldest child, she was the first to be married - she also seems to have understated her age by as much as two years. Margaret and Hugh went on to have nine children together.⁴ She presumably moved with her parents to Bushman's Lead, New South Wales, in 1871. They made the move just after gold had been discovered, when the town 'consisted of a butcher's shop, a bakery and a few houses which the hardy pioneers had constructed from the timber around them.^5,6'

She may have attended the wedding of her brother in the marriage of James Brown Nicholson and Lydia Horsnell at St. Michaels and St. Johns Catholic Cathedral on Sunday, 20 August 1871 at Bathurst, New South Wales. Lydia was ten years younger than James.. James and Lydia went on to have 12 known children together.⁷

Her mother died 22 May 1874 at the age of 56. Frances was aged 17 when this happened.^8,9

She may have attended the wedding of her sister in the marriage of Michael Bourke and Susannah Alletta Nicholson in a Wesleyan Methodist ceremony at her father's house on Saturday, 26 December 1874 at Parkes, New South Wales. Michael and Susannah went on to have five children over the next 10 years.¹⁰ Frances lived in November 1876 at Forbes, New South Wales. It would seem Fanny had already moved away from home; her father was living in Parkes at this time.¹¹

She married John William Aplett, a miner and well-know runner, son of John Ablett and Rosanna (?), in a Presbyterian ceremony on Saturday, 18 November 1876 at Forbes, New South Wales. She was 19 and her husband John was 24. The marriage took place at the home of Henry Clancy in Browne Street. Frances was the sister of the runner that John had recently beaten at Parkes.. Others who attended the wedding include Donald Nicholson as father of the bride. Brothers and sisters who may have attended include James Brown Nicholson, Margaret Nicholson, Donald Henry Nicholson, John Nicholson, Susannah Alletta Nicholson, Mary Jane Nicholson and Daniel Malcolm McBean Nicholson. Frances and John went on to have about nine children together.^11,12 Frances and John lived in June 1879 at Stokes Hill, Forbes, New South Wales.¹³ Frances lived in November 1899 at Byrock, New South Wales.¹⁴ Frances provided information on the death of her father Donald Nicholson, on 3 November 1899, at Byrock, NSW, at age 42. His daughter Fanny stated that he had been deteriorating over the last three years of his life..¹⁴

Her father died 3 November 1899 at the age of 87. Frances was aged 42 when this happened. Frances and John lived circa 1901 at Bathurst Lane, in Brewarrina, New South Wales.¹⁵

Frances died on 28 December 1933 at Orange, New South Wales, at age 77.^16,17 She was buried on 30 December 1933 at Orange cemetery (old Presbyterian section), in Orange, New South Wales.¹⁵