W

WADDELL, Thomas (1841-). He was an ex-convict. He arrived in Australia on 10/08/1865 on the Racehorse. He was an ex-soldier. He employed a ticket of leave man at Bunbury in 1871, and he sailed for Singapore on 27/03/1873.

WADDINGHAM, Richard (1826-07/02/1910). Richard died in Picton. He was an ex-convict. He arrived in Australia on 01/05/1853 on the Pyrenees. He married Mary Sarah Thornett on 15/01/1859 in Bunbury. Richard and Sarah's children were Matilda Martha, William (1863-) and Jane (1865-). Richard was a farmer in Bunbury in the 1870s. He was a carter in the 1880s. He also lived in Dardanup. He employed five ticket of leave men on occasions between 1864 and 1871. His religion was the Church of England.

WAGSTAFF, J. He employed two ticket of leave men at Williams and Bunbury in 1873. He travelled to the Eastern colonies and returned on 14/12/1882 on the Macedon. He returned on 02/06/1883 on the Indus from overseas.

WALKER, Henry. Henry was an ex-convict. He married Agnes Reilly (1877-). Agnes was the daughter of Phillip and Margaret. Henry was a signwriter. He employed four ticket of leave men on occasions between 1868 and 1869, one of which was a sawyer at Bunbury. He also employed a ticket of leave sawyer at Fremantle in 1867.

WALKER, John (1847-). He arrived in Australia on 06/12/1876 on the Fitzroy from London with his family. His wife Jane Stephenson was born in 1847 in England. John and Jane's children were Frederick (1868-), William (1870-), Robert (1872-), Eliza (1874-1947) born in England, Sarah and Jane (1877) baptised at the Perth Church of England, Ellen (1879-) in Northam, Constance Annie (1882-) in Northam, John (1884-1886) in York and Henry (1886-) in Bunbury and died in Victoria. John applied for 100 acres in the Avon district in 1880 as an immigrant grant at Mt. Dick. He was a bricklayer and agriculturist before arrival. He was a labourer and railway worker in South Perth, Northam in 1879, York in 1884 and Bunbury in 1886. He left for Victoria and returned around 1890 with his family.

WALKER, John Savage (1810-24/03/1844). John died in Bunbury. He arrived in Australia on 06/12/1842 on the Trusty at Australind.

WALKER, William (1813-). He arrived in Australia on 10/04/1842 on the Diadem. He was a blacksmith in Bunbury and Australind from 1867 to 1876. He employed four ticket of leave men on occasions between 1863 and 1873, including a blacksmith.

WALLACE, George (1810-21/05/1859). He was a Private and was buried in Bunbury. He arrived on 09/09/1833 on the Jane from Tasmania with the 21st Regiment. He was stationed at Augusta and discharged in 1840.

WANSBROUGH, Aubrey Eli (13/10/1880-30/06/1940). He was born in Bunbury and died in Perth. He was the son of Eli and Elizabeth. He married Ethel May Wood (06/07/1879-15/10/1955) on 19/12/1906. Ethel was born in Victoria and died in Perth. She was the daughter of William and Ellen Veal. Aubrey and Ethel's children were Waveney Rosslyn (1908-1977) and Aubrey.

WANSBROUGH, Eli (01/02/1846-20/11/1920). He was born in Perth and died in Bunbury. He married on 30/04/1873 to Elizabeth Manning (1844/1850-03/09/1919). She was the daughter of John Daniel and Mary, who arrived in Australia on 24/02/1852 on the Will Watch. Eli and Elizabeth's children were John Daniel (1874-1941), Hedley Manning (1929-), Aubrey Eli (1880-1940). Four of their children died in infancy. In 1869 he was a police constable in York in 1870, in Perth, at Champion Bay from 1872 to 1873, Roebourne in 1872, Vasse in 1877 and in 1879, he was the police constable gaoler at Bunbury. Later he was a carrier in Perth. He was educated at Perth Boys' School in the 1850s. He was a member of the Congregational church.

WARBURTON, Samuel (1834-06/07/1904). Samuel was born in England and died in Brunswick. He was an ex-convict. His father was Paul, a ship's carpenter. He arrived in Australia on 28/12/1863 on the Lord Dalhousie, leaving his wife and child in the united kingdom. He married on 11/02/1881 at Picton to Alice Emma Lucy Adams (01/01/1838-). She was the daughter of William and Elizabeth. Samuel and Alice's children were Major Ernest, baptised in 1882, Arthur Sam, baptised in 1884, Amy Agnes (1885-), baptised in 1888, Elizabeth Alice, baptised in 1886, Sullivan James Charles (1890-), Hay E. (1891-), Joseph S. (1892-1913), Gordon Stanley, baptised in 1893, Lillian Clara Maude (1894-), Wilfred Harold (1896-), Violet Pearl (1899-), born in Bunbury. He was an ex-soldier and employed a ticket of leave labourer in 1875 at Brunswick.

WARD, John (1853-). He arrived in Australia on 19/08/1853 on the Robert Small as an Enrolled Pensioner Guard. His wife was Catherine. He was formerly a private of the 38th Regiment. He joined the Police Force in 1857 as a Mounted Police Constable at Bunbury in 1858.

WARD, Samuel (1838-). He was an ex-convict. He arrived in Australia on 12/09/1864 on the Merchantman. In Bunbury, he was a carter between 1870 and 1889. He employed twenty ticket of leave men on occasions between 1863 and 1874 at Picton. He left for London on 05/01/1878.

WARD, William (1828-). He was an ex-convict. He arrived in Australia on 17/05/1851 on the Mermaid. He applied in 1851 for his wife to follow him out to Australia. He married his second wife, Mary Sherott, on 10/12/1854 at the Bunbury Roman Catholic church. William was a brickmaker in Bunbury from 1870 to 1889, and he employed nine ticket of leave men on occasions between 1864 and 1873. His religion was with the Church of England.

WARDLE, Thomas (1833/1836-16/10/1873). Thomas died in Fremantle. He was an ex-convict. He arrived in Australia on 31/12/1862 on the York. He married Janet (1829-09/11/1891) in Fremantle. Thomas and Janet's child was William Richard (1861-1862). He employed three ticket of leave men in 1871 at Bunbury, and one was a sawyer in Fremantle. His widow was the town dairy woman in 1885.

WARNER, Charles. He was a private of the 63rd Regiment. Charles arrived in Australia on 08/06/1829 on the HMS Sulphur. He married on 15/12/1843 to Mary Ann Walker (1826-). Mary was the daughter of Thomas. She arrived in Australia on 10/04/1842 on the Diadem. Charles and Mary's children were Ann Susanna (1844-) and William Thomas (1847-). He was discharged in 03/1834. In Bunbury, he was a storekeeper in the 1840s. He worked in Perth in 1847 as a thatcher and upholsterer.

WARNER, William Thomas (11/06/1847-). William was born in Bunbury. He was the son of Charles and Mary Ann. He married Elizabeth Warner on 12/05/1875 at the Busselton Church of England. She was the daughter of William. He worked in Busselton between 1875 and 1889, according to the Almanack. He also lived at Wonnerup.

WASS, Ernest James (02/01/1871 - 07/01/1920). He was born in England and died in Bunbury. He married on 08/06/1898 at the Pinjarra Church of England to Janet Bedwell (21/12/1870-11/06/1959). Janet was born in Victoria. Ernest and Janet's children were Doris, Leslie, Heriot, Elsie, May and Ernest. He was a butcher by trade. He was a partner in the firm "Fouracre and Wass". He lived in Waroona and Bunbury. He worked at the abattoirs in Australind, where he owned property. He was a Liberal and a member of the Church of England.

WATERS, Patrick. He was from Ireland. Patrick arrived in Australia on 31/08/1853 on the Phoebe Dunbar. He married Bridget Hickey. Patrick and Bridget's child was Michael. He was a farmer in Bunbury at "Dardanup" from 1875 to 1889. He was a carter in 1885 and a carpenter in 1887.

WATSON, John James Frederick Augustus Hamilton Middleton Warburton Courtney (21/05/1810-25/06/1899). John died in Perth and was a Petty Officer R.N. He arrived 1st with Captain Fremantle in 1829. He arrived again on 14/03/1841 on the Sterling as a crew member. He married on 09/1843 to Mary Ann Joscelyn (23/09/1816-01/05/1892). She arrived in Australia on 14/03/1841 on the Stirling with infant Mary Ann J (later called Watson). John and Mary's children were Mary Ann Adams (stepdaughter) (1840-1917), Julia Ellen (1842-1928), Captain Charles Henry (1844-), John James (1846-1938), William Alfred (1848-1932). Frederick Augustus (1850-1931), Alice Agnes (1853-1936), Edwin Horace (1855-1940), Edith Rose (1858-1942) and Joseph (1862-1863). It is said that he had been discharged as Petty Officer R.N. in 1840. In 1842 he began daily sailboat service, cargo and passengers between Fremantle and Perth. He was the master of Albion on the Bunbury-Fremantle run 1848. Captain of the Speculator, the 1st steamer built on the colony, was launched on 13/10/1854 and qualified as a juror in 06/1860 for having a personal estate of £150.

WEBB, Henry (1869-31/08/1921). Henry was born in the U.K. and died in Perth. He was the son of Henry and Lydia. He arrived on 05/01/1903 from Victoria. He got married in Fremantle on 22/12/1913 to Aiba Augusta Bislop (05/10/1876-15/04/1951). She was the daughter of James John Henry and Bridget. Their child was Ailsa Ray, born in Busselton. Henry was experienced in farming, carpentry and stationary steam engines. He had a butchering business at Boulder and also worked with power engines on the goldfields and Bunbury. Henry was educated in England. He was also a Conservative. He was a member of the Church of England.

WEBB, Joseph (1840-21/06/1871). He died in Bunbury. He was an ex-convict. He arrived in Australia on 29/01/1862 on the Lincelles and he employed a ticket of leave cook in 01/1871.

WEIR, William (1829-28/12/1886). He was an ex-convict. He arrived in Australia, possibly on 29/01/1862, on the Lincelles. He married on 19/03/1863 in Fremantle to Annie Wickcliffe (1844-24/06/1862). Annie arrived on the Mary Harrison. William and Annie's children were Emily (1865-1867), who died in Bunbury, Sarah Elizabeth, William (1876-) and John (1877-), born in Bunbury. William employed nine tickets of leave men in 1864-1870. In Blackwood, he was a shoemaker (1875-1876), and Williams was where he died.

WELLAN, Timothy (1831-). He was baptised as a Roman Catholic as an adult at "Belvedere" Bunbury 05/1851. Thomas Little witnessed this.

WELLARD, John Pierce Owen (05/05/1856-24/05/1909). He was the son of John and Ann. He married on 10/10/1892 in Bunbury to Isabella Caroline Clifton (27/02/1862-05/09/1908). Isabella was born in Bunbury as the daughter of Robert Williams and Christina. John and Isabella's children were Christina Ann Isabella (1893-1895), John Clifton Pierce (1895-), Robert-Eric Pierce (1896-1954). Gerald Eardly Pierce (1897-), Owen Ronald Pierce (1899-), Noel Churchill Pierce (1900-1955) and Richard Kent Pierce (1903-1910). John worked in the North West for some years, then the George River and Yule River from 1880-1885. He had stock at Mandurah in 1881 and 1884. He was a farmer at "Condarina", Benger. Had a Devon Cattle Stud and Shropshire sheep, exhibited in Royal Agricultural Shows. He grew the 1st crop of potatoes in Benger Swamp, which he drained for the purpose. He visited the Eastern colonies in 1883 and returned on 28/02/1884 on the Franklin.

WELLS, Alexander James (1881-). He was born in Toodyay. He married Grace Fernihough (1881-29/07/1940). She was baptised on 28/11/1884. She was the daughter of Issac and Sarah Ann. Alexander and Grace's Children were Roy (1906-1976), who died in Bunbury, Horace (1908-), George (1910-1940), who died in Northam, Harold (1912), Hester and Ray.

WELLS, Ernest John. He was baptised on 10/09/1878 in Perth with the Church of England. He was the son of Henry and Jane. He married Gertrude Leverman from Greenough. Ernest and Gertrude's Children were Harry, Jack, Gerald, Norman, Anthony and Joan. He worked at Midland and then in Bunbury.

WELSH, Patrick. He employed a ticket of leave man at Bunbury in 1869 and another at Fremantle in 1875.

WENN, Francis (25/02/1862-12/02/1914). He was the son of John Bailey and Margaret. He married Mary Ann Ford (26/01/1868-1942). Mary was the daughter of John (James) and Ann. Francis and Mary's Children were Edward Harold (1891-) born in York, Herbert Bailey (1892-) born in York as Roman Catholic, Muriel (1894-1968), Eileen (1899-1972), died in Bunbury, Alma (1901-), Gladys (1904-1953) and Francis (1910-1948). He was a Butcher and a Council worker.

WENN, James (1838-). He was born in England. He was the son of John and Harriet. James and his parents arrived in Australia on 20/08/1842 on the Simon Taylor. He married Helen Jarvis (02/06/1844-) on 12/01/1861 (Fremantle Congr). She was the daughter of James of Fremantle. Children 13, 8 of whom survived infancy. James and Helen's children were Edward Harold (Farrelly), baptised in 1861, Henry, James Rossmore, baptised in 1864, Thomas, John, Harriet, Francis, Fanny, Bertha and Esther Amelia. He later travelled to Bunbury, where he was a Whaler Captain - employed by William Ramsay. He was also a carpenter and boatbuilder. He owned land in Constitution Street, Bunbury. He employed a ticket of leave man in 1869. He was part of the Church of England.

WENN, James Rossmore (13/11/1864-). He was the son of James and Helen. He married on 05/08/1885 at Perth Church of England to Selina Buswell (1864-). She was born in Bunbury as the daughter of Joseph and Eliza. James was a Bootmaker who lived in Bunbury. He later moved to Perth by 1885.

WENN, John Bailey (1813-20/05/1891). He died in Bunbury. John arrived in Australia on 20/08/1842 on the Simon Taylor with his wife and son. He married in the U.K. to Harriet Hensor (1814-29/01/1891). She lived with John Patten and went to Geraldton with him. John remarried on 05/03/1891 in Bunbury to Margaret Farrell (-12/09/1910). She arrived in Australia possibly on 25/05/1858 on the Emma Eugenia. John and Harriet's child was James (1838-). John and Margaret's children were Simeon William (1860-1914), Francis (1862-1914), Theresa Margaret (1864-1939), William (-1920), Catherine and Terence (-1946). He lived in Bunbury, where he was a sailor, cooper and farmer. He was the registered owner of the Zillah (21 tons). He employed five tickets of leave men on occasions from 1865-1873.

WENN, Terence (30/06/1868-24/05/1946). He died in Fremantle. He was the son of John Bailey and Margaret. Terence married on 10/01/1895 in Bunbury to Mary Agnes Hutchinson (20/12/1873-10/07/1913). Mary was born in Busselton, and she was the daughter of Frederick and Mary. Terence and Mary's Children were Mervyn Vailey (1896-), Nellie Elizabeth (1899/1900-), Ivy (1901/2-1950), Alfred Edward (1904/5-), Irene May (1909-1974) and Cyril H. (1912-). Terence lived in Bunbury, where he was a bootmaker, brewer's assistant, waterside worker. He retired to Fremantle.

WESTERBERG, Charles. Charles married Mary Ann Anderson on 21/04/1883 in Bunbury. He was a boatman in Augusta in 1889.

WESTON, John (1830-). He was an ex-convict. He was the son of Jacob From the USA. He arrived in Western Australia on 13/04/1864 aboard the Clara. He lived in Bunbury, where he was a cabinet maker. Employed four ticket of leave men in 1868. He was Semi-literate and a Protestante.

WHEATLEY, Thomas (-16/01/1943). He was baptised on 18/12/1865. Thomas was the son of Peter and Ellen. He married Elizabeth Jane Mottram. Elizabeth was the daughter of John and Sarah. Thomas and Elizabeth's children were Peter Irving (1895-), Minna Viotti (1909-1983), Ione, Louie, Sydney and Stanley. This man joined the Police Force on 28/03/1884 and was stationed at Fremantle. He later moved to Bunbury in 1886 and then moved to Roebourne in 1888, where he was a farmer. He retired in Bridgetown.

WHEELER, Ben. Ben arrived 1st in 07/1878 on the Otway and returned to South Australia in September. He arrived on 11/07/1882 on the Malwa from the Eastern Colonies with his wife, Frank Wheeler and Mr Wyburd. A company of entertainers who toured the outlying settlements to give performances at Bunbury in September departed from Albany on 30/10/1882 on the Otway.

WHEELER, Reuben (1835-). He was an ex-convict. He arrived in Australia on 29/05/1863 on the Clyde. He was married to an Aboriginal. Reuben had four children with his wife in the Bunbury district. He was a shepherd from 1890-1905 for Andrew Muir of Forest Hill in Mt.Barker until fencing was introduced. His family was then unemployed.

WHITE, James (1814-). James is the brother of Richard and Jabez, and he arrived in Australia on 20/08/1842 on the Simon Taylor with his wife and son. He married Leah (1820-), James and Leah's children were William Randle (1841-1842), Mary Ann (1842-), William (1845-), Alice (1847-). In York, he was a farmer in 1842. He moved to Canning in 1845 and then Bunbury in 1847 as a labourer. He employed six tickets of leave men on occasions in 1863-1872.

WHITE, James. James married at Bunbury as a Roman Catholic to Margaret Ann Thomas (1862-1940). She was born in Ludlow and died in Bunbury.

WHITE, John William. John was the son of John and Lillian, baptised on 16/12/1860 in Bunbury.

WHITE, Michael (1825-). He was an ex-convict. He arrived in Australia on 10/07/1858 on the Adelaide. He married Eliza Keys (1838-) on 30/01/1860 in Bunbury. She arrived in Australia on 20/10/1859 on the West Australian. Micheal and Eliza's children were Margaret Mary Eliza (1860-), Maria Theresa (1862-), baptised in 1869 and James, baptised in 1864. He lived in Bunbury, where he was a baker in the 1860s-70s. He employed eighty two ticket of leave men on occasions in 1863-1874, including 17 cooks, six sawyers, five shoemakers, a gardener, a tinsmith and a tailor. He was Illiterate and Roman Catholic.

WHITE, William. A sailor who absconded on 13/10/1841. W. Owned WA Mining Co. Shares 1847. Sailed to S.A. on 18/11/1855. Policeman at Perth in 1879. Of Perth, South Perth, Canning, employed 26 tickets of leave men including five woodcutters and a carter. W. of Arthur River. Employed four tickets of leave men in 1859,1874, and 1875. W. of Broadlands York employed a ticket of leave servant in 1870 and 1871. William of Bunbury employed eight tickets of leave men in 1867-1880. William of Claisebrook employed several tickets of leave men.

WHITE, William (1806-30/08/1868). He died in Bunbury. He arrived in Australia as an Enrolled Pensioner Guard with his family. He was married to Catherine Maher. He was formerly Lance Sergeant of the 99th Regiment. Stationed at Bunbury, he was granted Lot P.I. and also owned Town Lots in 1855 and 1858. He was a Poundkeeper in 1865. His wife applied for her sister Mary Maher (20 years single) to Tipperary, Ireland, to be a migrant.

WHITE, William (1816-). He was born in Scotland. He married Julia Meade (sister of Ellen, who married Thomas Trott). William arrived in Australia in 1850 as an Enrolled Pensioner Guard. William and Julia's Child was Ellen (1853-), born in Dardanup and listed by Salvado at Bunbury (Mrs, Mary, William and Julia).

WHITFIELD, Thomas Treverton (05/05/1873-15/02/1954). He was born in Geraldton and died in Perth. He was the son of Thomas and Mary Georgina. Thomas married Victoria May Craig (24/05/1883-19/07/1962) on 15/03/1902. Victoria was born in York and died in Perth. She was buried in Bunbury. She was the daughter of William Thomas and Pulo Harriet. Thomas and Victoria's Children were William Morton (1902-), Ida May Lucy (1905-), Thomas Eugene (1906-), Claude Edward (1908-1962), Morton Treverton (1910-), Dorinda Alma (1912-), Harriet Pulo (1914-), Ronald Phillip (1924-1974) and Nancy Belle (1926-). He travelled from "Yandanooka" to" Greenhills', York in 1894. He was in the butchering business in York, 1900. As a farmer, he bought a property at "Greenhills" in 1913. The drought and recession forced him to call on brother Edward for help. The latter's death meant winding up affairs and a new home with son Claude, then 1946-1952 with son Willam at Manjimup dairy farming. Thomas was educated at Briggs' Grammar School Fremantle Country Party. He was a member of the Church of England.

WHITNEY, George. George arrived in Australia on 21/01/1887 on the Hampshire from London with his wife. He was a labourer and paint worker. In Bunbury, he was unemployed and sought aid on 21/04/1887. Departed for London on 03/11/1888 on the Helena Mena.

WILKES, John O (1820-27/03/1901). John was born in England and died in Perth. He was an ex-convict and the son of John, a jeweller. He arrived in Australia on 07/02/1853 on the Dudbrook. He married in the U.K., then remarried in Perth as a Roman Catholic to Catherine Conners (1836-21/03/1875) on 16/01/1861. Catherine was born in Tipperary and died in Albany. She was the daughter of John, a clerk. She arrived in Australia on 20/10/1859 on the West Australian. John and Catherine's children were Mary Ann (1861-), John (1864-), Amelia Catherine (1867-1959), William (1867-) and Alfred (1872-1932). He was a stonemason, working between Toodyay and Bunbury in 1853-1863, Albany in 1867. He was fined on 11/1886 for not registering the birth of his daughter at Bunbury, the 10th child. He was a Protestant, and his wife was Roman Catholic.

WILKES (WILKS), Thomas (1831-28/06/1905). Thomas died in Picton. He was an ex-convict, and he arrived in Western Australia on 01/06/1858 on the Lord Raglan. He was married to Rosetta Fanny (1848-28/06/1924). Rosetta died in Picton. Their children were Harriet, baptised in 1869, Emily, baptised in 1870, and Thomas William, baptised in 1871 in Bunbury.

WILKINS, George (1826-). He was an ex-convict. He arrived in Australia on 10/08/1854 on the Ramillies. He was lent a horse to drive sheep to Bunbury but disappeared, absconded or lost in a bush.

WILKINSON, George (1843-). He was an ex-convict and arrived in Australia on 28/12/1863 on the Lord Dalhousie. George employed a ticket of leave sawyer at Fremantle in 1865 and a ticket of leave shingle splitter in 1867 at Bunbury. He left to go whaling on 13/06/1870.

WILLEY, Charles (04/1847-). He was the son of Thomas John and Susannah. Charles married Anne Brittain on 31/03/1874. She was the daughter of James and Ann. He was a carpenter in Bunbury from 1887-1889.

Williams. Arrived in Australia on 03/1846 on the Champion from Tasmania. Departed on 11/1848 on the Water Lily for Tasmania. Mrs and Children. (Captain's family) arrived on 15/12/1854 on the Vivid from Hong Kong. Mrs, (or W) arrived on 18/01/1857 on the Lochinvar from S.A. Mrs, departed on 11/04/1860 on the Dolphin for South Africa and England. Mrs arrived on 17/02/1862 on the Strathmore (cabin). Miss departed on 08/01/1864 on the Gem for SA. Mrs, departed on 15/01/1866 on the Tien Tsin for London. Mr departed on 06/12/1867 on the Emily Smith for Albany and S.A. John departed on 23/01/1868 on the Fitzroy for London. Mr arrived on 03/05/1879 on the Ocean Queen from London. Mr arrived on 27/08/1879 on the Otway from Eastern colonies. Mr and Mrs and 5 Children. Arrived on 03/12/1884 on the South Australian from S. A. Mrs, Bunbury, Dressmaker (1882-1884), Miss, Northampton, Milliner and dressmaker (1884-1889). 2 men arrived on 15/12/1885 on the Hassilia from London.

WILLIAMS, Charles. Charles was an ex-convict. Of Minninup Bridge and Bunbury. He employed ten tickets of leave men on occasions in 1863 and 1872.

WILLIAMS, George Henty (1822-18/01/1928). He was born in Wales and died in York. He got married on 12/02/1847 in Guildford to Selina Bradley (1827-24/12/1902). She arrived in Western Australia in 1842. She was the daughter of Benjamin, a solicitor. She remarried on 07/02/1860 to John White. Their children were Stephen Henty (1848-1893), Samuel born (1850-1921), a son born (1852-1854), Charles (1853-1884), who died in Ashburton because of a dray accident and George Henty (1855-1928). George was employed as a lad by Abraham Jones at Guildford and "Waterhall" in the pastoral and agricultural industry in West Dale district. He held pastoral leases in partnership with E.T. Barrett Lennard. He owned "Goonderding" in York. He went by the surname of Henty for marriage and baptism of 1st, 2nd and 4th child. He was illiterate and a member of the Church of England.

WILLIAMS, John. Journeyed to South Australia on 4/11/1860 on the Balaclutha. He journeyed to London on 12/01/1867 on the Fitzroy. Finally, he journeyed to Bunbury, where he was a farmer in 1870. John went to England on 23/01/1861 on the Lord Raglan. He lived in Fremantle, where he was a Watchmaker in 1888-9. Then lived in Albany, where he was a farmer (1875- 1885 Alm). In Etlcup, he leased a farm east of Kojonup in 1875. He was a Blacksmith in 1884-5. In Northampton he was a miner 1884-9. In Jarrahdale, he was a bush-hand for the Timber Co in 1884. Bunbury, boarding housekeeper 1877.

Williams, Rev. J. Of Bunbury. He employed three ticket of leave men in 1864, 1868 and 1878, respectively, 2 of them sawyers.

WILLIAMS, John. John lived in Bunbury. He was a storekeeper from 1879-1889.

WILLIAMS, Thomas. Thomas married Elinor Dilley (1850-1928) on 02/03/1867 in Bunbury. Elinor was the daughter of William and Ellen. Thomas and Elinor's children were Stephen, baptised in 1869 and George. In Capel, he was a gardener and farmer. He employed five ticket of leave men in 1865-1871. Thomas' wife was a local midwife. He was a member of the Church of England.

WILSON, E, He lived in Bunbury and employed a ticket of leave labourer in 1863. In Perth, he was a carpenter from 1870-1874. He was also a Cossack, blacksmith and wheelwright (1885-9).

WILSON, John (1841-). He was an ex-convict, and he arrived in Western Australia on 31/12/1862 on the York. While in Bunbury 1864, John employed six ticket of leave men, including a cook on occasions 1866-1874 at Capel and Parkfieldied. John left for Adelaide on 20/12/1879.

WILSON, Joseph (1807-24/08/1842). Joseph drowned in Bunbury.

WILSON, Joseph (1825-). Joseph was born in the U.K. He was an ex-convict. Joseph arrived in Western Australia on 10/08/1865 on the Racehorse. He was widowed with five children in the U.K. In Bunbury, he was a tinsmith from 1887-9.

WINDICH, Tommy (1840-01/1876). He was born near Kellerberrin and died in Esperance. He was brought up in the Bunbury district. He accompanied C.C. Hunt on his expedition east of York in 1866. He was a police tracker and native constable. He assisted in the arrest of the Aborigines who killed Edward Clarkson, east of Toodyay and Northam during 1865. He accompanied the Forrest brothers on expeditions in 1869 into the interior, along the South coast. Tommy travelled to Adelaide in 1870 and from Champion Bay to overland telegraph to Adelaide in 1874. The Forrest brothers erected a tombstone over his grave. Tommy was commemorated In 1979 in the form of a brass plaque in the Perth pavement for 1869.

Charles Wisbey (1883-1894)

 Charles Wisbey was born in Duxford, Cambridgeshire, England, on 21 April 1833. In 1854 he immigrated to Western Australia with his wife, Ellen and mother, Amelia (reference; reference).

After arriving in the colony, Charles worked in agriculture for a short time before joining the police force. Although he moved around the state like most police officers of the time, he also spent many years in Northam and York, as the settlers petitioned for him to remain despite it being against policy. It was a complex area to police, often involving long journeys into the bush, spending many days and nights in the open while tracking criminals (reference). 

Charles was transferred to Fremantle in 1872, where he was put in charge of the police force (reference). In September 1875, the Western Australian Times wrote a scathing report on the Fremantle court and police, hinting at corruption. A reporter had attended a court session and reported on two particular cases. In one case, in which a ticket-of-leave man was applying to the court to take up a position with Mr Woollams, a local sawyer, the paper reported: "A respectable-looking man applied to the magistrate to allow him, being a ticket man, to have an engagement (produced) with a Mr. Woollams, both sawyers. The learned sergeant (Wisbey) here rose and addressed the bench, that he "would not allow him to take the engagement, that he could get him an engagement at the Vasse." The man said he had no wish to go so far as he could get plenty of work here. The learned sergeant then called out, "stop your jaw, will you!" I thought this a novelty and allowed by the bench too. The same bumptious individual told Mr. Slade that he would give the man a 7 days pass for Fremantle, but not an engagement. Why? Echo answers because it appears Mr. Simpson at the Vasse wants several pairs of sawyers, and requested an official of this court to send some down. Does Mr. Simpson also want Fiddlers? The sequel will show."

That morning, the other significant case concerned Pat Kelly, an elderly man who worked for local publican Mr Harwood. The police had arrested him for being in a bar when he was on the list of those prohibited from buying alcohol. The verdict, in this case, was that "the police

acted wrong in entering the Hotel and arresting Pat, unless called upon by the landlord to do so. At the same time Kelly must leave Mr. Harwood's house" which, the paper noted, would have left Mr Kelly homeless. The report concluded "Why not promote the learned Sergt. to Perth? He is (as Mrs. George Case observes) "so remarkably clever," and Mr. Landor would soon put him through his facings, and take the "jaw" out of him" (reference).

The newspaper then published a letter supporting Mr Wisbey but adding the comment: "Sergeant Wisbey has woke up one morning and found himself famous. We have received a number of contradictory letters on the subject, and we are tired of it. So we hope in Sergeant Wisbey's alleged parlance that everyone will "hold their jaw" about it for the future" (reference).

The "hold your Jaw" reference was also used by the newspaper in an October episode of the satirical column "The Owl and the Magpie" on the justice system in the colony (reference).

The Inquirer and Commercial News, another paper in the colony, condemned the reporting and defended Mr Wisbey, stating: "These remarks were quite uncalled for, if not utterly false. The sergeant is a very kind and popular man, both with his officers and all who come in contact with him officially, and quite unworthy of the slanderous effusion which appeared in your contemporary" (reference).

Sergeant Wisbey was transferred to Bunbury in January 1876 and promoted to Sub-Inspector (reference). By the end of his first year in the district, Wisbey was accused of corruption by the Anglican minister, Reverend Withers. However, given his recent treatment in Fremantle, Mr Wisbey sued the Reverend for defamation of character and won. The court case is described in full in Joseph Withers’ biography (reference).

In August 1878, Mr Charles Howard was appointed Inspector of Police for the Southern Regions and The Western Australian Times questioned why Mr Wisbey, among others, had been overlooked in preference to a young man with little experience (reference). In the same month, Mr Wisbey announced he would retire at the end of the year (reference).

In November 1878, Mr Wisbey applied for a liquor license "for the sale of fermented and spirituous liquors, in the house and appurtenances thereunto belonging, situated at Bunbury, in Victoria Street, containing three sitting rooms and seven bedrooms, rented from Mr. William Spencer, at present occupied by Mr. Thomas E. Spencer, now licensed under the sign of the Wellington Hotel, and which I intend to keep as an Inn or Public House" (reference). At the time, the Wellington Hotel was the centre of social life in Bunbury, and the Agricultural Society's annual dinner and ball was held in the dining room (reference; reference). 

Life as a publican must have suited Mr Wisbey as he stayed in that profession until he retired. In 1886, when his lease expired on the Wellington Hotel, he purchased it along with the Prince of Wales Hotel in Stephen Street and leased the Wellington Hotel to Mr John Fielder (reference; reference). 

On his retirement in 1891, Mr Wisbey leased the Prince of Wales Hotel to Mr Edward Maxted, and in 1892 he began extensive renovations and additions to the hotel, which included a new free-standing building which was eventually connected to the existing hotel (reference; reference). 

Mr Wisbey was involved in the Bunbury community in many areas. In sporting, he was a keen cricketer and captained the Bunbury team for several seasons in his early days in the town (reference). He also helped organise the Athletics Carnival in 1892 and petitioned with others for bathing facilities (reference; reference).

Charles was also a passionate Freemason and was the founder of the Masonic Lodge in Bunbury. Before he died, he was given the prestigious title of "District Senior Grand Warden" (reference).

Charles was also a committed member of the Wesleyan Church in Bunbury and served as the Chief Steward (reference). 

Once Charles left the police force, it wasn't long before he actively became involved in the town Council. He ran successfully for councillor in 1880 and in 1882 became the Chairman of Town Trust - the equivalent of a mayor before Bunbury became a mayoralty (reference; reference). He held the position of Chairman again in 1885 and was in that position when Bunbury became a mayoralty in June 1887. As the current Chairman of the Town Trust, Mr Wisbey automatically became the first Mayor of Bunbury. Overall, Mr Wisbey served in the chair as both Chairman of the Town Trust and Mayor nine times and served as Mayor in 1894 until a week before his death in September that year (reference).

Charles Wisbey was 61 years old when he died on Thursday 5 September 1894. He had an apoplectic fit on the previous Sunday morning while getting ready for church and became unconscious. Charles briefly regained consciousness on Tuesday and appeared to be recovering but died two days later surrounded by friends and family, including his elderly mother, Amelia (reference; reference). The bells of St Paul's rang to let the town know he had passed away, and the Banks and Public offices of the town were closed at 1:00 pm on the day of his death as a mark of respect (reference; reference). John Forrest, then Premier of the State, sent his condolences adding "Mr. Wisbey's death will not only be deplored by those among whom his useful life was spent but also by all those who were acquainted with his character and his sterling worth." (reference).

Charles married Ellen Andrews before coming to Western Australia. Together, they had nine children - Charles (b.1852 in Cambridgeshire, England), Fanny, (b. 1855), Amelia (b. 1857), Martha (b. 1859), Sarah (b.1861), Mary Ann (b. 1863), Emily (b. 1865) Eleanor (b. 1868), Elizabeth (b. 1870) and Janet (b. 1879) (reference; reference). Ellen died in 1891, and Charles married Annie Fletcher in 1892. They had one son - John Edward (b.1895) (reference; reference). Michelle Roberts M.L.A, the current Speaker of the House in Western Australia and up until recently the Minister of Police is Charles Wisbey's great, great, great-granddaughter (reference).

Wisbey Street in Carey Park is named in honour of Charles Wisbey (reference).

WITHERS, Edward Henry (10/02/1856-27/09/1942). He was born in England and died in Bunbury. Edward was the son of (Rev) Joseph and Sarah Ann. He arrived in Western Australia on 28/12/1863 on the Dalhousie with his parents. He got married on 11/10/1876 to Esther Blythe (12/10/1856-07/11/1896). Esther was the daughter of James and Comfort. Their children were George, Annie, Fred MLA and Flora. Bunbury (1879-1889). A shipping firm employed him to load timber for W.A. Timber Co.

Reverend Joseph Henry Withers (1834-1904)

“During his residence here, he travelled without the aid of railway facilities the length and breadth of these extensive South-Western districts, over and over again, and was known to every man, woman, and child within an area of many hundreds of miles.” - Southern Times (reference).

Joseph Henry Withers served as a colonial chaplain for thirty years from his appointment in 1863 (reference) until his retirement in 1893 (reference). He spent twenty years in the Church of England parish in the district of Bunbury and ten in the Williams district (reference). The parish of Bunbury was quite extensive when he began his ministry, going as far as Manjimup to the south and inland to Pinjarra (reference). In 1872, Joseph purchased Portion 11 of Leschenault Location 26, known as East Bunbury (reference). He named the plot Rathmines (reference) after his birthplace in Ireland. This land was subdivided, and 116 building lots were put up for sale in 1892 (reference). This area later became the suburb of Rathmines.

Joseph was opinionated, often irritating people. For instance, after arriving in the middle of a meeting concerning new regulations on timber licenses, he immediately gave his views on the subject to which Mr George Simpson, the manager of the WA Timber Company, replied, “Mr. Withers always reminded him of a ‘locomotive off the line.' He was always talking of, and interfering with matters that he did not understand nor had any business with” (reference). Joseph was dedicated to his vocation and vitally interested in improving the lives of the people he served, especially in procuring an education for all the children of the district.

Joseph Withers was born in Rathmines, Dublin and was educated at the Blue Coat School (reference). The school, established in 1671, was a charitable school for boys of low-income families and named after the uniform of blue coats (reference). He then went to Trinity College and graduated without his degree (reference). However, Joseph received a medal for his academic achievements in 1847 (reference). Joseph married twenty-year-old Sarah Walkern in 1852, at eighteen years old (reference) before joining the holy orders in Dublin. Joseph was appointed curate in Rathmines. The couple travelled to Norwich, England, where Joseph became a tutor to Sir Thomas Beauchamp’s children. Joseph was ordained a deacon in 1856 and a priest in 1859 (reference) and became the curate of the Chedgrave church (reference). In 1863, through the influence of Sir Thomas, Joseph was appointed as a Colonial Chaplain and received an offer at a Western Australian district from Bishop Hale (reference). By this time, Joseph and Sarah had three children - Edward, Mary and George. Joseph’s second son, George, recounted the journey out to Australia:

“He was to proceed to Western Australia, which at that time was almost a terra incognita as far as the British people knew. His duties as chaplain were to be on the sailing ship Lord Dalhousie, of only a few hundred tons, carrying 300 convicts, a squad of soldiers under the command of Major Crampton, my father, mother and three children, of whom I was the youngest and a cousin, Miss Kate O'Neill. It is hard to realise how it was possible on such a small vessel to accommodate so many human beings in addition to all the food, water and general impedimenta of our family, as well as the soldiers, crew and other passengers, as my parents brought all their household furniture on this vessel, and also a quantity of saddlery and other things, the gift of Sir Thomas, which he thought would be helpful in a new country. We left Plymouth on September 1, and sailing via the Cape, as there was no Suez Canal at that time, we reached Fremantle on December 30, 1863. The voyage was uneventful and without serious incident, either from misbehaviour of the elements or the conduct of the prisoners, and these were all safely handed over to the authorities.” - George Withers (reference).

Just under a month after arriving in Western Australia, the Withers journeyed to Bunbury. Edward, Joseph’s eldest son, recorded the early colonial days of Bunbury. “On the 18th of January, 1864, there landed in Bunbury the Reverend J. Withers and family, consisting of wife, two sons, one daughter and a niece, Miss K. O. Neal. Bunbury then consisted of about 20 houses in the main street, none of them very elaborate, and there was one public house, The Wellington Hotel. The doctor, named Sampson, lived in the only other two-storied house a couple of chains further north on the opposite side of the road, and this place is still standing. Dr Sampson rode a black horse which he called The Devil, bought from Father McCabe.” - Edward Withers (reference).

“In 1864 at the age of eight I came down from Fremantle with my family on board the cutter "Wild Wave" owned and also captained by a Mr. G. Cross of Vasse. There was no wharf so we all landed on the beach not far from where the silo now stands. Some people named Wenn lived in the Strand at that time. There was also a brick store near the corner afterwards turned into a mill by the Forrest family. The only lighthouse was a small watch house about 6ft. square and about 8ft. high with a 20ft. post with a lantern that used to be pulled up by and let down by a Mr. Costella, a pensioner who lived on the White road. There were no streets made at this time. We came along the Estuary and passed a wooden shed used as a blacksmith's shop. Alongside was a wooden room, 12ft. by 10ft. About a chain away was a brick building which a Mr. Morgan had built sometime before, and which was used as a hotel. Near the weighbridge corner in what is now known as Victoria-st., was the Wellington Hotel, a very small place at that time, kept by Mr. E. Spencer and Mr. Thomas Ashford as partners. On the other side of the street was a butcher's shop and outhouses belonging to a Mr Ramsay, who had a farm at a place called Minninup, about 12 miles down the coast. On the next corner back from the road was a cottage. A man named Mick White had a bakery where Wills and Co. now are and a three roomed brick cottage was opposite. Where the wine saloon now stands was a cottage belonging to a Mr. Ben Elems who lived there. The Rose Hotel was built soon after by a Mr. Sam Rose. His wife looked after the hotel and he had a farm down at Minninup and used to ride in every Saturday and spend the Sunday here. Nearly opposite was a store and dwelling house kept by a Mr. Lipschitry. There also was a wooden cottage where Colletts now stand, used as a bootmakers shop by a man named Beer. In front of that a Mr. Hough had a brick house of about six rooms and also a butcher's shop. He and his three girls used to take turns to serve the few customers. On Futcher's corner was a shop with a lean-to at the end, but no one lived in it. Mr. Jas Moore had a cottage where Cronshaw's shop is and a carpenter's shop was alongside. On the Bon Marche corner back from the street was a shop and dwelling house kept by a Mrs. Gillman. The property belonged to Mr. Geo. Elliott, R.H., who lived on Bury Hill on the site St. John of God Hospital now occupies. Opposite that where the Cathedral now stands, was a small wooden church. On the site of Forrest's office was a wooden cottage with a thatched room, a policeman named Fee lived there with his family. Where Sherry's now stands was a cooper's shop and two rooms. A man named Kelly lived in it. The grant belonged to his wife's father, a pensioner named White who lived in Stirling-st. About a chain from the corner further along was another pensioner's cottage belonging to a Mr. Deadman. Also on the corner where the school now stands was the hospital. A Dr. Vines was the Government doctor at that time. It was only used for prisoners. A little back from that was the Commissariat building, used as a school with two rooms. On the southern end were three rooms where one of the warders of the prison lived and a spare room on the other end across the street a Mr. T. C. Carey had a house, back from the street. He was the Government Surveyor. I believe he was also chairman of the Town Trust. All the grants and streets were marked out with posts marked B.T.T. They were about 3in. x 5in. and stood up about 4ft. 6in. with a pointed top. The streets though surveyed were not made, only formed at that time.” - Edward Withers (reference).

Joseph had to use horses to travel Bunbury’s large parish. Son George recalled these early travels: “Considering he had never straddled a horse, this was rather an undertaking when all the work would have to be done on horseback, but he was young and full of enthusiasm, and for the first 11 years he mapped out his work so that he was able to visit all the outlying settlers four times yearly, each trip taking about two weeks.” At first, “he had to lead a pack horse on the outward journeys and as he usually carried a lot of literature supplied by Christian knowledge and gospel propagation societies in England. “ However,  “in 1874 father bought his first four-wheel buggy, built by John Summers, of Hay-street, Perth.” This was a great improvement as “the advent of the buggy made this work much easier, without damaging the books” (reference).

Often his wife and children would accompany him on these journeys around the parish, and son Edward later recalled, “They used to go to Jayes’ stations belonging to Mr. Steer, and from there to Bridgetown. A man named Trigwell kept the hotel at Donnybrook in those days. The Rev. Joseph Withers held services at the convict camps as he came to them, at Boyanup, Donnybrook, Thomson's Hill, Lawn Hill, Balingup, Padbury's Hill, Hester's and at another place near Donnybrook” (reference).

The vast amount of travel was not without its hazards, and the rector had several accidents. George recalled two: “In the winter of 1872, which was a very heavy one, he had to cross the Preston River while in flood. He was swept off his horse, grabbed hold of a stirrup which came off, and then caught hold of his horse's tail, and was dragged to safety as he was unable to swim, this might have ended in tragedy. On another occasion in the year 1881, when driving across the ranges on the old Williams to Bunbury-road with my young sister also aboard, he struck a stump which threw him out with the reins in his hand and he was picked up seriously injured and was kept in hospital for a month” (reference). There was also another near-fatal accident concerning horses later in Joseph life: “Whilst the Rev. J. Withers was returning to Bunbury along the Vasse Road, opposite Mr. Hastie's, his horses became rather unmanageable, and he had the misfortune to run over a little child, three years of age, a son of Mr. James Hastie, the wheels passing over its head. It is simply a miracle how the child escaped at all, the wheels passing over it just under the ear and across its face. We learn that it was not very seriously injured, and that it is now progressing satisfactorily under the care of Dr. Lovegrove, the shock proving more serious than the bodily injury” (reference).

During his tenure, Joseph was responsible for building at least 13 churches in the parishes of Bunbury and Williams. The first of these was St Paul’s church in Bunbury. When he arrived in Bunbury, there was “an old wooden church, which also served as a school” (reference) and one of the first things Joseph did was organise a church to be built. The school was moved to “an old commissariat brick building in the grounds of the present school" (reference), and the church meetings were held there temporarily (reference).

In April 1865: “A goodly number of the inhabitants of Bunbury and its immediate neighbourhood assembled on Monday, 20th inst., at 12 o'clock, to witness the laying of the foundation-stone of the new Church of St. Paul's, now in course of erection on the site of the old. The proceedings were commenced by the Rev. J. Withers giving out the hymn, 'From all that dwell below the skies.The 1st chapter of Haggai was then read and an appropriate prayer offered. This done, Mr W. P. Clifton, with a few suitable words, presented the trowel to the Resident, Mr G. Eliot, requesting him to lay the stone. Having deposited a bottle containing copies of the colonial papers, a few of the current coins, and the inscription, Mr Eliot formally laid the stone. After a few congratulatory remarks, in which he pointed out the great object sought to be attained by means of the work now began, viz., the extension of Christ's Kingdom in the world, a statement of the financial position and prospects of the committee was given by the Rev. J. Withers. He urged the necessity of ready and hearty cooperation, in order to the speedy completion of the building, and mentioned that a bazaar, to be held in November, when it was hoped the church would be opened, was being set on foot by several ladies in the district. He did not see why, by energy and perseverance, they should not raise £10 in that way” (reference).

St Paul’s was completed in 1867 (reference). In 1951, The West Australian praised the building and said Joseph had “left Western Australia in this building a pioneers' memorial envied by States east of the Nullarbor” (reference).

The other churches established by Joseph were not elaborate buildings. Instead, he favoured simple buildings that served multiple purposes, such as a local school and meeting room (reference). The first was at Bridgetown and seeing the difficulty that small parishes might have in sustaining a church and a clergyman, he set up the Diocesan Society in 1869, whereby more established churches could support newer parishes “ensuring, under the Divine blessing, through united action and mutual support, the general welfare and progress of the Church of England in this colony” (reference). Within a few weeks of starting, the society had 121 members, and Joseph was advocating that one of its projects should be to help pay the salary of a clergyman for the Bridgetown/ Blackwood area (reference). Bridgetown had been recently established as a town and was growing rapidly, and his idea was to “make this new town the headquarters and centre of operations of an itinerant clergyman”  which would “radiate from Bridgetown about 30 miles in each direction” and “that one-third of the income of the clergyman to be thus employed will be raised in this district; the remainder will be derived in equal proportions from the Diocesan Church Society and the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel” (reference).

While stationed at Williams, Joseph began erecting three of these church-schools simultaneously along the road to Albany, prompting one newspaper to report: “Not many years ago it was a common saying that there was no Sunday between Perth and Albany. Then the proverb was modified to there being no Sunday between Kelmscott, sixteen miles from Perth, and Albany. This state of things, which has lasted for something like ten years, is happily coming to an end. The exertions to obtain church accommodation on the Albany Road and particularly in the settled districts such as the Williams River, have been made persistently by the Rev. Joseph Withers of Bunbury, who has at length so far succeeded that three school-churches are about to be erected on the line of road, and a comfortable parsonage Williams River. The school-churches will be of design and character nearly similar to the building erected under the auspices of Mr. Withers at Bridgetown, Blackwood, some ten years ago, the design and plans of which were prepared in 1869 by Mr. Thos Browne, to whom are entrusted the preparation of the plans and specifications of the new school-churches and the parsonage” (reference).

These church-schools were at Williams, Kojonup, Wandering and Arthur River (reference). Another church, St Peter’s, was erected at Eticup in 1885, and it was rented to the Education Department until 1892 when Broomehill School was opened (reference). In 1948, an effort was made “to proceed with a project started nine years ago to move this old structure brick by brick to the town of Broomehill, four miles distant, there to be re-erected as a memorial to the pioneers of the district” (reference). This was abandoned, however, because it was deemed too impractical (reference).

Throughout his ministry, Joseph also supported other churches in the district. In 1886, at the first anniversary of the Congregational Church, “The Rev. Mr. Buchanan ably performed the office of chairman, and was supported on either side by our welcome visitor the Rev. Mr. Johnston, from Fremantle, and the Rev. J. Withers, our colonial chaplain” (reference). He continued to do this with the Congregationalists and the Wesleyans as well on other special occasions (reference; reference; reference). Although not as friendly with the Catholics, when advocating for clergymen in education, “he thought it absolutely essential that clergymen of all denominations should be elected” (reference).

Joseph was a very enthusiastic proponent of temperance and saw it as an essential part of his ministry, saying: “Then as to the temperance movement. I look upon it in our day, and amongst English speaking communities especially, as part and parcel of a minister's work. Intemperance like an undying worm is gnawing at the vitals of society and impedes its progress at every step” (reference). 

However this view was not shared by all and after a sermon in St George’s Cathedral, a critic wrote to the paper complaining: “ONE of the greatest mistakes a clergyman can make is to attempt to work out an idea that he is the apostle of one particular virtue, and ordained only to denounce one particular vice. The Rev. JOSEPH WITHERS has made this mistake. He has discovered a beam in a brother's eye, and presumes that every one must suffer from the same complaint. In season and out of season he pounds away at the one idea, ignorant of the difference between a sober congregation attending Divine service at a Cathedral and a drunken rabble in a pot house. If Mr. WITHERS desires to air his ideas on the vice of intemperance let him do so from the top of a tub in front of a tavern. […] It is not likely that the vice our common ancestor NOAH indulged in has been left for a WITHERS to eradicate. We know he himself is not an immaculate conception, and so do his parishioners. We also know that like all men he must have some vice or weakness. One is intemperance - the intemperance or speech - which is as destructive to a man's social happiness as any other” (reference).

 This strong aversion to consumption of alcohol stemmed from his childhood: “His own experience with regard to the question of intemperance was a somewhat melancholy one. He well remembered, as a lad, the peculiar feelings he experienced when watching, unfortunately for many a weary hour, in the dead of night, the returning footsteps of one that was dear to him, but who, alas, was a victim to the terrible social evil which they sought to combat. The impression created by those feelings had never been erased from his mind” (reference). 

Joseph actively sought to participate in the temperance movement in Bunbury and applied to join the Good Templars' temperance organisation. However, it seemed that even they may have been daunted by his enthusiasm as the following report in 1875 on one of his applications shows: “At the last meeting there were six candidates, amongst them the Rev. J. Withers and his eldest son,-both were blackballed, the other four being admitted. A second ballot being called for, the son barely passed with "the skin of his teeth", but the Reverend gentleman fared even worse than at first, an increased number of black balls having been given by several who at the first ballot remained neutral. Whatever personal feeling there may be against Mr. Withers as a clergyman, all agree that he would have made a good and useful member. And even those who share the feeling of dislike condemn the action of the Lodge in allowing private and personal feeling to influence the votes”(reference).

The Good Templars also voted against Joseph being a speaker at their anniversary celebrations in April 1876 (reference), but when, undeterred, Joseph tried again for membership in June of the same year, they finally relented: “The Rev. Joseph Withers ought to take for his motto, should he ever aspire to one, nil desperandum. After having been blackballed no less than three times, by the Good Templars he has at last succeeded. Having chronicled his defeat on a previous occasion, it is but fair that I should now record the Rev. gentleman's victory over a strong and determined opposition. He is not, however, easily put down, and at a fourth ballot on the 26th instant, managed to get in” (reference).

His zealous advocacy for temperance led him into controversy at times, and the death of Jack Meloy on 9 August 1876 at Mrs Norrie’s (his step-daughter) was one such occasion. In a letter to the paper, published on 27 August, Joseph described what happened: “On Tuesday, the 9th August, 'Jack Meloy[sic] came in from the Williams, where he had been working since Christmas. He had been living 'hard,' not having been able to procure a supply of meat; he was, however, in sound health. He was a raw-bone, powerful-framed man — muscular — a hard drinker— had never been known to 'lie down' under its influence. He came to his own house (now Norrie's) on the Plain — drink was sent for — he went to bed, however, little the 'worse' for it. On Wednesday he and Norrie remained at home nearly the whole day drinking; once during the day he came down to Delaporte's and had some drink; he went to bed that night 'the worse' for drink. On Thursday, the 11th, he must have a glass immediately he rose. From half-past ten or eleven till he dropped down off the form in Delaporte's taproom, at 3 p.m., he was in and out of the public house at short intervals. When he dropped down and was removed out of doors, and not until then, did the publican speak of filing for the assistance of the police. It was at first proposed by Norrie that he should be brought to Buswell's, close to, but a policeman being seen at Gillman's corner, it was determined to remove him to his own house; he was so removed, being carried on a man's back, two men holding his legs — his trousers, I am told, 'down' speechless and utterly helpless, till he died at about 10 o'clock” (reference).

He went on to say this was the second such incident in the space of 12 months with the first being a Mrs Scott who “was found in a miserable plight, with no food in her stomach for days; every soul in the house dead drunk; no one in the house, so I am credibly informed, knowing that she was dead” (reference).  

At the inquest, although the coroner’s report was that drink caused Meloy’s death, all witnesses testified that Meloy was not drunk (reference), but it was evident there was “a prearranged plan of the witnesses one and all to shield the defendant” (reference). After the inquest, one of the witnesses, Mr Hay, told the police Meloy was drunk and also told Joseph “that Meloy was not only in that state, but so bad was he that he felt it a duty to speak to him, and tell him that he was killing himself, or words to that effect” (reference).

Joseph had been so angry about the whole situation, he refused to perform the burial for Jack Meloy and only after some hesitation did he permit the body to be buried in the church graveyard (reference). According to a newspaper report, this caused many people to have “a very strong feeling of indignation on the subject, and that in the case of other sudden deaths that have taken place in our midst— death during delirium tremens, death by drowning, and death in a standup fight — the burial service was read by Mr. Withers and that no objections whatever were raised” (reference).

With Mr. Hay’s statement, the police pressed charges against Mr Delaporte, the publican. It failed due to lack of evidence and the policeman most involved in the incident, Sub-inspector Wisbey (later to become the first Mayor of Bunbury), was absent. The Magistrate, Mr. Clifton, said “the clause under which the information in this case had been laid was a most desirable and necessary clause [...] It was one that the honest and straightforward publican had nothing to fear from: — it was only the unscrupulous individual (looking very hard at the defendant) who would risk nothing for the sake of extracting all he could from the pockets of the drunkard that had any cause to fear such a law. There is in our community, amongst those who give the matter any thought, a strong feeling in favor of the clause remaining in force.” Significantly, he also stated “in this town, or district, it cannot be said to press at all hard, as we have only had one conviction since it came in force; that we have had no more is not the fault of the publicans” (reference).

After this, in a letter to the newspaper, Joseph claimed that a conviction could not be obtained  “owing to the negligence and connivance of the police, the influence direct and in direct of the publicans, and the low moral tone of the general community” (reference) and “Rev. Mr. Withers preached a special sermon on the subject on Sunday, the 3rd inst., which is more than likely to be followed up; the rev. gentleman having in his discourse distinctly stated that 'the heads of the police had connived to smother the matter up.

The police officer that Joseph was attacking was clear to the letter writer who responded and reprimanded Joseph for the “very foolish and undeserved attack he makes upon the police, and particularly upon Sub-Inspector Wisbey, who is known to be one of the most efficient and unobtrusive officers that have ever been stationed here, is dastardly in the extreme” (reference).

Other letters were particularly malicious towards Joseph leading one newspaper to report “the luckless clergyman of that district has provoked the dislike of some "gritty creetur " with an itch for writing, who represents the minister of "peace" as an Ismarl, with his hands against every man and every man's hand against him. These vituperated letters for straightforward, undisguised abuse equal anything uttered by the "Owl and Magpie" of W. A. Times notoriety, and completely eclipses the heaviest inkings of the combative "Chips." We wonder what are the feelings of the Rev. Mr. Withers when he pronounces the benediction, if any of the letter writers are among his congregation on Sundays.” (reference).

The result of this was that Sub-Inspector Wisbey filed a libel action against Joseph (reference). The town was split into factions. “A subscription list to defray the costs of the libel action entered by Mr. Sub-Inspector Wisbey against the Rev. Mr. Withers was opened on Monday morning, and was quickly filled up to the amount of about £50; double the amount of each subscription being promised if required. This was done without Mr. Wisbey's knowledge or sanction in any way, and during his absence in Perth, principally to show the public estimate of his worth as a police officer. It is intended to publish the list in the local papers” (reference) and “yesterday and the previous day Mr. David Hay was busily engaged with another list collecting a subscription for Mr. Withers' defence” (reference).

The case was held in March 1877 and “the jury, after being locked up for three days, brought in a verdict for the defendant on the count for libel, and found for the plaintiff on the count for slander, damages 20s. The case created a great deal of interest and excitement” (reference).

Joseph was a strong advocate of spreading literature as he believed “no greater boon could be conferred on our young friends in the bush than the providing them with mental food of a sound and wholesome character” (reference). He was the agent for propagating Christian knowledge for the Church of England and acquired books from several English booksellers, which he distributed (reference). Joseph supplied many of the original books for the first reading room in Bunbury (reference) which was  “in a building called the Barracks, which stood at the corner of Wittenoom and Princep streets, where the gardens are.” This was eventually taken over by the council and the books given to the town (reference). He also “used to carry books and pamphlets on his visits to the outlying parts of the district as far as Bridgetown, and the people always looked for him on his rounds every three months or so and bought what they wanted to read. When Revd. Withers left here in 1880 to open up the Williams district, he did the same thing and was always looked for by the outlying people as far as Albany” (reference).

Joseph also sold books from his home, placing regular advertisements in the paper (reference). In 1881, before he left for a trip to England for health reasons, he offered to bring back a large consignment of books to establish a Juvenile Bush Libraries through a network of local towns so that they could swap titles with each other (reference).

Joseph was a great believer in the education of children, and as his son, George recalls, “was specially interested in establishing schools throughout this huge district, and wherever 12 or 13 children could be collected within a radius of three miles, he gave the Education Department no rest until at least an assisted school was granted, which often was held in settlers' homes, with some member of a family who was competent to teach the three R's, as teacher” (reference). Having gone to a school for the poor himself, Joseph put effort into ensure the local children received an education, “the fact is I could do no other. Humanly speaking, I owe my success in life to the fact that I had a good sound education and that I made a good use of it. I was not born "with a silver spoon in my mouth" and I am not sorry for it” (reference).

In 1871, the first Education act for Western Australia was passed (reference) and arising from that, District Boards were to be elected. At the initial meeting concerning the election of the Wellington District Board, one of the contentions was the role of clergymen in education. While some in the new colony were eager to embrace the separation of church and state, others such as Mr. James MaQuire, of Dardanup thought “the new Board should be composed of lay members only. The clergy should be rigidly kept out. He was of opinion that it would be impossible for three clergymen of different denominations sitting at one Board to unanimously agree on questions arising on educational matters.” Joseph, on the other hand believed “it absolutely essential that clergymen of all denominations should be elected, they being on account of their vocation, education and constant intercourse with the families of the district most interested in all matters appertaining to education, and best able to carry out with success the new act” (reference). When the Board was eventually voted in, three of the five members, Rev. Withers, Rev. Buchanan and Father Brady, were clergymen, with Mr William Forrest and Dr. Thomas Lovegrove (reference).

As with any new law that permeates daily life, the bill was not without controversy. Joseph wrote many letters to the paper about its inadequacies. He favoured the government only funding public schools and wrote that “a system truly National, but Unsectarian” should have been established, as in the country areas there were often not enough children for a public school where government-funded Catholic Schools were established (reference). He wrote about the difficulties of dealing with the Central Board, saying “The most frequent cause of friction between the Central and District Boards, so far as my experience and information enables me to state, has hitherto been the establishment of new schools in the bush. What an extremely difficult matter it is to establish a school of this sort can only be known by those who have made the attempt. You have first to ascertain whether there are sufficient children - whether these are of a school age, and are within the compulsory radius of three miles; then there arises the question of site - of means for building - what assistance may be had from the Central Board, if any. These difficulties surmounted, the District Board communicates with the Central Board -"suggests" and "recommends," - as empowered by the Act, and is frequently met with delay, followed by unexplained refusal. This is very annoying to the member, personally, and trying to the patience of the parents. One result is that the Boards, finding they are practically powerless, cease to meet, cease to take any interest in educational matters, and that really good members withdraw altogether” (reference). He complained that the fees were too high for country areas (reference) and that it was “lamentable to contemplate the absolute dearth of teachers nowadays.” because trainee teachers were no longer being paid. Teacher training was limited to metropolitan schools (reference). 

He put in a great deal of work towards establishing each school, having to visit all the people in that district to get the number of children to apply for government grants for buildings and teachers (reference), and then procuring the materials for the buildings (reference) and employing suitable teachers (reference). Often, it was a struggle to keep the school open if the number of attendees dropped below 12, as in the case of the Wandering school that was threatened with closure twice (reference). Although schooling was compulsory, there was no one to enforce it, and Joseph wrote that it became “a great hardship that the parents of those children who do attend regularly should be punished for the one or two families who neglect their duty” and the children “would be sacrificed for no fault of their own, their parents, or the teacher” (reference).

In the words of Mr Henry Venn in 1880, Joseph had been “the chief instrument in the erection of churches and schoolrooms” and “labored earnestly and persistently in promoting the education of the young” (reference).

Joseph and Sarah were active in the community and made the harshness of Australian life enjoyable for those around them. This is reflected in a journalist's report about a summer picnic, organised by Joseph, Sarah and a committee which “was given to all classes and denominations.” It was held on 23 December 1867 “when about one hundred children, with a corresponding number of parents and friends, assembled at Preston Point.” Various forms of transportation were arranged: “It is 10 a.m., and, on looking towards Bunbury, we observe the boats approaching, their white sails filled with the delightful sea-breeze, speeding the joyous groups to their destination; traps are also moving with travellers who prefer driving to sailing, while an immense bullock-dray also discharges a load of youngsters.” After everyone arrived, “heaps of sandwiches and kegs of ginger beer” were provided for lunch. The afternoon was filled with “swinging, boating, racing, fishing, and other amusements” then, to finish the day “tea and cake were dispersed, and the children sang the National Anthem, after which prizes were awarded by some of the committee, others handing round lottery-bags, into which all had a dip, and each gained a prize” (reference).

Joseph was also involved in establishing a Mechanic’s Institute in Bunbury and the President when opened in 1868. He believed it would be “not only an ornament to the town, but a most useful acquisition to all classes and denominations who wished to assemble on neutral ground either for business or pleasure” (reference). He also helped arrange concerts to raise money for the Institute and in 1869, were lucky to have a celebrated harpist and tenor, Signor Raffaele Abecco, help while he visited Bunbury on his departure from Australia (reference).

Many years later, in 1879, at a fundraising concert for a Sunday School Library, Joseph “took the audience by surprise in his new character of soloist, more particularly in his song "I love beauty," which was quite a treat to all lovers of melody” (reference).

Joseph also “took a prominent part in all matters for advancing the district” (reference), and was often vocal about issues. In the 1874 elections for the Legislative Council, many people were disillusioned with the sitting member, Mr. James Lee-Steere, and instead nominated Mr. Stephen Stone to oppose him. Joseph was very vocal at the nomination meeting, where a tirade delivered against Mr. Stone gained “the hearty approval of the Rev. Joseph Withers, who cheered every few words, inducing a rabble, evidently brought for the purpose, to join in chorus.” Then when Mr Forrest went to speak for Mr. Stone, “it was with the greatest difficulty and perseverance Mr. Forrest could get out a word, so noisy became the rabble already alluded to, led on by some one who ought to have known better” (reference). He also wrote many letters to the paper on many subjects. In one, he complained about Bunbury bakers’ lightweight loaves of bread saying “I have myself weighed their loaves and seen them weighed and found in almost every instance that the loaves were one, two, three, four and, in the two last cases, as much as six ounces short” (reference). This caused one of the bakers, Mr Harry Brashaw, to reply saying Joseph had made “sweeping charge of light weight against all who call themselves bakers in Bunbury.” and “that all bread sold by us is always weighed before it goes into the oven, and made to scale 2lbs. 3oz., thus allowing a Ioss in baking from 2 to 3oz” (reference).

Another instance, he complained about the postal service as “it is now 11:45 and I find no English paper and no West Australian on the table of the Mechanics.” He concluded with, “I hear complaints on all sides, and if a better and more expeditious delivery is not soon carried out I shall certainly appeal to the Ministerial Head of this Department. ” He added “P.S -Such a staff for the same amount of work would be simply laughed at in England” (reference). Two days later, another letter from Joseph was published explaining, “I am asked to make a correction of a statement in my letter of Tuesday-it was to this effect that neither the English paper or the West Australian were on the table of the Mechanics' at 11:45 a.m. on that day. The fact was as I have stated but the fault lay not with the Post Office but with the caretaker who received the papers on the previous evening but neglected to put them on the table.” Nevertheless, he was still unrepentant about complaining about the deliveries adding “I am not the only complainant, and I say again that with the staff available the delivery of mails ought to be much more expeditious and regular” (reference).

A few weeks before Joseph announced his retirement on 23 January 1893 (reference), he was summoned to court on 6 January and charged with “a breach of the Marriage Act, in having on the 27th September last, married Thomas Trigwell and Annie Elisabeth Hurst, at Boyanup schoolroom, without having banns of marriage affixed to the door of the schoolroom for three consecutive Sundays, as provided by law.” He pleaded not guilty “contending that he had in no way infringed the law, having married the couple by the second mode provided by the Act, vis., by publication of the banns” and a trial was set for 18 January (reference). It was a serious charge and “the penalty was an exceedingly heavy one and if found guilty the defendant was liable to a fine of £500 with or without five years' imprisonment with hard labour” (reference).

While Joseph had married the couple at the Boyanup schoolroom, which was used for worship when he gave services there - once a month or less - he had posted the marriage banns in the Bunbury Church as he interpreted the law to say the banns must be posted in the same parish. As Mr Henry Stanley, representing the defence, demonstrated, this had been common practice for both Joseph and other ministers in the area and there had never been a problem before. Mr. James Ecclestone testified he had been married at Boyanup in the same manner 10 years before by Rev. Purnell and the Wesleyan clergyman, Rev. Joseph Mitchell, testified that he had also followed this practice in Bunbury. Although the district registrar, Mr. George Teede, had been aware of other cases, he said he had reported this one as he recently had instructions on the marriage act and had “therefore been particular.” This concluded with a hung jury and a postponement to the next session (reference). 

However, the following day, while attending court to pay bail for Joseph, Mr Stanley “submitted that it would be a graceful act if the case was not further proceeded with. He need hardly remind his Worship that Mr. Withers had the sympathy of the greater part of the people in town. His Worship said that, personally, he quite agreed that it would be a gracious act on the part of the Crown to abandon the case, and he would take the necessary steps to submit the suggestion for the consideration of the Crown” (reference).

On 28 January, Joseph was informed “that in the case against you, which was adjourned to the next Quarter Sessions at Bunbury, no further proceedings will be taken. You are therefore released from your recognisances.” The Southern Times noted: “At the trial, eleven of the jurymen were in favour of finding the defendant not guilty. Much satisfaction is felt in town at the quashing of the proceedings against the Rev. gentleman” (reference). 

Joseph and Sarah Withers had seven children. The two eldest children were born in England -  Edward in 1856, Mary in 1858, and George was born in Ireland in 1863. The Withers and their cousin, Miss Katherine O’Neill, accompanied their parents to Australia (reference; reference). In 1866, two years after arriving in Bunbury, Katherine married local businessman Mr. David Hay.  Joseph Junior was born in the same year (reference) then in 1867, they had another son, David, who only lived for 20 days (reference). Their youngest son, Reginald, was born in 1869, followed by a daughter, Theodosia (Theodora), in 1870 (reference). Tragically, Sarah died in 1872, aged 40, when Theodora was two years old (reference). Her funeral was the “largest on record” in Bunbury at the time (reference). 

After Sarah died, Joseph brought the children up on his own. Theodora, the youngest, recalled that when she was fourteen, “she took over the care of the family and also shared the church work” (reference). 

Edward (Ted), the eldest, started work on the wharves at the age of 15 and later drove the mail out to Pinjarra. He wrote a series of memoirs for the Western Mail under the pseudonym “Old Bunbury.”.  He married a local girl, Esther Blythe, and they had six children. The eldest son, George, was killed in World War 1 (reference). Frederick, the second son, represented Bunbury as the Labor member of the State Legislative Assembly from 1924 - 1947 and then later Mayor of Bunbury from 1951 until 1955 (reference), and Frederick’s son Reginald also served on the Bunbury Council from 1954 - 1957 before being elected to the Australian Senate in 1967. After retiring from the Senate in 1987, he later became Lord Mayor of Perth from 1991 - 1994 (reference).

Mary married William Holmes in 1888. They had two daughters - Hilda, born 1889 in Dongara  and Dorothy, born 1892 in Perth (reference).

George left school in 1875 and “worked as shop assistant at 15/ week. After two years my employer refused an increase in wages so I went to work at the wharf as a tally clerk and lumper at 30/ per week. My late employer then wished for my return and my father consented to accepting £1 a week.” In 1879, aged 16, he was appointed third clerk to the Treasury with an annual salary of ₤90. However in 1882, George recalled ruefully “I resigned and took a job as jackeroo on Moorrarrie Station, Murchison, at £2/10/ a month, then foolishly throwing up a career.” He stayed on the station for 10 years, becoming manager in 1885, and then went into partnership with a butchering and storekeeping business. After a bout of typhoid fever, George left the goldfields and bought a business in Northam. In 1895, he married Cora Throssell. Like Edward, George wrote extensively about the early days of Western Australia which were published in the Western Mail (reference).

Joseph Junior married a South Australian girl, Eva Bowden at Riverton, South Australia in 1898 (reference). They lived in Perth and had three children - Ronald (1899), Lyall (1903) and Edith (1905) (reference). Reginald married Emily Crampton from Brunswick in 1893 (reference) and eventually moved to Three Springs (reference). Theodosia married Edward Crossley in 1893 (reference). One of their sons enlisted as a signaller with the Australian Light Horse Artillery during World War 1 but contracted measles at a training camp and died in Melbourne (reference). Joseph remarried in 1887 to Mary Gegg (reference), the daughter of Rev. Joseph Gegg, who was then the Dean of Perth (reference). Sometime after his retirement, they moved to Brown Street, East Perth (reference).  

Joseph died in 1904 from a stroke at the age of 70 (reference). He passed on his value of social involvement to his children and made a significant contribution to education throughout the southwest. 

WOOD. He married Elizabeth Hart (05/05/1858-), a widow, in Bunbury. She was the daughter of Richard and Alice.

WOODS, Cartney (05/1849-21/09/1933). He was born in Ireland and died in Katanning. Cartney arrived in Western Australia on 24/08/1883 from New South Wales on the Menmuir. He got married on 14/02/1884 (Perth West) to Christina Streeter, born in New South Wales. Their children were George (1884-), born as a Wesleyan, Emily (1885-), born as a Wesleyan, Mary (1889-), born in Kojonup as Wesleyan. Cartney served in the Royal Irish Constabulary from 1869-03/1875 and the Canadian North-West Mounted Police 05/1875-05/1878. Cartney was also in the Maori Wars in New Zealand. He joined the New South Wales Artillery 05/1881-05/1883. He joined the Western Australia Police Force on 01/01/1884, serving in Perth, Toodyay, then Bunbury 1887 as Lance Corporal, Kojonup in 1888, then Dongara, Carnarvon 1893, Fremantle 1900, Menzies 1901 and Northam. Cartney retired 1913/14. He later became a farmer in Katanning. He was also a member of Masonic and Orange Lodges. Cartney was an Elder of the Presbyt Church.

WOODS, (Private) Henry. Henry was a private of the 96th Regiment and was stationed in Western Australia 1847-1849. He is the son of John (William), who was a gardener/farmer. Henry arrived in Western Australia on 22/02/1847 on the Java. Henry was remarried on 30/05/1864 and 07/07/1864 in Bunbury with the Church of England to Elizabeth Brown, a widow. She was the daughter of James Beale (seaman). Henry was stationed at Bunbury and was Discharged from the Regiment in Perth on 07/11/1854. He was unsuccessful in his application in 1854 for a Pensioner Grant at Bunbury as he was not an Enrolled Pensioner. He was illiterate.

WOOD, Jesse Shale (1874-). He was born in Bunbury. He is the son of Samuel and Mary Hatley. He got married to Mary Agnes Piggott. He lived in Bunbury.

WOOD(S), John (1829-15/01/1855). He died in Bunbury. His possible relatives Ann (-18/08/1862), died in Bunbury, Isabella and Mary Ann Wood, who were listed as Roman Catholic living in Dardanup during 1854.

WOOD(S), John. He was an ex-convict. John employed four ticket of leave men in Bunbury during 1870.

WOODS, Joshua (-14/09/1881). He died at Le Grange. He may have lived in Bunbury and been the overseer at Maitland River in 1884-1885. He was a Pearler and Lapwing at North West. He was murdered by Aboriginal people.

WOODS, Samuel A (09/05/1832 - 23/10/1887). He was born in England and died in Albany. Samuel is the son of Samuel and Sarah of Birmingham. Samuel arrived in Australia on 24/11/1852 on the Arundel in Victoria. They later travelled to Western Australia. Samuel got married on 11/11/1869 in Albany at the Church of England to Mary Hatley Ward (01/08/1847-30/08/1886). Mary died in Albany. She was the 4th child of John Ward and Mary Hatley. She arrived with her parents 24/03/1854 on the Victory. Their children were John Francis (1870-1939), Fanny Rebecca (1872-1875), Jesse Shale (1874-), born in Bunbury, Arthur Samuel, Ethelene Mary (1877-1970), Ernest Hatley (1879-1966) and Samuel William (1882-1974). When Samuel was living at York Street, Albany, he was a builder and carpenter. He built the London Hotel. He was a publican 1870s. Samuel was a Member of Good Templars. He employed 2 ticket of leave servants during 1872 and 1874.

WOOD William Byers (1859-09/05/1923). He was the youngest son of Isaac. William got married on 13/06/1881 at Perth as a Wesleyan to Margaret Forrest Lawrence (27/07/1859-12/02/1943). Margaret is the daughter of James Thompson and Harriet. He also was a Butcher in Guildford from 1880-1889.

WOOD William Henry (04/1846-). He was born in Bunbury. He is the son of William J. and Sarah. William got married on 30/09/1870 in Picton to Comfort Blythe (18/07/1854-). Comfort was born in Guildford and died in New Zealand. Comfort was the daughter of James and Comfort. William was a farmer and grazier in Preston, Minninup and Bridgetown. William employed 21 ticket of leave men on occasions from 1864 to 1878, these including shepherds, a bootmaker and a carpenter. He travelled to New Zealand in 1887.

WOOD, William J (1809-29/04/1874). He died in Donnywongup. William got married on 23/08/1844 in Bunbury to Sarah Hurst (1828-). She is the daughter of Abraham. Their children were Emma (1844-), Charlotte (1844/5-1935), William (1846-), Alfred (1847-), Mary Ann (1849-), Basil (1851-), George (1853-), Abraham (1855-). William (1857-), Anthony (1859-), Henry, Richard and Thomas. William was an Australind farmer and by 1851 applied for pastoral leases of 10,000 acres Preston River and Wellington freehold 90 acres 1857-1862. He later lived in Donnybrook.

WOODDY, Joseph. He arrived in Western Australia on 21/03/1865 on the Wild Dayrell from Singapore. In Bunbury, he employed a ticket of leave man in 1851.

WOODHEAD, George (1827-). He was an ex-convict. He arrived in Western Australia on 11/02/1861 on the Palmerston. His wife Phoebe and Children followed suit on 26/03/1863 aboard the Strathmore. His children were Emma Ellen (-1923), George, Thomas and Alice. During his stay in Bunbury, he was a harness maker, a labourer from 1863. Then he moved to York, then Perth, in 1884. He also employed a ticket of leave labourer 1870-1871. He departed 03/02/1877 for South Australia. He was semi-literate and a Protestante.

WOODHEAD, James (1864-). He was born in England. He is the son of William and Annie. James arrived on 03/07/1883 on the Fitzroy with his parents. James got married on 26/09/1896 in Bunbury to Janet Louisa Scott (02/10/1872-26/03/1964). Janet is the daughter of John and Catherine. James was a messenger in Colonel Sec's Department in 1888, a clerk in 1889 and conducted business in Victoria Street, Bunbury. He was a member of the Church of England. His wife was a member of CWA, Red Cross, Liberal League, and a Sunday School teacher.

WOODROW, Benjamin (21/03/1862-) Western Australia. He is the son of Josiah and Mary Ann. Benjamin got married on 21/03/1883 to Henrietta Baskerville, daughter of John and Harriet. In his time in Bunbury, Benjamin was a Messenger in the Telegraph Office 1879, a Police Constable in 1884. He moved to Geraldton in 1885 and Cambridge Gulf on 2/1886.

WOODROW, Josiah (Edward Josiah) (1828-11/04/1879). He was born in England and died in Bunbury. Josiah arrived on 24/05/1855 aboard the Stag as warder, with his wife and one child. He was married to Mary Ann (1829-). Mary was born in England. Their children were Emily (1851-), Kate (1856-), Edward (1859-), Benjamin (1862-), Sarah Ann (1866-) and Ellen (1868-1909). When Josiah was living in Guildford, he was the overseer of the Convict Depot in 1857. He moved to York in 1859, where he worked as a Census Warder. He moved again to Perth during 1862-1868, where he was Principal Warder Convict Estate. Then he finally moved to Bunbury during 1869-1872, where he was again Principal Warder Convict Estate, but later became a Shoemaker. He employed eight ticket of leave boot makers in 1870-1873. He was literate, and his religion was Wesleyan.

WOOTHARD, Frederick Edward Elcock (1830-24/04/1862). He died in Bunbury. He was an ex-convict. Fredrick arrived in Western Australia on 02/06/1855 on the Stag. He was married in the U.K. He got married on 30/10/1858 in Guildford to Julia Burns (1840-). Julia was born in England. She arrived on 25/05/1858 aboard the Emma Eugenia. She remarried William Finney Moore. He was a Tinsmith. He was semi-literate and protestant.

WORTH, John. He lived in Perth and was a bricklayer from 1874-1899. He was a building contractor by trade at the corner of Roe and Melbourne Street, 1884. He employed a ticket of leave plasterer 1873 and 1876 at Bunbury.

WREN, (Edward) Thomas. He was the son of Thomas, a salesman. He arrived in Western Australia on 28/05/1884 aboard the South Australian. Thomas' wife and children followed on 28/06/1884 from Victoria. He married first to Mary Ellen Gordon, but she sadly passed away 03/02/1888 and married again on 08/06/1889 in Perth at the Church of England to Alice Naughton, a widow. Alice was the daughter of Frederick Witherd, a watchmaker. Their children were all baptised as Roman Catholics in Perth in 1884. Their names were Rachel, Mary Anne, Marie Ellen, Joseph, Walter Michael and Mary Rachel. When he lived in Guildford, he was an overseer on the Midland Railway construction from 1887-1888. Thomas was also a Perth-Bunbury Mail Contractor in 1889.

WRIGHT, Elijah Hamilton (03/07/1855-). He was born in Bunbury. He was the son of Thomas Twigg and Maria. He got married to Mary Matilda Chapman (25/07/1860-). She was the daughter of Thomas George and Selina. Their children were Selina, Eva, Milly, Evelyn, Alexander, Wilfred and Edward. He was a Farmer when he moved to Upper Capel.

WRlGHT, J. Lived in Bunbury, he employed a ticket of leave man in 1870. He later moved to Fremantle and employed seven ticket of leave men from 1882 to 1885. One was a quarrier.

WRIGHT, Thomas Twigg. He was born in Ireland. He arrived in Western Australia on 06/1840 aboard the Prima Donna with his brother, Hamilton. Thomas got married in 1852 to Maria Dawson (06/04/1835-) in Augusta. She is the daughter of Elijah Dawson and Ann. Their children were Gertrude Mary (1853-), Elijah Hamilton (1855-), Francis (1864-) and Geoffrey Dawson. All were born in Bunbury at the Church of England. In 1847 Thomas was one of the parties which opened a track from Bunbury to Williams to facilitate sandalwood carting. He was a Justice of Peace in 1849. When he arrived in Bunbury, he decided to be a farmer until 1851, when he then became a Police Constable Sergeant until 1854. Was a farmer again in the 1860s and 70s. Had land in Upper Capel 1873.

WYNES (WINES), Charles (1808-). He arrived in Western Australia on 06/12/1842 aboard the Trusty with his wife, Jane Rummines (1809-). Their children were Jane (1833-), James (1838-), Anne (1840-), Elizabeth (1842-), John (1845-), born in Western Australia and Charles (1848-). Charles was a labourer in Bunbury by trade. When he moved to Albany in 1848, he applied for and purchased, suburban Lot. 1857. Later on, he departed on 07/12/1855 from Albany aboard the Island Lady for South Australia with his wife and 5 Children.

WYNNE, Mary (-22/04/1859). He died in Bunbury. Mary was the widow of Samuel. She employed a ticket of leave labourer at Sussex district 1868.

WYNNE, Samuel (Private) (1804-22/04/1859). He died in Bunbury. Samuel arrived as an enrolled pensioner guard with his wife, Mary.