Lieutenant William
Williams (1800.......1834)
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of the 40th Regiment's Soldiers
Born :
12 July 1800
Where Born : Kilkeeny
Occupation : Soldier
Date Arrived : 1823
Ship Arrived on :
Rank attained : Lieutenant
Regimental # :
Date of Enlistment : Cornet
11 dragoons 10 Sep 1812 Age on Entrance 12 years
Transfered :
Ensign 40th Foot 10 May 1822
Transfered :Lieuteant
57th Reg at foot Sept 1824
Transfered :Lieuteant
40th foot Sept 1826 by exchange
Date of Discharge : 23
November 1834
Where Discharged : died in
Service
Died :
23 November 1834
Where Died /
Buried :
Colabar Bombay India
Parents Names : William
Williams (b........d.) and Elizabeth Finn(b........d.)
Spouse's Name : Jane Reid
Born :
1815
Where Born : Scotland
Occupation :
Date Arrived : Mar
1822
Ship Arrived on : " Castle
Forbes "
Date Married :16April
1829
Where Married : Van Diemens
Land
Died : 1885
Where Died /
Buried : Bothwell
Spouse's Parents : Alexander Reid
(b........d.)and Mary Muirhead (b........d.)
Descendants
Information kindley supplied
Rosalie Raftis
raftis@iinet.net.au
- Area Settled :
- Jane lived at “Ratho” Bothwell,
Tasmania
- Children :
-
- History &
Achievements :
-
- Jane returned to Tasmania after Williams death,
she lived with her family until her death (she died in
her 80's) and never remarried. She was one of the
oldest most respected pioneers in Tasmania and her
journals form a great part of Clyde Company Papers Vol 1
and 2
Paternal grandfather was an eminent bookseller in Dublin
and maternal grandfather founded Finn's Leinster Journal
one of Irelands longest running newspapers. His
father died in Salamanca, his eldest brother James was
Surgeon British Army and became Inspector General of
Hospitals, eldest sister a nun, Sister of Charity twin
sister nun Parramatta and Hobart, youngest brother Port
Phillip Pioneer- auctioneer, lots of interesting
information. His constable was P.W. Welsh who went
up the social scale and down again.
Lt. William Williams 40th Regiment and police magistrate
of the Clyde District until his regiment was posted to
India about 1830. He was returning to VDL in 1834
but died of Cholera (most likely) and his widow, all of 2
years) returned home alone and became a loved and well
respected pioneer.His story is most fascinating, his
father died a heroic death in Salamanca which is recorded
in Napiers "History of the Peninsular War) and
Williamwas awarded his father's cornetcy at the age of
12.
William was awarded his
father’s cornetcy in the 11th
Light Dragoons at the age of 12. His father had died a
heroic death on the battlefield in Salamanca during the
Peninsular War (this is recorded in William Napier’s History
of the Peninsular War, Vol.5 p 150).He attained the rank of
Luietenant without purchase with the 57th
Regt. and was exchanged with Lt. Curtain of the 40th
Regiment of foot. William became the Police Magistrate for
the district of Clyde and was involved in a clash with Matthew
Brady, bushranger (this is documented in several books regarding
Brady and other bushrangers). He also was responsible for a
church being provided for the community of Bothwell. His
regiment was posted to India and William and his bride Jane Reid
settled in Bombay . Due to lack of funds William was unable to
purchase a higher rank and had difficulty in coping financially
until he studied Hindu and became a translator. Just before
William and Jane were to embark on a ship to return to Tasmania
William became ill with fever and died on 23 Nov 1834 and Jane
returned alone, widowed at the age of 20. She went on to become
one of Van Deimen’s Land oldest pioneers and many of her
letters and journals are recorded in “The Clyde Company
Papers” by P.L. Brown.
Williams twin sister Eliza was the
first woman to profess vows in Australia and became Rev Mother M.
Xavier Williams of Sisters of Charity Hobart.
His youngest brother Charles
Williams was an auctioneer in Port Phillip and related to various
families including, Langhornes, Von Stieglitz and Belcher (Hon.
G.F. Belcher was his brother in law).
Other siblings held prominent
positions in Ireland.
His maternal grandfather founded
“Finn’s Leinster Journal” in Kilkenny, a very old
newspaper and his paternal grandfather was a prominent bookseller
in Dublin.
- © Copyright B & M Chapman
(QLD) Australia
- Last revised: February 25, 2004.