FatherThomas Williams
MotherCatherine (?)
Pedigree

Birth, Death, Marriage

John Williams was born circa 1822 in Lisbon, Portugal.1 
He married Mary Ann Crapp, daughter of John Crapp and Mary Ann Carey Cloke, on 23 January 1855 in Creswick, Victoria.1 
He died on 6 March 1898 in Congupna, Victoria.2,3 

Family

Mary Ann Crapp b. c 1835, d. 6 Jun 1920
Children
ChartsWilliams, John, descendant chart
Williams, Roy, pedigree chart

Story

According to his marriage certificate, John Williams was born in Portugal. According to oral history, his family name was de Larum (or similar) and he jumped ship on arrival in Australia. We will probably never know the real story.

John married Mary Ann Crapp in Creswick and all of their ten children were born nearby. John was a gold miner in the area for over 20 years. By 1877, he was a farmer after leasing then purchasing 160 acres of Crown land in Tallygaroopna.
 
John Williams from Portugal?
John Williams was born in Lisbon, Portugal circa 1822. He was the child of Thomas and Catherine.

According to his marriage certificate, John Williams was born in Portugal, the son of Thomas and Catherina Williams. According to oral history, he was born John (or his native country equivalent, João) de Larum and he jumped ship with a mate named de Fraga.

There are many reasons why he might really be John Williams from Portugal.

First, it's what he has consistently said in documents relating to his marriage, the births, deaths and marriages of his children, and the purchase of Crown land.

Second, although Williams isn't a very Portuguese sounding name, there are people with that family name in that era in Portugal (through links with the British).

Finally, we are yet to find anyone with a family name like de Larum in any of several compilations of ships' crew and deserter records.

Equally, there are many reasons why the de Larum jump ship story is quite plausible.

First, the story has been passed down through at least two of his children, Maria Jane Livingstone (Williams) and Richard Cornelius Williams.

Second, Caroline Denigan contacted some Melbourne-based de Fragas, who, while having no knowledge of a de Larum or Williams, confirmed the ship jumping story.

Third, there are similar sounding Portuguese names such as de Larum, de Lara, de la Rue, etc. in records of the time.

Fourth, his father was a ship's carpenter, so it is easy to see how he could have become a sailor.

Finally, very many people jumped ship in the early 1850s to work the goldfields. Though other people who are said to have jumped ship may have in fact worked for their passage to Australia. Some also said they jumped ship to hide the fact that they were convicts (though we don't believe John Williams was a convict).

There are a number of reasons why it is difficult to confirm which of these two stories is correct.

It is hard to search for a name you don't know how to spell; we don't know the correct spelling of 'de Larum' because it is oral history only, and from over 150 years and several generations ago.

John Williams is such a common name it is often impossible to confirm one found is ours because there is no other information to verify the connection.

We have no birth certificate or any other document with his date of birth. So our only estimates are based on his marriage registration, birth of his children, and his death registration. These give his year of birth as between 1822 and 1827, and this variation makes it harder to verify other records.

It was usual for non-British immigrants to have to be naturalised before purchasing Crown land, but we can find no naturalisation for our John Williams (or de Larum). There is one naturalisation for a John Williams 'formerly known as Jermah Limdem', however this 'John Williams' was born in Amoy, China.

Finally, early Portuguese birth, marriage and death records are less accessible than those from the UK, US, Australia and some European countries. Added to the uncertainty of the correct family name spelling, and the language barrier, this makes searching even more challenging.

This will probably remain one of the family mysteries.1,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11
 
Marriage and Family
Mary Ann Crapp and John Williams were married in Creswick, Ballarat parish on 23 January 1855, as members of the United Church of England & Ireland. They had ten children between 1855 and 1877, with three early deaths.

All ten children were born in the Creswick area. The three early deaths were all boys, leaving four girls and three boys.1
 
Raising Family on the Victorian Goldfields
Life was harsh on the early Victorian goldfields, including around Creswick, and the poor living conditions would take its toll on the health of those living there, especially the children. Three of John and Mary Ann's children, all boys, died in infancy. Peter Crapp Williams died in the winter of 1860 of pneumonia at the age of nine months. George Francis Williams died in October 1873 of chronic bronchitis at the age of four months. And William Charles Williams died in February 1877 of diarrhoea aged just six weeks.12,13,14
 
Gold Miner ... and Coach Builder?
At the time of his marriage in 1855, John said he was a gold miner. And in six birth or death registrations for his children between 1855 and 1877, he gives his occupation as 'miner'.

There is also a story that in 1858, he learnt coach building in Creswick. While this could help explain why his eldest son, John Joseph, went into coach building, corroborating evidence is hard to find. In fact 'miner', not coach builder, is the occupation given in birth registrations for John Joseph (1855), Richard Cornelius (1871) and William Charles (1877), and in death registrations for Peter Crapp (1860), George Francis (1873) and William Charles (1877).

Whatever his work, he clearly made enough money to raise seven children to adulthood, then to lease and subsequently purchase Crown land near Tallygaroopna.1,15,16,17,18,19,20,21
 
From Gold Mining Creswick to Rural Shepparton
In 1877, after 22 years in Creswick, the family moved from the bustling gold mining area to a rural setting near Shepparton.

If John and Mary Ann were thinking of moving, their eldest son, John Joseph, may have provided the destination. In October of the previous year, John Joseph, and wife Sarah had their first child in Wahring, about 175 km north-east of Creswick.22,23
 
Most of the family moved from Creswick to Shepparton between February 1877 (when William Charles was buried in Creswick) and August (when John's Crown land application stated he lived in Shepparton). It is possible some of the older children travelled separately, or with John Joseph and his young family. The oldest child Maria was aged twenty and on her March 1878 marriage registration, gives her usual address as Creswick. The youngest child to move was Richard aged six.20,24,25
 
Sometime before May 1878, the entire family's move to the Shepparton area was complete with the arrival of John Joseph and Sarah's second child in Mooroopna.

Records show John and Mary Ann were living in Mooroopna in March and June 1878, and April 1879.26,27,28,25
 
Property and Farming Around Tallygaroopna
John took advantage of Crown land grants to purchase 160 acres at Tallygaroopna and become a farmer. Within 10 years, the property had a two roomed weatherboard house, three roomed outbuilding, blacksmiths shop and three bay stable. Much of the land was cleared, cultivated and fenced, and there was a dam.

In August 1877, John paid a £1 application fee for a license to occupy 160 acres of Crown land in Tallygaroopna. Officially, the land is lot 14A, section C, parish of Tallygaroopna, county of Moira. A survey in September determined the area was 159 acres 3 roods 31 perches (there are 4 roods to the acre and 40 perches to the rood, so about 160 acres). The land was described at 'level', the soil as 'chocolate' and the vegetation as 'timbered with box'. The survey cost £4/10. In November the local land board recommended the application be granted.

The standard license comes with a number of conditions. The occupier must pay a £48 fee; not sublet the land to anyone else; enclose the property with fences within two years; cultivate at least one acre in every ten; within six months, reside on the land and do so for at least two and a half years; and by the third year, make improvements to the value of at least £1 per acre.

In February 1881, in John's application to lease the land, he detailed improvements to the value of £255. Improvements were in the categories of fencing, cultivation, buildings, water storage and other.

Fencing was valued at £41 and consisted of 60 chains (approximately 1200 metres) of stub or picket fence, and 40 chains (approximately 800 metres) of chock and log fencing.

Cultivation was valued at £140 pounds and was assessed over three years. There is usually no cultivation in the first year and this was the case with John. In the second year, 16 acres were cultivated at a cost of £4 per acre (total cost £64), with wheat yielding £16 per acre. In the third year, an additional 19 acres were cultivated at a cost of £4 per acre (total cost £76), with wheat yielding £15 per acre.

Two buildings were valued at £41. The first, valued at £25, was 22 ft long, 14 ft wide with walls of weatherboard 8 ft high, and topped with bark roof. John stated that he and his family had resided there continuously. The second building was a shed and stable 40 ft long and 20 ft wide with a 7 ft high straw roof; it was valued at £16.

Water storage was valued at £30 and consisted of two dams; one 40 ft by 15 ft by 7 ft deep valued at £20, and one 20 ft by 15 ft by 7 ft deep valued at £10.

Other improvements were valued at £3 and consisted of '60 acres timber rung' (ring-barked).

In answers to other questions in the February 1881 document, John stated that he had no other business and held no other land.

The application was successful and a lease between 'her most gracious majesty Queen Victoria of the one part and John Williams of Tallygaroopna farmer of the second part' became effective on 1st February 1881, with payments of £8 due on 1st February and 1st August each year.

By February 1888, John had paid a total of £160 in rent, so the Crown land was now his for £1 per acre. In the final grant document, John Williams gives his address as 'Tallygaroopna railway station', which is about 1.5 km to the north. As the first person to purchase the land by lease, not auction, the name John Williams appears on that block of land on the Tallygaroopna Parish map.

According to the Shepparton rates, in late 1895 or early 1896, John sold the 160 acre farm to his son Richard. Though this conflicts with John's probate documents which state that at the time of his 1898 death, the main value of his estate was 160 acres of land valued at £640 pounds and was let to Richard Cornelius Williams for £20 per annum.22,29,30,2
John Williams property in Tallygaroopna
John Williams, land files header
Williams Road, Shepparton
In his book The Streets of Shepparton, Raymond West says that Williams Road (north of Benalla Rd near the showgrounds) was 'named after John Williams an early landowner and resident in that road'.

This is not our John Williams, because our John was only in Shepparton for a short time before taking up land in Tallygaroopna.31
 
Tallygaroopna Family Home
When the family moved to the Tallygaroopna area, they first lived in Shepparton. In 1877, following John's successful Crown grant application, he built the family home on the property.

In 1881, the land files describe the house as a two-roomed weatherboard dwelling, 22 ft long, 14 ft wide and 8 ft high, with a bark roof. This house is about 29 square metres or 3 squares, and would be quite small for the family of six or seven (John Joseph, Maria Jane and possibly also Thomas Henry had married or moved out).

At the time of John's death in 1898, this house was described as a two-roomed weatherboard house with iron roof. There was also a three-roomed outbuilding, but it is not known whether this was habitable.22,2,32
 
Other John Williams Property in the Shepparton / Tallygaroopna Area
Parish maps and the Shepparton rates show several other properties belonging to a John Williams.

The Shepparton parish map shows a John Williams had a 175 acre property on the north side of what is now Wanganui Rd. The Shepparton rates show that this was leased until 1889, then owned from 1890-1893. However, inspection of the land files showed that this was not our John Williams, as this John Williams was single (ours was married) and could sign his name (ours could not). Some other useful information in those land files was that this John Williams was a butcher with a shop in Wyndham St. Rate records show that this butcher shop was on the west side of Wyndham St, just north of Fryers St, and that John Williams owned it until 1893.

The Shepparton rates also show a John Williams leasing 320 acres of land until 1889. Though possible, it would seem unlikely that this was our John Williams; he would surely be busy enough on his own property. The Shepparton parish map shows five 320 acre properties and one of those adjoins the 175 acre property above. It would certainly be convenient for a butcher to have the two adjoining properties to graze his cattle.

All other properties shown in the Shepparton rates that are owned or leased by John Williams, are after the death of our John Williams.22,32,33
 
First of Many Butchers?
Was John Williams the first of many family members who were butchers? His sons, Richard Cornelius and Frank Williams were butchers. Richard's son, Cecil Roy, and brother-in-law Bert Larsen were butchers.

Certainly at the time John moved to Tallygaroopna he was not a butcher, as in one of his February 1881 land documents, he stated he had no other occupation, i.e. he was a farmer, not a butcher. And when he wrote his will in 1893, he said he was a retired farmer, not a retired butcher.

There was a butcher by the name of John Williams in Wyndham St, Shepparton, but he was single and so he is not ours.

In Tallygaroopna and District Times and Tales, author Elsie Brady says that Hec McKenzie built the now Heritage listed Tallygaroopna butcher shop in 1886, with a number of butchers operating the shop over the years. Following Hec McKenzie were H Hansen, Roy Williams, Bert Larsen, M Hannan (1921), W Hehir (1926), and many others. But no John Williams.

So depite the rumours, we have no evidence that our John Williams was ever a butcher.34,22,35
 
Religion
John and Mary Ann married as members of the United Church of England & Ireland, later known as the Church of England. In John's obituary, it said he 'was an active worker in connection with the local Church of England, and that his death is greatly regretted by members of the congregation.1,36'
 
Failing Health
John's health started to fail around 1893 when he was diagnosed with asthenia, an abnormal weakness in the body. He prepared his will, appointing Mary Ann and Richard as executors, and made his mark 29 March 1893.35,3
 
John Williams died of heart failure at the family home in Tallygaroopna on 6 March 1898, aged 75. He was buried at Wunghnu cemetery in Wunghnu on 8 March.36,3
Headstone of John & Mary Ann Williams, Wunghnu cemetery
Image: Laurie & Lorraine Phillips
OBITUARY
An old resident of the district passed away on Sunday last in the person of Mr John Williams, of Tallygaroopna, who expired on the day named, after a protracted illness. Mr Williams, who was 75 years of age, had been in failing health for a very long time, so that his death was not unexpected, but it was none the less regretted by the large number who had known and respected the kindly old gentleman for many years. Our Tallygaroopna correspondent writes to say that deceased was an active worker in connection with the local Church of England, and that his death is greatly regretted by members of the congregation. The funeral took place on Tuesday, the place of interrence being the Wunghnu cemetery.36

 
Will and Probate
In his March 1893 will, all money was to go to Mary Ann, with the rest of his personal estate and all real estate to Mary Ann and Richard. Probate was granted to executors Mary Ann and Richard on 28 April 1898.

In the will, real estate was to be let with the rent going to Mary Ann while alive. After Mary Ann's death, the land was to be sold with the proceeds going to their children, John, Thomas, Richard, Maria Livingston, Charlotte De Morton, Annie Howard and Mary Williams.

Real estate consisted of the 160 acre Tallygaroopna property with the family home, a two-roomed weatherboard house. There were several outbuildings. It was valued at £640.

In the will, personal estate was to be converted to money and invested to provide income for Mary Ann while alive. Upon her death, the residue was to go to the children.

Personal estate consisted of rental of the 160 acre property to Richard (£20), and deposit plus interest at the Bank of Victoria Limited (£153/14).

Total value of his estate was £813/10.35,2
 
In Memoriam
In June 1904, Mary Ann placed an 'In Memoriam' for her husband and her eldest son.37
Image: Shepparton News

Citations

  1. [S14] John Williams and Mary Ann Crapp, marriage registration no. 9, 23 January 1855.
  2. [S112] 'John Williams', VPRS 28 Probate and Administration Files, no. 67/633, probate, 28 April 1898.
  3. [S74] John Williams, death registration no. 5081, 5 March 1898.
  4. [S57] Caroline Denigan, personal communication, 26 August 1996.
  5. [S40] Unassisted Passenger Lists 1852-1923, online index, PROV.
  6. [S120] 'VPRS 2144 Registers of Deserters and Discharged Seamen', microfilm, 1855-1922.
  7. [S144] Nominal Index for pre-1904 Victorian Naturalizations, series A7796.
  8. [S223] Assisted Passenger Lists 1839-1871, index and register.
  9. [S2] Melton, Jim, Ships' deserters 1852-1900: Including stragglers, strays and absentees from H. M. ships, Library of Australian History, Sydney, 1986.
  10. [S2] Warner, Mary-Anne, Mariners and Ships in Australian Waters, website, 2009, site hosted by State Records Authority of NSW, http://mariners.records.nsw.gov.au/
  11. [S2] Sexton, Rae, The Deserters: A complete record of military and naval deserters in Australia and New Zealand, 1800-1865, Australasian Maritime Historical Society, Magill SA, 1985.
  12. [S1] The death registration page for George Francis Williams shows a total of five deaths over eleven days. Two deaths were children under one. Causes of death include diphtheria (upper respiratory tract infection), scarlatina (scarlet fever), acute desquamative nephritis (kidney disease commonly from exposure to cold or resulting from scarlet fever), phthisis pulmonalis (pulmonary tuberculosis, lung disease), 'shock to nervous system from a burn', chronic bronchitis (inflamation of airways), congestion of lungs and exhaustion.
  13. [S1] The death registration page for Peter Crapp Williams shows a total of five deaths over fifteen days. Two deaths were children under 13 months. Causes of death include general debility, pleuro-pneumonia, influenza, pneumonia (two mentions) and phthisis (tuberculosis).
  14. [S1] The death registration page for William Charles Williams shows a total of five deaths over thirty days. Two deaths were children under one. Causes of death include debility (two mentions), exhaustion (three mentions by three different doctors), diarrhoea (two mentions), morbus cordis (heart disease), malignant disease of stomach, 'want of mother's milk' and protracted labour.
  15. [S94] John Joseph Williams, birth registration no. 1706, 10 December 1855.
  16. [S328] George Francis Williams, death registration no. 9410, 31 October 1873.
  17. [S327] Peter Crapp Williams, death registration no. 8328, 31 August 1860.
  18. [S325] Richard Cornelius Williams, birth registration no. 8451, 29 April 1871.
  19. [S95] William Charles Williams, birth registration no. 1919, 9 January 1877.
  20. [S326] William Charles Williams, death registration no. 1025, 24 February 1877.
  21. [S57] Caroline Denigan, personal communication, email 6 July 1996.
  22. [S324] '7925 Benalla', VPRS 626 Land selection files by land district, section 19 and 20 Land Act 1869, land selection files, John Williams, 8 February 1888.
  23. [S299] Alice Maud Williams, birth registration no. 22337, 27 October 1876.
  24. [S324] '7925 Benalla', VPRS 626 Land selection files by land district, section 19 and 20 Land Act 1869, land selection files, John Williams, 8 February 1888, 'Certificate of Registration.'
  25. [S584] Alexander Livingston and Maria Jane Williams, marriage registration no. 211, 5 March 1878.
  26. [S329] Robert John Williams, birth registration no. 10530, 20 May 1878.
  27. [S601] Edith Helena Livingstone, birth registration no. 17700, 1 June 1878.
  28. [S593] Robert John Williams, death registration no. 5715, 9 April 1879.
  29. [S245] 'Tallygaroopna parish plan, imperial measure', VPRS 16171 Regional Land Office Parish and Township Plans Digitised Reference Set, plan no. 3533, map, 2003.
  30. [S233] Shepparton Shire & Town Rates Index, 1885-1939/1941, computer file, Shepparton Family History Group, John Williams entries 1885-1895.
  31. [S2] West, Raymond, The Streets of Shepparton, Shepparton City Council, 1953, p. 37.
  32. [S233] Shepparton Shire & Town Rates Index, 1885-1939/1941, computer file, Shepparton Family History Group.
  33. [S317] Shepparton -2 Parish Plan, Imperial measure 3486, VPRS 16171 Regional Land Office Parish and Township Plans Digitised Reference Set, plan no. 3486, map, 1946.
  34. [S17] Tallygaroopna and District Times and Tales: Published to mark the occasion of the centenary of Tallygaroopna primary school 3067, 1890-1990, Tallygaroopna school council, 1991.
  35. [S111] 'John Williams', VPRS 7591 Wills 1853-1992, will, 29 March 1893.
  36. [S18] 'Obituary', Shepparton News, 1877-, newspaper, Roy McPherson, 11 March 1898, John Williams.
  37. [S18] 'In Memoriam: Williams', Shepparton News, 1877-, newspaper, Roy McPherson, 17 June 1904, viewed 16 June 2015.
  38. [S3] Victorian Pioneer Index 1836-1888, CD-ROM, Macbeth Genealogical Services, 1998.