William Swindail

  General Notes:

Monica Foggin wrote: William lived at 1 High Street, Balmain from at least 1916 to 1925. He then moved to 20 Gipps Street, Balmain, until
shortly before his death in 1936, at the Home of Peace, Petersham, aged 51 years.
William was a stonemason by occupation and travelled to various country locations such as Goulburn and Orange seeking work. Possibly worked on the Orange Girls Methodist College. Also worked on the old "Farmers" building at the corner of George and Market Streets, Sydney. Used to work at the Wondabyne Quarry, just north of the Hawksbury River Rail Bridge, making monuments. He worked on the Sydney Harbour Bridge during construction 1920's/30's.
His daughter, Myrtle SWINDAIL (UTICK) remembers him taking her to work. She watched him riding the cranes on the stone pylons. She also remembers, as a child, playing with a long golden lock of hair, taken from him when he was a young child. She used to stretch it, and it would spring back.
It was indicated that William died of silicosis ie; a disease of the lungs due to the inhaling of siliceous particles, as by stone cutters. However, his Death Certificate states that cause of death was Carcinoma of Pharynx (cancer) and Cachexia (profound weight loss caused by cancer).
The following are transcriptions of his Death and Funeral Notices:
"SWINDAIL - December 12, 1936, at a private hospital, Marrickville, William,
dearly beloved husband of Jessie M SWINDAIL, and loving father of Jessie,
William, Myrtle, Jack, Jane and Cid (Sid), aged 51 years".
"SWINDAIL - The relatives and Friends of Mrs J M SWINDAIL and Family, of 20 Gipps Street, Balmain, are invited to attend the funeral of her dearly beloved
husband and their loving father, William, to leave St.Johns Church of England,
Birchgrove Road, Balmain, this day, after service commencing at 10.30am, for
the Crematorium, Northern Suburbs. T J Andrews Funeral Director, 21-25 Enmore
Road, Newtown. Phones L2873 and L2874".
"SWINDAIL - Operative Stonemasons' Society - Officers and Members of the above society are invited to attend the funeral of their late esteemed Bro., William
SWINDAIL. For further particulars, see family notice

Les Debelin notes:
William SWINDAIL (Jessie's father/my grandfather) was a stonemason on the Harbour Bridge. ¹⁰²

  Noted events in his life were:

• source.

• Marriage.

• connection. ⁶²

William married Jessie Matilda Smith, daughter of Robert Thomas Smith and Harriett Sarjeant, on 24 Jul 1907 in Gladesville, Sydney, NSW Australia.⁶² (Jessie Matilda Smith was born on 1 Sep 1884 in Balmain, Sydney, NSW Australia, christened on 15 Oct 1884 in St Thomas, Rozelle, Sydney, NSW Australia, died on 7 May 1977 in Ryde, Sydney, NSW Australia ⁶² and was buried on 10 May 1977 in Northern Suburbs Crematorium, Macquarie Park, Sydney, NSW Australia ashes scattered Bobbin Head, Hawkesbury River.)