Edwin Williams

1848 - 1924  (76 years)

• Name	Edwin Williams
  Born	7 May 1848	Wrexham, Denbighshire, Wales   [1, 2, 3]
  Christened	21 May 1848	Wrexham, Denbighshire, Wales   [4]
  Gender	Male
  Died	9 Oct 1924	Newtown, NSW, Australia   [5]
  Buried	11 Oct 1924	Sydney, NSW, Australia   [6]
  Person ID	I128	My Genealogy
  Last Modified	19 Apr 2016

  
  

  Father	John Williams,   b. 6 Mar 1811, Broughton, Denbighshire, Wales ,   d. 11 Jun 1872, Manchester, Lancashire, England  (Age 61 years)
  Mother	Susannah Jones,   b. 1811, Bristol, England ,   d. 23 Jan 1868, Wrexham, Denbighshire, Wales  (Age 57 years)
  Married	3 Oct 1837	Wrexham, Denbighshire, Wales   [7]
  	Witness: John Jones Witness: Jane Jones
  Family ID	F9	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Sarah Cross Mather,   b. 13 Jun 1852, Pilkington, Lancashire, England ,   d. 24 Jan 1889, Camperdown, NSW, Australia  (Age 36 years)
  Married	19 Oct 1876	Manchester, Lancashire, England   [8]
  	Witness: Frederick Williams Witness: Lavinia Wagstaff
  Notes	Witness: Lavnia Wagstaff, born in Glossop in 1853, parents Samuel and Lewina ran the Viaduct Inn (pub).
  Children	1. Susannah Sarah Williams,   b. 16 Aug 1877, Glossop, Derbyshire, England ,   d. 11 Sep 1960, Chatswood, NSW, Australia  (Age 83 years)   2. James Mather Williams,   b. 20 Aug 1878, Glossop, Derbyshire, England ,   d. 15 Nov 1881, Glossop, Derbyshire, England  (Age 3 years)   3. Fanny Cross Williams,   b. 19 Dec 1879, Glossop, Derbyshire, England ,   d. 28 Nov 1927, North Sydney, NSW, Australia  (Age 47 years)   4. John McKenzie Williams,   b. 28 Apr 1881, Glossop, Derbyshire, England ,   d. 8 Jul 1962, Mosman, NSW, Australia  (Age 81 years)   5. Helen Bashall Canton Williams,   b. 12 Nov 1882, Darlinghurst, NSW, Australia ,   d. 12 Jun 1962  (Age 79 years)   6. Llewellyn Edwin Williams,   b. 14 Dec 1884, Newtown, NSW, Australia ,   d. 11 Mar 1967, Townsville, QLD, Australia  (Age 82 years)   7. Lizzie Winifred Williams,   b. 11 Sep 1886, Newtown, NSW, Australia ,   d. 13 Sep 1966, Cremorne, NSW, Australia  (Age 80 years)   8. Mary Annie Williams,   b. 14 Nov 1888, Newtown, NSW, Australia ,   d. 12 Dec 1888  (Age 0 years)
  Last Modified	26 Oct 2015
  Family ID	F5	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Notes

  1848 BIRTH: 7 May 1848 at Brookside, Wrexham Father: John Williams, Stone Mason Mother: Susannah Williams formerly Jones. 1904:31 December 1904, The Sydney Morning Herald, Page 12 Mr. Edwin Williams has had made in Sydney a stained-glass window, which is to be erected in Dinting Anglican Church, near Manchester, England. The window is executed in antique glass, and is rich and harmonious in colouring. The inscription at the bottom of the window is as follows: - These windows were erected by Edwin Williams to the glory of God and to the beloved memory of James Mather, of Dinting, and Sarah Mather Williams, his daughter, who died in Australia. See http://holytrinitydintingvale.wordpress.com/ 1907: The Cyclopedia of New South Wales (1907), page 430/431 Mr. Edwin Williams, whose repute as an Architect is limited to no local boundaries, is the son of John and Susannah Williams, nee Jones, and, it seems is almost uneccesary to add, is of Welsh descent. His life's story is brief and bright - a procession of success. Born on May 7th, 1848 at Wrexham - a township in North Wales, reeking, one may say, with historic associations, carrying the mind back to those days when the Ap Williams were able to harness the thanes of Mercia at their own sweet will - he was educated in the leading schools within the gates of his birthplace. At fourteen he made his first essay to shoulder the burdens of existence, when he commenced to work for his father; whose avocation was that of a builder and contractor. Three years later young Williams determined to face the world on his own account. Liverpool and London were visited in turn; then heigho! for the marvellous East; the land of pactolean streams to those who have never been there. Finding by the test of experience its repute more fable than otherwise, the young traveller returned home, striking the English Cottonoplis in 1868; and for several years did some good work in the northern counties, superintending, amongst other buildings, the erection of the John Barnes Convalescent Hospital, Chadle Chistine, St Paul's Church, Heaton Moore, and Holy Trinity Church, Dinting Vale. In 1882 Mr. Williams left for Australia. Upon arrival in New South Wales he was engaged by Mr. John Young to take charge of the erection of the first portion of the Australian Joint Stock Bank, King and George Streets, Sydney. During the erection of the second portion of this building he was clerk of works; and for nine years he held a similar position in the office of those eminent architects - Messrs. Sulman and Power. During this period, amongst other buildings supervised were the Mutual Life Association's building, Wynyard Street; the Presbyterian churches at Randwick, Woolahra and Manly; the Thomas Walker Convalescent Hospital, Concord and St. Ann's, Church of England, Strathfield. In 1896, Mr. Williams commenced practice on his own account. From that time to December, 1905, he was architect for the Australian Joint Stock Bank; carrying out a large amount of work in various portions of the country. He was one of the Founders of the Newtown United Friendly Sociteties' Dispensary (1887), holding the secretaryship since its inauguration. He was also the architect for the new headquarters of this useful institution; the foundation of which was laid by his Excellency Admiral Sir H. H. Rawson, K.C.B., on September 27, 1902. Whilst residing at Manchester Mr. Williams, on October 19th 1876, married Miss Sarah Mather, of that city. 1924 DEATH: 9 October 1924 at 8 Erskinville Road, Newtown. Occupation: Architect Sex and age: Male, 76 years. Name and occupation of father: John Williams, Building Contractor. Name and maiden surname of mother: Mary Jones. When and where buried: 11 October 1924, Church of England Cemetary, Rookwood. Where born and how long in Australia: from Wrexham, North Wales and 45 years in NSW. Place of marriage, age and to whom: Manchester, England, 28 years, Sarah Mather Cross. Children of marriage: Susannah 44, Fanny C. 43, John M. 42, Helen B.C 40, Llewllyn E. 38, Lizzie M. 36 living. 1 male and 1 female deceased. 1924 OBITUARY: 18 October 1924, The Sydney Morning Herald Page 12 The death occurred recently of Mr. Edwin Williams, supervising architect for the Australian Bank of Commerce, at his home at Newtown, at the age of 76 years. Mr. Williams, who was born in North Wales, came to Australia in 1882 and later commenced the practice of his profession on his own account. He was one of the founders of the Newtown United Friendly Societies' dispensary, of which he had been secretary from its establishment 37 year ago. Mrs. Williams died 35 years ago. He has left 2 sons - Mr. Llewllyn Edwin Williams of New Zealand, and Mr. John McKenzie Williams, of the Education Department - and four daughters - Mrs. C.A. Eastway, Mrs A. Eastway, Mrs G.L. Catchlove, and Miss Williams. The funeral took place at Rookwood. Edwin is listed in the Sands Directory for Newtown, Sydney from 1885 when he is listed as a stone mason. In 1900 his profession in the directory changes to architect. In 1911 he acquires the Justice of the Peace designation, and in 1916 he acquires the Magnetic Water Level Co. Ltd. The Holy Trinity Church of Dinting Vale owes its origins to the Wood family through whose generosity the Church was built. It is a stone building in the thirteenth century Gothic style and has an octagonal spire 137 feet high, the nave is 74 feet long, 26½ feet wide and 49 feet high to the apex of the roof. The north and south aisles respectively measure 74 feet long by 8¼ feet wide and 20 feet high with the chancel arch standing 34½ feet high. The designers and architects were Mills and Murgatroyd of Manchester and the contractor Mr. Southern of Manchester. The stone used was partly from Lees Hall Quarry, Glossop and partly from Scaithwaite. The cost was approximately £6,500. The foundation stone (is there one in evidence anywhere?) was laid in 1873 and the progress of the building may be followed in the dates marked on ventilation grids set higher and higher in the West wall. Consecration of the Church was conducted by Bishop Selwyn, Bishop of Lichfield (of which Diocese Glossop was then part) on July 31st 1875 and regular services started the following day. For anyone interested, this link gives a very detailed guide to the church.

  
  

• Sources

  [S12] England and Wales Birth Certificate, England and Wales. Registrar General., birth certificate for Edwin Williams, born 7 May 1848; citing /342, Jun quarter 1848, Denbighshire registration district, Wrexham sub-district. [S101] Census 1851 Wrexham, Denbighshire, Wales HO107 2503 538 6 (John Williams), (HO107 2503 538 6) (Reliability: 2), 18 May 2013. [S162] Family Register - Mather/Williams, 27 Sep 2013. Edwin Williams. Son-in-law of the above (James Mather). Born may 7th 1848. [S181] Baptism Wrexham, Denbighshire, Wales 21 May 1848 Edwin Williams, (Page 252) (Reliability: 2), 6 Mar 2014. [S212] Death Newtown, NSW, Australia 9 Oct 1924 Edwin Williams, (1924/017089). [S217] Burial Rookwood Cemetary, Sydney, NSW, Australia 11 Oct 1924 Edwin Williams. [S198] Marriage Wrexham, Denbighshire, Wales (The Parish Church) 3 Oct 1837 John Williams & Susannah Jones, (21). Marriages (PR) Wales. Wrexham, Denbighshire. 3 October 1837. WILLIAMS, John and JONES, Susannah. General Record Office Volume: 27 Page 389 : accessed 22 November 1984 [S179] Marriage Manchester, Lancashire, England (St Mary's Church) 19 Oct 1876 Edwin Williams & Sarah Cross Mather, (8d/360/248).