1904 -
http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/106026194Mr. John Devlin, who died recently in Sydney, was a pioneer business man at Sofala, Lower Turon,
Hill End, Tambaroora, Forbes, Grenfell, and other mining rushes. His first home was on Major's Creek, where his wife established a non-sectarian Sunday school. She was once visited by Gardiner, the bushranger, who did not, however, molest her, and only laughed when she threatened him with a rusty old pistol, telling her she was too good and charitable a woman for him to injure.
Woohoo! Got him!
http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/14642705 - 1904
To everyone who sought to make a home west of the Blue Mountain ranges 50 years ago the State is in some measure indebted. John Devlin, notice of whose death appeared in yesterday's issue of the "Herald," was one of these early pioneers. Born over 80 years ago, in Londonderry, he went when quite a young man to Glasgow, where he married, and in 1849 sailed for Australia. His first home was at Major's Creek, where his wife, with Christian zeal, established a non-sectarian Sunday-school. Later on Mr. Devlin had businesses of various kinds at Sofala, Lower Turon, Hill End, Tambaroora, Forbes, Grenfell, and other digging townships. One of his ventures was to erect a general store at Condobolin, then a township of surveyors' pegs.
The bushranger Gardiner paid a visit to his establishment. Mr. Devlin was away at Bathurst when Gardiner came in, but Mrs. Devlin, when she realised who the visitor was, seized a rusty old pistol, and ordered him out. The bushranger smiled, and told her not to excite herself, as she was too well known as a good, charitable woman for him to rob her. He made a few purchases, and went away. Late in life Mr. Devlin was in business in Sydney, but he failed to achieve success. Three daughters survive him, namely, Mrs. D. H. Walker, well known in connection with rescue work in Sydney; Mrs. W. Swann, wife of a Public school teacher at Parramatta; and
Mrs. Hunter, now in Western Australia.