William Colston, muderer hanged in 1891.

[Mamac]

Not only was William Colston an articulate man (see earlier post regarding the trial proceedings published in the Papers Past article - I thought he may have come to Australia via NZ, hence looking there) but also a sportsman! He was by all accounts a very competent carpenter and his undoing seems once again to be the demon drink.

[wivenhoe]

"... rose to the rank of Sergeant."

Where do you see this information ie William COLSTON joined the Artillery, NSW with the rank of...... ? ...and attained the rank of Sergeant.

Did William COLSTON marry?. Did he have children?

[Mamac]

It was published in the state police gazettes (I posted the snippet on the first page of this string about 8 posts down) while they were looking for him.

I have not found any marriage or children. The index of of his death does not provide the names of his parents either.

[Mamac]

I found an article published in the Argus that describes William Colston's military history thus:

..."It appears he enlisted in the Royal Engineers in 1872, served in the Ashantee War and received a medal for his conduct at the battle of Coomassie. He obtained his discharge at Hong Kong on September 26th 1878 but nothing further is known of his career until July 1880 when he joined the NSW Artillery. In 1885 having meantime risen to the rank of Sergeant he was discharged at his own request... for three years he was in the neighbourhood of Walhalla and from there seems to have come straight to Marysville..."

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/8482646?searchTerm=%22William%20Colston%22&searchLimits=sortby=dateAsc|||l-decade=189

[wivenhoe]

Why are you interested in William COLSTON?

[Mamac]

I have no familial connection, just a curiosity as to finding out his ancestral line, which I thought I may be able to trace through his military career. I have been unable to find any birth record for him. I was side tracked by his story while researching my immigrant ancestor.

[majm]

From a local history perspective, no.2 battery was likely at Dawes Point,  (Sydney), so historically that would be a significant site,  1800s records may refer to Lower George St if seeking Wm Colston. 

If standing there today, you will see the built environment including a busy commercial harbour,  Opera House,  Harbour Bridge,  Cadman's Cottage, Admiralty House, Luna Park, Campbells Wharf and Warehouses, The Rocks, Millers Point, and of course, Dawes Point.  But you will also see the convergence of the waters of the rivers and creeks entering The Harbour, just as the Aboriginal Peoples did for generations upon generations, just as did the convicts, marines, governor and his admin team and the transport ships's crew  in January 1788. 

ADD
See #25 ... convergence is wrong word.  CONFLUENCE is better option.  6.23pm NSW time

JM

[majm]

Yes, well my ancient living rellies have all been on the phone.  The word is confluence.  I apologise for typing 'convergence' instead of 'confluence'.  Yes, my mistake.

 
I blame my genetics...

 

JM

[Mamac]

Pfft! I wouldn't have noticed until you pointed it out

I found a record for William Colston here https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/P10046412 so thanks for the tip! It confirms his involvement in Sudan, but also gives his birthplace and that he was also known as CALSTON. That gives me a few more leads to find his lineage. There was an article in TROVE that was published when Colston Hall in Bristol burnt down, some 7 or 8 years after the hanging. It was hinting at a possible connection to the philanthropist, merchant, slave trader and member of parliament Edward Colston, who founded Colston School.