DRUITT, Margaret & DRUITT, George
Margaret was the wife of Major George DRUITT who had a distinguished army career in the Napoleonic Wars and the American War of Independence before arriving in the Colony in 1817 aboard the “Matilda”.
While on the journey to NSW he had met and formed a relationship with Margaret (nee Lynch) who had stowed away on the ship to be with one of the other soldiers. On arrival in the colony they lived together, a daughter Judith was born in 1819 that died as a baby then they had two more sons. They did not marry until 8 years later going on to have 4 more children, 2 boys and 2 girls.
As chief engineer George oversaw the construction and maintenance of roads and bridges by convict labour around Sydney.
He was granted land where Blacktown is today and the area known as Mount Druitt and Druitt St in Sydney is named after him.
When the Mount Druitt Shopping centre was being built the developers wanted the original headstone to be used in a procession then placed at the entrance to the shopping centre. Permission was granted by the relevant officials but when the stone was being moved it BROKE and crumbled into a mound of rubble. This is a replica of the original headstone which was moved out from Devonshire Street to make way for the building of the railway.
Margaret died 23rd February 1842 and George died at Mount Druitt on 8th June 1842 after a long and lingering illness.
Major George DRUITT headstone inscription & small plaque
Major George Druitt
Died 9th June 1842
Aged 69 years
Margaret wife of Major Druitt
Died 23rd of February 1842
Aged 44 years
Also
George Joseph Druitt
Son of the above
Died 10th January 1849
Aged 28 years
PLAQUE (at side of slab)
Major George Druitt of 48th Regiment
Held the position of Chief Engineer
Inspector of Government Public works
Artillery Officer and Harbour Master
1812-1821
His 1000 acres of land grant lies 25 miles west of Sydney
Forms part of today’s suburb of Mount Druitt
Restored by the Lions Club of Mount Druitt
And the Mount Druitt Historical Society
As a local Government project 1988
Sources: National Library of Australia – Trove, Botany Pioneer Memorial Park headstone transcription