James Rodgers (Ballintoy IRE 1830 - Orange NSW 1913)

I haven't posted much about my RODGERS line (from my maternal side), who came to Australia from Ballintoy, Antrim, Ireland (now Northern Ireland):
https://thehistoryofmatt.blogspot.com/2010/06/rodgers-family.html

Of the children of William and Sarah (nee MCGEE) RODGERS, their eldest was James. James represents an interesting distraction for me in an otherwise straight-forward family.

James RODGERS, was born abt 1830. Looking into his life, nothing could be ascertained except for two adverts that appear in the Sydney Morning Herald in the early 1870's, the second confirming the relationship:

The Sydney Morning Herald
Saturday 4 March 1871
I, Emma Rodgers, hereby give notice that it is my intention to get married at the expiration of 3 (three) months from date, unless notice is given me of the existence of my husband, JAMES RODGERS, whom I have not heard from for the last eight years.
EMMA RODGERS
Happy Valley, Nundle, 1st February 1871

The Sydney Morning Herald
Friday 17 May 1872
JAMES RODGERS, Mudgee or Tambaroora, please write R. ROGERS or H. PRIESTLY, 53 Sussex-st.

These together suggest that James Rodgers followed the gold rushes when they occurred in the 1850's and settled in the Mudgee/Tambaroora area like so many men, The latter notice above definitely relate to James RODGERS - he had a younger brother named Robert, and his sister Margaret married Henry PRIESTLY.

I want to understand what happened to James. Did Emma re-marry after desertion? A marriage has been found for a James Rogers in Mudgee that corresponds with the above information (2207/1858, ROGERS, JAMES to BIBB, EMMA at MUDGEE), and I've ordered the marriage certificate. Emma BIBB was born in Bedlam Point (Gladesville), Sydney, to parents James (a blacksmith) and Mary Ann BIBB in 1844. James and Emma RODGERS seem to definitely have had one daughter, Elizabeth A, registered in MUDGEE in 1860 (NSW BDM  9205/1860).

But I first wanted to see whether James' death certificate mentions Emma and any issue. 1913 is forty years after the newspaper notices, and there's not much to go on in newspaper records to account for James' life between 1872 and 1913. As can be seen in the transcript, James' marriage and issue are not referred to, and it does not appear that there is a later re-marriage (certainly one is not mentioned). This is definitely 'our' James RODGERS, as his mother's maiden name is correct. His stated birthplace is not Ballintoy, but another village in Antrim, and this may well be correct as I have no access to parish registers.

James had been unwell, as evidenced by an article in Orange:

Leader (Orange), 27 Nov 1912
PERSONAL. We are pleased to see our old friend, Mr. James Rodgers, has returned after being away for the last 17 or 18 weeks in the Orange hospital as the result of a fall which he had about 19 weeks ago.

NSW Death Certificate
1913/3416
Name: James Rodgers
Date of Death: 4 Jan 1913
Place: Orange District Hospital, Orange Municipality
Occupation: Labourer
Sex: Male
Age: 79
Place of birth: Colaraine (sic), County Antrim, Ireland
Time in Australian Colonies: 60 years in New South Wales
Father's Name: William Rodgers
Occupation: Farmer
Mother's Name: Sarah McGee
Informant: K J Dooley, Matron, Orange District Hospital
Cause of Death: 1. Enlarged prostate, 2. Cystitis
Length of Illness: 1. 12 years, 2. 6 weeks
Medical Attendant: J H Wilson
Date Last Seen: 3 Jan 1913
Date of Burial: 5 Jan 1913
Place of Burial: Church of England Cemetery, Orange
Minister and Religion: Walter E Coates, Church of England
Undertaker: F Ford
Witnesses: E Ford, Charles Clark
Registered: 4 Jan 1913