William Wilson and Agnes Alison Bulloch and William Norris

This page is not in The Wilson Family of Uphall Register.
There is important information About the Register to assist in understanding how these pages are constructed

William WILSON born c. 1823. William WILSON married Agnes "WHITEHEAD" 09/05/1852 in Hamilton, Van Diemens Land, Australia. 1
Agnes Alison Bulloch born 27/11/1826, bapt. 24/12/1826 to Thomas BULLOCH and Agnes WHITEFORD in Cannongate, Edinburgh, Mid Lothian, Scotland. 2

Children

1. William WILSON born 08/05/1855 to William WILSON and Agnes WHITEFORD in Hamilton, Van Diemens Land, Australia. 3

Discussion

DNA test results from descendants of William WILSON jnr (aka NORRIS) and Emma Bryde DENNY would suggest and indicate that William WILSON snr is somehow connected to the Tasmanian WILSON families and this information is placed here for the record and future research.

Agnes Alison Bulloch was the second daughter and fourth child of Thomas BULLOCH and Agnes WHITEFORD; with five other known siblings - Alexander (Alex) b. 1821; Janet Park b. 1822; Thomas jnr b. 1824; Helen b. 1831 and Hugh Templeton b. 1833. 4

Agnes was tried and convicted at he Court of Justiciary, Edinburgh, on 4/1/1850, for the crime of "Stealing meat" and transported to VDL for a term of "7 years" Her previous convictions and gaol time had also been for stealing; meat (10 days); boots (60 days); dishes (12 months). 5

Agnes Whiteford or Balloch was found guilty of the theft of a piece of mutton from a stall in the Fleshmarket of Edinburgh and was sentenced to seven years transportation. 6

Convict Agnes Alison "WHITEFORD" (nee BULLOCH) and a William WILSON appear to have only one male child - William WILSON jnr born on 8 May 1855 7
Agnes appears to desert husband William in mid 1855 as evidenced by the newspaper article of 22 Oct 1855 -

NOTICE. MY WIFE Agnes Wilson, maiden name Agnes Whiteford per "Eugenia 4" having left her home without any provocation ; I hereby CAUTION any person against harbouring her after this notice, as I shall prosecute as the Law directs ; neither will I be responsible for any debts contracted by her.
WILLIAM WILSON. Black Marsh. October 17th 1855. 8

Agnes then takes up a relationship with a William NORRIS circa 1856 and has a further five known children between 1857 and 1864. Her son, William WILSON jnr from her first marriage, adopts the NORRIS surname of his "step-father" and marries Emma Bryde DENNY in Kempton on 7 Apr 1879 9
William and Emma have eight recorded children together between 1879 and 1898. Agnes "NORRIS" uxor WILSON nee BULLOCH died at Dysart on 17 Sept 1902 10
and no confirmed death date or location for her first husband William WILSON snr has been found. William NORRIS snr born circa 1824 died at Hobart on 11 Sept 1898 11

* SUDDEN DEATHS. HOBART, Monday. An old man named William Norris, who resided at Constitution Hill, was found in an unconscious state close to the Main Line, near Bagdad, whither he had been for groceries. It his supposed he fell down in a fit and remained exposed to the inclement weather. When found he was in a deplorable condition, and was conveyed to thes hospital, where he died shortly after his admission: last night. 12
A DEPLORABLE FATALITY. AN OLD MAN FOUND ON THE RAILWAY LINE. DIES ON REMOVAL TO THE HOSPITAL. HOBART, Monday. — On Saturday morning an old man, named William Norris, left his home at Constitution Hill for the purpose of getting groceries at Bagdad. he obtained them, and when walking back along the permanent way of the Main Line railway he was apparently seized with a fit and fell to the ground. He cleared the rails, his foot being about a foot away from them. It is alleged that the driver of the 6.40 pm train saw the man lying on the ground, and reported the matter to the station-mistresss at Bagdad siding, but not at the head station, Brighton. The husband of the station-keeper had a walk of four miles home from where he was working and when he arrived he was informed of the engine-driver's report. He walked back part of the way, but did not come on the man, and returned home. On Sunday morning he resumed the search, going the whole journey of the length he has to look after and found the unfortunate man. His appearance was deplorable, the rain on Saturday night having drenched him through. He was in an unconscious condition. His clothes were taken from him and wrung, and he was brought on to Hobart by train. He was admitted to the hospital, dying shortly after admission. An inquiry is expected to be held tomorrow. 13
DEATH FROM EXPOSURE. The Coroner (Mr. A. Riddoch) will hold an inquest at the hospital at 2.30 p.m. to-day into the circumstances attending the death of William Norris, aged 75, which occurred at the hospital during Sunday night. Deceased was found in an unconscious state on the Apsley line on Sunday morning at 11 o'clock, where it is stated he must have been lying from 4 p.m. on Saturday. 14
A SAD FATALITY. HOBART, Tuesday. — An inquest was held to-day touching the death of William Norris, of Constitution Hill, who was found lying on the railway line in an unconscious condition on Saturday last, and removed to the hospital for treatment. The evidence of Dr. McGowan showed that death had resulted from hemorrhage of the right ventricle of the brain. The jury returned a verdict accordingly. 15
INQUEST At the hospital yesterday afternoon the City Coroner (Mr. A. Riddoch) held an inquiry into the circumstances attending the death of William Norris, aged 75. Mr. J. Harbottle was foreman of the jury. Dr. E. T. Macgowan deposed to having made a post-mortem examination of the deceased, and found that death resulted from a large hemorrhage into the right ventricle of the brain. This would occur from natural causes, and is a common cause of death in aged persons. James Horsey, farm labourer at Constitution Hill, deposed that deceased was his father-in-law. At about 10.30 a.m. on Sunday he received information that he was lying near the railway line about 4 & 1/2 miles from Bagdad, and about a mile from the residence of witness. Deceased lived alone at Constitution Hill. Witness found deceased lying about 18in. from the line quite unconscious. He was carried to a house near by, and was subsequently conveyed to Hobart. The old man's clothing was wet through, he having been out in the rain all night. Every effort was made to resuscitate him. A bag of provisions and a pair of fowls were found beside deceased, he having, presumably on Saturday, gone to the shop about 2 & 1/2 miles from his residence. Occasionally deceased was overcome with giddiness. He was a steady, sober man. Where he was found was in the direction of his home. William Glendinning, locomotive engine driver, deposed that he was driver of the train on the Apsley line on Saturday last. The train left Apsley at 3.5 p.m., and Dysart at 4 p.m. The fireman called witness' attention to a man lying down near the line, about four miles above Bagdad. Witness did not see him. At Bagdad station the guard was informed of the occurrence, and was told to tell the ganger who lives at Bagdad. In reply to the coroner, witness said if he had seen a man lying clear of the line he would not have stopped the train. He had no authority to do that. Witness considered that he had done his duty in reporting to the guard. That was all the evidence. The Coroner, in summing up, said it might seem strange that deceased was allowed to lie there all night after word had been left for the ganger shortly after 4 p.m. on Saturday, but he understood that when the ganger got home he went along the line for about four miles, but did not find any trace of the man. He, however, resumed the search in the morning, and found him half a mile further along than he went the previous day. Dr. Macgowan, recalled, said had deceased received immediate medical attention his life could not have been saved. The jury returned a verdict that deceased died from natural causes. 16

What happened to William WILSON snr after 1855 when his wife Agnes and child William jnr left him ? - did he go off to the Victorian goldfields in search of his fortune ? - or was he the soldier of the 12th and 99th regiment who became the police constable at Bothwell and subsequently married Sarah Ann DALWOOD in July of 1861 and had a further five children and died in Hobart on 11 September 1903 ?

Comments

Ian Byers

Sun, 09/07/2025 - 17:51

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There is another similar combination of father and son, both with the same William WILSON names, that can cause confusion when researching these couples.

Convict Catherine PLUMMER married Irish convict John McMAHON at Longford on 28 Apr 1849 1

Their last child (?) William McMAHON (aka WILSON) was born at Port Sorell on 18 May 1856 2
Mother Catherine was the informant and registered the birth on 21 May 1856. Approx five weeks later, mother Catherine re-registers the same birth (child not named) with the birth date of 19 May 1856 at "near Mersey" on 31 July 1856 and with William WILSON (snr) as (and most likely the biological) father. 3

William McMAHON aka WILSON and Lucy HAMMERSLEY have ten recorded children together between 1876 and 1898. Some descendants have recorded the second christian name of "Henry" for "William McMAHON / WILSON", husband of Lucy HAMMERSLEY

There is a report of a soldier also named John McMAHON being charged with a stealing crime in Hobart in January 1856 and which might explain the "bail" for which John was on at the time of the later May offence (?)

Singular Charge. On Saturday, at the police office, John McMahon, formerly of the 99th regiment, but now of the 65th, having volunteered into that corps, was charged before Messrs. Burgess and N. Gresley, with stealing, on Thursday night, one cotton shawl of the value of 10s., from one Mary Duffy, a passholder in the service of Captain Miller, J P , of Campbell-street. From the statement of the prosecutrix, it appeared that as she walking along Macquarie-street, the prisoner met her, and, saying he was a constable, told her he would take her into custody. He then caught her in his arms, took her behind the courthouse, and said he would shoot her if she made any noise Some man then came up and the prisoner ran away. The prosecutrix proceeded to the residence of Mr. Young, near the domain, and when near the house the prisoner met her again, and said if she did not go into the domain with him he would take her shawl. She refused to go with him and he snatched the shawl from her, and ran up Liverpool street. Witness called out for the police, and a constable stopped the prisoner and took him into custody, when witness came up to them, and said that he was the man who took her shawl, he denied it. Witness had not lost sight of him after he took away the shawl, but no shawl was found in his possession, neither did any one see him throw it away. The prisoner strongly denied the charge, and said that he had never seen the prosecutrix till he was charged at the station-house. Mr. Burgess enquired of police sergeant Cassidy, an, old soldier of the 99th, whether he knew the prisoner in the regiment ?. Cassidy replied that he knew him well, and that he had always borne a good character. Constable Mulrennan, also an old 99th man, had known McMahon for ten years, and gave him the same good character. Under these circumstances the bench dismissed the case, and the soldier was discharged. 4

HOBART TOWN. John McMahon, a private of the 65th Regiment, lately, of the 99th, was charged by Mary Duffy (a servant in the employment of Captain Miller) with stealing from her a cotton shawl worth 10s., on the night of the 10th inst. The evidence was very feeble, and in some points contradictory, and as defendant bore a good character in his regiment, the bench dismissed the case. 5

Ancestry user John HARRIS has recorded that Catherine's husband John McMAHON "disappears or deserts" his wife, and this probably occurs circa 1855 / 1856 possibly due to husband John being in the Launceston Gaol between 27 May 1856 and his release on 30 Nov 1856 as detailed on his criminal record. 6

The crime and trial details are recorded in the newspapers.

CHEATING
John McMahon (out on bail) surrendered to take his trial for having unlawfilly pretended to one Timothy Murphy that a certain paper was a good and lawful order for the payment of money, to wit, for the payment of £2 ; and that a certain Robert Bates was indebted to him in the sum of £2 ; whereas in truth and in fact the said order was not a good and lawful order; and whereas in truth and in fact the said Robert Bates was not indebted in any sum to the said McMahon ; whereby the said Timothy Murphy was defrauded of the sum of 15s.
The following jury was sworn.- Messrs. J. Kemp (foreman), E. Jackson, Samuel Joscelyne, Thomas Jones, John Kaylock, Alfred Legge, Thomas Jones, W. Knapper, J. Laird, Wm. Jones, James Joss, Thomis Jarvis.
Mr. Rocher appeared for the defendant.
Timothy Mulrphy sworn. - I was a storekeeper at Torquay, River Mersey, on 18th March ; the prisoner came and presented an order drawn by himself on a person named Bates, for .2; I gave him 15s. on account, leaving the balance to be taken in goods; he said it was a good order; I believed it to be so; when I presented it to Mr. Bates he refused to pay it: McMahon said Bates owed him money.
Cross.examined by Mr. Rocher. - Prisoner said "If you will lend me 15s. I will give you an order for £2 on Mr. Bates, as I know you're indebted to Mr. Lyons." Mr. Bates was Mr. Lyons' shopman; I had a running account with Lyons; the order was written out on my counter; McMahon had been working for Lyons ; I presented the order to Mr. Bates on the following Sunday; he said that neither Mr. Lyons nor himself owed him money; he refused to pay the money; I saw McMahon about a month after in the watch-house at Tarleton; I became bail for him and paid lOs. for the bail bond ; I had an offer to have the 15s. paid ; I never got it ; I had not the order in my possession when that offer was made.
By the Chairman. - I looked to Mr. Bates for my money.
Robert Bates sworn. - I resided at Tarleton in March last; I recollect the last witness presenting an order for £2, signed by McMahon ; I refused to pay it as I owed him nothing; McMahon had been working for Mr. Lyons ; he left in February, when his account was settled up, there being a balance due to Mr. Lyons of £3 7s. which McMahon had overdrawn his account.
Cross-examined by Mr. Rocher. - I wrote this receipt produced ; it is not written the day on which it is dated ; it was ante-dated at the prisoner's request ; he said Mr. Clarkson was going to prosecute him for leaving his service ; I did not suggest to insert the last part of the discharge to prevent Mr. Clarkson's proceeding ; I did not give him that discharge in March.
District Constable Ryan said he had received the order from the prosecutor on the 10th April.
Timothy Murphy recalled by the Chairman. - I was not certain whether the order was for money due to McMahon by Mr. Lyons or Mr. Bates.
Mr. Rocher urged that the evidence did not sustain the allegations contained in the information.
The jury retired and found the prisoner guilty, with a recommendation to mercy. The court then adjourned. 7

COURT OF QUARTER SESSIONS, Monday, May 26, 1856. (Before J. C. Gregson, Esq., Chairman ; Captain Drew, and W. Cleveland, Esq , Justices of the Peace.)
John McMahon (who was out on bail) appeared to answer a charge of obtaining goods and money to the amount of £2, under false pretences, from Timothy Murphy, of Torquay, on the 18th March last. It appeared that M'Mahon had purchased goods to the, amount of 25s. from Mr. Murphy, and gave him in payment an order for £2 on Mr. Bates, Mr. J. Lyons' clerk and manager at Tarleton ; received the difference. 15s., in cash; but when Mr. Murphy presented the order to Mr. Bates, he found that there was no money due there to McMahon, who had overdrawn the amount coming to him for building an oven, and was in debt £3 1s. 7d. to Mr. Lyons. The jury found McMahon guilty. 8

SENTENCES John McMahon, cheating, six months imprisonment with hard labor in the gaol at Launceston. 9

It is most likely that Catherine PLUMMER started a relationship with William WILSON snr in mid to late 1855 when husband John McMAHON "disappears" and which resulted in the birth of son William McMAHON (later WILSON) in May 1856. Catherine has a subsequent male child to William WILSON snr, Frederick WILSON, in 1859 10

The double WILSON marriage at Ballahoo, Port Sorell, on 11 Apr 1876, are the biological WILSON father and son, both named William 11

Catherine WILSON uxor McMAHON nee PLUMMER dies at Latrobe on 28 May 1890 12

FUNERAL NOTICES THE FUNERAL of the late Mrs. C. WILSON will leave her late residence, Gilbert street, Latrobe, at 3.30 THIS AFTERNOON. 13

Catherine's second husband, William WILSON snr also dies at Latrobe on 1 June 1901 14

LATROBE Saturday. - William Wilson, an old identity in the Government employ on the railway, was taken suddenly ill at Ulverstone on Friday evening. He was attended by Dr Stuart, but after lingering all night in a comatose condition, he was brought in the ambulance by train to Latrobe, but before the station was reached he expired. The cause of death was cerebal hemorrhage. Deceased, who had attained the ripe age of 76 years, worked on the railway for a long period. 15
DEATH IN A TRAIN OF A RAILWAY EMPLOYEE. The Commissioner of Police (Mr George Richardson) received the following telegram from Devonport to-day “William Wilson, aged 76, railway employee, took ill at Ulverstone last night. He was seen by Dr. Stewart, and ordered to Latrobe Hospital. He came by train this morning in charge of a railway employee named Hill. Wilson died as the train was entering Latrobe station. 16
Death in a Train ; ON THE NORTH-WESTERN LINE. A RESIDENT OF LATROBE. A very sudden death occurred on Saturday in a second-class railway carriage of the morning train from Burnie to Launceston, which arrives at Latrobe at 8.15 am., Mr William Wilson, a well-known and respected resident of that town, entered the train at Ulverstone in company with another passenger. The previous night ha had been discovered lying prostrate in the shed at the Ulverstone railway station. Dr Stuart was immediately called in, and ordered his removal to the Devon Cottage Hospital, it being thought that he was suffering from an attack of paralysis. When the train reached the site of the gasworks nearing the Latrobe railway station, Mr Wilson suddenly expired. On reaching the station, the railway officials were acquainted of the occurrence. An ambulance was immediately procured, and the deceased was carried to Mr S. Anderson's Retreat Hotel, from whence he was taken to his home. Apoplexy is supposed to have hastened Mr Wilson's untimely end. Dr Stuart, of Ulverstone, had been treating him, and it is thought there will be no necessity for an inquest. Deceased was in his 76th year, and had been for over half a century in the employ of the Government Railway Department. There are four sens and three daughters, all grown up, who survive the parent. The funeral will take piece this afternoon at 2 o'clock. 17
Death. Wilson.— At Latrobe, on June 1, suddenly, William Wilson, aged 76 years.
Funeral Notice. THE Funeral of the late William Wilson will leave his late residence, Latrobe, at 2 p.m. To-Day (Monday, June 3). 18

Ancestry user John HARRIS has recorded that this William WILSON snr was born in London circa 1823 and had a previous UK marriage and children - this is unconfirmed.