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George WILLIAMSON & Johannah MAYER
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George WILLIAMSON
Several men of the same name came to South Australia and exactly which one was our George WILLIAMSON has been hard to track down definitively, but there are several bits of information that lead me to an educated guess.
Our George had a long association with Inverbrackie, and it is possible that he was the George WILLIAMSON present at a meeting at Payne's Hotel, Inverbrackie on 10 Jul 1846. The meeting was held to organise the erection of a Scotch Kirk (church). The church is now a ruin in the Inverbrackie graveyard, but it was a Caledonian Church erected circa 1848/9. The Inverbrackie district was known to have a 'good number' of migrants from Scotland and it was reported that most of the men at the meeting were single men. If this was our George at the meeting, it is a fair guess that he was Scottish. If that is correct, then perhaps our George WILLIAMSON arrived in South Australia 29th Oct 1839 on 'SUPERB' from Greenock (Scotland). From his marriage transcript in 1861, we have George 45 years old, so born c.1816.
Several men of the same name came to South Australia and exactly which one was our George WILLIAMSON has been hard to track down definitively, but there are several bits of information that lead me to an educated guess.
Our George had a long association with Inverbrackie, and it is possible that he was the George WILLIAMSON present at a meeting at Payne's Hotel, Inverbrackie on 10 Jul 1846. The meeting was held to organise the erection of a Scotch Kirk (church). The church is now a ruin in the Inverbrackie graveyard, but it was a Caledonian Church erected circa 1848/9. The Inverbrackie district was known to have a 'good number' of migrants from Scotland and it was reported that most of the men at the meeting were single men. If this was our George at the meeting, it is a fair guess that he was Scottish. If that is correct, then perhaps our George WILLIAMSON arrived in South Australia 29th Oct 1839 on 'SUPERB' from Greenock (Scotland). From his marriage transcript in 1861, we have George 45 years old, so born c.1816.
Johannah MAHER/WALSH/WELSH
On 26 July 1861, a Johannah MAHER lived in Logan Street, Adelaide with her husband Michael MAHER. This is unlikely to be our Johannah MAHER as our Johannah married George WILLIAMSON on 12 Feb 1861 at the Catholic Church, Mount Barker.
A Johannah WELSH was on 'NIMROUD' arriving 31st December 1855. This is my best guess for when our Johannah arrived in South Australia. The dates match and the surname WELSH appear on the birth records of four of the children, but I cannot however explain Johanna's father listed on the marriage as James WALSH except to say that WALSH and WELSH could easily be spelling errors. As to why she was Johannah WELSH on the ship log and Johannah MAHER on the marriage record, perhaps she was married and widowed in England and used her maiden name for the emigration (single women got free passage). I have found no other records of James WALSH (her father) or of a marriage of Johannah in South Australia to anyone called MAHER or a death of a possible husband here either to explain her status as a widow on the marriage transcript. There was a singleman on the 'NIMROUD' named Timothy MAHER, but I have not found a connection.
On 26 July 1861, a Johannah MAHER lived in Logan Street, Adelaide with her husband Michael MAHER. This is unlikely to be our Johannah MAHER as our Johannah married George WILLIAMSON on 12 Feb 1861 at the Catholic Church, Mount Barker.
A Johannah WELSH was on 'NIMROUD' arriving 31st December 1855. This is my best guess for when our Johannah arrived in South Australia. The dates match and the surname WELSH appear on the birth records of four of the children, but I cannot however explain Johanna's father listed on the marriage as James WALSH except to say that WALSH and WELSH could easily be spelling errors. As to why she was Johannah WELSH on the ship log and Johannah MAHER on the marriage record, perhaps she was married and widowed in England and used her maiden name for the emigration (single women got free passage). I have found no other records of James WALSH (her father) or of a marriage of Johannah in South Australia to anyone called MAHER or a death of a possible husband here either to explain her status as a widow on the marriage transcript. There was a singleman on the 'NIMROUD' named Timothy MAHER, but I have not found a connection.
Marriage
From a marriage transcript, George WILLIAMSON (45yrs) married Johannah MAHER (35yrs), widow, father James WALSH, on 12 Feb 1861 at the Catholic Church Mount Barker. From birth records, their children Jane and Walter were born before they were married. From the birth records of the five children we have the mother Johannah WELSH (4 times) and Johannah WALSH (once). All of the children were born at Inverbrackie. Also from the marriage transcript, we have George WILLIAMSON (45yrs) married Johanna MAHER (35yrs) nee. WALSH, widow, on 12 Feb 1861 at the Catholic Church, Mount Barker. This gives us an inferred birth date for George c.1815 and an inferred birth date for Johannah of c.1826
From a marriage transcript, George WILLIAMSON (45yrs) married Johannah MAHER (35yrs), widow, father James WALSH, on 12 Feb 1861 at the Catholic Church Mount Barker. From birth records, their children Jane and Walter were born before they were married. From the birth records of the five children we have the mother Johannah WELSH (4 times) and Johannah WALSH (once). All of the children were born at Inverbrackie. Also from the marriage transcript, we have George WILLIAMSON (45yrs) married Johanna MAHER (35yrs) nee. WALSH, widow, on 12 Feb 1861 at the Catholic Church, Mount Barker. This gives us an inferred birth date for George c.1815 and an inferred birth date for Johannah of c.1826
Other Notes
In Oct 1857 George had been taken to court for not paying a worker. He was working the farm at Inverbrackie and also taking contracts from the council for road repairs in the district. The 1864, 1865, 1868 & 1870 Almanacs lists Geo Williamson, farmer sec. 5311 Inverbrackie. In May 1865, he was insolvent, and in Aug 1865 his fourth child George was stillborn. In Aug 1866, Ellen was born at Craig Duroc, Inverbrackie. I have not been able to track George or his family from August 1866 until April 1878, but in 1878, George's eldest daughter Jane Williamson married Henry JACOBS (junior) at Hay Valley. On the marriage record, her father was George WILLIAMSON from Dawesley. In the S.A. Directory (Almanac) of 1885, Johannah WILLIAMSON was listed as a storekeeper at Mount Barker.
In Nov 1886 George WILLIAMSON was charged with being an incorrigible rogue. In May 1887, George WILLIAMSON (71yrs old) was charged with being a vagrant at Woodside. He was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment. In June 1888, George WILLIAMSON was charged with being an incorrigible rogue (again at Woodside). He was sentenced to 12 months hard labor (he would have been 72 years old). (He had had 5 previous convictions as a rogue and vagabond). In the S.A. Directory (Almanac) of 1889, Johannah was listed as being at Mount Barker, but with no occupation and no address.
George WILLIAMSON d. 8th July 1894 (77yrs) at Adelaide (this might be our George but I have no way of verifying it). Johannah WILLIAMSON (widowed) died on 31 Jul 1895 at Dawesley. Her birth year was listed as 1815 (different from the birth year of 1826 listed on her marriage certificate). She was 80 years old (?) and her deceased husband was George WILLIAMSON. Given that Johannah's daughter Jane WILLIAMSON had married Henry JACOBS (jnr), and it was thought that they had lived in Dawesley for most if not all of their married life, it seems likely that Johannah may have lived the last of her time with her daughter at Dawesley.
In Oct 1857 George had been taken to court for not paying a worker. He was working the farm at Inverbrackie and also taking contracts from the council for road repairs in the district. The 1864, 1865, 1868 & 1870 Almanacs lists Geo Williamson, farmer sec. 5311 Inverbrackie. In May 1865, he was insolvent, and in Aug 1865 his fourth child George was stillborn. In Aug 1866, Ellen was born at Craig Duroc, Inverbrackie. I have not been able to track George or his family from August 1866 until April 1878, but in 1878, George's eldest daughter Jane Williamson married Henry JACOBS (junior) at Hay Valley. On the marriage record, her father was George WILLIAMSON from Dawesley. In the S.A. Directory (Almanac) of 1885, Johannah WILLIAMSON was listed as a storekeeper at Mount Barker.
In Nov 1886 George WILLIAMSON was charged with being an incorrigible rogue. In May 1887, George WILLIAMSON (71yrs old) was charged with being a vagrant at Woodside. He was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment. In June 1888, George WILLIAMSON was charged with being an incorrigible rogue (again at Woodside). He was sentenced to 12 months hard labor (he would have been 72 years old). (He had had 5 previous convictions as a rogue and vagabond). In the S.A. Directory (Almanac) of 1889, Johannah was listed as being at Mount Barker, but with no occupation and no address.
George WILLIAMSON d. 8th July 1894 (77yrs) at Adelaide (this might be our George but I have no way of verifying it). Johannah WILLIAMSON (widowed) died on 31 Jul 1895 at Dawesley. Her birth year was listed as 1815 (different from the birth year of 1826 listed on her marriage certificate). She was 80 years old (?) and her deceased husband was George WILLIAMSON. Given that Johannah's daughter Jane WILLIAMSON had married Henry JACOBS (jnr), and it was thought that they had lived in Dawesley for most if not all of their married life, it seems likely that Johannah may have lived the last of her time with her daughter at Dawesley.
Children of George WILLIAMSON & Johannah WELSH
Webmaster's Note: I will add more details to this family tree later.
1. Jane WILLIAMSON b. 28 Mar 1857, Inverbrackie, m. Henry JACOBS (jnr), [CHILDS family connection]
2. Walter WILLIAMSON b. 31 Dec 1859, possibly m. Mary Louisa HOLDING 10 Jul 1894 at Torrensdale (possibly Kaniva Area, Vic.)
3. James Ronald WILLIAMSON b. 16 Apr 1862, Inverbrackie, m. Mary Elizabeth THOMPSON (nee.BERRYMAN)
4. George WILLIAMSON b. 3 Aug 1865, Inverbrackie, (stillborn)
5. Ellen WILLIAMSON b. 11 Aug 1866, at Craigdarroch (Inverbrackie), m. Frederick John Osbourne WAITE
Webmaster's Note: I will add more details to this family tree later.
1. Jane WILLIAMSON b. 28 Mar 1857, Inverbrackie, m. Henry JACOBS (jnr), [CHILDS family connection]
2. Walter WILLIAMSON b. 31 Dec 1859, possibly m. Mary Louisa HOLDING 10 Jul 1894 at Torrensdale (possibly Kaniva Area, Vic.)
3. James Ronald WILLIAMSON b. 16 Apr 1862, Inverbrackie, m. Mary Elizabeth THOMPSON (nee.BERRYMAN)
4. George WILLIAMSON b. 3 Aug 1865, Inverbrackie, (stillborn)
5. Ellen WILLIAMSON b. 11 Aug 1866, at Craigdarroch (Inverbrackie), m. Frederick John Osbourne WAITE