Samuel Williamson Taylor
Source: Lea Anthony
Williamson Samuel Taylor, an African-American man, came to Australia in 1871 from St Catherine’s, Ontario. Williamson married Frances Elizabeth Layton in Gulgong in 1871. Their children were:
- Williamson Henry - born 1873, died falling from a horse in 1905 at Coolah
- Herbert Wallace - born 1874 (fought in Boer War and WWI)
- Harriet Frances - born 1876 (married Percival J Bouchier in Warren) (their son, Keith Percival Bourchier died when the hospital ship Centaur was sunk by a Japanese torpedo)
- Sarah Elizabeth - born 1878
- Martha Ann - born 1880
- Brock Valentine aka Val - born 1883
- Adelaide E - born 1885
- Ella - born 1888
- Celia H - born 1890
Frances Elizabeth Taylor nee Layton
Source: Lea Anthony
Frances (Fanny) Taylor, age 89 in 1949.
Source: Lea Anthony
The photo was taken at her home at “Fairview” which was where 13 Caledonian St is now. Of note is the church steeple to the East in the background.
NEWS ITEMS
1899 - [NUGGET]
At Gulgong on Thursday old Williamson Taylor, a well-known colored identity, found a nugget weighing 5oz. 17dwts. 18grs. at the back of Tuxford's dam, the head of the course of Adams' lead. It was sold to the Bank of New South Wales at £3 18s 6d per oz.Source: Mudgee Guardian and North-Western Representative (NSW : 1890 - 1954) Tue 7 Nov 1899 Page 2
1943 - Gulgong's Oldest Resident Answers the CallMrs. Frances Elizabeth Taylor - Born in November, 1849, Called Home June 15, 1943.This gracious lady came to Gulgong in 1871 to marry her sweet heart, Williamson Samuel Taylor whom she had previously met in Victoria. The then Presbyterian minister of Mudgee, Rev. Curtis married them two days after her arrival in the old town, then a new town of the golden days. She never ailed until the 17th inst., when her multitudinous descendants gathered from near and far to bid her a fond and tender farewell upon the journey to another and more Golden City where indeed the streets ARE paved with gold.
It would be hard to give adequate attention to the great respect Mrs Taylor was held in by her good friends and the great love of her many children and near and dear, some of nearly three quarters of a century. Her husband [Williamson], who was a very respected townsperson of early Gulgong, predeceased her in 1907, aged 89 and after a relationship of 36 years, leaving no less than nine children for his wife to finalise their bringing up, which she bravely and creditably did.
At her death only one of her children had died, and that was her eldest child, named after his father, Williamson. Will, as he was familiarly called, met with an accident at Coolah off a horse and succumbed in 1905, much regretfully. The remainder of the children are living and were with her at the last. They are Herbert, Harriett, Elizabeth, Martha, Valentine, Adelaide, Ella, and Celia. Valda, Fred, Enid and Helen (grandchildren) were also present at the last. Twenty-eight grandchildren and great grandchildren are still living whilst there are four deceased.Mrs Taylor was born in Tasmania and came to Victoria when 21 years old. Her husband was born in Ontario, British North America (now Canada) as far back as 1818. It is interesting to note that her son Herbert did a very creditable “bit” in the Boer war and the first world war. Those from the old town who served with him say he was a great soldier. He retired from the Railway Department some years ago but is working again and happy in a war …. job in Sydney. Again, we remove our hats to the memory of Harriett’s son, Keith Bourchier who did good service in the present war and was on his way to further usefulness when he went down in the Centaur, in which Harriett’s old town friends deeply sympathise with her.Funeral services were held in the Presbyterian church and at the graveside where many friends joined with the relatives in the …. sad offices. Floral emblems of thoughts and sympathy were many and bountiful, among which the following were noticed: From Mr. and Mrs. Mackie and family, Mr. and Mrs. C Costelloe and family, John and Sophie Tuxford, officers and comrades Salvation Army, Len and Madge, Valda and George, Leo and Ruve, Val and family, Alf and ..dya, Elsie and George Keyssecker, Mrs. Gudgeon, sen., Mrs R Bayliss, Ruby Cross and Joyce, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Cross, Mrs Ashfield, B. Sweeney, Ella and …. McIlroy and family, H. A. Brigden and loving family...Before the comforting service was concluded by the minister, the major prayed most sympathetically for the mourners. Many more friends wended their way to God’s O…., where Rev. Stevens invited Major Newman and one of his church elders, Mr H.A. Brigden to assist at the service at the graveside. After the usual offices he requested the major to pray and this elder to speak a word of comfort to the mourners. Mr Brigden said, as a very old friend, perhaps the oldest present, as well as an elder of Mrs Taylor’s church, he was sadly pleased to add his word of comfort. He was born in the year that Mrs Taylor came to Gulgong and doubtless she nursed him when he was a baby. Certainly her children were school mates of his and after school hours he often went to her home over Church Hill and enjoyed her hospitality. Her eldest son, Will, had been one of his mates, and in after life when Will was in business at Coolah and he himself postmaster there they continued their schoolboy friendship with much satisfaction. He assured the members of the family and friends who had also lost their loved ones that it was more than likely those loved ones were present in spirit at the moment and smiling at our tears and grief, well knowing that ere long we would be with them and never grieve again. Their mother had been a lovely woman and would be waiting for them.
