JOHN WILLIAMS was born in about 1835 in Cornwall, England. He had been in the colony 35 years at his time of death and he married Adelaide McManus in Mudgee in 1878. Their children were:
- Susan (Clara?) - born 1874 (NSW BDM 14828/1874)
- Charlotte - born 1879 (NSW BDM 18063/1879)
[BDM records his name as Joseph*]. His occupation is listed as a farmer at Two Mile Flat. John died in 1898 and is buried in Gulgong Cemetery. The coroner's verdict was "natural causes (probably heart)". John was survived by his wife and two daughters: Clara (aged 23) and Charlotte (aged 19).
John's wife, Adelaide Williams nee McManus, died in Gulgong in 1921. Her parents were Edward and Eliza. Adelaide is buried with her father in Gulgong Cemetery.
*An obituary for a Joseph Williams of Canadian Lead who died in 1920, says he had a brother (John) who died 22 years earlier. This is the only aspect of this John's profile that matches up. The birth year, country of origin, arrival date and marriage year do not match. Either the Mudgee Guardian got their Johns mixed up or two men called John Williams died in the Gulgong district in 1898.
Headstone, John Williams, died 1898
Headstone, Adelaide Williams, died 1921
----------------------------------------
Another JOHN WILLIAMS married Lillian E Moses in Mudgee in 1898 (NSW BDM 3676/1898). Their children, born in the Gulgong district, included:
- Annie G - born 1900
- Dulcie - born 1903
- Ernest J - born 1906
- Marjory G ("Dotty")- born 1908
- Jean L - born 1913
- Oliver L - born 1916
A VERY pretty wedding of exceptional interest to Gulgong district residents was celebrated at St. Luke's Church of England, Gulgong, yesterday afternoon.
The contracting parties were Mr Lawrence Thomas Wright, son of Mr and Mrs C. S. Wright, of Mebul, and Miss Marjorie ('Dotty') Williams, daughter of Mr John Williams and the late Mrs Williams, of Home Rule, The Rev. L. V. Caldwell officiated.
The interior of the Church was prettily decorated for the occasion with roses and shasta daisies. The bride, looking charming, was given away by her father and was dressed in cream crinkled crepe and wore a veil of limerick lace lined with pink tulle and trimmed with orange blossoms. Her bouquet comprised gladioli, roses and frangipanni.
Misses Jean Williams (sister of the bride) and Madge Wright (sister of the bridegroom) were the bridesmaids. They wore pink angel skin and white hats, their bouquets consisting of gladioli and carnations. Mr Lew. Wright (brother of the bridegroom) was best man and Mr Oliver Williams (brother of the bride) was groomsman.
The reception was held at the Town Hall, where the guests were received by the bride's sister, Mrs F. Graham, of Sydney, dressed in navy pebble crepe, and the bridegroom's mother, Mrs Wright, dressed in black and white morocain. They each carried a bouquet of roses.
The Rev. Mr Caldwell presided. After the toast of the King had been honored, the chairman proposed the Bride and Bridegroom, saying that a marriage ceremony was a very important event in Gulgong. It was, he said, very right that a wedding should be a great social function. Coming to the Church as they do, it was a great religious function. He reminded people who go to the Church for weddings that it was for the religious part they attended and not the social part, and their conduct should be in keeping with that aspect. The bride and bridegroom were well and favorably known throughout the district. "The name of Williams on the one hand and the name of Wright on the other," he said, "is the symbol, shall I say, of all that is upright, honorable and neighborly."
After paying a warm tribute to the bride and bridegroom he said he would ask them to remember that the highest ideals in a home were built up on the basic principles of the Christian faith. Happiness did not depend on the accumulation of wealth, but on personality and character, which commended themselves to all right thinking people.
The bridegroom thanked them all most sincerely for the toast. The Rev. Mr Caldwell's remarks reminded him of the obligations he should try to live up to. He proposed the bridesmaids, saying that he was sure they had done their very best to carry out their duties very nicely. Mr Lew. Wright, in responding, said he was sure the bridesmaids would appreciate what had been said about them.
The bride's father was proposed by the chairman, who said they formed judgment of people by the family name they bore. The name of Williams in the community of Canadian Lead was known far and wide. John Williams had reared a family to his credit and to the credit of the name of Williams. Referring to the low prices of products during recent years and the difficulties which beset the men on the land, he said that the best qualities had been called forth in them to enable them to carry on. Mr Williams' home had always been the right kind of home.
Mr F. Graham (son-in-law) of Sydney, responded on Mr Williams' behalf. Character, he said, was the fundamental thing which kept the community going. The late Mrs Williams (mother of the bride) before she passed away must have exercised a wonderful influence over the bride and her sisters.
In proposing the parents of the bridegroom, the chairman said he had known them ever since he came to Gulgong, a period of nine years. Mr and Mrs Wright had reared a family which was a credit to them.
The name of Wright was like the name of Williams, well and favorably known. He congratulated the bridegroom on having been able to make a start in life as he had done owing to his father having looked
forward and given his son as good a start as he could. No words of his could adequately express the wonderful esteem in which Mr and Mrs Wright were held.
Mr Wright, responding, said he felt that if half the expressions were true he could only surmise that he and Mrs Wright had in some way achieved the objective which they had set out to achieve. When they set out it was under very adverse conditions. "We have," he said, "taken the greatest pleasure in doing whatever we can possibly do for our family."
Mr F. Graham (Sydney) proposed the ladies, to which Mr T. Amies responded. The Press was proposed by the chairman, who said they all knew the value of newspapers. People he had met in Sydney had remarked that Gulgong must be a very important place, because they see a lot of items under the heading of Gulgong in the press. He drew attention to the influence of the Press. Mr T. Amies responded. The chairman was proposed by Mr F. Graham (Sydney) who referred to the excellent chairmanship displayed by the Rev, Mr Caldwell. The Rev. Mr Caldwell responded.
The beautiful wedding cake was made by and was the gift of Mrs J. F. Williams.
The happy couple left for Sydney and the Mountains for the honeymoon. The bride's travelling dress was blue and grey morocain.
Source: Mudgee Guardian and North-Western Representative (NSW : 1890 - 1954) Thu 18 Jan 1934 Page 13
