In the latter half of the 1880s employment in Burra was hard to find. George moved with his parents and siblings to live in Mica Street, Broken Hill. It was in Broken Hill that George and Sarah married in 1890. Sarah was a daughter of William and Amelia Cullen whom married 31 July 1867 at Hampton in Burra. William died of a heart attack about 1874. He was found sitting against a post as though asleep. This was after he had eaten his lunch. The Leavers lived in Penshurst Victoria, Broken Hill in NSW and again at Burra. Amelia Cullen was born 16 Aug 1848 Fordwich, Canterbury, UK and died 1929 Burra. Amelia was a daughter of William and Sarah (nee Twyman) Cullen who had four other children: Ann Elizabeth (Mrs Fred Turner), Tom, James and William Jnr.

George and Sarah lived in Broken Hill for a short time. They returned to Burra and lived first at Redruth, then in Aberdeen until 1900 when they moved to a house in Thames Street, Kooringa, on the left side of the Masonic Hall. Sadly, since their passing their stone colonial home was pulled down to make way for a very plain looking bank residence.

Death of Cr. George Sampson

Profound regret was expressed in Burra on Tuesday last, 6th inst., when it became known that Mr George Sampson had meet with a fatal accident that day at Mingary. The shock was the greater as Mr Sampson was in Kooringa on the previous day and had attended the meeting of the Burra Town Council as one of the representatives for East Ward the same evening. At the close of the meeting he,  in company with his youngest son Allen, left by the Broken Hill express for Mingary, where he had a large tank-sinking plant, it seems that Mr Sampson, who was an accomplished horseman, at midday had been schooling some horses over hurdles and had just finished his task when the saddle slipped on the horse he was riding, startling it. To keep his seat he kneed the animal and accidentally flanked it; causing the animal to bolt. The saddle gradually slipping around Mr Sampson was obliged to let go and fell to the ground in a sitting position, the sudden impact causing him to slip along the ground a few feet. Unfortunately his foot struck a post, the force of the collision throwing the head forward with terrific force against the post, death being instantaneous. His two youngest sons, George and Allen, witnessed the accident, the eldest, Mr Clem Sampson, being at the time in charge of another plant at Thompson’s Siding, out from Broken Hill. The employees did everything possible for their late employer. Owing to the present train arrangements, the body was not brought to Burra until Thursday morning. Mr Sampson was born in Bridge Street, Kooringa, in 1867 and was the third son of the late Mr and Mrs William Sampson, at one time well-known residents, the family some years ago leaving for West Australia. In 1890 he married Miss Leaver, of Hampton, who survives, and there are five children: — Messrs Clement W., George and Alan, and Misses Edith and Silby, for whom the deepest sympathy is felt in their great sorrow. The deceased gentleman has been spoken of as one of ‘God’s white men’ and fully earned the remark. He was a good townsman, broadminded and generous to a fault. A thorough sportsman, he took a keen interest in every branch and only recently put down at his own expense, an asphalt court for the Kooringa Tennis Club, a game he was exceedingly fond of. As an employer he was unequalled, and an instant of the respect in which he was held was shown at Mingary on Thurs day morning. His body had been placed on the mortuary car to await the Broken Hill express, and when it arrived his employees, fourteen in number, asked permission, which was granted, to push the car on to the main line to be attached to the train adding, ‘it will be the last thing we shall be able to do for him,’ and were visibly affected as the train left that station. Mr Sampson was also a prominent member of the Freemason and I.O. Oddfellows lodges, and at one time had a seat on the Hospital Board. The funeral took place on Thursday afternoon in the Kooringa cemetery and despite the wet weather was attended, by a large and representative gathering of residents of Burra and district. The bearers were Messrs P. Treloar, E. J. Harris. F. M. Pearce, J. G. Sara, Geo. Lawn (Freemasons), and Cr S. Kellaway (his colleague in the Council). Many beautiful floral emblems and wreaths were sent, amongst them from the members of the Burra Town Council, Freemason Lodge, Kooringa Football Club, employees of James town and Thompson’s Siding, employees at Mingary and friends of the North East. The service was conducted by the Rev. G. K. Haslam and the funeral arrangements by C. J. Pearce & Son.

Burra Record Wed Jul 14 1920 p. 3