| [Index] |
| William (Billy) James ELWORTHY (1857 - 1909) |
| Stock Inspector |
| Children | Self + Spouses | Parents | Grandparents | Greatgrandparents |
| William (Billy) James ELWORTHY (1857 - 1909) | James Baker ELWORTHY (1833 - 1889) | George ELWORTHY (1813 - 1878) | James ELWORTHY (1770 - 1837) | |
| Grace Thirza LEIGH (1771 - 1836) | ||||
| Emma BOWCHER (1810 - 1854) | John BOWCHER (1762 - 1828) | |||
| Elizabeth TOWNSEND (1772 - 1858) | ||||
| Elizabeth Helvetia WATSON ( - 1862) | Jonathan Miller WATSON (1792 - 1844) | |||
| Maria HOVELL (1801 - 1883) | Philip HOVELL (1763 - ) | |||
| Elizabeth GREY (1761 - ) |
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| b. 29 Jan 1857 at Goulburn, New South Wales, Australia |
| d. 08 Jan 1909 at London, Middlesex, England aged 51 |
| Parents: |
| James Baker ELWORTHY (1833 - 1889) |
| Elizabeth Helvetia WATSON ( - 1862) |
| Events in William (Billy) James ELWORTHY (1857 - 1909)'s life | |||||
| Date | Age | Event | Place | Notes | Src |
| 29 Jan 1857 | William (Billy) James ELWORTHY was born | Goulburn, New South Wales, Australia | V18471416 155/1857 | ||
| 24 Mar 1862 | 5 | Death of mother Elizabeth Helvetia WATSON | Adelong, New South Wales, Australia | Note 1 | |
| 03 Mar 1889 | 32 | Death of father James Baker ELWORTHY (aged 55) | Gundagai, New South Wales, Australia | 9866/1889 | 2 |
| 08 Jan 1909 | 51 | William (Billy) James ELWORTHY died | London, Middlesex, England | ||
| Note 1: 6082/1862, Earliest headstone on Adelong cmetery |
| Personal Notes: |
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There is little to tell about Elizabeth and Emma - James and Elizabeth's daughters, but there is a wealth of detail about their brother William or Billy as he was affectionately known in the Narandera area where he spent much of his life.
Billy attended Gundagai School and was obviously a very bright boy. The Australian Joint Stock Bank premises in Gundagai were next to the Times office and this may have influenced Billy's career choice. Aged 17, on 16 Nov 1874 he joined the bank and was firstly appointed to its Wagga Wagga branch. At 18 he became the AJS Bank's first clerk at Narandera and after a four year stint, graduated to accountant. When the Narandera Stock Board was formed in June 1879, he left the bank to become the board's first Stock Inspector, a position he held for the next 28 years. Early in 1885 the first rabbits made their appearance in the district. As Billy had also been appointed Rabbit Inspector in 1879, he assumed the awesome responsibility of trying to eradicate them. History knows what an impossible task that was! In March 1899 Billy applied for six months leave to visit Europe. The request was granted on full pay of 120 pounds per annum! Many of his friends gathered at the Royal Hotel where he lived to wish him bon voyage. No details were spared in the local paper which even reported on one guest munching an apple as he proposed a toast and another patting Billy's hair - "or where it used to be." They drank champagne, sang songs, decided that Narandera ought to be the Federal capital, facetiously gave Billy good advice, and generally had an uproarious time. Billy said he was 'kinder glad' he was not going for good as he'd known Narandera since it had only 12 houses and had experienced both joy and sorrow in the town. He left Sydney on the R.MS Oceanic, sailing to Brindisi in Italy before travelling to England via Rome, Venice, Vienna, Berlin and Hamburg. After a stay in London he intended visiting Gustav Eiffel's wondrous 320 metre iron tower and other marvels of the 1900 World Exhibition in Paris. Billy also planned to see all the historic sights and scenic spots in Great Britain and Ireland before crossing to New York and journeying through the continent of "Amurruker", thence to Japan and finally home through the East Indies. What an adventurous fellow - and what a time he must have had! In 1903 the Pastures Protection Act was proclaimed and a new Board fixed Billy's annual salary at 400 pounds. It was then discovered most of the office furniture belonged to Billy personally - magnanimously the Board bought it for ten pounds! The following year he wrote to the Board explaining that for 16 years he'd been paying rent for a private postal box and key from his own pocket and asked for a refund. I wonder if he ever got it. The Board was very appreciative of his work over such a long period. When he resigned he was presented with an engraved solid gold cigarette case, a goldmounted cigarette holder and a silver cigarette case. No thoughts of lung cancer then! As an eligible bachelor, Billy was extremely popular and although he never married, seems to have had a very full social life, being actively involved in almost every organisation in the town. Whether it was on committees or with donations, Billy was often the 'first' something. It was said "if any movement was languishing for want of a guiding hand, the cry would go up - Get Billy." In Narandera's early days there was no church - services were held twice yearly by Archdeacon Pownall, Rector of Wagga, in a room at the Hit and Miss Inn. According to the church's centenary booklet, the room could hold 20 people and had many uses, including a court where an aborigine was tried for murder of his lubra; a coronial enquiry into the death of the Pohlmann brothers at Murdering Sandhills - and by the Australian Joint Stock Bank when it opened for business in Narandera! In 1877 when a decision was made to raise funds to erect an Anglican Church, it's no wonder Billy was first contributor. He was Secretary and Treasurer of the Parochial Council for 17 years until he went on his marvellous tour. He was a church-warden who probably sang in the choir as he had a good voice and was an active member of the Music and Dramatic Society. In 1882 Billy became first Treasurer of the Pastoral and Agricultural Society, a position he kept until he left the town in 1907. The Committee felt 'a deep sense of loss at being deprived of the services he had so freely and generously given since the Society's inception.' The Mechanics' Institute was another of his pet interests but as a change, Billy was President. The institute had no connection with engines or motors but was place where the basics or mechanics of a particular subject could be learned. The organisations were particularly active in promoting education in country areas, as were the Schools of Art. Billy was made a Life Member of the Institute and appears to have been a particularly civic-minded man who undoubtedly deserved the accolade. He was a member of the Hospital Committee, only resigning when he was about to leave Narandera, but remained an active supporter for the rest of his life. To quote the President - "The Hospital had no better friend ... Mr Elworthy was one of the few who were not actuated by any spirit of partisanship but went right ahead..in pursuit of what he felt was for the best interests of the hospital and its patients." He added apart from routine donations Billy had quietly, unostentatiously and thoughtfully provided gifts to patients. Even with his letter of resignation Billy sent a cheque for ten guineas - no mean sum in those times. The idea of forming a Men's Club was floated by two local graziers on 01 Dec 1903, with an invitation to members of the Riverina Picnic Race Club to join. Eventually the exclusive Murrumbidgee Club was formed with 67 inaugural members. The Club's first President was Sir Samuel McCaughey and guess who was its first Secretary? That's right - our Billy! When Billy left Narrandera in 1907, Sir Samuel presented him with a solid silver salver in an oak case on behalf of all members "in appreciation of his untiring energy and unfailing efforts to further the interests and welfare of the club." A commemorative booklet published about 1951 acknowledges the zeal and ability with which he carried out his duties. 'Having received a competence, Billy decided that a prolonged holiday in Europe and London would be just the thing. This meant resignation from the many organisations he had been involved with since 1875. It must have been a great wrench to tum away from such a full life and from the town where he was so very highly regarded. There were many farewell functions and such was the high esteem in which he was held that almost the entire town turned out for a public valedictory, the largest-ever participation at any public function! Brothers Arthur from Gundagai and Ernest from Grafton were there (and sang at some receptions) but Harold who was in the AJS Bank at Forbes couldn't make it. Billy commented that there was a great affection between him and his brothers so it was a great joy to him that they were present to hear the accolades from the people and to witness the honour the town had bestowed upon him. There seemed to be great affection between all the family members. At no stage did he allude to Arthur or Ernest as step- or half-brothers and referred to Henrietta and Edith as his 'mother and sister'. Billy was depicted as 'the most popular gentleman in the whole community due to his large hearted magnanimity, his imperturbable happy nature and his broad public spirit'. As one gentleman commented "A BILLY is one of the most acceptable and useful accessories to happiness in the bush." In responding Billy said he could not help being soft-hearted and had always acted as his feelings prompted. For this he felt indebted to an admirable father who taught him that whatever he could do for the general good would give the most lasting satisfaction and carry its own reward. On behalf of the town's citizens, the Mayor then gave Billy 100 guineas to buy a souvenir. A handsome gift indeed more than three months' pay! Not to be outdone, the ladies of town and district had a separate function to show the admiration they felt for him. This took the form of a 'complimentary conversazione, supper and dance' as well as musical renditions. A gold pencil case was given to show their sincere appreciation of his sterling qualities and gentlemanly character. Billy's extreme popularity was obvious - the next week the same Ladies' Committee also gave him a pair of solid silver rose bowls and a set of gold studs. Laden with loot, Billy left Narrandera in October 1907 and in March 1908 set sail from Sydney but like his previous foray overseas, this was no run of the mill trip for our Billy. He had a great sense of adventure - sailing firstly to Japan then on to Vladivostok and across the vast Asian continent on the 5800 mile Trans-Siberian railway which only opened in 1905 and finally to St Petersburg and Moscow in Russia. Billy finally arrived in London in July 1908. He envisaged spending about two years travelling about England and Europe. Although he doesn't mention calling on relatives, he visited his father's birthplace in Devon and no doubt delved into his English heritage as well. He had a wonderful time in England, writing long graphic letters to Arthur about his adventures and these were often printed in the Gundagai Times. One published on 08 Jan 1909 is worth copying in full, as it shows Billy's lively interest in everything around him and his genuine compassion for his fellow man. "1 have seen Devon from the north, south, east and west and I shall go down next summer and see a few more places. Lynmouth is a most charming place and is called the English Switzerland. The glens and gorges and lovely streams are like a little fairyland; even the train trips are interesting. "1 had no idea that the interior of England could be so lovely ... I am surprised the rain is so light in England. It never seems to rain more than a day at a time but the fog is very prevalent and you cannot get out of it anywhere in England The fog keeps the weather more mild than when it is clear. "1 had a fine view of the Lord Mayor's Show. It was something quite beyond my comprehension; I had no idea of any such grandeur. The procession was so long, it took 50 minutes to pass a given spot and the soldiers on foot were at quick march all the time. Every regiment was represented by about thirty men, with bands. "The historical pageant was lovely. The State coaches of the late and the new Lord Mayor were the grandest I have ever seen, and the wealth represented must have been enormous. "In the middle of it all carne a decorated lorry with a man dressed as Caxton and the identical first printing press ever used in England. It was a queer looking old thing, but quite genuine and it did please me very much. "When I got horne I said I could never expect to see anything better again, and I did not think I could. "Well, the very next week I happened to go into the city where I was amazed to see the main street for 5 miles gorgeously decorated with thousands of flags, real flowers, festoons, designs, etc - in honour of the Royal progress of the King and Queen of Sweden on their State visit. "Next day I went in and saw another gorgeous procession of quite a different kind. Nine State landaus, beside motors, contained the biggest people in the land from the Prince and Princess of Wales downwards. The escorts of Life Guards were something beautiful. All the carriages had postillions and six horses. The King's State landau was of gilt and fitted with richest crimson brocade. I don't know what the decorations must have cost but it would be something enormous. No doubt London is a most wonderful place. The riches are tremendous and the poverty is appalling. Everything is on the biggest scale. "Spent a delightful day of interest when I was shown over Guy's Hospital, an institution where there are 800 patients. I went through ward after ward. The children's ward was the most interesting. They were as happy as can be and the sick ones were so quiet; just content to be there. The accident ward was very sad; people brought in every hour. A doctor showed me over the X-ray chamber - a most interesting section of the hospital where sufferers were being treated for cancer, skin disease, lupus, etc. In some cases the rays were so powerful they had to be thrown on the patient's sore parts through blocks of ice. "Coffins were corning in from the factory six at a time. Patients were dying, others in a comatose state after operations but oh what a boon to the sick poor of London! The dental ward was very interesting - 100 people treated at the same time "The theatres are beautiful. Everywhere they are crowded and unless you pay 1/- extra to reserve a seat, you must stand on the pavement in a queue a quarter mile long for a solid hour - sometimes I stand and when I get inside I am ready to drop. "I am very sorry for the unemployed and the poor, who are everywhere. The Prime Minister is spending hundreds of thousands of pounds on relief works but it is only a drop in the ocean. Men are walking the streets, singing improvised melancholy tunes about their suffering. Every now and then they come in squads, calling themselves the 'hunger marchers'. "The women's rights have now divided themselves into two classes suffragists and suffragettes, the one lot being more extreme than the other. About 20 are still in gaol, including two Australians, because they refuse to be bound over to keep the peace. So there is no alternative but the lock-up. "The other day two got into Parliament House and chained themselves to the grille then planted the keys in their bosoms. They then began to sing out "Votes for Women" and so disturbed the House that police were sent to put them out. The 'grille' is an elaborate brass screen going right across the legislative chamber to separate visitors from the members of Parliament. "The women would not give up the keys so files had to be brought into use, a big section filed out and the girls taken away with the great thing hanging on to them. The got a great cheering for the ruse but are now doing three months for the lark. No women are allowed into Parliament House unless accompanied by and are personal friends of the Speaker's wife." At Manly on 06 Feb 1908, not long before sailing from Sydney, Billy made a will leaving one thousand pounds to his mother Henrietta, the same amount to his brothers Ernest and Harold (both bachelors) and a further thousand to Arthur with the proviso that half was to be used for the education of his children. His aunts Emma Donaldson, Eliza Holloway and Isabella Madden were each left 250 pounds to be paid at a pound per week each for life. Billy appointed his brother Ernest sole executor of his will, making him fully responsible for gaining a good return by investing the aunts' legacies and for distributing his personal effects. Billy held a mortgage for 2000 pounds from Gerard and Co. (Ernest's Grafton company) - as well as a promissory note for a thousand pounds. On a five pound deposit, Harold had contracted to buy a block of land in Narrandera from Billy. With all these assets and his wonderful tour under way, life must have seemed pretty good. In December 1908, one of Billy's London friends (probably Mrs Belle Mitchell who husband had been a doctor in Narrandera and who kept open house for friends and acquaintances from that town), wrote to mutual friends that Billy was ill. Gout, heart trouble and 'nervousness' were the problems cited - but no indication was given that anything was seriously wrong. From his last letter he appeared to be enjoying life to the full. Maybe he knew he was ill but didn't disclose it. In any case, on 08 January 1909 - the very day the letter above was published in Gundagai on the other side of the world, aged only 51 - and loved so much by so many, Billy died. In announcing his death the Narrandera Argus declared: "The departure ofMr Elworthy from Narrandera in October 1907 was one of the greatest losses the town and district ever sustained. "He was universally beloved throughout the whole countryside. His qualities of mind and heart were equalled only by his magnanimity, his happy nature and his broad public spirit." By one of those strange twists of fate, Billy's funeral service at Kelsall Green Cemetery was conducted by the Rev A.C. Moseley who later became rector at Gundagai! |
| Source References: |
| 2. Type: Book, Abbr: Devon to Downunder, Title: Devon to Downunder, Auth: Bettie Elworthy, Publ: Bookbound, Date: 1997 |
| - Reference = 101, 170-175 (Name, Notes) |