William Roberts (1838 - 1904)

Born 7 Jul 1838 in Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, England, United Kingdom

Husband of Alicia Elizabeth (Morgan) Roberts — married 1863 (to 1864) in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Husband of Jessie Kingston (Briggs) Roberts — married 1866 in New South Wales, Australia

Descendants

Died 6 Nov 1904 at age 66 in Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia

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Biography

William Roberts was born in Staffordshire, England.

Birth
William Roberts was born on 7 July 1838, in Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, England, United Kingdom. He was the son of Benjamin Roberts and Esther (Bradley) Roberts. ^[1]

England & Wales Census 1851
The England Census of 1851 records: Benjamin Roberts age 33, born Bridge North, Shropshire, occupation: Bricklayer, and his wife, Esther Roberts age 37, born Lindridge, Worcestershire, and their children, William Roberts age 13, Thomas Roberts age 11, Benjamin Roberts age 9, all born in Wolverhampton, Bertha Roberts age 7, Barbara Roberts age 5, John Roberts age 2, and James Roberts age under 12 months, all born in Lindridge, Worcestershire, are living in Lindridge, Worcestershire, England. ^[2]

William Roberts came free to the Colony of Queensland (1859-1900)

Immigration
William Roberts emigrated from England to Queensland, Australia. He is not living with his family on the 1861 England Census, so he may have arrived in Queensland, around 1860. He lived in Queensland for a couple of years then moved to New South Wales. ^[3]

Marriage 1
William Roberts married Alicia Elizabeth Morgan in 1863 at Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. ^[4]

Death of 1st Wife
Alica Elizabeth (Morgan) Roberts age 26, passed away in 1864 at Glebe, New South Wales, Australia. ^{[5] [6]}

Death Notice

"Family Notices" Empire (Sydney, NSW : 1850 - 1875) 30 March 1864: page 1.

ROBERTS.—On the 25th March, at her residence, Derwent-street, Bishopthorpe, Glebe, Alicia Elizabeth, the wife of Mr. William Roberts (and youngest daughter of Mr. J. T. Morgan, Arundel terrace), aged 26 years.^[7]

Marriage 2
William Roberts married Jessie Kingston Briggs in 1866 at St George, New South Wales, Australia. ^[8]

Death
William Roberts age 66, died on 6 November 1904, in Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia.^[9]

Obituary

National Advocate (Bathurst, NSW : 1889 - 1954), Monday 7 November 1904, page 2

Death of Mr. Wm. Roberts.

By the death of Mr. William Roberts senior, which occurred at his residence Runnymede, Stewart-street, Bathurst, shortly after noon yesterday, an old, esteemed, and respected identity of the West has passed away. For three years past the deceased gentle- man had been suffering from Bright's disease, so that his death was not altogether unexpected.

Born at Wolverhampton, England, on July 7, 1838, he was 66 years of age. When but quite a youth he came out to Australia. After spending a short time in Queensland he proved the border into New South Wales, where in 1867 he entered the Government Architect's office, Sydney. About nine years later he was appointed Government archiect and Inspector of Works for the Western district, which extended as far West as Broken Hill. This promotion necessitated his transfer to Bathurst, where his residence has been located ever since. His first display of architectural skill in his new office was in connection with the Bathurst court house, post and telegraph offices ; whilst the result of his last labors are seen in the splendid construction of the building which constitutes the Bathurst Technical College and Technological museum. His value in his official capacity may be gauged from the fact that on the occasion of his retirement, about five years ago, his superior officer in Sydney, wrote expressing the great loss so the Department such a step would entail and also expressing reluctance at being obliged to dispense with such an efficient officer.

Mr. Roberts made a particular study of marble. Of this mineral he made several fine collections, amongst the best of which were some presented to the Sydney Museums. Since his retirement, the deceased gentleman was a member of the Bathurst District Hospital Committee, where his valuable advice was always accept-able.

He leaves a widow, two sons, and five daughters to mourn their loss. His eldest son, Wm. H. K., occupies a position in the Government Architect's Office, Sydney, Ernest A. (the other son) is a partner in a firm of Sydney solicitors. Of the daughters, four of whom are unmarried, the eldest is the wife of Rev. Dr. McKenzie, missionary in the New Hebrides. Amongst the visitors expected to be present at the funeral which takes place at 9.30 o'clock to-morrow morning is Mr. W. L. Vernon, Government Architect, Sydney. ^[3]

Burial
William is buried in Bathurst Cemetery, Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia. ^[10]

Sources

1. ↑ Birth Record: General Register Office for England and Wales (Birth Index): Name: ROBERTS, WILLIAM| Mother's Maiden Surname: BRADLEY| GRO Reference: 1838 September Quarter in THE WOLVERHAMPTON UNION |Volume 17 Page 319 | Reg. United Kingdom
2. ↑ England Census 1851: "England and Wales Census, 1851", , FamilySearch
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} Death of Mr. Wm. Roberts. (1904, November 7). National Advocate (Bathurst, NSW : 1889 - 1954), p. 2. Retrieved March 27, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article157222074
4. ↑ Marriage Record: New South Wales, Australia BDM Index: Reg. No. 13799/1914 | (married in 1863) (registered in 1914) | ROBERTS WILLIAM | married| MORGAN ALICIA E| Reg. SYDNEY, NSW, Australia
5. ↑ Death Record: New South Wales, Australia BDM Index: Name: ROBERTS ALICIA E| Reg. No. 1912/1864 | Father: JOHN T| Mother: ROSA M| Reg. GLEBE, NSW, Australia
6. ↑ Death Record: New South Wales, Australia BDM Index: Name: ROBERTS ALICIA E| Reg. No. 12006/1864 186412006 122| AGE 26 YEARS| Reg. DIED GLEBE | Reg. GLEBE, NSW, Australia
7. ↑ Family Notices (1864, March 30). Empire (Sydney, NSW : 1850 - 1875), p. 1. Retrieved March 27, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article60582178
8. ↑ Marriage Record: New South Wales, Australia BDM Index: Reg. No. 1225/1866 | ROBERTS WILLIAM| married| BRIGGS JESSIE H | Reg. ST GEORGE, NSW, Australia
9. ↑ Death Record: New South Wales, Australia BDM Index: Name: ROBERTS WILLIAM| Reg. No. 12438/1904 | Father: BENJAMIN| Mother: ESTHER| Reg. BATHURST, NSW, Australia
10. ↑ Memorial Record: (image of headstone) Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/49602390/william-roberts: accessed April 6, 2024), memorial page for William Roberts (7 Jul 1838–6 Nov 1904), Find a Grave Memorial ID 49602390, citing Bathurst Cemetery, Bathurst, Bathurst Regional Council, New South Wales, Australia; Maintained by ! woowoo (contributor 49949980).

See also:

• Birth: "England and Wales Birth Registration Index, 1837-2008," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2NHR-Z69 : 1 October 2014), William Roberts, 1838; from "England & Wales Births, 1837-2006," database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing Birth Registration, Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, England, citing General Register Office, Southport, England.

• Baptism: "England, Staffordshire, Church Records, 1538-1944," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QL3Y-7ZR7 : 8 July 2020), William Roberts, 29 Jul 1838; citing Baptism, Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, England, United Kingdom, Staffordshire & Stoke on Trent Archive Service, Stafford; FHL microfilm 7,566,649. Name William Roberts| Father's Name Benjamin Roberts| Father's Sex Male|Mother's Name Ether| Mother's Sex Female| Event Type Baptism| Event Date 29 Jul 1838|Event Place Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, England, United Kingdom| Affiliate Film Number GBPRS/STAFF/BAP/772162

• "England and Wales Census, 1841", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MQRT-TG8 : Sun Mar 10 07:15:26 UTC 2024), Entry for Benjamin Roberts and Ester Roberts, 1841.

• "England and Wales Census, 1851", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:SGCL-XK1 : Thu Mar 07 14:29:15 UTC 2024), Entry for Benjamin Roberts and Esther Roberts, 1851.

• Obituary. (1904, November 9). The Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1871 - 1912), p. 1172. Retrieved November 15, 2023, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article164906927

• Mr. William Roberts. (1904, November 10). Mudgee Guardian and North-Western Representative (NSW : 1890 - 1954), p. 13. Retrieved November 15, 2023, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article157628267