WILLIAM FIRST SETTLES AT CAMPBELLTOWN, NSW

When William first arrived in the colony of New South Wales he established a blacksmith and wheelwright business in Campbelltown, south west of Sydney

WILLIAM'S MARRIAGE TO ELIZA WILSON

William married Eliza WILSON who was born at Wexford, Ireland  and had arrived in the colony in 1833.

WILLIAM AND ELIZA WILLIAM'S CHILDREN

William and Eliza had five children: Edward; Eliza Ann; Maria; William (Jnr.) (my husband's great grandfather) and Caroline.

WILLIAM AND FAMILY TRAVEL INLAND TO SEARCH FOR GOLD

William and his family, like many other settlers, travelled inland to the goldfields to try their luck. William joined forces with 3 or 4 other men to work the mines at Ophir. They generally moved large pieces of slaty rock and then washed the earth in the wooden cradles. Gold at this time was selling for £3/8/- ($6.80) per ounce.
 

LIVING CONDITIONS ON THE GOLDFIELDS

William and his family, along with most of the other diggers, lived in a tent, (pictured on the right) which had very few amenities. A box on a block generally served as a table, while packing cases were used for chairs. The beds consisted of stretchers made from opened up flour bags nailed onto 2 sturdy poles.

The cooking was usually done on an open fire. Damper, mutton and black tea was the usual meal. Lamp chops were fried, while joints of mutton were backed in a cast-iron camp oven suspended from an iron tripod, above the fire.
 

GOLD DIGGERS REQUIRED LICENCE

The gold diggers were required to purchase a digger's licence from the Gold Commissioner, J.R.Hardy. The gold diggers had to use gold dust to pay for the licence which consisted of a slip of paper torn from a book, similar to a cheque book. The digger's name was entered  on the spot and their description was put into the book as the licences were not transferable. The Commissioner generally issued about 200 licences per day.

SUCCESS AT THE GOLDFIELDS

William was very successful and found a large amount of gold. He then moved to the Turon River where he was once again very successful.

William was eventually credited with £65,000 ($130,000) in the Oriental and NSW Bank. As travelling was very dangerous, due to the bushrangers during this period, William made cavities in the bed of his dray to hold his gold.

Copyright © 2005, Carol McNeill, , c/- PO, Morayfield, Qld, Australia, 4506. Original content in these pages is copyright. Apart from any use permitted under the Copyright Act, no part may be produced by any process, or other exclusive right exercised without written permission of the copyright holder.