FatherJohn Williams1 b. c 1822, d. 6 Mar 1898
MotherMary Ann Crapp b. c 1835, d. 6 Jun 1920
Pedigree

Birth, Death, Marriage

John Joseph Williams was born on 10 December 1855 in Creswick, Victoria.2,3 
He married Sarah Jane Edwards, daughter of Robert Edwards and Elizabeth Brown, on 15 April 1876 in Sandhurst, Victoria.4,5 
He died on 17 June 1902 in Leonora, Western Australia, at age 46.6,7 

Family

Sarah Jane Edwards b. 1858, d. 8 Mar 1912
Children
ChartsWilliams, John, descendant chart

Story

At different times, John Joseph was a blacksmith, wheelwright, coach builder, mining consultant, mine owner, justice of the peace, legal manager, attorney and publican. He was a member, and often office bearer, for the Australian Natives Association, the Freemasons and various progress committees. He was prominent during the early days of Broken Hill and its proclamation as a municipality, and Williams Street in Broken Hill is named after him. He moved to the eastern goldfields of Western Australia, most notably around Coolgardie and Leonora, during their establishment. He may even have met geologist Herbert Hoover, who would later become 31st President of the United States.
 
John Joseph was born in Creswick on 10 December 1855. He was the oldest child of Mary Ann and John and the oldest to reach childhood. In his later years, he was known familiarly as 'JJ'.3,8
 
He grew up on the Victorian goldfields. When he was five years old, one of his brothers died. When another brother George Francis died, 18 year old John Joseph was the informant. By the time a third brother died, he was married and had left the area.9,10
 
Marriage and Family
Sarah Edwards and John Joseph Williams were married at St Paul's in Sandhurst (Bendigo) on 15 April 1876. They had eight children between 1876 and 1891, with four early deaths. Their first child was born six months after they married. Sarah was 19 when she married and her father Robert gave written consent for her to marry.4,5
 
Family Life
John Joseph and Sarah Williams spent some of the time in different towns, possibly for health or comfort reasons. Births and children's deaths tell us when Sarah was at different locations, but John Joseph's whereabouts don't always coincide.

Six months after the couple's marriage in Sandhurst (Bendigo), their first child, Alice, was born in October 1876 in Wahring (north of Nagambie) in Victoria. Alice became an auntie four months later with the birth of another brother of John Joseph in Creswick.

Their second child, Robert, was born in Mooroopna in May 1878, and died there, of 'convulsions', 11 months later in April 1879. They lived in Mooroopna for about two years.

Child number three was John Joseph (jnr), who was born at Mallara station on the Darling River near Pooncarie NSW in May 1880. Pooncarie is about 110 km south of Menindee and 190 km south-east of Broken Hill. He died there, of measles, 12 months later in May 1881.

It was in the Menindie district [respelled Menindee in 1918] where the next two children, Anne Louisa and Edward Charles were born in 1882 and 1884.10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19
 
Broken Hill was founded in 1883 by boundary rider Charles Rasp, who patrolled the Mount Gipps fences. In 1883 he discovered what he thought was tin, but the samples proved to be silver and lead. The orebody they came from proved to be the largest and richest of its kind in the world.20
 
In May 1886, Mary Elizabeth was born at Mount Gipps. The Mount Gipps station homestead [where John Joseph was likely working as a blacksmith] was about 19 km from Broken Hill.

Sarah and John Joseph spent the next 18 months around Broken Hill where he was working, initially as a blacksmith, but getting more involved with the mining. He was also involved in civic affairs including Justice of the Peace (JP) and assistant registrar of births, deaths and marriages for the district of Wentworth. Broken Hill was not yet declared a municipal district and living conditions were poor.21,22,23,24,25,26
Broken Hill, c. 1887
Image: Sydney Mail & New South Wales Advertiser
Following a petition submitted by residents to the Colonial Secretary on 2 May 1888, the Municipal District of Broken Hill was first incorporated on 22 September 1888. The incorporation occurred during a typhoid epidemic, which killed 128 people, and the need for public health and water supply provisions was one of the main driving forces behind incorporation, and one of the biggest issues for the new municipality. One contemporary report commented that 'The town is in a terrible state owing to defective sanitary arrangements. People continue to leave by trains daily in hundreds in view of the impending drought'.27
 
Broken Hill
Increase of typhoid fever
The prevalence of typhoid fever is getting serious. Fifty cases are reported this morning. The public are subscribing freely for the Hospital Fund. ... Extra nurses are arriving from Adelaide. Several bankers, brokers, merchants, and Civil servants are down with the fever.

The new members of the Progress Committee are Messrs [John Joseph] Williams, Berry, Sinclair, and Jones. The election was keenly contested.

The report has been completed as to Stephens Creek water supply. The cost is estimated at over £100,000. There is a splendid catchment area. Plans will be submitted to Parliament immediately.

Several persons have been fined for having dirty back yards.

Yesterday the weather was extremely hot with a fearful dust storm. [Apr 1888]28
 
... anxiety ran high in Broken Hill due to the living and working conditions which included the difficulty of mitigating the risk of lead poisoning ...29
 
By October 1887, daughter Mary Elizabeth was ill and Sarah was pregnant. As registrar of births, deaths and marriages, John Joseph would be well aware of the number and cause of death of children in the area. John Joseph and Sarah began living in different locations with Sarah and the children moving to Melbourne.30,31
 
In Richmond, in January 1888, twenty month old Mary Elizabeth died of 'marasmus', a form of severe malnutrition. This may have been due to lead poisoning.

It was these tailings left in huge piles around the town that added to the toxic dust which caused lead poisoning and pneumoconiosis and added to the concerns of both the miners and their families. [Wikipedia]

The classic signs and symptoms [of lead poisoning] in children are loss of appetite, abdominal pain, vomiting, weight loss, constipation, anemia, kidney failure, irritability, lethargy, learning disabilities, and behavioral problems. [Wikipedia]30,32,29,33

 
Three months later, in April 1888, Sarah gave birth to Olivia Hazel in Tallygaroopna at the home of John Joseph's parents, John and Mary Ann. Mary Ann was midwife at the birth, and it was registered by John Joseph's 17 year old sister, Mary Elizabeth.31
 
In Broken Hill, John Joseph became heavily involved in local issues including the Broken Hill Progress Committee, council, school board and cemetery trust.

In January 1890, he moved to the new gold mining area of Peak Hill, north of Parkes in New South Wales.

In September 1891, he went to Broken Hill where he worked for a week or so, including as a magistrate. He then travelled to Western Australia via ship from Adelaide. When he returned in November, he bypassed Melbourne even though he would have known Sarah was about to give birth.

Mr Williams has for the present returned to Sydney.34,35,26,36,37

 
Reginald George Williams was born in Collingwood in December 1891. He died there in February 1892, aged two months.

Sarah remained in Melbourne with the four surviving children: Alice Maud, Anne Louisa, Edward Charles and Olivia Hazel.

John Joseph returned from Sydney to Peak Hill where he continued working for a further two years before moving to Western Australia.38,39,40,41
 
See Locations in Australia visited by John Joseph & Sarah Williams for more information (internet required).
 
Blacksmith
John Joseph was a blacksmith when he married Sarah in April 1876. Work would have been plentiful in the goldfields around Creswick where he lived.4
 
1880s Coach
This Cobb & Co coach at Museum Victoria shows the type of work typical of an 1880s coach builder or wheelwright.
Museum Victoria’s Cobb & Co coach c. 1880
From there he moved through Wahring to Mooroopna, where he was a coachbuilder. In 1877, Newton's and Swindle's Coach Factory was built in Morell St, near Main St. Later that year, John Joseph acquired Newton's interest and it became Swindle and Williams. They exhibited at the first annual Goulburn Valley Show run by the Goulburn Valley Pastoral and Agricultural Society in Mooroopna:
Implements: Double-seated buggy: 1st, George Langsley; 2nd, Swindle and Williams, Mooroopna. Single-seated buggy: 1st and 2nd, Swindle and Williams.

Extras: Messrs Swindle and Williams, greyhounds, recommended.

In February 1879, he claimed insolvency due to 'dullness of trade, bad debts, inability to collect accounts and pressure of creditors'. His net debt was about £240.10,42,14,43
 
Following the withdrawal of John Joseph Williams from Swindle and Williams Coachbuilders in 1879, the business was purchased by brother-in-law, Alexander Livingstone.14
 
John Joseph moved from Mooroopna through Wentworth and Menindee, both in New South Wales on the Darling river.44,45,46,16,18
 
Broken Hill
Our next record of John Joseph's working life is in Broken Hill in June 1886. George John Morgan had just arrived from South Australia and the two went into business as 'wheelwrights, jobbing, and engineering smiths'. Morgan was primarily a carpenter and John Joseph was the blacksmith. John Joseph was considered the abler of the two. They set up 'a little below where the Theatre Royal now stands' [Aug 1886]. The partnership only lasted about nine months when it was dissolved, after which neither John Joseph nor Morgan did much of their respective trades.

On daughter Olivia's birth registration in April 1888, John Joseph is a 'mining agent'.47,48,49,50,31
 
Apart from his council duties, John Joseph had significant other community involvement. In August 1887, he was appointed assistant registrar of births, deaths and marriages for the district of Wentworth. He became a Justice of the Peace (JP) in September 1887, his new appointment to the commission of the peace being published the New South Wales Government Gazette. In July 1888, John Joseph Williams, JP, was appointed member of the Licensing Court for the licensing district of Silverton (near Broken Hill). In November 1888, he and six others were appointed temporary trustees of a reserve in the town of Willyama (near Broken Hill), county of Yancowinna, for public recreation. In January 1889, John Joseph Williams, JP, was appointed returning officer for the electoral district of Sturt, as constituted under the Wentworth Electorate Subdivision Act. In October 1889, he was appointed member of the Public School Board for the sub-district of Broken Hill. In December 1889, along with George John Morgan, he was appointed trustee of the Church of England section of the Willyana (Broken Hill) cemetery.

In September 1891, in a short return visit to Broken Hill from Peak Hill, he worked as a magistrate where his work was highly regarded.

The face of Mr JJ Williams on the police court bench this morning recalled the old wooden palace of justice in Chloride-street, where the pens of the reporters were often clogged by the dust which blew in through the chinks, and where business continued almost incessantly from the week's beginning to its end. Of all the magistrates Mr Williams was the most regular in attendance, and, though he had often to decide matters which under ordinary circumstances would have come before the stipendiary, his decisions were never questioned.

As a measure of his significant contribution to the city, Williams Street in Broken Hill (the city's longest street at the time) is named after John Joseph Williams.22,47,23,26,25,51,52,35,53,36,34,54,55,56,57
 
Peak Hill
In July 1889 gold was discovered at Peak Hill about 50 km north of Parkes. By January 1890, John Joseph was working there.

Government Gazette
John J Williams to be warden's clerk and mining registrar, and to issue miners' rights, business and mineral licenses at Peak Hill. [Feb 1890]

In June 1890, he was appointed the first president of the Peak Hill branch of the Amalgamated Miners' Association.

In April 1892, he was president of the Peak Hill branch of the Protection League.

In November 1892, he was appointed coroner:
John Joseph Williams, JP, Peak Hill, to be coroner at that place and for the colony generally.58,36,59,60,61,62,63

 
John Joseph had a property on the Peak Hill goldfields which he sold in July 1890 for £4000. Around the same time he put 100 tons of stone through the nearby crushing plant and was intending to visit Ballarat with a view to purchasing a battery.

In September 1892, he held 500 shares in The Wythes and Mooney Gold-mining Company.

In November 1892, he was manager, and held 375 shares in, The Great Western Gold-mining Company.64,65,66,67
 
He took great interest in both local and colony issues and expressed his views in letters to the newspapers. In an April 1891 example, he noted that some people were suggesting that a rabbit-proof fence was more important than completing a railway line between Nyngan in central New South Wales and the South Australian border, and some were suggesting the proposed railway line that would connect Broken Hill with Sydney would be mainly of benefit to those in Broken Hill. John Joseph offered considered and detailed arguments that the line would not only be profitable, but also of great benefit to all places between, and the colony generally.

In March 1894, he used his knowledge and experience in the New South mining districts to write about a rush at Wyalong, about 180 km southeast of Peak Hill:
Mr John J Williams, of Wyalong, telegraphs as follows:- The reports concerning the Wyalong fields are greatly exaggerated. Hundreds are arriving daily, and there are now 5000 on the field. Developments do not warrant such a large rush, and thousands will meet with disappointment. Hundreds of the unemployed are arriving from the Labour Bureau in Sydney; but there is no work on the field, and great distress will probably result. Provisions are cheap now, but the wet weather will soon make the roads impassable, and will raise the prices. The field will probably maintain about 1000 eventually, but people should wait until something fresh has been discovered.68,69

 
Menzies Progress Committee
Hot on the heels of gold finds at Coolgardie and Kalgoorlie, an area about 130 km to the north to be known as Menzies, was next. In early 1895, John Joseph Williams was elected president of the Menzies Progress Committee. It wasn't until later that year, that Menzies townsite was officially gazetted.

John Joseph's role in the development of the town was acknowledged by Mr Gregory, in his thank you speech after being elected as the first mayor in January 1896.70,71
 
Western Australian Goldfields
In October 1894, the first claim was registered for gold prospecting at what is now known as Menzies. Withing six months, John Joseph Williams was president of the progress committee. In January 1896, the Menzies Miner newspaper (only the third edition of the newspaper) reported that Mr Herbert Beech went into mining business in connection with J. J. Williams & Co., before proceeding to take over that business.

In August 1896, he toured the northern goldfields around Mt Leonora and Mount Malcolm. On his return, he reported progress on seven mines to the Coolgardie newspapers.

In an 1897 business card, John J Williams is a 'land, mining & general commission agent' based in Coolgardie, with agents in Kalgoorlie and Menzies. He used his connection with well known Broken Hill mining to indicate his mining experience.
Commission agent: A person who transacts business on commission, typically on behalf of a principal from another country. [Lexico]72,73,74,75,76

John J Williams business card, 1897
Image: WA Post Office directory
In the Western Australian Post Office directories of 1898 and 1899, he offered his services as legal manager & attorney, though no mention of mining.77
 
JJ Williams managed several gold mines, the most successful of which was Diorite King. The original Diorite King claim was about 40 km north-west of Leonora and owned by Messrs Ross and Fouraker. In mid-1895, JJ Williams acted for a London syndicate to purchase Diorite King and develop the mine. In September he registered Diorite King Gold Mines WA Ltd as power of attorney, with the registered office as Ford St, Coolgardie. In August 1896, he reported that his Diorite King mine was 'turning out particularly well' and that he planned to soon install a battery, so he could crush the rock on site.

He also reported that he took up 40 acres 13 km east of Diorite King. The property was named Middlesex and he planned to soon open it up to gold mining.

By August 1897, the Diorite King and King of the Hills mines employed about 36 men, and at Diorite King eight were working the alluvial gold (deposited near the surface by water movement). The Diorite King battery (used to crush rock mined from underground) was also used by several smaller mines in the area, including his Middlesex mine. Middlesex was reported to be promising, with a good body of stone and fresh water (used to separate out the gold) struck at a depth of 40 ft.78,79,80,81
 
As the Diorite King minesite developed, so did a township, later known as Kurrajong.
 
Kurrajong is an abandoned townsite in the eastern goldfields region, located about 40 km north west of Leonora. Gold was discovered here in the late 1890's, and the place was referred to as 'Diorite King', after the name of a nearby mine. In 1897 surveyor HS King surveyed some lots for a residential area, and two years later, in 1899, a townsite was gazetted. Kurrajong is named after the Aboriginal name of a species of tree.82
 
By August 1897, the telegraph was established and there was a hotel, bakery and post office. The township had just been marked out by a surveyor and there were about twenty dwellings with more under construction. The mine office, Kurrajong Hotel and bakery were brick, the post office iron, and the others hessian shanties and tents.

A Progress Committee was formed with JJ Williams as chairman, and they had plans for sanitation, a public hall, improved roads and a common area.

Some of the streets were named after gold mines, the Barcoo was a steamer that exported gold to the eastern states, and one is Williams St.80,83
Williams St named after JJ Williams, Kurrajong (Diorite King), WA, c. 1900
Image: Outback Family History
In September 1897, a banquet was given to 'Mr JJ Williams, general manager of the Diorite King leases'. About thirty men were at the Kurrajong Hotel to show 'how much the efforts of Mr Williams in pioneering the district and bringing the Diorite King mines to a paying stage were appreciated'.
Mr Dewar, the mine manager, followed, and described the good fellowship which existed between the miners and Mr Williams.84

 
JJ cleverly put the Diorite King mine office next to the Kurrajong hotel, which he part-owned.

A DIORITE MAN
WILLIAMS'S WILES
A look at Diorite, about 20 miles from Leonora, revives memories of JJ Williams, who managed the Diorite King, and also owned the only pub in the district. The mine was close on a mile from the pub, but, to be certain that the hostelry would catch as much boodle as possible, he put the mine office close to it, and here all the hands were obliged to turn up to get paid in cheques, which had to be cashed over the bar.

Old JJ, long ago gone over, knew a thing or two. [Jul 1907]85

 
In November 1897, Middlesex Gold Mines, Ltd was registered by attorney JJ Williams with the office in Hannans St, Kalgoorlie. In the same month, a battery arrived:
The Mt Margaret Mercury states that on Tuesday a battery from Black Flag arrived at the Middlesex GM, Diorite King. In a few days the stampers will be pounding away merrily. We trust that Mr JJ Williams will have a good return for his outlay.

In October 1898, JJ Williams registered four more gold mining leases: The Nevada, The Cornstock and Diorite King North under 'The Diorite King Gold Mines', and The Middlesex No 1 under 'The Middlesex Gold Mines'. These were all on forfeited leases.

In November 1899, John Joseph Williams's mine management activities came to and end.

In the MATTER of the DIORITE KING GOLD MINES (WA), LIMITED.
NOTICE is hereby given that a PETITION for an ORDER WINDING UP the above named Company was on the 8th day of November, 1899, presented to his Honour Mr Justice Stone, a judge of the Supreme Court, by JOHN JOSEPH WILLIAMS, a Creditor of the said Company, and the said Petition is directed to be heard on the 27th day of November, 1899, at 10.30 o'clock in the forenoon, and any creditor, contributory or shareholder of the said Company desirous to oppose the making of an order for the winding up of the said Company under the above Act should appear at the time of hearing by himself or his counsel for that purpose, and a copy of the Petition will be furnished to any creditor, contributory or shareholder of the said Company requiring the same by the undersigned on payment of the regular charge for the same.

A similar notice for Middlesex Gold Mines (WA), Limited appeared on the same day.86,87,88,89
 
John Joseph Williams promoted gold mining development in the Mt Leonora area which had attracted attention from the West Australian government. In January 1899, The West Australian newspaper reported that JJ Williams spoke at a banquet in honour of HB Lefroy (WA Minister of Mines who was visiting the area) and H Gregory (MLA), on the opening of the public battery.

He spoke with the Minister at every opportunity, including in Perth in May 1901 during a holiday.90,91,92
 
Did John Joseph Ever Meet Herbert Hoover?
Before Herbert Hoover was President of the United States, he was a mining engineer and worked on the Western Australian goldfields. He was near Leonora in 1897 and 1898, and revisited the area with his wife in early 1902.

Hoover and JJ Williams were certainly in the same area at the same time, but there are no records of the two ever meeting.93,94,95
 
Australian Natives' Association
John Joseph Williams was very active in the ANA. In 1897 he was the secretary of the Australian Natives Association in Coolgardie and in April 1900 he was elected first president of the ANA's Leonora branch. He was once a member of the board of directors of the ANA in Western Australia.

In April 1900 he attended the fifth annual conference of delegates of the Western Australian branch of the Australian Natives' Association in Perth. This was held in De Baun's elegant and luxurious Palace Hotel, which was a far cry from the conditions he was used to around the mines.

Newspapers often report of speeches by John Joseph at the various meetings, and that those speeches were well received.

The following is an account by the editor of the Mount Leonora Miner newspaper in July 1902 following the death of John Joseph Williams.

The following will be of interest to all who knew the late Mr JJ Williams. On the evening of his death he was to have read a paper at the ANA meeting. In the afternoon he was engaged on the paper when the doctor called and ordered him to bed, where death took place shortly afterwards:-
In dealing with the question of local government, I propose doing so from a national and not a parochial standpoint.

... [two full broadsheet newspaper columns of text follow, ending with] ...

In England in every centre, large or small, has its own local government in some shape or form, and we find that in connection with municipal work in the old country gentlemen display as much interest in becoming - [The sword of death rendered incomplete a paper many would like to have heard read by the deceased. - ED. L. M.].96,74,97,98,99,100,101

ANA conference, Perth; John Joseph Williams is front row sixth from the left, April 1900
Australian Natives' Association
The ANA played a leading role in the movement for Australian federation in the last 20 years of the 19th century. It also provided sickness, medical and funeral cover. Membership in the ANA was restricted to men born in Australia, at a time when Australian-born people of European descent (not including Indigenous Australians) were rising to power in place of an older generation born in Britain.

Nationalistic issues supported by the ANA included promoting the observance of Australia Day, afforestation, an Australian-made goods policy, water conservation, Aboriginal welfare, the celebration of proper and meaningful citizenship ceremonies, and the adoption of the wattle as the national floral emblem in 1912.

With the Returned and Services League, it was also one of the last Australian pressure groups to support the White Australia Policy.102
 
Masonic Lodge
John Joseph Williams was a prominent member of the Masonic Lodge. The Kalgoorlie Miner newspaper reported:

The deceased was on Thursday accorded a Masonic funeral - each of the services being duly carried out, in which some 50 or 60 of the brotherhood took part.

In the Mount Leonora Miner, on 5 July 1902, his brother Thomas Henry tendered his sincerest thanks to members of the various Masonic Lodges for their condolences.103,104
 
Central Hotel, Leonora
John Joseph Williams was proprietor of the Central Hotel on two separate occasions. In July 1900, the Kalgoorlie Western Argus reported:

The handsome brick hotel erected by Mr LR Ritchie and to be known as the Central Hotel, is now completed. Mr Ritchie has leased the place to Mr JJ Williams, who is well known all over the fields.

In July 1901, he sold ¾ of his interest to Helena Lowes. On 12 Jun 1902 (7 days before his death) he purchased and paid Mrs Lowes £300 cash, £100 in a promisory note at 6 months, £91/15/0 for stock and also gave her a release from part of the original purchase money & rent.

To underscore how fast things were changing in the area at the time, when he first leased the hotel the town was known as Mt Leonora, but by the second time it had been proclaimed Leonora.105,106,107,108,109,103,110
Central Hotel, Leonora, JJ Williams proprietor, Jul 1900
Did Premier John Joseph Williams Open the Leonora Railway?
Not quite. Any movement for the benefit of the public always had the heartiest co-operation of John Joseph Williams. He was the first man to agitate for the construction of the railway from Menzies to Leonora, and when the line was being proposed from Kalgoorlie to Menzies, he made a strong speech in favour of continuing the line on to Leonora. He was involved with council and unsuccessfully stood for mayor in October 1900. Just after Federation, in January 1901, due to his standing in the community, JJ Williams was asked to stand for the Coolgardie seat in the Federal House of Representatives, though he later withdew his candidature.

But this was not the last of JJ Williams's tilt at politics. In May 1902, in anticipation of the imminent 'real' opening, the Leonora ANA held a mock banquet celebrating the opening of the railway to Leonora. There were many mock dignatories including the 'Premier', Mr JJ Williams. The celebrations might have looked a bit like the photo below.

The first train into Leonora arrived in June 1902, the month John Joseph Williams died.111,112,113,114,115
Tram in Leonora c. 1900
Not all Work: Sporting Associations
We don't have any evidence of John Joseph participating in any sport. But this is typical of comments about him:
Any movement for the benefit of the public always had his heartiest co-operation, and his assistance was invariably solicited by the sports associations.

And from the Kalgoorlie Miner:
On Wednesday night, the members of the Leonora and Malcolm Cricket Association wound up the season by a social, at which Mr JJ Williams presided. The presentation of the cup for the premiership was made to the president of the Gwalia Mines Club. Numerous presentations were also made to the holders of the highest association and club averages.

In Leonora, the first race meeting was held in November 1899 and the Jockey Club opened in March 1900 with JJ Williams as vice president.

The tennis club and cricket clubs were formed in 1901.

Interestingly, the Mount Leonora Miner reported that in the month following John Joseph's death, his brother Thomas Henry was elected vice president of the Leonora Jockey Club, perhaps taking over from his older brother.116,117,103,118
 
Unexpected Death 
John Joseph Williams died of fatty degeneration of the heart and asthma at the Central Hotel in Leonora, WA on 17 June 1902, aged 46. He was buried at Leonora cemetery on 19 June.

From the numerous newspaper reports relating to his death, John Joseph Williams was very well known and respected. His brother, Thomas Henry, wrote newspaper letters of thanks on behalf of 'the relatives' of John Joseph as he had remained in contact with his family in the eastern states.

He died leaving wife Sarah and four children (three girls and a boy) aged 17 to 24.6,119,103
 
Death of Mr JJ Williams
On Tuesday afternoon a solemn silence possessed the town when the news got abroad that our esteemed townsman Mr J. J. Williams was dead. Friends who but a few hours before were speaking to deceased could not believe the news, and consequently a crowd soon gathered at the hotel, when the rumour was found to be only too true. Mr Williams had after lunch complained of feeling unwell, and called in Dr Wills, who immediately ordered the patient to bed, meanwhile prescribing some medicine. An employee was in constant attendance, and later on (about 4 o'clock) Mr Williams wished his rings removed, as his fingers were swelling. That was practically the last conversation deceased held, and immediately afterwards he (apparently) fell asleep, and a quarter of an hour later his attendant became suspicious of the sleep, and called in Mr Highman, who said "he's dead!". Corporal O'Halloran and the deceased's solicitor (Mr Wilkinson) then took possession of the house and effects, pending the arrival of deceased's brother from Diorite.

The deceased, who was 45 years old last December, was one of the best known business men on the fields. He was the first Mayor of Broken Hill (NSW) and, after facing various phases of business life, migrated to the West, eventually landing in Menzies, where he was closely associated with the progress of the town. Six or seven years ago deceased came farther north, and was among the first to prospect this district. He was for a long time manager of the Diorite King mine, subsequently leasing the Central Hotel, Leonora, which (after 12 months) he disposed of, but only last week he again took possession of the hotel.

Any movement for the benefit of the public always had his heartiest cooperation, and his assistance was invariably solicited by the sports associations.

The ANA owes its birth locally to the late Mr J J Williams, and in this society he took the keenest interest. He was the first man to agitate for the construction of the railway from Menzies, and at the beginning of the railway to Menzies from Kalgoorlie, delivered a forcible speech in favour of the line to Leonora.

The deceased was also a prominent member of the Masonic Lodge (Leonora).

The Funeral
The deceased was on Thursday accorded a Masonic funeral - each of the services being duly carried out, in which some 50 or 60 of the brotherhood took part.

At 12 o'clock the cortege moved away from the Central Hotel in the following order:- Members of the ANA, members of the Masonic Lodges, hearse, mourners, friends and sympathisers. In addition to the large number of foot men about 40 loaded vehicles attended. At the Miners' Institute the coffin was taken from the hearse and Masonic rites observed, after which the cortege moved off to the cemetery. The funeral was the largest ever held in Leonora.

At the grave the Masonic service was conducted by Bro Huggins, RWM. The anglican burial service was also read by Rev Mr Trumble. The assemblage sang "Abide with me" round the grave, and the remains were lowered to their last resting place.

The Pall-bearers were the RWM, PM, Wardens of the Lodge Gwalia, and other visiting Masonic Lodges.

Numerous wreaths were sent. The funeral arrangements were carried out by Mr Semken, and speaks well for his ability as an undertaker.

OLD TIME MEMORIES
By Hugh Kalyptus
... in commemorating the start of the Mount Stirling battery which had that day been set in motion by that prince of good fellows, JJ Williams, who presided over the proceedings. The banquet that Mrs Macnicol [later McDonald] prepared to celebrate that occasion would have done credit to any city hostelry. Old 'JJ' as he was familiarly known, made an ideal chairman while the scholarly Bray kept everybody simmering with his merriment and witticisms.[May 1920]103,8
 
Estate of John Joseph Williams
Thomas Henry settled his brother John Joseph's estate on behalf of the newly widowed Sarah.
 
John Joseph had not made a will.

On 13 July 1902, Sarah, now living in Burnley in Victoria, appointed Thomas Henry as Power of Attorney. Thomas Henry prepared a statement of assets and liabilities. Real estate assets included town lot 42 in Leonora (£100) and a half share in the Kurrajong Hotel at Diorite King near Leonora (£300). Personal estate assets included goodwill, stock and furniture in the Central Hotel in Leonora (£780); interest in the Kurrajong Hotel (£300); money in the bank or in hand (£114/0/9); personal effects (£50); horse, sulky, saddlery, etc. (£45); and tools (£20). Total assets were £1709/0/9. Liabilities included money lent to Mrs Macdonald of the Kurrajong Hotel (£657/2/6); balance owing on the Central Hotel (£100); and 'other liabilities' (£100). This left a balance of £851/18/3.

On 12 August 1902, Thomas Henry presented these and other Letters of Administration documents to the Supreme Court, and was duly granted Letters of Administration of John Joseph's estate.110
Image: State Records Offica WA
One document, the administration bond of £1703/16/3, was later rejected. It was made by 'Thomas Henry Williams of Leonora hotel manager, Henry Corné of Leonora jeweller and Daniel Joseph Meade of Leonora aerated water manufacturer' and was rejected on the grounds that 'sureties could or would not justify'. A second administration bond of £2000 was made by 'Thomas Henry Williams of Leonora Hotel Manager, Alfred Tucker of Leonora Butcher, William Albert Snell of Leonora Solicitor'. This bond was prepared on 28 August and accepted by the Supreme Court two days later.110
 
In the four months following John Joseph's death, management and operation of the Central Hotel involved several people. Thomas Henry took charge of the estate, but following a Supreme Court action by a creditor, Annie McDonald, a receiver and manager was appointed.

A 25 July 1902 newspaper edvertisement shows William Lowes as manager. But by early August he had to retire:
'Billy' Lowes had cleared a road from the railway station to the Central Hotel, which he then kept, but untoward circumstances caused Lowes to retire, and others will reap the benefit of his foresight.

On 9 August 1902, Alfred Edward Shannon, as receiver and manager of the estate, applied for a Publicans' General Licence for the serving of alcohol for the Central Hotel. This was granted on 6 September.

By October 1902, Thomas Henry announced that he was licensee and that:
... the hotel has undergone a thorough renovation.

In November, he applied for a "Publican's General License" and "Householders' Certificate for a Publicans' License". In his application he stated that the hotel contained:
... three sitting rooms and six bedrooms, exclusive of those required by the family, which house is now licensed and occupied by me, rented from Linton Robert Ritchie, and is held by me on transfer from Albert Edward Shannon ...

He also stated he had held a license for the Central Hotel for three months.120,121,122,123,124,125,126,127
[There was an action in December 1902 against Annie McDonald who claimed to be a creditor to the extent of £776. After John Joseph's death, she went to the Central Hotel to examine his affairs and stayed there for five weeks. The court action was to establish 'whether a creditor of an intestate estate is entitled to investigate the affairs of the intestate at the expense of the State'. Judgment was given for £11/8, which was 18s short of the amount claimed.]
 
In December 1902, Thomas Henry offered for sale by tender:
the purchase of the lease, good will, furniture, fixtures, and stock-in-trade of the Central Hotel, Leonora.

In January 1903, it was auctioned.

Auction Sale
S MURPHY, Auctioneer, Leonora, having received instructions from Mr T Wilkinson, solicitor, for the
administrator in the estate of JJ Williams, deceased, will sell by public auction, to the highest bidder, on
JANUARY 10th, 1903,
As a going concern, the Goodwill, Furniture, etc. of the Central Hotel, Tower-street, Leonora.

This is a genuine bargain, being one of the best appointed hotels in Leonora. An eight months' lease, with the option of a further term of two years. Also Leonora town lot No 42,
NO RESERVE.

It was purchased by Mrs Ancell, ending the Williams family's connection with the hotel:
On Saturday Mrs Ancell bought the goodwill and furniture and effects of the Central Hotel (8 months' lease) for £450.129,130,131

 
In April 1903, with the estate still not settled, Annie McDonald took an action against Thomas Henry:
SUPREME COURT
APRIL LIST
... A McDonald v. TH Williams (administrator of the estate of JJ Williams, deceased). (1) £776 6s 2d as a creditor of JJ Williams, deceased, or (2) to have the real and personal estate of the said JJ Williams administered;

The final entry in the Letters of Administration for John Joseph Williams is dated 24 December 1903.132,110
 
In Memoriam
In June 1904, Mary Ann placed an 'In Memoriam' for her husband and her eldest son.133
Image: Shepparton News

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