The Wills Family History Convention - 2010


Newsletter No.4

Issued 6th July 2009

NEW DEVELOPMENT - We have been able to lock in the Victorian Colonial Infantry Association (re-enacting the Mount Alexander Rifles), who gave a display at the 2003 get-together. They are promising an even better display in 2010. As well, one of their members had compiled a roll of the Victorian Defence Forces, and the roll will be available to those attending for searching for relatives who have served their country in the forces.

SPREAD the WORD - The event is gathering momentum, with many of you indicating your intention to attend. HOWEVER, please keep spreading the word to all your relatives, as we still need many more to commit to coming. Don't forget to also mention the event to friends - it is amazing the number of people who have a "Wills" in their background, or know some-one who does. We are still working on a number of other ideas for making this event well worth the effort and a most interesting day for those attending. Later newsletters will detail these as we manage to bring the ideas to fruition.

COSTS - Small donations towards initial costs would be extremely welcome - I reiterate that we will probably be able to refund the amount after the event. We still need help in this - can you help? Thank you again to those who have made a donation. A special bank account has been opened at the Commonwealth Bank of Australia. Details of the account are:
Name: Pamela Sullivan and Karen Sullivan
BSB: 063 145
Account Number: 1028 1019
Please identify yourself by name so that we can keep accurate records.

TRAVEL or ACCOMMODATION - Do you need help with travel or accommodation? Beverley Wills works for a travel agency and may be able to assist you. Her email address is Beverley@travelmasters.com.au

Venue details are:-
DATE: Sunday 7th March, 2010
VENUE: Collingwood Town Hall, 140 Hoddle Street, Abbottsford, Melbourne
TIME: 10.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m.
Registration Fees: $10.00 per head, children under 16 free.

CONTACT - You may contact me by email at Pam. By mail to Pamela Sullivan, 3 Strickland Close, Pakenham, Vic 3810.
By phone on 03 5941 5249.

Profile

HENRY MARTIN WILLS
Martin Wills or Henry Martin Wills was said to be of Burrwell, Essex, England. He and his wife Elizabeth McAudra had nine children. Shipping records show that four of their children arrived in Sydney on the ship "Alfred" on the 19th of January 1841. They were: Thomas Wills, farm servant and stockman, 23 years on 12 July 1840; Mary Wills, seamstress, twenty; James Wells, farm servant, 18 years in February 1840; Sarah Wills, farm servant, sixteen.

All four were unmarried, Protestants, in good health, and all could read. Thomas could also write. It cost them nineteen pounds apiece for the trip and they came as assisted (Bounty) immigrants. They traveled in the ship "Alfred" - tonnage 716 - which sailed from London 1st September and Plymouth 7th September in the year 1840, reaching Sydney 10th January, 1841.

Sarah later returned to America and married Henry Gale. They raised a family of 10 children.

William and Sarah Blacker traveled to Sydney as assisted (Bounty) immigrants in 1841, with their ten children, the oldest being Eliza Ann. They sailed from Liverpool in the ship "Margaret" - tonnage 568 - on 23rd October, 1840, arriving Sydney 28th March, 1841.

On 9th October, 1841, Thomas Wills and Eliza Ann Blacker married at the Congregational or Independent Registered Chapel, Pitt Street, Sydney. On both her marriage certificate and Immigration form, Eliza Ann's name was recorded as "Anne". However, in her own handwriting in 1894, she records her name as Eliza Ann.

Thomas and Eliza lived at first on the south coast of N.S.W. and the birth of their first child, Henry Martin Scarborough, is recorded as Twofold Bay, NSW. However, their other children, with the possible exception of the youngest, George Edmund, were born at Warialda, NSW.

The family moved to Rothbury, NSW and lived at "Mount Wills" (now Wills Hill). The time of their arrival is not known but they were in residence there in 1874. A note in an old Bible states "Returned to Mt. Wills 2 April 1861", this is in Thomas Henry's handwriting.

Thomas and Eliza died at Rothbury in 1897 and are interred in the Rothbury Cemetery where there are the graves of many Wills descendants.

Thomas's death was registered at Greta, NSW on the 11 December 1897 by Thomas D. Wills of Rothbury. Reg. No.11949.

It is thought that Eliza was a midwife and her earnings enabled Thomas to travel to America several times to visit sister Sarah. It is recorded in a family diary that Thomas introduced oleander and agapanthus to Australia from America.

To keep up to date with our planning check our web site at https://tww.id.au/get/

Bye till next time, Pamela Sullivan.