Sarah Ann Bailey, daughter of farmer John Bailey and his wife Anne (nee Cooper), was born in 1830 on a farm called ‘Montpeliers' and grew up in Norton Mandeville, Essex, England. The family, originally from Ireland, lived in the area for generations; landed and yeoman farmers, carpenters, merchants and clergy.
Growing up Sarah and her sister Elizabeth worked as ladies maids in London, before emigrating to colonial Sydney, Australia, where other members of their family had also settled as Free Settlers.
Remembered as quiet spinsters who kept to themselves, they would become famous for being the devoted servants of Eliza Emily Donnithorne (1826-1886) Australia's most famous recluse. Who, jilted at the altar, placed her house in a state of suspended animation and waited in vain for 40 years for her gone but not forgotten lover to return and it is believed inspired Charles Dickens creation of Miss Havisham of ‘Great Expectations' fame in the process.
Throughout much of Eliza's tumultuous life the one dependable constant was Sarah Bailey, her go between with the outside world, Eliza trusted her implicitely and leaned heavilly on her especially in the last years of her life when she had power of attorney. Upon Eliza's death Sarah was appointed executor of her estate and probate documents reveal she did an exceptionally job wrapping up, liquidating and dispersing her mistresses substantial estate to beficiaries per the Will. Having like her sister, who predeceased her, never married and spent a great deal of her life in the service of Eliza Donnithorne her death in 1886 saw a profound change in their lives. The sisters moved out of ‘Camperdown Lodge' and through the generosity of their late mistress purchased a cottage nearby at 63 Lennox Street, Newtown, (since demolished) where they lived comfortably off an annuity (pension) Eliza had put in place to take care of them the remainder of their lives. The media and locals had pestered them for years for all the gossip on their mistress and would pester them relentlessly for information after her death, but they would never talk, famously telling one journalist "we know nothing. Our lips are sealed to everyone and every thing."
Sarah Ann Bailey died at her home on 23.12.1912 aged 82 of heart failure and was burried at Rookwood Cemetery, Roman Catholic Section E. Grave No. 998.
Her headstone reads: "In Loving Memory of Sarah Ann Bailey Who Departed This Life 23rd December 1912 Aged 83 Years".
Growing up Sarah and her sister Elizabeth worked as ladies maids in London, before emigrating to colonial Sydney, Australia, where other members of their family had also settled as Free Settlers.
Remembered as quiet spinsters who kept to themselves, they would become famous for being the devoted servants of Eliza Emily Donnithorne (1826-1886) Australia's most famous recluse. Who, jilted at the altar, placed her house in a state of suspended animation and waited in vain for 40 years for her gone but not forgotten lover to return and it is believed inspired Charles Dickens creation of Miss Havisham of ‘Great Expectations' fame in the process.
Throughout much of Eliza's tumultuous life the one dependable constant was Sarah Bailey, her go between with the outside world, Eliza trusted her implicitely and leaned heavilly on her especially in the last years of her life when she had power of attorney. Upon Eliza's death Sarah was appointed executor of her estate and probate documents reveal she did an exceptionally job wrapping up, liquidating and dispersing her mistresses substantial estate to beficiaries per the Will. Having like her sister, who predeceased her, never married and spent a great deal of her life in the service of Eliza Donnithorne her death in 1886 saw a profound change in their lives. The sisters moved out of ‘Camperdown Lodge' and through the generosity of their late mistress purchased a cottage nearby at 63 Lennox Street, Newtown, (since demolished) where they lived comfortably off an annuity (pension) Eliza had put in place to take care of them the remainder of their lives. The media and locals had pestered them for years for all the gossip on their mistress and would pester them relentlessly for information after her death, but they would never talk, famously telling one journalist "we know nothing. Our lips are sealed to everyone and every thing."
Sarah Ann Bailey died at her home on 23.12.1912 aged 82 of heart failure and was burried at Rookwood Cemetery, Roman Catholic Section E. Grave No. 998.
Her headstone reads: "In Loving Memory of Sarah Ann Bailey Who Departed This Life 23rd December 1912 Aged 83 Years".
Sarah Ann Bailey, daughter of farmer John Bailey and his wife Anne (nee Cooper), was born in 1830 on a farm called ‘Montpeliers' and grew up in Norton Mandeville, Essex, England. The family, originally from Ireland, lived in the area for generations; landed and yeoman farmers, carpenters, merchants and clergy.
Growing up Sarah and her sister Elizabeth worked as ladies maids in London, before emigrating to colonial Sydney, Australia, where other members of their family had also settled as Free Settlers.
Remembered as quiet spinsters who kept to themselves, they would become famous for being the devoted servants of Eliza Emily Donnithorne (1826-1886) Australia's most famous recluse. Who, jilted at the altar, placed her house in a state of suspended animation and waited in vain for 40 years for her gone but not forgotten lover to return and it is believed inspired Charles Dickens creation of Miss Havisham of ‘Great Expectations' fame in the process.
Throughout much of Eliza's tumultuous life the one dependable constant was Sarah Bailey, her go between with the outside world, Eliza trusted her implicitely and leaned heavilly on her especially in the last years of her life when she had power of attorney. Upon Eliza's death Sarah was appointed executor of her estate and probate documents reveal she did an exceptionally job wrapping up, liquidating and dispersing her mistresses substantial estate to beficiaries per the Will. Having like her sister, who predeceased her, never married and spent a great deal of her life in the service of Eliza Donnithorne her death in 1886 saw a profound change in their lives. The sisters moved out of ‘Camperdown Lodge' and through the generosity of their late mistress purchased a cottage nearby at 63 Lennox Street, Newtown, (since demolished) where they lived comfortably off an annuity (pension) Eliza had put in place to take care of them the remainder of their lives. The media and locals had pestered them for years for all the gossip on their mistress and would pester them relentlessly for information after her death, but they would never talk, famously telling one journalist "we know nothing. Our lips are sealed to everyone and every thing."
Sarah Ann Bailey died at her home on 23.12.1912 aged 82 of heart failure and was burried at Rookwood Cemetery, Roman Catholic Section E. Grave No. 998.
Her headstone reads: "In Loving Memory of Sarah Ann Bailey Who Departed This Life 23rd December 1912 Aged 83 Years".
Growing up Sarah and her sister Elizabeth worked as ladies maids in London, before emigrating to colonial Sydney, Australia, where other members of their family had also settled as Free Settlers.
Remembered as quiet spinsters who kept to themselves, they would become famous for being the devoted servants of Eliza Emily Donnithorne (1826-1886) Australia's most famous recluse. Who, jilted at the altar, placed her house in a state of suspended animation and waited in vain for 40 years for her gone but not forgotten lover to return and it is believed inspired Charles Dickens creation of Miss Havisham of ‘Great Expectations' fame in the process.
Throughout much of Eliza's tumultuous life the one dependable constant was Sarah Bailey, her go between with the outside world, Eliza trusted her implicitely and leaned heavilly on her especially in the last years of her life when she had power of attorney. Upon Eliza's death Sarah was appointed executor of her estate and probate documents reveal she did an exceptionally job wrapping up, liquidating and dispersing her mistresses substantial estate to beficiaries per the Will. Having like her sister, who predeceased her, never married and spent a great deal of her life in the service of Eliza Donnithorne her death in 1886 saw a profound change in their lives. The sisters moved out of ‘Camperdown Lodge' and through the generosity of their late mistress purchased a cottage nearby at 63 Lennox Street, Newtown, (since demolished) where they lived comfortably off an annuity (pension) Eliza had put in place to take care of them the remainder of their lives. The media and locals had pestered them for years for all the gossip on their mistress and would pester them relentlessly for information after her death, but they would never talk, famously telling one journalist "we know nothing. Our lips are sealed to everyone and every thing."
Sarah Ann Bailey died at her home on 23.12.1912 aged 82 of heart failure and was burried at Rookwood Cemetery, Roman Catholic Section E. Grave No. 998.
Her headstone reads: "In Loving Memory of Sarah Ann Bailey Who Departed This Life 23rd December 1912 Aged 83 Years".
Gravesite Details
AGE at Death 83
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