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Research in Other Countries => Australia => Topic started by: dunscore on Wednesday 25 September 24 05:56 BST (UK)
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I would like any information on William J (possibly James) Reed, b. Brighton, Sussex, England c. 1836.
He married Agnes Gibson in Walgett in 1870 and apparently died in Brewarrina, NSW c. 1888. I cannot find anything in the NSW BDM for his death. I also have no idea when he migrated to Australia or the names of his parents.
I have found a Passenger list for Agnes Gibson and she was aged 20, arrived on the "Wellington" on 1 April, 1959, from Liverpool, Lanarkshire, Scotland. Her parents were Anne and John according to the Immigrant Passenger List.
Any help or confirmation of the above would be very much appreciated.
Cheers,
Dunscore
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How do you know he was b Sussex?
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Seems as though this may have been a second marriage for Agnes.
The Marriage index for NSW 1870 shows:
Name Agnes Earl, Spouse William Reed
Marriage Date 1870 at Walgett, New South Wales
Registration Place Walgett, New South Wales, Australia #3569
And earlier - 1862
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/28622819
The Sydney Morning Herald, Tue 10 Jun 1862
Marriages:
On the 27th May, by special license, at Millie, by the Rev. E. Price, Mr. William Earl, of Cryan, to Agnes, second daughter of Mr. John Gibson, of Glasgow.
You may have Agnes' burial information:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/172451822/agnes-reed
Agnes Reed
Birth 1841
Death 2 Aug 1900 (aged 58–59)
Burial: Collarenebri Cemetery Collarenebri, Walgett Shire, New South Wales, Australia
Plot: RC 12
I am not seeing William mentioned at Collarenebri.
From New South Wales, Australia, Government Gazettes, 1879, October-December
A "Proprietor by Transmission" notice which states that a section of land in the town of Collarindibi (sic) is transferred to Agnes Reed (formerly Agnes Earl) as she is the executrix of the estate of William Reed.
So it would seem that William must have died before October 1879.
Judith
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Death of William's stepson in 1921 - mentioning that William "at one time, was the chief land and property owner of Collarenebri"
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/134219130
Judith
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Interesting snippet from a history of Walgett:
https://www.walgett.nsw.gov.au/files/assets/public/v/1/department/planning/documents/thematic-history-walgett-shire.pdf
"Further north near Pokataroo, William Earl had commenced a hotel known as the “Squatter’s
Arms” where the Barwon could be crossed. As land settlement increased around the Barwon
and Narran Rivers, this ford was increasingly used to cross the river.5 In 1867, Collarenebri
was measured out as a town and was duly proclaimed on 12 July 1867.6 The town emerged
along a site where tracks converged to cross the Barwon River. Stockyards and a few huts
were positioned both in the new village and just to the east of it.7 Before 1866, Edward
Fletcher and Mr Smith had applied for and had been approved to receive a Conditional
Purchase of 40 acres on the eastern side of the Barwon River. Fletcher commenced a store
on this land.8
Collarenebri had a store, a post office and a punt to aid river crossings. William Earl died in
1868 and when his widow remarried a man named Reed, the hotel acquired new owners who
ran it for many years. John Brasen, the local storekeeper, commenced a rival hotel, the
“Happy Home” about 10 miles below Mogil Mogil, which acquired a post office after the
post office in Collarenebri closed."
Judith
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Your starting point should be the acquisition of the marriage certificate. What information does this provide?
Mention of William Reed resigning from a public position in June 1879
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/223121345?searchTerm=%22William%20Reed%22
William Reed impounding horse July 1879
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/223433475?searchTerm=%22William%20Reed%22
I don't see that he died before 1879.
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23 march 1881
William Reed, summoned by Senior-constable Headley, Mogil Mogil Police, for stealing one calf (recovered), the property of Oswald Bloxsome, has been committed for trial at
Walgett Sessions. Bail allowed, self in £100, and two sureties in £50 each.
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/251643319/27913473
I see he pleaded not guilty, but I don't see what the result of the trial was.
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If am I correctly reading the item about William REED landholder found above by Judith,
William REED died in SYDNEY at the benevolent asylum.
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/134219130
Or have i misunderstood the information?
Sue
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William REED died in SYDNEY at the benevolent asylum.
That's how I read it too.
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William REED died in SYDNEY at the benevolent asylum.
That's how I read it too.
Deleted….you were right, sorry :'(
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14 June 1881 - William Reed acquitted of cattle stealing
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/816631?searchTerm=Reed%20AND%20stealing
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Hmmm - perhaps there may have been two William REEDs in the area? Common enough name.
Speculation only!
I also wonder if Agnes may have had some way becoming the executrix of his estate in 1879 without there being an actual death - by Power of Attorney perhaps or was he declared dead ???
It was by the end of June, 1879 that he had resigned from being "Keeper of the Pound" as shown in the newspaper article found by Neale1961. Mention of William Reed resigning from a public position in June 1879 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/223121345
I doubt if this is relevant but thought I'd post it anyway - and is the Liverpool Asylum the same as the Sydney Asylum!
Liverpool Asylum for the Infirm and Destitute, Surgeon Superintendent
Weekly Report 1877-1883 - Week ending December 2, 1882
The only mention I can see of a suitable William Reed at the Liverpool Asylum is for a William Reed,aged 72 who absconded. I doubt if this is relevant - such a common name!
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Thank you to those who were able to help with my inquiry. There is a letter from a relative of William Reed and she says in the letter that William was born in Sussex, but there are other things mentioned that we know to be incorrect, so that could be one of them!
Agnes did marry twice, firstly to William Earl in 1862. He died at the "Squatters Arms" in 1868 and then Agnes remarried - to William Reed.
Agnes Reed was interred at the Collarenebri cemetery and their records show she was "w/William", but he is certainly not with her. If he died at the Benevolent Asylum in Sydney, no doubt his body would not have been taken back to his home town.
Thanks again to all,
Dunscore
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According to the records shown on this site there is no William Reed or Reid that fits with the man in question.
Sydney Benevolent Asylum Index to Admissions and Discharges 1857-1900
https://sydneybenevolentasylum.com/index.php?page=search-index
Surname Given Name Admission Date Discharge Date Age More Details
REED William 22 Oct 1869 Submit Request
REED William 8 Jul 1858 49 Submit Request
REED William 6 Jul 1867 2y 6m Submit Request
REID William 8 Jul 1858 Submit Request
REID William 23 Mar 1861 51 Submit Request
REID William 23 Mar 1861 Submit Request
REID William 8 Apr 1886 8 Submit Request
REID William 10 May 1868 4 Submit Request
REID William 16 Aug 1893 10d Submit Request
REID William 1 Jun 1897 3y 6m Submit Request
REID William 13 Sep 1897 3y 6m Submit Request
REIDY William 1 8 Dec 1893 4
Judith
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Thank you to those who were able to help with my inquiry. There is a letter from a relative of William Reed and she says in the letter that William was born in Sussex, but there are other things mentioned that we know to be incorrect, so that could be one of them!
Agnes did marry twice, firstly to William Earl in 1862. He died at the "Squatters Arms" in 1868 and then Agnes remarried - to William Reed.
Agnes Reed was interred at the Collarenebri cemetery and their records show she was "w/William", but he is certainly not with her. If he died at the Benevolent Asylum in Sydney, no doubt his body would not have been taken back to his home town.
Thanks again to all,
Dunscore
Hi Dunscore,
I am interested in your comment which I have underlined above.
I wonder if you would share the contents of that letter from the relative.
If you don't know the real facts about the man and his family, how have you arrived at the conclusion that the information in the letter is incorrect?
Sue
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Hi Sue,
Although I have not personally read the whole letter, I have seen a couple of errors mainly with BDM information and as to where a couple of the ancestors were either born or died. I am assuming that the NSW BDM is more reliable as a resource than a very old letter! There are a number of dates that I have been able to confirm. The letter mentions the birth in Sussex too, but I have my doubts regarding this but nothing to confirm either way.
Cheers,
Dunscore
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William REED was very much alive when his wife Agnes died in August 1900.
You can read the newspaper reports of a fire that destroyed their home the former Squatters Arms Hotel while he was away due to her death.
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/71388175?searchTerm=%22reed%22
The residence of Mr. William Reed, at Collarenebri, was totally destroyed by fire at 4 a.m. on August 1. It was the oldest building in the district. Twenty years ago it was used as a hotel, and was known as the Squatters' Arms. The origin of the fire is a mystery.
At the inquest on the suspicious fire at Mr. W. Reed's residence, Collarenebri, which was destroyed by fire on August 1, the jury brought in a verdict that the premises had been maliciously and wilfully set fire to by some person or persons unknown. The building was insured in the United Insurance Company for £600. During the progress of the inquest Mr. Reed, owner of the property, received word that his wife had died at Moongulla, where he was when the fire occurred.
A few more articles on the fire:
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/230634119?searchTerm=%22william%20reed%22
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/237320493?searchTerm=%22william%20reed%22
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/237320421?searchTerm=%22william%20reed%22
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/237320493?searchTerm=%22william%20reed%22
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Excellent finds, Merlin. I was put off by the transfer to Agnes with her named as 'executrix of his estate' back in 1879, so I assumed he was dead. (Forgot the golden rule - never assume anything in this game! ::))
Don't know enough law to know how she was able to do that - power of attorney; permission given by him to act (perhaps he was away??),
Judith
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From New South Wales, Australia, Government Gazettes, 1879, October-December
A "Proprietor by Transmission" notice which states that a section of land in the town of Collarindibi (sic) is transferred to Agnes Reed (formerly Agnes Earl) as she is the executrix of the estate of William Reed.
So it would seem that William must have died before October 1879.
Judith
Excellent finds, Merlin. I was put off by the transfer to Agnes with her named as 'executrix of his estate' back in 1879, so I assumed he was dead. (Forgot the golden rule - never assume anything in this game! ::))
Don't know enough law to know how she was able to do that - power of attorney; permission given by him to act (perhaps he was away??),
Judith
Judith, it was the estate of William EARL her deceased husband not William REED that was named in the Gazette ;D
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/223122395?searchTerm=Agnes%20Reed%20(formerly%20Agnes%20Earl)