James David Parry Williams1

M, #8111, b. 30 September 1866, d. 1947
FatherJames Williams1 b. 16 Mar 1842, d. 7 Jul 1927
MotherJane Thomas1
Relationship1st cousin 3 times removed of Keith Graham Bassett
Last Edited20 Apr 2022
Birth*30 September 1866 Glenburnie, SA, Australia;
James David Parry Williams son of James Williams & Jane Thomas1 
Marriage*1896 VIC, Australia;Bride=Eliza Lane2 
Death of Father7 July 1927 Birchip, VIC, Australia;
OBITUARY.
MR. JAMES WILLIAMS.  
The "Horsham Times" records the death of an old Mount Gambier pioneer in the person of Mr. James Williams, a brother of the late Mr. Thos. Williams, Moorak, and Mr. William Williams, of Mount Gambier, who died last Christmas Day. Mr. Williams was born in Glamorganshire, South Wales, in 1842, and arrived in Australia with his parents, landing in Adelaide in 1853, where he worked with his father and brother on a farm. Later he went to Mount Gambier, where he acquired property, but left here with many others to take up land in the Wimmera when that land was first thrown open for selection. He was among the first selectors in the Natimuk district, and it was he who proposed the site for the township of that name. He remained there for 32 years. He was the first man to introduce a double furrow plough into the Mount Gambier district. He took a keen interest in the early day ploughing matches, at which he won valuable prizes. He was one of the first judges for farm implements at the Horsham agricultural show with Messrs. Alex. Ruby and W. Disher. He remained at Natimuk for 33 years, when he sold out and retired to Geelong, remaining there for 18 years. He returned to Horsham three years ago, the doctor having ordered him to seek a warmer climate. He had been an invalid for several years, and for the last three years he was blind.
His widow states : "He was the first man to plant oak trees and apple trees in South Australia. He planted the acorns on the banks of the Torrens River, at what was known then as the Governor's garden. The oaks grew to large dimensions, but as the land was required for the Adelaide railway station they were cut down, with the exception of one large tree, which the Town Council wished to keep as a relic. Eventually this tree also had to go, and it was from planks cut from it that the Lord Mayor's chair in the Adelaide City Council was made."
In March of this year the family purchased a property near Birchip, and removed there in April. Recently Mr. Williams showed signs of failing, and gradually sank. He was twice married, there being two sons of the first marriage-J. D. Williams, of Geelong, and R. H. Williams, of St. Kilda. Of the second marriage he leaves a wife, two daughters, and two sons-Margaret (Mrs. A. R. Pelchen, of Vectis East), Lewis, Kenneth, and Kathleen, of Birchip. His remains were interred in the Methodist portion of the Birchip Cemetery, the Rev. Hughes officiating at the graveside. The coffin-bearers were Messrs. Lockwood, W. Jenkin, R. Philps, W. Easdale, W. Brown, and H. J. Gardiner.;Deceased=James Williams3 
Death*1947 Geelong West, VIC, Australia4 

Family

Eliza Lane
Child

Citations

  1. [S1696] Findmypast South Australia Births 1842-1928 Transcription, online http://www.findmypast.com/, James David Parry Williams 1866.
  2. [S1246] VIC Marriage indexes.
  3. [S1565] Trove digitised newspapers, online http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/, The Border Watch (Mount Gambier), Tuesday, July 19, 1927.
  4. [S1314] VIC Death indexes.
  5. [S1401] VIC Birth indexes.