William Wiseman (abt. 1799 - 1831)

Born about 8 Nov 1799 in Bermondsey, Surrey, England

Husband of Matilda (Grono) Wilson — married 22 Jun 1829 in Ebenezer Church, Pitt Town, NSW, Australia

Died 28 Feb 1831 at about age 31 in Stewart Island, Southland, New Zealand

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Biography

William Wiseman was born 8 Nov 1799, and baptized 12 Nov 1799 in St Mary Magdalene, Bermondsey, Southwark^[1], son of Solomon and Jane Wiseman in Butlers Buildings^[2] (on the south bank of the Thames in Artillery Street, Bermondsey)^[3], running on the south side of St John churchyard, near what became Butler's Wharf, about ½ mile north of St Mary Magdalene).

On 22 Jun 1829 William married Matilda Grono in Scots Church Presbyterian Church at Portland Head^[4][5] One of seven daughters of John Grono married in the Colony.

William and Matilda only had one known child, Jane Matilda, baptized in Scots Church Portland Head in 1831^[6].

William was master of several ships, including the Lucy Davidson which plied from Sydney and Tasmania to London^[7] and the Industry which plied across the South Seas as far as South America, the South Shetlands and New Zealand

William died on 28 Feb 1831 while master of the ship Industry one of whose principal owners was John Grono, his father-in-law. He died in Easy Harbor on the far south-west corner of Stewart Island in New Zealand in a storm which overwhelmed the vessel. In addition to William, sixteen persons died in the shipwreck, two men escaped^[8]

William's untimely death cut short his emerging career as a master mariner. It was reported at his wedding that he was expected to be appointed as master of the Australian the largest vessel then built in the Colony^[5].

Research Notes

The Brisbane Water Story mentions William Wiseman married Matilda Grono at Ebenezer Church on 18th November 1828 (note conflicting wedding dates) & had 2 daughters. William was drowned when the brig “Industry” was list in a gale off Stewart Island in 1831. His widow married Rugig Maori chief

A number of properties in the Butlers Buildings, Artillery Street, Horslydown in the 1790s were insured by the Sun Fire Office. One of them was that of William Butler, in Artillery Street, Horslydown, gent. It is conjectured that he was the owner of these buildings^[9]

Sources

1. ↑ "London, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1538-1812," database with images, Ancestry Sharing Link - (Ancestry au Record 1624 #2853308 : accessed 29 January 2024), William Wiseman baptism on 8 Dec 1799, son of Solomon Wiseman & Jane Wiseman, in St Mary Magdalene, Bermondsey, Southwark, Surrey, England; citing London Metropolitan Archives, London, England, London Church of England Parish Registers, Reference Number P71/MMG/010.
2. ↑ Lockie, John, et al. Lockie's Topography of London: giving a concise local description of and accurate direction to every square, street, lane, court, dock, wharf, inn, public-office, &c. in the metropolis and its environs, including the new buildings to the present time ... London : G. and W. Nicol etc, 1810. p. 56 (n.60) (accessed 1 Feb 2024)
3. ↑ Walford, Edward. "Bermondsey: Tooley Street," in Old and New London: Volume 6, (London: Cassell, Petter & Galpin, 1878), 100-117. British History Online (accessed 1 Feb 2024)
4. ↑ NSW BDM Marriage: 222/1829 V1829222 162A WISEMAN WILLIAM GRONO MATILDA JS
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1} The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser 25 Jun 1829, p. 3, Family Notices online in Trove NLA Marriage notice - see source image
6. ↑ NSW Registry of Births Deaths & Marriages – Births, (https://familyhistory.bdm.nsw.gov.au/lifelink/familyhistory/search?1: accessed 28 Jan 2024), Name: WISEMAN JANE MATILDA, Registration Number: 38/1831 V183138 162A, Father's Given Name(s): WILLIAM, Mother's Given Name(s): MATILDA, District: JS
7. ↑ The Tasmanian 12 Feb 1830 Page 1 Advertising online in Trove NLA
8. ↑ The Sydney Herald 18 Apr 1831, Page 4 Col. 1 online in Trove NLA (accessed 27 Jan 2024)
9. ↑ City of London. London Metropolitan Archives. Records of Sun Fire Office citing Insured: William Butler, Artillery Street, Horslydown, gent, 23 Apr 1794 The National Archives record MS 11936/397/626977 (accessed 1 Feb 2024)

• Swancott, Charles. The Brisbane Water story [Woy Woy, N.S.W.] : C. Swancott, 1953-1955 (4 v.) pt. 2. Woy Woy & Hawkesbury River. p. 95