John WILLIAMS (1811-1872) and Susannah JONES (1811-1868) were married on 3 Oct 1837 in St Giles Church, Wrexham, Denbighshire, Wales. After their marriage they lived for many years in Brook Street, Wrexham where John was a Stone Mason. After Susannah died in 1868, John moved with his unmarried younger children to the suburb of Ardwick in Manchester. John died in 1872 and was buried in St Luke’s, Cheetham Hill.
John’s son, Edwin WILLIAMS (1848-1924) was my great grandfather. He initially worked with his father who as a stone mason was basically a builder and contractor. From Manchester Edwin worked on various projects in the area. One of these projects was the construction of the Holy Trinity Church at Dinting Vale near Glossop in Derbyshire. Whilst working on the church, Edwin met and later married Sarah MATHER (1852-1889). Edwin and Sarah settled at Dinting Vale after their marriage. Sarah’s father James lived with the family. After James’ death in 1881 Edwin and Sarah emigrated to Australia. They arrived in Sydney aboard the “Liguria” on 17 Oct 1882.
Edwin and Sarah settled in Newtown where Edwin established a successful building and architectural business. Edwin also bought a house on Erskinville Road in Newtown that he named “Ardwick”. Sarah died in 1889, leaving Edwin with 6 young children to look after. Edwin never remarried and lived in the house on Erskinville Road until his death in 1924.