William Sawyer

  General Notes:

William was baptised at Stanton St John, Oxfordshire, England on 11 Jan 1818, the illegitimate son of Hannah SAWYER. His mother died when he was less than 18 months old so he, and his older half-brother Edward, were probably raised by their grandparents, John and Elizabeth SAWYER, until their deaths in 1825. Thereafter it is likely that he was raised by his aunts and uncles and may have been apprenticed to his uncle John to learn the trade of a blacksmith. This would account for his being in Wheatley where he met Martha HONEY who was probably in service there.

Being an apprentice might also be the reason why he and Martha did not marry in 1837 when their illegitimate daughter was born as most apprentices were not permitted to marry whilst still in their indentures.

Came to Australia 16th Feb 1844 on the ship
Wallace
. Their son William died at 2mths on 7 Dec 1843 on the voyage and in all six children died before 1844. They were in Geelong for several years with a gap of 5 years, no knowledge of their residence during this time. They were possibly at the Eureka Diggings but no proof. source Pam Sheers. On Alfred
s birth cert. William states he was married in Oxford. Three living issue and ten dec
d at time of Alfred
s birth lived at Plank Rd (Main Rd) Canadian Lead, Ballarat. source Graeme Smith Ballarat.

Children of Martha & William were:

Hannah d Euroa?
William
Edward Wallace b. 7 Dec 1883 (born on board the ship "Wallace" travelling to Australia)
William
James in Geelong,Victoria, Australia
Charles b. 1846 d. 12 Jun 1905 m. Isabella Chalmers
Sarah Ann b. 12 Sep 1847 in Breakwater,Victoria, Australia d. 22 Sep 1900 m. Thomas Ross Thomas Richards
Henry William b. 1849 m. Mary Bryan
Matilda b. Jan 1851 d. Mar 1851
George John b. 1856 d. 1857 n Ballarat,Victoria, Australia
Alfred b. 1 Apr 1858 m. Martha Bull
the illegitimate son of Hannah SAWYER

William died 26 Aug 1878, 60yrs old Names and Profession of parents unknown and lists 12 children. Martha then married James Rix 24th May 1881, she states her age as 43yrs making her born in 1838 andthat she had three children living and 13 dead.
BIRT: RIN MH:IF307
DEAT: RIN MH:IF308
BURI: RIN MH:IF2046
DSCR: RIN MH:IF2047
OCCU: RIN MH:IF309
RELI: RIN MH:IF310

  Noted events in his life were:

• Physical Description.

• Occupation: Indentured Blacksmith, Storekeeper, Miner.

• Religion: Church of England.

William married Martha Honey, daughter of William Honey and Hannah (Johanna) Knipe, on 17 Nov 1839 in St Mary Magdalen C of E, Oxfordshire England. (Martha Honey was born on 1 Mar 1818 in Bayworth, Berkshire England, died on 27 Oct 1882 in Ballarat, Victoria Australia and was buried in New Ballarat Cemetery, Victoria Australia.)

  Marriage Notes:

MARR: RIN MH:FF60