WILLIAM GEORGE WALKINGTON was born 11/12/1840 - died by suicide on 12/4/1898. (See further page for details of his life.)Notesfrom research by Newton Walkington
Was born at March County of Cambridgeshire on 11/12/1840. His father was Joseph George Walkington (tailor) and his mother was Eleanor (formerly Bird, daughter of William Bird - tailor of March.) At the age of 10 he migrated to South Australia with his mother and three sisters (Emma 7, Ellen 6, and Sarah 2.) on the ship Lysander which arrived at Port Adelaide in September 1850. It is believed that they were joining their husband and father who was at the Burra Mines. Nothing is known of his early life except that the family appeared to have been in Melrose from at least 1858. At the age of 23 William George who was then a teamster (possibly one of those who carted farm produce through the Port Germein Gorge to the ea port at Port Germein) married Ellen Long on 23/5/1864 at Bangor. Ellen was 21. At that time William George lived at Melrose and Ellen at Bangor. She was the daughter of William Long, a stockholder of Bangor. Bangor is a small settlement at the eastern end of the Port Germein Gorge. Archdeacon Twopenny conducted the marriage Ceremony. Later in life William George became a farmer and he appears to have had farms at Appila, Gordon and Pekina and possibly at Wilson. The Appila farm was sections 88, 93 and 94, Hundred of Appila. According to “Between the Ranges” a Centenary History of Land Settlement 1872-1972 William George was at Appila in June 1873 and August 1880. His son Albert was born at Appila in 1874. The Gordon property was section 84 and he was apparently there about 1878-1881. The farm at Gordon was apparently a failure because the rainfall was insufficient. Piles of rock being the ruins of old houses is about all that can be seen at Gordon. From about 1881-1884 William George also appears to have owned a farm at Wilson consisting of Section 249, part Section 422, Section 300, 321, 324 Hawker and Crown Lease 1017 and 1018 Hundred of Wonka (Mortgage 282724). The Wilson property was later the property of William George’s brother Joseph George.
The Pekina property consisted of 640 acres Sections 294 and 250 Hundred of Pekina - Certificate of Title Volume 382 Folio 127. William George owned it from 21/9/1883 until he died on 12/4/1898. While the family was at Pekina it appears that some members of the family attended the Wepowie Sunday School as there is in existence an old Sunday School roll book which shows that his grandchildren Ivy, Olive and Edna Denholm attended the Wepowie Sunday School in 1899. Apparently his son Gilbert Walkington also attended the Sunday School about that time.
William’s wife Ellen died at the age of 43 on 30/1/1886 at Laura of acute tuberculosis. Apparently she had caught a chill while harnessing a horse in the rain. She was buried at Laura by the Rev. R.R. Taylor, grave No. 182. her residence at that time was Pekina. The inscription on Ellen’s grave is
“Twas hard to part from one so dear,
We little thought the end so near,
Farewell dear wife thy life is passed,
Our love for you till the end shall last.Eventually William George married again. He had eight children by the first marriage and four by the second. After his mother died William’s youngest child Gilbert Newton was looked after by his eldest daughter Ada. On 7/12/1892 William George married Alice Ann Edson, aged 26, daughter of William Edson of Black Rock. Alice was a sister of Anthony who married Clara Walkington. It appears that after their father married again his sons Frederick, Albert and Arthur moved to Western Australia and worked in the Gold Fields. Later Gilbert followed his brothers.
In December 1897 one of William’s daughters Emily Ellen was admitted to the Parkside Mental Hopital. She had had a very unhappy married life. A son by the second marriage, Eric, died on 13/1/1897. His first wife had died tragically. His father also died in 1892. The second marriage appears to have been an unhappy one.
William George committed suicide at the age of 57 on 12/4/1898 at Wepowie. It appears that about the time he re-married two of his sons Fred and Albert left for Western Australia. The youngest son Gilbert was still in South Australia at that time.
The will of William George (Of Orroroo) dated 27/5/1893 contained the following:-
Executors Joseph George Walkington of Wilson (brother)
and Benjamin Pfeiffer of Tarcowie.
Wife Alice Ann to be guardian of infant children
Bequeath of 50 pounds to wife
One third to Alice Ann (wife)
Two thirds to children.
Certain property already given to his son Frederick William
Codicil 23/10/1897.
Executor William Brooks of Booleroo Centre farmer in place of Joseph George Walkington deceased.
Certain bequests to Alice Ann Walkington wife
1/2 in trust for Alice Ann
1/2 in trust for children.
subject to share of Frederick William.
Probate dated 11/7/1898.
After the death of her husband Alice Ann apparently moved to Petersburg (now Peterborough). She purchased lots 165 and 166 cnr. Silver Street and South Terrace C/T Vol. 645 Fol. 88.
On 16/4/1903 she married John Knighton of Petersburg. Labourer at the residence of John Knighton.The land was sold in separate lots on 7/5/1912.
The Sunday School Roll book referred to above is held by Mrs. Roma McKinnon of Wepowie via Booleroo Centre.
Death details taken from http://members.westnet.com.au/llarment/blackold.html Listing of Black Hill Old Cemetery burials.