FatherRichard Cornelius Williams b. 29 Apr 1871, d. 30 Mar 1932
MotherAnna Caroline Larsen b. 4 Nov 1871, d. 28 Sep 1954
Pedigree

Birth, Death, Marriage

Dora May Williams was born in 1904 in Shepparton, Victoria.1 
She married Charles John Norton in 1927.1,2 

Family

Charles John Norton
Child
ChartsLarsen, Laust, descendant chart
Williams, John, descendant chart

Story

Dora May Williams was born in Shepparton in 1904. She was the fifth child of Anna and Richard.1,3
 
Freda, Lila, Thelma & May Williams, c. 1906
Image: Laurie & Lorraine Phillips, Sue-Ellen Mountney
Williams Family: Back: May, Freda, Richard, Anna, Roy, Thelma, Lila; Front: Rita & Frank, probably Marionvale, c. 1916
Image: Sue Mountney
Marionvale State School
Most of the Williams children went to Marionvale state school at some stage. Only eldest Roy might have left school before the family moved to Marionvale.4
Marionvale State school no. 2515 was a weatherboard one room school situated on Jubilee Road, Parish of Congupna; it opened Jun 1882
Image: Katandra & District History Group
A 1917 article describes a successful fete in which the Williams family was well represented. Thirteen year old Thelma and 14 yo May had a total of thirteen placements in the events. Events included the Girls' potato race (May 1st, Thelma 3rd), Small boys' race, no. 2 (6 yo Frank 1st), Girls' Siamese race (May and partner 1st, Thelma and partner 2nd), Small girls' race, no. 2 (4 yo Rita 1st), Girls' egg and spoon race (Thelma 1st, May 3rd), Small boys' race no. 3 (Frank 2nd), Skipping (May 1st, Thelma 2nd), Girls' foot race (Thelma 1st), Small boys' race (Frank 3rd), Needle race (Thelma and partner 1st, May and partner 2nd), and Girls' foot race, no. 2 (May 2nd, Thelma 3rd).

The children's favourite Rooster race was won by sixteen year old Lila; here's the newspaper description:
The principal item of the day, from the children's point of view, then took place, viz., the picnic, when racing, skipping, and other games were indulged in, including a single young ladies race after a live rooster. This event caused a great amount of merriment. 10 ladies started, the winner being Miss Lila Williams, the prize being the rooster himself (minus a few feathers obtained by several competitors in their desperate attempt to capture the prize).

The parents took part too with their forty-six year old father Richard claiming the Married gent's race:
Mr R Williams proved the best in the old buffers' race.


Richard also did well the following Friday night at a euchre party and dance fundraiser for the British Red Cross funds when he was the gents winner. At the same event, a cake given and raffled by 17 year old Freda raised 18 shillings (equivalent to about $85 a century later).4
 
'Williams' Family Visits
May and Dick and their families visited Thelma and her family in Adelaide in 1940.

Mr and Mrs J Norton and their son [Mervyn], of Mooroopna, accompanied by Mr Frank Williams and his son [Graeme] left on Wednesday morning for a tour to Adelaide by car.

Mr Frank Williams and son, accompanied by Mr and Mrs J Norton and son, have returned from an enjoyable holiday spent in Adelaide, South Australia.5,6

 
Anna Caroline Williams died of acute pulmonary oedema at Sorrento private hospital in Oakleigh on 28 September 1954, aged 82. She had been ill for at least the previous twelve months with congestive heart failure and arteriosclerosis. She was buried at Mooroopna cemetery on 29 September 1954.7
Mooroopna cemetery
Image: BillionGraves
Mother's Death 
Anna made a will on 9 October 1946. To daughter Rita she leaves £100 and a presentation teapot of Richard's. To daughter-in-law Annie Williams she leaves £20. To son Frank she leaves the Echuca Rd house and property. An advance of £50 to daughter Lila is deemed paid. The balance of the estate is to be distributed to the five daughters.8
 

Citations

  1. [S290] Outline Descendant Report for Laust Larsen, descendent report, unpublished, 15 March 2010.
  2. [S297] Williams-Howard family tree, computer file, March 2000.
  3. [S21] Lorraine Phillips, personal communication.
  4. [S260] 'Marionvale', Goulburn Valley Stock and Property Journal, 1910-1963, newspaper, Horan & Simpson, 11 July 1917, p. 3, viewed 6 December 2017, http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/219831427
  5. [S201] 'Paragraphs about people', Shepparton Advertiser, 1914-1953, newspaper, Thomas Pettit and William Callender, 3 June 1940, p. 3, viewed 19 September 2017, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article174613771
  6. [S201] 'Paragraphs about people', Shepparton Advertiser, 1914-1953, newspaper, Thomas Pettit and William Callender, 20 May 1940, p. 3, viewed 19 September 2017, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article174613397
  7. [S407] Anna Caroline Williams, death registration no. 11216, 28 September 1954.
  8. [S493] 'Anna Caroline Williams', VPRS 7591 Wills, 484/687, will, 9 October 1946.