William Grant Speirs (abt. 1852 - 1924)

Born about 14 Mar 1852 in Limehouse, London, England, United Kingdom

Ancestors

Husband of Mary-Ann Perry Hamshere — married 8 Jun 1878 in PSt Dunstable and All Saints.Stepney,Tower Hamlets, London

Descendants

Died 18 Mar 1924 at about age 72 in Launceston, Tasmania, Australia

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Ming Speirs [send private message]

Biography

William Grant Speirs was Born 14 Mar 1852 in Limehouse, London, England, He was the son of James Grant Sanford Jack Speirs a Scot from Paisley -Glasgow and Elizabeth Byard-the 3rd of 8 children of a local boat builder.

In the 1861 Census, William is listed as 9 years , the third born of 6 children. Listed as Household Members: His father James Speirs 39. Painter And mother Elizabeth Speirs 37. And siblings Elizabeth Speirs 14 Mary Speirs 11 William Speirs 9 Alfred Speirs 7 Sarah Speirs 3 Edwin Speirs 10/12 William Speirs 31 is listed as brother ( half brother) to James Benjamin Cock 27 James Speirs 12 William Ager 48 are all lodgers at the home.

Three years later, a month after William Grant’s 12th Birthday, his father James died. Though this would have been an enormous blow, his mother’s parents and extended family lived within the locality.

On the 24 January 1866, just before his 14th Birthday William entered into a 7 year contract with his uncle William Henry Byard of Mill Place, st Anne’s, Limehouse, London to learn the craft of boat building. (See the attached photo of the contract it makes interesting reading. The original contract is still in the family’s possession.) his Uncle sadly died 2 and a half years later. As the boat yard was a family business, perhaps he continued his apprenticeship with his grandfather there.

In 1871 Census, William is listed as a boat builder 19, living with his MOTHER ■ Elizabeth Speirs 45 - head of house a mangling woman SIBLINGS ■ James Speirs 22 plumber and ■ Alfred Speirs. 17 painter ■ Henry Speirs. 9 There is a boarder Henry Looker 35 Farrier living a the house also. William would have been in his 6 th year of apprenticeship at this stage.

William married Maryanne Perry Hamshere on 23 June 1878.

In 1881 Census William and Maryanne are both listed as 29 with their toddler Elizabeth who is 1 year old living in Walker Street, Limehouse. William is a boat builder (one would imagine that he finished his apprenticeship 7 years earlier and by now was quite experienced in his trade.

In the next 5 years William and MaryAnn had another 3 children Mary, William Grant and Alice Maud.

On 15 February 1886, the family embarked on a life changing journey. they boarded the Yeoman Steam Ship to emigrate to Launceston. On 26 April 1886 the Hobart mercury reported that the Yeoman had docked their and would continue on to Launceston. The Mercury stated of the journey “This voyage has been an unusually tempestuous one, especially after leaving Fremantle, the seas at times completely flooding the decks, and making things anything but pleasant. From London, as far as Diego Garcia, the weather was splendid, but after this place was left the elements turned rusty, and kept in that vein for the remainder of the passage. Besides 500 tons of cargo for this port the Yeoman brings over 40 first, second class, and steerage passengers for this port and Launceston. Notwithstanding the boisterous weather and length of the trip the health on board has been good” So the new immigrants -the Speirs family would have been busy trying to establish a plan and a home in May 1886.

Notes from Williams granddaughter Alice Thelma Dean state that On arrival in Tasmania, William received a grant of land in the Lily dale area, situated in the Mount Arthur road, approximately 4 miles from the township. There he built a cottage to house his family, and there he continued his boat building, mainly fishing boats and dinghies, which had to be transported by bullock teams down the mountain track, and 20 miles to Launceston for Launching. Wildlife was plentiful in the area and the so called hyenas (the Thylacine, or Tasmanian Tigers were a menace to the chickens, which together with a few cows for milking, helped to supply the larder.

Later that year in 1886, Letitia was born, the first of their Australian children.

Transport was a problem. On one desperate occasion in 1888, William walked and ran 20 miles to Launceston and return to bring medicine for little Willie only to find him dead and the family grieving on his return.

Later that year twins Arthur and William Goldsmith were born. To try to help Maryann, the older girls Elizabeth and Mary were given responsibility for the care of one twin each. Alice was utterly upset that she didn’t have a baby to look after so 3 years later when Albert (Uncle Bert) was born in 1891, Alice took on his care. Apparently even as an adult Bert would call her Mum when talking about his older sister. Bert was the last of the children to be born in their first home on the mountain. There is little to indicate the first home on the mountain bar a few bunches of flowers that bloom each season.

The family moved to Launceston, where William continued his boat building. Many a fisherman onTamar was proud to declare that his boat was built by the conscientious craftsman William Grant Speirs.

Elsie, the youngest of the children was born in Launceston in 1893.

Sadly Williams wife Maryann died in 1901 and William with the help of the older girls had to bring up his young family.

The family attended the Baptist Tabernacle where William was an elder.

William Married again in 1908??? But his wife Eliza died 2 years and a day later.

On one occasion two friends visited at the boat shed in Hill Street and realised that the three were rather a war like crew with names of Gunn Cannon and Speirs. A son in law by the name of Waugh came later. This was an oft repeated family joke.

William remained interested in his family - several who moved to Victoria and South Australia and kept contact right up until his death in 1924.

Sources

• Family tree record and notes.
• Notes from Williams granddaughter Alice Thelma Dean née Rawson, daughter of Alice Maude Speirs (who was an infant on the boat out to Australia)
• see attached images of indemnity for Apprenticeship, marriage certificate, ship passengers Contract ticket.
• Hobart Mercury 26 April 1886 artical re arrival of Yeoman SS [1]