John Thomas Burless (1855-1947)

Obituary
MR J. T. BURLESS The death of Mr John Thomas Burless (91) at Tweed Heads on Saturday last recalls many his- toric memories. His wife, who predeceased him, was a daughter of the late Captain John Easton, who was the first pilot appointed to Lismore in 1854. Captain Easton was pilot at Port Macquarie when the yacht Wanderer, formerly owned by Queen Victoria, was wrecked on the Hastings bar about 1851. This vessel had become the property of the notable Ben Boyd, and it was being brought back from the ill-fated trip to the islands where Boyd last his life, the circum- stances of which were never clearly established. Captain Easton had signalled the crew to wait until next morning before attempting to cross the bar, but they disregarded his instructions and attempted to cross in by moonlight and were wrecked. The crew landed and made their way into the interior and were never again contacted. A daughter (Nellie) of the late Mr Burless married Captain J. Droder, who was skipper of the Tintenbar, a well-known vessel trading along the New South Wales coast, and is now believed to be living in Sydney. Prior to the remains being taken to Brisbane for cremation on Monday a service was held at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Tweed Heads and was conducted by the Rev. Donald Macleod.

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